Superstar Girls

After another busy few months of shows, both for Capri and Prim, I'm thrilled to share we now have a new American Champion, and a new Canadian Grand Champion! 

Capri returned home to me in mid March, after snagging her last Major in Scottsdale, AZ.  I had originally planned to fly into Phoenix and catch her in the ring, but with Glenn being called away on a business trip, I stayed home to take on the farm chores and instead awaited the happy news from Aj Tavares, who handled her to her final win, and her American Kennel Club Championship!  A few days later, and the boys had her on the red-eye out of San Francisco and home to me by noon the next day.  The following weekend, we headed to Camrose for our semi-annual ASCA shows where under Senior Breeder Judges, Ken & Rhonda Silveira, Capri made me proud with back-to-back Best of Breed wins over a lovely entry. 

Prim followed up her first win in the ring with multiple Best of Breed, BOW, and WB wins, and a couple of Best Puppy in Group wins, as well as a Group Second!  She finished her Canadian Championship in just her second weekend out, with all majors.  Over the next few weekends, again with a Best of Breed and multiple Best of Opposite Sex wins, as well as several Select ribbons, she easily finished her GRAND Championship at 10 months of age!  So very proud of this little home-bred girl of mine.

The Spring weather has finally arrived in Southern Alberta and we're enjoying it every day with walks around the fenceline and lots of time spent outside.  Of course, with the Spring, also comes our annual shed and it seems I spend most of the day with either a dog brush, or the vacuum, in my hand.  A bathing and grooming extravaganza is taking place as I try to do a couple of the dogs each week ... yesterday 3 of them getting a bath, conditioning, and some major coat stripping.  I was worried Deets was getting overweight, until I realized it was all just old coat!  Poor boy, he was on the grooming table for 3 hours until all that coat finally let go and blew away on the breeze.  This morning, I noticed a lot of that hair lining the 2 nests that the robins have built under the deck.  At least somebody appreciates dog hair!

No shows means plenty of time to work on some fun stuff, including Prim's first really cool trick!

With the upcoming arrival of our first grandbaby in early July, we'll be sticking close to home for the remainder of the summer.  Shows will take a backseat to the baby, at least until September.  Plans are coming together for our annual trip south to the ASCA Nationals, this time in Greeley, CO.  Lambing will begin again in the next few weeks.  We may not be heading to dog shows, but we certainly won't be sitting idle. 

Happy Trails ... Theresa

The Groundhog

Roxy, Prim, Revy

The groundhog says we'll have an early Spring ... judging from the puddle in the yard already from the melting snow and the muddy pawprints across my kitchen floor, I'd be inclined to agree ... though certainly not fooled.  I've been an Albertan nearly my entire life and I know we still have plenty of snow and winter weather to come.  Nevertheless, the mild temps in the last few weeks have allowed me to get back out and get walking the fenceline.  Glenn used the tractor and plowed a nice path through the snow for me, making it very easy - no snowshoes required. 

Sweet Roxy

Lisa came out with Revy and Roxy and along with Belle and Prim, we had a wonderful walk last week.  The 4 of them got along very well and had a really good romp.  It gave me an opportunity for some wonderful photos, and a chance to try out my new Photoshop Elements skills.  I recently finished a course at Mount Royal and although there is soooo much to learn, at least I'm beginning to understand the program and have some fun with my photos.  I'm working on a new look for my website as well, and hopefully will have some time to get it launched soon.  I haven't even updated it with our Nationals news!

a little Photoshop fun to almost camouflage my girl

Gracin was recently neutered after a few weeks of problems with his "boy parts", and giving me cause for concern.  He'll be 8 years old at the end of March, and keeping him intact certainly increases the risk of testicular and prostate cancer.  Dogs are amazing and he's recovering so quickly. 

Aspen's leg/shoulder injury is coming along, though very slowly.  She's had 12 acupuncture treatments which seemed to really kickstart the slow process of nerve regeneration, but she also appears to have plateaued somewhat.  It's been almost 3 months, and I'm quite certain we have several more months of rehab.  Fortunately, she has never been in any pain and remains her spunky, happy self. 

Capri is still in California with Matt and Aj, and has been doing very well.  After her stellar start with a 5-point major, defeating 34 other class females, she's been going Winners Bitch and Best of Winners every weekend she's been shown.  Unfortunately, the entries are not high and the points have been low ... still waiting on her last required major which should be just around the corner.  Another few weeks, and she'll be home, a new American Champion.  She's been enjoying the California sunshine since mid-November and I miss her terribly. 

Sweet little Prim made her CKC debut last month and thrilled me with her Best of Winners win for a 3-point major!  This was her first time at a show without the company of either Aspen or Capri, and she handled the whole experience very well.  She is SUCH a fun little girl, so good on the grooming table and in the building, but a total monkey in the ring.  If I ever get her slowed down, she'll be a real little show machine.  Back to handling classes next week as we have a busy few months of shows ahead of us. 

Happy Trails ... Theresa