A hopefull introduction/announcement

[gemy]

I have this little thing I do - try to have my dogs swim in all of the Great Lakes.


Dara has been in Lake Ontario - Lake Huron and Lake Erie. Also Lake Simcoe and other lakes


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFeKg1JjyhA

[gemy]

Well on Monday we went there for some swimming and both Dara and Magic pulled so much on lead that it took each one 20 minutes to get to the water.


That is because until they obey me they don't get their favourite past time of swimming with Moms. So we do the heel one step and sit - heel and sit. The brats are being bratty today.


But we met lots of lovely folks - who get dogs - and that is always an enjoyable experience. Magic was a good boy and ignored all dogs - he is so very much toy focussed. Dara not nearly as much. I really need to address that as she doesn't yet get the idea of retrieve in total for her next level of obedience.


Wasaga Beach is a lovely spot and you can walk out with large dogs for ages It has a sandy bottom so it is not as great for strengthening all the little muscles of their paws n ankles - but still a great exercise for the pups.


Now here is what I don't get. Why do folks without dogs go to a doggey beach for sunning? Especially when there are 4 other beaches that don't allow dogs on them! Seems silly to me.

[gemy]

Today we went to the farmers market - and this time I took Dara on my lead - as I wanted to do obedience training with her admist the multiple distractions of the market.


Everyone got that I was working with her - and lots of folks complimented her - but no one came up to greet her. And that was very good.


Hubby did the shopping - he got 2 tomatoes that had blemishes on them and one that had its skin slit... One of 6 peppers that was obviously old. God knows what he got for corn on the cob.

[gemy]

Well we went to Cherry Beach today - and for the first time ever - Dara started to growl at a dog and to initiate dominate actions - She was stopped with a stern no - but she is starting to mature. We were all off lead - and this dog got in her face too much. When you see the rigid body stance with a very firm tail action usually slow - the chest expansion and a stiff legged gait - Watch Out. At the minimum she was going to put that dog in its place. Lucky for it - that it took off when she turned and came to me.


just another example of the value of obedience training.

[gemy]

All the pups are crashed out since our return. Dave spent a little too long for Magics condition with the swimming. But I tell you I returned with Razzle to our van first as Razzman was cold - and I sat him in the sun me in the shade to await our Blackie swimmers. And it was a very long wait.


Then finally hubby and the two saddest looking dogs finally returned to the van for lunch. They were hanging their heads and dragging their feet. Hubby said it was all he could do to get them out of the water. They perked up a bit to see Moms' but were obviously not happy campers. This is the first summer we have not spent one or two weeks all day by the water. It was a perfect afternoon in 90+ weather to go swimming with the dogs.


The place was jammed packed with ppl n dogs - and most folks were pretty good about the parking - we tried not to stay too long - usually 30 minutes of good swimming is enough for most dogs. WE however ended up staying too long. One of the few times I have seen Torontonians pulling together to allow the huge dog owning population to get their pups into the cooling Lake Ontario waters. And many but of course not all owners were very very present with their dogs. Even giving way for my wee one. Although he did get run over and jumped over a few times. In retrospect I would not have taken Razzman there - but there ya go.


Dara is still not bringing back the toy - and there was so very much going on I did not have the space n time to try to work on that training for her.


Razzman and Magic do retrieve very well.

[gemy]

USA Nationals I might be going - just heard from a friend that she might want to drive down with me. Will know more Monday


Also I have a line on a Russian groomer will call later today!


Woohooo hope I can go with Dara to Missouri

[gemy]

My friend groomed Dara today. She did a pretty good job - some snafus - but hey what can I say? She is young to the breed and learning - and well communication might be opaque.


She had very decided opinions and I saw some surprise on her face - well I can be quite quiet and reserved - and when she told me for eg to hold the tail like an Akitas' tail - I said quite strongly NO - that is wrong - it is Scimtar tail presentation. When she wanted to show an incorrect ascending topline - I said NO = .5 cm to 1 cm is correct for the breed. I know how breeder abc grooms their dogs - and it is incorrect! Oh she says the judges like this. I said I don't care what the Judges like who are inexperience or unknowledgeable we shall groom her to the Russian standard for grooming.


She kept on saying how good Dara was on the table - and I said NO she is not she is moving around too much. Please don't tell her she is a good girl when she is moving around and should be still.

[gemy]

Got lots to do n prepare. Not the least of which is renewing my passport.


Getting Dara entered - thankfully I have handlers for the show down there.


I still need long term to find pro groomer - but likely I can use a combo of my friend and a retired Russian groomer for the very short term.


I have decided to enter her in CD competition for all 4 days and hopefully we shall pass.


Very excited here.

[lisaly]

I'm really excited for you and will be cheering you and Dara on this weekend and at Purina Farms. I'm so relieved that Dara's beautiful, expressive tail is better and so happy that you can travel to Missouri for the National Specialty. You have shared so many wonderful moments with your dogs and have created so many beautiful memories. They lead such a rich, active, and joyful life with you and Dave, and it's beautiful how much they have enriched your lives, as well.

[gemy]

3.5 hours later - only scissoring being done - and I finally had to stop this loverly lady. She has a bad back and I could tell she was hurting. Definition of a perfectionist. \I listened to 1.5 hrs of how to blow dry her - where to backcomb - how I must tip the ends of hair - cause of her coat type every blow dry will bring out errant stray hairs. We went through the neck the upper back - the hind end including hock jocks. She did a neat thing I had never seen before. Analogous to the Achilles tendon in humans - you take just to either side of the tendon and with scissor tips you mark out a line running parallel to the tendon on each side. And wow does that ever define that line running down to the hock joint tip! And after a few yes I know it is the line from here to there to be 90degree or 45 degree or yes she has a slight tendency to turn out her right front paw on some stacks and I will blow dry in there and out here and we need to do two fingerwidths of angling in on the cut. She looked surprised. I said I know it all up here in my head - but I can't scissor for love nor money! She said I am surprised most breeders do their own grooming - I just smiled and said I have other talents.


She really really liked Daras' movement and she was a Russian judge of BRTs! However she thinks Dara is too skinny and not enough muscle development She wants me to bump to 4lbs a day given Daras' activity level!


For all the pet owners here reading this thread and I know from the huge amount of views that there are lots. This is the ultimate end of show grooming. When in essence the dog is dissected almost inch by inch. And the groomers and breeders say - lets enhance here - minimize there etc. And during this grooming Dara was taken outside 4x ran around and examine by the groomer and myself for how her coat looked like on movement. So Dara has a beautifull long neck but set in at more of an upright angle than ideal for the standard. So there is a way to blow dry one aspect and minimize the other as well as to stack her- and to gait her. So you gait on a loose lead allowing her beautifull head lift to show off - and the run of a BRT is naturally leading a bit forward through the chin which minimizes the angulation of the neck to the back. On stacking you level the chin to the ground lift up through the collar and bait her slightly forward


Having a great dog is like training an elite athlete. We also talked about what specific exercises for Dara - and she says in another years time she is going to be awesome! See large dogs even at almost two years old are still young adolescents.


Is it a beauty show? Well for those that have grown to know me - you know that I train and exercise my dogs - and their working abilities are the most important to me along of course with their health. Pure beauty is best exemplied by a wonderfully in shape dog - with a gorgeous healthy coat - great temperament - and shows that they can do the job they were bred to do!


As a competitor and particularly preparing for the premiere dog show for your breed a National competition - you bring your best game forward!


So why buy from a show breeder? The right breeder - will give a comprehensive package of health care second to none. The premiere of food, training - exercising - grooming - health testing - vet care -loving etc etc etc. It is our passion. It is our love for this particular breed. We will prepare our bitch for breeding and whelping and use the latest techniques to raise well adjusted and healthy puppies. We stand behind our pups for the lifetime of our dogs.


That's all for now folks - Getting quite excited for the show this wkend and in 2 wks the Nationals!

[gemy]

Had to go to the passport office to renew passport - then off we went to the dog show. And thank goodness we did - it was pretty hard to find a grooming area that was not in the back 40!. We snuck in beside the photographers pop up.


Peter her new handler did some practice runs with her - and feels she will do quite well with him. He said she is a sweety! You are going to give Black Russian a bad rep lol.


Back home Dara has had her preshow wash - she is resting in her crate and I will likely start the blow drying in about one hour.

[lisaly]

I love your sense of fairness along with your competitive nature, grace, compassion, integrity, honor, and especially your love for your dogs and how you always look out for and enjoy them. Dara is a beauty. We will be cheering for you from across the miles, and we hope this journey to Dara's championship is just the beginning of a beautiful bond and partnership you are creating with her. Love and best wishes.

[gemy]

Dogs n bitches each day can earn a 5 pt major! also at the nationals the reserve winners bitch and dog can earn a 3pt major due to the entry volumne!


Ilona thinks Dara and I are ready for our CD title - and I hope to get a leg on that two wks from now. Unfortunately the cluster show before the Nationals have no obedience trials....

[gemy]

One week today we leave! Dara will be up on the grooming table for some scissoring and clipping. Keeping the grooming lines intact. After review of Daras' grooming from that Russian groomer she scissored her way too short. And now she does not need another pro groom - but hopefully will grow some coat in the next seven days.


I have bumped her food - and she goes swimming tomorrow and Sunday along with halter work - ie chest work - 3x a day obedience training short sessions - for her CD title.


I have made lists and strategized on what to do when = in terms of washing Dara - making car ready - packing car etc. I have groceries to do and meals to make so my family can have meals when I am gone and so I can take some food with us.


For me mainly is to get to meet and see those young studs out there and to meet my old friends and catch up in person. We have a breeding seminar scheduled over our Nationals and *gasp* I will be the videographer.


A wonderfull exhibitor will bring frozen raw for we Canadian exhibitors so we don't have to search out local sources. My fellow driver will be feeding raw to her young male as well so that there is no jealousy over food.


We are hopefull the male and female will get along well - but if not we are prepared to crate and rotate. Dara is a good girl - but she will be travelling to strange places with just Moms and not the rest of her pack - ditto for Blitzen. But the good news is with a twelve hour drive and multiple stops n walks they will have a huge amount of time to acclimtate to each other before the hotel stay.

[gemy]

:lovely day at Albion Hills conservation area; we went with our BRT group. had a good walk - some wading in the river - some cavaletti work - and then a BBQ.


Dara pulled again on the lead - sheesh when will she ever learn. but it was a great outside and being with friends. And of course the little mini events of snarling n snapping were between the females! An 15mth old female went for Dara = and that was handled - as soon as magic came up she dropped her tail and went submissive. Big male with a big attitude - they know. The fully matured adult female of 4yrs old kept barking aggressively and lunging - and Magic was having none of it - he was barking aggressively back - protecting his pack. That would not have been pretty if those two got into it.