Izzy at her first dog show

[BirdbyBird]

Okay, I know that some of you have shown dogs and these pictures won't be all that interesting to you but to those of you that haven't been to a large indoor show Izzy was hoping that these pictures would give you an idea of how brave she was to be with the big guys! Sorry about all the weird colors. The lights in the Expo Center and the camera just didn't compiment each other......

First a picture of November in Ohio and the corn is in.....The gray sky against the yellow of the corn has always been a definition of November to me.



Okay, Izzy hasn't won any points but I have successfully managed to NOT trip over her and she has managed to wag her tail, look happy and not be over whelmed by being in a huge building with lots of strange sounds and 2000 plus other dogs. I know that dogs shows are known for the political infighting and mean spirited back biting...but luckily in English Cockers there are still a lot of Owner handlers and even some of the professional handlers that support each other.... Izzy picked up some groomong tips and feed back......has her coat continues to grow out how to keep her BOOTIFUL.....



Izzy has never seen VENDORS before...one of the favorite parts about large shows....these outfits made me think of Margie and her babies....



Large metal cut outs of different breeds.....



Breed designs made out of wooden blocks....



Dogs getting ready to show or waiting around on tables for their turn, some with pretty fancy hair!







Herschel's distant cousins......





Remi's cousin's...a Havenese with long straight hair! BJ will recognize us!







The Junior Showmanship ring....my son learned a lot of "skills" showing dogs in Juniors......and a lot of them had nothing to do with the dogs! Very poised and polished young people.....



My dream breed...Have always wanted an Irish Wolfhound! But then I like ponies, too!











I did stay this afternoon for a few minutes to watch part of the Herding Group....







And if you ever think your dog has too much hair to deal with think of the Puli.....those are all dread locks....



Well, its off to bed...one more day of showing.....and then Izzy can stay home, practice her good moves and grow up a little....those big girls have hair!

[OutandAbout]

Yay Izzy, you managed to get through your first dog show. A friend of mine shows Bernase Mountain Dogs and I went with her a few times. The dogs certainly have to go through a lot so Izzy should be happy her human didn't embarrass her too much. Thanks for sharing the pictures. Izzy can certainly strike a pose. Linda

[WickedLady]

Izzy's points will come in time if she moves as good as she looks.
Florescent lights always give a green cast to daylight film. A digital camera should have a setting for that.
Monty and I enjoyed seeing his Golden relatives.
I also wanted an Irish house wolf but then found that the giants do not live very long and hated the idea of only having him for about 7 years.
Thanks for the pix.

[bluepinecones]

So proud of both of you. BTW: That is a great photo of you both.
Did Izzy enjoy being shown? I would think it might be a frightening experience.
Thanks for showing us all the other photos too.
Give Izzy ad Hershel a big hug for me. Both are such sweeties!

[Nasoosie]

What a great visit to a dog show! Thanks, Izzy and Tina!

Years ago I used to show my German Shepherd dog, Midnight, in shows in RI. He was my 16th birthday present, and I loved him more than imaginable. He was first in every show we entered---guess his configuration must have gotten him through, as his behavior was never very disciplined! He met with a sudden and horribly traumatic death at 7 years old when a group of bear hunters shot and killed him at noon one day while I was at school. Midnight and a group of my friends were out walking on a trail to our tent (where we lived) and some idiotic, inexperienced-from-the-city hunters walking along at midday with loaded rifles, fingers on triggers, shot and killed him as he came up a trail onto their path. If it had been one of the girls in the group, I have no doubt they would have killed her. I tried for days to track the guy down, but, luckilly for me, I never found him. If I had found him, I would still be in prison for what I would have done to him. Girls were too traumatized to get info from the guys. Same month and year that John Kennedy was shot.

[avalen]

loved the visit in pictures to the dog show, one of my favorite things to do.
When I had my Boston, I thought I wanted to do that with her but of course
the back stabbing and so forth scared me off, I just don't have the personality
to deal with that kind of stuff. I'm just a wooss at heart
Thanks for posting and I hope you post more from todays events.

[mitch5252]

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Thank you for taking the time to post (and comment on) all those pics. I've never been to a dog show before, but now I have!
And Izzy had to have been the cutest dog there.

Gotta ask - what breed is this dog? It really looks like a kid's stuffed animal.

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[BirdbyBird]

They are Dandy Dinmont Terriors.....yeah, they look funny, but they were all wagging tails and seemed to be happy souls...I think the grooming on the show Bishons is strange, big heads!

And Sarah, to answer you question, Izzy seriously studied many things with her eyes and reacted to many of the sounds but was not over whelmed at all...she was interested in meeting other people and found out that many of them had TREATS, imagine that. Once I asked her to gait in the ring she put her head up her tail out and went around like no problem in the world...... And the judge yesterday treated her like a little princess pup that she was....he spent more time talking to her and scratching under her chin than he did looking at teeth and measuring ear leathers...which for a pup is what you want....a positive, these strange judges I don't know can be really nice.....type of experience...

And Soos, I can't imagine loosing my dog that way.....though I have heard of Golden Retrievers being shot in their own back yard (that edged up to the woods or fields) Deer...Golden......bear...GSD.....all the same to them......and then of course they have been known to shoot each other...friends and family....

And Soos, if I bring the wine to the camp fire ...will you tell how at 16 years old in the early '60's you were in high school and living in tents with your friends....... I know it was the 60's, but living in Ohio.... everything came later to the hinterlands......

[Getupngo]

Birdie, Izzy is a beauty ... and I'm glad her first show went well. And Soos, my heart sank as I read that story. When I was a teenager I had a mutt that I loved beyond words as well.

[AlmostThere]

Tina, thanks for sharing Izzy's day with us. I'm so happy she did well for her first time.

I have only one thing I want to comment on. It's when the dogs are on their grooming tables and they look like they are being hanged. It has to be so uncomfortable and they, in no way, can lay down either. I just have a hard time with that part. I know the owners would never harm their pets, but it does look cruel to me. JMHO

[retiredhappy]

Soos, your story reminded me of my daughter. She had handraised a deer and it had a collar on it. Some $%&*)(^$ hunters shot over a fence that was posted no trespassing and no hunting and gut shot the deer. My daughter had to put the deer down and then started riding the fenceline looking for the hunters. She (thank God) didn't find them BUT did find their vehicle. She left it with 4 flat tires,broken back window, scratched sides and some of the parts in the engine pulled out. Because they were trespassing they never reported any problems to the police. I think they were lucky not to have run into my very mad daughter and her rifle.

[mitch5252]

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Karen, here's to your daughter!

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[Redetotry]

GO Izzy you are a winner in all our hearts. Thanks for the pictures Tina, it's been a long time since I was at a show. Loved the pictures, you and Izzy were lookin good and of course the Havanese was a real cutie.

[VickieP]

Go Izzy! Go Izzy! Both Izzy and her Momma looked good and like yall enjoyed yourselves. Seeing those Afghan Hounds brought back memories, I used to have three. What a pain in the butt to keep the tangles out!

Soos, so sorry about your beloved dog. I too want to know more about your tent living at such a young age, lol.

[Liz]

Roe thinks Izzy is already "bootiful." His Cocker half would enjoy doing that. His Lab half would rather lay on the couch until it's time for a hike.

Very interesting post. I enjoy watching the dog shows on TV, but have never attended one...until now, virtually speaking. (Don't go there, Mitch)