Welcome back to Chihuahua Town; the sun is finally shining and the rain has done one. Last weekend was Midland Chihuahua Club’s Championship show, which was, as always, superbly run with its usual friendly atmosphere. The entry figures for WELKS have been released; longs have 108 dogs making 120 entries and smooths have 80 dogs making 87 entries. Longs are in outdoor ring 26 if it’s dry or the Severn Hall if it’s wet, judging starting at 9am. Smooths are in outdoor ring 28 (dry) or Severn Hall (wet), after the Poms and not before 11am. Now that’s not at all confusing is it? I know from last year that the outdoor and wet weather rings are not very close together and we all did a mad dash to the outdoor ring last year just before judging started. This year I’m going prepared with warm clothes and my cargo trolley for quick cross country relocation should the need arise.
Lynn Hill has done a spectacular job of putting up all of the results for the champ show on the MCC website. Do have a look. However, in brief: longs – DCC was Lee Humphrey’s Amarantos Tobin, RDCC Jill Palmer and Willy Heap’s Ch Penapettit Platinum, BCC Rosie Clarke’s Bratilda Bridget to Oxsirius, RDCC Colin Craggs’ Reynoldco Sweet Dreams (her second in as many weeks). Smooths – DCC Anderson’s Lumanatii Rolling Thunder, RDCC Gemma and Kevin Calvert’s Somergemz Artic Force, BCC Soper’s Leander Baby Jane, RBCC the same owners Ch Leander Just Jane At Ballybroke. In the longcoat puppies – BP Sharon Robson’s Rushwarden Ultraviolet of Tidos, RBP Michelle Emmerson’s Ismirelle’s Born To Shine, and in the smoothcoat puppies – BP Diane Fothergill’s Diamonchi Mister Moon and RBP Hobbs’ Aristodemos Cora Sun.
Amanda Green was over the moon with 1st in MPD for Ellochi Chasing Dreams, Julie Platek’s Chantico Jack the Lad 2nd in ND and 1st in SBD. Julie has been coming along to shows for a long time now, and this is her first dog in the ring so lots of congrats to her for the progress is making in her new hobby. As well as the BCC, Rosie Clarke also took 1st in LB with Oxsirius Neon Tiger. Colin Craggs’ Ch Reynoldco Ophelia won VB. There were 24 puppies making their debut in the Baby Puppy Walk who all went home with a rosette.
I only had my boy, Isaac, entered in JD. Unfortunately, he just wasn’t himself when we got to the show. This is a lad that normally can’t wait to get in the ring and is pestering me to hurry up, but when I put him in the ring he sat down and bowed his head. I promptly withdrew him, and, concerned about him, left the show swiftly and took him home. There will always be another dog show. He is fine (he is somewhat of a scavenger in the garden and had, I think, eaten something he shouldn’t have) but I was moved by the concern of those in the Chihuahua community for his well-being. He is now completely back to his bonkers self, which was evident when he stole one of the girls’ favourite toys and destroyed it.
Isa Randle’s Lucky has been appearing in an advert for Argos, so that’s one to look out for. I’m not sure when we can expect to see the advert appear on our TVs though. Talking about training of our littlies going beyond the show ring, it is common to see people competing in agility to train and work with their dogs while they are waiting for their turn to run. Remember many of these types of dogs are high energy and easily bored. I’ve been trying this out with my dogs; I’ve some that are quite happy to be picked up and held whilst they’re waiting their turn to be shown, but others who get bored quickly. I never like to let mine interact with other dogs in the show ring (this makes for a ‘dog reactive’ dog eventually) so training with them while we’re waiting keeps their attention. In Intermediate Obedience we train all sorts of ‘finishes’ so I thought I’d give this a go. One of them involves training the dog to walk round you in a clockwise direction while you stand still then present in front of you. A nice little ‘trick’ for them to learn and perfect while waiting their turn!
Next weekend is Ulster Chihuahua Club’s show and Mairi Austin is going to try and keep me updated with the results. I think lots of us will be off to local open shows this coming weekend, so please do send me your results.
On the subject of critiques – I chased the critique from Boston Championship show as it had not been submitted following the 12-week deadline. I have finally heard back from the KC today with copies of the critiques for both smooths and longs. Both are scanned, handwritten documents. The KC tell me they have been sent to Our Dogs, but I assume as they are handwritten and will need typing up, it will take a little while before they appear. If you want a copy, please email me and I will send it to you. If you have any missing critiques, please let me know and I will see if I can work the same magic!