Oklahoma City - Thursday

Caribbean Day!  I guess nobody else reads the premium list.  Dave dressed in his tropical wear but it seems that nobody else did.  Tomorrow is Pacific day.  I was torn between sending him as Tom Hanks in Castaway or in a Hawaiian Hula skirt.  So...Hula skirt it is.  Hopefully he will not be too discouraged from today and wear it tomorrow.

Havanese:

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

Roché went Best of Breed and made the cut in Group under Judge Keke Kahn.  

She wanted to see him in braids again so that is what she got, but I guess it wasn't enough to give him a piece of the group.  Keep your fingers crossed for tomorrow!
That's Mendota's Sassy Soul Sister - Keisha
Keisha won her class today.  Let's hope for the major tomorrow!

Bichons:

Creme's Brandy Alexandria

Brandy, or Alice, or Alex was doing OK but still isn't too sure about this show thing. Judge Murrel Purkheiser  was not happy with her ring performance and animation.  We are working on it.  At least she wasn't last in her class.  We still have high hopes for this beautiful bitch. 

Cambridge, MN Kennel Club, June 26

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

Roché went Best of Breed and made the cut in Group under Judge Sandra Goose Allen.  

It was a good weekend for Breed Points.

Cambridge, MN Kennel Club, June 25

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

Roché went Best of Breed under Judge Joan Zielinski.  

Roché did better on the grass today with only a slight bunny hop at the beginning of his down and back, but it was not enough to impress Judge Zielinski.  Let's keep everything crossed for an impressive showing tomorrow!

That's Mendota's Play It Again...Sam (Formerly known as Junior)

Let's just say that Sam had fun and Dave did not.

That's Mendota's Sassy Soul Sister...Keisha 

Keisha was 2nd in her class today.

Mendota That's A Promise Kept At Gingerbred...Promise

A BeBe x Desi puppy, owned by Nona Dietrich.  This was Promise's first weekend out and she was 1st in her class, Winners Bitch, and Best of Winners, for her first points and a major!  

Anoka County Kennel Club Friday, June 24

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

Roché went Best of Breed and made the cut in group under Judge Kent Delaney.  

Roché definitely does not like grass (or the grass/weed/rut combination that is the Cambridge group ring).  Dave said that Roché did better today, but with all of that coat, of course he is not used to being on that kind of surface.  Hopefully they will get the opportunity to try again tomorrow!

That's Mendota's Play It Again...Sam (Formerly known as Junior)

 Sam went Reserve Winners Dog today under Judge Kent Delaney.

That's Mendota's Sassy Soul Sister...Keisha 

Keisha went Reserve Winners Bitch today under Judge Kent Delaney.

Anoka County Kennel Club Thursday, June 23

DESI and PANDA'S FIRST ALL CHAMPION LITTER !!!!
BIS MBISS AM GCH CAN CH Gingerbred Yukon Jack Desiderio
CH That Is Nirvana's Panda
Congratulations to Dave for the expert dog pimp that he is!  He can really match these kids up to produce some great offspring!
Congratulations to Ruth Francis-Floyd for taking such great care with Panda and her puppies.

CH LIL SCAMPS PRINCESS IN PEARLS...PEARL
Little Miss Pearl finished her AKC Championship today with a major under Judge Everett Dean.

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

Roché went Best of Breed and made the cut in group under Judge Everett Dean.  

When it was time for the final go-round, Roché decided that he had had enough of the cold, wet grass.  Too bad, because we know that Mr. Dean really likes him, but it is called a dog SHOW, and if he had given Roché the group when he was behaving badly, it would not have been fair.  We have all seen it happen, all the way to Best in Show, and it's just not right.  Thank you to Everett Dean for recognizing us and doing the right thing.

Question to the Anoka County Kennel Club (and we ask this every year, rain, snow, excess heat, etc):  You have enough room inside in a climate controlled building for groups, why do you insist on holding them outside?  With adverse weather, it would just be easier on everyone, including the judges, to hold Groups inside.  By the way, I never received a response to the letter I wrote to you about this years ago.

Rolla, MO Kennel Club Sunday, June 19

Havanese:

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

Roché went Best of Breed under Judge Carol Jean Nelson.  

Then it was on to a Group 1 under Judge Steve Keating.  

Judge Carol Jean Nelson was judging Best In Show, but maybe she felt that since she only gave Roché a Group 4 yesterday, she couldn't give him Best today? 

Bichons:

Little Love Called Thomas

Thomas did a repeat of yesterday and picked up one more point.  Winners Dog, Best of Winners, and Best of Breed.  Thank You to Judge Steve Keating.  

Unfortunately the bitch that did not show up yesterday was also absent today so the points broke all of the way to down to 1, again.  The owner of this bitch knew that Thomas needed two more points to finish.  Being the only dog entered, he was dependent on the bitch points and having to go Best of Winners.  Dave pretty much begged her to show up.   She and Dave discussed us building majors for her bitch.  I don't think that will be happening.  Now Thomas has to wait to be shown again, for added expenses to his owners.  C'mon people, showing dogs is expensive enough, why make it worse for someone.  You already paid the entries!  

Creme's Brandy Alexandria

Brandy, or Alice, or Alex won her class today.  Dr. Keating was not happy with her tail carriage, which is what we are working on.  It was at half mast today, not great, but she is having a better time in the ring every day.  As her fun factor improves, so does her tail carriage. 

Visit Roché's Blog

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

Click the link below to see more about Roché: 

http://havaneseadorabullthatsbetterthansex.blogspot.com/

Rolla, MO Kennel Club Saturday, June 18

Havanese:

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

Roché went Best of Breed under Judge Cindy Vogels.  She liked him them and likes him now!  Ms. Vogels gave Roché Best in Sweeptakes at the Havanese Club of America National Specialty in 2008. 

Thank You also to Judge Carol J Nelson for a Group 4 today. 

MBISS AM GCH CAN CH Adorabull That's Better Than Sex
Inside Back Cover Ad July 2011 TNT

Bichons:

Little Love Called Thomas

Thomas did a repeat of yesterday and picked up one more point.  Winners Dog, Best of Winners, and Best of Breed.  Another of the bitches did not show up today so the points broke all of the way to down to 1.  This little guy is so totally adorable at 9 months of age.  He owns the ring.  Thomas needs two more points to finish.  Thank You to Judge Carol J Nelson.  

Creme's Brandy Alexandria

Brandy, who may have a new name, Alice, (since she told Dave that she did not like Brandy, maybe she meant Alex) went Reserve Winners Bitch again today.  She is getting the hang of this but not quite sure that she really likes it.   She's a real beauty, so once she does...Look Out World!

There are grumblings out there that people won't show up tomorrow.  Geez people, you live 45 minutes away (at most).  I hope everyone shows up tomorrow! 

Gateway Non Sporting Specialty

What is it with people that enter dogs then don't show them and break a major?  With entries down across the country, majors in most breeds are hard to come by.  If you finish a dog, and have two of the same sex entered the next weekend, you know if you pull the one you finished, the major breaks.  It is generally easy enough to make a dog show poorly, or look bad, if you are so confident that the finished one will win again and your other one will lose.  When the dog they did show goes 3 out of 3 you kind of understand why they didn't have confidence in that dog, but still, why break a major?  And when the losing owner/handler, that broke the major, makes a comment about your dog on the way out, not only is that bad sportsmanship, it is bad sportsmanship from a dunce.  For future reference:  Congratulations followed by a dig does not count as a Congratulatory comment.

It was a pretty good day.
Bichons under Judge Charles Trotter

Little Love Called Thomas

Thomas went Winners Dog, Best of Winners and Best of Breed!

Creme's Brandy Alexandria

Brandy did OK for her first time in the ring with Dave.   Well, not actually her first time, she got a Group 1 at the B-Match in Lake Charles, LA last weekend.  Brandy was Reserve Winners Bitch today.  We will keep our fingers crossed for the rest of the weekend.  

Little Thing Called Love Thomas
May 22, 2011

Great Seminar For Everyone !!!

SAVE the DATE

If you only attend 1 seminar this year...

This should be it!

Everyone Welcome!!!

Dr. Jean Dodds, DVM

http://www.itsfortheanimals.com/DODDS-RESUME.HTM and http://www.hemopet.org/

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

8 AM to 4 PM

Purina Farms Events Center, Gray Summit, MO

Offered through the Black Russian Terrier Club of America

in conjunction with their National Specialty.

Two Different Sessions:  

One on Immunization and One on Thyroid 

Price:  $40 each or

 Attend both sessions for a discounted price of

$65, lunch included

For more information watch for more flyers at the shows, check out the BRTCA website, or contact David Scheiris at dodds.seminar@aol.com or call 816-213-8100

Registration through the BRTCA website:   http://brtca.net

Plan to attend the All-Breed and Specialty Shows both before and after this seminar:

9/17     Kerry Blue Terrier Club of St. Louis                            9/17     Three Rivers Kennel Club of Missouri           

9/22     Gateway Toy Dog Fanciers                                         9/23     Puli Club of America

9/18     Three Rivers Kennel Club of Missouri                                    9/24     Puli Club of America

9/19     Italian Greyhound Club of America                            9/25     Puli Club of America

9/19     Black Russian Terrier Club of America                      9/24     German Pinscher Club of America

9/29     Black Russian Terrier Club of America                      9/23     St. Louis Dog  Breeders Association

9/22     Ibizan Hound Club of the United States                      9/24     Spirit of the Heartland Kennel Club

9/22     Doberman Pinscher Club of Missouri                         9/25     Jefferson County Kennel Club of Missouri

Who Do YOU Think Will Win?

Mid Florida Havanese Club - 2nd Annual Independent Specialty - August 12, 2011

Club President - Connie Field
Vice President - Diane Nachman

Breed Judge:  Diane Nachman
RV Parking:    Diane Nachman
Vendor Chair: Diane Nachman
Chief Ring Steward:  Richard Nachman

So the Club President bred and owns one of the top Havanese.
Club Vice President is the Breed Judge and RV parking chair, in addition to being in charge of vendors.
Now if we make reservations for parking, the judge pretty much knows who the entries will be.  Her husband is Chief Ring Steward.
Premium List posted on Infodog, no restrictions on club board members exhibiting their dogs.
It is at a hotel, no ringside tables, no bathing of dogs in the rooms due to 'severe clogging problem'
Hotel may or may not charge for dogs.
No dogs in hotel lobby.
I'd be looking for a different location.

Just makes me want to enter that show right now!!!
I hope I am wrong, but why would you set yourself up for being questioned?  Lord knows us dog show people are catty!

Acadiana Kennel Club, Sunday

MBIS AM GCH CAN CH ADORABULL THAT'S BETTER THAN SEX

Thank you Judge Everett Dean for the Best of Breed award for Roché.  

Thank you Judge Jim Reynolds for acknowledging us in a very tough group ring. 

If Men are from Mars, and Women are from Venus, Where do Judges Come From?

OK, now I really feel green (as in newbie, or maybe I really am sick to my stomach).  Maybe I am still too naive.  I always thought that judges had to work their way 'up' in the amount of breeds they judge, then on to the groups and such.  I even thought that they really had to have bred and shown dogs somewhat recently, prior to being approved to judge.  
I was looking at some upcoming judge panels and found a judge for the Toy Group that was provisional for the entire group, plus Manchester Terriers (her breed, I am guessing).  For one of this judges first assignments she is not only judging some of the Toy Breeds, but the Group as well.  I find this odd and a little disconcerting as this judge may never have even had her hands on some of these breeds before.  Yes, that happens everyday, and I will tell you later about the first time I was aware of that, it involved a Dandie Dinmont and a BIS judge.  I know that they are 'supposed' to have breed mentoring, testing, and such, but that many breeds at once still seems a bit much, so I was curious.  If she was a Toy Breed Handler, surely we would have met up with her a time or two in the past several years.  I questioned AKC about this judge and this particular assignment, and got a defensive, snooty, yet cordial, response, plus a long letter/article about 'fast-tracking' judges being an urban legend. Here is a portion of their email response.  If anyone is interested in the article I would be glad to forward it to you but will not take the space here to post those two pages. 
" is a former member of the American Kennel Club's (AKC) Executive Field Staff from 1994 until 2010, former professional handler and in addition meets/exceeds the requirements to judge these breeds. In her role with the AKC she would have observed the toy breeds and group well in the excess of 1000 times, completed judges' evalua-tions and interviews on the various breeds."

We all know that the field reps have nothing better to do than stand around and observe breeds that they may want to judge after they are let go from the AKC.  Yeah, right.

This judge has been a field rep since 1994.  This means that she hasn't handled dogs for 17 years.   With this still on my mind, I was working on something else and came across a Judge for a NonSporting Group that I had never heard of.    Not that I would even presume to know everyone.  But what really caught my eye was that she gave an 8 month old        Bulldog Puppy a Group 1, over what I know to be some very nice mature dogs.    Looking at her information on the AKC website,  she is not approved to judge the Non Sporting       Group, in fact the only Non Sporting breed she is even provisional for is Poodles. She is approved for the Hound & Sporting Groups, though she does not have all of those breeds, and for Best in Show.  So, how did this judge get to judge a NonSporting Group?  If a judge becomes ill and must be replaced, the clubs and superintendent do what they have to. If this was a judge change,evidently the 'powers-that-be' at this show thought there were no other judges 'qualified' to  judge this group.    However, looking at the panel for this 4 - day show, there were definitely other more qualified judges there who had not judged the Non Sporting  Group any of the other days.    This judges qualifications:    She was another of the many 'downsized' AKC field reps.  Watch for this, people.  This is a slap in the face to those judges that worked so hard for so many years to get entire groups and assignments. These ex-Field Reps have been every where and know a lot of people. Now that  judges can solicit assignments, who has more contacts?  The people that worked hard in the Fancy to get there, or the people that quit showing dogs to work for the AKC?  

Some of the new provisional judges we are seeing had to work their butts off to get that far, others worked for the AKC and were downsized.    

This is AKC's gift to them on their way out the door, but what does it do to us?  

Acadiana Kennel Club, Saturday

We hoped for good things from Judge Sandra Goose Allen on Thursday, and were disappointed.  We had high hopes for Judge Keke Kahn yesterday, and yes we took the breed, but nothing in Group.  Today was a total unknown for us in Judge James Briley of Louisiana.  The dog that has been advertising "Painting the town Blue" in the Canine Chronicle, yet has never won a Group 1, just beat out the only 2 Havanese to get Back to Back Best In Shows, Roché and GraDee.  Now at least they have something legitimate to advertise.

I guess maybe I am sounding pissy, but when you lose to a good dog, you lose to a good dog.  But when you lose to something you would be embarrassed to sell as a pet, that's a whole different thing.  Roché did get Select today though to add to his GCH ranking.  So we will be thankful for small blessings.  

Calcasieu Kennel Club, Lake Charles, LA

MBIS AM GCH CAN CH ADORABULL THAT'S BETTER THAN SEX

Thank you Judge Keke Kahn for another Best of Breed for Roché and acknowledgement in the Group Ring. 

Calcasieu Kennel Club, Lake Charles, LA

Dave made the drive to Lake Charles, LA yesterday.  He left the house at 9 AM and finally arrived at his hotel at 11:30 PM.  Relatively good time.  With only one dog to show, and today's ring time in the afternoon, he wasn't too concerned about getting in super early to get a good grooming spot or anything.  They were still able to get a good night's sleep, although he would have gotten to bed sooner if it wasn't for the fire ants.  He had to re-set all of the ex-pens after he realized that he was being eaten alive and couldn't put the dogs down in that area.  Dave ended up moving the ex-pens to the middle of the asphalt parking lot.  Plenty of space at the show for ex-pens, so that the dogs can potty there.  The good part is that the show building is large,  air conditioned and has plenty of power.  The bad part is that he had to take all of his equipment upstairs to the 2nd floor in a little elevator (at least they have an elevator!)  He was able to bathe and dry Roché right at the show.  All of that didn't matter though.  Judge Sandra Goose Allen gave them Select.  With 5 dog specials, that's still something, I guess.  Keep your fingers crossed for tomorrow. 

Sunday in Longmont

I'm not sure if Roché doesn't like Colorado or Colorado doesn't like Roché, but in any case it was a stinky weekend, except for Pearl picking up a major.

Think movement appropriate for the breed.  This is a Havanese, not a Bulldog and not an Aussie.  Pick a speed in between!

Saturday in Longmont

Well, I don't know how to say this and be nice.  Some judges you just don't show to, and there are those that do whatever they want, whenever they want, and really keep you guessing, and then others are the reason the majority of us keep coming back to the shows:  You know they will always put up a good, sound dog, whether it's yours or not you can't really complain.  Those are the ones you seek out.  We had a judge change today so, since it wasn't a major anyway, we put in for a refund for Pearl and didn't show her.   I spent some time cross referencing the new judge with our competition.  Every time that the other specials dog has been shown to this judge in the last two years, she has given him the breed and sometimes a group placement.  We debated on whether or not to leave Roché in and it was the wrong decision.  This judge went over the other dog's rear three times, and even reset it twice, on the table.  At this point, Dave is thinking that maybe he still has a shot at the breed because at least for today, this dog's rear is in question.  Watching the dog move, still thinking, we have a shot.  When the dog is moved it, is at a run.  In the group ring the handler is at the front of the line and moving so fast that they are 20 feet ahead of everyone else and widening the gap.  The dog might move 'his best' at a run, but the following quote from the standard does not call for that type of movement:  "Because correct gait is essential to breed type, the Havanese should be presented at natural speed on a loose lead."  But I guess 'natural' is a relative term. 

Roché showed as well as, or better than, he did for his Bests In Show, his coat looked and felt great.  He was not the tornado of yesterday.  The result, unfortunately, was as we had expected:  they went Best of Breed, Roché went Select.  But, a win is a win, so Congratulations to today's winner.  I guess we know that if we ever encounter this combination again, we pull our dog.  No use wasting the time. 

Desi x BeBe Puppy

The long anticipated repeat breeding of Desi & BeBe a bit anticlimactic, to say the least.  We just hope all the good stuff went into this one puppy.  We have been on puppy watch for a week and finally in the middle of the night (of course, Dave was gone) BeBe delivered 1 beautiful, white, 8 ounce girl.  Both Momma and Baby are doing great.

Desi:     BIS MBISS AM GCH CAN CH Gingerbred Yukon Jack Desiderio
http://offa.org/display.html?appnum=1274092#animal
BeBe:  AM CAN CH That's Hot To Trot In Bedlem
http://offa.org/display.html?appnum=1424187#animal

BLACK RUSSIAN BABY NEWS !!!

Congratulations to CeCe and Zil, proud parents of 3 boys and 1 girl, born this week.  And to Daddy John McDondald.  Everyone is doing great!

CeCe-Zil Puppies - 3 days old

CH That's McD's Sure Fire Bett RN  (CeCe)
CeCe's OFA:  http://offa.org/display.html?appnum=1339474#animal

GCH Zilya's Chicago Blues Fusion At Runes CD RN
Zil's OFA:   http://offa.org/display.html?appnum=1434373#animal

Congratulations Zoe & Vicki

Congratulations to Zoe a BRT owned and handled by our dear friend Vicki Vest, Zen's mom.
GCH Valkyries Funny Girl RN
At the Northlake Kennel Club of Greater Covington Show today in Biloxi, MS, Zoe finished her Grand Championship in style by going Best of Breed with a large entry of Black Russians.  1-4-2-3
Thank You Judge Edd Bivin.
Look out world...here they come!  

Some Bad Some Good at Metro Mile Hi Toy Specialty

Bad Roché:  Picture a tornado-on-a-leash.  'Nuff said. 
MBIS AM GCH CAN CH ADORABULL THAT'S BETTER THAN SEX...ROCHÉ

I think they do this just so Dave's head won't get too big!


Good Pearl:  Winners Bitch and Best of Winners.  

                          Finally a MAJOR!!!  A 4 pointer.
                         Thank You Judge Dr. Gail Forsythe
LIL SCAMPS PRINCESS IN PEARLS...PEARL

Bad Dave:  Hasn't called yet with results of the sweepstakes.
OK, Dave called.
Good Pearl, Sort Of:  Best of Opposite at the Toy Breed Sweepstakes.  

Hopefully the rest of the weekend goes better.