In order to spend Easter evening with my sisters — and get back in time for a work commitment — I did the drive home on Monday.
940+ miles in a day.
It was a lot but worth it to spend that extra day with family.
Specialties are always action-packed — this one was no exception. I always leave wishing I could have spent more time with friends, even as I am grateful for what time I was able to share.
Sleep is the real casualty of Specialties — I am still trying to catch up. But again — worth it.
I got to see Dianne and Sparkler Jordan finish their Grand Master Draft Dog!
YIPPEE and Congratulations!
I got to see iPup Tag and his human, Tina, and Sparkler Zed and his person, Tony — this is Tag and Zed…
Sparkle and grandson, Zed…
I saw Moonshadow Andy and his wonderful human, Jasen. I was there when Bright Star Daddy won Best in Versatility and then Best of Opposite — this is Ferguson waiting to go in the ring for Best of Breed…
And so on — I saw people and dogs I love. I got lots of hugs and support. It was amazing.
As I shared previously, my plan was to just do what the dogs already knew — I did not have the bandwidth (or weather) to train for new events.
Once again, I am struck with the value of being very well-prepared. Claire and Sundance easily passed Novice Brace both times they were entered — new title for each of them.
Claire also passed Open Draft — another new title for her.
Claire and I did Rally. When we were done someone jokingly said that we should leave Rally to the rest of them — as if we were sandbaggers for swooping in and winning the Rally Novice class.
I did not tell them that I do not practice Rally and had not done it with Claire in four years. I had to ask the judge what some of the signs meant during the walk-thru!
Rally is not hard with a well-prepared obedience dog. I had that dog.
And that also explains the High in Trial…
Anything can and does happen at a dog show — even being well-prepared cannot assure success — but being well-prepared certainly provides an advantage.
And being well-prepared is so much less stressful for the human and the dog!
I have no idea why anyone would step foot in a ring with a dog that is not 110% ready — that sounds awful to me for all kinds of reasons 😳
Sparkle also had a great Specialty. She won her Versatility Excellent, 7 & Older class and placed second in the two Veteran beauty pageant classes she was in — first place both times was Ferguson’s mother! How cool is that?!
Capella was entered in Bred-by and did not place but looked great — her day is coming.
The PeeWee class was a Big Success. Berkeley was unable to make it but we had a lot of kids and fun — thanks to Kay and Sue for all their help.
Dear Daughter took the week off from work and stayed at my house with Harper, Pozy and the cats — that made the Specialty both possible for me and completely worry-free. What a gift.
The 2024 Specialty is in Missouri and starts on March 31, 2024. It is not too early to start getting ready!
❤️