Puppy Pictures and an Update

Zora

Wow….big shock! Here is a new blog posting from me! I have a lot to tell you.

Since it has been so long since I've written, I have to go back to early May and tell you about the dog show in Jefferson, WI. Maggie, Rafe, and I made the trip with our Shiba friends, Jane and Rebecca. Rebecca and I left my house shortly after 1:00 AM on Saturday. We drove to Jane's, about 40 miles away from Macomb, transferred dogs, luggage, and equipment to her van and were on our way by 2:20. Rafe made the trip like a pro and seemed to enjoy himself. He is so much like Walker that I am waiting for some of the traits I don't like about Walker to show up. For instance, Walker frequently barks when I leave our grooming area. Yes, Rafe started that too. Grr….

Griffin 2

It was good to be at the show with Lhasa friends Karen and LaVonne again. We hadn't seen each other since the Belleville, IL, show in early December. Email is fine for keeping in touch, but it's not as good as seeing friends in person. Each of us was showing a bitch in the Bred-By class, so the judging went fast as there was no in and out of the ring or changing armbands going on.

At the Saturday show, Maggie took third (out of three) – last place for our team! Sunday was much better. She took the point, which brought her total up to 8 of the 15 we need for her championship.

Griffin 1

The following week (last week) went by so fast. I had to be in Chicago for meetings for three days so had only Monday and Tuesday to "recover" from the show, get laundry and other chores done, and groom dogs. We did manage to take pictures of the puppies early Wednesday morning before I had to leave. Of course, by now (nearly a week later) they have changed. Last Wednesday they were just beginning to get their eyes open.

So…three days in Chicago and I had to hit the ground running when I got home Friday night. Thanks to my husband grooming Maggie and Walker Thursday night, I was able to bathe and dry the three dogs (Rafe also had a bath because he was going along for the ride), pack the "dog show bags" for the show Friday night, and still get to bed before 11:30.

Black female, 2 weeks

Do I hear you asking, "Walker?" "Why was Walker going to a show?" Yes, the old guy who is four months away from being a 10 year old got to go to the Scott County Kennel Club shows in Rock Island, IL. They are only an hour-and-a-half from home, and I thought it would be fun to show him again. His coat looks super and he misses the shows. He always looks so sad when I leave him behind. He can't figure out why he isn't going with me any more.

The Lhasa entry again was small, which is really sad but no big surprise for this area. Where have all the Lhasas gone?

LaVonne was there with her bitch Toffee. I had Maggie. Both were entered in the Bred-By class. Walker was entered in the Best of Breed competition as was a champion bitch, Tango.

Black males, 2 weeks

Saturday was our day. Maggie won the point. Now she has 9. She needs a major and three singles to finish. Walker won the Breed. Sunday was the opposite, with Toffee taking the point and Tango taking the breed. Rafe went with us on Saturday only and had a great time. He is getting quite full of himself. I've been very lax about taking pictures of him. One excuse I have is that he has so much hair you can't even see his eyes and he looks like a gigantic Lhasa. Wet him down and he suddenly becomes much smaller! What a coat…Walker's all over again, which will eventually be wonderful, but right now (and later during puppy coat change) is a little daunting.

Showing Walker again was such a joy, and winning the Breed on Saturday was just icing on the cake. I did not expect to win but, oh boy, was it fun to accept that Purple and Gold ribbon! Walker enjoyed the ring and didn’t miss a step. He was lively and gorgeous, especially in the Group. He turns it on when people clap and cheer and no one would ever have suspected that he had not been in the ring since the October specialty. I'm hoping the ringside photographer will soon post some photos she took of him.

Gold males, 2 weeks

So, in addition to the photos of the new babies, I posted photos of Griffin 1 and Griffin 2 (previously known as Sebastian) and Zora (previously known as Gracie.) Olivia's new owner doesn't keep in touch, so I do not get to see photos of how Olivia has grown. It's sad, but keeping in touch and sending me photos of the "kids" is not a condition in the sales contract! I just want those of you who do send photos to know how much I appreciate getting them.

Wednesday will be photo day for the puppies again, as they will be three weeks old. I will try to get the pictures posted faster this week, but am making no promises.

Time is flying. Eyes are open and the puppies are up on their feet (well, sort of) and investigating. Mira still doesn't want me to touch them. She puts her head between them and my hand and gently pushes my hand out of the way. (However, she has no idea what goes on while she is taking her potty breaks and time-away-from-the-puppies breaks. The puppies and I are getting well acquainted in spite of her efforts to keep them to herself.)

Only 10 days to go, and I'll be loading the car to go to the Memorial weekend shows in Bloomington, IL with Maggie and Rafe. Once again, the Lhasa entry is disappointingly small. Rafe is entered in the puppy class for his first ever AKC show on the 27th, so I am looking forward to seeing how he takes to the ring. I sure hope he likes it. I have high hopes for him.

Life is good when you have a Lhasa to love you!

Joyce