What's Going On??
I suppose a better question is "why is this blog so late?" So here goes: As you know Haven and I went to the American Lhasa Apso Club's National Specialty in Ohio at the end of October. You also are aware that for 4 months before that our house has been under some construction/renovation.
When I returned from Ohio, the renovated room for the dogs was done (hurray!) as was their new outdoor fence and their exercise area (hurray again). Lynn did a great job with the dog room renovation.He has saved us so much money by being a multi-talented guy when it comes to building things (and writing novels).
The next big chores were to touch up some painted areas, move the dogs and unpack many many boxes, make some "do we really need that" decisions, and put the house back together. That took days. I still cannot find a clock that I evidently put in a "safe place."
I wanted to share the results of the National but had to wait until the photographer sent the pictures.
You know from this year's blogs that we have been plagued with all sorts of problems, big and small. Most of them I have not written about because everybody has their own troubles. Our most recent ones are a dripping faucet that ended up costing nearly $400, making me wish Lynn was as capable of a plumber as he is a carpenter! Then on Thanksgiving morning we woke up to find a row of non-working electrical outlets in our kitchen. One of those outlets was for the refrigerator! We pulled it away from the wall and used an extension cord to pug it into another outlet. I am writing this on the day after Thanksgiving as I wait for 8:00 AM so I can call an electrician! (Lynn doesn't do electrical work either. 😀)
Puppy News
😞
Just one more thing gone wrong this year.
ALAC National Specialty
I am happy to report that the Joyslyn's dogs did quite well at this year's National. Here is the line up of friends with Joyslyn's Lhasas.
From the left: LaVonne with Misti, Karen with Floyd, me with Haven, Jan with Aasha, and Courtney with Amelia
And here are official photos of their various wins.
First, Jan went home with a Champion, Aasha (Haven's litter sister) won twice, earned 2 majors, and finished her championship! Jan owns Aasha and Haven's sire.
Another major win was Amelia, owned by Courtney. Amelia's parents are my Pearl and Chance. This was Courtney and Amelia's first National. They did very well.
Here are pictures of Karen and Floyd. Floyd is the son of Millie and Chance. He was Reserve Winners at one show and earned Best Opposite Sex for the National Maturity competition. Karen kindly asked me, his breeder, to join them for the Maturity photo.
LaVonne and I co-own Misti, but 10 year-old Misti loves only LaVonne and merely likes me! Misti was shown in and won Veteran competitions. She is only a few points away from earning her AKC Grand Champion Silver status.
You have heard the phrase "always the bridesmaid..." I am sure. Well, that was Haven at the National, always high in the ribbons, needing to win just once, taking first place, then reserve. I will say though that when she lost, it was usually to Aasha or Amelia, so I still was proud.
Haven won Best Bred By Exhibitor twice -- and she may have taken that honor more times had I been paying attention. I missed 3 of those competitions. Duh!
Here are photos of Haven.
Waiting to go into the ring.
Back home:
Someone needs a bath!
Much better!!
Notes and Photos From Readers
From Lynn K about Autumn:
I couldn’t resist sending you a couple of pics following our bath and grooming yesterday. She looks so pretty and proud! ….and is so good and patient!
I give her intermittent kisses on the top of her head and she gives me lovies on my hand or cheek.
I give her intermittent kisses on the top of her head and she gives me lovies on my hand or cheek.
Sally sent pictures of Ginger and Jaxon
Lisa sent this photo and wrote, "Duncan continues to be the most affectionate dog I have ever had. He has influenced Dresden to climb up on my lap for some attention."
Judy L. posted this picture of Gus with his groomer.
And Mary R sent this photo of Rafe in honor of his 14th birthday. Rafe and Griffin are brothers.
Stories
From Elizabeth about Mabel:
"Mabel is busy! She's curious, into everything, and always has at least 10 toys out. She's my constant shadow. When she's not playing, she likes to curl up on my chest and my head. Late night cuddles quickly turned into Mabel sleeping in my bed. She's still quite small but manages to take up the entire bed!
Mabel is the most popular resident in our neighborhood. People see us on their cameras and come out to pet her. Our house is now known as “Mable’s house.” Mabel is the darling of my friend group. She is affectionally known among them as, "The Mayor."
Mabel comes to work with me two to three days a week. Here she is, on her favorite spot in the office, my desk!"
"Mabel is busy! She's curious, into everything, and always has at least 10 toys out. She's my constant shadow. When she's not playing, she likes to curl up on my chest and my head. Late night cuddles quickly turned into Mabel sleeping in my bed. She's still quite small but manages to take up the entire bed!
Mabel is the most popular resident in our neighborhood. People see us on their cameras and come out to pet her. Our house is now known as “Mable’s house.” Mabel is the darling of my friend group. She is affectionally known among them as, "The Mayor."
Mabel comes to work with me two to three days a week. Here she is, on her favorite spot in the office, my desk!"
And here is a story I found among the items that were packed in our many boxes! Click it to enlarge for easier reading.
We all enjoy a good dog story. If you have something to share about your Joyslyn's Lhasa, please send it to me.
From the Archives
The first photo is of Ahna (CH Mi Toya Joyslyn Whirlwind), whom I co-owned with my friend JoAnn. When JoAnn became ill and passed, Ahna came to live with us.
Here is Ahna at a show with JoAnn and noted Lhasa breeder and judge Keke Khan.
This is Conner (CH San-Dhi Joyslyn Icon), a male I bought from Sandra Devlin. Sandy tried and tried to find a way to get Conner to me from where she lived in NM. He was supposed to hitch a ride with some folks from the mid-west as they came this way for a show, but a couple of their dogs got sick and we certainly did not want to expose Conner. So she ended up having to send him on a plane. The poor guy! When I got him and took him out of the crate, he latched on to me like I was his lord and savior. Since that day, he loved me so much and he produced some lovely puppies. Here are some pictures of him.
This one was taken on the day he became a Champion.
This one is a head study taken at a show in Louisville.
This is Davey (CH Joyslyn's Heartthrob). He and I were like water and oil. Our personalities just did not mesh! I showed him a few times and gave up and passed him to my friend Jane. He much preferred her! She showed him to his championship. Afterwards he went to a retired professor. Their admiration for each other was mutual and Davey lived a life where he was much loved and very very spoiled! Davey ended up in just the right home for him!
This next dog is Duncan, CH Joyslyn's Highly Classified. I would put him on the table for the judges to examine and they would always--every one of them--ask, "What do you call that color?" and I would always answer, "Beautiful and unique!" They would agree.
Duncan was with us for a few years and sired some nice puppies, but none inherited his unusual coat color. One day, a woman came to get a puppy and fell in love with Duncan and convinced me to part with him.
Next up is Flame (CH Joyslyn's Winds of Fire). She and Davey were littermates, but unlike him, she liked to show and she loved me! After having a litter, Flame went to live with my friends Shari and Courtney, who now owns Amelia.
Flame was a gorgeous red color, thus her name!
And, yes I am fully aware that I have been blessed with wonderful Lhasas!
An article from the archives:
Lhasa Apso Color Choices
by Joyce Johanson
Standard Colors
Black (Solid Black),
Golden (Pale gold to wheaten),
Grizzle (Bluish-gray or iron gray color due to an admixture of black and white hairs. Red grizzle is an admixture of black and red hairs),
Red Gold (Dark apricot to light red),
White (Solid White),
Black & Tan (Typical black & tan markings; i.e. black body color with tan spots above eyes, on cheeks, on muzzle, chest, legs, and vent),
Cream (Almost white to darker shades of cream),
Red (Solid red with shades of Viszla red to Irish Setter red).
Alternate Colors
Gray (Light charcoal or blue or grizzle),
Silver (Admixture of cream and black, charcoal or gray; i.e. cream sable or cream grizzle),
Liver (or brown or chocolate--deep reddish brown with self-colored liver skin pigment),
Charcoal (Dark slate gray; i.e. faded black),
Blue (A dilution of black, either light of dark blue gray with self-colored blue skin pigment).
Markings
Brindle (A color pattern produced by the presence of darker hairs forming bands and giving a striped effect on a background of cream, gold, or red),
Sable (A color pattern produced by black tipped hairs overlaid upon a background of gold, cream, red or red gold),
Parti-color (a color pattern broken up into two or more colors, one of which is white, in more or less equal proportions),
White markings (White on colored background usually on one or a combination: chest collar, blaze, muzzle, or tail tip),
Black tips (black tipped hairs; i.e. sable),
Black mask with tips (Dark shading of varying degrees about the head, ears, and tail; i.e. dark points).
Caution: Before you register your puppy, REMEMBER that most Lhasa puppies do tend to change color as they go through that first year. Typically, colors will lighten; a puppy that looks "Brown" at ten weeks may be "Gold" at ten months, or one that looks "Gold" at an early age may prove later to be a "Cream." Sometimes you can get a good idea of the puppy's "real" color by checking the hair color close to the roots. If it seems quite a bit lighter, choose the lighter color choice.
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!
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Thanks for reading and special thanks to those who sent stories, photos, and notes to make this post special.
In this season of Thanksgiving let's remember to count our Lhasas among our many blessings.
