When You're Up, You're Up...

Happy Mother's Day

Okay, so I'm late with the Mother's Day wishes, but it's never too late to tell your mom you appreciate her. Don't wait for just that one day a year!

 

Show Results

I spent Mother's Day weekend at a dog show. It was great! Luna, 7 months old, was entered in her first shows. She showed well and made me proud of her. On Saturday, Josh's litter sister, Cinder took Winners Bitch  for one point. Luna took Reserve Winners Bitch and Best Puppy. Actually, she won Best Puppy by default since she was the only Lhasa puppy entered. She did not get a placement in the Non-sporting puppy group, but she showed well and had fun and that was my goal for her at those shows.

On Sunday it was Luna's turn to win the point. She's on her way - 14 points to go!

My husband took this picture of her once we got home Sunday night.

Luna with two days' worth of ribbons

Josh had not even been on a show lead since the March shows in Louisville, but he knew what he was supposed to do and enjoyed the weekend. Josh took Select Dog both days (no points earned toward a Grand Championship, but we were mostly there to keep his head in the game).

AKC has a number of conformation events in addition to the well known point shows. There are much like match shows in that no points toward championships are awarded and are designed to provided different levels of competition and to get more people involved. One example is the Beginner Puppy Competition where puppies 4-6 months old compete.  Another example is the Best Puppy competition. At the point shows, when this competition is offered, the competitors are comprised of the one puppy between the ages of 6 months and 12 months in each breed which the judge deems "best" that day. A third example is the Best Bred-by competition. These are dogs that are shown by their breeder owners. Again, they start in the breed ring and the judge awards the "Best" to go on to Group competition. The Veteran's competition is a fourth example. The dogs competing must be champions that are at least 7 years old. It is also organized by the usual pattern: breed, group, Best in Show. The show-giving clubs can chose which, if any, of these events to offer during their show weekend.

One of the newest "extra" events is the National Owner Handled Series. These dogs must be handled by their owners. The owners must be amateurs. That is, they cannot be professional handlers who earn their living by,  charge money for, or take compensation for showing dogs.

At Sunday's show there was an Owner Handled competition. Josh took Best Owner Handled in the breed ring, so we got more practice in the Owner Handled Non-Sporting ring. I was surprised and pleased that he took the Group 1. So we had to stay at the show. By the time the Non-Sporting group ended it was about 2:00. We waited through all the Owner Handled groups (5 of them after Non-Sporting). Then we waited through all the regular groups. Then we waited while the veteran's group was judged. Finally about three hours later, it was time for us to go in for the Owner Handled Best in Show competition. Josh competed again 6 other dogs who each had won their Groups.

When the judge turned from writing in his judges book and announced "the Lhasa," I was not sure I'd heard correctly. Josh won Best Owner Handled in Show! Needless to say, I floated home to Macomb on Cloud 9! Josh curled up in his crate and slept all the way home.

These photos were taken once we got home. We had official photos taken at the show, but it will be a while before they arrive. I'll post them when they come. I do know that when the photographer stood to my right and squeaked the toy to get Josh's attention, she also got mine! That ought to be an interesting photo! Just remember, you're supposed to look at the dog!

Josh with his Select and Best Owner Handled in Breed Ribbons, his Group 1 Rosette and his NOH-BIS Rosette

That was indeed a nice Mother's Day gift!

Email and Photos from Others

From Cindy: "Btw since I finally found your blog I have to tell you it has been so fun and informative! I even go waaaay back and look at some of the old pictures you posted. And I think your article on valuable supplies is wonderful. I actually think we had our first lhasa before you! 1970! We just took a break to raise kids instead! Thanks for keeping us up to date......we are cking out names now....such fun!"

She is right...we did not get our first Lhasa until 1973.

Kristi tagged me on FB so I could see the picture she posted of Autumn. Autumn is the daughter of our GCh. Joyslyn MiToya Wind Walker. She's a cutie.

Autumn

Four and a half years ago, Judy bought a black puppy from me that I named Whisper (Joyslyn's Midnight Confessions). Judy always admired Whisper's sister Raven (Ch. Joyslyn's Midnight Enchantment) and told me that when I was ready to retire Raven, she wanted her. So a couple months ago, Judy drove here to buy Raven. She recently sent pictures. The girls are definitely twins!

From Judy about Whisper and Raven: "The way I tell the difference (for now) between Whisper and Raven is that Raven has the short-haired tail, and Whisper and a lot of tail hair. Whisper also has a full head-fall over her ears, and Raven is still growing out. It's going to be a challenge when their tails and head-falls are the same."

This is Raven

This is Whisper

An email from Mary R, subject line "Heartbeats: "Just read your blog. So sorry about the puppy that did not survive…I just know I feel lucky for each heartbeat my dogs have as it all ends way too soon. I look at Roman, 12, see a little age in his eyes and am getting ready for his senior years. I am so lucky to have the 3 I have. [They] get along so well.  Belle is the softest personality of the 3, so easy going, gets along with child, adult, overweight ragdoll throwing her body on her. That’s the only time I see her snap, fat cat on her.  So hoping things go well with the new puppies and feel for the little Cleo needing a home.   I am sure one of your readers will cave.I wish I could handle one more, several more.  Budget and time are my excuses. Here’s to each heartbeat your dogs have—enjoy each one."

Mary later sent a quick email about Belle's latest agility trial. "Clean run CPE Level 1 jumpers;  undertime.   First Q." Plus she sent me a link to the photo proofs that were taken at the trial. Belle is a beauty, and I am so proud of Mary for keeping her coat so beautiful. Look at that coat fly!! If you would like to see Belle in action, click one (or all) of the links below.

http://herreidphotography.zenfolio.com/p198393221/h45AE71BB#h45ae71bb
http://herreidphotography.zenfolio.com/p198393221/h45ae7123#h45ae7123
http://herreidphotography.zenfolio.com/p198393221/h45ae7111#h45ae7111

This email arrived from Gail about her Lhasa, Piper. Piper is one of our retired champions that Gail bought from us 7 or 8 years ago. Gail wrote, "Hi Joyce, Just a note from Piper and Gail.  I just read your post about "ups and downs" and it was such a coincidence because I had just been thinking that I need to drop a note to Joyce and tell her about our "ups and downs."

"Piper just celebrated her 13th birthday last weekend.  We celebrated with BB ribs for me and chicken breast for Piper.  She is the most graceful little old lady I have ever had.  She is aging with such a sweet disposition despite her vision disability.

"We had a difficult month in December.  She had an extreme glaucoma attack in her left eye. Her pressure measured at 70 which is an extreme emergency.  The night it began, she whimpered and could not lay her head down.  She actually fell asleep sitting up leaning on the couch.  Of course these types of emergencies always happen at midnight so we had to wait until morning to get to the Doctor.  I was afraid to go to the 24 hour emergency clinic because I was afraid of what they would recommend.

"We got to my Vet and then to the Eye Specialist in a matter of an hour at 8AM.  The eye Vet got her pressure back down by keeping her at the hospital and doing a number of eye drops to bring the pressure down.  When I picked her up, he spoke with me about possibly having her eye removed.  She couldn't see out of it anyway because of a large cataract so it would ensure her comfort.  He wanted me to think about it and decide by the follow up appointment.

"During the next 2 weeks, we had a routine of pain meds plus three sets of eye drops in the AM and two sets in the evening.  Piper handled it very well.  A simple piece of ham made it all worth it for her.

"I noticed that during the two weeks she started sitting at the patio door every morning again.  When we went back to the Vet, I told him about the patio and he checked her eyesight.  Here comes the UP part!!!  After all the swelling had gone down - the cataract had started to recede and she had a little bit of vision back in the left eye.  We were all elated.  The Vet hugged me and Piper.  Of course the goal changed.  No more discussion of eye removal - we will keep up with the eye drop schedule for as long as it is working and she no longer needed the pain meds.

"So everything has been stable for the last few months.  I am so happy for Piper.  She has started to play a little more since she can see her toys.  She has to tilt her head to peek out of the good eye - but it is such a joy to see her enjoying that little bit of sight that I smile, laugh and cry at the same time.   So you were right on target when you said that the downs give a new appreciation to the UP times.

"Hope everything at your house stays on the UP Swing. ..Thanks for your posts. I enjoy them every month. I also enjoy having someone to share "piper" information with.  My Aunt passed away last July and she was Piper's third mom.   We both miss her very much.  Gail & Piper"

Puppies

The babies are doing well. Everyone gains weight each day. They are quiet and content (I'll enjoy it while it lasts) and Maggie takes great care of them. I have no new photos this week and hope to have time to post new ones once they have opened their eyes.

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

Joyce