Merry Christmas to All!

"But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round—apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that—as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!" ~ Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Merry Christmas, Everyone! I hope this finds you well and in the holiday spirit described in the Dickens quotation above. It's such a hectic time that we need to remind ourselves to take a deep breath, relax, and relish the opportunity to spend time with family and friends, celebrating our traditions and looking forward with hope to a new and better year.

Late Christmas Gift Idea!

 The American Lhasa Apso Club now has coloring books available. The books have 28 pages of Lhasa drawings that will delight young and old Lhasa lovers alike. The books are $3.00 (that includes postage). Write a note saying how many you want to order, send the note and a check made out to ALAC Charitable Trust to Marsha Susag, 5302 River Drive, Fargo, ND 58102.

Here's an example of one of the images from the book:

 Fun!!! Buy one for yourself or one of the Lhasa lovers in your life!

What's been happening? 

Well, my friend LaVonne Bennett and I left Macomb on Monday, December 12 and made a long 18 hour drive, with an overnight just south of Atlanta, arriving in Orlando in mid-afternoon on Tuesday. We were not going to show our dogs at the big AKC National Championship Show that week, although we each took one along. On Wednesday, I was giving a judges' education seminar and hands-on workshop on the Lhasa Apso, and LaVonne was assisting me. LaVonne took her Lhasa, Misty, because she was also participating in an AKC video session and photo shoot for a new AKC Canine College project. I took Greta because we needed an extra dog present during the seminar and because her handler was meeting us that afternoon. I was also scheduled for a Canine College interview and video session. It was good Greta was along because the lovely Lhasa that was supposed to be with us for the taping won Best of Breed and the Non-Sporting Group time conflicted with our video session appointment. Greta substituted and I was proud that she behaved herself!

I left Greta in Orlando with Sue Cannimore, who will be handling her in hopes that getting her into a new environment will instill some much needed confidence in her so she'll get her tail up in the show ring. We'll see. Please keep fingers crossed that our plan works!

Here is a photo we took of Greta before she left home for her new adventure.

 LaVonne and I headed home Wednesday night, stayed two nights on the road, and arrived here in the midst of sleet coating the highways and windshield. Whew! The trip went fast and I really feel as if I lost an entire week. All I can say is that I hate Atlanta traffic and feel nearly as much dislike for that in Chattanooga and Nashville! This might be one of those "been there, done that" trips.

The venue for the National Championship Dog Show was amazing, there were vendors galore -- and I did indeed visit them to buy myself a Christmas present or two! In addition to the conformation competitions, there were diving competitions, agility, rally and obedience competitions and more. Although I did not see those areas, I know about them because we had a long drive past unloading signs for each competition before we could get to the unloading area for conformation.

So, back the real world! I was happy to be home. The dogs were thrilled to see me, and I was surprised to see how much the puppies had grown. Of course, I had to go back to the office this past week. Vacation time was over!

 

A New Joyslyn's Champion!

Huge congratulations go out to Ron and Deborah Hauck. Their Lhasa, Joyslyn's Mystic Wind, finished her championship at the AKC National Championship Dog Show. Not only that, but the judge awarded Mysti the "1st Award of Excellence." The "2nd Award of Excellence" was awarded to a Lhasa that already had its Championship and Grand Championship Silver titles. We were all so thrilled. Mysti was handled by Sue Cannimore.
Here is Mysti with Sue after the win.

New AKC Champion Joyslyn's Mytic Wind, owned by Ron and Deborah Hauck

Mysti is a full sister to Greta, but from an earlier litter. Their sire is Duncan, Ch. Joyslyn's Highly Classified and dam is Windy, Ch. MLS Dakota Dancing in the Wind at Joyslyn. Some of you reading this own their siblings.

Puppy Pictures

Here are the most recent puppy photos. The puppies are five and a half weeks old in these pictures. If you are on my waiting list and have been on it for a while, you might check your email to see if I have sent you a note about puppy availability. They will be ready for homes in mid-January. The male and one of the black females (unsure which one yet) will be available.

Black female with white on front feet

Gold female

Gold male -- he is a charmer!

Black female with white on back feet

Notes and Photos from Others

Here is Windy, all decked out in her Christmas attire. Her new owners love and spoil her! Just what I hoped for!

This is Kamper. His owners, Barb and Kevin, wrote, "Hello!  Wanted to give you a quick update on our sweet “Kamper”.  He’s very much a part of the family has found a special place in our hearts. He’s a great traveler too!  He still has his white paws as you’ll see in the picture and we think he’ll keep some of the white in his shawl too...Kamper is doing very well and is loved by our family and he is returning his love to us too, he’s a snuggler.  As you would expect, he is spoiled and loving every minute of it."  

Kim send a Christmas photo of her Snickers.

Carol sent a nice Christmas note and wrote this about her Sadie: "You would be so proud of Sadie.  She's been a lifesaver for me.  She went with me to visit Mom at the facility she rehabbed at & she acted like she'd been a therapy dog for years.  A natural!  Everyone just loved her.  She had kisses for every one of their residents.  Some women that had their official therapy dogs at ManorCare gave me all the information to have Sadie become an official therapy dog… I don't think I could have gotten through all of this without Sadie!  She's my best friend & I love her with all my heart!  She's been great with Mom, too.  Lays at her feet to guard her & gives her kisses, too!  She lifts Mom's spirits when nothing or anybody can, including me.  Sadie's a wonderful, special, smart & lovable Lhasa.  Beyond beautiful, too!  I could go on & on about her.  Thank you for letting me have her in our lives."

Interestingly, I have been hearing more and more people lately telling how much their Lhasas enjoy being with the elderly and that they have decided to take classes for their Lhasas to become official therapy dogs.

No matter what you and your Lhasa do together, never forget that

Life is Better When You Have a Lhasa to Love You!

Best wishes for a wonderful Christmas and a New Year full of peace and promise.

Joyce

Poetry and Puppies

I confess to staying up late last night and watching quite a few Christmas movies on the Hallmark channel. Tear jerkers all of them. Henri was curled up at my feet and did not move the entire night. I think he was afraid on losing his spot on the sofa to Josh, who spent the night either on top of me, lying by my side, curled up on one of the dog beds, or just lying on the tile floor. He was indecisive and restless, undoubtedly hoping Henri would move so he could claim what must be considered the prime location for sleeping.

A character in one of the Christmas movies mentioned the following poem. I'd read it ages and ages ago when I took an English Lit class in college, long before we ever had our Lhasas. Anyway, the reference in the movie reminded me to look the poem up again. The internet made it easy.

It will probably make you cry also, but that's okay because it should speak to each and every one of us who has ever loved a dog.

The Power of the Dog
           by Rudyard Kipling, 1865-1936

There is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.

Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie—
Perfect passion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart for a dog to tear.

When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits,
And the vet’s unspoken prescription runs
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find—it’s your own affair—
But … you’ve given your heart to a dog to tear.

When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!).
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone — wherever it goes — for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart to a dog to tear.

We’ve sorrow enough in the natural way,
When it comes to burying Christian clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent.
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we’ve kept ’em, the more do we grieve:
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-time loan is as bad as a long—
So why in Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?

Pictures of the new Puppies - Age 4 Weeks

Josh X Shadow female, Age 4 weeks

Josh X Shadow Female, Age 4 weeks

Josh X Shadow female, Age 4 weeks

Josh X Shadow male, Age 4 weeks

Thanks to Chuck and Steve for sending the photo below of their Cooper, all groomed and dressed for the holidays. Cooper is a puppy from the recent summer litter. Josh is his sire and Luna is his mom. It looks like he inherited his abundant coat from Luna!

Life is Better When You Have A Lhasa to Love You!

Joyce

 

Hello December...And Puppy Pictures

“It is December, and nobody asked if I was ready.” ~ Sarah Kay


The busy-ness of December has begun. Since I last wrote, I've been Christmas shopping at least three times, wrapped gifts in preparation for sending them to family who live out of state, driven a 6 hour round trip to watch our granddaughter play violin in her 5th grade Christmas program, attended a kennel club Christmas party, driven to Iowa to meet a friend so we could evaluate her litter of Rafe puppies, and fought off a cold. Oh...and I also went back to the office to work after having a nice long Thanksgiving break.

I don't know how I do it either. Habit I guess.

December is definitely here! We woke up to snow this morning. It was a beautiful Christmas-type snow: Big wet flakes drifting straight down, covering everything about 3 inches.

Yuk! I am not a fan of snow.

The puppies were three weeks old on Friday. Here are today's photos.

Black Female

Black female #2

Gold Female

Gold Male

I received an email asking for advice for a family who has a young Lhasa who suddenly developed a fear of storms or really any windy weather. I did not have much advice from personal experience (for which I am very grateful) so I turned to friends on Facebook, posting the information on the Lhasa Friends page as well as my own page. Many people recommended essential oils, the Thundershirt alone or with essential oils, valium, CBD oil (available from Amazon or marijuana sites), BlackWing Farms' products, lavender oil infusers, lavender oil on a bandana that is put on the dog's collar, turning on a radio. There were a lot of good ideas, all worth a try. I hope they are able to help the family's Lhasa.

More puppy photos next week.

Life is Better When You Have A Lhasa to Love You!

Joyce