December afternoon

Random photo from a December afternoon. Hard to believe it's only 10 days until Christmas. My how time flies. Before we know it, the New Year will be here. I have so many promising and exciting things coming up for 2011!

How we spend fall

Who's going to Nationals? ME ME ME!

Why am I so giddy? Because my vacation request at work was approved and I will be going to Border Collie Nationals this year. I am SO EXCITED. I've really been waiting for this opportunity for some time, and decided this year I'm just going to do it. The hotel reservation has been made. Just need to buy some plane tickets..... I don't believe I will be bringing any dogs with me this year unfortunately, as that is financially not in the cards. Next year of course, as it will be in Oregon! A hop, skip, and a jump away from Northern California.

If you'll be at Nationals this year be sure to look me up. I can't wait to put more faces to names!

Things have been so busy...

Ahhh... things have sure been busy! It seems like it's at the height of the Fall show season and I have lots of projects going on. But we shall carry on, as always! In the next month things will calm down again... and then get a little crazy ;)

We went to the Border Collie Club of Greater Los Angeles' (BCCGLA) specialty show recently and had a blast! I love specialty shows as it's a great chance to see lots of great border collies in one location and meet up with friends from distant places you don't get to see as often.

Presston took a 2nd in Open Dogs at the specialty, and a 3rd and 1st the other two days.
Penny took a 4th and 3rd during the specialty, and I believe high placements the other two days.



Ok I had the throw this one in there... a picture of Penny as a wee pup before she came home to me. Isn't she the cutest?? She's growing into quite the girl!

More show results

It's been a very busy show month so far.

I took Penny to the Sacramento Kennel Club's all-breed shows earlier this month and Penny took WB/BOS the first day for a 1 point! Saturday we got Reserve. I spent the weekend working for a handler so it was VERY busy!

I also just got back from the Chief Solano Kennel Club's all-breed shows.

Saturday
Presston took WD/ BOW/BOB for 1 point
Penny took WB/ BOS for 1 point

Sunday
Presston took WD/BOS for 1 point
Penny took WB/BOW/BOB for 1 point

Presston is now singled out with 9 points. Penny has 8 points, with a 4 point major. So close, yet so far!

Vallejo results!

Ahhh a nice tiring 3 day long weekend of shows. It was nice to have one of those show weekends where you felt jazzed about the future, you know? Also, the weekend started out sort of iffy with a lady blowing at us because she thought the entire power outlets belonged to her and wanted no part of sharing and proceeded to unplug my extension cords. Alas, I found another place to groom out dogs and let things pass. To put good karma out there, I let some borzoi people borrow thinning shears and equipment and put good dog show vibes out into the world. Can't all people be positive and giving? ;)

Now onto the results..

Friday- Presston RWD, Penny RWB
Saturday- Presston RWD, Penny RWB (can I just remind everyone how close it was on both decisions and how we had to reaaally work it in the ring. So so close!)
Sunday- Presston, RWD, Penny WB, BOW for a 4 point major! Yipeeee!

Great great weekend all around. I'm so proud of my border kids. Presston is really out there asking for the points now, so I'm sure it's just a matter of time. And Penny, my sweet girl! Her first major. I'm very excited. She is so fun to show. The compliments on her are incredible. And exhibitors of other breeds always comment on her rich gold coloring.

Lots of nice dogs out there showing. It's such an enjoyable experience just to be out there enjoying the gorgeous weather with my dogs!

Julie, my GSP friend, took a few pictures of Penny for me to share. At 11 months she's starting to mature and look great. I just love her look. Thanks again Julie!

Show news & some shots!

I took a few shots of Penny running around in the morning sun last weekend. She is starting to fill out in the head and look mature. It's so hard to believe that next month she will be turning a year old! Time flies by so fast these days. She has a bunch of coat and I love her britches/tail. So long and gorgeous in gold! Penny will be starting pre-agility classes at the WAG (Western Agility Group) facility in Elk Grove, CA at the end of this month. The classes will go over basic obedience, send aways, recalls, introduction to some of the equipment, handling, etc. It's going to be very exciting for us as Penny is such an intelligent serious dog and I just know she will excel in agility.

Also for some updated show news, I took both Presston and Penny to the San Jose show a couple weekends ago. Presston got WD for 1 point and Penny got WB/BOW/BOS for 1 point. Great job guys! We only showed Sunday as it was a Sunday/Monday show and not much reason to show Monday. More shows coming in the following weeks!

Napa Photo Shoot!

After a match during the day, we headed up to Napa, CA with Chloe and "Remy" to do a photo shoot of the boys. Nothing like the famous wine country as a backdrop. Doesn't Presston look handsome?




By the way, Presston decided to be naughty at the match but we still managed a BOB & Group 4 (it was a herding breed only match, 30+ entries).

Almost show season

Presston, December 2009

It's finally almost the start of the high show season around here. I'm READY. Well I am. Maybe the dogs aren't quite ready (can we say slipper feet?). I'll have both of my crew out showing hopefully, which luckily I have a dog and a bitch so I can spread things out each day a wee bit. Here's to some interesting show adventures.. and as always, the blog will be full of them! :)

Old Win Photo

As I realize posts/photos/links/etc. to share from the past, I will be posting them. So look forward to backdated information if I decide to post it.

Such as, back in March I showed Presston at the Bakersfield, CA shows. They had a BIS Puppy competition, so after we won Best Puppy in the breed ring we did puppy groups. Presston handled the whole thing wonderfully (and kudos from all the waiting around in the heat!), and we took home a Puppy Group 3. :) I don't like the picture too much (ackward angle), but it's a souviner for greater things to come.

Puppy Eval Party Day

no I'm not in the pic. I got to be the photographer! ;)

Last weekend I headed over to my friend Pam's house with several other border collie breeders to have a puppy evaluation party day. And to smell puppy breath! I LOVE these. I try to attend litter evaluations as much as possible (other breeds too... like the German Shorthair one I went to a few weeks back). Doing these really helps with education on our breed, and it's nice to see an 8 week old to compare it to as an adult when I see it out in the rings in the future. Pam and Rick had a really nice litter. I can't wait to see them all grow up!

Just a few snapshots of puppies.. because who doesn't like to see puppy photos?

Oh, Pennnnnnnny!

If you check out my website you know that little "Penny" is my little bundle of gold. I noticed through a long gap in my blog postings she didn't get mentioned, as that was during the time I got her. Anywho, Penny is Noteworthy Heart of Hot Gold. Yes, from the same place Presston came from. How could I pass up another dog from Carol? She's a little firecracker, full of drive and eagerness to please. When I met her sire Robbie (Ch Pawtails Too Hot THandle CD) in person when I went to pick up Presston I was in love. What a beautiful and driven dog. Her mother is "Juice" (Ch Noteworthy Queen of Hearts), who is a Thief daughter (Thief is Presston's dad).

Penny has been my "cross over to clicker training" guinea pig dog, and so far it has been working wonderful! She catches on to new commands so easily. Do I see a CD in our future? I'm thinking so! I took her out as a puppy once at a show (Conformation) and showed during a 3 day weekend. She took reserve one of the days. Which hey, considering she's gold and has prick ears that's a pretty sweet deal. She moves very clean and consistent and does great little freestacks, so for me, a puppy just behaving in the ring is icing on the cake. She's about 8 months now, and should be hitting up the puppy show classes again very soon.