Provisional Judge Melinda Lyon

Today in Montgomery, Judge Melinda Lyon was judging some terriers, toys, and juniors.  She is still provisional for many breeds.  Good or Bad her choices were her own, and we won't be entering under her again.  There were several other much more worthy dogs in the ring today than what she put up, but that is my (and several others) opinion and she pointed to hers.  That's why we enter, like it or not, we pay for their opinion of our dogs on that day.  Our voices are only heard on this matter in future entries, or lack thereof.  Ms. Lyon's placements today are not the point of this note.  My point is her lack of concern for dogs in the ring.  Many dogs will 'reverse sneeze' in the ring.  We have all seen a dog do it.  Years ago, as an embarrassed beginner, I tried to continue around the ring with my dog doing that and was instructed by a judge to stop, let the dog compose itself, then continue.  That kind judge showed me how to make this happen very quickly.  As I became more aware, I realized that many dogs do this, especially in dusty rings.  From then on, whenever that happened, I would stop, compose the dog, and continue.  On average, this takes less than 30 seconds.  So far today, I have received 3 phone calls complaining about Judge Lyon NOT allowing a handler to stop and get the dog's breathing under control before proceeding.  This handler happened to be showing a dog of our breeding, hence the reason for the calls to us.  That handler is fabulous and is not the type to complain, and it was from others that I heard this story.  You know that a judge's actions have made an impact when a someone sees the occurrence, and makes a point of looking up the dog, it's owners and breeders, and feel the need to immediately inform them of what has happened at the show.  Ms. Lyon moved this team to the front of the line-up then on that final go-round the dog started to 'reverse-sneeze.'  When the handler made an attempt to stop and help the dog, he was instructed to continue.  Well, we all know that it is hard enough for us to walk a straight line when we are sneezing, but our poor dogs, being forced to move and while having difficulty breathing, was just plain wrong.  As a handler we are trained to 'obey' the judge, and sometimes it's just not a great idea.  Occasionally, we are torn between doing what we know is right and what this judge (who we don't want to offend) wants us to do.  This dog was still in the ribbons, but that wasn't the point.  Had it been any dog, of any breed, that people contacted me about, this post would be the same.  What would that 30 seconds delay have meant?  Win or lose, it would have leveled the playing field, and most importantly the dog will not have that memory of what happened in the ring.  Forcing the dog around the ring rather than giving the handler a minute, probably didn't gain you more than a few seconds in the grand scheme of things.  Ms. Melinda Lyon, think about this the next time you judge any breed, and a dog has any sort of issue that might take a minute to get under control.  It is about fairly judging the dogs, not about how quickly you can get them out of your ring. 

ROM, ROMX and Health Certifications

Each parent club has the right to determine the requirements for awarding an ROM or ROMX to a sire or dam belonging to a member of that club.  Just as they can set the requirement for membership, etc.  If the club wanted to, they could even give the award to anyone, whether or not they were a member.  The clubs can require whatever they want to earn these titles.  It is their right as an independent club.  The BRTCA happens to require that the sires and dams have also passed certain health certifications.  The BRTCA also offers a Red Star ROM and ROMX.  This requires that the sire and dam of the dog being awarded has also passed those health certifications.  There is now a movement afoot to lessen these requirements because several people cannot meet them.  OH, WELL!  Instead of breeding so many litters each year, or importing so many puppies, and getting lucky every now and then with a dog that passes, why not selectively breed only those animals that have passed their health certifications???   We don't do a lot of breeding for that reason.  We only breed to dogs that are a good example of the breed and have passed their health certifications.  The choices out there in stud dog land are very limited.  We were unfortunate to be unable to breed two of our girls this fall when they came in season and the owners of one stud dog, and the veterinarian in charge of the semen clinic for the other, could not be reached in a timely manner.  One would hope that with the number of dogs out there, we would have more choices.  But I guess that is the reason we are the ONLY Black Russian Terrier breeders with a sire and dam that have been awarded the RED STAR ROMX.
Excellence is something to strive for, not to be undermined.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!!

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all.  We give thanks to God for all of our dear friends, our health (what we have left!), our home, our dogs, and our families.  Let us all take time to remember that as bad as we think we have it, there are many out there that are much worse off.  Help those you can, and pray for those that you cannot. 
God Bless.

Mason

CH That's The Notorious Defender
On Mason's first weekend out as a special, he picked up a 4 point major and win over 2 specials going Select at the Ocala show on Sunday.  Thank you Judge Arlene Benko.
Congratulations owner Connie Rousch.

Mason
CH That's The Notorious DefenderPhoto August 2011

Bongo!!!

That's The Heart of The Cuban Beat
Here is a photo of Bongo from his Best of Winners award at the Cape Cod shows in September.
Way to go owners George & Carol Janes.
Bongo is a littermate to Naughty (see previous post) Go Desi - Boo kids!

Bongo
That's The Heart of The Cuban Beat
Thank You Judge Murrel Purkheiser
Owner Handled by Carol Janes

Naughty, Naughty, Naughty!!!

CH That's So Adorabull - Just Spank Me 
Congratulations to Naughty on 3 breed wins and a BOS  in Chickasha, OK earning 6 points, including a major and win over specials, towards her Grand Championship.
Congratulations to owner Patty Romigh.  Great Job.
Looking forward to the pictures.

Not just in the show ring...Now on I-70 !!!

So people run up on us in the show ring and now a Trucker on I-70.  It's a sinister plot!
Driving home from St. Louis last night we decided to spend the night in Columbia.  Checked into a hotel, then went out for a late supper.  Well, if all had gone good at Red Lobster, we would have been snug back at the hotel when this happened but, as usual Dave's food was really bad, my veggies were cold, so we waited and waited.  Finally, on the way back to the hotel (at 9:00 PM) we were driving along I-70, minding our own business when a Semi-Truck pulling a fully loaded trailer decided to change lanes without checking for cars.  We just happened to be there.  Dave saw her coming, and tried to move over, but didn't have much of a place to go, so she popped the rear quarter panel of our car, just behind the gas tank.  That sent us flying off towards the shoulder & exit, kind of on two wheels.  Dave maintained great control of the car got us through a ditch and back onto the main road without hitting anything else too hard or rolling the car. Yay Dave!!!  It took the truck driver almost a mile to get stopped and over to the shoulder.  We pulled up near them and called the police.  When the Columbia, MO police finally showed up no ticket was issued and they didn't even file a real police report, just an incident report, because there were no ambulances or tow trucks called.  Moral of the story:  If you get into an accident in Columbia, Missouri call a tow truck or ambulance whether you need one or not.

On The News

Interview with Dave by Springfield TV News Channel 3:

http://www.ky3.com/news/ky3-dog-show-brings-thousands-of-dogs-to-the-fairgrounds-20111113,0,4585137.story

 Click Here for the Video

Ozark Kennel Club Sunday

Well, I am getting tired of this.  If we ran up on people, and their dogs, in the ring, we would be the BAD GUYS.  For anyone else, excuses are made, and it pisses me off.

Bichons - Best of Breed.  The judge called for catalog order.  With Brandy being a move up and #8, she should have been first, but then the steward called out 16, 8, winners dog, and winners bitch.  Dave went in first, then the handler with the other special entered the ring and went in front of him.  OK so far.  Then the owner/handler of the Winners Dog (only male entered) went in behind Dave.  She entered the ring fast, her dog ran into Brandy, then she got down, stacked him right on her ass, and she was practically shoulder to shoulder with Dave.  Dave looked at her and motioned for her to move back, but she stayed put.  Time to go around together.  She stayed right on Dave and Brandy, allowing her dog to touch Brandy, and then by the third corner, Dave and Brandy were on the mats, the winners dog was on the concrete, cutting the corner right alongside Brandy.  The owner/handler's foot was alongside Dave.  The point is not to catch and pass the dog in front of you, it is to move your dog in a position and at a pace for the judge to adequately observe him.  You don't have to catch the dog in front of you and if you are faster, hang back and then let your dog move out, or just control his pace.  Brandy was not horribly affected by this behavior but still kept looking back at the other dog.  It was down to Brandy and the Winners Bitch for Best of Breed.  Winners Bitch was cute and kept showing til the end of all of the extra go-arounds.  Brandy had had enough and just started to slow down.  I was proud of her even with the blatant attempt by the winners dog owner/handler to sabotage her performance.  Special thanks to Judge Richard Miller:  Winners Dog got no points, Winners Bitch got a major, and Brandy went Select Bitch and got a win over a special towards her Grand Championship.  

Havanese:

MBIS AM GCH CAN CH Adorabull That's Better Than Sex

Roché was Best of Breed under Judge Robert Hutton.  And a Group 2 under Judge Richard Miller.

Ozark Kennel Club Saturday

Bichons:

CH Creme's Brandy Alexandria

Brandy was Best of Breed today under Judge Robert Hutton. A major and win over a special towards her Grand Championship.  She looked fabulous in group.  The more they clapped, the more she liked it.  


I do have to say that the same lady from Joplin with the really bad (my opinion) American Eskimo was at Springfield.  Being the only one entered she was at the group ring again.  BUT...let me start from earlier in the day:  We were getting ready to go into the Breed ring and she came up and asked if "this is the same dog that snapped at her dog last week."  OK, so I didn't come totally unglued, but it was close.  Her dog literally stuck it's nose so far under Brandy in the group ring in Joplin that Brandy's rear came up off the ground.  What Brandy did was tuck her tail, run forward, and look over her shoulder the rest of the time in the ring.  So I reminded her of what happened and that she actually apologized to us in the ring last week.  Her response was a very quite 'oh, yeah.'  THEN...Waiting for groups she was standing about 10 feet off to the left of the stewards table.  Dave had me set Brandy down between the stewards chairs and the ring entrance.  As soon as I did that, she started to move forward with her dog.  I stood behind Dave and Brandy just to keep her from standing on Dave's feet because she was getting that close.  As the Non Sporting dogs entered the ring she hung back a bit.  Dave and Brandy went in about 5th or 6th and there were about 4 more headed in, when she called out that she needed to go ahead of them and behind the Bichon.  I pretty much exploded.  I actually shook my finger at her and said very loudly "Do NOT go behind the Bichon!!!"  I got a lot of looks, but she stayed away from them.  After Group, I heard from the handlers that she was next to in the ring.  She told them that she accidentally got a little close to the Bichon in Joplin.  The first time might be an accident, after that...The War is On.

Havanese:

MBIS AM GCH CAN CH Adorabull That's Better Than Sex

Roché was Best of Breed under Judge Karen McFarlane.  And a Group 2 under Judge Robert Hutton.

Angleheart's Good Better Best

Coal, a Roché puppy, bred by Bill and Paula Frazier, won his class and was Reserve Winners Dog.  

Theft in Springfield, MO Friday November 11, 2011

Well, the one time I leave my purse in the van...It was under the seat, covered up.  Did they see us leave the van, and me with no handbag?  That must equal Purse in Vehicle.  By the surveillance video less than 5 minutes from the time we left the van, the thieves parked next to our van, broke out the front passenger door grabbed my bag from under the seat, and were gone.  Of course we have all seen those videos on the news, all grainy and fuzzy.  It's not like CSI, they couldn't see the license plate of the vehicle and could hardly make out the make and model.  We have spent the last several days stopping cards and checking accounts, and opening new ones.  Getting new IDs etc.  We still have to have the window installed.

I lost a little bit of 'stuff' but a lot of time and peace of mind.  So for everyone out there, don't think that leaving your purse covered up in the car, means that it is safe.  Also, items in my vehicle were not covered under my vehicle insurance.  They are personal property covered under my homeowners, with a high deductible.  Something else you don't really think about when something may be stolen from your car.

We were at Cracker Barrel near the interstate in Springfield, MO.  A place that travelers frequent.  Women traveling have handbags.  If you go into a store or restaurant without it, that nondescript person, sitting in the nondescript car, a few spots down may be watching and waiting for that traveler to leave, and run it just for a couple of things.  It took them less than a minute to break the glass, open the door, grab the bag and go.

Let our loss be a lesson learned for the rest of you. 

An Apology from Arlene Etzig

An apology from Arlene Etzig.

-----Original Message-----
From: Arlene Etzig <aetzig@comcast.net>
To: dave <dave@weshowdogs.com>
Sent: Mon, Nov 7, 2011 11:57 pm
Subject: An apology

I apologize. 

I should mind my own business by keeping my opinions to myself. 

I am sorry. 

Arlene Etzig
Peluito Havanese

Stud Dog Contract

Well, I hear that our stud dog contract is making the rounds and has upset some people.  If you are truly seeing our stud contract and not something that has been altered (it is a word document, after all).  Those are all people that have upset us, dissed us, our friends, and our dogs.   Many right to our face, and in very public places.  Some of those friends continue to give the people on the list 2nd, 3rd, 4th, (and so on) chances.  We have been around long enough to know that they will not change.  Some have tried to get our bloodlines, by buying puppies from people who have bred to our dogs, but don't want to come directly to us.  Their choice.  Our contract, with exclusions, is ours.  Remember it's a free country and we have a right to protect ourselves.  If you want to exclude us from your bloodlines...feel free.  


Before you believe the names on the list, you might want to think twice...After all word documents can be changed and forwarded.  Just because your name may be on the document that you were sent, does not mean that you are on really on that list.  This is turning into a telephone game.  Have a problem or question...go directly to the source...us.


God Bless America.

Tri-State Kennel Club Sunday

Bichons:

NEW CH Creme's Brandy Alexandria

Brandy was Best of Breed today under Judge Dr. Roger Pritchard, her first day out as a special.  Her first 3 points and first major towards her Grand Championship.  Group was a different story today.  Waiting to go in to group, a Bloodhound decided to goose her, then the novice handler with an tall skinny American Eskimo ran up on her twice on the go-rounds, and that was all it took.  We hate stupid people.  By the go-round after her down and back and the last time around, she was better, but still looking all around for the next big dog that was going to try to taste her.  I think she will have to sleep with a Black Russian or two for a while to get used to the big dogs again.  

Havanese:

MBIS AM GCH CAN CH Adorabull That's Better Than Sex

Roché was Best of Breed under Judge Gloria Kerr.

Angleheart's Good Better Best

Coal, a Roché puppy, won his class.  
Angleheart's Let's Get Physical
Olivia, a Roché puppy and littermate to Coal, won her class and was Winners Bitch, Best of Winners, and Best Bred By. from the Bred By Class.  Congratulations Bill & Paula.

Tri-State Kennel Club Saturday

Not a totally bad day at the dog show.


Bichons:

NEW CH Creme's Brandy Alexandria

Brandy was Winners Bitch and Best of Breed today under Judge Carol Jean Nelson, finishing her championship in style.  She looked fabulous in group.  The more they clapped, the more she liked it.  Now on to a Grand Championship!

Havanese:

MBIS AM GCH CAN CH Adorabull That's Better Than Sex

Roché was Best of Breed under Judge Gloria Kerr.

Angleheart's Good Better Best

Coal, a Roché puppy, bred by Bill and Paula Frazier, won his class and was Reserve Winners Dog.  Not bad for his first day at the dog show.  

Angleheart's Let's Get Physical

Olivia, a Roché puppy and littermate to Coal, won her class and was Winners Bitch, Best of Winners, and Best Bred By. from the Bred By Class.  Congratulations Bill & Paula.

Happy Bithday Dave !!!! and Happy Anniverary Too !!!

An Ode To Dave


Dave,

You are so very special, in almost every way.

What to give the man who doesn't see his worth

On this day when we celebrate your birth.

Money doesn't faze you,

Toys are kind of nice,

What about jewelry with a big chunk of ice?

It must be something special,

that no one can duplicate.

What could be that great?

What would you remember for years to come?

So many presents can be kind of dumb.

Oh, yeah, I remember now,

I gave you that present on this day in 2004.

We married in a beautiful chapel

and celebrated with friends.

When they asked "what about the honeymoon?"

we just had to laugh.

There were dogs to care for, maybe a little time to spoon.

No ulterior motive, presents for you, presents for me...

But at least you'll always remember our anniversary!

Dave,

You are the love of my life. 

Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary.

Love always,

Darlene