Finnish National

Yaahoooo!!! Kennedy, aka Cheysuli's Tri To Remember, was awarded a CC at the Finnish National today. I am so pleased, and so proud of Taija and the boy. What a thrill!

For those not familiar with European shows--and that includes me!--this is like getting WD and five points at our National. He just needs two CCs now!

Congratulations Taija!

Tomorrow Is The Day

The Finnish National is tomorrow, yaaay! This will be Kennedy's debut in the specialty. He's had two reserve CCs and all his critiques are wonderful (In Europe the judges write a critique of the dogs), so Taija and I are hoping for a special day. Ironically, the judges are both American, Steve and Marieann Gladstone, who were two of my very first breed mentors many years ago. They have not seen Kennedy, so it will be very interesting to see how the boy does.

For CCs (champion certificates), a dog to gain his championship must win three CCs, and one must come after the dog turns two. So in the meantime we're hoping Kennedy can get his first two out of the way, then have fun trying to win more as he grows on to two. He can win as many CCs as are available, but he won't be a champion until he gets that first CC after he turns two. I've often thought that might be the way to go here in the States.

Flagstaff Show #2

Angus was 4th again today. 8-( In Cardis, Gypsy picked up another point and now needs just one to finish her championship. (Gypsy is Fudge X Panda and litter-sister to Taija's Kennedy.) Skye was third, and Cassidy didn't make BOS today. Same bitch special won, She got a Group 4 yesterday, so we had a Pem =and= a Cardi in the Group placements, which doesn't usually happen. I was tired and sunburned and did not stay for the Herding Group today. (Breaking down an EZ-Up canopy by yourself is particularly "fun" when your back keeps cramping! And there is nothing whatsoever "easy" about EZ-Ups!)

Flagstaff Show #1

Well, the best Angus-the-Lab could muster up was 4th, but at least he was in the ribbons. Different story in Cardigans. Gypsy, whom I bred but belongs to the friend who bred Angus, was WB/BOW, and Cassidy was BOS to the blue girl Bill Shelton's been showing, though he handed her off because he took BOB in Pems immediately prior to Cardis. Skye, whom I showed, was RWB. So I have no complaints!

Nor did Bill Shelton, who took BIS with his Pem. 8-)

Local Shows

Dog shows this weekend here in Flagstaff. For the first time in quite a while, there is no conflict with Labs and Cardigans, so I'll get to show both without having to race back and forth between rings, or having someone else take a dog in for me.

So it's my goofy Angus in Open Black, and a class bitch and a special in Cardigans. Crossing my fingers that someone does well!

Owie!

Took a visiting bitch to my vet today for an AI. Usually I do this at home, but the prior two AIs she'd just gone nuts on me, and I wanted to cover all bases. At any rate, while there I ran into a guy from my handling class whose Wire-Haired Pointing Griffon had just had puppies two days ago. They were in for dewclaws--and tails. I watched as the vet docked the tails. There was such a sad little lineup of seven discarded tails. 8-( Taking dews off doesn't bother me in the least when I've watched because they're so small and unnecessary, but I didn't like seeing the tails cut off. I'm glad both my breeds-Cardigans and Labs--get to keep the tails they were born with!

WHEEEEE!!!

This is Kennedy, the puppy I sent to Finland last summer, taking flight. He leads such a hard life . . .