The Competition Begins: Bring it on!

Today was the 1st day of competition @ SF2017.  The day began with Rally & Obedience & ended with the Puppy & Veteran's Sweepstakes.  I competed in the 1st & last events.  A long Day. (Long seems to be a theme for this SF).

My experience with Rally is limited (only one prior weekend of competition) BUT one thing I know is that the experienced R3 competitors start the competition which then ends with us newbies.  Well ... not today.   Thank goodness we arrived relatively early; because as J puttered about setting up, someone told us that they were starting with R1.  Chop chop!! Conner was up 2nd & me 4th.  There was no time for a walk n' poop.  Our friend Wesley was 1st in the ring & completely flaked; he usually does  nice job - but he could not eke out a qualifying score today.  Next up, Conner was seriously distracted ... not surprising as the boy is a touch tightly wound ... then you rush him to the ring (an outdoors ring, which is new to us PNW rain dogs).  I felt bad for him, & J looked pathetic begging him to pay attention to her as the dopey Sighthound kept gazing about the field outside the ring.  She almost gave up, but persevered, and he finally began to follow her instructions.

I was having none of this nonsense.  Sorry, but we were supposed to go in LAST, not FIRST.   In protest, I decided to do a "Non-Sit In".  No sitting.  Period.  And I declined to show any interest.  OK, I did sit once or twice -- under pressure, but not without begging.

This judge must have been understood we were under unusual pressure because she gave BOTH Conner & I qualifying scores.  Our friend Danni won the High Score RO1A class, Conner 2nd, & me 3rd place.  Each of us had had 2 prior qualifying scores in competition, so this meant that we all 3 earned our 1st Rally titles.  In addition to our 'qualifying score' & placement ribbons, there were special rosettes for us for earning new titles at SF2017.

In the Veteran Sweepstakes, there was stiff competition for Appley in 10+, and he was suffering in the heat.  No love for Apples.  I had stiff competition in 7+ Bitches as well, but I did better & earned a 3rd place rosette for the day.  Our friends Dior & Yassou won Best Veteran & Best Opposite Sex Veteran in Sweeps.

The Puppy Sweepstakes also took place.  This was interesting as 3 of Pa's puppies competed.  Possum behaved himself & earned a 4th place medallion; Camper wasn't at his best & didn't earn a placement, but his housemate Manny won the age group.  Another of his housemates, Tux, won Best puppy in Sweeps.  Guess who was Best Opposite sex puppy?  Tiki! (InPhenite Ticked Pink), Possum & Camper's sister.

That's it for today.  J had better figure out how to add the Rally title to my formal name ...

Boring

Boring.  Honestly ... that's all I have to say.  Boring.
I think J was busy taking Rob to a biking trail head then back to help set up at the Rally/Sweeps site, then back to get Rob, & grocery shopping .... but for me  other dogs .... boring.
They may have the Sprinter tricked out so that the van is insulated & has fans to keep things cool, but it's still boring ....
That is all.

Driving

Today was ALL about DRIVING.
Boring ... boring ... boring ... & tedious.  We didn't even get to go on a hike with Gus & Bert before leaving - just a yard romp. 

The only excitement was watching to see if Tiki! would pee on leash.  Not so far.  I expect J will try again before bed ... which will be soon, I hope.  Sigh.

We did make it to the SF2017 host hotel.  Perhaps tomorrow I'll have more to report.

The Journey Begins

Today was a LONG day, and it started off on a sour note: Baths.  

Baths for all 6 Silkens - Appley, Conner & I plus Opa! & her 2 puppies, Possum & Tiki!, who is joining us for the ride.

I wasn't expecting the BATH for a few more days ... it is only Tuesday.  Admittedly, J does not like to bathe me the day of or right before a show because I look like a puff ball, but Tuesday seemed way too early for me.  I mean, seriously, what are the odds Appley  won't find some shit to roll in before Saturday?  Literally.  I'd plan to find a dead worm for rolling - just out of spite - except that then I'd have to endure another bath. 

Once all of us were dry, and the Sprinter packed, it was time to hit the road.   Our friends Bert & Gus live in Mt Shasta with their humans.  It's always a good place to stop because we can do zoomies in the yard.

I expect we'll be up early in the morning for more driving .... In an ideal world we'll take a hike 1st with Bert & Gus, but I won't get my hopes up.

Hello, fans.   

Silkenfest is again approaching.  Apparently that means I must blog ... it's been a while .... LOL.  Since I generally only post for Silkenfest, it's been roughly a year, but I also posted a bit after Opa! had puppies.  Thank goodness, except for the Possum, the persistent tail biters have moved on to new homes.  Cute, but way too energetic & mouthy.  Possum is OK, I guess.  He will be joining us on our trip to SF2017 ... hmm ... and so will Tiki!?  InPhenite Winsome Tickled Pink is another of Opa!'s puppies; J co-owns her with Iola Stetson.  I think she'll be a good traveling companion ... she can't possibly whine & yip as much as Possum; he can be very irritating in the car or Sprinter.

Since winning Best Altered in Show @ SF2016, I earned the remaining points needed for my ISWS ALCh title.  That was cool.  I have also continued to compete in Singles Lure Coursing -- as my fans know, I have been the top Silken in ASFA Singles for MANY years now ... I have lost count.  

More recently J has been taking Conner & I to Rally sessions.  Sometimes this is fun, sometimes boring ... it can move a bit slow and sometimes they ask us to do silly things .... sit, come front - owner one step back ... take one step front & sit again .. then 2 steps & sit ... then 3 steps & sit.  Seriously??? Why?  That's lots of moving & sitting for no good reason.  

Whatever.  We competed for the 1st time this weekend.  At the 1st competition I earned qualifying scores & came in 4th (Conner got 2nd).  Then they wanted me to compete AGAIN at this boring sport, AGAIN on the same day.  Yeah, right.  I declined to sit.  Period.  I wouldn't even look at her; why should I ... I earned a ribbon, & then, J wanted me to do it all again?  For a ribbon & stuffed pig?  Not likely.

In compromise, I agreed to compete again the next day: 3rd.  Conner earned the blue ribbon (goody 2-paws).  I could win, but it's more fun to keep her guessing.  

Apparently this Rally will be an event at SF2017.  With our 2 recent successes, Conner & I are both poised to earn titles at Silkenfest .... maybe I'll cooperate with J's ambition.

I think we may leave tomorrow for Silkenfest.  Sprinter packing has been going on for 2 days & now Tiki! has joined the pack for the drive (down from Winsome in WA).  I promise to keep my fans posted of any excitement along the way!

oops.

I should probably post the link to the InPhenite Litters page.  Sigh.

http://inphenite.wixsite.com/inphenite/litters

Life IS a Bitch.

Wow.   Life is full of little surprises.  Opa! is pregnant.  

WTF! Are you kidding me?????  

This wasn't an accident; J hooked Opa! & Kamiah up on a not-so-blind date.  True: Kamiah is no slouch.  Not only was he a great lure courser in his own right (#4 Life Time breed Lure Courser), but his kids are good too.  He was Bados' dad and dad of Cartier & Rosie, who are great lure coursers & friends, but STILL.  Puppies are a big responsibility & a nuisance.
OMG Opa! was such a SLUT while in heat.  Yeah, J got the 2 on a date, but Opa! could have kept her tail between her legs . . . she could have bit Kam's nose off, but Nooooo . . . She flagged that tail around to any dog that came in sight.  

J is already distracted by Opa!'s waddling & being snippy with Conner's mindless leaping to & fro.  What will happen when there are cutesy little puppies squeaking & squawking?
She already decided not to take Conner & me to both a show & a lure cursing event due to fear of our bringing home some infection. Seriously?  Yippee about missing the show, but skipping an LC event?  How am I supposed to maintain my #1 Singles title if I don't get to compete?

Whatever . . . I am sure they will be cute (but irritating).  They are due in early September.   J is keeping one for sure, but help me out fans . . . don't let her be tempted to keep more.

I should probably post a link to InPhenite's puppy page.  (sigh)
http://inphenite.wixsite.com/inphenite/litters