The Blog of the Frog

Why is it that whenever a lot happens – so there’s a lot to write about - they’re the occasions it never gets written?

Our first champ show of the year didn’t quite go to plan! He obviously wasn’t to her taste, we got chucked out and that was that!

Elton’s started to cock his leg :’( I’m cross with myself now cos I didn’t write it down at the time I think it was after Manchester, which would make it the beginning of last week. He’s been standing on three legs since mid-November, but now he’s actually lifting it properly and against things…but not every time. Frantically touching wood, although he’s still not fully house trained (they’re not the cleanest of breeds at the best of times, and trying to housetrain 3 pups at once is near impossible) when he goes in the house I have yet to see him cocking his leg, so I think it’s still genuine accidents rather than marking. I hope it continues because the other male pup (who is actually a month younger) has just this last week started marking in the house. Urgh. Boys!! So I’m frantically hoping Elton doesn’t pick it up in the next week.

I say the next week, because last week S & I had a chat, and then I spoke with the breeder of these two puppies also. Initially we’d thought I might keep the bitch and show her, but I then decided I didn’t really want to get into that with anyone other than S&T atm, having to sort out financial matters and such. So the upshot is, they’re both going back on 10th February! Solei is a very dirty dog, and although Darwin is much cleaner if one boy isn’t then it’s dog nature to mark over the top….so although I’ll still have that problem, I’ve waged war on Solei and once Sammy has gone I’m going to clean the whole room thoroughly, in an attempt to stop Elton following in his father’s footsteps – thus me hoping he doesn’t start copying Sammy in the next 7 days! I can’t wait for the 10th, I will miss them but (without meaning to sound awful ) since it was decided I just want them gone.

I’m so stressed at the moment. Solei is being weird again…he’ll go down in a bow and look like the world is ending, which isn’t unusual for Solei (the world is ending part)..but I dunno. I don’t remember him ever doing it before he had his dental and now it’s happened a few times but he eats, jumps around (& on/off things) and when he wants to acts totally normal. Then it disappears completely!

Oh and he’s itchy as hell (which I’m fairly sure is totally unrelated since it’s never happened before & started a couple days before this) which is also stressful and I really need to bath him but I just haven’t felt well enough…hoping to do him tomorrow. He’s blowing coat like crazy (or at least I think he is, and it’s not just coming out cos he’s scratching…) and hasn’t had a full bath in almost 2 months, so I hope it’s just as simple as that and he’ll be fine again once he’s clean.

Then someone came to look at Darwin on Saturday, didn’t want him so I breathed a sigh of relief and starting planning again….only to get a phone call from S yesterday saying someone else is coming Thursday! (Tomorrow) You know they were going to place him, well then they changed their minds….and they’ve not long changed them back, so it’s sod’s law that all these homes are suddenly coming up. I keep going over if I can have him…but my practical side pulls me back into check I love this dog so much, I’ve had him a year next month and he’s just like one of my own…losing him is going to be so hard. After Saturday, I was really hoping I’d be able to relax for a bit and get these puppies back to their breeder before I even had to contemplate it again.

Then Elton’s ears are still all over the place and he’s getting less and less straight at the front, which is my major bugbear…I knew he was never going to be straight, but I don’t like the amount of turn out he has….though I think some of it is carelessness, sometimes I catch him standing and – although not straight – he’s much better than he often is. I just hope he’s not going to “go off”, and what he’s done so far is a sign of things to come, and not his peak! We’ve had two attrocious judges for our last two shows as well, which doesn’t do much for moral - at our last show on Saturday, the judge gave Best Puppy in Breed to a puppy that was so nervous on her down and back she was actually creeping towards the judge, then stopped halfway – and tail down, obviously. At the end of the class the judge made her move again just so she could get her tail up enough so she could justify giving her BPIB…which yeah, makes you feel really good if she hates yours so much she’s prepared to give it to that and go to those lengths so as not to have to give it to you (He was 4th/5 btw (not a puppy class – he and the BPIB (2nd) were the only two pups), so at least still maintains his “always beaten at least 1 other dog at open shows” )

Then I went to our ringcraft match yesterday with Elton and Darwin (Darwin hasn’t seen a show ring for 3 months and I’ve entered him on Saturday, so I thought practice would be good ) and they were both totally binned and to cap it all once again both beaten by dogs that didn’t show! Not nervous this time but all over the place – wouldn’t stand properly, wouldn’t move properly…etc. Darwin looked gorgeous actually and went like a dream, I love showing him so much…the only other dog that feels like he does has been Sarah. Elton went really well for him…he stood beautifully and moved properly as well (he’s still prone to bouncy puppy jumping hopping moving!)

I think (hope) Elton is at an awkward stage at the moment, because I’m not happy with how he’s looking…he looked gorgeous at 8 weeks, and most of the other photos I’ve taken of him I like, so I’m just hoping it’s only a stage…he needs to grow some legs for a start. Neither parent is short in the leg, and of the grandparents and beyond I’m not aware of anything there either, so hopefully he’ll keep on growing and balance out again. I think he does still have growing left to do.

I’m having a very difficult couple of weeks! I’ve entered Eeny, Elton, Darwin and Sarah <3 in a show on Saturday and I’ve been really looking forward to it, but at the moment I can’t even find the enthusiasm for that! Hopefully when it comes to it I’ll be feeling more like it, and I’m sure it’ll do me good….I couldn’t ask for a nicer group of dogs to be taking Solei of course is coming Not For Competition.

I love this puppy to pieces I’m so glad I was able to have him in the end, and I can’t believe how well he’s been doing in the ring.

Just after our last show Elton’s ears settled, and I dared let myself celebrate…thinking he’d finally finished teething, ears were perfect and there they would stay! It lasted three days Since then once again they’ve been all over the place, though save one day they’re never atrocious…just not quite as good as I’d like. Just hope once he’s finally finished teething they settle in the correct place!

On the 6th we had our first snow since last February Elton regarded it with great suspicion initially and stepped outside very gingerly, but was soon charging up and down enjoying this funny white stuff! Obviouslyas they’re a month younger it was Eeny & Sammy’s first snow as well. Solei usually hates snow and also tends to keep himself to himself, but even he had a change of heart and I had great difficulty getting any of them to come back in the house! He even joined in the general melee, and the five of them (Solei, Darwin, Elton, Eeny & Sammy) had a lovely time playing. Though Solei bowed out after a few minutes! They then discovered the delights of eating it and as the cold weather lasted andthe snow stuck around and then turned to ice, that was rather a pain for a few days! The other side effect of course, is I have no traction. So I was stuck in the house for 10 days!

We were scheduled to go to Welsh Kennel Club’s Open Show on 10th; I’d entered Elton, Eeny and Jason – Eeny making her debut. That was cancelled due to the weather, which was just as well as it happens…we wouldn’t have been able to get there even had it not been.

Things finally started to get back to normal at the end of last week! After an anxious week of watching the forecast and hoping it would be ok, Saturdays show was on! We picked Jason up on Friday – I had the same three entered as I had the previous weekend. Second time lucky!

We set off early on Saturday morning and the journey was fine. A couple of piles of snow left on the verges, but the roads weren’t at all icy. It was lovely to see Bekki & Felix again, though unfortunately I wasn’t able to watch them in the ring – we ended up in the ring mid morning, clashing perfectly with the Toller class! Paps had 3 breed classes and I’d put Elton in Junior (under 18 months) , Jason in Open and left Graduate (in between) free to give me chance to groom Jason. Eeny was in AV Toy Puppy. I was thrilled to win a Junior class of 6 with Elton! Also finally securing his first Junior Warrant (JW) point. That was his fifth 1st place, but all the others have either been variety classes or breed classes with only 2 dogs present, and JW points have to be won in a breed class with at least 3 dogs present. Jason was 2nd in Open.

Upon winning Junior Elton had secured himself Best Puppy in Breed – there were no puppies in either Graduate or Open, so he’d already beaten all the other puppies present – but as an unbeaten dog back into the ring we trotted, with the winner of Graduate and the winner of Open. The judge moved all 3 dogs again, asking if I’d mind repeating Elton’s up and down – I’m sure you’ll know what I mean when I say he was a puppy the first time!! – andthen went over to the table to confer with the steward and pick up the rosettes (which were for Best of Breed, Reserve Best of Breed, Best Puppy in Breed and Best Opposite Sex). I can’t even begin to tell you how I felt when she headed in our direction, and handed me the Best of Breed rosette as well as Best Puppy in Breed!! My little boy, at the time just 8 months and 2 days, Best of Breed It was a lovely entry of dogs that have done well, 14 Paps entered. And Elton won BOB!!! I still can’t believe it, 5 days later. I’m absolutely over the moon. In two and a half years of showing I’ve had a total of 5 BOBs - 4 open shows & 1 limit – and never with my own dog (two were with Jason, one with Storm and two with Darwin). Solei never had a BOB. A couple of RBOBs, but even those he always managed when there were no rosettes given out! So at the tender age of 8 months Elton has gained both his very first BOB and my first with my own dog :) There was a different judge for the group, and Elton was unplaced in the main group (oh gosh, did he ever look a baby ) but then in the puppy group managed Puppy Group 4  I’m so, so proud of him – after less than 2 months of showing he now has 2 BPIB, 1 RBOB, 1 BOB, 1 PG1, 1 PG3 and 1 PG4!

I was disappointed with Eeny, she wasn’t at all happy – I’ve written before about how nervous she was, but she’s been making such good progress I didn’t expect her to be like that. She wasn’t happy before we even went in the ring, and then put her tail down at the end of the class. Still, she was 3rd All becomes clear (I hope) since, because I believe she’s coming into season – on Sunday night I’d had all the dogs outside after feeding, let them in and Eeny made straight for the carpet and lydown with a nylabone. Soleiwas prancing round her, then next thing up on her back! He’s not interested now (satisfied himself she’s not ready) but Darwin and Sammy are slightly interested (strangely Elton – who is more advanced than Sammy - isn’t!) and since then she’s been off her food a couple of times with a couple of episodes of diarrhoea. Just wish she’d hurry up and get it over with!

Going back to Elton and his ears! Having been more or less ok in the morning, later on Saturday I looked at him and one of his ears wasn’t quite right…it was very subtle, you wouldn’t have noticed it unless you were me On Sunday they were atrocious! That’s the first time for weeks they’ve been that bad, and thankfully the only time…but oh I hate it I’m just so, so grateful he decided to wait until Sunday and the show was Saturday! Especially after such a good result. Whenever his ears go that wrong it’s always accompanied by increased chewing on bars and bones and things so it must be teething related, which is a comfort.

Never one to let my dogs rest on their laurels on Monday Elton attended his first puppy class! It was meant to have been the previous week, but I missed it as we were snow & ice bound. He actually did quite well Didn’t embarrass me, which is nice – he’s the eldest in that class, by quite some way and yet doesn’t know much. We don’t yet have a stay, and down is a work in progress! We used to have a retrieve, but it’s gone all wrong (I’m blaming adolescence ) Everybody found his recall rather amusing – he’s got such little legs and he comes hurtling down the mat, it’s very cute!

I took Solei with me as well, so I could work him in the next class…he was very good This year I *will* get at least his Bronze Good Citizen – hopefully Silver as well. He’s well capable of Bronze and I could have done it last year, but ended up not for one reason or another. Apparently they’ve arranged another testing session on the 30th but I can’t go – Elton & I have a show that day! Ah well, the year is young.

And that was a post and a half sorry!  Later I need to bath Elton, then today will be an early night – I shall be getting up at about 3am, tomorrow is our first champ show of the year Fingers crossed that Elton does well!

Bad frog! I must confess the thought of writing here hasn’t even crossed my mind over the last few weeks – I’d completely forgotten this even existed! A sign of preoccupation I suppose.

So we shall start this with a rather belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and with this done, it’s catch up time….

13th December, LKA – Elton’s ears hadn’t settled as much as I’d like but were ok - they’ve always come back on the stand, it’s just when he moves and pulls them back they fly a bit oddly. We put in a good half hours practice in the ring before judging started, just reinforcing *walking* – not going boingy boingy spring jump hop leap skip wheeeeee! As a Minor Puppy Dog his was the first class in the ring. There were on 13 entered, which was less than I expected so I hoped…as it was he didn’t even get placed, never mind in the first 3! He actually really should have done – showed his little socks off, moved well and stood superbly…and half the dogs she placed had their tails down. Ok it’s minor puppy, cut them a bit of slack, but when you’ve got nice dogs showing well it comes down to “on the day”, and if on the day they’re not showing…well.

So that was disappointing because I really wanted to take him to Crufts as a puppy (and because I’m in two minds about taking Solei) and it’s always doubly frustrating when you something ought to have happened and doesn’t…feel almost cheated! But c’est la vie, I’m more or less over it now

The next day was my obedience club’s christmas party, so no rest for the wicked! I was going to take Solei, Darwin & Elton but when it came to it I decided that three was too much given one was Darwin – he gets very excited and wound up and I knew I’d struggle to control him with the other two as well, so I left him behind – which caused a crisis in itself, but more of that in a minute!

It’s the first christmas party thing I’ve ever been to, bar the ones we had at primary school! Had a great time  Elton played pass the puppy and I’m amazed I got him back at the end of the evening! I teamed up with some friends and we were 2nd in the quiz and Solei was 4th in Musical Sits, 4th in Longest Stand (he eventually gave up and lay down…) and 3rd in Simon Says

Following swiftly on from that was our ringcraft club’s christmas get together the next day!! It was a good laugh, teamed up with the same friends + one for the quiz and this time we won!

Oh yes, Darwin - because I’d left him on Monday I felt sorry for him and left him with quite a large bone. Came home to find he’s totally decimated it – eaten an enormous knuckle off the end, which I really didn’t think he was capable of – especially in that time frame! I figured it might upset his tummy and went to bed! Let the dogs out in the night and he was fine. Around 6am on Tuesday morning he asked to go out, and this time he was squatting and not doing anything, there was some blood and he was SCREAMING. Absolutely scared me to death and I was panicking trying to work out whether I should ring S or T or the vets (of course, being out of hours!). It turned out the damn dog had eaten so much bone he’d managed to completely constipate himself and once he’d cleared it, he was fine!! Sheesh, never again.

That Saturday (19th) it was off to an open show, with Elton doing his first Papillon breed class at an all breed open show :-D He decided to kick off in style by winning his class, Best Puppy in Breed, Reserve Best of Breed and Puppy Group 3!! The judge was Tony Allcock MBE who has judged at Papillon Club shows so knows his stuff…actually on that occasion he gave Solei Best Phalene Dog & 3rd in Graduate so I hoped he might like Elton! Though never does to get your hopes up cos it’s often under the judges you think you’ll do well you don’t Over the moon with him…and not content with that he then wen on and won the Puppy Stakes!! Winning a big box of crackers Fantastic day.

So that was quite a week!

After that came Christmas. We had a quiet christmas, as usual. My grandfather came to stay on christmas eve - as he did last year – but always spends christmas day with mum’s brother, so on the day it was just the three of us! The dogs were thoroughly spoilt this year. They had sardines for breakfast, Cesar for tea and of course turkey, carrots & sprouts Actually I was surprised they liked the sprouts, but like them they did! Solei, Darwin & Elton each had a new soft toy and nylabone, as well as new treats and a few other toys (told you they were spoilt!) and Elton had a new collar. Elton did rather well out of this christmas, as my present from mum and dad is going to be a show lead for him! Though I don’t have it yet, because I want to wait until he’s finished growing first. Boxing Day (Christmas #2!) was spent at home with grandad.

That evening I bathed Elton, because being slightly mad the 27th brought another show! So off we went, Elton still with rather dodgy ears. I wasn’t expecting him to be this judge’s type, so I was very pleased when he got a 2nd in Puppy I’d also put him in the Minor Puppy Stakes, but the less said about that the better – judge lifted his ears up on the table (the one thing you *never* do with a Phalene!) and then placed him last

So that marked the end of another showing year! Come New Years Eve I wasn’t planning on staying up, but in the end some neighbours were having a party and I could hear their music, and the puppies kept erupting everytime a firework went off, so I put my headphones on and drowned their music out with my own! Ended up going to bed around 1:30.

Yesterday we went to our first show of 2010. Elton started the year off well, coming 1st in AV Toy Minor Puppy! Though he behaved attrociously in the group (back to square one, sigh) and threw away any chance of a placing. I know he’s still only a baby but gosh it’s frustrating

Elton’s tooth finally came out on Friday night! His ears were much improved by Saturday and you wouldn’t have noticed anything amiss with them.

We didn’t get in the ring for hours and when we did Elton was horrendous When I’d taken him round the ring before judging started he was really well behaved and I thought maybe we’d cracked it – nuh uh, he was worse than ever when it was his turn to show I don’t think she could really assess his movement, possibly a couple of steps here and there. Never the less she must have liked him, cos he was still 3rd out of 7+ dogs! I hope he learns to move a bit better soon, because he’s going to start getting placed lower down the line than he would have done purely because movement couldn’t be assessed! Though S said he would have been a bit small for this judge, too – story of his life! It’s getting frustrating now – he’s still well within standard, only 6 months old and he *is* growing! So cut him a bit of slack

On Sunday we went to a companion show – I wanted to get the pups out and give Elton some more much needed practice in a “real” show enviroment. Elton was 4th in Puppy – judge said he liked him and he moved well but he was a bit small and needed a touch more body – Darwin was 3rd in Toy/Utility – he wouldn’t stand properly on the table which he’s never done before, and then decided the bait of the lady next door was far more interesting than mine and wouldn’t stand properly at the end(!) – and I decided to bring Solei out for a bit of fun and he was 4th in Open!! Vale was then 3rd in Veteran. Very pleased with Solei & Darwin in particular, who were both in enormous classes.

In the novelties I entered Eeny in Puppy, which ended up being judged exactly like a pedigree class so that was super – exactly the experience I wanted for her! (She’s not quite 6 months so couldn’t do the pedigree class) – and she was 2nd Vale won Waggiest Tail and Elton won Dog the Judge Would Like to Take Home He almost did, as well! (Take him home). There was a lovely Christmas atmosphere and it was an enjoyable day. Oh and Elton was so well behaved in his Puppy class!! (Damn dog…:lol:)

Took Elton to ringcraft on Tuesday, for some more much needed practice….the problem is he’s fine after he’s done about 5 triangles but you only get one attempt in the ring! I’ve also been trying to take him outside most days this week to practice, but it’s rather futile…he’s fine until you get him on 1) Mats and 2) In a class of other dogs! But I can only do what I can do.

He’s entered for LKA on Sunday, which is why I’m working so hard with him…it’s a big championship show (his first) and his one and only chance to qualify for Crufts 2010. He’ll be in a class of about 20…and he’s got to get in the first 3. At 6 months. (and a very immature looking 6 months) Yeah   Almost certainly not gonna happen but I want to give it our best shot and not come out feeling “if only he/I/we had done ____”.

His ears have been sitting perfectly for nearly a week….I discovered yesterday his other top canine was hanging on by a thread (at the 90 degrees against the roof of his mouth stage ) and I was surprised because it has had no effect on his ears what so ever…

Of course this morning the tooth has come out and now it’s out his ears are awful!! *headdesk* So they’d better be right again for Sunday…it’s more worrying because I can’t think “oh well, they’ll be fine when the tooth comes out”, cos now there’s no tooth *to* come out! Fingers crossed…

I still haven’t come down to earth

I took Elton down to the vets the day after my last post….Vale was going anyway, to have an injection to help with her stiffness, so he came too cos I was worried about him! Vet had a look at him and thought it was probably teething. Poor boy was quite poorly for a few days He’s just in the process of getting his canines through, so that’s probably why…big teeth to push through little gums! I didn’t think he’d be going to the Pap Club but he suddenly picked up on Friday and seemed fine on Saturday, so he was bathed ready for Sunday!

We went off with a carful – some of S&Ts dogs, a dog I was taking up for a friend and my own two (Solei not showing). Six dogs in total! The other catch with Phalenes is when they’re teething their ears can go all over the place….and Eltons had been all over the place all week. By Sunday although not really, badly wrong it still wasn’t right (not sure how obvious it was to the onlooker – not too much so I don’t think!) but not bad enough to keep him out of the ring. He was in the first class, there were 10 entered (9 present) and he was 5th Bit of a bump back down to earth after the previous week, but not unexpected! In the line up the judge said he was very nice, very sound and something else complimentary (that I can’t remember) but needs to grow, which is what I expected – I suspected he would be a bit small for her. Pippin (his brother) was 4th, so that wasn’t bad! He was spectacularly 4th out of 4 in the Phalene class but as I say his ears weren’t right, and all the others in the class (his brothers Pippin & Brodie and an older dog) were correct, so as it was a Phalene class that was probably right, even though Brodie decided not to keep his tail up though doesn’t do anything for your confidence when you’re beaten by a dog with their tail down!

When I got home on Sunday night I happened to look at Elton’s teeth, and his top left canine is very, very loose – so that explains a lot! In particular why his ears were worse on Sunday – It was fairly solid when I checked on Friday or Saturday, so had happened very quickly. I thought it would be out in no time but he’s still hanging on to it! It’s now sitting at a 90 degree angle against the roof of his mouth(!), hanging on by a thread but refusing to come out!

His ears are still all over the place – they’re changing hour by hour! I look at him and they’re correct, then the next time they’re very wrong, then they’re slightly off but not bad….etc! He’s showing again this weekend so I’m really hoping that that wretched canine will come out and once it does his ears will settle again – and quickly! Until the next time, anyway – after this one comes out he’ll still have two canines left. Aragh, teeth! Can’t get away from them, can I

Other than that, things have been fairly non-eventful. I’ve got Elton’s transfer of ownership back from the Kennel Club so he’s officially in my name now!

Wow…just…wow!

I meant to give an update last week but got a bit side tracked in the end. So, I spent all week in turmoil over whether I was doing the right thing having Elton….I never changed my mind enough to say anything to S&T about not having him, but one minute I’d be sure I was doing the right thing and then the next full of doubt again!

Last Tuesday he didn’t particularly do anything for me at ringcraft (in terms of “that” feeling) and I found myself looking at the other pups there (most from different litters) and preferring them…which could well just be because they’re not mine, and I’d feel the same about them if they were. After all, as I said last time he’d made me feel incredible at the ringcraft match which was just before they offered him to me, so I’m inclined to think a lot of it is that I’m looking on him differently now he’s mine (or going to be). If they’d offered him to me weeks ago I’m sure I would have taken him without a second thought.

I have a little Pap at the moment who was a nervous wreck – never, ever thought she’d see the inside of a show ring. She came from a disabled lady who has been rather ill and so they were four months old and never been anywhere, not lead trained..etc. I’ve had her (and her brother) for just over a month now and omg you wouldn’t believe the transformation. This is a dog that peed everytime you went to pick her up, wouldn’t let you catch her, wouldn’t walk on a lead, put her on a table and she’d lie down as far back as possible shaking and I couldn’t take her anywhere (even in my arms) without her just lying there quivering. I’ve worked so hard with her over the last month and last Tuesday she actually went to ringcraft, trotted round her triangle like she owned the place and more or less accepted being gone over on the table I wouldn’t have her but I felt like I had something special on the end of the lead, y’know? The way she moved and she stood beautifully…felt it more so than Elton. One of the stupid things bugging me atm is that his tail never stops wagging (obviously that’s not bugging me ) and he’s one of those that wags it down, rather than right over the back, if that makes sense? Solei’s the same – unless he’s so wound up he looks like he’s on drugs – he has to put his tail down if he wags it. He’s got a lovely tail carriage so I wish he’d show it off properly I’m obsessed with tails thanks to Sol.

When I rang the breeder for my pupdate on Monday there was more good news - as you know we started off with 5 potential pups, then went down to 4 and now although there are still 4 one of them injured their tail to the extent they had to have 2/3rds amputated, so now we only have 3 potential show pups left.

So all in all a super start to my week! And then….well, as I say – wow, just…wow!

On Friday night I bathed Elton, ready for his show debut on Saturday. He didn’t come up too badly He always looks like he’s been dragged through a hedge backwards (it’s the ears) after 5 minutes playing with the other pups! So I did him last thing so he could go straight to bed. The next morning we arrived at the show early and I took him round the ring, which was interesting! He didn’t go too badly.

He wasn’t in a breed class, just in AV Toy Puppy which had 15 entries! Oh great, I think :lol: Eventually we get into the ring and he didn’t go brilliantly, but I’m told it felt worse than it looked. Didn’t help that it was also the last class bar AV Toy Veteran so there had been lots of dogs already in the ring and there were lots of interesting smells, especially on the mat which was part of his triangle and then his up and down. On the whole ringcraft went out of the window! He stood ok – though like his daddy he doesn’t usually stretch out properly atm, but I’m sure that’ll come – and movement was ok in patches! Just a bit pulling here there and everywhere and breaking into a gallop, which he hadn’t been doing at ringcraft – excitement of a show and all the smells and sounds I think – and his tablework went out of the window but I think that was me! Anyway, to my surprise….Elton won the class!! Which – even though he hadn’t been in a breed class – enabled him to go forward to the toy puppy group, because he was still an unbeaten puppy. Each pup was moved again and then we all stood our dogs at the end…..and the judge pointed to Elton!! He WON the Puppy Group!! I really can’t explain how I felt at that point. Even now I keep squealing out loud when I’m thinking about it cos I just can’t contain myself It was a large and very good puppy group so to come out with Puppy Group 1 with a 6 month old Phalene at his very first show….oh wow! (and he beat the Best Puppy In Breed Pap so he would’ve been BPIB if he’d been entered)

He didn’t do anything in BPIS, but he looked very raw – he didn’t move terribly well and he’s still very immature (I think all the others were 10 or 11 months and there’s he at 6 months at his very first show!) but his little tail wagged all day and he had a good time which is all that really matters at this age As I went through the hall with him on my lap he was trying to stick his nose in the face of every other dog that was remotely close – even a Great Dane! – with tail wagging

They were doing eye testing there as well, so I had Solei done – all normal big relief! So good results all round, in more ways than one!

We finally completed Elton’s paperwork today so he’s now officially mine He’s a bit snuffly today actually, so I hope he’s ok…he would be wouldn’t he, I’ve had him back two weeks and he’s been fine until he officially becomes mine I’ve booked him in for some puppy classes at the obedience club I go to with Solei so he starts those in January. Oh, and I started my Christmas shopping! I’ve never been this organised, ever.