After a hectic 2007 moving to New Mexico and campaigning Phil to #1 All-Breed Australian Terrier, we decided to take it easy in 2008 and showed our dogs during about a half-dozen weekends this year. Phil took a Group 4 on one day during shows in Midland, TX in April. Bo and Valle had three successful days in Long Beach, CA in June, including the Great Western Terrier show. Bo took Best of Winners (best non-champion Aussie) on Friday and Valle won Best Opposite Sex (best female), including beating all Champion females, on Sunday at the Great Western Terrier show. We followed that up with Lily, Bo and Valle at three shows in Greeley, CO in August where Lily won Best Opposite Sex two of three days. In September, we took Bo and Valle to two shows in Rio Rancho, NM and Bo won Winners Bitch (best non-champion female) both days. Early in October, we took Lily, Bo and Valle to four shows in Alamogordo, NM. Lily won Best of Breed on three of four days, Bo took Winners Bitch on Friday and finished her championship (hooray!) and Valle took Best of Winners on Saturday. Lily and Bo are both qualified for the Eukanuba National Championships in Long Beach, CA in December. The big question for us…do we defer a long-planned family ski week starting that weekend or not?
Last weekend, we wrapped up showing for 2008 (maybe) in Los Lunas, NM by bringing Phil back out for a warm up for next year when we plan to campaign him again. On both days, Phil showed well and the judges gave him a good look, but gave Best of Breed to another deserving dog. His handler (Bob) was a little rusty working with him so that will be something we’ll be working on during the next couple of months.
May through September was a busy time in the TexAun household tending to Phil and Polly’s six energetic puppies. During August and September, Gracie and Kiwi went to families in New Mexico, Barney went to a family in Arizona and Dory went to a family in Minnesota. Ace was the last to leave today, going to another family in New Mexico. The house sure is a lot quieter (sniff, sniff) and we can’t wait to get lots of photos of the kids with their new families.
Violet is staying with us as a show prospect and has done well in a couple of puppy matches. She won the Terrier group in one of them and the Best In Match judge said she would have been her second choice for best in match (if there was such a thing).
Hooray for Bo & Valle!
Long Beach, CA - Bo and Valle followed their strong showings in Albuquerque in May with more big wins this weekend!
- Friday - Long Beach Kennel Club - Bo won Winners Bitch and Best of Winners
- Saturday - Kennel Club of Beverly Hills - Valle won Reserve Winners Bitch
- Sunday - Great Western Terrier Association - Bo won Reserve Winners Bitch and Valle won Winners Bitch and Best Opposite Sex
Sunday’s win for Valle was her first major! Many thanks to judges Mrs. Lydia Coleman Hutchinson, Mrs. Roberta L. Campbell and Mr. Keith Lovell!
Six Weeks Old and Halfway Home!
Edgewood, NM - Well, Polly’s gang is halfway (to their new) homes. They outgrew the whelping box at five weeks. We moved them to bigger quarters, so they can more easily play, rough house, and grow up. There are puppy playpens inside and outside of our home. The playpens are equipped with pet cots and litter boxes (for that head start on house-breaking). But they still love sleeping together on a blanket in the inside playpen. Click here for many new photos and a movie.
Weaning is well underway, started at four weeks. The puppies have progressed to dry crushed puppy food. But, mom will still jump in the playpen to nurse once or twice a day. That should end in about one week and then it will be time for their first shot…a DAP combo. Puppy evaluation will be at a “party” in two weekends.
Bo, Valle and I are headed to Long Beach, CA next weekend for the Long Beach, Beverly Hills and Great Western Terrier Shows while everyone here holds down the fort. And, Valle gets to see her second “mom” Betty as she will be at the shows.
Polly’s Puppies Are Three Weeks Old!
Edgewood,NM - Time flies! Polly’s babies have nearly quadrupled in weight, their eyes and ears are open, tail-docking sutures are removed and super puppy training is complete (click here for more on the early neurological stimulation exercises we do with our puppies). And, they’re starting to move around alot…sitting, walking (kindof)…and developing that terrier attitude. More movies and pix have been posted. Click here to see them.
