Albuquerque Shows

A friend and I are heading off to Albuquerque, NM for dog shows this weekend. There is a Lab specialty on Friday, so Angus and I will strut our stuff; I'm bringing a Cardi girl I bred, but she lives with her family here in Flagstaff. The annoying thing is that I have a conflict both days! So Skye may well be shown by someone else. 8-( Not fair!

Household Additions

I now have only one breedable bitch, Panda--Rosie and Ribbon are retired--so I've been looking at adding girls to my menagerie. As it turns out, I'll be adding several girls over the balance of this year and next year. Panda's going back to Fudge this summer, and I'll keep something from that as last time I let all three pups go to show homes that had been waiting quite a while. Cassidy has his first litter due in three weeks in Michigan, and I'll getting 2nd pick girl from that litter, if all works out. Then Caitlin, Cassidy's sister, will be bred once health clearances are in, and I get pick from that litter. So that's three, though I won't be able to breed these girls until they're two. I'll be going from one brood bitch to four. Wheee!

2009 Cardigan National

We (me, Panda, and Cassidy) are home again and recuperating from the Cardigan National. Long drive to/from Topeka, KS, but completely uneventful, happily. Lots of barren plains between Flagstaff and Topeka!

It was a very, very nice National for me. My dogs did quite well in all events. Gypsy, a young blue girl who belongs to a friend unable to attend, accompanied me and lived up to the hopes of her owner and me. She was awarded 1st place in her Sweepstakes class, and 1st in the 12-18 months class; then was one of three pulled out for special consideration as Reserve Winners Bitch. (This wouldn't mean much at an all-breed show, but is definitely a wonderful result at a National.) Gypsy's litter-sister, Gracie, placed 4th in her class. And the mother of both pups, Panda, received one of seven Awards of Merit in the BOB class. Also receiving an AoM was RickyBobby, a Gryphon son, and thus a Panda nephew. The only dog of my breeding who didn't "do" anything was Cassidy, but the truth is that I did not feel he was the judge's kind of dog and fully expected him not to go far in the judging. I entered him so others could see him, as he was very much praised last year.

So all in all I am very pleased with how well my guys did, and am very proud of all of them. When win photos are sent to me, I'll get them scanned and post them here. 8-)

Sad day. I took Vanessa to the vet to send her over the bridge. He and I discussed that we believed it was cancer when I took her in three weeks ago . . . didn't have a biopsy, etc., done because I felt the problem was serious enough that very little could be done, especially when a dog is 13-1/2, half blind with cataracts and diminished hearing. Today he confirmed what I thought the problem was: perianal adenocarcinoma, one of the most aggressive cancers. Overall she lost 11 pounds, poor thing. But now she's young again across the bridge, frapping with all the other dogs and puppies.

The best Gypsy could do today was Reserve, but that's not a horrible thing. It's nice sharing the points among friends. 8-) So she is done until the National, if I can go. I hope so!

Gypsy

Good show news yesterday. My friend Rita called to say that Gypsy was WB. Now she has 8 points and 1 major.

Gypsy is a litter-sister to Kennedy and Gracie, from Panda's first litter, sired by Fudge. (Ch. Trudy Tails About Last Night.) She is also Rita's first Cardigan, after breeding and showing Labs for over 30 years. (She bred my Angus.) When I set up with her and a friend at a Sporting Breeds show in New Mexico a year ago, I had brought Cassidy and Laila just for the outing, as I was there to show Angus. Rita fell head over heels in love with Cassidy, my blue boy. She decided she wanted a blue girl. So when Panda's litter was born, there was one blue girl. As she grew on, I felt she had a lot of promise. So at eight weeks I met with Rita halfway between Phoenix and Flagstaff to deliver Gypsy. Rita thought she was stunning. And within a matter of days, Gypsy charmed Rita and her husband, Charlie, completely. Gypsy just turned one, and it's so funny to talk to Rita. This blue girl walks on water.

Since Rita can't go as planned to the National with me because of Charlie's health, she's sending her with me. I'm really looking forward to showing her in Sweeps and the recular classes. Hope I'll have some good news for Rita!

This Is Priceless!

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