Sun Maid Kennel Club Of Fresno Show! Sawyer's First Best of Breed wins!!!

No exciting ring photos, but here we are taking our first official Best of Breed photo!!! Its nice to see the results of all the hard work you put into these amazing red kids!

Then comes the challenge to not look freakish yourself in your picture! Smile! Look up, smile down at your pooch. Straighten out your jacket! Its a work in progress!

AND here we go! Our first trip into Groups! Here we are with all the other lovely Best of Breed winners from the Sporting Group.

Here we are waiting our turn, trying to stay entertained as well as looking good! A special thank you to handler Bill McFadden for graciously letting me enter ahead of him, I had no idea it was a free for all and frankly I think I was about to be trampled!

Nervous? Who me? Uh, yes.

Advice from my Peanut Gallery! It was mostly, "Get that bait out of your mouth!!!!". Oh yeah, judges don't really like that, and seeing photos of hot dogs jammed in your cheeks like a chipmunk storing up for Winter, not pretty!

Yup. I find that like Sawyer I too can lose my mind in the ring! Ugh! Hot Dog! But here we are being gone over by Judge Mrs. Jean Fournier, who complimented us on how "Very, very nice." Sawyer felt. :-)

Now he's over stretched, but better not to fuss with anything at this point, hey! He is standing still! There's that...

He's being such a good boy! This was a long time in the ring for Sawyer, and he's handling it like a champ!

Almost all the breeds have been examined, now time for the "Pick me! Pick me!" look,  can I manage that with what appears to be yet another hot dog in my cheek?

Our last look before the Judge makes her cut. It wasn't our day, but I think my boy did a great job anyway! We'll be back tomorrow!

Our second Best of Breed from the following day!

Happy New Year from The Golden Gate Kennel Club benched show in Daly City, CA

Here are Joye and I back at it in 2010 with Sawyer and Brenna! 

The Cow Palace show is always interesting, a two day benched show makes for a long day, but it is only once a year and we are always amongst good company. "The AKC is proud to recognize AKC Breeder of Merit participants who are dedicated to breeding beautiful purebred dogs whose appearance, temperament, and ability are true to their breed. These accomplished breeders are the heart of the AKC." 

I am always happy to be there to support Sawyer's Breeder, Joye Bondanza of Aristo Acres who has always been a tremendous support for Sawyer and I during all these new adventures! She has a wealth of knowledge, and I would say Sawyer and I are still novices.

There are over 1200 dogs entered, representing 136 breeds.

Here are Joye and I waiting for the classes to finish up before the Breed ring

Always nice to have your husband take pictures so you can see how your dog is stacked. In my case not so well!

Here we are on the second day, doing a little better! Practice, practice, practice!

Much better! But Sawyer? Where is your tail??? (this question is often followed by a bark! So I chose not to ask today)

Ms. Brenna getting her turn with the judge, despite the time and all the hard work, it was a great weekend with friends!

San Mateo County Cluster! San Mateo, Salinas, Oakland and Santa Cruz Kennel Clubs

Joye (here with Brenna) and I are all smiles for the first day of the show!!! One of our favorites due to the fact that its actually in San Mateo! Its too close to home to pass up, and maybe we miss showing a little bit....?

Here's the line up for Best of Breed! I obviously did not get the memo on wearing red for today...

Trying to figure out what the heck he wants us to do now. This is our third meeting with "Joe". Always memorable...Never the same!

 

Not a bad showing! And Joye and Brenna take Best of Opposite Sex! Go Momma Brenna!

No... I was mistaken and did not miss the ring as much as I had imagined! Today Sawyer takes a turn around the ring with his buddy Josh

Beautiful Brenna floats around the ring with Joye! If you look carefully you will see that neither one of them are even touching the ground! Wow!!

On to day 3! And a little practice outside the ring couldn't hurt!

Sawyer loving on Josh before ring time... I'm always amazed at how lovey-dovey my little mouthy bruiser is! Its all an act!

No, that sweet look is not for me!

Sawyer gets a nice thorough examination from Judge Mrs. Betty -Anne Stenmark

Note to Self: The boy can free stack! Remember? Stop fussing with the dreaded (and disliked by Sawyer) hand stacking!

Every dog has his day! Today is not Sawyer's but I think my little man looks pretty good!

Nothing like a good stretch after the show! Look fast or you'll miss him! Sawyer is in hot pursuit of his BFF Bond

OK. Not the most regal photo, but Sawyer, Chloe, Bond and Diamond are tearing up this field! 

Ms. Chloe only has eyes for Sawyer

The prize!

Day 4! And the last show of the cluster, the Oakland Kennel Club

Dog show etiquette! Pay attention to your dog! Make sure he is not swapping spit with another male because you weren't paying attention!  "Don't look at the fat ass losers or freaks, look at me!"  - Hamilton Swan,  Best In Show

And we're done. Four shows in 4 days. Now I remember why I get so stressed out over this! Time for a break so we can forget all over again! Happy New Year!!   *Smile*

A California Vizsla Christmas!!!

A Merry Christmas playdate with Ms. Chloe and a new camera for me!

Chloe and Sawyer enjoy their sunny December run

All fun and games until one Vizsla takes a dip in the marsh... followed by Vizsla number 2!

All cleaned up and home, Sawyer is so patient while I try out my new Canon Rebel T1i

So handsome! Love the new camera! Two paws up!

Sir Francis Drake Kennel Club

Back to the show ring! Today is Ms. Diamond's debut in the ring and Sawyer's debut as a special! Our little Miss Diamond goes on to win her class and Best Puppy! Way to start off her show career!

Here is Vino with our breeder Joye showing in the Bred By class

Lookin' good! Vino take first in Bred By and Reserve Winners Dog

Its a return trip to the ring for me as well showing Sawyer in the Breed competition. He's a very good boy in the ring with the big guys!

The judge pauses to take a look at Sawyer's expression... Which is "Give me that hotdog"!

Good Boy!

After the show Sawyer and I take a few stack photos for the Nationals ad Joye so kindly put in for us!

Sawyer stacked at 16 months old