Show Results and Some Photos

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

That was just a reminder in case you've forgotten. When I last wrote we were gearing up for the Burlington Kennel Club dog show that is held here in Macomb. We had 120 more dogs entered this year than last year. I was exhausted by the time the weekend was over. I am a member of the BKC and the Friday before the show was a flurry of people preparing the site for dogs and their exhibitors. Since we were in the Western Illinois University Rec Center, the floors of the courts had to be covered with tarps. That meant a lot of lifting, unfolding, bending, and taping! (My knees are still recovering!) The kennel club had a lot of support from members of various clubs in the community and soon the site was ready for the doors to open for exhibitors.

Thankfully, our electrical problem was repaired before the arrival of company who were coming to stay at my house for the show--but only by two days. We had been without power in two bedrooms and both bathrooms from June 29 to July18. I can't even begin to count the number of times I walked into our bedroom and bathroom and flicked the light switch out of habit only to have the room remain dark! So aggravating! (and so expensive to repair!)

Friday night, Lynn and I hosted a small dinner for five friends and fellow Lhasa exhibitors. I served what we call "Russian Chicken." It is quick and yummy, both what I was aiming for after a long day of helping to set up for the show. Mix a package of onion soup with a bottle of Russian dressing and a can of whole berry cranberry sauce. Pour into a 9 x 13 pan. Add boneless skinless chicken breasts. Pop into the oven at 350 for about an hour. Ta-da! Serve over rice. The sad thing is that in this town anyway it is impossible to find Russian dressing anymore. (Do ya think it's because we're all mad at the Russians??? LOL) Anyway, that used up the last bottle of Russian dressing that I had. The hunt is now on for more!

We had a great weekend at the show. Chance took WD for a point on Friday and on Saturday took WD and BOW for a 3 point major. That puts his count at 9. He needs a major and 3 singles for his championship.

His official photo has not arrived yet, but here is one that Carol Washburn took at the grooming set up. Thanks for all the great photos, Carol, and for coming to the show to cheer us on!

Chance age 11 months

Bekka took Reserve Winners Bitch both days to her and Chance's litter sister, Gabby. Gabby finished her championship on Sunday. She'd won five 3-point majors, all from the puppy class over just the past couple months. Gabby is now Ch. Joyslyn Golden Tu Karlyn Fire 'N Ice. Her owners are Jan Graunke, Karen Schlais, and me.

These photos are of Gabby giving kisses to two of her "mommies" after she won on Saturday. Thanks again to Carol for the photos.

And here is Bekka with me. She may not have won but she showed like a champ! One more major to go and she'll be a champion too!

This photo is one taken of Gabby at the show in June in Grayslake. Thanks to Jan for sharing that photo.

Josh took Best of Breed on Saturday and also placed second in the Owner Handled Group.

Perhaps the most fun of all on Saturday was that I was able to show little Autumn (Joyslyn's Wind Song) in the beginner puppy class. She was just 4 months old on that day. At first she was apprehensive but then she strutted around the ring like she owned it. After she showed, I passed her off to a friend and told her she might have to take her back in for Best Beginner in Show because the Lhasas in the regular classes were about to go in the ring. Evidently, Autumn made a lot of new friends as she was held at ringside. I made it back to the Beginner ring just before Beginner Best in Show started. (I think the lady holding her was disappointed that I made it back!) Again, Autumn showed like she'd been doing it forever. She won Best Beginner Puppy in Show. Here is a casual photo of her and me at the grooming set up. (Again, thanks, Carol). Later Miss Macomb came by and got some Autumn cuddles and kisses.

And...she's off (again)!

No sooner was the show over and clean up complete (aching knees again!) than I was gearing up for the next thing on my calendar, a two-day "Summer Camp" for early childhood  teachers and providers. Set up was on Tuesday and the camp was on Wednesday and Thursday. This year's theme was Literacy, and I was excited to be giving three presentations (well, one presentation repeated  three times!) titled "Exploring Quality Children's Literature." Somewhere on FB on the Starnet Regions I and III page there are videos of me singing "Ain't Gonna Paint No More" and reading a section of "Creepy Underwear," both favorites of mine, along with "Pete the Cat" and hundreds of other children's books! No sooner was I home than I was grooming dogs again.

Next on the schedule is a trip to Florida to visit my daughter, son-in-law, and two grandsons, ages 3 (almost 4) and 17 months. After that, there is a wedding in Kansas!

And thus I end as I began, with the gentle reminder that

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

Give yours lots of hugs and kisses.

Joyce

Hot Fun!

Songs about summer have been running through my head lately as our temperatures reach well into the 90's, with heat indexes (or indices, if you prefer) in the 100's! Take for instance an oldie but goodie Nat King Cole song:

"…Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Dust off the sun and moon and sing a song of cheer..."
               ~ lyrics by Hans Carste and Charles Tobias

How many more can you name? I managed "A Summer Song," "Summer Nights," "Summertime," "School's Out," "Summer in the City," "A Summer Place," and "Summer Breeze," among others. Those titles probably date me!

My Lhasas have not been loving these temps, so they go out and want back in quickly. We're avoiding being outside with them for any length of time except early, early morning and late at night. The black Lhasas and the ones that have not been clipped down especially suffer in this heat.

Photos

The photo of Bekka's 5-point major win at the Greater Milwaukee Lhasa Apso Club Specialty arrived this afternoon. I like the photo except for her tail. She is a happy girl and wags her tail most of the time. She was doing that as we were trying to get her picture and the photographer captured it in mid swing! She is 10.5 months old in the photo.

 
Then I felt bad because we have not taken photos of Chance's wins, so this afternoon we had a photo session with Chance, Autumn, and the puppies. The results are below.

Chance - 11 months

Autumn, just a week shy of 4 months

Daisy 7 weeks

Paddy 7 weeks

Laney 7 weeks

Daisy, Laney, and Paddy are growing and getting into everything! They are cute and curious and destructive when it comes to piddle pads and newspapers! They have short attention span so their puppy battles are over quickly. They love to be held, love attention, and toys. This is a cute, sweet litter -- except when they start howling to go out. They are very loud and demanding!!!

Mary Durcott sent a photo of her Gabe, who is a litter brother of our Rafe. (Rafe is Autumn's sire.)

Gabe

The Dog Show Comes to Town

Next weekend (July 21-22) the Burlington Kennel Club is hosting its third dog show in Macomb. The other two were quite successful, and this one is off to a good start with 120 more dogs than were entered in last year's show. Saturday 455 dogs are entered and 436 are entered on Sunday. Those counts include 12 Lhasa Apsos. Two dogs, four bitches, two dog specials, and one bitch special are entered in the Lhasa competition. Ring time for Lhasas is at 10:20 on Saturday in Ring 2, after three other breeds, 17 dogs. So the Lhasas probably will not get into the ring until 10:50 or so unless quite a few dogs don't show up. That happens. Sunday Lhasa ring time is 10:45, we are again in Ring 2, but this time there is only one breed, 4 dogs, ahead of us.

This year in addition to the National Owner Handled Series, the club is hosting a Beginner Puppy Competition for puppies ages 4 to 6 months on Saturday. I entered Autumn, who will be 4 months on Saturday, but am not sure I can show her. The puppy competition begins in Ring 1 at 10:30, and I think that by the time they get to the Lhasa puppy, I will be in Ring 2 with Chance, Bekka, and Josh. Autumn may not get to show, or I'll have to see if I can get someone else to show her. She is not used to working with anyone else, so I doubt if she will be comfortable with someone new handling her. She and I have our system and hand signals all worked out!

I hope some of you who are reading this can come to the show!

ALAC National Specialty

The 2018 National Specialty of the American Lhasa Apso Club will be in Frederick, MD. The schedule for the week has recently been published. If you live anywhere close to MD or if you need a vacation week that included watching many beautiful Lhasas from across the US gather and show for a week, the Clarion Inn Frederick Event Center is the place to be. Here is the information:

I am looking forward to being there but not to driving that long distance.


Grooming Advice

We are in the process of training Autumn for the serious grooming that will soon be necessary. My husband, Lynn, is the "official trainer" when it comes to grooming. He has more patience than I have, and the dogs seem to mind him better than they do me. My job is to get them used to having their mustache combed. His is to make sure they know how to lie down and lie still for grooming. Autumn's progress is so-so. She dislikes having her face cleaned and combed and struggles constantly. Sometimes it takes two of us to complete the job, but it gets done in spite of her protests. She is doing better about lying down on Lynn's lap to have tummy and sides brushed.

Grooming tools for a Lhasa puppy at our house include a small pin brush, a greyhound style comb, a face comb, and a grooming spray. To clean the eye area, I use a cotton round moistened with either Natures Specialties Plum Crazy Facial Wash (but many of my dogs dislike the smell and shy away from it) or a saline solution for sensitive eyes which they don't mind at all. (You can find it in the contact solution department).

Below is an article I wrote on the subject.

Training for Grooming  by Joyce Johanson

Regular grooming is a necessity if you plan to keep your Lhasa Apso's coat free of mats and tangles. Therefore, it is necessary to teach your Lhasa puppy--when he is young and before he really requires a lot of brushing--to accept grooming as part of his routine. 

First teach him to lie on his side or back while he is being brushed. So many of the trouble spots for mats, such as the insides of the legs, the chest, the "arm"pits, and the stomach, are difficult to reach unless the Lhasa is on his back or side. 

Begin your grooming training as soon as you get your puppy. Hold him on his back on your lap and gently rub his tummy until he relaxes. It's best to do this during the puppy's quiet time and not when he is full of boundless energy and wants to play. 

Even though the puppy has little coat to brush at this age, accustom him to the feel of the brush by using a small pin brush to groom his legs, feet, chest and stomach. Then allow him to lie on his stomach, sit, or stand while you brush his sides, neck, head, and face. Constantly reassure him and praise him when he is still. Be sure to tell him how gorgeous he looks when the grooming is done. 

Keep these sessions short. Their purpose is to familiarize the puppy with the routine of grooming and the feel of the brush. 

Of course, not all puppies tolerate lying on their backs or sides and cooperating with you. At times you will be amazed at how stubborn and strong a puppy can be when he is determined not to lie on his back! Be persistent and patient. Do not strike the puppy. You are training him for future grooming sessions that both you and he should come to enjoy. Don't spoil the future by letting your temper flare when the puppy gets uncooperative.
Some puppies will try to convince you that you are "killing" them by making them lie on their backs. Don't be taken in by a con artist. These same puppies are the ones that you will later find sleeping soundly on their backs in their crates with all four legs spread wide. 

Once the puppy accepts lying on his back or side, move him from your lap to a grooming table. The transition may cause some regression in the puppy's behavior since he may feel less secure on a table than he felt on your lap. Again, be persistent and firm. Don't be abusive, but insist on the behavior you want. 

From the age of six months on, your Lhasa puppy will need grooming on a regular basis. That's when your early training sessions begin to pay off. Depending on your puppy's coat texture and stage of development, mats and tangles will begin to develop behind the ears and on his underside. You're in for a terrible ordeal if you have not taught your puppy what grooming is all about. Sometimes it hurts when mats are taken out. Sometimes you need to use both hands to loosen the mat and remove, and if you have to hold the puppy down, try to reach one of those hard-to-get-at mats, and remove the mat all at the same time, you are in for an unpleasant grooming session. Neither you nor your puppy will enjoy it. And, for the puppy at least, the unpleasant experience will be remembered the next time and the struggle will begin again.

Both you and your Lhasa will enjoy the grooming sessions which will be so much a part  of your lives together. If you take time now to teach the puppy what is expected of him when it comes time for grooming, you will be so much better off. The younger you start, the more accepting the puppy will be. The old sayings about an "ounce of prevention" and a "stitch in time" may be trite but they are certainly true in this situation.
 
Please note: Permission to reproduce and/or circulate information in this article is granted. However, the article must be disseminated in its entirety and credit must be given to Joyce Johanson, Joyslyn's Lhasa Apsos. Thanks

Let me add to this that I am not just referring to people who show their Lhasas. Every Lhasa needs grooming, whether a family pet or a show dog. Even if you take your Lhasa to a groomer, it is your responsibility to train the dog to be groomed. Your groomer will love you for it!! And your Lhasa will be happier also.

That's it for today!

Joyce

Let Freedom Ring!!

Happy Independence Day!!!

July is here already! June is behind me and I cannot say I am sorry to see it go. That month was much too busy and put way too many miles on my car.

My granddaughter Klara went along to the Kettle Moraine dog show in West Bend, WI, last weekend and proved to be a good helper. I was thinking she'd be handy to have around more often! We left Macomb about 5:00 am and arrived at the show 5 hours later. It was a nice weekend with some highs and lows.

The big low was that when I took Chance out of his crate to groom him, I discovered he had a huge mat down by his "little boy parts." I then discovered that the cause of the mat was the beginnings of a really nasty hot spot. Needless to say, he did not want to walk around the ring that day.

After the show, we found a PetCo and bought an e-collar to stop him from licking the area and making it worse. Poor boy. I had nothing but some Gold Bond powder on hand and that seemed to do the trick as far as helping to dry out the affected area. On Sunday, he showed better but still took third in his class. I was just happy he walked around the ring! Last night the area look well-healed, so we took off the e-collar since it was making a matted mess of his neck. Bad decision. By this morning, he had licked the area raw again! He's back wearing the e-collar!!

Speaking of mats, here is the link to an article about removing them.

Bekka showed well both days. Our best day was Sunday when she won her Bred By Exhibitor Class, then took Winners Bitch for a 5 point major (!! Hurray !!), then took Best of Winners and Best Bred By. She got a lot of pretty rosettes! Now she needs a 3 point major and she will be a champion! Her litter sister, Gabby, who has both her majors already, took Reserve. Gabby is co-owned by Jan Graunke, Karen Schlais, and me. I am so proud of both girls!

We had a photo taken, which I will post when it arrives.

Klara and I packed the equipment quickly because heavy rain was threatening. We were on the highway no more than 5 minutes before the sky opened up for the downpour. We had to pull over a couple times to wait until the worst passed.

Congratulations again to the winners: Julie Timbers,  Winners Dog both days; Michael Chang, Winners Bitch on Saturday; Kris Harrison, Best Opposite Sex both days; and Susan Giles, Best of Breed both days plus a Group I on Saturday and Group III on Sunday.

On the home front, the puppies continue to grow and flourish. Right now, I think all are spoken for. I am just waiting for deposits.

Daisy 5 weeks

Paddy 5 weeks

Laney 5 weeks

 Roman and Violet send a lot of photos of Shadow, a litter brother to Bekka and Chance. Here is one of them.

Seeing it reminds me that I don't take enough photos of his littermates at my house.


Have a Happy 4th! God Bless the USA!

Joyce