Yasashiikuma

I’ve gotten a few pictures lately and they bring to mind something that I’ve believed, but never had proof of.

First is Naomi, playing nursemaid to her Daddy Tom, who has just undergone some surgery.

The next picture was of Lady, o rather Lady Bug  , having a nap with her Daddy, Bob.

Last weekend, I went down to see Debbie in Michigan, and apparently Libby has decided she is Mike’s dog.  But she does ask Debbie’s permission before abandoning her to go with him the minute he walks in the door.

So what I have always believed, is that with exceptions like Chip who is a “mans dog”, it seems that the girls seem to be drawn to the men in the house, and the boys to the women.    I live with both, and have to admit that Dolly is my closest buddy, so it could be that my household is just the exception.    But then of course there IS only me in the house, so they don’t have a choice between people.

So I am really curious – are your Cardigans attracted to the opposite sex, do they gravitate to the people of the same sex in the house, or do they really not seem to care?

It’s been a crazy busy day around here today.

First, the first of the Scouting Litter has left for his new home.

Now officially Yasashiikuma Beaver Scout Law, he has gone to live with two young men who will be joining the Beaver Scouts this year,  So far, I hear the first day is going well

Tomorrow the next departure occurs   as Cubby heads to his new home.

Tonight’s news brings news of a great accomplishment for Scott Bowman and our Ch. Yasashiikuma Grace O’Malley.  Scott started Rally Novice training , taking his first Q at the Canadian National specialty at the beginning of the month.  Today he took another two back to to back Q;s, to complete her Rally Novice title.

While I may have been responsible for Gracie’s first points, Scott has been the one who has been at the end of her leash for the remainder of her accomplishments – he finished her Canadian championship, put the Best Puppy in Group on her last year at Cornwall, and this year her Rally Novice title.  A great dynamic duo

As any of you who have puppies from me know, each litter has a theme that the names all fit in with.   For me, it helps to quickly remember which litter a puppy comes from, as well as its maternal lineage.  For example, Dolly (Smoky Mountn Maid) is from the Mountain litter, out of “Rocky” who is actually Scirocco.  Scirocco was part of the “Wind” litter who was out of Gale (PV Storm of Ysashiikuma) and she is a daughter of Hunter (Merrymoon Firestorm).

Sometimes the themes are planned well in advance, and sometimes they take a total turn from what I expected because of other events.  For example, Abby (Cinnamon Heart) was supposed to have a Spice litter – but they were born at the beginning of Hannukah, so her first litter was Hannukah names, and her second was Spice names.

Libby’s litter was supposed to be Freedom fighters, but since they arrived with the opening of the Olympics, they became an Olympic litter.

So because the father was a dog named Admiral, Jade’s second litter was Nautical names – Skipper, Captain, Jib, Naomi James (first woman to sail solo around the world), Jessica Watson (Youngest Woman to do the same), Grace O’Malley (Irish Pirate Queen), and Genoa (Jenny) – a sailor’s term for the jib sail.

Smetimes the names really come to fit.

Jenny has adopted by a sailing family and has become a sea dog   She apparently is just as comfortable on a boat as she is on land.

I have had the best of intentions of keeping everything up to date, but I have pictures and videos on the camera and tons of news to report and have not had the time to make pretty blog posts.   There are quite a number on the “draft” list that are works in progress.

First – puppy updates.  The DD litter had their Puppy Aptitude tests last night, and there were really no surprises.  One atypical/typical temperament i.e. typical for a Cardigan, untypical for my Cardigans.  Otherwise there were more 3′s and 4′s across the board.  It has been miserably hot all week, and the test was done indoors, so I’m proud of the babies for handling it all so well.  They had their first chicken backs this morning which brought out their “inner wolf”   They are doing very well on their crate and potty training, and the families who are getting Dafydd, Dylan and Daisy have been advised, and are eagerly looking forward to their new family members.

The Biker Gang has moved into the kitchen and are starting to become potty trained.  Of course one or two always “get a clue” long before the others so there is still a lot of puppy laundry being done on their account.

 In show news I haven’t been able to attend any shows myself with the babies, the dogs have done me proud both in North America and overseas.

Dragoon, on his European tour, is fulfilling a dream with a Lisa and Carrie.  My goal has always been to produce dogs that not only have impeccable temperaments, but can compete equally with the best in the world.  Dragoon has been overeas for just about two months and has already completed his French championship, 2/3 of his UK championship, and 1/3 of his international championship.  As well, he is winning fans all over with his sweet, biddable temperament.

In the U.S., Chip went to play with Tim Zeitz for a weekend, and came home an American Champion.   Other than the handful of shows he went to last summer with Tim, and the one weekend with Colin this past winter, Chip has only shown at specialties, so exactly a  year from start to finish (both at the Munro KC show) was a good period in my mind.

The Nautical kids have made their ring debuts and Naomi, Captain and Grace are 3,2, and 3 points from their Championships.  I think that for a bunch of less than 9 month olds, that is pretty good!  And the nicest thing is that they are actually defeating competition, not just each other!

I have lots of video and pictures that need to be posted, so please be patient, I’m dancing as fast as I can!