Monday, March 4, 2024

March -- Spring At Last??

 


"March is a tomboy with tousled hair, a mischievous smile, mud on her shoes and a laugh in her voice."
~ Hal Borland

Happy Spring everyone! And while the daffodils may not yet be blooming in your garden and while the weather people are still forecasting some cold windy days, the promise of spring is in the air. 

Let's also keep in mind that March is Women's History Month. We women need to take time to read about the many brave women who throughout the history of our country stepped up and fought for women's rights to be treated equally and paid equally. We are not there yet! That is for sure. But these brave women have paved our way and inspired each generation of females to stand up until equality is ours. Google "Famous Women in American History" and take a few extra minutes each day to read up on a few of them.

"As women achieve power, the barriers will fall. As society sees what women can do, as women see what women can do, there will be more women out there doing things, and we'll all be better off for it." 
~Ruth Bader Ginsburg

What's Going on Here
February was over quickly around here. We went to a dog show and had fun, but both my dogs totally bombed. That show was Ebony's "swan song." She loves going to shows and hanging out. She doesn't mind showing off her beautiful movement going around the ring. Her tail is never down. However, she HATES strangers touching her! Every judge is a stranger. I love her too much to put her through the fear of the table exam.

My big disappointment was the puppy Deacon. This was his first show experience and the crowds and noise got to him. He went around the ring with tail down. Both of his judges, Bob Hutton and Jason Hoke, were absolutely wonderful with him, talking to him and encouraging him. I do think if there had been another dog in the ring with him to follow, he may have relaxed, but he was the only male showing.

Better luck next time, I guess!

Here is a picture taken at the show of Deacon and me with LaVonne and her Misti (on the left) and Adrian on the right.


And another of just Adrian and Deacon.


If you follow me on FB, you know that I brought a Lhasa named Kuper home from the show with me. His owners asked that I find him a new home. With the help of American Lhasa Apso Club members on behalf of ALAC Rescue, Kuper found a new home within 5 days. Here are pictures of him.



Another thing that came home from the show with me was a terrible cold! I hoped it was not Covid, so took a Covid test and was relieved to find out it was not Covid. In case you were not aware, every home in the U.S. is eligible to order from the CDC 4 free at-⁠home tests. If you did not order 4 tests in the fall of 2023, you can place two orders for a total of 8 tests.
What's coming Up
I need to get over the rest of the cold symptoms quickly because next week we will be on the road again to Louisville for shows. I, along with my friend Jan, will be co-presenting the ALAC Lhasa Apso seminar to judges who want to add the Lhasa to the list of breeds they judge. I enjoy giving that seminar -- always a teacher at heart! I just hope I have my normal voice back by then! This cold has taken a toll on my throat.

We return from Louisville on a famous March day of celebration: St. Patrick's Day.

  • "There's the joy of ole' Killarney, in these wishes meant for you; There's a bit of Irish blarney, and a touch of magic too. There's a wish of lots of laughter, and good luck, be sure o' that; And a wish that all your dreams may come true in no time flat." ~Irish toast
Our show after returning from Louisville is in Maquoketa, IA, on March 23 and 24. Then there is a hiatus in April while I lay around following cataract surgery. 

Spring is the time for new life! If the breeding resulted in pregnancy, we should have April puppies. I love Lhasa puppies!

Show Prospect vs Pet
Because I am often asked, "What is the difference between a show prospect and a pet puppy?" I am sharing the following article from my website. The site contains a lot more helpful and interesting articles so I hope, if you have not already visited and read some of the articles, that you find time to do so.

What Makes a Puppy a "Show Puppy?"

by Joyce Johanson

When people call me to ask questions about the Lhasa Apso or to inquire about puppies Joyslyn's might have for sale, I am often asked to explain the difference between "show" and "pet" quality puppies. I find the difference often hard to explain without leaving the impression that "show" means "good" and "pet" means "bad." I have many times heard breeders (myself included) refer to a puppy in a litter as "just a pet", inferring that there's something wrong with him. What qualities are necessary for a puppy to be labeled a "show quality puppy?" And what lack of qualities cause a puppy to be "just a pet?"

There is often a fine line between what is considered "show" or "pet" quality, and two breeders evaluating the same puppy may come up with different answers, depending on what they value in a dog. Some people like a refined Lhasa and will sell more heavily-boned puppies to pet homes. Some like a Lhasa with a longer muzzle, so if there happens to be a shorter-muzzled puppy in the litter, it gets sold to a pet home. I could go on and on in this vein. The point is, for every quality one breeder values, another breeder may decide that it is an undesirable trait, and label the puppy "just a pet." These qualities do not necessarily have to be structural. Many a breeder has agonized over the "absolutely breathtaking" puppy that is a shy violet that could never withstand the rigors of the show circuit.

Usually, to a person with little knowledge of canine structure or the Lhasa Apso standard, there is no difference between the classifications "show" and "pet" unless the puppy in question has some obvious flaw, such as a pink nose, a parrot mouth, a grossly undershot bite, or a poor topline.

What it boils down to is this: if you want a Lhasa Apso as your family pet, and you have no intentions of ever showing, then don't feel that your potential puppy is being downgraded by breeders' jargon, the reference to "pet" quality. More important to you than a straight front, lovely movement, level bite or all those other things "show" people might admire is that your Lhasa puppy have a great dispostion and fit in with your family's lifestyle. And don't apologize to people for having "just a pet." Showing is definitely NOT for everyone!

However, if you are looking for a Lhasa to show, keep in mind that dog showing is expensive and you want as high a quality puppy as possible to be competitive. If you buy an older puppy or young adult, you have more of an idea of structure and "show quality" than if you buy a young puppy. Many breeders will advertise their older puppies as "show quality" and their younger ones as having "show potential," simply because there are times when even an experienced breeder finds it hard to predict exactly how a young puppy will develop.

Sometimes a buyer will ask, "If I buy this 'show puppy' will you guarantee that it will get a championship?" My answer? NO! Why? Because so much depends on the buyer and what he/she does with the puppy after it leaves my house. Will the puppy be socialized, taken places to get used to different people, sounds, and smells? Will the buyer train the puppy correctly? Will the puppy's coat be groomed and conditioned properly? There are many aspects to showing a dog that go far beyond the dog's structure.

Concerned breeders carefully evaluate puppies before choosing a show potential puppy for themselves or their puppy buyers. They want the Lhasas in the ring with their kennel prefixes to be as outstanding as possible. They want what they consider the best of what they have produced out there speaking well of their breeding programs.

Also keep in mind that show quality includes attitude as well as structure and movement. An average Lhasa that has that "look at me! I'm special!" attitude often has a competitive edge over the more structurally sound dog that is not excited about being in the ring.

And don't forget that "there is no perfect dog." There is something about every Lhasa that someone would like to change: "He's got a great profile, but he holds his tail on the wrong side." "He has a lovely head, but I'd like to see a little less muzzle." "His movement is to die for, but I wish he were an inch shorter!" "He has lovely straight forelegs but lacks shoulder layback." etc...

Even when a breeder keeps a show potential puppy for himself it's usually a matter of trade-offs. He decides what quality or qualities he really wants (or needs) in his line and what traits he's willing to overlook to get them. He might say, for example, "I don't mind a bite that's a little undershot but cannot tolerate a bad topline." or "I don't mind that slight curve to his upper foreleg because he has the rear I've been looking for." or "This dog has the neck I'm looking for; I can live with his soft coat."

Each Lhasa was born to love and be loved, and whether that Lhasa is a family pet or top dog in the country, he is loved as "pet" and deserves to be "Best of Breed" in the hearts of his owners.

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!

++++++++++++++++

Notes and Photos From Others
Kathy G. wrote, "A note regarding Sophie—Since she turned 8 in October, when I took her for her annual vet check-up in December, she qualified (for a fee) for “senior” in-depth bloodwork and urinalysis.  The vet called me personally to give me the results.  She said, “I seldom see results like these!  Sophie is in PERFECT health!  You must be doing everything right!”  I told her that the secret was good genetics!  Thank you for a healthy girl, who’s still going strong!"

Sally, Jaxon, and Ginger sent Valentine's Day greetings. 




Doreen wrote about Henry, "He just came home from the groomer and has his vday kerchief on. He’s doing great-sweet as can be. Loves to run and wrestle with his big bro..I mean really big..Auggie hopefully is full grown now at 70 pounds. They patrol the yard together and love to sit on the patio together watching the world go by. Henry loves his walks and always has to lead the pack. Despite the size difference, Henry is the alpha. We couldn’t love him any more. Thanks so much for this sweet, funny boy. "

Paul sent this picture and update on Rocky/Rusty: " We went for a ride on Tuesday,  Rocky stood up all the way to Oshkosh and back looking out the window.  He loves to look at different things. 
As you can see below,  he was really tired the next day,  passed out in his recliner..."


Marilyn wrote, "I’m so glad to hear that your hacking situation is behind you. It seems like you have to constantly be alert to something about to happen...Just going through all the passwords and contacts seems like a daunting undertaking. I had sent photos of Maci and Hunter right around Dec. 30th, Maci’s 9th birthday. Duncan and Windy should be proud of their offspring! Maci is a beautiful girl with an attitude! Hunter is also a true testament to the breed, proud, loyal, and wary of strangers. Kimmi and Rafe produced a handsome boy. Good luck at the upcoming shows. Spring is in the air!"

From Michelle: "We sold the motorhome ...and bought a smaller travel trailer for new adventures. We are going to TX for a couple of weeks and of course Sunny is going along for the adventure! I love that we can have him without us in our tiny home! We have a new little crate for him. I think he will do better traveling in the comfort of the truck. He always got anxious in the motorhome. I’ll send you some pictures of him on the trip!"

Victoria wrote, "Here’s a picture of Honey. (2 1/2 years old). We continue to be in love with her- she’s the center of our universe and the kids enjoy every minute covering her with kisses  ! She’s loyal, loving, spoiled and she knows it- ha! also she’s the best snuggler ever! We just love our spoiled Lhasa ! Can’t imagine a life without her. Thank you for making it all possible for us.


A note from Linda B: "I had Mary R's sister of Belle ; Gracie, Xmas puppies. Gracie was not into sports, she had a lot of love in her. When my husband was dying she was always with him. When the nurses came to the house, she would lay in his lap and they would work around Gracie. She would check to see what they were giving him. It will be two years in July that Gracie  died of lung cancer. I have now Daisy (Joyce puppy) who takes care of me."

Judy L sent me these before and after photos of Lippy, featuring an attractive new hair style and purple hair color accents! What fun, Lippy! And just in time to celebrate your 2nd birthday!


Minnie, Lippy's litter sister had a special treat for her second birthday.

Cherry posted this picture of her way back in 1981 when she got her Lhasa puppy, Andy, from me. She showed and finished him and the next thing I knew, she was showing Chihuahuas!

Courtney sent these pictures of her Amelia.



I wish I had had that second picture to include in the article I wrote about Lhasa color change for Show Sight Magazine's January issue! This photo describes it perfectly!

Other

Show Sight Magazine invited me to participate in its the Non-Sporting Group feature. Here is the URL if you want to read it.

I guess I need to be less of a stickler about rules which, in this case, said 300 words! I see that others didn't care about the 300 word limit!! Darn...I could have written so much more!

The American Lhasa Apso Club has a brand new look and, if you are familiar with the old ALAC website, you will be pleasantly surprised! It is lovely and easy to navigate. The URL is still www.lhasaapso.org


Let's Talk About Legislation
"From the American Kennel Club's Government Relations Department:

New Hampshire House Bill 1102, describes brachycephaly as a “birth deformity that causes suffering” and would CRIMINALIZE the sale and breeding of brachycephalic dogs and any dog that could be claimed to have a birth deformity.

On Tuesday, March 5, at 1PM, the New Hampshire House Environment and Agriculture Committee is scheduled to consider HB 1102, “Defining Animal Cruelty,” in a public hearing.  The American Kennel Club (AKC) and the New Hampshire Dogs Owners of the Granite State (NH DOGS) are in strong opposition to HB 1102, which describes brachycephaly as a “birth deformity that causes suffering” and would CRIMINALIZE the sale and breeding of brachycephalic dogs and any dog that could be claimed to have a birth deformity. 


HB 1102 is one of the most egregious anti-breeding bills introduced in a state legislature over the past decade.  While it may appear that this bill only targets a subset of breeders, its expansive language actually targets breeders of all dogs. The American Kennel Club (AKC) and the New Hampshire Dogs Owners of the Granite State (NH DOGS) believes it is imperative that all New Hampshire breeders, owners, and residents, and AKC-affiliated clubs in New Hampshire and national breed parent clubs express strong opposition to HB 1102.  

Summary of HB 1102:

  • Labels brachycephaly as an animal deformity that causes suffering.
  • Adds the sale and breeding of brachycephalic animals to the state’s criminal definition of animal cruelty.
  • Adds the intentional breeding of two animals with “the same birth deformity that causes suffering” to the state’s criminal definition of animal cruelty.
  • Provides for the criminal prosecution of breeders.

Talking Points in Opposition to HB 1102 (As Introduced):

  • HB 1102 will devastate New Hampshire’s ability to produce purebred dogs and will establish a dangerous precedent for radical legislative proposals around the country.
  • HB 1102 inaccurately concludes that all brachycephalic animals, including dogs, suffer from serious health issues. In reality, brachycephaly does not equal unhealthy. Across all dog types, multiple factors can contribute to differences in dogs’ breathing, including physical condition, environment, and genetics.  Nevertheless, all breeding of brachycephalic breeds–regardless of respiratory quality, breeder background, fancier status, or club affiliation—will be a criminal act under HB 1102, which will have a chilling effect on all responsible dog breeding.
  • HB 1102 inaccurately implies that all who breed dogs do so without regard for the dogs’ welfare. Facts demonstrate that responsible purebred dog breeders are passionate about both preserving breed characteristics and producing healthier successive generations
  • Protecting and promoting responsible breeders and the puppies they produce is a better solution than threatening them with criminal prosecution based on inaccurate information that creates a perverse incentive for New Hampshire residents to buy puppies online that are not protected by New Hampshire consumer protection laws.
  • By banning intentional breeding when a “birth deformity causes suffering”, HB 1102 targets all breeds regardless of phenotype. Breeding dogs is part art and part science; and despite best efforts chance plays a part when it comes to inherited disease or health conditions.
  • HB 1102 is unconstitutionally vague. There is no way to know for each breed type how the provisions of HB 1102 would be interpreted and enforced.
  • New Hampshire’s pet buyers would be better served through enforcement and strengthening of its consumer protection laws for pet purchasers."


What follows is a list of brachycephalic dogs (i.e., short-nosed breeds):

Affenpinscher

American Staffordshire Terrier

Boston Terrier

Boxer

Brussels Griffon

Bull Dog

Bull Mastiff

Cane Corso

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Chihuahua

Chinese Shar Pei

Chow Chow

Dogue de Bordeaux

French Bulldog

Lhasa Apso!!!!

Japanese Chin

Mastiff

Neapolitan Mastiff

Newfoundland

Pug

Pekingese

Rottweiler

Shih Tzu

Tibetan Spaniel

Yorkshire Terrier

Many of these breeds, such as the Lhasa, have been in existence for hundreds of years. And even if your favorite breed is not on the list, there is always a new list waiting in the wings.


I keep thinking of the old Niemoller poem that began "First they came for the  __________ and I did not speak up because I was not a ________ .... " and went on in that vein until it ended with "Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me." 


Yes, that is (for now) just New Hampshire but a passage of such a law in one state can easily gain popularity in other states. Did you notice that Lhasas are on that list? I hate to think that I would be convicted of animal cruelty by breeding a litter of my beloved Lhasas. I am sure the breeders of all those other breeds feel the same. 


On that Distressing Note....
Thanks for reading. Wish us luck in the ring and during the seminar presentation. 

Happy Easter!





Joyce







Posted by at No comments:

Saturday, February 10, 2024

February 2024

 


"While it is February, one can taste the full joys of anticipation. Spring stands at the gate with her finger on the latch." ~ Patience Strong

Ahh...February and all its special days. There was Ground Hog Day on the 2nd, (and I never did find out if  the ground hog saw his shadow or not). Here in Illinois, we celebrate Lincoln's Birthday on the 12th and then, of course, Presidents' Day on the 19th. Valentine's Day will be celebrated next week.

Oh my gosh, I almost forgot the beginning of Lent!

For us, the dog shows begin in February. Of course, dog shows happen in January too. I rarely enter those shows.

Before I write anything else, I want to give you my new email address: joyslynslhasas73@gmail.com
I hope you all use it and contact me again with your Lhasas' photos and updates. It has been lonely around here! I lost my entire contact list, including those on the waitlist -- so if you know you were waitlist for a Joyslyn's puppy, please get in touch again using the new email address.

If you receive email supposedly from me using the outlook.com address, delete it. I no longer use that account, so that message is not from me.

Many thanks to those who emailed me at the wiu.edu address, but that is my old work email address and I'd prefer to use the new one for the Lhasas.

I am finally okay. Ever since the hack, I reminded myself of that commercial where the woman holds a paper plate with a smiley face on it to cover her own sad face. I too was just going through the motions, putting off all but essential chores, feeling down, feeling stressed, and staying angry.

(Fact:I eat too many carbs when I am stressed. Not a good thing! Pam, Paul, Rusty, Josie, and Lil One sent me chocolate covered caramels. Now, I dearly love chocolate covered caramels, so I give heartfelt thanks to them for the gift! However, I took the advice of a smart friend and put the package in the freezer. I allow myself 2 a day -- and I have to be patient while they thaw out. It is a nice thing to look forward to each day. Otherwise, that entire package would have been gone in a flash!)

The following quotation is attributed to John Lennon: "Everything will be okay in the end, and if it is not okay, it's not the end."

It's not the end yet, but it is getting there.

Another new (and negative) thing I learned about myself recently is that I dislike change that challenges me to learn something new at which I am sure I will fail. I'm not proud of fearing failure, but it seems to be a fact in this particular case. I feel guilty because my fear caused me to let people down.

A good thing that happened was that Show Sight magazine published an article I wrote on Lhasa Apso coat color change. It is in the January 2024 issue, beginning on page 254. If this link does not work, just google the magazine name and issue number.

Puppy News
If all goes as planned, we will have a spring litter. I have always trusted my boys to let me know when a girl is ready to breed, and that has always worked out. However, the "modern" way is to do progesterone testing. So at the urging of some friends, I am trying it this time. It is expensive!!

Adult Availability
We will have a retired female champion ready for a new home this spring. She is gold. She is special!! Again, I had a waitlist which has now disappeared.

I have also been asked to find a home for a golden male Lhasa who has lived in a pet home for 6 years. I'll have him here with me at the end of February. I'll post photos when I get him.

Inquiries about either of these Lhasas are welcome.

Miscellaneous
I recently accepted an invitation to a Zoom meeting to discuss low entry breeds. AKC recognizes the Lhasa as a low entry breed, which basically means that there are no longer many Lhasas competing in conformation shows. There are many other breeds in the same situation. During the meeting, which was only an hour long so we did not have time to get too deep into the topic, we talked about our breeds and what makes them special. We talked about some reasons why our breed was no longer popular with exhibitors, especially young exhibitors. It was a good beginning conversation.

We have shows coming up this month and next. I will be showing Ebony and Deacon. I am especially looking forward to the show in Louisville, where my friend and co-presenter Jan and I will be giving a judges' education seminar and workshop about our breed on March 15.

This was featured in the TCLAC newsletter, and I wanted to share it.


I think it is a good response to people who make fun of or belittle those who participate in the many opportunities to have fun and, yes, earn titles on our dogs. Opportunities range from agility, rally, conformation, Fast CAT, lure coursing, obedience, barn hunt, scent work, dock diving, trick dog, therapy dog, Canine Good Citizen...and MORE. Another title you might decide to give your dog could be BBLD (Best Beloved Lap Dog -- I just made that one up!)  


Notes and Photos From Others

From Marsha M: Hi. Just wanted to tell you Jimmy is 11 years old  today and doing well. He’s a good boy.




Posted by at No comments:

Monday, January 15, 2024

January! New Year, New Beginnings

 



"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end" ~ Senica

We had a nice Christmas and I hope you did also. It was the year for "Florida Four" (daughter, SIL, and two grandkids) to stay in Florida, so we were a small but lively group. Here I am with one of my gifts. Cute pillow!

If you want one, it is available on Amazon.

Actually, the new year has not gotten off to a great start for me. The first thing that happened involved flickering lights and my guardian angel. I flipped the bathroom light switch, saw a flickering light bulb, decided it was wearing out, so I put in a new one. Still flickering, as was the light in the bedroom. We were getting ready for church, so Lynn went downstairs to the electric panel and flipped the switch, saying we'd deal with it when we got home.

When we returned home, we decided to call an electrician. I was reading and decided to make myself scarce while the electrician was going up and down the stairs and into the rooms that were affected. We have 3 spare bedrooms in our now empty nest and I decided to go in the one that had belonged to our oldest. I opened the book to read and heard a quiet but annoying rattling, like a piece of plastic caught in the floor heating register. The room had been occupied by our granddaughters, and I thought perhaps one of them had dropped something that ended up in the register. I leaned over the side of the bed to look and what did I see but sparks flying out of an outlet! The electrician did the repair and all is well for now. It seems that whoever built our house in 1964 used aluminum wiring on all the outlets in the rooms that have outside walls. They all have to be replaced as does the electrical panel. The estimate was $12,000. Happy New Year.

In such cases, a person has to look for a silver lining: we did not have a fire, we are alive and well, the dogs are fine.

A few days later, I received a phone call telling me I'd won a Publishers Clearing House prize. Oh boy, and I never even entered the contest! The caller said I would get 4.5 million, a 2023 BMW, and $7000 a month for the rest of my life. I hung up on him. (Just so you know, if you happen to be a lucky PCH winner, they never call, they always come to your door to deliver the good news.)

Still, you know, when you get a call like that, you cannot help but wish it were true and ponder what you would do with all that money...

And then, my computer was hacked. I imagine many of you reading this already know that because the hacker got into my joyslynslhasas@outlook.com email. I am so very sorry that happened and hope that if you received an email from me asking for money that you recognized for the scam it was and did not fall for it. I would never ask for money like that! A few of you called to ask me about it and I appreciate your concern. I did have virus protection for the computer, but....???

I haven't slept well since it happened. I keep thinking about it and wondering what else the "Hacker from Nigeria" may have gotten into. People who know me well know that I am a worrier. It is not a wonderful way to be, but it has helped me become rather pro-active. I tend to look at a situation, think what could go wrong, and then figure out how to keep it from happening. The hacker was smarter than I am.

This hacking incident has caused many emotions. I am, of course, angry and scared when I consider what else the hacker may have done. I hate feeling so vulnerable, frustrated, and helpless. I think of all the stories about what people lose: identity, money, reputation, peace of mind.

So that is the main reason this blog is later than usual this month. The computer spent some time at the Computer Source store in town to be cleaned and when I got it back, it has take a lot of time to change the many passwords, contact my bank, and call the credit card companies, "just in case." 

You need to know that the outlook.com email account is not working. If you sent me a message after January 9th, I did not get it. If you need to contact me, until I get things sorted out, use jk-johanson@wiu.edu 

On to Other Things
I ran across a special holiday deal on piddle pads so I bought 600 of them! Do you know how much room 600 piddle pads take up? Let's just say that closet shelves, book shelves, empty dog crates, and numerous other nooks and crannies are now housing piddle pads.

The puppies have all left for their new homes but the last photos we took of them were all so cute that I want to share them.

This is Autumn's puppy that we called Little Pete. His new name is Ollie.

Pearl Puppies: Amelia and Paul


Emmy's Puppies: Lucy, Tia, and Tashi




We'll be entering some shows soon, weather permitting. The busy Christmas season, the recent snows and way below zero temperatures have kept us from the much-needed training classes. Ebony has not been to a show since early September and Deacon has never been to a show, so let's just say our first shows of the year might be "interesting." Anyway, here are recent pictures of Ebony and Deacon.



Notes and Photos from Others
Many thanks to those who took time to keep in touch during the hectic holidays!

Sally sent this picture of Jaxon and Ginger

Nanda sent pictures of the "twins," Ty and Gigi. Here is one of them.

Debi sent an update on her Lacey: "...Lacey is wonderful! We can't believe she is already 2 years old. She brings us so much laughter and joy! She is a happy girl and full of energy. She loves to run. We have a piece of cardboard in front of our sliding glass door because when she gets the zoomies, she runs full force grunting and crashes into the sliding door on purpose, LOL. She also loves to chase after toys and the cats sometimes. Her favorite thing to do is catch her stuffed toys in the air. She will run ahead before you throw it so she can catch it in her mouth, then she gives you that proud look...She is definitely a character, but that is one thing we love aabout her so much!"

 Jan, Rick, and Nick sent holiday greetings and a photo of Sophie and Zoey. Nick wrote, "The girls give us so many reasons to smile, and we are so grateful to have them."

Pam sent this picture of Rusty napping. Sweet boy!

And her husband Paul sent this one of Rusty, Lil One, and Josie on guard, protecting the motorhome.

Lisa sent this picture of her Joyslyn's boy, Duncan (black and tan) and his housemate, Dresden, Christmas shopping in their matching outfits.


Ginny sent pictures of Maple and wrote, "We needed a shorter than normal cut at grooming this last week as our normal every five week schedule was pushed back a bit and things got a little out of hand...she'll be fluffy again before we know it and wearing our Piper's sweater until that happens"


Jan and Diane sent this picture of Gabby decked out in her holiday reindeer antlers! Gabby is a litter sister to Bekka and Chance.

Molly Anne sent an update on Luna's 2023 adventures: "...she attended 3 outdoor concerts, 2 tea parties, a St. Patrick's Day get-together, the St. Patrick's Day mile walk, had a special birthday by a lake, and the Christmas tree lighting in Grove Park. We go on a trail walk or to the dog park every other day...She continues to amaze me with her courage, curiosity, and intuition--not to ignore she's a perfect hedonist. She loves delving down into her down pillow. She is a joy every day!"

Jerry wrote that Bekka (who is Luna's daughter) has finally learned how to jump onto the bed. "Against all expectations Bekka is now able to easily and consistently jump from the floor to the bed..."

Judy G updated me about Winter. "Winter was so happy to go back to Canine Connect this morning. Her dog friends were there to greet her. She missed a month of classes and it showed in her taping. She decided that I could not walk around her. Who knows why? So we had 10 points off for that miscue, plus a few more for not sitting straight. We should get a leg. We will find out in a month after and AKC judge scores the taping.

I am awed by Judy! Besides keeping busy with her Lhasas in agility and rally training and trials, Judy is an accomplished artist. She does stained-glass and other artistic projects. Here is an example of a piece of art she did for me of our dog Kimmi. I sent her a black and white photo of Kimmi. She applied the image to glass and it was fired to 1465 degrees. The result was the photo in a sepia tone on a white opalescent glass. 

Here is a photo of the glasswork, but it does not do justice to the actual artwork.



Valaree wrote about Tia: "She did great on her first night with us. She was very well behaved in the car. For some reason she wanted to sit on my shoulders and once she was up there she slept the majority of the ride. She is getting accustomed to her new home and is just so cuddly and sweet.

Nick sent this photo of Paul and told me that Paul was adjusting well to his new home.

Dawn wrote about Ollie: "You are correct that he is a pistol! We don't mind and are thrilled to have him. Our other dog , Bailey, is not very happy right now but hopefully she will warm up to him in a few days."

Kalah wrote that Tashi "...is such a good, loveable little dog.We are so happy with him. Bob said that he is everything we hoped for."


Jacob sent pictures of Harley and Lucy

Advice

I know that some of you may not have the space for it, but if you do, get an exercise pen to use during these bitter cold days when neither you nor your Lhasa wants to go outside. I have an exercise pen set up in our garage. The dogs use it when we have bad weather - rain, snow, bitter cold temps.

Now Here Is An Idea!
Does your Lhasa put his whole head in the water bowl for a drink and then drip water through your house as a result? Think about using a water bottle adapter. Those things are great and the dogs learn to use them quickly. Our last litters watched their moms drinking from the adapter and quickly learned to lick the spout.

Here is a picture of the water bottle attached to the dog's crate so you can see how it attaches.


But...what if you are a person who does not have a crate for your dog? Well you can still use the water bottle and adapter, if you want to pay about $90 for a lucite free standing holder.

Instead, make your own. First, buy a paper towel holder that looks like this. You can get them at Walmart for not much money at all.
Paper towel holder + water bottle with adapter

Then all you have to do is attach the water bottle and adapter to the paper towel holder. Ta-da!

If you think you need a sturdier base, you can attach the bottom pieces of the towel holder to a piece of wood.

You can buy the water bottles and adapters from https://www.pawmarks.com/water-bottle-adapters


This is so cool!!
If you have time, take a look at the the 3 videos listed below. Bernie, who is a brother to Nanda's Ty and Gigi, and his owners, Jody and Bob, have "adopted" a 3rd grade classroom in Texas. Bernie is known to the students as "Bernie the Science Dog."




Bernie, Jody, and Bob present a science challenge to the students. This particular one challenges the children to build Bernie a dog house to the specifications Bob gives them.

The videos below show (1)Bernie and friends (human and canine) with the previous challenge - the bus project - and the new challenge - the dog house. (2) The children receiving gifts and supplies from Bernie, and (3)the results of the children's responses to the dog house challenge. (I cracked up when I saw that one group of children wanted to make sure Bernie knew where to poop!)

Video one:

Video 2

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eYLWGt8Qak0rz95iG38x_oDsPyKjACSp/view

Video 3

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1b-rD-Y_8I0IbTOBm1RVxXLmyu4dnNY11/view


Things to Remember

  • This too shall pass (but maybe like a kidney stone!)
  • We all have a special angel watching over us
  • Watch out for hackers
  • Count Your Blessings
  • Until I can get things working again, use the email address jk-johanson@wiu.edu to get in touch
  • Life is Better When You Have A Lhasa to Love You 


May you have an apsolutely happy, healthy, and prosperous 2024.


Thanks for reading!

Joyce









Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)