What a busy few weeks - Taunton Premier Show - wet wet wet! But it was worth getting up so early - a great result. It's nice to meet up with old friends and shop - at least Kim and I were not threatened with eviction from any of the stalls this time! Then off to the Royal Cornwall Show - boy has the weather changed in less than 2 weeks! Hot and sunny - I have the sunburn to prove it! I showed on the Toy day, another great result, then back again on Working day, where I showed the groenendael "Sting" - Best of Breed and 2nd in the Working Group - fantastic!
Well, it has been busy. First the arrival of Ice, the flying furball. Let anyone dare tell me again that powderpuffs are more reserved. Watching Ice is like watching a snowball going downhill (speed x unstoppability). This baby loves human contact, and is so sweet natured.Then it was off to Crufts. Sadly we were not placed this year, but, boy, did the shopping help to take some of the edge off my disappointment. So much bling in so enclosed a space, a girl's dream! Meeting old friends and making new ones, especially in a new breed and from another country, is what dog showing is all about.Then this weekend off to a local All Breeds dog show. Well, a 45 minute drive to a venue is considered pretty local these days. BOB with Dino, 2nd with Billy, and placings with 3 others ( 2 x chihuahuas and "Mouse" the dobermann, all belonging to friends), really gave the day interest, although after getting up at 5.45am, to arrive home in the evening after 8pm, is a long day.And......
Phew, what a week. Just got back from New York, where we went to see the Westminster Kennel show. This has been a lifetime ambition. We arrived in New York on Thursday afternoon, and after registering at the hotel, did a mini sight see and found Macys (quite by accident!).Saturday saw us at the Pennsylvania Hotel to watch some toy breeds and Boston Terriers being judged. Disappointing to see that the entry for minpins was not that large, but we later found out that they were showing over in New Jersey, along with other breeds. Reds featured prominently ( a colour I love).Sunday saw us at the Meadowlands Centre in New Jersey to watch dobermanns.These dogs were very impressive. And I know that my friend could have taken more than one home with her! One could not help but admire the temperaments on these dogs, something we should work on here.Monday and Tuesday we rushed to Madison Square Gardens. I have to say that the stallholders and owners/breeders/handlers are to be congratulated, given the tightly packed crowds of people who came to the benching area. Tempers were never frayed, people were extremely friendly and willing to share information and the dogs behaved impeccably.We were lucky to be able to view the dogs from the ringside, and what struck me was how well turned out the handlers were, a lesson for all of us. I loved the BOB Chinese Crested, and found much to admire in the American Staffordshire Terriers.
