Grandpups

It's such fun having Grandpups, especially when they are in show or performance homes.  Someone else does all the work, and we can share the fun of the wins!  This is Ramsay, who was Mancini in the Louie/Pauli litter.  His ring debut was quite exciting, as  he went Best of Winners for 2 points the first day, and Best of Winners for a 3-point major the second day.  Nice start for a not-quite-9-month old boy!  He was a lovely pup, probably the best pup in the litter from an early age.

Ramsay is a littermate to our Fernly, who also started off her show career well, but has no points yet.  Fern won two big Puppy Classes, and also went Best Junior in Sweeps both days at the Indie Specialties, defeating over a dozen other pups, most of them more experienced than she was.  Fern's next outing will be in Kansas City next week, and then on to the National.  I just wish she would come in season NOW, rather than around the time of DCA, as I really don't like to travel with and show girls in season, and if she's in for the National, either she or Argus will be staying home - and that would break Argus' heart!

This is Gemma, the 4th-to-be-shown from the Cruise/Penny (Penny is an Argus daughter) litter.  Gemma lives in a co-ownership home and is shown by my daughter.  Heather and her family have a great pet and we have one more excellent show dog.  Gemma is pictured winning a 5-point Specialty major, and will be going with us to the National in April.  Her littermates finished with wonderful records and brother Ellsworth is one of the top Dals in the country already this year, although he's too young to be heavily campaigned yet.  But next year?  Penny was just bred to Cruise again for a repeat performance. Lots of good homes waiting, so perhaps more Grandpups to cheer for next year.

I'm REALLY looking forward to the Argus/Holly pups being old enough to show!  Max continues to look good, and the shots I have seen of Mel & Piper (was Sanka) look very nice too.  Haven't seen any of Britt for awhile, so curious to see how she's doing, and Piper's owner promises stacked shots of her soon.  Jess and I will attempt to get stacked pictures of Max this noon.  Lucy (was Gevalia) and LuLu (was Vittoria) were sold as pets and will be spayed, but we'd love to see Gelert (was Folgers) try a few dog shows - he's a lovely, lovely pup.  He was sold as a pet, with no strings attached, so it's up to his owners.

Can't remember that I have ever had more fun with a litter than I did with the Argus/Holly pups.  An easy breeding, a reasonably easy whelping, a very good mama, beautiful healthy pups with great temperaments, gorgeous pups to keep, and wonderful homes for all.  It doesn't get any better than that - wish all litters went as smoothly!  Having lost a whole litter to herpes, had another that was half deaf, and yet another with temperaments that did not totally satisfy me, I was due for a "dream litter" and this was it.  Raising pups is SO MUCH WORK, but such fun when it goes right.