The Blog of the Frog

Oh dear…

Solei did his obedience at the companion show on the 25th April. I also put all 3 boys in the pedigree classes for a bit of fun…Elton (who behaved horrendously! It was only the 2nd time he’d ever shown on grass, which was also rather long for his little legs – so movement was barely assessable!) was 3rd in AV Puppy, Solei 3rd in AV Open and Darwin won AV Non-Sporting 🙂

Solei did two obedience classes. The easier class he did very well, the harder class was fine except the retrieve! Retrieve and Solei aren’t a match made in heaven at the best of times, and on this occasion he wasn’t paying attention to where I threw it. I sent him out to fetch it, he sniffed about for a while looking for it and then decided he’d give up and run in very fast enormous circles round the field(!!!) When he gets like that there’s no calling him back, so I waited for him to do a few laps and get it out of his system and then called him back – he came and the judge asked if I’d like to do that again! We did, and actually he did it very nicely the second time – shame it didn’t count! I also did the bottom class with Darwin, for a bit of fun. He wasn’t very good but he did it! His major failing was the down stay – I haven’t done any practice on grass, and he broke it because the smells were too much and he felt the need to get up and sniff them properly 😛 Needless to say he didn’t place, neither did Solei in the harder class – but my little star won the easier class! Really pleased with him, especially given that was his first obedience in show environment since last September.

The primary reason that once again I haven’t written for so long (didn’t want to open this post with it!) is because three days after my last post we lost my grandfather. He’d been in hospital for an operation and hadn’t been recovering as quickly as had been hoped, but the doctors were all still convinced he would make a full recovery….then he contracted pneumonia and was gone within 24hrs 🙁 It’s all been very difficult and there’s such a lot to sort out as well – we’ve got the house and all the contents to go through. I had so many plans for this summer, and so many things we were going to do together….gone, just like that.

On the 3rd May we went to an open show, just Elton showing – his last open show in puppy! He decided to go out with a bang, as he was Best Puppy in Breed and then PUPPY GROUP ONE! Both mum and I were in tears…Elton is very special anyway as I bought him with money from granny after she died, but having just lost grandad as well…I expect you can imagine. He went beautifully in the Best Puppy in Show ring, but she wasn’t interested in the little dogs. I liked the fact he ended his puppy career with two puppy group 1s – his first open show, and his last (in puppy) open show!

Three days later we went up to Stafford for Birmingham National Championship Show. Elton was 2nd in a very nice Puppy Dog class, and then won Novice Dog! He was meant to be in the Puppy Stakes as well (this being his last ever show as a puppy), but upon looking at the catalogue I discovered I’d mucked up the entry and put him in the Special Beginner Stakes instead! As it happened it was irrelevant because when I put him down outside the ring he totally freaked – no idea why, but it wasn’t worth risking just for a stakes class. So I didn’t take him in.

I think it was just after that (possibly before – but it certainly lasted up until the 19th May or so) that he started going all peculiar anyway. I put it down to teenagehood and new fear phases and hormones! He was spooking and being scared at things that I didn’t think he was….and I have my kitchen fenced off as a large puppy pen. Elton goes in there when not supervised, because he and Darwin get carried away and wind each other up. In the mornings I feed the older two, then put them outside and get Elton out of the pen to feed/train him. For about a week he wouldn’t come out of the pen, he wouldn’t even come up to me and if he did he’d cower and try to roll over like I was going to beat him! If I offered him food he’d take it and just drop it. Then he snapped out of it as suddenly as it’d come on! All very odd.

The 14th May was Elton’s first birthday 🙂 I bought a balloon, mainly for photographic purposes – I’m really impressed! The guy in the shop said it should last a week or two (inflated on the 14th)…it looked good for a month, and although looking a little deflated now it’s still attached to Elton’s bed happily floating! I made a birthday cake, which went down well with all three boys!

The next day I went to a breed club show – taking Elton, Jason and Tosca. My little boy, on his very first day out of puppy, was in his first Junior Dog class! Also in Yearling Dog (12-24mths) and Phalene Dog. He was 2nd in Junior, 1st in Yearling, 1st in Phalene and Reserve Best Phalene in Show! Not bad for 12 months and 1 day 🙂 Jason was 2nd in Open Dog and Reserve Best Dog – second year running I’ve handled him to that placing! Tosca won Limit Bitch, Best Bitch and then Reserve Best in Show! Which made her Best Phalene in Show automatically. What an incredible day 😆

Oh and somewhere in the middle of that I had Pippin, Elton’s brother, to stay. Must’ve been end of April because I had him for that companion show on 25th…he was meant to be coming to live for a while, but in the end I only had him three weeks because Solei would NOT settle down with him – he was constantly tried to mount him, and it wasn’t fair on all concerned…so he went back to T.

22nd May it was off to another companion show – no obedience this time. Vale came 🙂 I love it when she comes along, showing her is so much fun. Elton did his first “big boys” AV Non-Sporting class and came 3rd – very respectable, considering he still hadn’t got the hang of behaving on grass! Darwin won AV Open and was Reserve Best in Show! 😀 I didn’t show Solei at all. Vale did three classes – she was 2nd in Waggiest Tail, 3rd in Best Veteran and 1st in Best Condition! It was a lovely day, really nice show – though a bit too hot!

The next Friday was Bath Champ Show. Elton didn’t go badly at all and was 4th in his Junior Dog class, and then 5th in the Junior Dog Stakes!

I think that’s enough for now, because the next day Solei and I embarked on our first open obedience show which’ll be quite longwinded – so that’s for the next post!

Bad, bad me…I haven’t had the urge to write and haven’t had the inclination to force myself! End result…no blogging for almost three months. Eep. Though I can’t believe I didn’t even post about Crufts!

Obviously I can’t analyse the last three months in detail 😆 so brief summary – here goes nothing! Eeny & Sammy went back on the 10th Feb, as planned. Nobody else has been interested in Darwin, so he’s still here! It’s just been me, Solei, Darwin and Elton since then which has been nice.

Crufts…wow, what can I see. I booked a travelodge in Coventry and we stayed a night away from home for the first time in years. We went up on the Saturday, with Solei; who I’d entered in Limit Dog for the second year running. I wasn’t expecting anything, just a nice day out! Anyway, Solei totally surpassed my expectations by getting fourth in a  large and very strong class! Absolutely over the moon.

At the end of the day S&T took Solei home, and off we went to our travelodge! Woke up bright and early on Sunday and arrived at Crufts with just about perfect timing. What a fantastic day! Spent much of it with friends and their Golden Retrievers, one of whom’s birthday it happened to be – cake all round! Human birthday that is, not dog…

I did lots of shopping, spent far too much money and it was the most fantastic weekend!

Elton has grown up enormously! He’s 11 months old now, and fast approaching his first birthday. I can’t begin to tell you how proud I am of him…we’ve had our ups and downs, but for a Phalene he’s done so well. He had a couple of iffy shows shortly after my last post, but the tide turned and things picked up again!

Best Puppy in Breed & Puppy Group 4 at Bristol on 20th March, plus 2nd in the Novice Stakes.
Best Puppy in Breed at Okehampton on 28th March
Best Puppy in Breed & Puppy Group 3 in a superb puppy group at Exonian on 3rd April
1st Novice Dog at the Papillon (Butterfly Dog) Club Champ Show on 11th April

annnd yesterday we went to WELKS (big all breed championship show) and Elton was 3rd in Puppy Dog, so has qualified for Crufts 2011 too 😀

The last few months have been such a rollercoaster…he’s been up and down and really stressing me as to whether he’d come right! Especially when he got to ten months old and his legs still needed to grow (a lot of toy breeds will have stopped growing by that point) but thankfully my instinct that he was going to be a slower maturer was right and he kept growing and has ended up back in proportion 🙂 (phew!) He’s got a beautiful coat now, too. I’ve tried to take photos every month and it’s fascinating to see how it’s grown, even when I didn’t think it had!

He’s a very sweet little boy. More submissive than I’d like, but he’s cute and showy and seems to be intelligent! 🙂 Though having said that, we’ve been practicing obedience at home since he was very small, and he’s FINALLY got the hang of the word “stay”! 😆 He also knows sit, down, stand, spin left, spin right, touch (my hand or an object I’m holding), come (if it suits him :P) and he’ll do a play bow. Retrieve is a work in progress 😆

Other than that I’m not sure there’s a lot to report. Oh! Darwin came to Okehampton and was Best of Breed and 2nd in the Toy Group 😀 Which was very exciting – that’s my highest (non-puppy) group placing to date. He’s only shown 4 times so far this year, so hasn’t had much opportunity to do well!

Solei is pottering along. He finished 2009 as the 3rd Top Obedience Papillon 😀 and he seems to be really enjoying obedience, it seems to be his “thing”. We’re dealing with each problem a step at a time, and are slowly getting there 🙂

In fact tomorrow we’re off to a companion show, so that Solei can do his first obedience of the year!

I don’t think I’ve forgotten anything major…it’s a bit tricky when I’m trying to remember over such a long period! Will try not to leave it so long next time 😉

Last night I was struck by how old Elton is looking 🙁 He was lying on my lap and he suddenly looked so big. His coat is a very mature looking coat for his age, and his head suddenly looked older as well…he just suddenly looks much more adult than puppy! On top of the leg cocking and the fact on Saturday his puppy lead was suddenly too small….and it’s rather depressing 🙁 I know he can’t stay a baby forever, but he’s not even 9 months old until the 14th. He’s always been so small and cute, it’s a shock to see him not looking a baby.

I ended up bathing Solei on Wednesday evening, I couldn’t stand it any more. Since then I think he’s been itching less and seems more comfortable 🙂 And I think his latest “episode” is over as well, so all in all we’re both much happier!

The lady came down to look at Darwin, and she’s not having him. She’s having one of Solei’s pups (Brodie) instead! I feel weird now…I’m not quite sure what to think. I’m so happy that I’ve got him back and he’s not going anywhere, but ultimately he will go and that could happen at any time. This would have been a lovely home for him and a working home – she’s going to do obedience – which is what Darwin needs…actually I think he’d love agility, but S&T don’t seem to get too many people looking for agility dogs. So I’m almost sad she’s not having him…urgh, I don’t know.  Now I may have to go through all this again in a week or two, or it may be a couple of months before something else comes up.

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 😀 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 😆