What a whirlwind week, mes amis! Team MYV headed down to Ft. Mitchell, KY last Wednesday with 11 Beaucerons, expecting four more by Friday. We stayed at the lovely Drawbridge Inn--most of us in that fancy new dog trailer. I, however, made it into the hotel and charmed the sometimes unwilling masses with my good manners and cute face. Mom was amazed at how well I did--I walked on a loose leash and barked but once or twice. I was out to impress the girls, after all! I did get a little goofy when the California girls showed up but soon returned to my senses. Mom and Adrienne Scott spent Thursday and Friday taking care of our sizable crew and meeting people. Finding water for bathing was very...tricky. After searching and searching for a working electrical socket, Mom climbed through the window of Adrienne's room in order to plug in our blower. The rest of the gang arrived Friday evening and it was a marathon from then on! Good times!
Ack! I can't take it anymore!!! It was a wonderful time of friends and food revolving around a well-run show (thank you American Beauceron Club!) and so much happened that I can't recount it all here. I shall simply give you the end results...
I got Reserve Winners Dog!! For those of you unfamiliar with the workings of dog shows, this means that I was the second best non-champion male! I was eleven months old that day (just a puppy!)and we beat many other dogs before coming in second to a very impressive dog almost a year older than me and piloted by a professional handler. We don't mind (very much) losing to good dogs, Mom and I. The crowd erupted in applause when Judge Monsieur de Gids handed us our ribbons and plaque! Mom was so proud of me!
My brother En Theos and I stood up with my mom dog, Chaumette, in the Brood Bitch class and she won, making Adrienne exceedingly happy:)
Mais la creme de la creme, mes amis--Signet Mes Yeux Vigilants, our breeder's 9 yr. old veteran, won Best In Specialty Show! While making his closing comments at the banquet on the following evening, M. de Gids spoke very highly of our Sig--a good old-fashioned Beauceron that could have easily beat the winner of the Specialty at his club back in Holland. If you could have seen Susan Bass' face, my Mom said, she was BEAMING the widest smile you can imagine.
The second day we had our Journee--in this case, a written evaluation against the breed standard by a French judge, M. Jean Larive. I was a little squirmy during measuring--see how you feel when a stranger walks up and tries to put a measuring tape down the center of your muzzle! But my brother En Theos and I received ratings of Tres Prometteur Select--the highest rating possible for puppies! More rosettes and this time a medal to boot:)
So we are back in Columbia, exhausted and victorious. When the professional pictures arrive, mes chers, we will post them immediately. Thanks to everyone who sent prayers our way!
