Capella continues to win her class while having Big Fun. I have so enjoyed seeing friends again — dog shows are as much about the humans who show up as they are about the dogs we show off.
Bright Star Sage (Mirak) is awaiting his turn in the show ring…
Thank you, Kay and Sue!
Winter is a prime show season in Arizona and a great time to take a break from Montana. If I travel to Arizona to both escape winter and show dogs, would that make me a Show Bird?
Capella won her class yesterday and had fun. The judge observed that Capella did the go around the fastest of any of the dogs that had been in the ring thus far, and wondered if Capella thought it was a race?
Capella: “Why, YES! I do think it is a race.”
Isn’t it wonderful that she has such happy puppy energy in the show ring?!
The really awesome news from the show is that Moonshadow Daddy, Pippin, finished his Championship. He seriously looked amazing — what a lovely dog with flawless movement and a fantastic temperament. That made him a BMDCA Versatility Dog — we send our congratulations to his humans. Strong Work, Team Pippin!
And speaking of strong work and Moonshadows, Mike and Patty — first time Berner owners — got themselves some thinning shears and attacked Porter’s ears!
And okay, yes — apparently they also attacked Mike’s finger — but that will heal!
I was so proud when I got that photo — thank you so much to Mike and Patty for embracing Life with a Berner. Great Job, Team Porter (except the finger part, of course!).
Half-brother to the Moonshadows is Wildflower, Kitsap…
SO handsome! Thanks to Bridget for keeping me in updates and photos. #gratitude
Too cool for school is Bright Star Atlas…
I double dog dare you to march through today with an Atlas Attitude!
Delinquency is exhausting, says Capella…
Capella celebrated being eight months old yesterday by earning another Best of Breed.
If there were no Specials (Champions and Grand Champions competing in the Best of Breed class) this would be less of a Thing; it is unusual for any dog but the Specials to win Best of Breed. But there were, in fact, two male Specials — that is a tough hill for a puppy to get over. Twice.
We are now set up in Helena — the show starts tomorrow. It is a large entry and Capella is highly unlikely to have similar success in terms of ribbons, but she will get additional experience as a show dog.
She does some things REALLY well — free stacking, for example, and her down and back is controlled and lovely. She is not bothered one bit by the judge exam or showing her pearly white teeth. Where she needs work is following other dogs — she seems to think it is a chase game.
My show ring training — like all my training — is positive because I work under the assumption that if my expectations are clear and sufficiently fun/motivating, of course Capella will do what I ask.
This kind of attitude places the burden of the goal on me — not an eight month old puppy — and forces me to be a thoughtful, intentional trainer. It is a fun challenge to consider how to best communicate to Speed Racer that the goal is not actually to chase down the dog in front and invite him/her to a wrestling party.
Have a terrific day — and thanks for your support and encouragement. It is so appreciated.