A hopefull introduction/announcement

[gemy]

Started 2 days ago. And the boys are very interested. We have the licking grooming behaviour, and tramp that she is, she enjoys every moment of it!


She also wants Moms attention a lot. She goes between trying to be dominant to me, and submissive! LOL. She is trying to lap climb a lot, and when I vacant my chair happily jumps up into it! Oh and when she is free she decides she wants to lay by Magics crate ..... as I said she is a Tramp!


We shall see how she responds to the boys when she goes into standing heat, about one week from now. I will be watching very very carefully.


Already we are on crate and rotate. Feed/exercise separately etc.


Truly I don't mind the tramp business, it is a small indication of her willingness to breed, although she is a young gal and most certainly will not be bred.


I think she will make a good Mom, she is a dominant gal, but friendly and loving to her humans, and to all dogs she has met so far.


I think she will be very protective and loving of her puppies, which is a good indication of a good Mom. Much testing is yet to be done. Actually 7 Breed health tests, many of which can only start at or around 18months

[gemy]

Well 3 for 3 strike out. No Canadian handler is going down for the Nationals. And I can't show Dara in Canadian shows until her paper work goes through CKC Registration Committee.


But on the good news side Ilona has agreed to train Dara for show, and now I am trying to convince her to show Dara at Nationals. Ilona is already commited to show Marias Blackies, and I hope their is a slot I can slip into.


I can show Dara in the States under a temporary provision as her breed is fully recognized by AKC.


I sure hope she says yes.

[gemy]

Dara is entered in the USA National Specialty ... Woohoo. Entry seemed to go smoothly with no snafus'.


Dara had her first show training with Ilona, who should be showing her at the Nationals. She loved her willingness to work, but was surprised that she wasn't interested in playing with her (Ilona). We let Ilona go off on her own with Dara, and then 10 minutes later we snuck into the park and watched from afar.


We have lots of homework to work on. Of course!

[gemy]

She is coming along! For fun today she learnt the tunnel and now already runs through the whole length of the tunnel

We were doing the pulling exercise incorrectly, so we got that straightened out, and she is either a little lazy or as Ilona said I did too good a job on telling her no pull. We are to do 3 five minute sessions daily. Along with the other homework.

Stack stay - stranger touching + more distractions, bells whistles clapping.

Stack Stay - adjust legs - this is to get her used to having her legs adjusted.

Get the bicycle out and try her out on it.

That's all for now folks - sorry no pic or vids - too busy working to set up the camera.

[lisaly]

Enjoy this special time in Dara's life and the training and bonding together. No doubt you simply adore her regardless, but it brings me great joy also to see she is what you dreamed of.

[gemy]

Originally Posted by lisaly

Enjoy this special time in Dara's life and the training and bonding together. No doubt you simply adore her regardless, but it brings me great joy also to see she is what you dreamed of.

Thank you Lisa! For some reason I am not getting email notifications, I think my profile is still set up correctly, but I came here to post an update and there was a reply from you!


Dara did so great at the farmers market today, she is now standing and staying for her pets from strange folks. She even did for the 4 kids that surrounded and were petting her from all different directions. Did not move her feet and her tail was wagging beautifully!

[gemy]

http://youtu.be/7BTIi3n2nMw Dara at the start of the day


http://youtu.be/9drKKLg9BJ8




http://youtu.be/19CHam72zGk


http://youtu.be/ur_-eap-B8s


http://youtu.be/2ikdv-1ioDw Fun with training front legs.


http://youtu.be/6Zl78O-_wo0 Reward time

[gemy]

A huge Sigh - finally Dara got through a morning at the groomers with no diarrehea!


I think she is in good prep for the show groom, but there are a quite a few details to iron out so to speak.


The underline was shakey and not crisp - angulations were not truly done to show her wonderfull rear angulation. Front legs were not addressed and will need to be. Overall she has a stellar profile look with some sprucing up to be done. The front is the hardest to groom on a Blackie!


Head is next - I will bring in my special conditioner for the beard and hairfall so that the groomer can see what she is working with with a well conditioned hairfall. She still does not have the true to square/brick shape presentation of the head.


Just so you know on show weekends, the Blackies will usually have their beard and or total head washed and conditioned and then blown dry. If you are really unlucky, you might have to do a total bath, and blow dry.


That being a rainey, muddy weekend! Or sometimes you have to wash the legs and blow them out etc.


I have started to check my show supplies to see if I have to replenish anything before the National. Just my shampoo... so far. I will buy another spare 7F blade as the last time I went to a show I dropped my clippers and broke my 7F yuck!


A youngish man was waiting for his dog, and then Dara came out with the show groomer and he overhead everything discussed. When the groomer went back inside, he said, Wow she is beautifull. I said thanks you like my puppy? He said a Puppy??? lol lol We are getting ready for the Nationals, he said well you have my vote :-)

[gemy]

If we have 12+ entries in class dogs and or class bitches then Reserve Winners Bitch/Dog will earn a 3 Point Major!! That is spectacular news indeed! And of course Best of Winners can take the Cross-over points, but not Reserve Winner.


Usually points are only awarded to Winners dog/bitch and Best of Breed that count towards your Championship points. AKC must have changed some rules. But it makes sense to me! With a large entry, especially a Rare Breed that competition is at its fiercest, where you get many many very good dogs out showing. After all we all at least want to win our class at a National.

There might be some hope for Dara yet to earn some points

She is a very very good girl indeed, but very green to the show ring. Also she is under one year old, and quite simply that muscle mass can't possibly compare to a fit Open dog ie - 18+months old. Large breeds mature very slowly.

At a National winning your class is telling, and worth something; beyond that there is the opportunity for seminars/education, chatting with your breeder friends, having your dog examined by them, and you examine theirs. Sharing of health information, and sharing of so many topics in person is truly a gift much treasured.

[gemy]

Dara did really well at her training today. We went over to a fellow breeders country home, who owns lots of BRT's, and Dara got exposed to strange Blackies in a mock show environment.


Good gal that she was, she held her stack/stay, despite many distractions of strange doggies, and was super when she got to play with them one on one. She is one speedy gal! THen I asked Ilona to bring out strange male, Ilona said I have crazy male young, that only has one thing on his mind... Ok. Lets go I said. THen of course what we wanted to happen did happen. That was the male went to hump her. Hubby went to interfere, both of us glared at him, and said NO, let her correct the male. Which she did, in no un-certain way - three times in three different attempts to hump. Both needed to learn a valuable lesson. Dara how to correct a male, without needing to lean on human support, and the young male to know, Hey life is not easy when I go to hump a female

She was not so good, earlier on when we were doing obedience training, and the lack of this training, was pretty evident. My trainer raised her eyebrows at me in disapproval, and I said I am sorry, but we have so much been focussing on the show training and special exercises, that I have not worked at all her obedience. She just said correct this. Of course I will.

She sent onto my breeder in Russia, the last mock show pics of Dara, and they had a good discussion between them. I never thought to send them onto Irina... I have my directions to tell the show groomer about grooming. And my trainer and my breeder are in wonderfull rapport about how I need to develop Daras' chest. I am not complaining. But the pressure is building. For both my trainer and my breeder, Dara needs to show well at the Nationals. Succinctly I have my marching orders And quite expected btw. You have to prove your commitment and mettle in the show dog world. My breeder wants a CH out of this National. Maybe if she groomed her and showed her perhaps. But she is still a puppy how can she win against matured female dogs in Winners Bitch?

This doesn't mean she has to *win*. But needs to show and behave herself in the ring. And Ilona will report onto my breeder. Which is fine btw.

Ilona at the end, said I am very pleased with her improvement, now here are the other exercises I want you to do. LOL LOL LOL - no resting on laurels. Ilona is a wonderfull trainer and she knows how to motivate the competitor.

In closing, all this show training *stuff*, helps to create a wonderfull and confident dog, and some of the basics develop for Obedience Training. Such as stand stay, medical examinations, social skills around strange dogs smells and noises. Conditioning of the physical frame, and of course getting your dog active and engaged in a sport.

This is turning into a wonderfull journal of Daras' progress to Champion.

[gemy]

Woohaaa Tentative numbers indicate we have 12 female class bitches and 13 male class dogs!


This means if everyone shows up, not only will Winners Bitch and Dog get their 5 point major, but Reserve Winners Bitch and Dog will earn three points each!

[Lilah Charm]

Gail, I have so been enjoying Dara's story and cheer with you for every success since I am trying to wrap my head around the show scene (for my one day...) it also helps me make sense of alot of concepts I am working on grasping (language, titles, points). This is such a fun thread to follow, thank you.

[gemy]

Originally Posted by Lilah Charm

Gail, I have so been enjoying Dara's story and cheer with you for every success since I am trying to wrap my head around the show scene (for my one day...) it also helps me make sense of alot of concepts I am working on grasping (language, titles, points). This is such a fun thread to follow, thank you.

Your welcome Alyssa. In the show forum, I think I posted a thread something like an Orientation to the Show world for the new person. This might help. AKC also has some orientation to the Show world for new Exhibitors -replete with flow diagrams et al.


The point system is relatively simple: First to get a championship your dog must earn 15 points, and with in the points earned have at least 2 Majors from two different judges. A major is calculated per district based on the number of class dogs entered. There are 3 or 4 or 5 point majors dependent upon the number of dogs you beat. Points are usually only earned towards your Championship if you win Winners Bitch and or Winners Dog, dependent upon the sex of the dog you enter.


You can't earn any points if for example you are the only dog that was entered in the breed you show. You must beat some competition to earn any points.


What I share here for those that care to read, is the behind the scenes work, trials and tribulations of this show breeder. My journey is just my journey that in some or in a lot might mirror other show breeders.


So I am trying to organize Dara getting some health checks, but the opthamologist is only there on Sat from 9am to 2 30 and with a National Specialty we might not finish - dependent upon when we start until 2pm or so. cutting it tight to run her over for an eye exam. Based on prelim very tentative entry numbers we have over 50 dogs entered for the National. That means at least 2 hours maybe 3 hrs to judge all those dogs and get to BOB. So when we start the National won't be known until at least Oct 29th. I also want to arrange a cardio test. Again same issue - they are only there on Saturday which is our National Day. So there is much planning, forethought that goes into it all


Btw those two tests if I am able to do will be $270 US plus I will do the new brand new genetic test for JLPP which is $65 So we are at $335 - and I did another genetic test for $80 so now $415. I have ED HD thyroid and BAER left to do. So you can see how the tests add up for one individual dog.


To register Dara in the CKC and AKC will be $100 each registry.

[lisaly]

Originally Posted by gemy

Woohaaa Tentative numbers indicate we have 12 female class bitches and 13 male class dogs!


This means if everyone shows up, not only will Winners Bitch and Dog get their 5 point major, but Reserve Winners Bitch and Dog will earn three points each!

This is such wonderful news! I, too, am really enjoying reading about your journey with Dara, just as I did with Razzle's road to his Grand Championship. I have learned so much!

[gemy]

https://www.facebook.com/gail.mclarn...e=3&uploaded=5


Of course I was taking the pics so they don't do justice to the very beautifull park. Great vistas and views. They even had rock climbing at the park.


Razzle Dazzle came back up to his nose in fall leaves - I swear there was not a leaf pile he did not jump into He also wanted to lead the pack lol lol But Moms was too slow of a walker for that to happen.


Magic was being a grouchy boy so he had to stay in the car. Dara did wonderfully well on her walk - friendly with every-one she met. Folks n dogs.


Afterwards I took Magic by himself for some obedience training and ball chasing etc. He behaved himself very well then.


Just one more weekend to go before we leave for the States. Next wkend is more show training Fri/Sat at an indoor show, then a puppy party Sunday, then Wed we leave....


I got lots of good wishes for the USA Nationals, and a breeder friend of mine said if she wins Best Puppy in group, he will buy me a bottle of my fav hooch..

They are having BPIS on both Thurs and Sat - but we are only entered on Saturday.

I hope that I will be able to post vids and pics when I am away. Usually some techno problem plagues me though when I am out of town.