plainsong
Headphoneus Supremus: Untie!
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2002
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Well, my Blogging program doesn't seem to be working yet, so I'll tell everyone here how it went. Don't you feel priveledged?
First off, I have to say that we're not really dog show types. We got Pixel as a pet and that's what she is. We only did this because the breeder begged, and we thought Pixel would have a good time socializing. It turned out to be a good idea since she had an absolute blast.
A couple of days ago the breeder measured her one last time to see what category she's in. See, she's registered as a miniature dachshund, but at 30cm around, she's a kaninchen, which is a bit smaller. However, different judges use different measuring tapes so she could end up as a kaninchen or a miniature. As this is her first show, it's easy to change size categories. She's a tad round, so that doesn't help. her coat was also very quickly going soft, so we were getting close to the experiation date.
This was an outdoor show and the first of the hot days of summer here in Helsinki. It didn't help that she really hates car rides, crying the entire way, certain she was going to her death. To her surprise instead she found doggies like her to socialize with. Her brother Kaapo was there, and they had a great time just hanging out. However it was very very hot. Luckily her class was in the morning.
Before the class began, the breeder had the chance to take her into the ring for the training session. It's difficult for doxies to walk that show walk outdoors in grass, and Pixie had way too much energy to walk and stand correctly. It was funny to watch, but we discovered that my husband and I had to hide, since she kept spotting us.
She was measured, and the judge insisted she was 31cm, a miniature. Ahh, it doesn't matter. She got the raiting of "good" instead of "Excellent" since her coat wasn't perfect and she was a tad round, but we knew about those problems. The breeder thought she still shoulda got "Excellent". She's still a little Pixel.
So now it was time for the class, female miniature wirehairs over 15 months. There were 6, and they started walking around the ring, Pixie treating it like a race. The breeder was an excellent handler though, and of course Pixie knows her well, so she calmed down a bit by the time it was time for the measuring.
She was last in line behind a cute little black wirehair, and they started socializing, until it Pixie was last. Up on the table she went and the judge poked and prodded, and then wanted to see her walk. That went great, except for the wee-wee break. That's our Pixie.
But then standing still was impossible. The Basset hounds in the next ring were all grouped there taunting her, and she wanted to play with them. At any rate, she did finally stand still long enough for the judge to see her, and then it was time for the final walk around the ring.
The judge then narrowed it down to 3, this professional type who had a nice dog, Pixie, and the little black doxie. The results were in. In her first show, Pixie came second. Not bad considering it was her first time, she had no training, and had no idea what was expected of her. We were very proud of our little girl.
So here's what the judge had to say: A very happy dog, A wonderful little bitch and an excellent representitive of the breed. A beautiful feminine head, nice chest and good solid lines throughout. She has a natural stance and needs no setting up, and a wonderful natural gait. Her coat is going a bit soft and she is a bit round, and she lacks some control, but a wonderful dachshund who is bound to go far.
Rea, the breeder, was looking back at Pixie's mother, Dottie's papers, and her first critique basically said the same thing. Not too shabby at all.
Pixie got a homemade beef stew as her reward. After a brief rest, she was barking and straining to get back into the ring, so yeah, she must have caught on.
And what would have happened if she didn't do well? Well we'd have to cuddle her and console her of course. But her next show will probably be in the first of next year after she looses her coat again. People are very friendly and it's lots of fun. There's only one woman that's the type from the "Best in Show" movie (like the handler of the Poodle), and she's easy to see coming.
We're very proud of our little girl. She behaved wonderfully and the judge just noticed it, that's all. And what is Pixel doing now? She's asleep on my leg as I type this.
First off, I have to say that we're not really dog show types. We got Pixel as a pet and that's what she is. We only did this because the breeder begged, and we thought Pixel would have a good time socializing. It turned out to be a good idea since she had an absolute blast.
A couple of days ago the breeder measured her one last time to see what category she's in. See, she's registered as a miniature dachshund, but at 30cm around, she's a kaninchen, which is a bit smaller. However, different judges use different measuring tapes so she could end up as a kaninchen or a miniature. As this is her first show, it's easy to change size categories. She's a tad round, so that doesn't help. her coat was also very quickly going soft, so we were getting close to the experiation date.
This was an outdoor show and the first of the hot days of summer here in Helsinki. It didn't help that she really hates car rides, crying the entire way, certain she was going to her death. To her surprise instead she found doggies like her to socialize with. Her brother Kaapo was there, and they had a great time just hanging out. However it was very very hot. Luckily her class was in the morning.
Before the class began, the breeder had the chance to take her into the ring for the training session. It's difficult for doxies to walk that show walk outdoors in grass, and Pixie had way too much energy to walk and stand correctly. It was funny to watch, but we discovered that my husband and I had to hide, since she kept spotting us.
She was measured, and the judge insisted she was 31cm, a miniature. Ahh, it doesn't matter. She got the raiting of "good" instead of "Excellent" since her coat wasn't perfect and she was a tad round, but we knew about those problems. The breeder thought she still shoulda got "Excellent". She's still a little Pixel.
She was last in line behind a cute little black wirehair, and they started socializing, until it Pixie was last. Up on the table she went and the judge poked and prodded, and then wanted to see her walk. That went great, except for the wee-wee break. That's our Pixie.
The judge then narrowed it down to 3, this professional type who had a nice dog, Pixie, and the little black doxie. The results were in. In her first show, Pixie came second. Not bad considering it was her first time, she had no training, and had no idea what was expected of her. We were very proud of our little girl.
So here's what the judge had to say: A very happy dog, A wonderful little bitch and an excellent representitive of the breed. A beautiful feminine head, nice chest and good solid lines throughout. She has a natural stance and needs no setting up, and a wonderful natural gait. Her coat is going a bit soft and she is a bit round, and she lacks some control, but a wonderful dachshund who is bound to go far.
Rea, the breeder, was looking back at Pixie's mother, Dottie's papers, and her first critique basically said the same thing. Not too shabby at all.
Pixie got a homemade beef stew as her reward. After a brief rest, she was barking and straining to get back into the ring, so yeah, she must have caught on.
And what would have happened if she didn't do well? Well we'd have to cuddle her and console her of course. But her next show will probably be in the first of next year after she looses her coat again. People are very friendly and it's lots of fun. There's only one woman that's the type from the "Best in Show" movie (like the handler of the Poodle), and she's easy to see coming.
We're very proud of our little girl. She behaved wonderfully and the judge just noticed it, that's all. And what is Pixel doing now? She's asleep on my leg as I type this.
