This is how Chase looked a week before he arrived at Shelley’s Miracle-Mud Spa & Resort in Ontario. Thank you Marla Gardner for Chase’s 2nd place in 15 to 18 month sweeps.
That’s what Shelley wants to know. Sometimes we want a dog to finish quickly so we can get on to other events, or before our money runs out, or before he/she starts blowing coat, or so we can breed her. Not in this case. Shelley wants Chase to finish quickly so he can go back to Albuquerque. Chase has lured Ember and Libby to the swamp, calling it a spa and promising beautifying mud packs. So, this is what shows up at Shelley’s back door. Eeeek!
It’s the Mud Bud
Oh, Ember, the mud pack made your coat glow!
Libby, you are so lovely!
Just Hanging Above the Patio
Inspired by Vicki — “Posterized”
The week in Topeka skewed my internal calendar. I came back to Albuquerque on Monday and went back to the office on Tuesday. But, somehow, that Tuesday became my Monday. So I did not go to Super Drill on Tuesday night to hand in my entries for our local Club’s trial on May 8th, and the next day (Wednesday by everyone else’s calendar) which I thought was Tuesday, I did not go on-line and enter the Rio Grande KC Trials. In retrospect, Kip had not been given the practice he deserved to go into Open. We probably could have muddled through the last leg of Rally Advanced B, but I think I’m tired, and I really have a hang-up about taking my dog to obedience trials when I’ve not spent time polishing him up. So, we’ll start Utility training and then try for his CDX during the three-day Labor Day trials.
In the meantime, Inca might deign to heel (somewhere near my left leg) off-leash, and when Chase gets home, I’ll start working with him in something — probably Rally first, and, of course, tracking which he loves.
As many of you know, Chase went to Canada with Shelley and crew. I received an email asking if I knew he loved to gallop through the mud. Hmmm. I hadn’t thought much about it because we have so little rain or snow here in the high desert. But, upon reflection, yes. If there’s a puddle, he will stomp through it — sort of like a toddler.
So, here are a couple of the first photos from Shelley’s house — look at the feet (and do not tell Sherri).
This was my first Cardigan National Specialty. I’d been to the German Shepherd Nationals a number of times, but this was the first one for Cardis. I’ve already blogged about how the dog did, and Chase blogged about how I did, but I haven’t blogged about the best thing.
The best thing was that I knew people there. Without all our CWC blogs, I would have known only Carolyn and Shelley, Sherri and Lauren, Sarah, Kim and Leo, and a few people from the Southwestern part of the U.S. I’m sure I would have met the folks from the Bulletin staff and the people involved in the DM Seminar. However, because of the blogs, I already had friends — I didn’t know their faces yet, but we all milled around and put faces with the tales, trials, and tribulations about which each of us had written. It was so much fun to sit at ringside, turn to my right and find Russ and Sherilyn, and Cindy. Garrett was there, Laura M and Laura P, Janet, Katrina, Emily F and Emily R. I met Sherilyn C in person (can you believe there are two Sherilyns?). I met Holly, Joanne Rogers. Because we all read one another’s blogs, the meeting spread to the circles of friends surrounding the blogging friends. Lots of people came to visit us under the rainbow canopy. We met each others dogs and families — what a great time!
I felt there were so many people to call on for help with extra dogs or to ask where they found a neat shirt. I would say that the blogging community enriched the National experience ten fold. Thanks everyone! I’m going to write an article for the Bulletin about “My First Cardi National” and the advice with which I’ll end that article is START BLOGGING before the Pennsylvania Nationals.
Magic over at Daybreake gave us an award. To keep it, we have to list ten truths. So, here goes:
1. I don’t eat fish except for tuna salad sandwiches.
2. 
I’m ready to win the lottery.
3. I love my camera and writing.
4. I’m dreadfully proud of my two sons and their families.
5. I hate housework unless I have time to take all the knobs off the stove.
6. I can’t play a musical instrument.
7. If Cardis didn’t shed, they’d be perfect.
8. I am addicted to mystery novels.
9. Tracking is the best thing I do with my dogs.
10. My granddaughter is light.
Anyone who’s feeling truthful may claim this award and list their great truths!
Everyone seems to be doing Facebook. So today when I received another Facebook invitation, I accepted. I had to go through a bunch of screens and put in a bunch of information — which I did. BUT now it’s a few hours later and apparently I’ve forgotten the password I used so I can’t accept all the new Facebook friends. They should have sent me some rules first and then confirmed whatever I put in for user name and password. I have no idea what happens next. Sigh!
I don’t get to write on the blog very often, but since the National Specialty was all about me, Penni is letting me do it.
I went to Sherri’s house in mid-March. My friends Fran and Chris took me (with all their Akitas) to shows in Fort Worth. Lauren — I love her – showed me in Best of Breed there. A handsome guy named Dickens won the Breed both days AND won first place in the Group both days. It was fun to play with Lauren again. After that, Sherri took me back to Camp Hurst in Houston. We went to some more shows on the weekends but I wasn’t entered because Sherri was showing Powell. Powell and I have to growl at each other all the time because Sherri has girls at Camp Hurst, and they all love me. I think Powell is just jealous.
We went to the show in Grove, Oklahoma. I wasn’t entered there, but that was our last stop before the trip up to Topeka. We got to Topeka on Monday night. I had my bath and some play time. I was pretty sure I was going to be shown. On Tuesday afternoon, Penni showed up. I really missed her. She’s my person and when we are apart I keep looking for her. Tuesday evening, was a “Champion” match. I did my best, but the judges didn’t realize how handsome I am. On Wednesday morning, Sherri again got me ready to show. Penni told me it was “Sweeps”. I kept looking for a broom to attack, but never saw one. My brother Pilot was in the class with me. I hadn’t seen him for more than a year. He’s a big, strong dog. When it came to the end of our class, he and I were side by side getting big ribbons and giant bath towels. Penni and my G-Ma Carolyn and G-Ma Shelley were really proud of us both.
The next day Pilot was shown early in the day. Later I was allowed to go in the ring with my Dad Hunter and my half-sister Dolly. Penni was holdng my show lead which has shiny beads on it. Since she has never done that, I was extra excited. I even got to lick the judge when I was on the table — he’s a very tasty man. (Sherri and Lauren don’t let me lick the judge.) Dolly and I gaited around the ring. I had to drag Penni because she’s not nearly as fast as I am. Then Dolly and I gaited around with our Dad. The judge looked at all the other dogs. He had our little family come to the center of the ring, then he had that Dickens dog and his kids come to the center. Dolly and I gaited around with the Dickens’ kids. Then the judge said Dad won. I was really happy for him. Penni says he’s thirteen and that’s pretty old. G-Ma Shelley was crying because she was so happy. I was happy because my people were so happy.
But we didn’t have time to rest on our laurels. Penni and I went right back in the ring. G-Ma Carolyn brought my mom Alice in, and G-Ma Shelley showed my brother Pilot. Again I had to drag Penni around the ring — we’re going to have to work on her speed. When the judge examined me on the table, he said, “Oh, this dog again.” He kept his face out of reach which was too bad because I really liked him. After the judge looked at all the dogs in the ring, he called our family to the middle and said my Mom won. Wow! My Mom is so beautiful. I know she deserved to win.
They gave her a big ribbon and windchimes. G-Ma Carolyn won so many windchimes that she even gave Penni one for our patio in Albuquerque. That was all we did on Thursday. I had nothing to do on Friday, but my sister Libby won a ribbon. My other sister Dolly won a huge purple ribbon. G-Ma Shelley was crying and Penni was hugging her. They did all that hugging a lot. Lots of people came to visit me. I really liked Laura P and Janet. When Laura sat down in a chair, I jumped in her lap and turned over so she could rumb my tummy — mmmm. Janet is so nice that when she came over, I jumped in the air and kissed her chin. I got lots of pats and hugs that day. Friday night I was bathed and brushed so I knew I’d be showing on Saturday.
Saturday was a big day. It was Best of Breed. Penni said there were forty boy champions and even more girl champions. I was the first dog in the first group of ten dogs. There was the tasty judge again. He examined me and had me trot around the ring, then looked at all the other dogs. At the end of judging that group he invited me and one other dog to come back in a little while. He kept judging and judging other dogs, and then all the girls. Finally I went back into the ring. Sherri was showing Powell so I got to play with Lauren. I stood as proudly as I could and flew around the ring. (Lauren is much faster than Penni — so I am able to fly when she shows me.) At the end, we did not get a ribbon, but Penni and the G-Mas said they were very proud of me. Dolly got a big blue and white ribbon and my Mom got a big green ribbon. You would not believe all the hugging and crying that went on.
After the show, more people came to visit me. They wanted to “go over me” so I showed all of them my tongue. There was a little girl who tasted the best of all the visitors that day — not as good as the judge, but close. Some of the visitors promised me girlfriends, some just petted and rubbed me. I had fun.
Sunday we had to show again. My G-Ma Carolyn left to drive back to Oregon (that’s where I was born). My sister Dolly won another Purple ribbon. When it was my turn, Lauren showed me from the beginning of the class. We had so much fun. The judge was a lady this time. After she judged me at the beginning, she let a lot of dogs leave, but asked me to come back. I looked as handsome as I know how to look. We didn’t get a ribbon, but the judge called me the Fancy Dog. I think that’s okay. After the show, Penni put me in a crate and helped G-Ma Shelley pack up. They really struggled getting everything in G-Ma Shelley’s van because Dolly had won a wooden bench and G-Ma Shelley had bought a refrigerator for everyone’s food. Once G-Ma Shelley was all packed up, Penni hugged me and asked me to be a good boy. She told me I was going to Canada for a couple of months. I got into a crate in G-Ma’s van and we started driving.
We spent Monday night with a really nice lady named Judy who let us run around her yard. It felt so good to run without a leash. Last night we finally stopped driving. I am now at G-Ma Shelley’s house in Canada. There is some snow here — cool! I get to play with my sisters Libby and Dolly, and a little cutie named Ember. Jaime is here. She and I are expecting babies in a month. I wonder if they’ll look like me — wouldn’t that be lucky?
Penni promised me when I get back to Albuquerque that I’ll get to stay there for a long time. We’re going to find things in the fields, and practice our obedience. If we can work things out, Penni will let me play with goats and sheep — I love the sheep. So I’m going to be a really good boy.
You may have seen Shelley’s post on ShowCardi, Corgi-L, Showdogs-L, etc. looking for a place to stop where she could let the dogs exercise. She had decided to take a different route home — heading toward Chicago-land. It was pouring rain and she was worried that the dogs needed some running time. She called me and I looked at the CWCCA membership list for members in the Chicago area. I just started calling the appropriate area codes (Chicago has four), and reached Judy Wisnoski in Schiller Park. Judy emailed Shelley, guided her in to her house, let her exercise the dogs, and then asked her to spend the night. Shelley is much refreshed this morning as she continues toward Ontario. Extra dog biscuits for Judy. Thank you for being one of the good guys.
I have never seen worse overall lighting conditions than we had in Topeka. I had to PhotoShop all the photos I took — finally got some of them done and added them to the post about Sweeps and about Three Trail Specialty below. The best photo of Chase (quality-wise) is probably this one of him on the grooming table.
The CWCCA National Specialty videographers were kind enough to edit out a short clip of Chase gaiting. Carolyn put it at the bottom of the home page on Chase’s web site. You can watch a few seconds of the fancy dog with Sherri.
I landed in Albuquerque at 1:00 returning from Topeka and went straight to the Post Office to take the hold off my mail and to rescue what had accumulated. Among all the work mail and the junk mail were two OFA envelopes. Imagine my delight (and surprise) when I opened them and found that both Kip and Inca are DM Normal. THAT’S a great homecoming gift.
Have you ever heard that term before? I hadn’t. Today’s Judge used it after the show when she spoke with me about Chase. 32 of the 80 Champions entered at Nationals stayed over for the The Three Trails CWC Show. Again Chase made it through the first cut, but didn’t crack the Award of Merit level. I saw Gayle Garvin in the hotel lobby a couple of hours after the show. I asked her if she had any comment on the deep coated brindle boy shown by the young woman in the pale blue suit. The Judge said, “Oh, the fancy dog?” We discussed how young he is (he turned 18 months old yesterday). She said she expected, “In a couple of years, he will be winning. That’s a very good dog who is also quite striking.” She asked me to let her know how he does as he grows up.
I guess he is a “Fancy Dog”. Sherri confirmed it — I just never heard the expression before. Sherri showed Powell, so Lauren showed Chase today. He loves her and she’s so good at keeping him engaged. He looked wonderful. At some point during the examinations, the judge stuck him way back in the pack, but then Chase and Lauren took a turn around the ring. Lauren carefully held Chase back until he had running room, then let him go. The judge walked over and moved him up eight places. Good job, Lauren!
The Fancy Dog is now on his way to Canada. I hope he finishes quickly so he can come home. Fancy Dog tickles my fancy.
Today bleary-eyed exhibitors nursing a Nationals hangover showed up at 8:00 AM in a desolate-feeling Topeka ExpoCentre for the Three Trails Cardigan Specialty. The smart folks were on their way home, but a few of us who lack the brains Dog gave geese, had entered the show. Shelley had entered fiive dogs, including the lovely Dolly whose giant CWCCA Best of Winners ribbon had graced the Rainbow Canopy the last day of Nationals. I had entered Chase. Carolyn was heading home.
Dolly again earned Winners Bitch for a second five point major AND a First Award of Merit. Dolly has two five-point majors, a Best of Winners, and that award of merit for her first two U.S. outings. That wonderful showing overcame the later return of Murphy. I’ll let Shelley explain in detail. She did not leave the hotel/ExpoCentre until 5:00 though the show ended at 12:20. She has a long drive but will, I’m sure, post as soon as she finds internet access. The Chase-man is with her — I hope for a relatively short time. Other results for inqiring minds: The CWCCA Winners Dog was Winners Dog and Best of Winners at Three Trails, Best of Breed was Dickens (Twinroc’s Santa Paws). Sarah Keth’s Syd was among the AOM recipients.
Dolly is a Hunter daughter, so a half-sister to Chase, Pilot, Molly, Libby, Clem, Flash, etc. Shelley and Dolly have earned our congratulations for a splendid showing!
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