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!

Best in Show Puppy

Danni loves children, and they love her back. It was clear as a bell how much she missed her Ellie girl, who helped to lovingly raise her, at the show last weekend when she took best in show Puppy with Mattie Weinberg at the helm. Thanks Mattie for doing such a terrific job on little Danni's first time out. You had some stiff competition on Saturday!

Mattie gladly helped out all weekend showing Danni and by the end of the weekend Danni was showing her teeth like a pro!!!

Della Reese

Little miss Della Reese....what a heart stealer!!! She is the third of our Picardy group to come home and will arrive February 1st from Betsy's litter in Roanoke!! We visited her at one month, and could have stolen her then! Her personality is a sparkling one and we have high hopes for this girl to be just like her Mama!!! Thanks "Little" for giving us such a beautiful baby girl!!! And thanks Betsy for keeping her safe and doing such a fantastic job with all the litter. There are still two left, I believe...brindle boys!!!