DOC AT THE NATIONALS

We are at the Nationals in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. I just had Doc out for a walk and was informed that others are finding ticks on their dogs that have been Frontlined,as has Doc. Hmmmm....

Weather has been a mix of good and ugly.
Photographs are few and far between, the light in the Ballroom is hideous even under the best circumstances.

Doc has been fabulous. Thursday he won 2nd place in 9-12 puppydog Sweeps, and Friday he won 2ndplace in 9-12 puppydogs, both times handled by Lisa Leffingwell, his breeder.

Doc being letter perfect for Lisa in 9-12 Sweeps

He was so good. I was blown away.

Doc in Sweeps. The camera seemed to be shakey...

Couldn't have been my nerves.

 

I did get some decent shots of Lynn Sharkey's dog in Agility-- about the only good shots I have for the entire weekend:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What has BabyDoc learned from this experience?

 

1. Some bitches smell better than others and it is a smell he knows he should understand because it makes his teeth chatter,

but he cannot quite make out what it is. The Big Males seem quite agitated about this smell.

He is hoping someone will explain it to him.

 

2. Despite his age (9mos) he is really a BIG BOY and can be relied upon to protect me when someone walks past in the hallways. No more of the excited puppy yaps, these are BIGBOY barks.

 

3. There is some reason that BIGBOYS lift their legs. He is not sure why they do this or what the benefit is, but apparently in order to be a BIGBOY he has to do it, too, so he does. He is a little rocky but knows that soon he will be lifting with the best of them.

 

4. Draggin MomPerson and her cane down the stairs is frowned upon.

 

5.Laying flat in the elevator does not make it stop and for some reason makes other people in the elevator laugh. No more laying flat trying to make it stop.BIGBOYS stand up and take it.

 

6.Even though he is now Officially a BIGBOY, there are many males who are definitely BIGGERBOYS, and it is unwise to stare or otherwise seem to be challenging them especially when one comes nose to nose upon opening a door.

 

A NONY MOUSE

Because of an unprecedented amount of spam I am no longer going to read anonymous comments  but will delete them. Please, if you have something to say I want to hear it, but sign with a name. It doesn't have to be your own. If Queen Victoria sends me a comment I will read it, but if ANONYMOUS does, it goes directly into the trash. Sorry.

GETTING READY

Tomorrow Doc and I leave for the Belgian Nationals. Boy, it's been a long time!
I have made special arrangements with his Groomer to meet us at 6:30 in the morning to get him groomed, and he's a mess! Meanwhile, while Doc is getting primped, I will come home, pick up Nigel and deliver him for boarding.
And then.
I load the Van.

              Remember this? This is my entry in the Nationals.
                   What do you think? Has he got a chance?

I have to load the Van tomorrow. I cannot leave all my stuff  in it overnight. Because I am also selling jewelry, I have all that to take. Not only the jewelry itself but tools in case something needs to be fixed or shortened.

         Ribbons for the Belgian pendants by Peggy Hamlin.

                                  Several necklaces

                 Some bracelets (This is one of my favorites.)

And then of course is the dog and all his Stuff: brushes, nail clippers, show leads and collars, bait (in a cooler): the new dryer (Oh what an unpleasant surprise for the boy) the potions and magic that go into making him look even more handsome than usual.

From this

 

 

 

To something resembling a show dog.

And of course, the worst blow for Doc is that we are leaving behind his buddy, his pal, his protector, his "sheep" that he herds.....

 

 

Sweet (usually) Tolerant (often) happy Llewis. Who stays at home with Conley and John. The three boys.

 

And we will be off, in search of the elusive points. Our hearts in our throats and our sweaty palms, we will watch someone else show Doc,much better than I ever could and maybe, just maybe, Doc will learn that it's ok to poop while on a leash.....

 

Off we go.

SPRING?

Is it?
Is it here?
My lilies are up. The violets and dandelions are out. The trees have leaves and best of all, I have the windows open.

"Where're those damn dogs?"

 

The Sandhills came through several weeks ago.

 

Art studios are starting to open.

 

Flowers

 

 

 

 

We are sitting in the sun. It is spring.

 

FRUSTRATION

I had decided to simply make this a series of photos that I happen to like, but I cannot seem to find the group that I uploaded (twice) to the dashboard.
There were 58 photos I picked out some of which I know I have used before, probably more than once in some instances, but I find this extremely annoying.
I am hoping to get some good photos at the Nationals. They will be black dogs, not Bassets but you get what you pay for.

A number of years ago Susie Spry and I took a week-long spring trip to Kentucky and Tennessee. We stopped at the Kentucky Horse Park and met this draft horse foal having a very good time. We stood by the fence and he came over but Mama Horse was having none of that and with her ears pinned she trotted over to discuss our getting too close with her baby.
We watched from a respectful distance after that, even though there was a fence between us.

On that same trip we went out to Keeneland track very early one morning and watched them breeze the horses. Then we walked back and ate breakfast at the track kitchen, with jockeys and trainers and owners all around. It was a wonderful trip. One of the best I have ever taken.

I do not recall if this was the same trip or another that we took where we went along the Mississippi River (which is to the right) and wandered up this little dirt road.  Turned out to be more of a driveway to this house. This is about as close as we got and later at home I did a painting of it, which of the 4 or 5 paintings I did that year I really like. On the hike up the road we found a beaver tree, something I had not seen before.

Cooper meeting Zelda's puppies. It always amazed me how gentle and considerate of the puppies the adult males were. Of course, had they transgressed Zelda would have killed them, and I am not sure that it would not have been literally. She was very protective and had Cooper and Mitchell so well-trained that they would not walk past the "puppy room" to go outside without a human with them.

Happy Conley. I love happy dogs. No animal on earth is happier than a happy dog.

I know I have used this before but I like it. John actually took this photo on one of his forays downtown in Chicago. I do not now remember what the occasion was now, maybe Occupy Chicago but I think it was longer ago than that. Anyway. Had I ever tried to get my horse under that thing I would still be splatted on the cement....

The sad (and expensive) results of my short-lived experimentations with PMC clay (Precious Metal Clay). The seahorse broke. I needed a class, really-- probably many many of them. It was/is far too expensive for me as a hobby or even a side-line. The beads are bad enough.

My first grooming job. That dog (Prince) had the patience of a saint with me. Once when I was about 10 and walking him (he belonged to a neighbor) a drunk approached and Prince made it very clear who was in charge of THAT encounter....

Everyone said he'd sink, but he swam. Mitchell at Cedar Lake, in the Basset version of Dock Diving.

These are just chosen at random. Enjoy.

IT'S BEEN A LOONNNG LOOOONNNG TIME

 

                                          The Yard

Still the yard

 

 

Also the yard with Duck

 

 

 Dog in Yard

 

 

 

Dog in Yard

 

 

Dog wearing Yard

 

 

Dog wearing Mud who is supposed to be going to the Nationals in 11 days.

 

 

Not Mine, glad it isn't mine as cute as it is, I see that my MudPuppies are not as bad as it could be.

 

WELCOME TO SPRING.

 

 

LONG TIME

It's been a long time since I have written anything. I'm limping around with this stupid knee that doesn't want to work, doesn't want to bend or straighten, or support weight (of which there is plenty) or do anything that a knee is actually supposed to do.

I take Doc to training and after 15 minutes of ring time I have to stop.
I took him for a long and wonderful walk the other day and it took two days for me to recover.
Nigel and I went out, also, he in his wheels.
I am thinking we could use a matched set.

Yesterday John did some yardwork and had all the dogs out with him. This is Nigel and Doc playing. Doc lays down so Nigel can reach him. They can do this for a half hour at a time, and then Nigel falls asleep in the sun.

When I put these photos on the computer I looked at those nails!!
They came off this morning: I had to put a muzzle on Nigel to do the front, but after a token comment or two he settled down and let me do them. He looks much better.

This is Llewis. Llewis is my real sundog. He will sleep in the sun when it is 20 degrees outside.

And then of course, there's Doc: growing like a weed. Still a puppy. He still has that puppy look, but it's fading. He's big enough now to  worry people who are afraid of dogs in general. He's cautious, is afraid of the dark, doesn't want to be outside alone but with Llewis for company he will stay outside all day if I let him.

 

Getting to be a big boy. Doc with Nigel.

 

 

Mr. Biskit regarding what is left of the "lawn".

 

 

Mr. Biskit dealing with stumps and smallish trees that invade.

Doc is watching Mr. Biskit with that pointy stick thing he is swinging around. None of us believe a dog who is afraid to be outside alone in the dark is brave, but Doc is also a puppy still, even though he doesn't look much like one.

Still watching. Ever vigilant.

Doc watching John but all ready in case that pointy stick thing comes in his direction. (It doesn't.)

It always pays to be beautiful.