Can the Non-Professional Win?

Thank you, Billy Wheeler, for this article on owner handlers.

Hold The Fluff

Just found out my tri boy is fluff free! The significance is that he would have a reduced chance of fluffies from a breeding (assuming he sires a litter).

Here's a chart courtesy of DDC Veterinary (source: http://www.vetdnacenter.com/canine-fluffy-test.html)

Personally, I think fluffies are pretty dang cute! I've met some great corgi ambassadors with fluff coats. It is, however, considered a fault for the breed ring.

So woo-hoo for fluff free. Now to get that one last point....

It's Not You, It's Me

As a relative newcomer, I am thankful to anyone who gives me advice and guidance at shows.

Today, I appreciate that two separate breeders from the club to which I belong pointed out an error on my part that impacted how my little guy was presented in the ring. I can't see myself in there - so I'm appreciative to those who share their observations. I can't improve without feedback, after all.

On the flip side, it's sort of a bummer to think I'm my dog's biggest fault. Clearly a professional handler would not make my beginner mistakes.

Of course, Preston does not really care one way or another. He's currently sound asleep at my feet, where he would be win or lose :)  And I have tomorrow to put their advice into action.

Today was a good day - because I learned something. Sometimes it's not always about the purple and gold!

Packing For The Pembrokes

Later this week, a large group of friends is headed off for a road trip to three days of shows.

 

I started packing yesterday.

 

Last year I bought a nifty little app called Packing Pro to ensure I don't leave anything essential behind (one time, pre-Packing Pro, my husband had to meet me en route to deliver my suits!).

 

Here's what's on my list:

 

Grooming

• chamois
• forced air dryer
• grooming box (includes brushes, combs, chalk, nail grinder and recharger, scissors, self wash, etc.)
• spray bottles
• table
• table arm
• towels

Food and Beverage

• bait
• bait bag
• food
• food bowls
• supplements
• water
• water bowls

 

Other Dog Essentials

• beds
• collars
• crates
• first aid kit
• leads
• poop bags
• show lead
• sun shade

 

Human Essentials

• chair
• directions
• entries
• gps
• hand sanitizer
• headphones
• hotel reservations
• immunization records
• nylons (always bring extras!)
• phone
• rechargers
• show outfits
• show shoes

 

Most importantly, don't forget the dogs!

 

Stay tuned for the contents of my grooming box.

Herd is the Word

"Sometimes it's worth barking about, other times just roll over and show them your belly."

 

~An original from me

I've been on blog hiatus. Life happens.

Since my last post....

Carter the red boy earned his first leg in rally

Preston the tri boy earned more points - including his first BoB and major (all with me at the other end of the lead - see miracles do happen!)

Next week we are taking a roadtrip to 3 days of shows with majors (fingers crossed!) and will also be competing in rally (toes crossed!).

Since we will officially be 18 mos old on 11/16 we are out of puppy classes and on to....Amateur Owner Handler.

Let's Get Physical

Everyone knows that dogs need exercise. What I didn't realize is how much and what types are needed to remain in show condition. I learned the term "road work" - walking the dog on a leash, and for a corgi this doesn't mean taking an occasional spin around the block. There are many folks whose adult corgis do 3 miles a day (note: pups should do shorter distances). During in-climate weather, there's the "Dog-A-Jog" treadmill - another concept that was new to me. I have not yet invested in one, but could be convinced if we have another winter like 2010/2011. And then there's letting them run off-lead as that works different muscles. My first two corgis were ball fiends. The second two are not - so our running consists of letting them herd each other (or my kids) around the fenced backyard. I'm sure there are multiple thoughts on the right types and amount of exercise - these are just my experiences.

 I will not say much about diet because everyone has their own philosophy about what to feed their dogs. Mine do well on Taste of the Wild. I throw in green beans or carrots occasionally. They have a multivitamin, Fish Oil and Vit E daily. For Carter, Show Stopper was an excellent supplement when he was in the ring. It helps with coat growth and quality (I wish there was an equivalent for humans!). My 11.5 year old girl (who is a pet) also receives a joint supplement. My husband jokes that she's in such good shape that she may outlive both of us.

 Chiropractics are also a common service sought out by those who show dogs. My first corgi - my dear, sweet pet Jack who crossed the bridge the day after Christmas in 2009 - went to a chiropractor for years. I have not sought it out for others, however I am about to for the boys as I want to ensure they remain in tip-top alignment.

 And while we're on the topic of alternative approaches - I am a firm believer in the power of acupuncture for dogs. My girl ruptured a disc a few years and her hind end was totally immobile. Instead of surgery - I opted for cortisone and acupuncture. It worked! And she's back to playing ball like it's nobody's business. 

So what am I trying to say here? Showing a dog means more than committing time and money to participate in the events. There is much work to be done on an ongoing basis. It's a commitment - especially when you don't feel well, or are tired or busy - but you push through it, like an athlete.

Do I Have What It Takes?

I've been reading "Show Dog: The Charmed Life and Trying Times of a Near-Perfect Purebred". It's a great book and I can relate to so much of it based on my experience in and outside of the ring.

The book does far more than chronicle the ups and downs of Aussie Jacks's life on the show circuit. I've learned so much more about dogs in general. And the more I read, the more I question whether the average owner handler can make a mark in the confirmation ring. There appears to be a strategy used by the pros - campaigning - that is important to further a canine's career. This includes backers and expensive ads in the right magazines. Must I be wealthy and employ the expertise of a renowned handler to excel in this arena?

I used handlers on my first Ch. and they are wonderful and talented and fabulous in so many ways and I am thankful for their skill and kindness. I would use them again in a heartbeat, but I really want to try and finish my second hopeful on my own. I question if this is possible as I look at pictures of us in the ring. Maybe I'm not cut out for this. Perhaps I should shift my focus to performance, which is a bit more objective.

My dream is to be in the ring at Westminster - or at least have a dog in the ring (because I've heard that you do want a handler in that venue). Some dreams come true...but not all.

Dogs Make My Life Whole

Taking a two-legged vacation. Missing my four-leggeds. It's odd not to have my little shadows with me. Makes me wonder how I ever lived without dogs!

It's ALL About The Shoes

Words to live by in the amateur owner handler world:

"Shoes are like friends, they can support you, or take you down" ~Anon

You will not see footwear from the breed ring featured at fashion week. Spending hour after hour standing on cement floors and/or grassy fields does not lend itself well to Jimmy Choos. It's all about comfort...and what won't cause you to take a header in the ring.

If you plan to enter the ring and Christian Louboutin and Manolo Blahnik are your best friends, it's time to expand your social circle by introducing yourself to some new names - such as Merrell, Dansko, and Born (just to name a few). Be sure to avoid Uggs in the ring (referencing a questionable footwear choice in the 2012 Working Group @ Westminster).

I bought myself Merrells for in the ring and Dansko for outside of the ring. If you are entering outdoor shows, I highly recommend a pair of nice water resistant shoes or boots in the event of inclement weather. I was caught at a show without last year and ended up wearing flip flops.

Today I was a rebel and wore leather boots. I kept my feet firmly planted - so maybe I'll dare to move from the mundane to the sublime.

Bad Hair Day

Your (and you dog's) hair would look like this too if the GPS routed you through the back roads of the Bronx...

Say Cheese

What they don't teach you in handling class...how to pose for pictures:

It was a struggle to catch the two of us in a presentable position at the same time - and I managed to create a lovely ruffle up his neck.

Blech.

In the picture from the show prior to this I look like a deer caught in the headlights - so I guess this is an improvement.

Clearly I need to attend a Dog Show Photos 101 seminar.

Dog Show Peeps

Just returned from 4 days of showing in NJ.

Two points earned - but more importantly lots of fun was had.

Travelled on my own for the first time. I met some great peeps and had lots of laughs. Some handler friends saved me room in their set-up where my "property" abutted some highly-entertaining and really nice professionals.

The corgi folks were so nice to me. A couple of them were also relatively new to showing and shared their experiences. I even receieved some excellent unsolicited coaching from a breeder/handler which was so very helpful.

This was also the first time that I was not a quaking bag of nerves in the ring.

Now we are major hunting...and my boy has some time off.

Properly trained, a man can be a dog's best friend

Credit to Corey Ford for today's title.

Dog training....so much irony in that name. Clearly I'm the one being trained - only no one give me any treats.

The A$$ Crack of Dawn

Just registered for a show that's 3+ hours away from home. One day only. What are the odds that I'll have an 8am ring time requiring me to hit the road at - say - 3am to ensure a timely arrival?

The Cost Of Being Best In Show

NPR On Point featured the World Of Dog Shows last week in honor of Westminster.

Another interesting article on The Cost Of Being Best In Show was also published last week. I should probably start tallying up my expenses at some point - but hey, ignorance is bliss (especially to my husband!).

$8.57 a Minute

Life during show weeks is hectic, at best. The dog that's going has to be bathed - in my tub -carried down 2 flights of stairs to the basement for drying and grooming, and then I have to clean up the trail of water and dog fur that I leave while trekking a sopping wet corgi around the house. Mind you, this is all done late into the night, because I work during the day and have two-legged beings to tend to when I arrive home.

Then there is trying to prevent the boys from playing so that my grooming efforts are not undone by slobber.

Show day usually starts before the sun is up on Sat morning. Prep whatever the husband needs to manage the kids for the day, pack the car, groom myself and hit the road....and drink plenty of coffee to prevent grumpiness.

Arrive, primp, get three and a half minutes in the ring - at $30 an entry, that's $8.57 a minute (plus gas, food, etc.) to show a class dog.

What People Think I Do

One picture is worth a thousand words...

Show Dog: The Charmed Life and Trying Times of a Near-Perfect Purebred

Started reading this in the wee hours after my son woke up with a stomach ache.

I'm still in the Preface, but already love the book.

Highly recommend. Read more about.

Bucket List

I've cancelled my evening plans next week to watch the WKC show. How cool it would be to handle a dog there some day. That one will go on my bucket list.

Living Vicariously Through Others

I took Carter to a make-up class training class tonight, which ended up being Novice Obedience.

There was a beautiful and HUGE Newfie bitch in there. After convincing Carter that it was a canine and not a bear, I was talking with the owner who said the Newfie finished her grand championship this past weekend. To which I replied,

“Are you going to The Garden?” (which means Westminster, next week)

and she says....

“No, because I can’t top last year. She (the Newfie) won best of opposite there.”

At that point shows me this incredibly huge gold medallion that’s hanging around her (the owner's) neck that says Westminster Kennel Club – and so forth.

I just looked at her and said,

“Can I touch it?”

So I basically felt up some lady’s Westminster necklace in dog training class tonight.

Hartford

Counts are up for the 2/18 show in Hartford:

~ 22 Pembroke Welsh Corgis 9-9(3-1)0 ~

3 point major in dogs.

Pockets!

Thank you, Target, for your $25 skirts with pockets. Perfect for bait.

101 Things To Do With Corgi Fur

The newest member of the toy group...we call him "Harry"

Jerseylicious

So I can't go to Syracuse:( My husband's fantasy baseball draft is the same weekend - just found out yesterday. He has to go or he can't participate in the league - which he has been involved in for at least 20 years. When I found out, I told him to go because there's always another dog show.

In lieu of Syracuse, I'm off to Edison, NJ. I have only driven through NJ previously...never stayed there. It'll be my first time without my friend/breeder/mentor being there when I handle. Sure I've done matches before w/out her, but never an AKC show without her. Thankfully, she has introduced me to some great corgi breeders and also to some good friends of hers who are professional handlers (in fact they handled Carter for me). So I will have a place to groom and a roommate for the hotel.

Here's hoping that Edison is one Jerseylicious experience!

We Have Class

Yesterday, rally class (w/Carter) and puppy class(w/Preston). Tonight, handling class w/Preston. He's a great little showman. Hoping he becomes my 2nd Champion.

Three Amigos...

...more or less.


And some Sunday humor. I was talking with my husband about a bitch being bred, and my son chimes in: “She’s turning into a piece of bread?”

2 Down - 13 To Go

The picture of Preston and me (and the judge, of course) taken after earning his first two points arrived today. He is so handsome! I just love my boys - and girl.

Preston is zoinked after handling class. They should really charge me double because I'm a lost cause on the table and need a lot of extra help from the instructor.

Teacher's Pet

Preston started puppy class today. He was a model student used as an example of "how puppies should walk on a lead". Tomorrow - handling class.

Fetch!

We have a fetcher!

My first two corgis were ball fiends.

Carter never caught on. Good looks, yes. Brains, not so much.

Preston decided to start retrieving the ball for me today. He must have learned it from watching the matriarch who, at 11.5 y.o., is as spry as a puppy...mostly.

Of course he had to figure this all out on a day when we were the recipients of 3" of snow. We played until my toes froze. Now he's sleeping at my feet and hopefully his warm little body will defrost them.

Snow Cone

Snow is a most unfortunate event for a cone-headed corgi. Every time Carter lifts his head up from sniffing the ground, he gets a face full of white stuff courtesy of his cone.

Tutoring

Here's the dialog that transpired when I walked through the door.

Me: "Be gentle with Carter tonight"

Son: "Why?"

Me: "Because he had an operation"

Son: "What type of operation?"

Me: "On his belly"

Son: "Did he have his puppy-makers taken out?"

A Star Is Born

This is my little guy in In The Company of Dogs catalog

There's No Business Like Show Business

Last year, I ran out of vacation time at work because of dog shows. I had to take a couple of unpaid days for a scheduled family trip and use personal days at the end of the calendar year for a couple of shows.

I'm trying to be more planful this year - especially since I'll be taking 8 days of vacation for a family trip. It leaves little extra for travelling to shows.

Our club specialty is a priority for time off.

Plus "the girls" have a couple of fun show weekends planned that run Fri-Sun. Can't miss those - too much fun.

This year's PWCCA specialty is in Portland, OR and I would LOVE to go to that event. Not entirely sure how to swing getting a dog and myself across the country without putting him in the belly of a plane (which I do not want to do if at all possible!).

And then there's the husband and family factor - need to clear it all in advance to avoid conflicts with school events, and ballet, and piano, and chorus, and yoga....the list goes on and on.

So the calendar craziness begins.

Four-Legged Kids

My four-legged kids are Pembroke Welsh Corgis (PWCs),

• Amber - 11.5 y.o.
• Carter - 2.5 y.o.
• Preston - 8 mos

My first PWC - Jack - crossed "the bridge" on Dec 26, 2009 at 12.5 y.o. He's forever in my heart.

My favorite car magnet

Two Left Feet

Call me Gerry Fleck from the movie "Best In Show" - the novice handler with two left feet. I've stumbled my way around many a ring over the past two and a half years as an amateur owner handler. It has been quite a trip (yes, pun intended).