I Have A New Champion!

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Rafe's win at Albert Lea

Even though it is week-old news, I have great, exciting news! Rafe is now not only a champion, but he also has points toward his Grand Championship – and it all happened before he turned 9 months old.  While he could not care less about all that stuff, I am thrilled and so proud that he has done so well in the ring, earning compliments from judges and other exhibitors alike. I've known others who have finished young puppies but, never having done so myself,  I'm still wondering if it really happened. I'll post the new pictures when they arrive. In the meantime, here is the one of his win in Albert Lea, MN, under breeder-judge Carolyn Herbel.

Early in the morning of August 23, Rafe, Windy, and I took off  in the dark and headed north to Minnesota for the four days of shows. The first two days were specialty shows hosted by the Twin Cities Lhasa Apso Club (TCLAC). The next two days were the all-breed St. Croix Valley Kennel Club shows. As in years past, the TCLAC provided great hospitality and delicious meals for all attending their specialties. In addition to the Minnesota club members, exhibitors came from Colorado, North Dakota, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Canada to participate, and it was great to see them all again. By Thursday at 4:00, Rafe and I were in the ring in the Bred By Exhibitor class with two other males. Rafe won, giving him two of the three points he needed to finish his championship. In the Best of Breed class, he took Best of Winners, giving him that last point he needed! I was so excited!! The judge was Betsy Dale.

The next decision was "now what." I did not want to go home after just driving 7.5 hours to get there! Besides, Lynn was home working on the family room remodel and I was not anxious to go home to that! I had nothing else to show, so decided "what the heck" and went to the Superintendent's table and asked for paperwork to move Rafe up to the Best of Breed class for the next three days. On Friday, he did nothing under breeder-judge Dana Read. He was antsy, kept wanting to sit down, and was generally annoying. He had never been in a class that large before (5 male and 3 female champions plus Winners Dog and Winners Bitch) and because of the armband number, we were first in the line up. We worked Friday evening on standing. He caught on quite fast and was ready for the next day.

Saturday's win was a complete shock, but I was thrilled. He took Best of Breed! Yes, my little 8-month old boy won the breed under judge Juan Luis Payro over 3 other male and 2 female champions! Friends outside the ring claimed I looked astounded. I don't know about that, but once it sank in, I sure had a big smile. Sunday, he took the Select Dog Award under judge Patricia Hastings.

So, Rafe finished his championship with three wins at specialty shows; four majors, two of them at specialty shows (Greater Milwaukee Lhasa Apso Club and Twin Cities Lhasa Apso Club); a 2-point win and a 1-point win for a total of 16 points. Now we will work on his Grand Championship. His wins in the Best of Breed classes garnered him six points and fulfilled one of the three major wins requirements, plus the two wins got two of the three "defeated other champions" requirements out of the way. He still has to earn a bunch of points (19) but he'll do it eventually.

What next? Now we sit and wait. We are not entered in any shows in September as I had other commitments each weekend. I will be taking him to training class so he doesn't forget his ring manners, looking for at least one show in early October in which to enter him, and entering him in shows the week of the American Lhasa Apso Club's national specialty, being held in Mansfield, MA, in mid-October.

Maggie

Maggie has been resting on her laurels as we wait for her Championship certificate to arrive from AKC. She should be in season soon, and the next big event in her life may be a litter of puppies later this year. She has such a sweet disposition that I just know her puppies' temperaments will be wonderful. I'll keep you all posted if and when we decide to follow through on these tentative plans.

Windy, who is 4.5 months old, went to MN with Rafe and me to hang out, to see Marsha (her breeder), and to get some training and exposure to the world of dog shows. She did fine both at the hotel and at the show site. Things were relaxed in the evenings so she got some lead training up and down the sidewalks at the hotel. She was happy and sure of herself there. It was a different story at the show site. She loved all the people and gave lots of kisses but was not pleased to walk on a lead or to have other dogs barking at her. She held her tail down for the most part. She'll be going to classes too, as she will be just 6 months old on October 15, the first day of specialty week. She needs to get in shape for her debut!

Honey

Speaking of Windy, young Windy has the same call name as her grandmother, Ch. MiToya Joyslyn Dust N The Wind.  A few days ago I happened to get an email from a woman who had purchased one of the original Windy's puppies in 2004. She sent me a picture of Honey, and I was so glad to see it. It's a great feeling when people take time to keep in touch.

I've heard recently from some of Rafe's siblings' owners on the occasion of their 9^th month "birthday" on August 27. Everyone is doing fine. They all look like they inherited heavy coats like Rafe has. That coat comes from their sire, Walker, who is pictured here the last weekend he was shown (early May 2012). I love this picture of him moving out! He will be 10 years old at the end of September. He still has his long coat. I cannot bring myself to clip him down.

Walker on the go in the Group ring...

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

Joyce