Mostly Photos...and Something about Email Problems

Happy Summer Solstice! (I know, I am a day late!) So...Summer is officially underway and I hope your summer days are all happy ones.

This blog post will mainly be for showing you photos of the puppies and of Joyslyn's dogs that now belong to others.

Four of Kimmi's puppies left for their new homes. The fifth one is staying with us. This is Archie at 11 weeks. His name used to be Noah, and I explained in the last post why we changed it.

Archie's siblings' owners sent updates and photos too.
This is the puppy formerly known as Gabe and now named Carso.

This is Teddy, previously named Liam.

Here is  the boys' litter sister, Hazel just hanging out with her girls.

And this is their sister Minnie.

We have new puppies. Greta's litter was born June 6th and are now 2 weeks old. They are not very photogenic at this age but here they are.

Two gold females: 

Two black females:

And one black male:

All these puppies have been reserved.

Jenna has one puppy, who is now one week old. I call her Solo, for obvious reasons!

I have contacted the next 8 people on my list so that I can keep the list up to date. Not everyone on the list wants a black puppy.

Onyx's litter is due any day now. My guess is that all her puppies will be black. She was bred to Breaker, who is gold, and the last time they had puppies, all were black. My apologies to those on my list who are waiting for gold puppies. It's not like shopping online where you can put an order in for number of puppies, number of males and females, and color choices.

Stacey sent a photo of Enzo. Usually he is pictured cuddled up to his buddy Elliot, but not this time.

Judy sent a photo of Gus and his ribbons. Gus is now an AKC S.T.A.R  puppy and recipient of the AKC Canine Good Citizen Award. He also just earned his Trick Dog Novice Award.

Sally sent a photo of Ginger, taken after Ginger had been racing around with a German Shepherd friend. She got hot and dug herself a hole to cool off. Bath time for Ginger!

My Email Problems

If you are on my waiting list for a female and are among the 8 people who originally  contacted me between February 11, 2020, and April 22, 2020, you should have received an email on June 11th asking if you wanted to stay on the waiting list and if you would confirm again your color preference*. If you did not receive that email, first check your SPAM or JUNK folders and if it is not there, let me know because I have had some problems with email lately. Thanks to those four who have already responded.

If you did receive the email, please reply by June 24 or I will assume you have found a puppy from another breeder and are no longer interested.

Yes, outlook.com has been giving me some problems. These were first discovered when a close friend sent me an important email to which I responded. However, she never received the response and wrote wondering why. We did a couple of experiments and found that, while I received her messages, mine were not getting through to her, not even in her SPAM or JUNK files. So she has to use my work email address to communicate with me via email.

Something similar happened with someone who is buying a puppy. I receive her messages and if I click "Reply," and respond to her that way, she does not receive my messages, but if I start a new message, it goes through. Go figure...

I just do not want anyone to think I am ignoring their messages. So, if you email me and do not get a response after a day, send an email again asking if I received your original message. I check my messages numerous times a day unless I am traveling (not likely these days).

Technology can be so helpful and yet so frustrating! Is anyone else noticing that the letters x, y, and z are not showing up in some emails and on some websites? Weird...and it seems to be happening with the serif fonts.

Anyway, Happy Summer!

Joyce

* I have not received return messages from Tracy S., Tamara S., Roger A., or Kim K.

Replies have been received from Terry D., Judy B., Robert O., and Stephanie W. 

June Is Bustin' Out All Over!

"It was June, and the world smelled of roses. The sunshine was like powdered gold over the grassy hillside."  
~ Maud Hart Lovelace, Betsy-Tacy and Tibb 


Well, we've made it through another month without haircuts. That is something to celebrate, I guess. Actually, with businesses opening up this month, if you really need a reason to celebrate, just google "Wacky June holidays," and you will get a long list. Here are a few I found: 
4th - Hug Your Cat Day (missed that one!)
9th - Donald Duck Day
18th - Go Fishing Day
23rd - National Pink Day
26th - Forgiveness Day (We definitely need to celebrate this one)

As I write this, June 6th is tomorrow and, of course, that is a day of celebration in honor of the 76th anniversary of D-Day and the Americans who fought under such terrible circumstances. 

An excerpt from "Normandy" by Cyril Crain

"...The battle raged in Normandy, many lives were lost.
The war must end in victory and this must be the cost.
When my life is over, and I reach the other side,
I'll meet my friends from Normandy and shake their hands with pride."

Upcoming we have Flag Day on the 14th and

Juneteenth on the 19th. The word is a combination of June and the June day (19th) in 1865 that Texas governor read the Emancipation Proclamation (2 years after it was written!) to the state's African-American slaves. It is also known as Freedom Day.

And, of course, we remember our dads on June 21st.

We have been quietly celebrating the publication of my husband's first novel. It's been getting great reviews, so if you like a good mystery novel, you should definitely get a copy. All the book signings had to be canceled because of the Covid19 virus and that was disappointing. Look for Rose's Thorn by Lynn-Steven Johanson. Those of you who have already read it and said you hope there is another with the same main character will be pleased to know Lynn has written the first draft of the next book and is currently revising it before it goes to the publisher for more editing. 

Two days ago I quietly celebrated the completion of a task for the American Lhasa Apso Club that I had been putting off. I actually found out, once I got started, that it was not as bad as I thought it would be. I mentally patted myself on the back and ate some ice cream. 

We'll soon be celebrating new puppies. They are due this weekend. People at the top of our waiting list will be happy too!

The current litter of puppies will soon be leaving and I hope their pick-up day is a day of celebration for the new owners. I am keeping one of them - the male that was given the temporary name Noah. I decided I could not call him Noah, although I thought naming him Joyslyn's Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head would be fun! However, the name Noah begins with the syllable "no" and it occurred to me that every time I said "no" to any of the other dogs, the poor boy would think I was chastising him! So, we are still working on both a call name and registered name for him.

Here are the puppies' photos at age 9 weeks. From top to bottom: Gabe, Hazel, Liam, Noah, and Minnie. 

We took photos of Millie also. She is now 14 months old. She is very pretty and I love her happy, playful attitude. She looks so dignified in these photos. Don't let that fool you! She is a character!

Chuck and Steve sent this photo of their Lhasa Cooper, who is a Rafe (GCH CH Joyslyn's Inherit the Wind) son. He's a handsome boy! 

Jan sent photos of Pebbles Grace, a litter sister of Millie's. As puppies, they were hard for me to tell apart. We called them the twins and I had to mark them to be able to tell who was who.

Denise sent this photo of Colonel. What a cutie!

Finally, it is my hope that we all find many things, large and small, to celebrate not only in June but throughout our lives. The first months of 2020 have not been good ones for so many people as the virus, the killings and resulting protests, and the small and large trials of daily life lately have turned our lives upside down, making us question "why" day after day. 

May you find something good in every day and may you always be thankful for your Lhasa Apso and the love and devotion he/she gives you. A Lhasa kiss makes things so much better!

Joyce

Memorial Day Weekend

Rest, comrades, rest and sleep!
The thoughts of men shall be as sentinels to keep
your rest from danger free.

Your silent tents of green we deck with fragrant flowers;
Yours has the suffering been, the memory shall be ours.
                                      ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow


This last blog post in May will be shorter than usual - at least that is the intention!

I know that many states, cities, and towns are opening up  businesses and churches again in anticipation of the holiday weekend and because many people are demanding an end to the lock down. We plan to keep things here as they have been for the past few months, just to be on the safe side. We have made it this long without getting sick and are just hoping to stay well.

So, whatever you decide to do this holiday weekend, use common sense and be safe!

Normally, on this weekend I would be in Bloomington, IL at a 4-day dog show. It has been so weird not to be going to shows this spring. I just hope that Millie remembers what it is all about and doesn't freak out when we finally go to a show and she sees judges wearing masks. The same hope is for Winter, who is still in MS with her handler waiting for shows to start again.

One thing I will tell you is that "Zoom Fatigue" is a real thing and I have it! What are the signs? Feeling "down" and not knowing why, changing sleeping patterns, restlessness, eye fatigue, headaches. Since the shut down began many of us have been able to stay employed by working from home and conducting necessary business via Zoom. In the beginning it was great - work was accomplished and, even more importantly, we stayed connected with family, friends, and co-workers. Now I am ready to be done with it for a while. This past week for 3 days I had Zoom meetings from 8:00 to 4:30. Loved the people I was with and good things happened throughout the meetings. My eyes are tired!

Now for something more upbeat! Here are the most recent pictures of the Cooper and Kimmi puppies, now 7 weeks old. They are all adorable, of course! But I bet by looking at their faces you can easily tell which ones are the most mischievous.

Noah

Liam

Gabe

Hazel

Minnie

Perhaps all of them??

You might also have noticed that the girls' names have changed since their pictures were last posted. The people who are buying the girls have already named them. Cute names too!

Here are photos of 3 of the Josh and Bekka puppies that were a year old at the end of March.

Michele sent this one of Trinket.

Judy sent pictures of Gus with his new haircut and told me Gus, at age 14 months, has been given the titles of Evaluator and Mentor at the Blue Barn Ranch where he goes to day care twice a week.

Gus with one of his mentees at Blue Barn Ranch (pre-haircut)

Gus sporting his new "do"

Kathy sent photos of Jampa, showing how his coat is silvering out. 

Yes, it is a Lhasa prerogative to decide whether or not to change color!

Announcement: We will have new litters in June. If you are already on my waiting lists (I have one for each sex), I will be contacting you in the order you appear on the list once puppies from each litter have been born and I know how many of each sex there are. I will ask if you are still interested in a puppy or not and will ask for a response within a few days. If I do not get a response, I will move to the next person on the list. It is the only fair way I can think of to do it. Some of you have been waiting a long time.

While you are waiting for a puppy here are some links that can be helpful for any puppy, not just a Lhasa.

Building a bond with your puppy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-V0CBEGp2Y

Tips for new puppy owners:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wEOY2scNMY

That's it for today. Keep smiling and stay positive!

Joyce

It was't shorter, was it?

Happy May!

“Then you have to remember to be thankful; but in May one simply can't help being thankful . . . that they are alive, if for nothing else. I feel exactly as Eve must have felt in the garden of Eden before the trouble began.”
~ L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea

I don't know about you, but I am happy it is May. Everything seems to be "coming to life" as we watch plants emerging from the soil, trees budding, birds building nests. It's an Easter all its own of new life, new beginnings, new reasons to be hopeful, even in the face of the pandemic. I try not to listen to too much TV news. I know the newscasters are trying to drive home the fact that we are in danger, but I have found that too much of it brings me down. 

I wear a mask in public and hope you do too. My opinion - it doesn't hurt and it might help. I do not understand the outrage.

Now here is something to smile about -- Lhasa puppies! Here are the latest pictures of the five puppies at age 4 weeks.

From top to bottom: Lana, Candy, Liam, Noah, and Gabe

Cute, right??

Here are a couple photos I received recently. The first is of Kathy's Jampa. She wrote that his black coat has started to silver out.

Next is a photo of Lucky, who lives in Canada with Ev and Ted. Lucky recently celebrated his 8th birthday.

Joy sent this one of her Lucy.

Here are two photos Bill sent of Eddie on his first birthday. I love the one of him in his "show dog pose." He looks so proud.

Kim sent a photo of Snickers all cozy in his dog bed.

Marilyn sent photos of Maci and Hunter.

Much has happened since I wrote the previous blog and I want to share some of the highlights and resources with you.

First, if you have not already discovered it on Facebook, there is a Zoom series about Lhasas. They are first streamed live but are also recorded so those who missed the episodes can catch up. To find it, go to Facebook's search bar and type in Lessons in Lhasas # (then add the number of the episode you want to see. So far there are four with #5 happening this Thursday and #6 upcoming soon.

Topics have been: #1 Voices of Preservation Breeders (I'm part of that discussion), #2 Voices of the Future, #3 Challenges, #4 Grooming, #5 Breeding, #6 Showing

If you are staying inside, these episodes will keep you entertained, make you think, and provide learning opportunities.

Also, if you have not already done so, check out "Introducing the Lhasa Apso" on the website of the American Lhasa Apso Club. lhasaapso.org

On May 4, I gave an hour and a half webinar on the Lhasa Apso as part of an AKC Judges' Education series. Just before it began I learned that over 300 people had registered--made me a bit nervous!! If you want to learn more about the breed, check it out at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/290249486184879880

If that does not work, I have been told that AKC Judging Ops will post it sometime this week here: https://www.akc.org/sports/conformation/judging-information/judges-study-guides/ under “Lhasa Apso.”

I am going to end with an essay written by Daphna Straus entitled "10 Things I Learned from AKC Sports." She wrote:

The cancellation of swaths of AKC events has left many of us wistful and impatient for their return. With no shows to enter and plenty of absence to make the heart grow fonder, I found myself pondering what I got out of them in the first place. Here are 10 THINGS I LEARNED FROM AKC SPORTS.

1.     I learned how to drive. Where I’m from (NYC), a car is a luxury, but it’s a necessity to get to dog events. Whether I was mastering the hills of San Francisco to get to the SFDTC, cruising along Route 80 to Top Dog Obedience School, learning the back roads to PCOTC or staving off white line fever on the way to a Specialty, AKC events made me into something of a road warrior. We really get our miles in for our dogs.

2.     I learned how to be on time. When it comes to AKC events, if you’re on time, you’re late. I learned how to build time into my departure plans to be sure I had ample time to warm up my dog and be ring ready without extra stress.

3.     I learned persistence. We lose more than we win in dogs. We have more NQs than Qs and placements. From every NQ in Obedience I gained a lesson for improvement. As they say, “there will always be another dog show” – always an opportunity to do better next time.

4.     I learned patience. Success in our events comes with a side of waiting around. Waiting for Best of Breed or Groups. Waiting for sits and downs. You’ve gotta be in it to win it, so stick around.

5.     I learned how to be creative and resourceful. Since I never had a yard for a practice ring, I set up jumps in Central Park. The long alley behind my building served well for down-and-backs. Flocks of pigeons stood in for Indian Runner Ducks.

6.     I learned the downside of procrastinating. Sure as the sun will rise tomorrow, entries will always close two weeks ahead. Waiting too long to enter adds the extra expense of online entry fees (now inevitable for those of us always out of stamps) and the risk of being shut out altogether. This is a rule that never changes, and yet, I still wait till nearly the last minute almost every time.

7.     I learned how to get organized. Have a full tank before setting out for a show, lest you miss your ring time or confuse your dog with the smell of fuel on his scent articles. Wash and dry those articles the night before a trial. Pick out your outfits and get your show gear packed up the night before, too. A frantic, last minute search for that lucky show lead could cancel out its good vibes. Load driving directions up ahead in case you lose your signal along the way. AKC events helped me pull myself together!

8.     I learned the importance of setting goals and about the joy that comes with achieving them. While so much in life remains out of our control, our dog events give us wonderful opportunities to pursue challenging and fulfilling objectives while having fun along the way: a home-bred champion, an OTCH, a MACH, or any number of titles that reward instinct and breeding for purpose.

9.     I learned the value of volunteering. Being a ring steward, match secretary, parking attendant or any other seemingly thankless job is truly important. Without helpers to perform these tasks, the show can’t go on. It is satisfying to play a role in something bigger than yourself.

10.  I learned that we humans can get along with everyone and anyone – no matter our differences – because we are all working toward similar goals with our dogs. Our sports build camaraderie between rich and poor, young and old, men and women, gay and straight, rural and urban. We build deep and lasting connections with others by training and showing our dogs. The dog show community sets a tremendous example to others by building strength through the diversity we celebrate in our clubs, events and friendships.

Till we meet again, ringside!

--Daphna Straus

That's it for this week! I hope you can find the time to watch the various recordings and learn more about the wonderful Lhasa Apso -- and the breeders and owners who love them.

Joyce