A Ode to the World's Best Breeders

And we're off! Okay, we aren't quite gone yet. I'll be leaving about 5:30 in the morning so I can get to Fitchburg with some time to spare. You know, to clip random stray hairs on my dogs the judge is never going to notice, fret that I can't find my scissors, realize I only have 5 minutes before ring-time to change because I spent so much time with tiny details... Haha okay I am not nearly that bad. However my house has been eating things as of late, I STILL can't find my keys and its been almost 2 weeks. This time I seem to be lacking my good show leads! Thankfully I found one good chain, and a call to Izzy's breeder brought a promise to bring a few extras just in case. Will I ever get to a show with everything I meant to bring? So far at least, I haven't forgotten any dogs.

Speaking of Isabella's breeder, let me tell you how lucky I am to have her. Not only is Isabella a silly lovable goofball who makes me laugh, and heals my heart when it is sad... but she also happens to be awful beautiful! But I think the most important thing about Isabella is her breeder Joan. What makes her so great is she is supportive not just about the dog she bred, but of me. She screamed just as loudly when Hero won her major as when Isabella took BOB the day before at just 10 months old. I can't tell you how much that meant to me. She is there when I have questions, when I was ready to quit, and ring side when Isabella finished. I know I am not the only one either, I just happen to be the only one around currently showing one of her dogs (which is crazy because she breeds some GORGEOUS dogs!) I know she routinely has dogs she bred staying with her, and keeps in touch with the families who call her puppies "family". She cares, and that's what a good breeder is supposed to be.

I am doubly lucky with Oliver's breeders. Rejean and Johanne invited me into their home the weekend I drove to Quebec to bring Oliver into my life. They even extended that invitation to my dogs (I brought Isabella) and a friend if I wanted. There is a bit of a language barrier between Jo and I (I don't speak French and she doesn't speak English!) but she is such a warm person. I can't wait for our trip back up to work on Oliver's Canadian Championship. I was able to talk to them online the other day, and using my webcam they could see Oliver in a way still photos just can't. With a firm request to call them tomorrow night, I head off tomorrow for Oliver's first show.

And with that, I bid goodnight!


My beautiful Hero in the field