Muirmill Derby

Good morning,

Yesterday was the Derby at Muirmill and Stacey and Remy did the Derby at 85 cm. They had one pole down and were 6th. I was very pleased with both of them and really didnt expect her to do better. The rain was so hard that Shelby withdrew, everyone was soaked to the skin. But after waiting for nearly 4 hours, we werent giving up without a go!

I did tell Stacey she didnt have to if she didnt feel safe and to just go steady, not take any risks. So they went really well, it was just unfortunate that the others in the 85cm class has already been in the 55, 65, and 75 cm classes! So they already had seen all the jumps and knew the ground and all the shortcuts...I would have been shocked if Stace and Remy did any better than they did.

I am really looking forward to Italy at the end of the week, leave on Wednesday, and NOT at the crack of dawn...even better! It will be a working holiday as I am gong for a seminar, but Tom is meeting me there and An and Michael arrived Sunday night for a few days break before the seminar starts. I can't wait! Ahhhh...

Horsey News Today

Hi All,
Well, the last few days were very eventful. The highlight was that, on Thursday, Stacey rode Remy in the clear rounds, outdoors at Muirmill. He was very keen and while he wouldn't settle down in his warm up (she would have needed another 1/2 hour) he jumped lovely and she rode him really well. As it turns out, this Sunday is the Derby at Muirmill (Remy and I were 3rd out of 50, 2 or 3 years ago, the picture at the top is him in the lineup!) So we are planning to take Remy, Stacey will ride, Colin and Odin, Shelby and Onyx. However, it is raining cats and dogs, so if the ground is boggin or it's still raining, we'll not be going anywhere!



Friday was eventful. The police showed up at my door; but I must start that story on Wednesday evening...I had Tiva in the back yard and was throwing the toy for her from up in the back corner. As J. came through the (already open) gate, Tiva ran up. I called her to come back and she stopped at the end of MY bit of garden and came back.

J. came on round the drive and shouted over to me, I said I wasn't happy about what she said and then her husband came out and started shouting as well. At which point Tiva came running over, from behind me so I didn't see her to shout her to stop and I didn't hear her because she was neither barking nor growling. She ran up and stopped short of J. who reached out and swung out with her arm. As Tiva jumped back, eyes still on J., her husband drew back his leg and round-house kicked her in the ribs. I was sick. Shouted 'stop that' and he swung round and planted his foot on my raised garden and got right up in my face and growled 'I'll kill that dog'.

Then he shouted something about her being out of control. I said 'she's not out of control, she didnt bark or growl or bite'. Then J. started shouting about something on her sleeve and showing it to me saying 'what's that what's that'. I almost laughed, probably would have if i wasnt so angry and upset, shocked really. I said slobber (it was from where she swiped at Tiva, it was a small (bout an inch) of foamy slobber. He started shouting 'prove it, prove it'. I said, prove what. 'That she didnt bite her', he shouted. I said 'she didnt, show us the bite then, where's the bite mark?', he was so ridiculous, I was almost laughing. I said do you want to stand there repeating yourself or discuss this? Anyway, I eventually got into the house, shaking like a leaf. At first tho, I couldnt find Tiva. As it turned out, she had run into the house and was in the scullery.

So I spoke to my solicitor the next morning (Thursday) and he suggested I NOT call the police as it would just inflame the situation and gave me the number of a mediator. I called them and they told me what they do (didnt sound like much)and said I would think about it.

And then the police show up on Friday! They were very biased (oh, did I mention the guy upstairs is a cop???)and also suggested mediation. I said I had already considered it but didn't think they (upstairs) would go for it and they said they would go back upstairs and speak to them about it. They were up there for another 1/2 hour before I saw the car leave. So I guess I'll call the mediator 1st thing Monday. It is all very depressing.

Maybe tomorrow will cheer me up.

Well, we (me and Tiva) met Debbie Flemming and Ella and their dogs at 7.30 a.m. last Saturday and we headed down to the Champ show in Preston. Ella did really well with her Gronendal, BP dog and BP bitch were litter mates, bred by Ella, and her bitch took BPIS! Tiva showed well and had a very pleasing critique, but the judge (Mr. Sonny Strom)put a stick on her and she's 54 cm, not the required 57, and so he wouldnt place her higher than last. Other than saying that her ears were a bit big (I'm sure she'll grow into them) and she could use more charbonnage (again, she IS still a puppy, his comments were very positive... "exc head & expression. high set ear-a bit big. parallel lips. bite & teeth ok. nice mask. enough neck. gd back. well angulated. enough chest. Ex bone for size. Gd feet. Moves with v gd balance & stride. Ex coat & colour. Could do with more charbonnage" I am ok with not being better placed, but I feel she still has time to grow and it is only an inch that she needs. When are they expected to reach full height? Aside from that, we had a lovely, successful day. My friend, and Tiva's breeder, Jan, did well with her Mali's and I was torn when BPIS was being judged. Who to root for? My old friend and tivas breeder, Jan? My new friends Ella (groney puppy owner/breeder) and Debbie (handling)? Or perhaps simply the Terv? I was glad I didn't have to choose and, in the end the Gronendal was triumphant! So, the ride home was good as well!

Dr Tiva

I am learing all sorts of new stuff these days. One of them is how to load a photo show onto my blogger, so here it is! Counting down to Saturday and the show. gotta wake up hellish early to meet my ride, but I'll be there with bells on! See you all there.

Some cute pictures

Me again,

What a lovely day we had here, sunshine, not much wind...beautiful. It seems as if Tiva isnt in season after all, so Preston is on for us. Here are some photos I took today, Dr. Tiva is IN!




And a few others of my not-spoiled baby! Just beccause she likes her pillows fluffed just-so...and fresh sheets...nope, defiantely NOT spoiled! Well, maybe....just a weeee bit...




And, finally, a bit of fun on the beach. Tiva is getting used to water!

WEEKEND UPDATE

Hello all,

Well, I spoke with Debbie Flemming and we were in the process of making plans to ride down to the Champ show together,BUT....Tiva 'became a woman' today...in the middle of the night in fact, yuck! So it looks like we, or at least she, wont be going. I would still like to go but will have to find a dog-sitter for a long day first of all. We'll see...

No other news really, the weather has been lovely so I have bbq'd on the grill a couple of timess, it's great! A nice tip for corn on the cob ~ I cooked mine on the hob first, since we cant get it in the husk here, then I basted it with chipotle sauce and put it on the grill ~ yummy!

Camped out in the back garden with Beanie (my Godson) on Friday night. He helped set up the tent and put the sleeping bags in and figured out how to use the air blower to blow up the mattress. Then he found my new solar lights for the back garden and wanted to put them together and put them out, so we did that. Then we had corn on the cob and sausages for our tea. We went to the beach and played with Tiva for about an hour and came back and crawled into our bags and read 'All Things Bright and Beautiful' til Sean went to sleep.

I was freezing and didnt sleep a wink, and snuck into the house at 4.30! Thought I'd gotten away with it but later Sean told someone that I had come back into the house...OOps, caught out! We all had a laugh about it.

Spoke with Jane last night and Remy is sound, so I will try to ride today after work. Beanie called me as well at about 8.30 wanting help with his homework, which was on house rules. Funny that Jane had just spoken to him about it on Friday and we had made some rules.

So, he says, this is what I have so far: 'The first rule in my house is that I change out of my uniform when I get home or else my Godmother give me into deep trouble' Tee Hee.

August Weekend Is A Go!

Another sunny day in Scotland and I am pleased that I have been able to arrange the to not work the 1st weekend in August. This means that I'll be able to join the Bonvivant BSD Family at Jan's for her annual 'do', in conjunction with the dog show! I am really looking forward to it, and to seeing all Tiva's sibs.

Yeah,

Bridgit

SKC RESULTS

Woo Hoo,

Here is the critique of the puppy that won and of Tiva, not too bad I thought!

(8,1) 1 Pratten & Johnson’s Bergeau Rainbow Art, very pleasing, stylish, well balanced puppy, pleasing head, eye & expression, good outline, nice hindquarters, moved & showed well. BP; 2 Gilmore’s Bonvivant Raffine, smaller puppy, good head balance, eye & ears, nice neck & outline, well coupled, made the most of herself standing & moving 3 Crawford’s Corsini Latin Dancer. JB (5,1) 1 B Raffine; 2 C Latin Dancer, liked this puppy very much. Carrying a little extra weight which showed on the move but I would rather have her like this at her age than the other way. Pleasing head, eye & ears, good body shape, standing looked lovely & when she hardens & matures should do very well; 3 Neatham’s Zarna Apache Sunrise.

I cant wait to see what the judge at the BSD show had to say!

Bridgit

Sunday news

Hello and Happy Sunday,

Well, the weekend was a bit of a wash. Saturday was gorgeous and sunny and hot. I went down to the fun show in Ayr and set up beside the ring. We were in the first class, AV Puppy. Gladys said there were about 30 in the class. We made the cut down to 12 and then were placed 6th, so not too bad a result. The judge spoke to me at the end (I was told a number of times that he did not speak to anyone else) and said "I realy liked that, it's really nice. It was a tough class". So, that was nice. And we got beaten by some nice dogs, so I wasn't displeased. However, the dog he put first was a GSD puppy, nice head, but it couldn't stand up straight and when it walked, it was lame. How can that be good for the breed?

Today, Sunday, we went to another 'fun show'. Now, maybe it's just me, but I have put a lot of effort into going to ringcraft classes, finding out how to best handle my dog, what kind of leash to use, what grooming needs to be done, etc. Today, we entered AV Puppy and were placed 4th of maybe 12-15 or so. BUT...the winning dog, an Irish Wolfhound, wasn't groomed, when the judge looked the dogs over he was sitting, and, when his young lad handler moved him, he had him on his right side and the dog was away from the judge, she couldn't see well how the dog moved. Now, my only question is this: if all that stuff doesnt matter then why am I wasting my time going to ringcraft class and learning to 'do things right'? In the next class
1st place was a puppy that wasnt even placed in the puppy class! Whats up with that???

Honestly, I didnt mind getting beaten, but I would like to know why??? I think I'll have to call my mentor and she can talk me down!

In other news, Remy is still lame and I cant find Epsom salts in all of Ayrshire to soak his foot in...good grief!

Guess how I got woken up this morning - at 4.30 a.m. I might add? A live bird landed on my shoulder, I thought it was Tiva pawing me to get out. I turned over to ignore her and 'flap flap flap' it flew away to the top of my wardrobe! So I had to get up and try to catch it and put it out. It got behind my wardrobe and I had to pull out my dresser, to then pull out the wardrobe. At which point I caught it only to lose it again! At that point it flew into the back of Tiva's crate (that she sleeps in without a door) and settled. I went and got the door, put it on and hauled the entire crate outside and took the top off and birdie flew away...whew. I went back to bed. I think I'll just stick with an alarm clock, thanks very much!

Enough for now, gonna go nurse my sunburn...

Bridgit