Bernard's Progress

I have decided to blog here about Bernards progress as we battle whatever this new monster is...be it cancer or primary seizures. Bernard has had two BIG seizures in the last month. Vet exams come up negative for the most normal causes, and he has been started on phenobarbitol. Anyone with any thoughful insight or experiences out there, I would appreciate the help.

DOG SHOW POOP: HOW WILL THE NEW JUDGES FEE IMPACT OUR SPORT?

DOG SHOW POOP: HOW WILL THE NEW JUDGES FEE IMPACT OUR SPORT?

Fun-Raiser

Had a good time Saturday with Danu, Eko Regan and Bernard at a fundraising dog event in Harrisonburg. Our old girl Regan, who has been retired from agility for 5 years, ran a course like she never skipped a day!!! She will be 14 this year, so it was an impressive run! Eko has decided agility is for HER. She graduated from her beginner class last week, so she got to run the course with the big guns. Run is what she did all over the place! Wish I had pictures. Bernie and Danu did well at an advanced run through for Rally. A fun day well spent for a fund-raiser for a friend who will be attending the world this year in Prague; go Team Cheetah!

Pictured: Ch. Danu de La Vie En Rose, CGC

More great news: Danu received her CGC with Joe last week, and is moving on to her TD and Rally events. They are quite the pair.

Where to Begin in 2010?

Time flies, and boy has it flew for us here at Bon Mauvais! I sure do apologize for not updating events sooner!
Here's a brief look at what has been going on with our 6 pack!
We had an extremely busy 2009, with an addition to our pack from Canada. Eko de la Vallee de Ottowa was born in August. She is a big girl with a super smart personality! She has blown us away with her intelligence, drive, and sweetness! Already wowing the judges with her flawless build, and a big ole puppy ribbon under her belt, lol. Now she is working hard to humble Mom at training classes. Look for her in many venues in the future, she is one multi-talented girl.

Chaudron ending up in the #1 conformation spot for Picards in UKC for 2009. Way to go Cau! We could not have done it without all the super competition, those from the Picard Alliance have all worked hard this year and I want to than each and every one of you for showing your dogs. At 2 1/2, Cau continues to amaze me everyday with how perceptive and huggable he can be. Ever in a blue mood? Cau is there to the rescue with a smile on his face and a signature picardy hug.

Danu finishing her UKC championship in December.....so we now have Champion Pooh!!! She is a facebook superstar with her own Pooh quotes on our picard page. Unfortunately, we had to make the tough but responsible decision to spay her this year because her PennHip results came back poorly. So, no sweet Danu pups for those that may have been holding out. She is continuing her work with Joe in Rally and loves it, and we know she will do great in Therapy work, too.
The rest of our pack has been busy, too.
Bernie has gotten his RL1, and we are enjoying Rally work. At 5 1/2 he is fabulously fit for a ginormous Rottie boy!
Regan is still holding on after being diagnosed with renal failure, she has her good days and her not so good days. Her birthday this year was a big celebration. The hard part for her is not being included so much in training anymore. She just gets too sore at 14 to hold up for very long.
Matilda still charms the pants off of all who meet her. She loves the new puppy but still likes being the boss and the house-elf. She had gone to live with friends for the summer, but decided lots of dogs were a whole lot better than kids in the end! She still visits her other family from time to time...as well as the neighbors, etc. Little miss social butterfly is 9.

Ohio Exhibition 5/16/09

Danu








Chaudron


The weather held out and it was nice seeing the small group that could make the Ohio exhibition in order to be evaluated by long-time breeder and judge from Austria, Christian Janes. He was a most gracious and informative man. Many thanks to the Pyrenean Shepherd Club for sharing both him and their venue with us.
We started the day with a review of the breed standard, followed by evaluations outside of the dogs. I was impressed by the judge turnout to learn the breed standard.

Here are the evaluations of Chaudron and Danu. It is my hope that by posting these we can all learn a bit more about the breed, and what to look for in our programs.

Chaudron:
Positive Points:
Very good type
Excellent Head and Expression
Excellent Carried Ears
Full Scissor Bite
Excellent Hair Texture and Length

Comments:
Fauve Charbonne
Very good Angulation
Excellent Topline
Tail has Good Length
Carried rolled over the back in movement
Very Good Movement

Overall, he recieved a rating of "Very Good". He was marked off for tail carriage and the dark coloration on his flanks.

Danu:
Positive Points:
Very Good Type
Nicely Carried Ears
Good Topline
Excellent Angulation

Comments:
8 months
Somewhat Much Hair
Very Good Hair Texture
Fauve Charbonne
Tail of Good Length, Carried High in Movement
Movement according to age

Overall, Danu recieved an "excellent" rating.

Thank you to Kati for her hard work in assisting Mr. Janes all week, and interpretation!

We made the tough decision to send our youngest pup Della back to the breeder yesterday. Part of the reason that I have been unreachable so much recently is the intense effort we have been putting into her. She has had some fear issues, to the point of nipping, constant barking, repetetive issues, etc. It had gotten to the point where we just had to decide if this was a dog that we were going to be able to show and breed or not. Della has worked with a trainer and a separate behaviorist using the McConnell approach. To us, behavior is as important as good hips. So, our little brindle Della went back and will be spayed and placed very carefully. Thank you to her breeder for doing her part in ensuring this pup gets the best home for her personality.

On a good note, Bernie the Rottie is progressing NICELY in his Rally work, and will move up to advanced training next month. Here's hoping that some of our local VA clubs add Rally to the Conf. days so we can bring him out too....CTA was fabulous in helping us get his CGC and now created a training MONSTER!!!!

Our fawn Picard pup, Danu, has had an all clear on her xrays! These are prelims and not Penn Hips or CERF but she is going through SUCH a growth spurt and just kept coming up vaguely lame so we xrayed it ALL, back, hips, hocks. 10 days of crate rest for the ligaments, and not running like an IDIOT has done her wonders!

Teenage Werewolfs

Dog showing is not supposed to be a contact sport. Or, as my husband likes to say, I am not supposed to be be diving in the ring (and out). Somehow I managed to fall 3 times last weekend, once at little Danni's last puppy obedience class the night before the show, once outside the ring, where I scraped up my knee, hand, and had to have assistance getting up, and ten BLAM, in the ring. Talk about embarrassing......I told another exhibitor that all I have left now is for a dog to have an accident in the ring and I will feel like a seasoned pro......

Chaudron also did not show his best last weekend, we did not place badly overall, but he has tensions and hormones raging through his 16 month old body making him difficult to handle and get his attention at times. Like a teenage werewolf! Saturday he won one out of two against a dog of similar age, (congrats to Casper!) and Sunday took a 4th in group with me and then a fantastic and difficult 3rd in group with Joe against some wonderful herding dogs. Being "up" has it's advantages, but boy was it hard work, for both Joe and I. He is training Joe to be Della's handler. The hard way.

The puppies had a good time. Della's first show out, she did not show but got lots of good exposure. She did well until she got tired and then started barking at everything! This girl has got drive to spare and will likely be our agility girl, while Danni will be our therapy girl. Danni got a hard look from the judge for best puppy in show for one of her classes, but the classes were huge! She did win her groups, however!

Hope you all enjoy the family photo as much as I do, we WON it from the raffle...thank you Thomas Photography and Capitol Terrier Association!