It feels like forever since I have been to a local show.   My life as it is at the moment doesn’t really allow for time to bathe and groom, and during the week I don’t have the facilities for it.   But there was a show close to Minden this weekend in Orono, so I entered Cara, Zeus and Dolly just to get out in the ring, and Athena was entered as well.

On Saturday Zeus was RWD, Cara was WB/BOW, and Athena was RWB.  Dolly won the breed but got no love in the group.

Sunday was the type of day that makes you doubt your sanity for participating in this sport.   This photo, taken with my phone, is what we arrived to:

That’s Becki trying to keep Corgis semi-dry!!  And if it was “light rain” I would hate to think what it classifies as heavy!!  In front of the tree line you can see the rain bouncing off the ground!!

In the ring, however, despite the mud, and losing a boot on the “go-around” to the suction from the mud, it was a better day and the two Olympians each won their first points.  Athena (Yasashiikuma Athena’s Inspiration) was Winners Bitch

Matt and Athena

And then Zeus (Yasashiikuma Olympic Pride) went on to Best of Winners getting the crossover points.  I’m glad his family was there to get to see the win.   I’m afraid I am the eyesore in this photo – but the rain was torrential, therefore the “drowned rat” look

Zeus - 10 months - Best of Winners

Congratulations to the families of these two puppies, and I look forward to seeing them grow up!!

Hot on the tail of this news came a text from the UK, that Darren (Yasashiikuma Telltail Dbledare) has made history as the first North American bred Cardigan to win the group at a championship show across the pond.  Congratulations also go out to Lisa, Paula and Carrie on this tremendous win!

DARREN!

Yasashiikuma Telltail DbleDare - photo by Johanna Flinck

Another Crufts has come and gone, and I would like to thank everyone who has called and emailed to pass on their congratulations about Darren’s Best of Breed win at Cruft’s this year.   Unfortunately I heard about it “third hand” which was a little tough, but more disappointing than that was hearing him called an American dog.   While his bloodlines do go back to the U.S. five generations ago on his mother’s side – Darren is definitely Canadian bred and Dolly’s son.  Therefore it made me very happy to see this ad in the Canadian Top Dogs Weekly!

Canadian Top Dogs Weekly Ad

Take note that while the other Best in Show winner is co-owned by a Canadian friend, she and the Westie were bred elsewhere.   Darren is the only Canadian BRED Best of Breed winner and  as a CKC member breeder I thank the publishers for giving him that recognition.

Life at the Hormone Hotel continues to be interesting.   I am excitedly awaiting another two weeks when I can tell if Jade’s breeding was successful.

In the meantime  Libby has also to the confusion and has come into season also.   Today will be her first breeding so there will hopefully be  puppies July 9 and 28th.    The only one left to come  into season here now is Dolly and it is over for another 6 months!

Over in Europe the boys both had a successful show.  Draco earned the Junior World Winner title, and Norton also placed in the class.  Congratulations go out to all involved.

Last summer I had two wonderful litters and the puppies are approaching their first birthdays in the next few weeks.   There have been some phenomenal wins by many of the puppies,  and already many best of breed wins in North America and Europe.  Some of the puppies were pulled from competition so that they could continue to show in classes at the specialties, and one has already achieved a Dutch Youth Champion title.

This coming weekend, two of the boys who have gone to Europe and had amazing achievements of their own, will meet once again in a head to head battle

Draco (Yasashiikuma Dragon Defender) has just come off a show weekend where under UK breeder-judge Sarah Taylor, he was awarded his first CC for the U.K.     He was handled to this win by his owner Rachel Dijkhorst, who has already taken him to many Best of Breed wins and his Dutch Youth Championship.

Draco winning Best Male under Fran Fricker (Kerman, UK)

Norton, (Yasashiikuma Born to Be Wild) is a more recent emigrant, having stayed in North America for 10 months, and showed two weekends ago at his show in Denmark.   His new co-owner Joan Rogers was very excited to be awarded Best of Breed and earn HIS first CAC towards his Danish championship.

Norton winning Best of Breed in Denmark - May 5, 2012

This weekend, for the first time since my riding accident in October, the two cousins will meet again. It will be fun to see if they remember each other, or if six months is just too long a separation.

However, they will both be in competition for the Junior World Winner title, at the World Dog Show in Salzburg, Austria. There will surely be lots of other good competition, but I will be rooting for my two little Canadian representatives.

Hopefully good news to follow on the weekend!