Not A Cheeseburger Weekend

For the past few years, most of our dog show weekends have required a stop for cheeseburgers on the way home.  Cheeseburgers for all (dogs especially!) to celebrate successful show weekends.  This tradition started when Argus was being campaigned and his "other mother" Ginger suggested the cheeseburgers.  It became a tradition for us, and is now used for show weekends, or when one of Argus's kids or grandkids has a nice win somewhere.  Many dog show friends have picked up the habit, and often post to Facebook about Cheeseburger Weekends.

Because we don't show very often, and generally pick our judges pretty carefully - it's a lot cheaper that way - most of our show weekends have been pretty successful.  This one was not, at least not in terms of wins.  Gemma was Reserve one day, and Fern did nothing.  We tried two elderly judges who we have liked in the past, but one of them had gotten pretty "iffy", so we knew it was risky. BUT the girls needed an outing before the national, and we needed a dog show weekend.  Gemma does not live with us (she's co-owned) so Jess does not have the opportunity to work with her the way she would her own dog.  It also gave us a chance to visit with friends, and be sure that Fern would be a good traveler for DCA.  There's nothing worse than sharing a motel room for a week with a dog that drives you crazy!

Both girls passed with flying colors.  Gemma showed well both days, actually better than she did winning the 5-point major her last outing, and is a perfect traveling companion.   Fern was great in the car, at the place we stayed, and at the dog show.  Not barky, perfect in her crate, and she tried to be as good as a wild 9- month old can be.  Fern and I worked out some gaiting issues, I HOPE, and I know what I have to work on with her before the National.  Because I have not raised and shown a class dog since Argus was a pup, my handling skills have suffered a great deal - showing wild pups is NOT like riding a bicycle.  Handling a dog is all about timing, and anticipating the dog's actions.  I didn't read Fern very well, and screwed her up both days.  I'd say she showed better than I did!

We were also disadvantaged by having dogs that looked "different", which is often the problem at small or moderate sized shows.  Most of the competition was lower on leg, heavier in bone & body, and had handpainted spotting.  Fern & Gemma are high stationed, narrower, shorter backed dogs, and neither is particularly well marked.  At Indy where both girls did well, the entry was much larger, and included other dogs similar in type to Gemma and Fern.  We just looked out of place.  Fern would not have won had she shown perfectly, and Gemma did everything right but was just "wrong" for the competition.  So be it.

We had a wonderful time with our hosts Zack and Maryla, their dogs (two liver Paisley Dals), a Peke, a Himalayan cat, and an incredibly entertaining parrot.  We went to a Barbecue place on Saturday night and had a blast, as well as the best barbecue sauce I have ever eaten.  Fun at the shows with Fernly's "grandmothers", and friends from Oklahoma and Kansas.  Jess and I watched the Groups and Best in Show on Saturday and got our "dog show fix".

Despite the iffy weather reports, traveling was fine, and we got home in record time.  Jess dropped off Gemma, I picked up Max (who was staying with Gemma's family) and there was till time to celebrate St. Paddy's Day with Corned Beef and Cabbage!

Maybe it WAS a Cheeseburger Weekend - it was successful in many ways!

Missing - Spring!

Ah, spring flowers!  In a vase.  That's about the only place we will be seeing them for some time to come.  The Daffodils on the east side of the house are about 2 inches tall, but with the possibility of a lot of snow next week, things are not looking good for them.  The tulips in the front flower beds are still buried under several inches of ice and snow . . .  After many years of early springs, we take that for granted.  We expect spring in March. A real old-fashioned winter is NOT appreciated.  We're even above normal for precipitation this year, which is a good thing, and it's nice to see that the level of the Mississippi is looking more normal.  It looked for awhile as if we would soon be able to walk across the river - and I don't mean on ice.

We're off to Kansas City for dog shows this weekend, weather permitting.  We've endured some really lousy weather in years past, just hope we can quickly drive out of the snow predicted for this area tomorrow.  As of yesterday, it was supposed to be 76 in KC on Friday - but of course much colder for the weekend.  We were hoping for a little Spring Vacation, but I guess it is not happening.

It appeared as if Fern would have her act together for this weekend.  She worked well at handling class and has been moving much better, trotting rather than pacing.  Until last night when she looked as if she was trying to trip herself as she paced down the street - and a few days before she was trotting 90% of the time.  Not sure if she is uncoordinated because of her age, long legs, and bad footing (too much ice this winter) or if she has actually pulled a muscle playing on that ice.  She's not lame, just not moving the way she should be able to move.  Guess a trip to the Chiropractor is in order for next week, and hopefully I can get her moving correctly this weekend.  She looks lovely otherwise.  Always something.

Argus babies due in Alabama!  The chilled semen breeding worked this time, when it was handled by a Reproductive Specialist in Atlanta.  Timing is so important using chilled semen, and because the semen is so fragile, it has to be handled properly.  The first attempt, done by a local Vet, was not successful, but this time the bitch owners got serious and it paid off.  Although I always offer a repeat when a breeding misses, it's a lot of time and trouble to do that.  So much better to put the time and money into doing it right the first time. Can't wait!    

Endless Winter, Going Crazy

Enough already, Mother Nature.  I give up!  Send us some sunshine and warm temperatures to melt all the darned ice and snow.  We've had enough.  Although I actually enjoy winter, I've enjoyed it for long enough this year.  Yes, winter used to last into March here, but for the past decade or two winter has been on the way out by March.  This year Ma Nature seems to be determined to give us a real old-fashioned winter.  You win!  I give up!  You are in control!  Can we compromise?  At least send us some sun!

Hard to imagine that we'll be able to go coursing on March 30th, as planned.  A trip to KC this weekend for dog shows might help my frame of mind.  Supposed to be 70 on Friday, mid-60s there on the weekend - and then perhaps snow here on Monday. . . 

Too Damned Ealry

Oh how I hate the first first days of Daylight Savings Time!  It will be nice to have enough daylight to run Fern at the campus after dinner, but it's sure no fun in the morning.  The dogs agreed.  Josie met me at the gate, ready to go out and check for rabbits, but none of the others were impressed with the idea of getting up so early.  If Argus had been bathed the night before, he would be ready for a dog show, but since that did not happen he was not inclined to get out of bed.  Just opened one eye, said "you've GOT to be kidding" and went back to sleep.  Even the pups took a bit of time to wake up and switch to Play Mode.
Watson just blew me off.  Outdoor duties done, they all went back to bed.  I'm not so lucky.  16 months to retirement!

This was one of my last quiet weekends for awhile, and I took advantage of it.  Got lots done around the house and had great fun with the dogs.  Time for some cute pictures of the pups, and a terrific

walk with Argus & Fernly.  Saturday rained, drizzled all day, but Sunday was cloudy but pleasant and fine for hiking.

Max continues to do well.  Such a smart, co-operative pup.  He's settled into our household routine very easily and is so much fun, plus he continues to look very promising.  Saw pictures of his sisters Britt and Piper (was Sanka) and they look very good too.  Jana sends lots of cell phone pictures of Melitta who also seems to be growing up very nicely.  Max's adult teeth incisors are all in, and

his mouth looks good.  Always nice to get that out of the way.  One of my first Dal litters had a number of pups who went undershot, so I never take good bites for granted, although Argus has always done good bites.  So far.

Fern went along on a pet shop visit and did well, acting very sensible and mature.  Hopefully she will do the same at dog shows this weekend!  She looks very good, but needs to add a pound or two this week, since she has a bit of a Greyhound look to her right now.  She's started marking, so hopefully comes in season soon.

Fern and Argus had fun at Hidden Falls Park, and Fern decided that it was definitely warm enough to splash in the water.  I kept her away from the river, but she enjoyed running up and down a small stream.  Argus thought she was nuts.  He prefers it to be a bit warmer for swimming.  We had the park to ourselves, so both dogs were off leash.  Really enjoy these two, my hiking buddies.

When A Mutt Is Not Enough

If you prefer mixed breeds, or always adopt from rescues, that is your right.  If you prefer to purchase a puppy from a responsible breeder, you should also have the right to do that.  Some people prefer to have a dog with a known background, sold by a breeder who will be there to help them through the inevitable problems that go with puppyhood.

Breeders who put years of work and thousands of dollars, not to mention all that WORK into their breeding program, should never have to apologize for producing beautiful, sound, healthy, friendly pups and placing them in wonderful homes.  People who wish to purchase a well bred dog should NEVER be forced to apologize for not adopting a rescue.  Some people want more than a mutt from a questionable background, and some homes have both.  It's their choice to make.

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. 

All About Josie

Ah c'mon you guys, cut me some slack here!  1171 posts over the past couple of years and now I get badgered for missing a couple of days?  And this is not my first blog either!  There's another one out there that's equally long, plus a couple of short ones too.  The first one covered Josie's litters and was my beginner blog, another covered raw feeding but was too much work to maintain.  The third covered Boji's litter, co-bred with Tom.  This one is ongoing, with very few gaps of more than a couple days unless I was "on vacation" which generally means a dog show.  Vacation, what a concept!  Maybe I will take a real one again some day!

That's Josie in the picture.  She'll be 10 this summer and the picture was taken 8 or 9 years ago.  Josie was sired by Watson's brother Peter, and spent the first 10 weeks of her life in a kennel situation, getting minimal time and attention because the breeder was off tending a dying relative. She was pretty under-socialized when she arrived, but went on to have a nice show career.  I almost didn't buy Josie because of they way she was raised, but I'm very glad I did.  She's an excellent companion and we love her dearly.  She's Ron's special dog and moved right into Coral's spot in his heart.

Josie was bred twice, but none of her kids became stars, at least not in the show ring.  She produced tall dogs and a lot of patches in each litter.  A daughter from her first litter was pointed, but when her owner died of cancer the husband just kept her as a pet.  A lovely liver girl from the second litter went undershot, and several of the boys (and one of the girls) got too tall to show.  BUT, her kids are wonderfully athletic dogs with sensational personalities and their owners continue to rave about them - and isn't that really the most important thing anyway?

Although Josie lives with us, her heart belong to her friend Sue who often stops by to take Josie running.  They go on nature hikes, and to dog parks, pet stores, and other fun places.  Sue lives in an apartment and can only keep cats, but she loves dogs too, so her friendship with Josie works well for both of them.  Josie has very high prey drive and loves hunting rabbits and squirrels when Sue takes her running. Her second favorite thing is catching a Frisbee.   Josie, Argus, and Meribel are entered in a Coursing event in two weeks and Sue will be running Josie, trying for a 3rd leg on her Coursing Title.  Stay tuned!  

Boys Or Girls

Many years ago I did an informal survey on one of the Dal Lists.  The question was "if you could have just one dog, would it be a male or a female?"  I asked this of people who had experience owning both sexes.  The response was that about 2/3 of them would own a male.

Max had his puppy class last night and we had so much fun.  He's a terrific little guy and I'm just crazy about him, but is it because he is from such a wonderful litter, or is that enhanced by the fact that I have always preferred male dogs?  Decided to do a Facebook question and ask the same question.  Lots of responses already, and again about 2/3 of them, if they could only have one dog, would choose a male.

However, just as in my previous survey, most of the respondents are women.  Does that make a difference? My ex-husband, as well as my current partner, have both been more strongly attached to the resident female dogs.  I guess if one was to do a serious survey, that would have to be taken into account!

The picture is my two girls, Josie and Fernly, both of whom I dearly love - but I still prefer the boys.

Education

I recently did some emailing back and forth with a person who supposedly wanted a rawfed puppy for Agility and Tracking, but did not want dewclaws removed and did not want to neuter or microchip.  He wanted me to select a baby pup for him and not remove the dewclaws because he felt Agility and Tracking dogs needed dewclaws.  Did not want a microchipped pup because his Vet supposedly told him that chipping "caused cancer".  Did not want to have to neuter for the same reason.  Explained to him that I would not do that because I wouldn't know at 3 days of age which pup might be his.   Also gave him the email address of friends who do serious Tracking and Agility so they could explain to him that dogs do not need dewclaws for either.  I also questioned whether his Vet had actually told him those things.  I will back off on neutering IF I am comfortable with the buyer, but this was not a buyer I felt comfortable with.  His "requirements" were strange, and I found it hard to believe him.

Got an email this morning to tell me that he didn't need to contact my friends because he found a "breeder" who did not remove dewclaws and didn't require neutering.  Yes, I'm sure he did.  There are plenty of them out there.  They were perfectly happy to take his money and sell him a pup with no strings attached.  You do what you can to educate, but it's often not worth the effort.

The Family Pack

We find our "family pack" endlessly entertaining.  The interaction among the dogs is so much fun to watch, and the pack dynamics are fascinating.  Because we have dogs of varying ages, and have other dogs that come and go (co-owned dogs we're showing) the structure is always evolving.  The idea of a Pack, with an "alpha style" leader has actually been replaced with the idea of a family of dogs living together, and that's really what we've observed over the years.

We've tried to breed dogs who live peacefully with one another.  I don't want a divided house with males who can't co-exist, or bitches who will try to kill one another.  Those situations exist in many households and are stressful for all concerned. And dangerous for both dogs and people. Some breeds are much more inclined that way, but a lot of it is how the dogs are raised.  There are some Dals who can not live peacefully with others of the same sex, and a few that can not live with other dogs at all, but most Dals can run with most Dals - there are some combinations that just don't work.  Our bitch line has always been wonderful that way, and they always get along with one another, and most of our boys have been amazingly tolerant.  Rob and Morris occasionally had bitches in for breeding at the same time, and there was never any anomosity between the two of them.  Even the Brazilian-bred (from two Paisley dogs) Vicor, who came to us as a two-year-old dog was able to co-exist with Murphy.

Argus was a good fit for us in that regard, and I knew that many of the boys in his pedigree were very good with other dogs.  He moved into a household with two senior males Morris and Sidney, and fit right in, He arrived when Morris, Sid, and Watson were in residence, and has always gotten along with everyone.  Morris and Sid are gone now, but Argus and Watson will even share a chair on occasion.  Now we have Max growing up.  His mother lives in a large family pack that includes several different breeds, and both of her parents are also very good with other dogs.  We anticipate that he will grow up to be a friendly adaptable dog with good social skills, and be able to live peacefully in a multi-dog household.

Fun In The Snow

Fun in the snow.  What a lovely weekend for people and dogs.  A blanket of fresh snow, but with ice melting on the side streets, dry major roadways, sunshine and (relatively) warm temperatures.  The sun actually feels warm now and the birds are starting to sing of spring, while we dream of spring.  As the people in Missouri prepare for another foot of snow, we could actually use more of it, but at least we did not have a brown winter.

A fun weekend for the dogs as Sue picked up Josie for a run on Sunday and Watson is getting longer walks as his foot heals and his limp is becoming less obvious.  Fern went to PetCo on Saturday and then got an off leash run in Hidden Falls Park.  On Sunday Fern and Argus went to the Dog Park where we ran into old friend Cathy and her Dal Bella.  Argus and Bella have known one another since puppyhood, so they had a great time running with Fern while Cathy and I caught up on family things.  I've know Cathy for 40 or more, and although we don't see one another very often, she's the kind of friend where you just pick up where you left off the last time you talked.

Busy weekend for Max as he practiced his lead walking, worked on obedience and show training, and on Sunday got to visit his Grandma.  This was the first time my mom had seen any of the pups from the Coffee Litter, even though she was the one who suggested the theme.  Max was his brave and friendly self, covered my mother with kisses, explore her apartment, and coached beside her walker as we walked the long hallway.  Well not really, he would have gotten run over by the wheels, but he did have fun!  Mom and I did a drive through (excellent burgers at Dairy Queen), parked in the lot to chat and enjoy the sunshine.  Max was perfect in his crate and enjoyed a piece of cheeseburger.  Told him that if he was a winner, he'd get lots more of them.

What a fun pup.  Puppy class starts for him tonight, just the local PetCo class on Monday.  On Thursday we will attend a better class, but might not be able to make it every week - not an easy drive during rush hour.  Max is so smart and such fun to work with - I know we will both enjoy these classes!

No time for editing.  Hope this does not read like gibberish!

Looking Back, Thinking Ahead

Oh, how cute!  While looking for a specific picture on my computer, I came across some puppy pictures of Argus - shots I didn't remember I had. What fun! They were taken when Argus was about the same age his son Max is now.  Such a cute puppy, and the right color too.  Nothing cuter than brownie babies.   If I could change just one thing on Max, I'd make him a handsomely spotted liver.  Then he'd be just perfect.

Well, not really perfect, but perfect for me, and an ever better looking pup, but he's handsome in black too!  Wish he had a bit less color, but the overall pattern is good, and I love the rest of him.  Really pretty shape, with super nice structure and movement, plus a wonderful personality.  He's one of those pups that just makes you smile because he's so cute and always happy.  Just like his dad.

And so it begins.  I sent out a couple of inquiries yesterday, looking for the right liver bitch to lease and breed to Argus later this year.  I'd STILL like a liver Argus kid, and a liver to liver breeding certainly increases my chances.  Although many breeders don't do liver to liver, I've done it quite a few times with good results.  Nikon, the dam of Penny and granddam of all the young liver Paisley stars, is from a liver to liver breeding, and she had an all liver litter bred to Argus.  As long as you're extra careful about spotting and trim, and have buyers for liver pups, it can work out well.  Argus bred to Rosie's Aruba, also liver, produced Best In Show winning Pauli, DCA Best of Breed winner Krash, and several other nice livers, a couple of them gorgeously marked.  I normally have both pet and show homes that would prefer liver, so placing them is rarely a problem.  We'll see what comes of this.

The right liver bitch would have a really good pedigree, preferably with the lines I know match up particularly well with Argus, have all her health testing, and would have a wonderful personality.  Maybe she doesn't even exist, or if she does her owners would never consider this.  No harm in asking though.  Typically breedings are planned for the bitch, finding the right stud dog for her, but I'm doing just the opposite, looking for just the right liver bitch for Argus, because I want a liver Argus kid, and have no one in this line to breed to him.  Eventually I will look for a husband for Argus's beautiful granddaughter Amery, but she's not even old enough for all her health testing yet, and I wouldn't breed her back to Argus anyway.  Our girls are Argus daughters and granddaughters, so I'll try this route again.  Worked wonderfully well breeding Holly to Argus and by next fall I might be ready for puppies again.

Retirement?

Another three day weekend, the last until Memorial Day, and again I found myself thinking about how it would feel to be retired and not have to go back to work today.  This is the first year I've felt that way, either a function of my age or the fact that I have set a tentative date.  Honestly, I still enjoy my job (most days) and like the people I work with (most of them), but I don't want to do this forever!  While going through paperwork for my taxes, I carefully read through my social security update, as well as my state retirement information, added up the numbers and wondered if I could live on that . . .    Again, the first time I have actually done that.

My projected time for retirement is July 2014.  I'll be 66 years old and will have worked for MNDot for 34 years. I've paid into state retirement and social security for all that time, and having worked since I was 15, have paid into social security for far longer than 34 years. I'll be well past the proverbial "rule of 90" which used to be everyone's goal for retirement if they worked for the state.  Do I want to wait that long?  Will I be ready to go then?  Guess that depends on a lot of things including the upcoming parking crisis.

I currently park in Lot X, an area leased from Sears in their large parking lot across the street from the MNDot building.   The state leases something like 980 parking spaces, most of which are used every day by state employees.  We pay for parking (the only state employees who do), and sometimes complain about the cost and the walk, but things are scheduled to get fa worse next fall.  Sears recently announced that they are planning to use their space to construct additional retail space for lease and possibly multi-family housing as well.  The state's lease will not be renewed, and will expire next fall.  So what is in store for all the employees who park there now?

With the light rail line scheduled for completion next year, the property along the line has become more valuable.  The Sears store is an under-performer, and we've always assumed that the store would eventually close and the property would be sold.  It probably could have been purchased by the state for a reasonable price in year's past, but not anymore, and there is no property available for a new parking lot, very limited street parking, and no nearby pay lots or ramps.  So what will happen to us and how will our parking needs be met?

One thing I know for sure is that I will not be spending two hours on the bus going to and from work each day.  Although I only live seven miles away, there is no direct bus route, and I'm also used to being able to go home at noon.  The decisions that are made on the parking issue may very definitely affect when I retire.

Day Off

Day off, still in jammies, playing on the computer.  Lots of stuff left on the To Do List but it's been a productive weekend.  Dogs have had fun too, as Sue took Josie running yesterday, and I took Fernly and Argus down to Hidden Falls Park for a run.  Had to do the woods path rather than the beach, as I know that Fern would have gone in the water, then gotten too cold to finish a long hike.

Today I need to take the car down for a good vacuuming and wash.  I could do it myself, but the professional job is much better and I splurge on that several times a year, especially when the hair becomes Too Much, as it is now.  Just spent way too much money on the car's "innards", so now I need to take care of the rest of it.

Max is signed up to start puppy class next week, so we went down to PetCo for a Puppy Playtime yesterday.  He did well, though was much more interested in talking to the owners than the puppies.  He was friendly and brave, but loves to meet new people.  Like Watson would have done, he made the rounds taking time to "meet" each person, then played with the pups for awhile.  Also spent a lot of time trying to get out of the fenced enclosure which he considered too small.  It was not climbable, so he stood back, ran hard, took a flying leap, and hit the sit of the pen about halfway up.  Did that several times before giving up.  That's my boy, always looking for taller buildings to leap - little Super Dog.  What fun he is!  What a challenge he will be.

The rugs are back down in the basement so I have my training area available again.  Fern and Max each go down with me for at least one training session a day, Fern to work on her Stays, and her show stacks and baiting, Max to work on his Sits, Downs, Stands, and a bit of stacking.  Fern's reward is chasing and catching a tennis ball, Max's chasing a ball or running on the treadmill for a few seconds.  He STILL loves that.

Watson's splint is off and his foot is getting better each day.  He was still pretty lame when it came off, but seems to be working the stiffness out of it, and getting his mobility back.  At first I was concerned that the bone had not healed, but remembered how my ankle felt after being in a pressure boot for 6 weeks.  Takes awhile to get mobility back!  Ron walked Watson to the corner yesterday which he really enjoyed.   The first day after the splint came off, Watson licked his leg constantly, presumably because it was itchy.  Getting his leg and especially his foot washed, plus some Benedryl and Tramadol, and he's no longer fussing over it.  Because Watson will be 13 in May his health issues were especially worrisome, but with a father who lived to be 15 1/2 and a mother who lived to be 14 1/2, hopefully he's got several good years left.  Love this sweet gentle dog.  

Today Is The Day

Hopefully the day Watson gets his splint off.  Vet appointment for xrays that we hope will show the broken bone in his foot has healed well enough.  Poor Watty Boy has had a rough winter, first with the ear hematoma and then with the broken bone.  He's been a trooper through it all, cheerful, affectionate, and his normal busybody self.  He's started licking his leg at the top of the splint where the bandaging was rubbing, so has to wear an e-collar when not being supervised.  Sure hope that when the bandages come off he will leave that area alone, and will not have to wear the collar!

We've made the decision to continue walking Watson out to the dog yard by his collar, as I'm sure the injury was caused by leaping off the deck steps, trying to get a jump on any rabbits, cats or squirrels that might be in the yard.  He had previous injured his shoulder and his back (twice) doing just that!   Because he's 12 1/2 years old and has not been able to get his regular walks, and because wearing the collar creates its own problems, I'll take Watson in next week for a chiropractic evaluation to see if anything needs adjustment.

As I watch my incredibly cute puppy getting into mischief in the family room, I realize I have taken no pictures this week.  Gotta make up for that!

A Grand Finale

As I have done for so many years, I went over to my mother's on Monday and Tuesday evening to watch Westminster (I don't have cable, and rarely watch TV otherwise).  I bring dinner one night and she prepares it the other, and we watch the dog show together.  She's never been a "dog person" but always enjoys this one, and has always had an amazingly good eye for dogs - and I'm always surprised at the gaiting faults she can recognize, without actually knowing anything about structure and movement.  Some years she falls asleep before the end, but not this year.  She didn't miss a dog.

Fern came along with me last night and had a great time retrieving her toys down grandma's long hallway.  Fern tends to be a little "dog dependent" so it was a good chance for her to leave the other dogs behind and enjoy being an only dog.  She was very good, and I'm glad I took her along.  She's grown up so much in the past few weeks.

I've attended Westminister five times, four as a spectator and once (showing Argus) as an exhibitor. It's so much fun, but an expensive proposition, especially if you take a dog.  Everything is pricey of course, including transportation, hotel rooms, food, and tickets, but well worth it.  I'll be ready to go again in a couple more years!   Just seems that there are always other things for me to spend my money on and the TV coverage is quite satisfactory.  The website for Westminster is a good one, and this year I had an iPhone App too.

Lots of surprises this year, including the Dobe and the Wire Fox (two of the favorites) not winning their Groups.   The Sporting Group was so competitive, with the GWP, Springer, and Black Cocker all being spectacular dogs.  Westminster handling has improved a lot over the years, and very few dogs appeared as over-whelmed as in the past.  The Herding Group judge seemed to be a bit heavy-handed, and several of the dogs did not seem to appreciate that, and a few of the Working Dogs appeared less than thrilled to be there, but all in all the showmanship was excellent.

Old English Sheepdogs are not a breed I normally pay any attention too, but I absolutely loved the dog who won the Herding Group.  Already a Best in Show winner, he was Best Of Breed from the classes (not yet a champion) over 19 Specials.  His Reserve Best In Show (the first year it was offered at Westminster) was well deserved.  Have always loved the Affenpinscher "Banana Joe" and was thrilled to see him go all the way this year.  Joey retired with the win - what a fantastic career he has had - and his wonderful handler Ernesto joins the ranks of those who have piloted a dog to Best in Show at the Garden.   Well done! 

We're Back

We made it home safe and sound, although came in Monday afternoon rather than Sunday night.  Weather was just too unsettled, and I really hate driving Wisconsin west of Black River Falls in bad weather.  Have had way too many white knuckle adventures on that hilly windy section with the hundred foot drop offs along side the road.  We had a lovely and successful weekend, my first specialty weekend since the end of August.

Fernly did better than expected and certainly did well for a dog who sometimes acts as if she was born with only half a brain.  She's plenty smart, but sometimes unfocused and distractible.
Not uncommon in 8 month old pups, and much like her mother Pauli was at this age.  It helped to have large asphalt parking lots (with no snow or ice) as well as some room in the show building to practice her gaiting.  Poor Fernly is so used to walking on snow and ice this time of year, and has been pacing rather than trotting for the past month.  She got it together pretty well and gaited much better than expected most of the time.  Stacks were not always perfect, and she needs work on the exams, but it was OK for a first time in the ring. She won Best Junior in Sweepstakes over a number of nice puppies each day, and won her 6 - 9 month regular classes as well.  Nice classes with plenty of competition.  Good girl, Fern.  By the end of each show day, after going in the ring 5 times, Fern was totally exhausted.

The star of the weekend was Gemma, one of the Cruise/Penny daughters, and my daughter Jess's project for this spring.  This was only Gemma's second weekend out, but she performed like a star, winning the large Bred By Exhibitor class both days, and on Sunday going on to Winners Bitch and Best of Winners for a nice big 5-point major.  Way to go, Gemma!  Gemma is the fourth pup in her litter to have at least one specialty major.  She was a perfect traveler and showed very well.

It was fun to get back in the ring, although my legs are sure stiff and sore from all the ups and downs (I kneel part of the time when stacking Fern), all the walking, and the long distance driving.  I was also pretty winded by the time I was done showing Fern each day - lots of trips around that ring gaiting the dog.  Thought I was pretty fit - found out what I need to be working on before the spring shows!

The trip also gave me some ideas for future blog posts.

Writer's Block

Absolutely nothing comes to mind as I stare at the screen.  Normally I sit down here already knowing what I want to write about, or something comes to me as I sit down.  Nothing came to me yesterday (hence the missing post) and I'm not doing any better today.  Brain fog?  Or concerns about the kind of weather we will probably face on our way back from Indianapolis. Maybe I'm preoccupied with the weather . . .  This has happened to us so many time before, and I really hate driving home on icy snow-covered roads.  Perhaps I'm getting too old for this!

Wonderful entries for Indy - 70 of them!  Good judges too, or at least judges who were good, but we haven't shown to either for some time so we'll see.  Good Sweepstakes judges too.  Argus & Meribel going along as Specials, with Argus making his debut in the Veteran's Class.  Gemma and Fernly going along to show in the classes.  Gemma looks great, but Fern isn't really ready yet, as she's going through the stick-dog stage, all legs, and she is inclined to pace rather than trot when I gait her.  Needs time, training and roadwork, but she also needs experience so she's entered with no expectation that she will be competitive.  Consider it expensive training classes!  As long as she behaves reasonably well, I will be satisfied.

Leaving tomorrow morning and driving all day.  See you next week!

No Easy Money

Got through everything yesterday, and the news was good on Watson.  His foot is healing well and hopefully he can get rid of the split (and the e-collar) in about 10 days.  Swelling in his foot is much diminished and the skin looks good.  I'm going to try and find an inflatable collar to replace the e-collar - I've never found anything else that works as well, but we'll give one of these a try too.

Car ended up needing new tires in addition to everything else.  Drat.  It was an expensive visit, but at least everything is taken care of before spring dog shows.  I'd hate to have a breakdown or a flat while out of town in a van loaded with dogs!  What an expensive hobby this can be when you factor in the wear and tear on your car too.

AND we had to take a quick run to the Repro Specialist as it was determined that Argie's "wife" would be ready for breeding today.  Another trip scheduled today for another collect and ship.  Stud dog owners definitely "earn" their stud fees.  Definitely not easy money!

Too Much To Do

What a wild man, but a pretty good puppy overall, and certainly a cute one!  Max did his first pet store visit on Sunday, where he covered everyone with kisses and had a wonderful time.  This weekend he will stay with Heather and the girls, to continue his socialization.  His first "sleepover"without a littermate for backup.  No Dals at all in fact, as Gemma will be traveling with us to Indy, so he'll be interacting with a Lab and a large mixed breed, and the girls of course, who played with the pups a number of times.  Max absolutely loves kids, thanks in part to all the great kids who visited the litter.

Too much to get done this week before we can leave for the Indy Specialties, weather permitting.  Car needs a checkup and oil change and possibly a brake job today, but I also have to get Watson in to have his split redone.  He started licking his leg near the top of the split this weekend creating a raw itchy area, so I had to cut down the front of the split and poor Watty had to start wearing the cone.  He'll probably need to wear it until the split comes off and the wound heals.  Poor old guy.  The good news is that his ear hematoma is looking better - it came back after the drain healed over, but since the hematoma was so small this time we decided to just keep an eye on it.  So far, so good.

And we have a bitch to breed as well.  This is the girl who was bred last fall using chilled semen shipments - and she did not conceive.  The Vet who did the procedure was not a specialist, and I was disappointed but not surprised.  This time she will be managed by a Repro Specialist, so hopefully things work out better.  If the timing is wrong for sending fresh chilled shipments (if Argus is on his way to Indy), we'll send off some of the frozen semen we have "banked".   I really don't have time for this, BUT my stud contract provides for a repeat breeding even if the missed breeding was a management issue, and I really want this bitch to have pups by Argus.  Although fresh chilled breedings are handier than having to entertain a visiting bitch, the stud dog owner loses control of the timing, and with these breedings timing is everything.

Not All Good Dogs Are Dalmatians

Those of us who share our lives with a specific breed that we enjoy and admire often forget that although our breed is special to us, there are wonderful dogs in every breed.  We can also be judgmental about certain breeds based on our personal experiences with that breed.  Although German Shepherd Dogs have long been one of the most popular breeds in the world, my own negative opinion of the breed was based on the dogs I had met, dogs who were generally freaky, flaky, and out of control.  Poorly bred and/or poorly raised dogs who were not typical of the breed.  When my daughter Jessica connected with Don, Simmie the GSD was part of the deal.  She was a wonderful dog in every way.  But let Jess tell the story . . .

Are we ready to do this again? I don't think you are ever "ready" to do it... 

After a week of deterioration and now not being able to walk at all, Simmie has told us it is time for her to cross the Rainbow Bridge to be with her best friend Pepper.

She has fallen several times this week and now this morning, is unable to get up at all. She has also lost her appetite - she'll eat, but not with the same gusto and even turned her nose up at a pizza biscuit. Don says it is time and so does Simmie.

Simmie is an extremely special dog and has taught many people in this world that GSDs can be a wonderful breed. Great with dogs, she has taught more then one spotty appropriate dog manners.

Nothing she loves more then kids. She loved camping because kids were in abundance and everyone got a kiss.

And her prized possession - her ball! Everyone who had a working arm had to throw the ball.

Age has taken its toll. Her rear no longer works, her eyes no longer sparkle and her love for her ball is no longer there... It is time. We won't let her suffer.

I almost broke down when Meribel went out to get her out of bed and Simmie couldn't get up. Meribel looked at her and started her soft little squeak. She knew something wasn't right.

So a month and a half after saying good bye to Coral, our dog family gets to do this again.

Hug your dogs today as the Rainbow Bridge welcomes the Queen - a 13 year old, very wise and wonderful dog - Simmie.

Enjoying My Puppy

Such fun to have a new puppy!  Whether it's one I bred or one I bought, each new pup is such a treat.  So much fun to watch their antics as they explore their world!

Max is doing great, understands the concept of housetraining and has only had one accident since he came back from Jess's and that was my fault.  I was thinking, "Time to get Max out again" but put it off for a few minutes, and by the time I checked on him he had just finished peeing.  Pups have accidents at this age, but as long as they understand why they are going outdoors, and cooperate most of the time, all is well.

He's very good in a crate too, rarely fusses at all. Even goes back into his crate to play with a toy (and to keep Fernly from stealing it) although his preference is Watson's crate which is next to a radiator.

We've done a bit of leash walking, started puppy sits and worked on name recognition.  Tonight we start Puppy Classes, where we'll be working on the basic commands, but primarily do the class for socialization.  Wish it was not so cold for our first night, but we'll tough it out, and should have a great time.

And Then There Was One

Melitta arrived safely at DFW and was very glad to meet her other Grandma Jana.  The flight was not uneventful, as a thunderstorm was passing through the area and all flights were delayed.  Mel arrived almost two hours late, and THEN Jana had to wait while an airline employee finished up his paperwork first - while two pups (there was a Lab puppy too) sat and waited.  Because we paid for special handling, we expected special handling, and didn't get it this time.  Annoying.

But all is well.  Melitta settled in easily and spent the evening learning about the house and yard, and meeting several of Jana's other non-Dal dogs.  Apparently she was not impressed with the noises the French Bulldog made - probably didn't consider it a "real" dog.

Max has settled into his new routine already and is doing great.  He has a crate in the kitchen and is pretty good about being crated, slept quietly all night (Ron took him out just before he came to bed), and acts like "one of the gang" already. So far he has peed each time he's been taken outdoors (no accidents yet) - although we'll see what he thinks of the weather later today! We went for a short leash walk yesterday too, while it was still relatively warm.

Tonight he gets his nails done again, starts learning to sit for a cookie, and works on stacking.  I'll keep the pen set up for awhile in case we're going to be gone for longer than I would want to leave him in a crate.  I signed Max up for a puppy class and should find out today if he'll be starting this week or if we have to wait until the end of February.

So much easier to have just one pup, but it sure was a fun litter, and I couldn't be happier with the homes.

More Changes Coming

Max and Melitta enjoyed cuddling with Ron on the sofa last night.  This was probably their last night together as Melitta will be flying off to Texas to stay with her other Grandma Jana.  This had not been in the immediate plans, but we decided yesterday that it would be best for everyone.  It's so hard to do a good job with two pups, especially in the winter, plus Fern is still really just a puppy herself.  There just isn't enough time (and energy) in my life to do a really good job with three puppies, and Grandma Jana was craving a puppy fix.

So, the weather forecast was good for today, I was able to get Melitta in for a health certificate yesterday, and made a Delta Dash reservation.  Jana was free today to pick Mel up at the airport today too, so it was meant to be.  Mother Nature and Delta Dash willing, Melitta will be a Texan shortly after 3:00 PM today.

Time Out

What a nice weekend, and so peaceful with the pups gone!  Nice long walks for Fernly and Argus, a very good audio book completed, water changes for most of the fish tanks, lunch with mom, an excellent new recipe tried out, and a halfway clean house!

Let's do it again next weekend!  No such luck.  Dog show season is coming up soon, so things will get crazier, and Fern is due in season as well, which means lots of extra walks once she moves to the basement for a week or so.

Pups come back today and things will be busy as we continue their crate training and house training.  At least the next two days will be warm enough for them to play outdoors, then the cold hits again.  Ugh.