Before I begin with photos and news, I want to thank everyone who emailed with notes and photos of their Joyslyn dogs, as well as those who posted photos of them on Facebook. I really enjoy getting the updates.
In a previous post, I mentioned that you all should consider joining the American Lhasa Apso Club (ALAC). There are different types of membership and you do not have to be someone who shows dogs to belong to the club. You just have to love the breed. If you are interested in viewing the club website, just go to lhasaapso.org. If you do not have someone to sponsor your membership, you can still join by becoming an Associate Member. Dues are reasonable! $35 for an individual membership and $45 for a household membership. Divide that by 365 days and you are paying only pennies a day!
ALAC publishes a monthly online newsletter called ALAC Online. It contains all types of information and each month there is a theme. Members can feature their dogs through reasonably priced ads ($25 for a full page.) Show people and pet owners advertise.
You can contact me at joyslynslhasas@outlook.com if you are interested in supporting the breed by belonging to the club. I am the Membership Chair.
That said, here is the ad I put in recently that featured our first champion, AM CAN CH Joyslyn's Piece of the Rock (Rocky)and our latest champion, GCH CH Joyslyn's Wind Song (Autumn):
Shortly after that issue was published, we received the great news from Sue Cannimore, Winter's handler, that she had finished her championship at a TX show by going Best of Breed over two champions (what we refer to in dog-show talk as "Specials"). So our latest champion is no longer Autumn but is now Winter. Here is a photo of Winter on the day she earned the last point need for her championship title. Meet new CH Joyslyn Mon Ami Winter Wind. Her sire is Josh (NOHS-BIS GCHB CH Joyslyn MLS Dakota Wind Breaker) and her dam is Misti (GCH CH Mon Ami N Joyslyn's Shades of Summer).
We kept a female puppy, Aspen, from our summer litters. Her sire and dam, Chance and Greta, are now in new homes, so she is very special as she represents an important pedigree in our breeding program. Here is Aspen, who is still awaiting an AKC registered name. She will be Joyslyn's Moonlight (something - I still have to fill in the blank). I have too many great names on the list and some Facebook friends recommended even more. The perfect one will come to me soon!
Aspen is cute and smart and already learning to be a show dog. We went to her first training class on Wednesday.
I bit the bullet and entered two weekends of shows in October. AKC has established new rules and procedures to keep judges and exhibitors safe. These include mask wearing, social distancing, and new ring set-up and exhibiting procedures. After 47 years of showing, I am a bit apprehensive about how the new procedures work, but those who have already been showing say they are simple to get used to. I have entered both Archie and Millie. They have gone to a couple training classes. Millie is doing fine. Archie dislikes the table exam. We are working on that!
Photos and Notes from Others
Patrick wrote, "Teddy loves sitting in his dad’s favorite chair. He’s growing up so quickly. He continues his talking, err trying to order us around but mainly sassing back. He has that little glint in his eye that lets you know he’s getting ready to do something he knows he shouldn’t. He definitely fits the breed standard for being a clown."
Teddy is Archie's litter brother.
Kathy wrote, "I loved the picture that Greta’s new owner sent in, just to see her now. I can’t believe that littermates Greta and Sophie will already be five years old next month! Where does the time go? I thought back on our particular Lhasa story—How we knew that we were getting one of the two girls in the litter, but we didn’t know which one until the Wednesday before we picked her up. After they were born, you were sending out puppy pictures every week, and I grew very fond of both of the girls, just seeing their pictures. I remember meeting the litter the day we picked up Sophie, and thinking that Greta was a very sweet puppy, and I have always enjoyed tracking her “career”. It looks like she found a very nice retirement home!"
Paul wrote about Little One (known here as Little Joey), "Little One did some climbing onto the crochet bag. He discovered that he could see out the front window...He is doing well and sure loves to be cuddled. He met one of our neighbor's Goldens the other day. His name is Tucker, when they went nose to nose, Tucker backed up and wanted to go home."
Betsy wrote about Aspen's sister, "Hi Joyce! I just wanted to give you an update on Willow since we’ve had her now 2 weeks. She’s is an absolute delight. She is eating great and getting better every day at potty training. She did great with her second round of shots on 8/28. She loves to play with her toys and gives tons of kisses and cuddles!
Kathleen wrote, "Beau is growing like mad and learning basic commands. He sleeps through the night and has leaned to walk on a leash. He continues to be very adaptable and always is happiest when he is near me. (That is my happiest time as well.) Here are a few new photos so you can see how he has grown."
Judy wrote with an update on her Lhasas (she has two Joyslyn's Lhasas - Ty and Izzy). "Izzy loved going to class, but wouldn't co-operate at trials both in agility and rally, but that's Izzy for you! She has the best personality ever...Dogs are all in fine form, and practice their jumps, tunnel and weave poles daily. Izzy is still the fastest weave pole dog."
Michelle wrote, "Hi Joyce! Hope you’re doing well! Sunny was relaxing so I decided it was a great time to brush him! He’s really relaxed now 😌 he’s so beautiful!"
Julie wrote about Jenna, who recently left us to make her new home with Julie: "She is definitely a couch dog, she has wanted to spend all her time on the couch so far. She’s been sleeping in her own bed in my room but last night she snuggled with Paige in her bed. She loves to walk and is a very good walker. Yesterday we went on almost a two mile walk...She is such a good dog, I love her so much already."
Stacey wrote that Enzo was neutered: "Our vet and all the techs raved about how adorable and silly he is. He weighs 15 pounds now and is looking like a big boy (coat is still like a puppy/teen). Lola was very excited when he got home and tried to initiate play, but for the first time Enzo declined the offer. The two lhasas play all the time and they all snuggle with Elliot!"
Theresa wrote about Rocco: "I think I just forgot how little puppies are -- they go 100 mph until they're just pooped! After Rocco plays hard, he takes a long nap and then we do it again... Rocco's visit went very well. He weighed 5.2 pounds and received a good report on every measure. I am happy to pass on the good report. It was very nice to meet you and is so wonderful to welcome Rocco into our home and our hearts...P..S. Kitty and Rocco are getting along great. They’re even playing softly — Kitty seems to realize that Rocco is just a baby."
Judy wrote, "I thought it was time to send you another update on Zoie. She sleeps about 6 to 7 hours a night. I'm sending two pictures so you can see how she's growing. She still wants to nip at your ankles when she wants to play. We're trying to play with her before she initiates the playtime. She loves it outside. She is doing really well walking on a leash. We are so thankful that we have her."
Nelson, Winter's litter brother, relaxing in his favorite spot
Some Joyslyn's dogs' photos from Facebook postings:
This is Biddy, who discovered that putting a chew bone in a shoe meant she did not have to exert any effort to hold it between her paws!
Judy's Raven, who happens to be a litter sister of Catherine's Maggie:
Brandi's Oliver, who is litter brother of Michelle's Sunny. As you can tell, it is "all in the family" around here!
Other Things
This past week, one the same day, I received a phone call and an email asking me if I sold Lhasapoos. I responded "no" of course and was then asked why not. I replied that I have spent my entire adult life working to preserve and promote the Lhasa Apso and that I saw no logical reason to take two different breeds and mix them to produce mixed breeds.
The Lhasa Apso is an ancient breed, dating back to 800 BC. DNA shows it is one of the breeds related to the ancestral wolf. Why would you take a breed with that history and produce mixed breed offspring? I do not understand the concept except that by labeling those mixtures with "designer" labels people are able to sell your basic "mutt" for a lot of money.
Within the next couple of months I will turn my attention to contacting people on the waiting list to ask if they are still waiting or have already found a puppy from another breeder. we have made plans for breedings in the fall or early 2021 and, if all goes as planned, we should have puppies again by the end of the year or in the early spring.
People have also contacted me about purchasing one of our retired champions. We have no more to offer. It will be a couple of years before we have adults available again.
Here is a heartbreaking story with a happy ending. From 1973 through 1989, when we moved to Illinois, I was a high school English teacher. I had many wonderful co-workers. Recently when I posted a photo of Aspen on my Facebook page, one of them commented on their Lhasa. She was scheduled to be euthanized. She was 7 years old and --get this--had had 13 litters for her puppy mill owners!! The story has a happy ending as she is now in a loving home where with love and care, she is blossoming.
Her owner wrote, "she is a good girl, learning everyday from when she came to us. Loves getting treats, sniffing new things, still won’t wag her tail or lick. Took her a month to make eye contact. Puppy mills are like chicken coups, very cruel places!"
That's it for today. Please keep the notes and photos coming. I get a lot of comments saying how much people enjoy seeing them. Apologies if I left out any notes or photos that were sent after the last August post. Re-send them if I did.
Joyce
