Little Miss Sunshine

It is hard not to smile at such a happy face: Cocoa is like a ray of sunshine!

Primavera

ASSA: Behind the Scenes

"LuAnne" enjoying the attention!

This was my first time showing our dogs at the National since 2003...and for the next one, I'll buy a new wardrobe. I could have been on an episode of "What not to wear"! Those that were there, know what I'm talking about; those that weren't too bad you missed the show! ha ha!Cocoa lounging in the "hamster cage"! Stormy was helping cover her with shavings by wagging her tail and dropping them on her! Next national, we'll use the absorbent pellets...they don't cling to the coat like shavings do.

Our girls were fabulous travellers and seemed to really enjoy themselves.

LuAnne: Then and Now

LuAnne at eight weeks of age. She was our first blue merle and our smallest puppy born that has ever survived! She weighed only 2 1/2 ounces at birth! I didn't leave the whelping area for three days...every time she moved, I put her on Lexus to nurse. Luckily, she was a survivor!

We have just returned home from Georgia, having attended the 2009 ASSA National. We are delighted that the three we brought all won their classes, with Cocoa also winning her Futurity class and LuAnne an Award of Merit.

I agonized on whether to bring LuAnne. She has had success at the National level in the past (BOS 2005, AOM 2006), but I have not shown her at ASSA since she was a puppy in Chicago. Pete wanted to see me in the ring with her, so in the end she made the 2,000 km journey along with Cocoa and Stormy. Once she was there, I agonized whether or not to show her. LuAnne in the past would cut her corners, and she doesn't like slippery footing. The ring had concrete floors (slippery) however, they were matted two wide. By Friday, I was pretty much committed to giving it a go...though I didn't sleep well the night before, and was pretty anxious the day of the show.

So at two months shy of 13 years she returned to the ring for first time since 2006. She entered the ring to thunderous applause, and she had a HUGE smile on her face and was so happy! She moved well, she didn't pull, didn't slip, and had a wonderful time! Every hair stood up on my body, it was such a thrill. She won her VERY competitive class and on Saturday went back in for the Breed competition. She was a crowd favorite, and every time she moved, the place erupted in applause. It was a wonderul moment, a memory to last a lifetime. Thank you LuAnne...thank you Rachael, Diane and Julie for helping with her hair; and mostly, thank you Pete for suggesting we do this!

It has been a hard week

It has been one of the most difficult weeks we have faced in a long time. A week ago we lost our beloved 15 1/2 year old Lexus and today 2 1/2 year old Mais Oui succumbed to her five day battle with pyometra. Thank you to Connie McNeill who has been a unbelievable source of help; and also our gratitude to all our friends for your support. As well thank you to the team at Almonte Vet Services for your expert care. It is the hardest part of sharing our lives with these wonderful animals...they are gone too soon.

Lexus and Mais Oui...you were loved.

Gone Too Soon

For "Mais Oui"

Who lost her battle to pyometra today.