Portrait Session

When Sadie or Elliott get a new title, I like to get a picture done so that in future years I can look back to see a time when I didn't have grey hair, and to remind myself what it was like when I was first competing and getting titles. I hope that these will be really nice mementoes to have when these wonderful dogs have passed on and new ones come along to train me.

Today we took a drive over to Bingeman's where the Elora Gorge Kennel Club show (traditionally the last of the year) is usually held, and where our favourite photographers were today. I packed up the freshly groomed dogs, the box o' bling, and got myself somewhat put together. The bonus part of getting pictures taken after the fact is that there is no bleary-eyed, rat-bag-hair effect that usually is present on the third day of a long weekend of showing. As a result, I usually like the way these sorts of pictures turn out, since I don't end up looking like - well, like someone who's been showing dogs for three days and not sleeping or eating properly.

We got some great pictures taken today. First of all, I wanted to mark Sadie earning her Rally Advanced (RA) title. Here is the shot we chose for a print:

Then, we wanted a picture for Elliott's RAE, especially since he is the first English Springer Spaniel to earn the Rally Advanced Excellent title from the CKC. Here is my handsome boy, draped in bling:

Taking pictures with dogs is always an adventure, and today was no exception, as we also "ended up" with these two pictures, which I think I like almost as much as the portraits.

Elliott's Opinion: Do you think four thousand pictures is not enough, really? Because I do.

Sadie's Opinion: Oh, I am sooooooo done with this, mother!

Goodies for Good Dogs

Elliott and Sadie also benefitted from the generosity of the ESSCC at the SD&G show. We got some great goodie bags just for being there, and Elliott got a small goodie bag for each qualifying score in Rally. Here is Elliott showing off his stuff. Sadie is supervising from the background.

Sadie is a Titleholder Too!

At the English Springer Spaniel Club of Canada National Specialty show, they had an event which I had never participated in before. It's something called a Parade of Titleholders, which you can enter with your dog if they hold any type of titles. I put Sadie and Elliott in this so that we could get some fancy ribbons and run around the conformation ring (also a first for us).

The ribbon they get is really neat; it's huge, and has the dog's name and titles printed on it.

Here is Sadie with her lovely ribbon listing her 6 obedience titles.

Long Trip Home

Elliott was all tired out from his weekend of trials. Poor boy.

Long Sault Motel

A great place to stay! They even have FREE wireless internet access.

Even a Bucket Bitch Should Have Ice Cream

Recently we learned that a term used for those at dog shows who do all
the fetching, toting and carrying, and running around like a maniac to
support the poor sap who's going in the ring is - bucket bitch. My
longsuffering better half revels in the term and even has a tshirt
proclaiming his status as such. Here is my BB enjoying his ice cream!

In Summertime, One Must Have Ice Cream!

Here is Elliott enjoying a cup of ice cream to celebrate his latest
title. Miss Sadie didn't like the frosty treat!

Hard Work At The Dog Show

Bling from SD&G

Elliott earned qualifying scores in his Rally trials and for each one got a lovely blue rosette from the ESSCC. The beautiful big green ribbon is from the Parade of Titleholders and has his name and all his titles inscribed on it. Very good bling from our first time at the ESSCC National specialty!

Elliott Earns His RAE Title!

I am very proud to say that Elliott successfully completed his Rally Advanced Excellent title this weekend at the Stormont Dundas & Glengarry dog show in Long Sault. He found competing outdoors very difficult but managed to hold things together enough to qualify in the 4 rounds to get his last 2 RAE legs. To the best of my knowledge he is the first English Springer Spaniel in Canada to earn the RAE and I am very proud of him. This is Elliott's tenth obedience title and his third this year after his CDX and RE. For the rest of the year he will concentrate on practicing his Open skills and this fall we will start training for Utility. I am very proud of Elliott and all the hard work he has done this year!

You Want Me To Do What?

At the end of May, Sadie and Elliott competed at Rally trials in Powassan, Ontario.

Sadie, being the social butterfly she is, finds the meet and greet aspect of going to dog shows more entertaining and satisfying than actually going into the ring to compete.Upon arrival at a hotel, Sadie loves to start her visit with ceremonial leaping from bed to bed. This is an essential component of any dog show visit.
When reminded that she is at the dog show to compete, and hopefully get a title, this is the typical reaction:

HUH?

Sadie went into the trials that weekend already having 1 leg towards her Rally Advanced title. She only needed to pass twice in order to finish her title. In the 3 trials she competed in, she managed to pass only once. The trials were outdoors and so very challenging for her as she fought to ignore all the distractions!

Like,

GOATS

and GEESE!

Her big brother Elliott got 3 RAE legs and his first perfect score in CKC Rally, coming first in one of the trials. Sadie, I think, was busying partying with the goats at that point.....