Monday, May 4, 2009

Elma

It was a great weekend. Wonderful to see good friends. Some I haven't seen in a while. Others are becoming family. I had my first experience handling more than one dog as I had both Pan and Celie entered.

My luck in the ring seemed to go with the weather. Saturday was a constant downpour. Nothing for us that day. Big congratulations for Megan and Greta and for Secret though. We still had fun in spite of the weather. And I got to go back to my "hotel," my home away from home, and take a nap.

Sunday was unexpectedly bright and beautiful. Mark handled Dash to WD (and later to BOW & BOS) and Kim Kiefer handled Mirage to WB. The mad rush to switch Pan for Celie (henceforth known as Squealie as she whined the whole time I was in the ring with Pan) and we went in for Best of Breed. All the competitors are excellent movers. Some judges don't like it when we "go plaid." (Sorry another Spaceballs reference.) We were kindly asked by Judge Patricia Trotter to slow down and go around the ring again. And Mrs. Trotter picked out Celie.

As tired as I was and as much as my back was hurting, it was an honor to take Celie into group. I am especially grateful Kim and Mark hung around to support us. There was no time to go back home and get back in time but waiting for 3 hours is a long time. They are the bestest friends a girl can hope for.

Celie is an awesome girl. I hardly have to groom her at all and she loves the show ring and me so much she just simply can't contain herself. I'll get to test her out in her first rally this Saturday but it's not much of a test for her as it is for me. She will do anything I ask of her.
Except maybe to be quiet. Oh well, nobody's perfect and I guess that's why we have them debarked. Hmmmm.

12 comments:

penni said...

What a fun half of a weekend. Congratulations!

Léo said...

Actually the whole weekend was wonderful. But you know, mostly it's about the company you share it with. Dogs and the people who love them is pretty damn good.

Kristine said...

Congrats on a wonderful weekend--I agree that dog people are the best!

dreameyce said...

Glad she's doing so well for you! Big congrats on the BOB, even if you had to slow down for it! (That seems funny to me, as Cardis shouldn't be plodding around the ring slowly like a Basset)

Léo said...

I've heard several judges complain about us going too fast. One told me "They aren't greyhounds." Honestly, I think if they asked to see us go around a couple of times, one slow and one fast, they would be able to see what these dogs can really do. Some move well and maintain a level topline at any speed.

dreameyce said...

I just wonder how slow those "slow down" judges think the sheep Cardigan used to herd went.

Granted, Cardis seem to be more of a galloping breed while working, but I've seen them hold consistent full suspension trots to move livestock, and work. In Cardigans, I feel the faster full suspension movement is much more correct than the loping, lagging trots seen often.

JMO, and IMO, the standard reflects the smoother, faster trot, over the slower trotters often seen. Luckily, seems breeders agree with me, while it's some judges who want a herding Basset ;0P

Holly said...

Congrats! So glad you had a great weekend and a wonderful win!

Léo said...

As I understand the history, and please correct me if I am mistaken, anyone, but I think Corgis were originally used more as drivers of cattle than herders. And the driving was more about getting the hell off my land (over and over if necessary as cows can be pretty determined about a certain patch of clover) than keeping a herd in a group moving from one place to another specific destination. I don't know enough about the different tasks involved to say with any authority what speeds they most often would be working at in either.

But (nudge, nudge) some might argue they still are used to herd sheep. Along with just about anything else they can run in circles around. ;-)

Traci said...

Le'o, I had to LAUGH OUT LOUD - and you will too....

Chance has his own personal "attendants" at shows to keep him quiet when I'm in the ring with Sedona. He's squeaks and squeals and barks like a mad fool.

Ah yes, they ARE two apples from the same tree - :)

Congrats on the awesome weekend!!! I'm so happy for you and Celie and I'm glad that you got to have fun in the group ring! :)

Léo said...

I am smiling.... and jealous!! That is if they are successful in keeping him hushed.
Kim and Mark tried everything except throwing her crate down the stairs. And yes, such an act was discussed and yes, with her in it!! sigh. We finally put a jacket over the front of it. She was still whining but it muffled her noise.

Traci said...

Yea, I *have* kicked his crate, to no avail... Kat actually puts her hand IN the stinking crate and makes googoo noises at him... most of the time it works - but when Kat wasn't there to "tame" him, oh heavens, watch out! Imagine if we were showing Pan and Sedona and had Chance and Celie ring side?? Oh good golly... I think we'd be asked to leave! LOL Give Celie girl hugs from her Auntie Traci! :)

Kady Cannon said...

Congratulations on your win.

I commented earlier today, but sometimes I think that google doesn't hear me :-)

Maybe I can't read the codewords right.