Happy Independence Day!

May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right. ~ Peter Marshall

 Show Results

Greta, Jenna, and I traveled to the Kettle Moraine shows in West Bend, WI, this past weekend. We had the luxury of staying in Jan Graunke's motor home with Jan, Karen Schlais, and their four Lhasas. The weather was super dog show weather — neither too hot nor too cold, just the right amount of breeze.

We went to have a good time and we did! I showed Jenna on Saturday in two shows, the Kettle Moraine show in the morning and the Greater Milwaukee Lhasa Apso Club Specialty Show in the evening. In the morning, Jenna won her class then went on to take Winners Bitch and Best of Winners. There were 10 bitches competing so she received a 5 point major! Jenna just turned 7 months on June 22nd. Karen's puppy bitch took 2nd in the class and then went on to take Reserve Winners bitch. Faith is just 6 months old. We were proud of both girls!

In the evening, the placements were the opposite. Faith took first in the class and Jenna took second. Faith also took the ribbon for Best Puppy in Specialty. WTG Faith and Karen!

The next day was Greta's turn. I'd practiced with her a little up and down the aisle in front of our grooming space and her tail was sometimes up, sometimes down. In her crate and on the grooming table she was very full of herself and let every person and (to her) strange looking dog that walked by know that she was there and on guard.

The ring was a different story. She and Faith were in the ring together. Greta had the lower armband number so she was first in the ring. She had her tail down on the first go-around, and on the down and back after the table exam. When the judge placed Faith in front of her for the last go-around, Greta put up her tail and walked just fine. Hurray! There is hope yet! Now we have to wait 3 weeks for the next show and hope she remembers that the ring is not such a bad place after all (as long as there is a dog in front of you to follow!).

Here are some photos:

This first photo was taken by Michael Yang.

Jenna with me in the 6-9 puppy class

 I took these two with my iPad.

Jenna with her ribbons

Greta waiting to go to ringside (see unhappy Jenna still in her crate!)

I am also very proud of Misti, MonAmi N Joyslyn's Shades of Summer who took WB and Best Puppy on Sunday for a 5 point major and a Group 2 in the puppy group. Misti was bred by and is owned by LaVonne Bennett and me. Her sire GCH Mon Ami's Late Night Shadow (Winslow) and Joyslyn MLS Windy Winter Night Mon Ami (Cinder). Here is the photo taken at the grooming set up. I'll post official show photos when we get them.

I also want to congratulate Jan Graunke and Karen Schlais on the BOS and Select placements of their Stewie and Penny at the Kettle Moraine and GMLAC shows. Although they always give me a hard time about it, I do enjoy bragging that my Breaker is Stewie and Penny's sire. Hey...I always thought that Grandmas had bragging rights, especially when they are proud of their "grandkids" accomplishments!! Here are photos of Stewie and Penny in the ring, Stewie with Jan and Penny with Karen. Thanks again to Michael Yang for taking and posting the photos.

Jan with Ch. Golden Tu Karlyn Tattle Tale (Stewie)

Karen with Ch. Karlyn Golden Tu Sing Soft Kitty to Me (Penny)

Anyway, that is it for now. My to-do list was long today, and I am proud of all I accomplished, although still have to groom a couple dogs this evening and really really just want to curl up with a book. Lest you think it was "all work" for me today, I will tell you that I made time to go see the new Tarzan movie and really enjoyed it. I've been a Tarzan fan from watching the early TV shows and movies and reading the Edgar Rice Burroughs Tarzan novels. I had to see this new one and am glad I did.

Now I have to go turn up the radio and TV and hope their noise drowns out the noise of the fireworks and keeps the dogs calm. They hate July 4th noises!

Until next time....

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

Joyce

Updates

“One of the biggest disadvantages of being grown up is seeing the time rush by faster.” ~ Pawan Mishra, Coinman: An Untold Conspiracy



See the photo of The Scream to the left? Well, that is how I have been feeling this month. So much to do, so little time. Add in some stress and frustration...

I do not know where June went. I had intentions of posting to the blog for Father's Day. That day came and went.

Here is the quotation I planned to use, just so you know I actually had plans: "I believe that what we become depends on what our fathers teach us at odd moments, when they aren't trying to teach us. We are formed by little scraps of wisdom.” -- Umberto Eco

May and June were months of chaos here, as nearly every one of our girls came in season and all the males have been in a constant uproar. Those of you who have been waiting for news of puppies, keep your fingers crossed that the two breedings we did result in pregnancies. Puppies should be due around the first of August if all goes as planned.

Did I tell you that I retired January 1? You could not prove it by my June schedule. I was (still am after returning to work part time) the Associate Director for an office that runs completely on grant funds. Our Fiscal Year 2016 funding ends June 30, so we've been busily working all month submitting budgets, work scopes, and narratives for continuation funding for FY17. The stress came because our university's deadlines and the funding agencies' deadlines are not the same.

My June weekends have been full also. The first weekend I drove to Cincinnati and back in one day to pick up two Lhasas (Shadow and Windy) from Mike Lucas. Mike's wife, Marilyn, long time Lhasa breeder and exhibitor, passed away in March. Shadow (Ch. Cozmos Chiennoir) stayed here with me and the following weekend I made another long drive to deliver Windy to her new owner. Both girls are doing great in their new homes.

My granddaughter came to spend a week with us. It was great, but the poor girl had to spend some time with me at the office. Boring. Poor thing. I'm sure that is not what she had planned for her week at her grandparents. (We made time for some fun activities too!)

I did make time for a dog show in Ft. Dodge, IA, last weekend. I entered Greta to give her some more ring experience, hoping so much that maybe this time she would get her tail up and have fun in the ring. Mary entered Riley, Joyslyn's Wind of the Spirit, who is Greta's older full sister from an earlier breeding between Duncan and Windy. Mary was hoping that Riley would get the last point she needed for her championship.  Mary got what she hoped for. Riley beat Greta both days. Now Riley is Ch. Joyslyn's Wind of the Spirit.

Riley's championship means that her mom, Windy (Ch. MLS Dakota Dancing in the Wind at Joyslyn) now has enough champion offspring to qualify for her Register of Merit award from the American Lhasa Apso Club.

Although I did not get completely what I hoped for at the show, there was a glimmer of light at the far end of the tunnel. Greta held her tail down when she was in the class by herself. When she was in the Winner's class and behind Riley, she did get her tail up after a few steps. That is encouraging. I guess I am not as patient as I used to be. I keep wondering that if she is so unhappy in the ring if I should just give up. I'm not quite ready to do that yet.

Other Joyslyn kids are doing well in the ring. Cinder, Joyslyn MLS Dakota Windy Winter Night Mon Ami, owned by LaVonne Bennett and me, has been doing well at shows lately, taking WB earlier this month at a WI show and again yesterday at a MN show. Cinder is a full sister to Josh (GCh. Joyslyn MLS Dakota Wind Breaker). Here are some pictures taken at the grooming set up yesterday before and after her wins.

Cinder chilling as she waits to go to ringside

Cinder with her ribbons

Cinder's daughter, Mon Ami N Joyslyn's Shades of Summer (Misty), bred and owned by LaVonne and me, took Reserve to her mother, Best of Breed Puppy, and Non-Sporting Puppy Group 3 at the same show.

Karen Schlais and Jan Graunke's Ch Karlyn Golden Tu Sing Soft Kitty to Me (Penny) took Best of Breed at that show. Penny's sire is GCh. Joyslyn's Heartbreaker.

Thanks, Karen, for sending the photos and show results.

I'm stuck at home this weekend! Ho-hum!
Next weekend, however, is the much anticipated Kettle Moraine show. The Greater Milwaukee Lhasa Apso Club is hosting two specialties. I have entered Jenna one day and Greta the other day. Keep fingers crossed that Greta relaxes and gets her tail up.

I found this great quotation about dogs that I want to share:
"We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It’s the best deal man has ever made." – M. Acklam



 Mary Reese send me a link to a video of Joyslyn's Beauty Secret (Belle) during an agility trial.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FIA3-9z_E0&feature=youtu.be 
I really like watching her go up and over the A-frame. This is the girl that hated the show ring!


Sad news came from Shannon: "About 14 years ago we came to pick up our puppy from you. Her name was Mia. We had to say good bye to Mia this past Friday and it was one of the hardest things we've ever had to do. She was raised with my 4 children and loved by them so much. She will forever be in our hearts. I wanted to say thank you for letting us be a part of her life, she was a wonderful dog and will be greatly missed."

Kristi send a cute photo of Vader, who is a litter brother to our Kimmi.

As I look ahead, July and August calendars already look as crazy as June's was. I suppose it keeps me from being lazy! I am especially looking forward to the Burlington Kennel Club's July dog show which is going to be held in Macomb this year on the campus of Western Illinois University, only 6 blocks from my house!

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

Joyce

Show Results and Some Photos

                                   And what is so rare as a day in June?
                                 

Then, if ever, come perfect days;


Then Heaven tries earth if it be in tune,


And over it softly her warm ear lays;


Whether we look, or whether we listen,


We hear life murmur, or see it glisten...

                       ~James Russell Lowell 

In one of his books, Dr. Seuss wrote, "How did it get so late so soon?" I'm feeling like that right now as I think about how five months of 2016 are already history. How did we get to the 6th month of the year so quickly?

At least being able to look back at my blog posts I can sort of keep track of and recall some of the highlights of those five months!

Last weekend's shows were a combination of ups and downs. The ups included Kimmi taking Select Bitch and earning two more points toward her Grand Championship. She also took Best of Breed Owner-Handled each day. On Friday, she placed second in the Owner-Handled Non-Sporting Group. She placed fourth in the Group on Saturday, and did not place on Sunday. Here are some quick photos taken of Kimmi with her ribbons after we got back to the grooming set up.

Kimmi - OH Group 2

Kimmi - OH Group 4

 

The downs were a result of Kimmi deciding she did not want to show. She was such a disappointment and frustration the entire weekend. It was very disheartening to say the least. She was spooky in the ring, held her tail down, and just plain gave up on me. The fact that she placed in the Groups is, I suppose, a testimony to her conformation because she certainly did not place because of her excellent showmanship.

Another down was Greta. She was shown only on Sunday and she immediately proved that she would rather be any place but in the ring. She held her tail down when she was in the ring by herself and put it up a couple times when she was in the ring for Winners Bitch -- so perhaps there is hope!

Every once in a while a dog comes along whose job, I guess, is to make me humble. This time I have two of them working on that for me! Sheesh...

Jenna's performance was an "up." Friday was her first show. She walked around the ring with head and tail up and acted like an old pro. Saturday she knew what she was doing and charmed the judge into giving her Winners Bitch and the point. I was elated! She had just turned 6 months old on May 22.

Jenna with her ribbons

Another "up" was Riley taking Winners Bitch on Sunday. We were hoping she would win both days because then she would be a champion, so I guess you could say that Jenna's Saturday win was both an "up" and a "down." The judge told Mary he just "had taken a liking to the puppy." Riley just needs one more single point to be finished.

Once again, my thanks to my Shiba Inu friend, Jane Chapin, who helped me at ringside and took the pictures of Kimmi and Jenna.

Jane and I often travel to shows together, sometimes in her van and other times in my car. From 2000-2014 I had a series of three Impalas. They had huge trunks, and I was able to easily load all my dog show "stuff" in those trunks, often amazing passers-by as they watched me load or unload the many items I'd brought along. Then when the new model Impala's came out, the trunk capacity stayed the same but the configuration differed and, try as I might on the new Impala on the lot, I could not get all the stuff in that trunk! Darn!

The poor salesman just could not quite understand why I was so focused on the trunk! He kept trying to show me all the bells and whistles inside the car. His sale was foiled by a trunk. That probably had not happened to him before!

So I went to the Ford dealer next door and bought a Taurus -- but only after carefully examining and measuring the trunk! (He also thought that was a bit over the top, but he went along with it. Hey...anything to make a sale, right?). This all happened in 2014. I can get many things in that car's trunk. Here is the proof. Jane took photos as we packed to go home.

We had two people, four dogs in plastic crates, two suitcases, two garment bags, two make-up bags, two bags holding dog food and dishes, two gallon jugs of water (mostly empty by Sunday), two small coolers, my bag that holds my water bottles and a couple of coat conditioner spray bottles, a bag of towels and crate pads, four wire crates that fold up, two plastic storage tubs, three ringside tables, one grooming table, two stools, two fans, a bag full of three crate fans, two exercise pens, two ex-pen mats, two grooming bags full of (you guessed it) items needed for grooming, the crate trolley, a fold-up chair, a small bag with a long extension cord in it, and a bag full of bungie cords. There might have been more, but that's all I can recall at the moment.

And here are the pictures:

The almost empty trunk - holding two fans in boxes and an ex-pen mat

Most - but not quite all - of the things that had to be packed into the backseat and the trunk.

The trunk with almost everything in it. One more storage tub was added in the space to the right of the suitcase!

Passenger side back seat. Wire crate and 2 garment bags atop the dog's crate.

Driver's side back seat. Note that there is still some room atop the crates! Also note that the dogs are well secured with bungie cords.

The view from the front seat. Yes, there was still room for Jane and me.

Amazing, right?

On a different topic, if all goes as planned and if Mother Nature cooperates, we should have a new litter by the first week in August! At last!!! Keep your fingers crossed that the breedings were successful.

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

Joyce

Memorial Day Weekend

"I have never been able to think of the day as one of mourning; I have never quite been able to feel that half-masted flags were appropriate on Decoration Day.  I have rather felt that the flag should be at the peak, because those whose dying we commemorate rejoiced in seeing it where their valor placed it.  We honor them in a joyous, thankful, triumphant commemoration of what they did."  ~Benjamin Harrison


On this Memorial Day weekend, Kimmi, Greta, Jenna, and I will be at a dog show. There will not be many Lhasas there. Jenna will make her ring debut this afternoon. There are no other Lhasas entered in the regular classes, so this debut will be one of Jenna in the ring by herself and me hoping she holds her tail up. Jenna will show again tomorrow. There is be one other class bitch entered. Little Kimmi will have competition from two other bitch specials. Greta won't show until Sunday. Mostly, it will be a practice weekend for all, and that is "apsolutely" okay!

We did not go to any shows last weekend but our Lhasa family members did. Josh's litter sister, Cinder, earned two points. Cinder is owned by LaVonne Bennett and co-owned by me.

At the same show, Kimmi's half brother Stewie and half sister Penny, took Best of Breed and Best Opposite Sex, respectively, on Saturday. On Sunday, roles reversed, and Penny took Best of Breed and went on to win third place in the Non-Sporting Group. Stewie and Penny were bred by co-owners Jan Graunke and Karen Schlais. Congrats to all for a great weekend! (Photos below courtesy of Facebook postings by Karen and Jan.)

Stewie and Penny with Saturday's ribbons

Penny after winning Group 3

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

Joyce

 

Catching Up!

It has been a while since I wrote. I apologize, but the days have sped by so quickly and I've had so much to write about that .... well, same old excuses! We've all used them many times.

To start with, I did not get to wish all of you who are moms "Happy Mother's Day!" So here is a belated wish that each of you moms had a wonderful Mother's Day and received meaningful cards and phone calls from your children.

Here is the image I had intended to post prior to Mother's Day. Lest it be wasted, here it is now!

I spent Mother's Day the way I have spent Mother's Day for the past (I don't know how many) years, but it has been a lot. You guessed it. I was at a dog show!

 Couch Potato?

As you know, Josh is not being shown. I am hoping to take him to a few shows again this summer. I think he needed a rest from the ring as he was shown steadily from the time he was five months old. Granted, he's only two years old now, but he needed a rest and an attitude adjustment. He is taking advantage of the "rest" part. The attitude part remains to be seen.

 Show Results 

Kimmi and Greta, along with a special guest named Riley, went to Jefferson, WI, for shows on May 6, 7, and 8. These were Greta's first shows, and I am very sad to report that she was quite unhappy about being in the ring. Her tail was down and she was shivering from fear. It was sad for me to see her that way, but the only way to begin is to begin. So we did. Better luck next time, right?

I have heard it said that dog shows are much like gambling. You win just enough to keep you coming back.

Kimmi was awarded Select Bitch each day, earning her the three majors required for a Grand Championship. She has other requirements to fulfill, but at least the majors are out of the way. Check those off the list. Kimmi also was awarded Best Owner Handled in Breed each day. She took a third place in the Friday OH group, a fourth place on Saturday, and did not place on Sunday.  

I am sorry to report that Kimmi decided she did not like to show in the group ring! On Saturday we ended up going in at the end of the line-up. Then as the judge started his exam of each dog, Kimmi was spooked by a Shar Pei, as it came around the ring at full speed and stopped right behind her! She'd never seen such a dog!

Who me? Act up in the ring?  You must have me mixed up with someone else.

Riley, known to AKC as Joyslyn's Spirit of the Wind,  joined us for that weekend because her owner, Mary Kaufmann, had prior commitments. Mary purchased Riley from me. Some of you have her siblings, born late December 2014, sired by Duncan out of Windy. Riley is fun to show and the judges appreciated her movement.

Riley was the star of the weekend. She won two of the three days, earning a 5 point major on Friday, and a 3 point major on Sunday, giving her her first 8 points. This is a photo of Riley and me after her win on Friday. Thanks, Karen Schlais, for taking the photo.

After a few days at home to catch up on laundry and grooming—oh, and to go to work at the office—we also went to shows this past weekend in Rock Island, IL. Since Rock Island is only an hour and a half away, it was nice to drive back and forth and sleep in my own bed instead of a motel room.

Greta disliked this show and the show ring as much as she disliked it all the previous week. Darn! I have to learn patience. She'll get it one of these days!

Here are some pictures taken of Miss Greta. By the way, Greta is a full sister, albeit a younger sister, of Riley.

Riley had a great day at the show on Saturday. I showed her in the Open class and she took Winners Bitch. That gave her another 3 point major. Since I took Kimmi in for the Best of Breed judging, Mary, Riley's owner, showed Riley in that class. To Mary's surprise, indeed to the surprise of us all, the judge chose Riley as his Best of Breed. Because Riley had defeated the champions competing for Best of Breed, three of them being bitches, the 3 point major became a 5 point major. Now Riley needs just two single points to become a champion. We are very proud of her.

Here is a photo of Riley, taken back at the grooming set up. You can see Kimmi and Greta in their crates in the background. Thanks, LaVonne Bennett, for the photo.

Here is a photo of Jenna (left) and Greta (right) as I was carrying them outside to the ex-pen. Jenna will be old enough to show soon. Her first shows will be in Bloomington, IL, on Memorial Day weekend. If you live near Bloomington, come by to see us! There are fun matches after the Friday and Saturday Best in Show judging, so they will provide the two girls with some extra ring experience.

Notes and Photos from Others

Marilyn and Kathy are friends who have Joyslyn's puppies. Every so often Maci and Sophie get together for a play day. After one such day, Marilyn sent photos and wrote, "Hi Joyce, the girls had a great time playing this am. Here are the after pics. They even lie on the same side. We are so blessed to have a Joyslyn's pure-bred Lhasa…"

And she sent these photos of the girls resting after their day together! I think they wore each other out!

Maci

Sophie

Cindy wrote a note about her Jethro: "…I can't believe Jethro will be 3 years old this week. Time really flies. I know you were not thrilled with the name Jethro but it has turned out to be the perfect name.  Jethro is a big boy around 19 lbs. He has a huge head, is broad across the shoulders and haunches, and is very athletic. His eyes are so soulful and so full of mischief. Everyone he meets says his eyes are beautiful, and he has never known a stranger. Jethro's groomer always gives him a gold star and is amazed by his long, full tail. It really is an amazing tail and always in motion.  He spends a lot of time in the building helping with the show cars.  He likes to drag tools over to his bed so he now has a doggie wrench. This spring he has started walking by the Mississippi and thinks the Canadian Geese should play with him.  He is all boy and is truly a whirlwind of motion always looking for a new adventure.  He keeps us on our toes.  I am not sure he will ever mellow out to be a couch potato!  He is a jewel and one we are very grateful to have in our lives!  Take care and I hope you have an excellent show season!"

Jethro

Denise send a photo of her Duncan (named after his sire). He's a cutie too!

Violet sent photos of her Joyslyn's Lhasa, Yogi. He is getting up there in years and enjoys napping in the sun.

Judy adopted Raven (Ch. Joyslyn's Midnight Enchantment) from me a year ago. Raven recently accompanied Judy on a trip from CA to OK. I received many photos and wonderful descriptions of Raven and the trip. Here is one excerpt and photo. "...The airports were a crack up. Raven walked on leash and one would think she had been traveling for years and years. I could see that many of the passengers were watching Raven and smiling. I also heard people commenting on her. Several people stopped me and asked if they could pet Raven. Raven was very gracious and allowed them to do so. Passengers on all of the flights commented on how well behaved Raven was, even when we had a lot of turbulence. Not a peep out of her."

Raven enjoying the deck at Judy's mom's home

Raven at the airport. She travels with the blanket and big plush bone I sent with her when she went to Judy

This next note is not a happy one.

Gail adopted Piper (Ch. Joyslyn's The Charmed One) from us about nine years ago. If I recall, Piper was about 5 years old when Gail bought her. Gail recently wrote that Piper had crossed the Rainbow Bridge. My heart goes out to Gail who loved Piper so very much. Gail wrote, "Hello Joyce, I have some very sad news to share. I lost my sweet Piper yesterday. I am heartbroken but I know I made the right decision.  I miss her.  The house is so quiet and still without her. She made me very happy. I must tell you that she is the best dog I have ever had. Even my Vet said she was the "complete package" - beautiful, smart, well-behaved and sweet as could be.  Even her slightly crooked nose made her more endearing. She was also quite a little fighter. She fought her own battle with diabetes and helped me battle a year of breast cancer.  During that time, she was my reason for getting up every morning. Thank you Joyce for the love and the Expertise you put into breeding these wonderful little dogs.  You are able to create additional loving family members for us.  What a wonderful gift you have. Thank you again"



Now you must indulge me while I share some photos of the beautiful Piper.

Piper winning her first points - 2003

Piper winning a major - 2003

Piper the day she became a champion - 2004

Piper in her later years

Rest in Peace Piper. You were well loved and gave such love in return. I know Gail misses you so very much.

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

Please love them in return. They are with us for such a short time.

Joyce