Wednesday, July 15, 2015
The second quarter of 2015 brought about more wonderful things for our dogs and both breeding programs, as well as a few challenges, but we believe everything happens for a reason.
Prior to the specialty, Mal and his owners "The Sisters" Brenna and Lenore and I traveled down to Bates Nut Farm for the Mt. Palomar shows. John and Diane Thomas couldn't attend, but River had a weekend sleep-over with her sister Misty. With the help of Betty Jo Costantinidis and Daniel Magee, Mal was Winners Dog and Best of Winners for a point, River was Winners Bitch for a point, and Misty was Best of Breed. The next day with the help of Tiffany Saxon showing Misty, judge Mrs. Marion McPherson decided that Mal was her choice Bouvier of the day and awarded him Winners Dog, Best of Winners and Best of Breed and gave Misty Best Opposite Sex. It was a nice way to finish the weekend in preparation for the upcoming Specialty.
However, two weeks prior to the specialty, we got a phone call from Baby Jack's owners. They were having some major challenges with the young lad and we determined that it would be best for him to return to our home for a few weeks so we could assess his mental and physical state. Our primary concern was the safety and well-being of his owners. Our secondary concern was the mental state of this young dog that may be the only offspring we ever get out of Danica. Working with a trainer and animal behaviorist, Johnna Biondi, we ascertained that Jack needed a firm, yet understanding hand and consistency to remind him of his place within a family and around other humans and dogs. Originally thinking we may have him with us for a month or so, it was the ultimate decision of the Patons to ask us to take Jack back permanently. They love the guy and wanted the best for him, and they realized that perhaps he was "too much dog" for them. Rod and I can not express how much we appreciate the Patons for all they did for Jack in his first year and for being so fair to him and to us. Knowing them has been a blessing and we are thankful that we were all able to work together for the better of Baby Jack.
The Paton's decision about Baby Jack made the results of the five-day Memorial Day show weekend (including our Southern California Bouvier des Flandres Club specialty) a bittersweet time. Specialty judge Mr. Garry Newton chose Jack as his Winners Dog, earning Jack a 5-point major toward his championship. Later that day, Mr. Newton also awarded Misty with one of the two Awards of Merit given. We were very thankful to have two of our litters recognized with ribbons at this specialty.
Over the next four days, we were thrilled with the results. Mal was Reserve Winners Dog on Friday and then judge Mrs. Barbara Dempsey Alderman awarded Mal Winners Dog and Best of Winners on Saturday for a 4-point major (his third major) and finished his championship, River was Winners Bitch for a 3-point major (her first major) and Nita was Select Bitch and earned a Grand Championship major and defeat toward her next title. Jack went on to win Winners Dog and Best of Winners on Sunday for a 3-point major under judge Mr. Carl Gene Liepmann and Winners Dog under Mr. James G. Reynolds on Sunday for 2 points. Misty also picked up Select Bitch on Sunday for more GCH points and is now over half way toward her Bronze Grand Championship.
The very next weekend was another good weekend for our dogs. Baby Jack went Winners Dog on Saturday and finished his championship and River was Winners Bitch and Best of Winners for two more points toward her championship under judge Col. Joe Purkhiser. Also, on Saturday, Rod showed Bomond and he was awarded Winners Dog for a 3-point major (his second major) under judge Mr. Robert Hutton. In 2012, Mr. Hutton awarded Bomond's Grand Uncle Ayrzol Obi Wan Kenobi (Chicory's father) Best of Breed two days prior to Obi returning to his owners in Sweden. Both days, Mal - a move-up Special - and Nita both earned Grand Championship points going Select Dog and Select Bitch.
One week later on June 6th, we welcomed a litter of eight Scottie puppies (seven boys and one girl). Born on D-Day and also the same day American Pharaoh won the Belmont Stakes and broke the 37-year dry spell for Triple Crown winners, we were thankful to the skillful hands of Dr. Cheema and his team who delivered all eight puppies via C-section. Lara's third and final litter, we spent every day supplementing all the babies to top off their tummies to help her provide them with enough nourishment to keep them thriving. This was Bomond's second litter sired in the United States and we are very thankful for our young stud dog.
Three weeks after the puppies were born, Bomond showed at the Kennel Club of Beverly Hills and Irish judge Mr. Michael Leonard awarded him Winners Dog, Best of Winners, and Best Opposite Sex over male specials. It resulted in a 4-point major (his third) and we look forward to our young Scottie boy maturing more and working toward his Grand Championship.
During the "down time" between shows for new champion Mal, The Sisters took him to a Lure Coursing event hosted by the Basenji Club of Northern California and over the two days, Mal completed four successful runs and earned his Coursing Ability Title. If you know our big fawn boy, he loves sleeping on his crable (crate/table combo) and doesn't seem to get too amped about much. However, he apparently loves chasing bags on the end of a line and we loved watching his fourth run of the weekend on YouTube. We are thrilled to see a title at the "other end" of pups and Mal is our first Lure Coursing Bouvier.
The Summerfest cluster in Ventura the weekend of July the 4th was our last show weekend before a month's hiatus. Mal and Bomond represented, but River swept the weekend going Winners Bitch on Friday, Winners Bitch and Best Opposite Sex over a bitch special on Saturday, and Winners Bitch/Best of Winners on Sunday. It was a nice way to wrap up the second quarter of the year. Thanks to all the owners that schlepped their dogs to our place for grooming and making sure the pups were present for showing. We appreciate you all! The next quarter will be spent preparing for our national specialties taking place in early October in Pennsylvania and Colorado. Until then, stay cool!