Wednesday, March 31, 2004
I'm still waiting to see the results but Betsy tells me that Shine won the oval meet in Texas AGAIN!!! She also relayed to me some of the very nice comments his performance elicited. The one that really touched me was that Betsy was told that Shine was "just like his dad". What a wonderful thing to hear--it made my day.
I'm hoping that Celeste got a picture of the blue boy. If she did, I'll see about adding it here...
I'm hoping that Celeste got a picture of the blue boy. If she did, I'll see about adding it here...
Monday, March 22, 2004
Well, it was another great weekend of racing. NCWFA was having some "staffing" problems and so approached RCRA, asking for help putting their meets on. No problem! I'm happy to say that our club members really stepped up to the plate on this one. Way to go!
The track was fast but hard and some dogs (including Dids) paid the price. Dayton got off easy though...he just had a nail start to come out. A couple of dogs blew toes. Dayton's half-brother, Blacky, looked phenomenal! He is just amazing and will definitely be *the* dog to beat (if he isn't already!).
Rogie managed a couple of practice runs on Saturday. For his second run, I even managed to get a time on him which compared favorably with that of other puppies also practicing that day.
Rogie had a great time visiting with everyone at the race meet, dogs and people alike. He'll never have the personality of a Golden Retriever (thank God!) but he seems to be well and truly over his shy stage. Interestingly enough, Dunja spoke with Gaby Bergmann, breeder of the Fleet Fellows F-litter (Rogie's sire is Fleet Fellows Frantic). She said that the F-litter went through a similar stage at the very same age and all came through it just fine. I'd like to thank those of you who were concerned about this stage for your unfailing support.
I was amused to hear one competitor complain this weekend about "horse whippets" (mentioning four dogs by name but conveniently leaving out the "horse whippet" of their own breeding.) They suggested the implementation of measuring in NOTRA would be the best way to get rid of them. Oddly, this same person has, in the past, steadfastly supported Dave Rosenstock's original concept for NOTRA competition being open to all dogs, regardless of disqualifying characteristics. Isn't it interesting how quickly some folks' steadfast opinions can change?
Whatever it takes for them to get a win, I suppose.
In other news, I think Derbs was BOS to Spiffy's meet win at one of the ovals in Abbotsford this weekend so I called Lorna on Sunday night to give her the good news about Rogie's practice runs and also to see how Derbs had done. She did indeed place second in the meet and won the final high point. I also heard from another source (Helena) that Derby ran very well and pushed Spiffy hard.
High praise in my books!
The track was fast but hard and some dogs (including Dids) paid the price. Dayton got off easy though...he just had a nail start to come out. A couple of dogs blew toes. Dayton's half-brother, Blacky, looked phenomenal! He is just amazing and will definitely be *the* dog to beat (if he isn't already!).
Rogie managed a couple of practice runs on Saturday. For his second run, I even managed to get a time on him which compared favorably with that of other puppies also practicing that day.
Rogie had a great time visiting with everyone at the race meet, dogs and people alike. He'll never have the personality of a Golden Retriever (thank God!) but he seems to be well and truly over his shy stage. Interestingly enough, Dunja spoke with Gaby Bergmann, breeder of the Fleet Fellows F-litter (Rogie's sire is Fleet Fellows Frantic). She said that the F-litter went through a similar stage at the very same age and all came through it just fine. I'd like to thank those of you who were concerned about this stage for your unfailing support.
I was amused to hear one competitor complain this weekend about "horse whippets" (mentioning four dogs by name but conveniently leaving out the "horse whippet" of their own breeding.) They suggested the implementation of measuring in NOTRA would be the best way to get rid of them. Oddly, this same person has, in the past, steadfastly supported Dave Rosenstock's original concept for NOTRA competition being open to all dogs, regardless of disqualifying characteristics. Isn't it interesting how quickly some folks' steadfast opinions can change?
Whatever it takes for them to get a win, I suppose.
In other news, I think Derbs was BOS to Spiffy's meet win at one of the ovals in Abbotsford this weekend so I called Lorna on Sunday night to give her the good news about Rogie's practice runs and also to see how Derbs had done. She did indeed place second in the meet and won the final high point. I also heard from another source (Helena) that Derby ran very well and pushed Spiffy hard.
High praise in my books!
Saturday, March 13, 2004
Well, today was Rogie's big day...his first match!
Kim picked me up at around 7:30 and we headed west to the Sacramento Valley Dog Fanciers' B-Match in Dixon. We arrived at around 8:15 and quickly found Kellee and Kenya. Obedience was up before conformation so I went and staked out a spot in the shade and hung out, waiting for the ring steward to appear.
It was quite a wait so, every now and again, I'd take Rogie for a walk around. Occasionally, we'd go into the field and practise our gaiting. Rogie thought that was wonderful fun and either spent the time tracking all the wondrous new smells in the grass or jumping on me, hoping for treats.
Hmmmm. The thought that this might not go as well as it does in the backyard crossed my mind more than once!
Finally, the rings were in full swing but we had to wait quite a while (being whippets and all). While we were waiting, a woman next to me with a JRT asked me if I'd pretend to be a judge and "go over" her puppy for her. She wanted him to get used to a stranger touching him. He did so well that I thought this would be something to try with Rogie. So, her friend "went over" Rogie for me.
Hmmmmmm. That JRT did a much better job of standing still whilst being gone over.
At last, it was our turn in the ring. Rogie did his turns around the ring not too badly. He pulled his way around the first time but, when I got out a treat for another go-around, he was much better. Then the judge said to try him again without a treat. So, I just patted my treat pocket to get his attention and away we went!
Hmmmm. Not bad! He even had a loose lead there for a while!
Then it was on to the table ... he stood so well, just like he does at home, and was looking every inch the show dog. Then the judge came over. It was fine for her to look at his teeth but damned if Rogie was going to let her touch his privates!!!
No worries though ... Rogie was the only one in his class so he was an automatic winner! Woo-hoo! a pink ribbon!
His performance in the breed ring was much better. Initially, he wouldn't stack facing to the right (well, there was a very pretty little girl behind him and he wanted to look at her!). So, I said "What the hell!" and stacked him backwards.
Just as he was starting to make googly eyes at the little bitch, the judge had us do a down and back. It took a minute to refocus his attention on me instead of the girls but, when he did get around to it, he performed very nicely...as good as he does in the backyard.
It wasn't nearly as good as the other puppy though (she looked very professional) so Rogie had to settle for BOS Whippet Puppy.
All in all, it was a very successful day. Rogie showed lots of improvement just in his two turns in the ring and, as long as they kept their hands off his testicles, he was quite happy to meet all sorts of new people.
Kim picked me up at around 7:30 and we headed west to the Sacramento Valley Dog Fanciers' B-Match in Dixon. We arrived at around 8:15 and quickly found Kellee and Kenya. Obedience was up before conformation so I went and staked out a spot in the shade and hung out, waiting for the ring steward to appear.
It was quite a wait so, every now and again, I'd take Rogie for a walk around. Occasionally, we'd go into the field and practise our gaiting. Rogie thought that was wonderful fun and either spent the time tracking all the wondrous new smells in the grass or jumping on me, hoping for treats.
Hmmmm. The thought that this might not go as well as it does in the backyard crossed my mind more than once!
Finally, the rings were in full swing but we had to wait quite a while (being whippets and all). While we were waiting, a woman next to me with a JRT asked me if I'd pretend to be a judge and "go over" her puppy for her. She wanted him to get used to a stranger touching him. He did so well that I thought this would be something to try with Rogie. So, her friend "went over" Rogie for me.
Hmmmmmm. That JRT did a much better job of standing still whilst being gone over.
At last, it was our turn in the ring. Rogie did his turns around the ring not too badly. He pulled his way around the first time but, when I got out a treat for another go-around, he was much better. Then the judge said to try him again without a treat. So, I just patted my treat pocket to get his attention and away we went!
Hmmmm. Not bad! He even had a loose lead there for a while!
Then it was on to the table ... he stood so well, just like he does at home, and was looking every inch the show dog. Then the judge came over. It was fine for her to look at his teeth but damned if Rogie was going to let her touch his privates!!!
No worries though ... Rogie was the only one in his class so he was an automatic winner! Woo-hoo! a pink ribbon!
His performance in the breed ring was much better. Initially, he wouldn't stack facing to the right (well, there was a very pretty little girl behind him and he wanted to look at her!). So, I said "What the hell!" and stacked him backwards.
Just as he was starting to make googly eyes at the little bitch, the judge had us do a down and back. It took a minute to refocus his attention on me instead of the girls but, when he did get around to it, he performed very nicely...as good as he does in the backyard.
It wasn't nearly as good as the other puppy though (she looked very professional) so Rogie had to settle for BOS Whippet Puppy.
All in all, it was a very successful day. Rogie showed lots of improvement just in his two turns in the ring and, as long as they kept their hands off his testicles, he was quite happy to meet all sorts of new people.
Thursday, March 11, 2004
It was another great weekend for one of the Tighe-babies. Lace ran in an oval meet here in Sacramento and placed third in the meet, garnering BOS in Meet and also BOS Grade A!! I wish I'd been there to see it but I spent the weekend in Arizona, experiencing the desert.
When I got home from Tucson, I had a really nice note from a whippet friend, asking if I had any recent photos of Rogie. I didn't but, as I was touched by the thought (thanks, Janet!), I promptly went and took some.
Rogie at almost 8 months old
I had one more photo that I didn't include in the batch because of the exposure. It was way over-exposed but, as I liked the photo anyway, I sent it privately to Rogie's other mummy and a couple of friends. Lorna said the exposure was fine and that it was a good enough picture to post so here it is!!!
Let's hope he keeps all feet on the ground on Saturday!!!
When I got home from Tucson, I had a really nice note from a whippet friend, asking if I had any recent photos of Rogie. I didn't but, as I was touched by the thought (thanks, Janet!), I promptly went and took some.
Rogie at almost 8 months old
I had one more photo that I didn't include in the batch because of the exposure. It was way over-exposed but, as I liked the photo anyway, I sent it privately to Rogie's other mummy and a couple of friends. Lorna said the exposure was fine and that it was a good enough picture to post so here it is!!!
Let's hope he keeps all feet on the ground on Saturday!!!
