The "Lazy, Hazy, Crazy" July Days

The best joke I've heard so far this month:

A husband and wife were sitting on their deck, drinking wine, and watching a beautiful summer sunset.
The wife broke the quiet by sighing, "I love you so much. I can't live without you."
The husband chuckled and responded, "Honey, is that you or the wine talking?"
She said, "Oh, it's me...talking to the wine."





I confess that nothing too exciting has happened lately. The 4th of July passed uneventfully. Our town's fireworks display takes place at our university, which is only a few blocks from our house, but I had the radio on for the dogs and no one seemed to mind the "booms" that sounded frequently.

Josh went to class on the night of his 6-month birthday and seemed to enjoy being there with the other dogs. He is a lot of fun to work with and has a natural affinity for showing. I hope that attitude stays with him. At 6 months old, he is now eligible to compete in AKC shows for championship points. We're going to the Burlington Kennel Club show in Iowa in a couple of weeks. The Lhasa entry is small, but we're all planning on having a good time together. Three of us are starting puppies who just turned 6 months old.

When I last wrote, I told you how excited it was when Josh was chosen Best Beginner Puppy in Show at the Kettle Moraine show in WI. Here is the photo that was taken then. He was 5 months old.

Joyslyn MLS Dakota Wind Breaker (Josh)

I've received some notes and photos also.

Renee has two Joyslyn dogs that are half-brothers. She sent photos and wrote,"Their personalities are TOTALLY different.  Dalai still acts like a 2 year old, does whatever he wants whenever he wants and doesn't care what we think (barking at critters in the back yard). But he's bouncy and lots of fun and loves to snuggle. Namri has always been an "old soul".  Calm, cares if I'm upset.  Doesn't bark much-- hangs out by himself on his chair in the office. "



Here is a photo of Namri and Dalai enjoying the warm California sun, followed by photos of them just relaxing around the house.

I received a lovely note from Andy's owners, who live in Canada. Regular readers may recall that Andy was the red male puppy sired by Rafe (GCh. Joyslyn's Inherit the Wind) out of Maggie (Ch. Joyslyn's Moonlight Magic). Here are parts of the the note, "Andy is doing great. He is a wonderful addition to our family and his antics generate smiles on our faces every day…He is a gentle, loving puppy who loves to be cuddled and who prefers to snuggle up to my daughter on the couch for his afternoon nap. "Me too" also loves to follow up wherever we go and eagerly greets the family when they come home from school or work. You will be glad to know he was the quietest and calmest puppy in Puppy Class…Every day we are thankful for this lovely pup that you raised with such care and love. We continue to marinate him with love on a daily basis and look forward to spending many wonderful years together…"

Letters and notes such as this are what come to mind when people see my puppies and ask me, "How can you ever part with them?"

Andy's people sent me some wonderful photos of him. Here are two of them:

Jimmy, Duncan's brother who decided that the show ring was not for him, is enjoying life and a new hair style. He has a new owner who says he is doing great. When I see this photo and look at how he holds and head and neck, I think how much he looks like Raven, his mother.

Raven's other son, Duncan, was the subject of photo session at our house Sunday night after his bath. We took a lot of great pictures of him but I'll share just a few. He is such a pretty dog. His color is unique and his head and expression are lovely! (The rest of him is very nice also!) He'll be 18 months old on July 23.

We've been waiting and waiting for Raven to come in season. She's now two months past the time I expected her to be in season, so if you are impatiently waiting for me to tell you puppies are on the way, you will have to join me and impatiently wait a bit longer!



Now is the time to make plans for the 2014 American Lhasa Apso Club National Specialty. Here is the update flyer of events and hotel information. If you live in the midwest and love Lhasas, drive to St. Louis that week and you'll see Lhasas from all over the U.S. gathered for the National!

You may recall in December or January I mentioned receiving an annual Christmas card from John and Sparky. John and his wife, who has since passed away, purchased Sparky from us 18 years ago. I was saddened by a voice message John left on our machine yesterday telling us that Sparky passed away on Sunday. I called to express my sympathy, and John told me how much Sparky meant to him and how much company Sparky was when his wife passed away. John said Sparky could no longer go up steps and could not see well but otherwise was doing fine. His death was caused by a reaction to a medication the vet had given him. John wants another Lhasa! Don't we all!

Life is better when you have a Lhasa to love you.

Joyce

Where Did June Go?

Just what happened to the month of June? Here it is July 1 already (thankfully payday!) and June went by so fast I have no idea what happened to it. I've certainly been "on the go" so that might have something to do with days passing quickly. From the 7th through the 11th I was busy driving to, attending, and driving home from the annual National Association for the Education of Young Children Professional Development Institute in Minneapolis. In addition to sitting in conference sessions all day, we enjoyed many fine Minneapolis restaurants, one of them being Hell's Kitchen. Here's a photo of our group taken after our dining experience.

And for those of you who remember the old TV show "That Girl," starring Marlo Thomas, here we are at the statue of her in downtown Minneapolis.

Naturally, the night before we left we had to visit the Mall of American, where we did some shopping and where I succumbed to the plea of a co-worker to join her on a couple of roller coaster rides. Here are some links to give you an idea of the thrills. Twice was enough to last me for many years to come!

Home at last from Minnesota, I next packed for a trip on June 18 to Florida to visit our daughter and son-in-law and his family and to join in the baby shower celebration. The theme was "What Will It Bee," with decorations of yellow and black and cute little bees.  The visit was great but the trip home on the 23rd was hectic. The weather was stormy and flights were delayed. After a panicky few moments in the Miami airport, I found an alternate flight, thanks to a wonderful Delta representative. I was able to make my connection in Atlanta because of a flight delay there. It was great to arrive in Peoria where the weather was just fine for the drive home.

Our annual town celebration, called Heritage Days, began on June 26. Since I was leaving for a dog show the next day, I took my eight-year old granddaughter to the carnival for "armband night." We had a great time. I treasure such times because soon she'll be at the age where she no longer wants to hang out with a "grandma." However, a 12-year old standing in line behind us as we waited for a turn on a ride, commented that my granddaughter was "lucky" and had an "awesome grandma" and that it was "so cool" that I was going on the rides because her grandma "refused to do that, which was a good thing because she threw up just watching the rides!"

This carnival was really lacking a variety of rides, but we coped and had fun in spite of that. We discovered a ride called the Tornado and managed 4 or 5 rides on it. The big hit of the night was something called Gee Wizz. We got off and got right back in line every time. It was worth the wait.

So, if nothing else, June was a time for travel and some wild rides!

Then on the 27th it was time to hit the road again.  My friend Jane and I packed up my Impala and drove to West Bend, WI for the Kettle Moraine dog show. The Greater Milwaukee Lhasa Apso Club had its June Specialty show on Saturday evening, so across the two days, we were able to get in three shows. I took Duncan and Josh. Duncan took Select Dog on Saturday and did not place at the other two shows. He seems to like the going around the ring part of showing, doesn't mind the table examination, but hates the standing still to wait for the other dogs to be judged! I am so glad he is finished. Now he can sit home for a while and grow up in both body and mind! Speaking of him being finished, I finally have his finishing photo to share.

A great highlight of the weekend was the 4-6 Month Beginner Puppy Competition the club hosted on Sunday afternoon. There were 39 beginners entered. I had Josh entered. LaVonne had his sister Cinder entered. (If you remember the litter, Cinder was the black puppy that we called Cherry before LaVonne renamed her.) Josh won the breed. Then he won the Beginner Non-Sporting Group. Then he won the Best Beginner in Show! I am so proud of him. He loved being in the ring and was a true showman. We did not get any photos or video of him in the ring but we did get a professional photo taken which I will share when I get it in the mail. However, here is a photo of Josh at home. He sort of blends in with the floor tile!

Josh (Joyslyn MLS Dakota Wind Breaker) 5 months

As you  might imagine, I received quite a few emails and photos while I was away. I'm sharing some of them below.

Lila (renamed Lili) has owners that dote on her. I asked for a photo because they wrote that she'd had a haircut. They responded, "She is hard to photograph , she is so fast , plus she doesn't sit still for very long. Miss Lili is a laugh a minute. She is an absolute beautiful dog , a perfect Lhasa Apso. The soft honey color of her coat is gorgeous......She is irresistible. I have to pick her up and give her hugs and kisses ...(you get  about two minutes max). She constantly follows Collin around and jumps in his lap the minute he sits down. He calls her Wild Ninja Dog. The other night we were eating dinner, and she got on a tear running in circles, then jumped & took the napkin right off my lap, and paraded in front of Tam 100 miles an hour to [entice her to] chase her!" (Note: Tam is their older Lhasa female.)

As difficult as it is to place an older puppy like Lila or even one of the adult dogs, it's notes like this one that warm my heart and tell me that I have made the right decision.

Mary's Belle is doing great with her agility lessons. Mary wrote, "Belle is climbing the A frame, without leash!!  It's at a lower level but she charges for it…We started weave pole class last week. Maybe by next winter/spring we can do a Teacup agility trial or start with CPE." I am so amazed. This is the little dog that absolutely refused to budge when I tried to lead train her and who resisted nearly every step of the way as we tried to finish her championship. She ended up needing a major win and a single point when Mary took her. And now? Belle loves the rally and agility. I am so proud of her and am so grateful for all Mary has done to enrich Belle's life. Here is the latest photo of Ms. Belle.

Magoo's owners sent a photo of him and his big sister, Mallory. Both have Rafe and Maggie as parents. "Just a note to update you on Magoo!! First off, we love him!! He has been such a great addition to our family!! Mallory loves him, and our older Lhasa, Madison, can get into some barking showdowns with him which  Madison loves!! He is such a little character with a big personality - he's a HOOT!!  He has definitely found his voice.  He makes these  funny little noises that aren't really barking and not really whining!  He  will sit in front of his food dish and his bed just to talk (for lack  of a better word) to them. He loves Mallory's long hair and like the little boy he is, he likes to pull it.  He went to his first  grooming appointment on June 9th, and our groomer said he  was really easy to groom (her words were Mallory and Magoo were sweet  angels), and she, also, commented on his beautiful coat!  Just like Mallory, he is so lovable - he loves to sit in your lap and gives lots of  kisses!! Just like you, we have a ton of nicknames for him from  Boo Boo Magoo to Magoover!! His personality just calls for  nicknames!! We have tried several times to get a picture to send you, but it is  hard trying to get Mallory and Magoo to slow down long enough to get a  picture. Attached is a picture we were able to take when they took a  short break from playing…Thanks for our two Rafe and Maggie puppies!! Mallory and Magoo have brought so much love and laughter to our lives!!"

Carol sent a photo of Sadie (littermate of Magoo) and wrote, "My little girl is growing up!!  She's very social with everyone.  Human & Canine. Potty training going well & learning her manners, too.  She loves playing with all her toys.  I'm her favorite Chewy Toy!!"

I found a photo of another of the sisters on Dawn's Facebook page. This is Bailey.

The fourth puppy in that litter was Andy. His owners wrote a quick note saying all was going well and that he had started a puppy obedience class.

Helen sent a picture of Sassy (Josh's sister) after her bath. She said, "Sassy just had her bath.  After drying, we worked on parting.  Her face is sooo ticklish!!!  It's not perfect, but we got a part nose to tail:-). I think you'll see on her head how light most of the coat is coming in."

Another sibling of Josh's is Brigsley. Miranda sent this photo of him.

Judy sent me a picture of her lovely Whisper, who is a littermate to my Maggie and Raven. (Maggie is the mother of Andy, Bailey, Magoo, and Sadie. Raven is Duncan's mother.)

Raquel sent me a link to her Facebook photo of Hilo. Hilo is a son of our Ch. Joyslyn's Heartbreaker so is a half brother to Josh.

Sherri wrote about Libby, "It will be two years this July 4th since we adopted Libby (Liberty Belle).  I took this picture with my phone yesterday of her resting on our deck. She seems to prefer the cold weather but will rest outside in the shade if we are sitting with her!Libby is great and is the perfect little girl. She is so well-behaved and is great with other dogs and kids!  We take her to doggy day care every few weeks for 1/2 day just so that she can play with other dogs!  She has a "big dog" spirit and is not afraid or timid. Her health has been fantastic-no problems with anything! We love her so much!" Libby is pictured below. She is a half sister to Maggie, Raven, and Whisper and is also a Heartbreaker daughter.

I receive great photos and video all the time from Yogi's owner, Violet. Yogi is getting up there in years (he might be 10 or 11 now) and has never been around children, but recently a family has moved in with Violet and her husband. It turns out that Yogi loves children. Here he is making himself cozy in bed with one of them, after hopping from the other bed where he'd been snuggling with another child.

And then there is Henri, the Affenpinscher. He is our "grand-dog," staying with us until our daughter and son-in-law live where they can have a dog again. Henri has had to learn to share toys, dog beds, and people. He was an only dog before he moved in with us, but he's adjusting well. He has a cute personality and mannerisms. His favorite toys are latex balls. He will not share his favorite green one! (and I don't expect him too.) In Henri's perfect world, he'd be an only dog again. In the meantime, he's doing okay in the Joyslyn's Lhasa world!

People have been writing and calling to inquire about puppies. We have none. I was expecting Raven to come in season in June, but she did not, so that sets things back at least a month. We have plans to breed her when she comes in, but I believe all her puppies are spoken for. I have quite a notification list. We will also do a breeding sometime in October or November, so puppies will be available in late winter/spring of 2015.


I received an email from a friend saying she has a 2-year old adult that she bought as a show prospect and that just does not have the temperament for the shows. She is looking for a pet home for him, so if anyone is interested, email me at lhasas@joyslynslhasaapsos.com and I'll put you in touch with my friend.

As many of you know,

Life is better when you have a Lhasa to love you!

Spread the word!

Joyce

Updates and a Few Photos

What is one to say about June, the time of perfect young summer, the fulfillment of the promise of the earlier months, and with as yet, no sign to remind one that its freest young beauty will ever fade.~ Gertrude Jekyll



Summer is upon us. It happened so quickly here. One day the furnace was running and the next thing I know, the air conditioner was on. That's what I get for having the thermostat set on "Auto!"

I am still waiting on the photo from the show where Duncan earned his championship. This particular photographer takes multiple photos then posts them online so a person can choose for herself which one looks best of the dog. I appreciate that. However, getting the photos after they are ordered takes ages...more than three weeks.  So, we wait....

Because Duncan finished on May 11, I moved him from the Bred-By Exhibitor class to the Best of Breed class for the four shows over Memorial Day weekend in Bloomington, IL. He did "okay," taking Select Dog for three of the four shows. In the ring on Saturday, he decided he'd rather play than stand still. So he scooted away from me when I reached to stack him, got down in a play bow, started patting his feet on the floor to invite me to play. When I finally did convince him to come near me, he grabbed my jacket sleeve and gave it a shake. What a dickens! Luckily, we were at the head of the line so all this was going on while the judge was attending to the other exhibits. I managed to get Duncan back in some semblance of "show dog" before the judge was done. And, yes, people outside the ring were laughing at me!

Saturday was a great day for Josh. Josh had turned 4 months old on the 16th of May, so he was eligible to enter the club's 4-6 Beginner Puppy Competition. He showed like a dream -- and he won the Non-Sporting Group. Then he showed again in the Best Beginner Puppy in Show Competition. (Alas, the Pomeranian puppy won!)

Here is Josh and his first place Non-Sporting Group ribbon.

 

 

Here is Josh on the table for exam in the Best in Show competition.

And here is a video of him.

So, all in all Saturday was an exciting day. Special thanks to Karen Schlais for the photos of Josh.

I've also received some email that I'd like to share.

From Lucky's owners: "Lucky/Flash had a big day---running, playing, barking and doing what he does best - constantly moving. He doesn’t slow down.  He loves to play. It doesn’t show up too well in the photos but our friend is growing white hair down his back. Hopefully it doesn’t grow in too well or he could be mistaken for a skunk. Of all the toys he has chewed up , the Bunny with the plastic bottle inside (the one that you gave to him) is still around, in good shape and he plays with it weekly - not chewing it up. All the success in your upcoming dog show."

 

A note from Helen, who owns Josh's sister Sassy: "Sassy exudes confidence, Joyce.  She brought a new playfulness to the others, perhaps showing them what a normal puppy gets to be: joyful…When we let Sassy on the bed for morning lovies, she is a soft caterpillar.  She wiggled under the covers a few minutes ago out of curiosity.  Sassy knows "piddle pad" and runs to it especially fast when reminded.   She is very smart, sweet, and funny!  …Of all the dogs I've ever had, I feel a unique connection with Sassy, a special love."

LaVonne, who co-owns Josh's sister (formerly known as Cherry), wrote, "Cinder has grown but she still looks small compared to the others. We go for walks every day and she is just a proud little girl on the end of the lead.  She stands fairly well on the table but like Josh doesn't like to show teeth…Cinder goes on the grooming table every night now so she understands that brushing is normal.  She's good about it so far. . . ."

From Lila's (now Lili's) new owner: "I think she is finally understanding her home life and calming down just a wee bit, it was very quiet for about 15 minutes. Collin and I had to go and find her. She was on the tile in the back hall chewing her bone. I think Lili is growing on Tam. I stopped feeling bad for Tam because quite often Tam instigates the trouble, starts  things with Lili just when she is being good for a minute. Tam has figured out a way to get away from her when she has had enough. I think she will keep Tam young. Lili is very jealous when Tam gets any kind of attention. She butts right in...like ME ME. All is good. She is our entertainment. She is so cute, her appearance as well as her personality. I constantly have to pick her up and give her hugs! She is really is a beautiful dog, the color of her coat is extraordinary…"

From Belle's owner, Mary: "Once again, I feel lucky Belle came into my life;  such a sweet temperament, a little Peggy Lee in her with her salty little bark, and I think a little donkey, as she can put on the brakes and not budge (on leash) when she wants. Does that as we head for the teetor. She is great in any class as she is not reactive, not shy with other people or dogs. And, she watches TV with Roman. Last week it was All Dogs Go To Heaven, and another is How To Train Your Dragon...It's funny to watch her and Roman at the TV screen.....little Belle's neck is stretched all the way up to get a view."

Here is a picture of Bailey I snagged off her mom's Facebook page. She is sure growing into a pretty red girl.

And here is a picture, sent to me by her owner, of Sadie enjoying her bone.

Finally, here is a photo of Yogi. I am not sure how old he is now, perhaps 10 or 11. His owner tells me he hates the camera. The look in his eye says it all!

I recently read a judge's statement that criticized the Lhasa Apso Standard. She said it was too vague. That has been a common complaint among many judges. Those of us who mentor and who serve on the Judges Education Committee and give educational presentations about the Lhasa to prospective judges always emphasize that where the Standard is not specific, the judge is to assume "normal canine." So, for example, since the standard does not specify how the Lhasa is to move, then one should assume "like a normal canine!" Other standards, such as the Bulldog's, need to describe movement because it is different than a normal canine's. Therefore, the Bulldog Standard specifies, "The style and carriage are peculiar, his gait being a loose-jointed, shuffling, sidewise motion, giving the characteristic "roll." The action must, however, be unrestrained, free and vigorous." The American Lhasa Apso Club's website has a home study for judges as well as for fanciers. You can find them on the American Lhasa Apso Club's website at lhasaapso.org.  Look in the menu on the left under Breed Information and download the pdf "Learn About the Lhasa Apso" or go to the Judges Corner link and download the pdf "Study Guide." If you don't want to download a pdf, each version is available in an online magazine format.

Life is better when you have a Lhasa to love you!

Joyce

It's About Time! Where Have You Been?

You may well be wondering where I've been and why it's been two weeks since I've written. A lot has happened. First, Andy, Bailey, and Sadie left with their new owners. Then the following Friday Duncan, Josh, and I trekked up to Eau Claire, WI, for a dog show. Thank goodness for GPS, as I had no clue where I was going when I took some back roads as a short cut. It was Josh's first long car ride and he was so good. He was also great at the show, curious, wagging his tail, and un-intimidated by the strange-looking dogs and the noise. He was also good in the hotel room, except for barking the night the drunk guy ended up passed out in the hallway right in front of our door -- but that is another story that I'm not going to tell today because you just had to be there to appreciate the drama. Suffice it to say, Jan and I did not get a good night's rest that night.

The show was a success on many levels. Duncan took Reserve Winner's Dog on Saturday and then on Sunday took Winners Dog and Best of Winners -- and earned his championship! He is now Ch. Joyslyn's Highly Classified!! I'll post the show photo when I get it. Karen and Jan's Ch. bitch, Secret, finished her Grand Championship on Sunday also. Jan's little black puppy bitch, Flash, was cute as can be and took Reserve Winner's Bitch to a major on Saturday. She's off to a great start!



Here is a picture taken of Duncan in January when he was a year old, just as a reminder of which dog I am referring to.

Magoo left on Monday, and Josh is not quite sure what to do with himself as Henri doesn't want to have a thing to do with Josh. Josh misses having another puppy to play with and we miss watching the fun they had as they played. They were quite a pair. Below is a photo of them napping together after a wild bout of play. (Do not ask me why they chose the hard floor for their nap instead of one of the multiple dog beds lying all over the room! Perhaps they just dropped where they stopped!)

I returned home last night after a 3-day meeting in Peoria and spent the evening grooming Duncan, who decided that the best thing to do while I was gone was to get mats in his armpits, along his sides, and behind his ears. I'd just groomed him Monday night!!

Our next show adventure will be Memorial Day weekend in Bloomington, IL, where there is a 4-day show. Duncan will be shown. The club is having a 4-6 month old puppy class, so Josh is entered in that. There is also a Fun Match on Saturday night, and Josh will be entered in that also.

I've received some nice emails and photos from people about their puppies. I'm going to share them with you.

From Lila's new owner, describing her second day in her new home: "We were home all day yesterday. She did not stop for one minute from the time we let her out in the morning until we went to bed at night, not even for a quick nap …She is busy every second ...she goes from Tam to Collin to me. I have to watch out because she is totally under foot… She is very affectionate — for about 4 minutes, until she glances at something across the room that catches her attention. She spent an hour or so exploring the yard, came  in a mess...I had to chase after her because it was lightly raining, which she didn't happen to notice. Sharp as a tack. She makes us laugh all day."

From Bailey's owner: "Bailey is doing very well. She is getting along with Dusty and is already doing her business outside at the same time as he is.  She is very smart and loving - we couldn't have chosen a better puppy! Thanks for checking on Bailey. We are so happy we found you and for allowing us to bring Bailey into our lives!"

Bailey in her new home

From Mozzie's owner: "Sorry I haven't updated you sooner about Mozzie! I've been so busy at work and going on no sleep as he wakes us up at 4am every morning. But he is adjusting and so is our older dog Kaia.  He's been doing great on walks and I gave him his first haircut!"

Mozzie and his friend Kaia

Mozzie

Mozzie napping

From Sassy's owner: "Sassy is doing well on a lead, head and tail up :-). She went to the Aussie show
with us and was wonderful around the dogs and exhibitors.  Her coat continues to lighten. Sassy is very intelligent and loving.  We adore each other."

From Sadie's owner: "Wanted to let you know that Sadie is settling in very well.  Never made a sound on the drive back..She loves going outside & no problem with the collar or lead.  Like a pro!  Doing very well with potty training, too…You're going to love this, the stairs No Problem!  Started going up and down them last night.  I was amazed!  Thought she wouldn't do that for a while…You were right about her blossoming! I want to thank you again for allowing me to adopt Sadie, she's just perfect & I know we'll be the best of friends.  She already has a nickname "Little Miss
Firecracker". Fits her to a T!!!"And from a follow-up message: "…Sadie loves Lamb Chop![a stuffed toy]  Loves to kill her!!!   Things couldn't go any better.  Hope all the other new parents are having such an easy time…She's walking on lead like she's been doing it forever.  So Cute!"

Sadie with her Lamb Chop

Sadie

From Magoo's owner: "Didn't cry or get upset on ride home. He has taken over. He and Mallory played all day yesterday and Mallory was too tired to get up this morning…He has really helped Madison enjoy playing again."

I received pictures of Brigsley too. He is obviously loving his new home and enjoying his playmate and "big brother" Snickers.

Brigsley and Snickers

Brigsley

Sharon, who adopted two of my older Lhasas years ago, saw a photo on the blog and wrote, "I was looking at the pictures on your blog and when I looked at the one of Brigsley and Snickers I couldn't believe how much Snickers looked like Charm!  He looks just like she did in an old picture I have, I even had her hair cut the same way.  Is there any breeding connection?" I wrote that I was sure there was, and that he might be a grandson but that I had the puppy pen blocking access to my  records so I could not double check on the connection. Later she wrote, "Although I have loved all my dogs, Charm was one with whom I had a special bond. She was so sweet, she almost had a spiritual quality, and I was particularly close with her."Charm was indeed a very sweet, docile girl. She had a heart of gold and was very special and so easy to love.

I also heard from people who had purchased Joyslyn's dogs in the past and who took time to let me know how they were doing. (I appreciate hearing from them so much!)

From Oliver's owner: "Well, Oliver just turned 2 and he's truly been a joy! He's become the love of my life! He's totally been a breeze with training and we couldn't be happier with him!"

I love that Belle is in rally and training for agility and I love that her owner updates me occasionally on Belle's progress. Lately she wrote, "…we are on round 2 of agility basics. We struggle with some board work; shyness with the teeter. My other 2 went through that phase also … She is fun to work with … One of my friends watched a short sequence Belle did in class [and] said 'uh, oh......you're going to have to RUN with her;' she is quite fast zooming through the tunnels." I hope I get to see that someday! Some of you may recall that Belle was one that hated the conformation ring and who refused to show well for me. I guess her calling was rally and agility! Thanks, Mary! You have done so well with her.

Judy also has her Ty, a Breaker son, in training for agility. I enjoy her updates also. In a recent message she told me about Ty's latest performance, "He was 5 seconds over in time and also one fault over for a Q. Best news..he walked out of the ring as if he owned the place. He's my sweetheart!"


From Hunter's owner: "It's hard to believe that the tiny puppy we picked up a year ago is now the largest of our trio.  He has fit into the pack really well and managed to bond with both Zora and Zeus.  More importantly he is Andrew's best pal.  Those two love to play soccer.  Hunter is an example of a Lhasa that does well with children.  He likes rolling around on the floor with Andrew and does not mind if he gets used as a pillow pet.  The kids each put together a video of Hunter with Pharrell's "Happy" in the background.  We call that the "Hunter" song because he truly is a happy, carefree dog and just like listening to the song makes you happy - spending time with Hunter makes you happy.  I'm attaching three pictures.  One face shot, a side shot so you can see his beautiful coat, and another of Hunter with his birthday present, a world cup mini-soccer ball." 

I hope you all enjoyed the photos as much as I did. Thanks to all who took time to write and to send pictures. I love seeing the dogs and hearing about their exploits!

Life is better when you have a Lhasa to love you!

Joyce