Wow what a week it has been at our Cirneco National Specialty. The facility was terrific with plenty of room to take our dogs running in big fields without other dogs on 30 ft leads. We were the only ones that walked in the back fields so we always had it all to ourselves. It sure made life easier living with 9 dogs between Gloria Fay and me. We also had a large, 20 by 8 ft pen just out the door of the RV for them to potty and play in so we didn't have to walk each one to potty.
I learned a lot about the breed of Cirnechi at the Judges Education Seminar and am already trying to figure out a way to attend the Specialty in Seattle next year...one of the few states I haven't seen and always wanted to.
We...as in Gloria and I...are so proud of Otto and Ocra achieving their first of two legs towards their Junior Coursing titles. It is clear that Otto loves it and will have no problem getting his second leg I hope in the fall. I'm not sure that Ocra might end up looking at those moving white plastic bags and decide she'd rather chase something alive, because at the final leg of the course she lost interest in the white bags. Thankfully she had run the required 400 yards very enthusiastically and it was a very large and deep course so they had to run far away from me. Julia Samsonova and Ivan De Rycke, you would have loved to have seen it.
Then at our National Specialty on Saturday, I was handed the Winners Bitch to take in the ring for Best of Breed because her owner and professional handler had another dog to handle. It was one of the coolest experiences of my almost 20 years of showing dogs when this 1 year old bitch was awarded Best of Breed over 15 Specials!!!! For my friends who don't know what that means a Special is a dog who has completed its AKC Championship and most of them are shown by professional handlers. In the dog show world it is rare and an honor to handle a dog to Best of Breed at a National Specialty. But to beat Specials with a very young class dog is really something rare. Thank you, Kathy Schwabe and "Amy" for giving me that opportunity.
And then today, Gibbs was awardwd a 5 point major for Best of Winners and his sister Rosie awarded Reserve Winners Bitch, 2nd to Amy the.bitch who won BOB the day before. WOW! Thank you Jerri Gates for entrusting us with these beautiful Cirnechi.
And finally being asked to handle a beautiful Grand Champion Saluki bitch in the Breed ring today and being awarded Select Bitch. Another honor Anna Meszaros. Thank you. There's even a possibility I may handle her at an upcoming Regional Saluki Specialty in November in Florida.
New AKC Champion... Colisto's Bella... WB today for another 5 pt major... After winning Best of Breed at the National Specialty from the classes yesterday!!
Now Amy Bella can *officially* start her Specials Career.... As the #1 Cirneco dell Etna (All-Breed CC system through 8/30) we think she has a pretty good start!!!
Colisto's Bella
Congratulations to Debbie Welsh on finishing her boy, Gibbs with BOW and all the other awards!!
So tonight, after walking dogs, we washed 4 loads of dog bedding and clothes while we had a nice dinner with Kathy Schwabe and Susan. I'm now going to bed and will start packing in the morning.
Headed east to PA, MD and VA to spend time with friends and another dog show the end of the month. This life isn't for sissies and you must love dogs. LOL!
