Show Results and Photos

What? That's not a Lhasa! My "granddog" Henri!

“No matter how close we are to another person, few human relationships are as free from strife, disagreement, and frustration as is the relationship you have with a good dog. Few human beings give of themselves to another as a dog gives of itself. I also suspect that we cherish dogs because their unblemished souls make us wish - consciously or unconsciously - that we were as innocent as they are, and make us yearn for a place where innocence is universal and where the meanness, the betrayals, and the cruelties of this world are unknown.” -Dean Koontz, A Big Little Life: A Memoir of a Joyful Dog.

A week ago today four of the dogs and I got up early and headed to Minnesota for two days of Lhasa Apso Specialties, hosted by the Twin Cities Lhasa Apso Club, and two days of all-breed shows, hosted by the St. Croix Valley Kennel Club. The shows were at the fairgrounds in Lake Elmo, MN. It was darn hot there and we had to groom and show in un-airconditioned buildings. Miserable!

However, we had a great time. The members of the TCLAC were great hosts. The shows ran smoothly, and we enjoyed wonderful meals provided by the club. The raffle was fun, even though I did not win anything (as usual!). This show is where I get to see friends that I see only at this show or at our national specialty, so hot, humid weather or not, we had fun. I wish I could say I had as much winning as I had fun. Alas, that was not the case. Thursday, Duncan took 3rd in his 6-9 month class of 3. Friday he won his class. Saturday he took second. Sunday he won the class and also Reserve Winners Dog to the 5 point major. That was an achievement due to the number of dogs competing in the Winners class. It was nice for the youngest to be selected and for the judge to recognize his fine quality, even if there were no points involved.

Windy showed like a dream on Thursday and Friday. She decided on Saturday and Sunday that she did not want to stand still on the table for exam, but she still moved and showed herself well. She was entered in the 12-18 month class and was the only entry. On Thursday, she took Reserve Winners Bitch to the 5 point major. Again, it was nice to be recognized from among the many lovely bitches, even if no points were involved.

Rafe was shown only on Thursday and Friday, for reasons you'll read later in this post. On Thursday, he did nothing. Friday he took Select Dog.


I saw Belle and Mary at the show in Lake Elmo. Mary had Belle entered in the rally trial. I was fortunate to make it from the conformation building to the obedience/rally building in time to watch Belle perform. She was great! I was so proud of her. She scored a 94 and qualified for another leg toward her rally novice title. Only one more leg to go!  Mary wrote about Belle: "It was very good to see you and Belle agrees. It was fun and heartwarming to see her excitement to see you…I am still very proud of Belle's first 2 legs with the little training we have done and her willingness to please…Thank you for letting Belle into my life.  She is my jewel that sparkles, all the time…"

Cindy wrote this about Jethro: "Tonight is week 3 of beginner obedience training.  He has sit, stay, come mastered but is struggling with heal.  Again he is motivated by treats even if the treats are just hand fed pieces of dog food so I am confident he will get it mastered.  He is the smallest student and very social with all." Jethro is having some issues about grooming, especially around his face. I'm having similar ones with Lila, who is determined to keep her mustache messy and that comb away from her face. Both Cindy and I are working on overcoming this aversion to face combing!



Cindy sent some cute pictures of Jethro:

Jethro chillin' out on the deck

Jethro at the gate!

 Speaking of Lila, she went with us to the MN shows and, for the most part, endured the travel, the heat, and being crated quite well. However, when we got home she ran and ran and ran, getting rid of all that pent up energy. Then she decided to play soccer with her chew bone and batted it with her front feet, banging it into furniture and baseboards as she chased it around the room. So cute!

Unfortunately, puppies seem to pick up bad habits faster than they do good ones. Windy has a terrible habit at shows of barking at other dogs and people who look "odd" to her. (I have yet to determine the criteria for people. For dogs, it seems to be anything bigger than a Lhasa.) Little miss copycat Lila decided Windy has a good thing going with the barking. Oh no!

The photos below were taken at the Twin Cities Lhasa Apso Club Specialty on Thursday, August 22, 2013. Photo credit for the specialty photos goes to Paul Bagley.



Duncan (Joyslyn Highly Classified) photos:

Judge Beverly Capstick exams Duncan on the table

Duncan on his "down and back" for the judge

Jimmy (Joyslyn Golden Tu Mon Ami Inka Dinka Doo) photos:

Jimmy with co-owner LaVonne ready for table exam

Jimmy

Windy (MLS Dakota Dancing in the Wind at Joyslyn) photos:

Windy entering the ring

Windy ready for table exam

Windy - she can sure move out

Windy - rear movement

Windy in line in the Winners Bitch Class

Rafe (GCH. CH. Joyslyn's Inherit the Wind) Photo:

This photo, taken of Rafe at the Bloomington, IL, show in May, was recently posted on my Facebook page by a friend. It made me sad to see it, mostly because it shows how Rafe used to show! Rafe's days as a show dog will end after next weekend. He simply no longer enjoys the shows. Oh, he likes going in the car and being at the show. He likes the extra attention. But, he no longer enjoys being in the ring. That carefree, happy gait has been replaced by a slow, almost grudging one. He needs a break from the shows, and I need a break from his attitude. He is not yet two years old (end of Nov. is his birthday) and he has accomplished a great deal between May 2012 and the end of June 2013. This includes his championship, his grand championship, and a ranking in the Top 20 Lhasas in the country. One ranking system has him at #6 for breed points from 1/1/13 - 7/4/13. He deserves a rest. It is time for a break. We'll try again at a few shows next year and see what happens.

I was recently made aware of the Yellow Dog Project. If you see a dog of any breed wearing a yellow ribbon or bow on collar or leash, that dog's owner may be involved with the Yellow Dog Project. As its website information tells visitors, Yellow Dogs are dogs who need space - they are not necessarily aggressive dogs but more often are dogs who have issues of fear; pain from recent surgery; are a rescue or shelter dog who has not yet had sufficient training or mastered obedience; are in training for work or service; are in service; or other reasons specific to the dog…" Visit the website to read more about the Project.

I've mentioned before that one of the joys of being a dog breeder is getting updates from people who have purchased dogs from us. Years ago, a gentleman from Indiana purchased a puppy. This week I got a letter from him, "Dear Lynn and Joyce, On 9/18/98, I purchased from you a pet Lhasa, born on 6/13/98. Her name is Miss Pumpkin and her father was Ch. JaMa Joyslyn Deja Vu and her mother was Ch. Marlo Bobbet Tootles. I want you to know what a wonderful dog that she has been. She has been perfect in every respect. We both are getting old, but she enjoys perfect health. She sleeps a lot and she has never spent a night in a kennel. When I have gone on vacation, I have somebody come in and stay at the house and take care of her. As she has aged, she now wants to be by my side most of the time. I just want you to know what a joy that she has been and we are now going on our 16th year." I remember him well, and was so pleased to hear from him and to know his Miss Pumpkin has been a loving companion and is still going strong at age 16.



Definitely, Life is better when you have a Lhasa to love you!

Joyce

Updates, Show Results, and Some Photos

“Dogs are minor angels, and I don't mean that facetiously. They love unconditionally, forgive immediately, are the truest of friends, willing to do anything that makes us happy, etcetera. If we attributed some of those qualities to a person we would say they are special. If they had ALL of them, we would call them angelic. But because it's "only" a dog, we dismiss them as sweet or funny but little more. However when you think about it, what are the things that we most like in another human being? Many times those qualities are seen in our dogs every single day-- we're just so used to them that we pay no attention.” ~ Jonathan Carroll

I agree with Mr. Carroll's assessment of the dog. However, my youngest 'minor angel' seems to have a devilish streak!

Although I do not have a new picture to post of Lila, I do want to tell you about her. You might recall that Lila was the only female in the litter born May 4. Her two brothers have left for their new homes and she is staying with us to be our next "show dog." Almost every evening for the last week, I've said, "We need to get a picture of Lila." But we never seem to get around to taking one, so I have nothing to post. Like her mother, Lila seems to be a bossy girl. She is tough too. She and Duncan, who is now 6.5 months old, roughhouse each night, and she keeps right up with him.

Every week when our granddaughter comes to spend the night with us, one of the things we do is take puppies for a walk. Lila has been on a lead and has learned to keep up with Duncan on our walks. However, that fact was not apparent on  Tuesday night when Lila attended her first show training class.

Those of you who are regular readers know that the time from when I leave home to drive to Peoria, attend class, and arrive back home is nearly five hours. Tuesday shortly after 5:00, Lila and I set off for Peoria. It was her longest car ride yet and she was very good. She did not fuss in her crate nor did she get car sick. (Her mother always did, so I was somewhat apprehensive.)

I expected her to be a little shy at class. It was a new place, new people, new dogs - most larger than she is. This week every dog attending was under 7 months. We had a Newfie, a Shiba, a Klee Kai (a breed that was new to me), a mini Dachshund, and Lila.

Little Miss Lila, whose middle name must be "Stubborn," decided to humiliate me.  She did not want to walk on the lead and acted as if she had never been on one before. She decided she wanted to play victim and cried and screamed and tossed her body back and forth to prove she could throw a champion tantrum. She sat her butt down and refused to budge.

She loved the trainer but wanted him to "rescue" her from me, so she flirted with him and asked to be picked up and acted so sweet and kissy when he held her! Everyone was laughing (it was funny)! When it was time for us to do a "down and back," she would go away from the trainer, but not back toward him. We all decided that in her mind, she'd been there/done that and saw no need to retrace her steps.

She ignored the treats I'd brought for her, so others offered her cheese and pupperoni. She liked those treats, for a while, then ignored them too. She was definitely irked at me, so when we'd stop at our place in the line-up behind the dachshund, she would go to that dog's owner, crawl between her legs, and lie down on her shoes and totally ignore me. The lady's little dog tried to protest. Lila gave him a look and he rolled over on his back!

That was our first adventure at class. Wednesday AM I put her on a lead and took her for a walk. She was perfect - except for the fact that she wants to walk between my feet rather than to the left! (She's determined I'm goin' down!)

Now for some updates from the show we attended last weekend. The show was in Burlington, Iowa. The weather was beautiful for an August show. The club members were friendly and welcoming, stopping by to chat and make sure things were going well for us. It's always been a favorite show of mine (1) because it is only an hour's drive and (2) because the venue is comfortable.

This year, my friend LaVonne, who co-owns Duncan's brother Jimmy, came from WI to stay with me so she could attend the show. We had a great visit and fun at the show. I planned to help my friend Jane with her Shibas and we were hoping that the show superintendent would schedule the two breeds far enough apart so we could help each other at ringside. She had three Shiba entered and I had three Lhasas entered. Wouldn't you know, the two breeds were scheduled with only 2 breeds between them, both breeds had such small entries that one breed did not even show up. Things were hectic but we managed to get all the dogs in the ring when they were supposed to be there.

By the end of the weekend, Duncan had two points. Windy also earned another two, giving her 11 points including one major. Rafe was the only Special entered so he won the Breed more or less by default. He did not place in either group.

Jane took some photos and video of him while he was in the Group ring on Sunday.

Here is a partial clip from the video:

I received notes from Lucky's and Ella's owners this week, as well as from Sarah about Mira. Lucky is still chasing geese and getting into the stinky pond. Ella is growing and looking cute, as you can see from her picture. Mira is fitting into her new home well, and Tashi is glad to have another dog to play with again. I love the picture of the two of them. Tashi has such a pretty face and Mira looks so content. Note the way she has her front legs curled.

Ella (She is Rafe and Maggie's daughter)

Tashi and Mira

I've had quite a few calls recently from people searching for Lhasa puppies and becoming frustrated because they cannot find one from a reputable breeder. I understand their frustration and wish I could be more helpful. As we all know...

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

Joyce