Golden Gate Kennel Club

Last weekend was Golden Gate KC's annual benched show.  A "benched" show means the dogs are on display the entire time, from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 pm.  Normally at a show you get there maybe 30 minutes or so before your scheduled ring time and, unless you won Best of Breed and have to wait for the Group competition later in the day, people usually leave, or wander around with their dogs watching other breeds in their rings.  A benched show is a great place to get to meet lots of different breeds of dogs since they and their owners are there in their designated benching area all day. 

The Dalmatian Club of Northern California decorates their benching area each year.  Last year we even won the competition for "Best Decorated".  Not as lucky this year although I think the benching area looked awesome!  We did a take off on "Dancing With The Stars" only we called it "Dancing With Spots".  We even had a mirror ball trophy for the winner of Best of Breed each day. :o)

Honor and sister Stella were entered although Stella came in season so Karen chose not to show her.  Honor was Reserve Winner's Bitch on Sunday behind her cousin Cassie who was Winner's Bitch for another point towards her championship title.

Some decorations from DCNC's bench:

Honor's sign above her area

Stella's sign, even though she didn't show.

In keeping with the "bling" that the dancers on DWTS wear, Dawn, one of the club members, made "boas" and head pieces for the girls to wear and the boys wore bow ties (while on the bench).  Amazingly they were all really good about keeping them on the the crowds really loved it!  Here are Miley and Honor taking a quick nap around lunch time.  Greeting their public is hard work!

I was only able to go on Saturday to watch.  All the Dals had a great time schmoozing with the public that walked by.  We had an awesome spot, right on the end nearest the vendors.  Laurie posted this on Facebook about Honor on Sunday

High point of the weekend. 7 month old Honor is standing in front of the bench. A gentleman in a motorized wheel chair comes by and Honor jumps almost entirely in his lap and gives him a kiss. I apologize for my out of control puppy and he says that he was so happy because most dogs are afraid of him in his chair and that they normally bark and growl at him. He was so happy that she was not afraid and was giving him kisses. I almost cried by how happy this little girl made him. Good girl Honor!  She then ran over to a group of little girls and showered them with kisses. I think out of all of the DCNC memebers benched and their dogs, Honor was the only one sad to go home Sundayt night, she wanted more faces to wash.

That is exactly what I wanted from this litter when I decided on the breeding.  Outgoing, sweet, brave, loving.  What more can anyone want?  

Happy Birthday to my 12 year old puppies!

Well, I didn't get back yesterday to post about Golden Gate Kennel Club and now today it's grandpa Hayden's 12th birthday!   Where has the time gone?  It seems like only yesterday when he was born right here.

Hayden through the years.

In 2001 he did a photo shoot.  If I remember correctly he was Mr. July that year.  ;o) 

 In 2006 Hayden completed his Obedience Trial Championship title, or "OTCH".  He was only the 9th Dalmatian in history to earn this title and the very first Bred-By OTCH.

 In 2009 Hayden earned 4 agility titles.  This was the picture taken when he completed his "OA" or Open Standard title.

And this is from tonight.  Hayden's thoughts when I told him he had to share his tuna treat cupcakes with his daughter and grandkids.

Happy birthday to my Baby Boy Hayden,

his brother Hobie and sister May! 

Wow! Has it really been nearly a month?

Well, let me catch up a bit.  A couple weeks ago my friend, Laurie and I took a road trip up to Portland for five days of dog shows.  This was Hacker and Honor's "debut" in the conformation ring.  Our first show was the Mt. Hood Dal club's specialty (all Dalmatians for those non-dog show friends).  The puppies did Great!  They're such good travelers.  Mama Tommie came along to show at the obedience trials and Laurie brought her other girl, Miley, who is already a breed Champion, along to show in both conformation and agility.

We found a fenced in baseball diamond near the hotel. 

Miley and Hacker had fun in the rain and mud between shows!

Boy, what weather!  We hit snow in Salem on the way up.  The weather reports were calling for a big storm with snow in Portland.  Sure enough it started snowing about the time we were taking the dogs out to potty one more time that night and there was a couple inches on the ground the next morning.  The shows were held at the Portland Expo center, a huge facility.  The problem was that rain was coming in under the doors, through the top of the doors and running down the inside as well as through some of the inside walls!  This was one doozy of a storm even by Portland standards!

Honor was sure she really couldn't pee outside in that weather, princesses don't get wet you know, (she sure takes after her mother there!)  so she did her best to stay flat against the building to do her business and enjoyed playing with her brother in the hotel room instead of outside.

Hacker and Honor did really well at the shows for their very first times.  Hacker won his Bred-By Exhibitor class four of the five days and Honor was Reserve Winners Bitch two days.  No points, but they were the youngest kids there and I'm really proud with how they did.  Tomorrow I'll tell you about Golden Gate Kennel Club's show last weekend! 

Rocky came to see me at work a week or so ago.  There's no doubt he's family!  He looks sooo much like his brothers and sisters!

Stella and Karen practicing for the show ring.  Her first show will be Golden Gate Kennel Club up at the Cow Palace the last weekend of January.  Honor will be there too as well as other members of our extended Dal family.  Hacker's sitting that one out. 

Honor's been staying with her new BFF Miley at her auntie Laurie's house.  She's having a Great time!  Laurie is going to show her for awhile.  Laurie, Miley, Honor, Tommie, Hacker and I are heading up to the Portland shows next week.  Dave and granddad Hayden will be staying home this trip.  I think they're going to enjoy the peace and quiet.  :o)

Katie, Laurie's Chihuahua, wasn't impressed when Honor tried to introduce herself.  Katie's bark is worse than her bite.

Conformation class

We had a small family reunion tonight, Hacker, Honor and Stella all met at conformation/handling class tonight.  I got some great shots of the girls as Laurie and Karen moved them around the rings but for now, because it's already after 11pm, I'm just posting the one we took afterwards.  Love this pic!  Pretty sisters and their handsome brother. 

Another update pic

This is Teller, he lives in Tennessee with papa Sagan.  Handsome boy!

Happy 6 month birthday! 12/19/11

Where in the world has the last 6 months gone?  Wow.  Seems like only yesterday they were born and now here they are nearly full grown.  Here's a pic from day one, followed by some more recent ones of some of the kids.  Hopefully I'll get some updates for Christmas <G>

Hacker

Honor

Where's Waldo? 

Hacker, Honor and Tommie, and believe it or not I'm in there too, you can see my foot down near Tommie's head.  That's Hacker's head, front and center, and Honor is on the left between me and the back of the couch - It was very cozy!

Marlee



Uncle Creed on the left and Teller on the right.

Creed is actually all of the puppy's uncle as he is the brother of their Grandma Stevie,

GCH Snowhill Fireflies At Rockstar, CD

Teller and Creed are best buds

Love this picture of Ron and Harley on Thanksgiving Day.  I've got to rescan the picture, not sure why it turned out so small.  Cracks me up!