A Lot of News and Photos

Gabe, one of Rafe's siblings

With this post, I have a lot of news and many photos to share.

Griffin I, one of Rafe's siblings

Why does it seem as if Thanksgiving was months ago instead of less than two weeks ago? Rafe and his siblings recently had their first birthdays. I heard from most of their owners and received pictures which I am sharing. That year went quickly!!

Zora, Rafe's sister

I also received an email from the owner of a puppy whose picture appears on my website. The picture originally drew so many emails from people who wanted to buy him that I had to post a note saying the dogs shown on that page were not for sale. So here is Yogi as a puppy and as a much older adult. I'm not sure about his age but think he must be close to 10 by now. He is a much cherished Lhasa Apso! Note the color change.

Yogi as a Senior Citizen

Yogi as a puppy

Rafe, Windy, and I went to the Edwardsville Illinois Kennel Club show on November 30, December 1 and 2. We traveled with our Shiba friends, Jane and Rebecca, who were a great help to me at ringside. (I helped them with their Shibas too.) We all had good fortune. Jane's male took a major. Her bitch finished on Saturday. She moved her up to BOB and she took Select Bitch on Sunday, earning her some Grand Championship points. Rebecca's specials bitch also earned points toward her Grand Championship each of the three days, and her Bred-by Bitch took the points on Sunday.

Rafe in the Breed ring

As for my Lhasas…Rafe took Select Dog on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, he won the Breed, so he garnered point toward his Grand Championship all three days also. He had six Grand Championship points going into these shows. He has now completed the requirement for three majors (he has 4) and the requirement involving defeating other champions three times. He now needs only 8 single points to get the Grand Championship title. Here is a picture taken of him in the ring on Sunday. At the end of this post is a video of him in the Group ring (turn the volume down on your computer). I am so proud of all the accomplishments of this young dog. He has done a lot in the short time he's been shown. Now we will take it easy for a while, perhaps going to a few shows starting in February but mostly just waiting for spring and warmer, safer weather for travel. He still has not gone through a coat change so I imagine that will be coming very soon and will keep me busy on long winter nights.

Windy was not happy in the show ring. I did not enter her on Friday, thinking to give her some time to get used to the show – its smells and sounds. I was disappointed in her performance as she does so well at training class. She did not put her tail up in the ring on Saturday but she did walk and she did a nice job standing for examination. She had just come in season a couple days before we left, so that was not helping matters either! On Sunday, she was better. The tail was sort of halfway up and at times she forgot herself and managed to get it briefly over her back. I think if we would have had another day, she would have been more comfortable in the ring. Ditto if she had not been the only one in her class. She did much better during the Winners Bitch competition when she had other dogs to follow. I need to get some photos of her too. She is a pretty Lhasa.

Maggie went to the vet on the 28th and the x-ray showed three puppies. Her due date was December 7th. I say "was" since when I came home last night, Lynn, who had gotten home from work before I did, was at the door saying, "You should see Maggie and her three puppies!" Oh my goodness, was that a surprise. She showed no signs, not even a temperature drop that AM that would have led me to believe she would have her puppies that afternoon. Thank goodness the labor and delivery went well. So, here is a picture of the newborns. The parti-color is a girl, as is the gold that has a tiny spot of white on her shoulder. The gold with the large white spot is a male.

Rafe and Maggie's puppies

I'd been interested to find out what colors they would be. Blacks and reds were possibilities, as were either gold and white or black and white parti-colors.

During the weekend after Thanksgiving, we did a "Maggie Photo Shoot" since I knew I'd soon have to clip her coat in preparation for the coming litter. Two of the photos taken of her are at the end of this post. She is so pretty. (If I do say so myself!) :-)

It was hard for me to take a clipper to that lovely coat. I'd put it off much longer than usual.

Now that the puppies have been born, you can expect frequent postings of them as they grow.

In the meantime, for those of you shopping for Christmas gifts, may you find discount prices on everything you buy.

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

Joyce

Maggie

Maggie