Oscar and the Chocodiva

The Diva Has Been Challenged

2009-06-20T11:47:00.003-05:00

And while she barely cocked a regal brow when I told her what Evil Papa Jim had said, I am here, and I have her back.

May is darling. Delightful. Destined to be a Darling of the Dog World.

But Diva? Do you really want to go there? We offer our rebuttal...

Followed by this, taken today:

'Nuff said.

And Amara

2009-06-20T11:25:00.004-05:00

Amara continues to grow. At 10 months, she's about 150 pounds and just about the same height as the Diva. Despite her size, she has no misconceptions about who is in charge--The Mama Goober aka The Diva aka Chocolate. But we attempted some photographs this morning before it got too hot...with my new camera that I really don't know how to work.

The above picture is really the only one worth showing. But as the sun sets this evening, I'll try again. Perhaps I'll recruit the neighbor to help hold her still--I have to do something, she is just a big bundle of energy! Here's another--she wants the ball Os has (just out of frame), but dare not take it from her brother.

Mirra's a New Champion

2009-06-20T11:17:00.006-05:00

You may now address her as Champion Kiokee's Mirra Image of Morrigan.

She won her second major down in Orlando, Florida this morning. Honestly, I'm shocked as there are several big breeders down there and the region is known for being overly political. But I shouldn't have been. Mirra does have a certain charisma about her...gets it from her Daddy :)

The above picture is from her first major in Febuary and will of course be replaced with her championship photo when it becomes available.

And proud papa this morning:

Our Week

2009-04-26T19:48:00.003-05:00

After stern chastisement from Jim, I am offering a tiny little update from our tiny little world.

We started the week with Oscar developing a limp. This is a rather notable occasion as it takes a lot to make a Mastiff admit to any trivial, mundane suffering. This was Sunday and after close inspection, I found nothing to indicate why he would be limping, so thought I would keep an eye on him and see how he was in the morning. Monday morning, same hesitant walk, but still no swelling, no fever and he ate. By Monday night, his foot had blown up like a doggie glove filled with too much air. And one particular toe was easily twice the size of the others. I dosed him with 1500mg of cephalexin, forced water down him and made him go to sleep on the bed. He hated that, of course. By this time, he tried hard not to put any weight on his foot, but for a front-heavy Mastiff, even one Oscar's size, this is near impossible. Tuesday morning he went to the vet. And since time is limited these days, Amara went along for the ride as she was due for a check up.

Oscar is the most wonderful, amazing, perfect dog in creation. He was suffering so, could hardly walk, his foot so huge, running a fever, and yet he STILL maintained the most loving, welcoming manner to everyone he encountered at the vet's office. When Dr. Lukert could find no foreign body or cut or reason for what looked like an infection, we decided on x-rays. Fractures can cause fevers, too, so we needed to rule it out. Amara is untrustworthy alone in an exam room, so I stayed with her (little devil these days). I could hear the ooohs and ahhs and the "Oh my god, that dog is huge" as he made his way back to the x-ray machine. They couldn't get him on the table, so coaxed him to put his front half up. Which he did, easily. Then stretched his hurt paw out and did the films. Hurt paw!!! The techs later told me that he never stopped wagging his tail and loved all the attention. One of my proudest moments as a Mastiff Mom. So perfectly behaved, even with strangers, even in a vet's office, even in pain and suffering. He's my baby :) Perfect.

Well, no fracture was found, so we decided to treat him for an infection. As of today, he has improved. The swelling is not entirely gone, but he is putting his full weight down and definitely on the mend. Thank goodness.

And Amara got a clean bill of health, of course. When asked lately how much Amara weighs, I've answered 90 pounds. I had no idea, and after the vet visit, I realize I'm about as good at guessing weights as Jim is. She was 121.5 on Tuesday, at about 9months old. Amara is a social butterfly, which is definitely from her Dad. She has a softness that I recognize as a gift from Chocolate, but her outgoing, enthusiastic reception of all things new is all her Dad, I'm certain. She made me proud, too, even if she wore me out with "gentle, Amara", "drop it, Amara" and "leave it, Amara". She obeys, every time these days, but I get hoarse!

And lastly is my darling Chocolate. The Chocodiva is scheduled to attempt motherhood again sometime over the next few weeks. She looks glorious, healthy and vibrant. This will be Chocolate's second and last litter. The Daddy-to-be is one of my all time favorite Mastiffs on the planet - one of the most gorgeous I've ever seen in real life, too. More importantly, he is the sweetest, sweetest goober. Cross your fingers :-)

More Pics

2009-03-30T19:37:00.003-05:00

Newnan Sunday

2009-03-30T19:32:00.006-05:00

More Random Pics of Amara From the Weekend

2009-03-30T19:32:00.005-05:00

Newnan Show

2009-03-30T19:25:00.003-05:00

Not too many pics for now, but enough to show what an adventure we had :)

Amara had fun on Saturday - Note to Mom: Do not show Amara where there is the potential for her to play in mud puddles. Way more fun than being a serious show dog.

Congrats to Brian, Amara's cousin and Jim's Pride and Joy, for his BOB win over 3 specials :) Whooohooo!

Writing a Strong Puppy Contract

2009-02-24T19:31:00.004-05:00

The following is not legal advice and should not be construed as such. The information contained herein is meant for educational purposes only.

Contracts are the tool by which breeders may attempt to safeguard a happy and healthy relationship with puppy buyers. A contract is defined as an agreement between two parties to do a particular thing (sell a puppy) in exchange for something of value. Regardless of whether a puppy is placed as a companion, a show dog or breeding stock, a well-written, clear and concise contract establishes expectations for both parties and can attempt to ensure the health and wellness of the puppy, a goal for which all breeders strive.

But many breeders reuse the same old contract from twenty years ago or pilfer one from another breeder with little regard as to whether it properly states the breeder’s expectations and assurances for the buyer. There are not too many lawyers specializing in the sale of well-bred puppies, so bringing a rough draft of a contract to your attorney may save on fees later and give the attorney something with which to work.

What elements are essential? Regardless of one’s state of residence, certain criteria must be represented in an effective contract.

Identify the parties. State the correct legal and full names of the breeder or breeders and the buyer or buyers. Then assign a nickname to make the reading of the contract easier later.
Describe the purpose. Clearly state that this contract is for the sale of a puppy.
Consideration. In order for both parties to be held to the contract, there must be an exchange. The puppy buyer gives money in exchange for a puppy. Compensation may take many forms, and while money is the most common, the contract can call for property, a promise to do or not do something, relinquishing a claim, etc.
State the terms. This is the meat of the agreement. State the expectations, the requirements, the guarantees, as well as any other terms or items that should be addressed.
Include relevant signatures. Written contracts must be signed by the person or persons to be charged with a breach. A person is charged with a breach when some part of the contract is violated.

It is absolutely essential to include where the contact is to be contested, should conflict ever arise. This is the Choice of Law Clause. Statements along the lines of “This agreement is hereby entered into and wholly executed in the State of Breeder’s State and litigation arising from any possible breach of this agreement shall be adjudicated in the Superior Court of Breeder’s County, Breeder’s State, in accordance with Breeder’s State law.” This provides the breeder with some notion of how the contract can or will be interpreted. Judgments can change depending on which law the court applies, so save money and time and know local law and write the contract in accordance with your state of residence.

State law will always override a contract. To prevent making this sort of error, research your state laws regarding the purchase of property and so-called “Puppy Lemon Laws”. Some states allow 14 days, for instance, for the puppy buyer to have the puppy evaluated by a vet. If the breeder’s contract designates a shorter time period, the state law would rule. States laws also tend to aim at pet stores and larger entities versus hobby breeders, but breeders should investigate their state laws and understand how their kennel or puppy-raising is defined. More information regarding Pet Lemon Laws is available at http://www.avma.org/advocacy/state/issues/pet_lemon_laws.asp

Another commonly overlooked item valuable in contract writing is a notary clause. Have your contracts acknowledged by a notary public, or “notarized”. While many states no longer require contracts be notarized, it could save a lot of hassle. Buyers could potentially deny that they had ever signed the contract or state that the signature was not theirs. A notarized signature eliminates that possibility and saves time in court.

Define the terminology and concepts used in the contract, not only for the puppy buyer, but also for the attorney, arbitrator, or judge that one day may be involved in settling a dispute. For instance, do not only say OFA. Instead, write out Orthopaedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). This should include any and all terminology or jargon special to dogs, dog breeding, dog shows and dog ownership.

Contracts can take many shapes and the only ones that are wrong are those that are illegal! Many breeders use one contract for all their puppies and offer all the same guarantees and assurances regardless of the puppy’s pet or show “quality”. Others have a foundation contract that is then supplemented with separate documents outlining their “Health Guarantee” or impose the “Limited Registration Clause” or even the “Co-Ownership Agreement”. These can take the form of addendums to main contract. Whatever system works for your kennel is the right system to implement.

By writing and using a contract tailored to your kennel, you can improve the likelihood of your puppies finding the right homes and better the communication between yourself and your puppy buyer. Your expectations as a breeder are presented in clear black and white language that the puppy buyer can either agree to or not. And if they choose not to agree, then the breeder is saved the hassle or heartache of unfulfilled expectations and potentially dangerous environments for their puppies. If the puppy buyer agrees, they know exactly what is expected.

The following example of a basic companion puppy contract is not presented as a perfect contract, but rather a place in which to start delving into what kind of contract is right for you. All the basic elements are present. Customize it to your needs and then present it to your attorney for review.

(email me if you'd like a copy of the sample contract)

Written by Jennifer McKemie (originially published in The Guardian, newsletter of the SSMF, 2008)

Mirra's Major

2009-02-19T19:30:00.002-05:00

Feeding Your Dog

2009-02-04T10:00:00.002-05:00

Over the last few weeks the topic of dog food has come up more than usual. I think we've all noticed changes in the foods, especially Nutro, since the "economic downturn". Ingredients are changing and our dog's satisfaction with their food - as well as their ability to tolerate these differences - are taking their own downturn.

I'd thought to write out what I'd found worked for me, since that's what I keep repeating when asked, but then I remembered my favorite site about dog food. It's not a "top ten" list or "best of" list, which are really pointless to most people. This website, The Dog Food Project, at http://www.dogfoodproject.com offers a way to understand the food you are feeding and make educated choices based on that knowledge. Here is one short article that introduces the subject well:

Choosing the right food
I have touched on ingredient quality in many areas of this website, but it is also very important to choose a food that meets your dog’s individual needs.

Not every food on the market works for every dog out there, which is why I do not like to make blanket recommendations without knowing anything about a particular dog’s diet and health history. It is also the reason I refuse to publish a list of “top foods” – my mission is educating people on product quality, not promoting specific brands or products.

After ingredient quality, the next important thing about a food is that your dog must like it, since even the highest quality food on the planet won’t do if your dog refuses to eat it because he or she doesn’t like the taste. Preferences vary widely – just like in humans!

Some dogs do better with a lower or higher fat content than average, some need more or less fiber to produce consistent stools, and some dogs thrive on poultry-based foods while others cannot tolerate them and need a different protein source. Specific types of starches and fibers might give one dog gas but work out perfectly for another.

Another important point is how much variety one single food really needs to provide. Many people think that much-advertised products with long ingredient lists, including several types of proteins, grains, fruits, veggies and other supplements must be better to feed than “boring” formulations with limited ingredients. Fact is that the more ingredients a food has, the smaller the number of individuals who will be able to tolerate the product, and your dog might just be one of them! Feeding a more limited formula of commercial food and providing variety by adding healthy, fresh, unprocessed food items (of which you know your dog tolerates them) is a much better approach and actually adds nutritional value.

It is also not beneficial at all to feed every protein source you can get your hands on “just because you can”. Stick with the more common ones like chicken, turkey, lamb, beef and fish and avoid the more exotic types. In case dogs develop food allergies, they will need to be switched to food ingredients they have never been exposed to before in life. The more different sources you have previously fed, the more difficult it will be for you to come up with a good feeding plan in such a situation. So make sure you always read ingredient labels before buying food and treats, and keep the "exotic" meats in reserve should you need them one day.

Don’t be afraid to experiment feeding different brands though, so you can find out what works for your dog, but give it time – unless there are immediate signs of intolerance, 3-4 months is a good time frame to see short-term as well as long-term effects.

To provide variety in an appropriate way, it would not be a bad idea at all to rotate between several high quality brands of dry food every 3-4 months, provided your dog accepts and tolerates a food switch every so often. For individuals with sensitive stomachs the stress of digestive upset negates the benefit of rotating food products though.

When feeding primarily dry food, don’t mix different types, since every brand follows a specific formulation and nutritional philosophy, developed by the manufacturer. All products are formulated to supply nutrients in a ration of a certain size (kibble size and density vary from brand to brand), based on the body weight. Instead of getting "the best of both", your dog isn't going to eat enough of either one to get the full benefit of a particular nutritional system. Last but not least, if digestive upset occurs, it will take so much longer to figure out what exactly caused it, compared to just eliminating either the commercial food or whatever extras were fed recently.

Sabine Contreras, Canine Care and Nutrition Consultant, offers personalized feeding plans for dogs of all sizes, breeds and ages, no matter if they are companions, performance, working or show dogs.

----------------------------------
As you come to know your dog, you will also come to recognize certain ingredients your dog doesn't tolerate as well as others or simply doesn't like. Also, there are certain ingredients that some breeds tolerate well, while others do not. For example, alfalfa and brewer's yeast are common ingredients in certain brands of food. However, in dogs such as mastiffs that are prone to bloat, alfalfa and brewer's yeast can increase that risk.

My personal choices are to feed a chicken-based food. Twenty-one percent protein for Amara as she grows and 24% for the grown dogs. Another flag for me, is cost. If it's too cheap, there's a reason. Aim for between $1-$2 a pound, according to what you can afford. More expensive does not mean better - Iams and Eukanuba are prime examples. Their ingredient lists make me shudder and yet they cost as much or more than some of the foods I like.

And don't mix foods. You dilute the quality of both and limit your knowledge of either. If you feed a little of this and a little of that, and your dog has a reaction, how are you to know which food is the cause?

Lastly, you have to become a certified "Poop Inspector". It is not okay for your dog to have cow patties in the back yard - if they do, there's a reason. Are they more stressed that day? Okay then, no worry. Normal day? Then anything less than well-formed, holds-its-shape dog poop is allowed. Nasty work, but sometimes the only way to know what's going on with your dog.

Other articles of interest regarding Dog Food:

Identifying better products
http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=betterproducts

How to Choose Dog Food
http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/sample/food.html
Whole Dog produces a "best of" list which I find irrelevant to choosing a dog food. But it can provide a jumping off place to start your personal research into the right dog food for your dog.

Cousin Mike

2009-01-28T06:58:00.002-05:00

Sometime after my first dog show, I discovered that my mother's cousin, Mike Dougherty, was an avid Dog Person. In the above picture, his whippet has just won Best in Show under Dr. Don Jones. To date, this win remains the largest BIS win for a whippet. This was 1974!

Still the ChocoDiva

2008-12-07T14:50:00.000-05:00

Chocolate, also enjoying the cool day. She's more beautiful than ever.

Amara Enjoying the Cool Day

2008-12-07T14:42:00.000-05:00

Amara in the Garden

2008-10-19T13:36:00.002-05:00

The bucket is Oscar's. He "helped" me plant something or other over the spring and claimed the bucket. And of course, anything that belongs to Oscar, Amara claims, too.

What?

Amara, Jungle Mastiff

2008-10-19T12:57:00.003-05:00

She decided she would stalk whatever caught her attention in my flower gardens. Made for some cute pictures.

Amara 9 Weeks Old

2008-10-07T19:15:00.003-05:00

Mirrabelle's Latest Win

2008-10-05T13:51:00.003-05:00

This is from the Altanta Show in September. The judge was Mr. Fred G Ferris and Mirra was handled by Lara Spears.

Amara Two Days Before Her 7 Week Birthday

2008-10-03T19:40:00.002-05:00

Long Overdue Amara Pictures

2008-09-20T18:38:00.002-05:00

Taken this evening, two days before her 7 week birthday.

Family

2008-09-14T10:52:00.004-05:00

Oscar has a littermate brother named Tug. He lives waaaaay up north in Wisconsin. This picture was taken a few years ago at Jim's old house during Mastiffpalooza. The two brothers posed beautifully for a this picture-having not seen one another since they were 8 weeks old.Tug lives with Heather Boggs and Tank and Gretchen, too :) And they all had the following article in their local paper:

Lake Geneva's top dog --- Mastiff spends past year as a champion
By Kayla Bunge/Janesville Gazette

For the past year, 2 1/2-year-old Tank has been the nation's No. 1-ranked mastiff puppy.Tank kept his title until a week ago when the new Grand Sweepstakes winner of the Mastiff Club of America National Specialty Show was named.

"He's very mellow, very laid back," said owner Heather Boggs of Lake Geneva, "He has to lay by someone. If you sit on the floor, he'll come over and put his head on you."

Tank, otherwise known by his AKC name of Fireside's Monster of the Midway, hasn't let his success go to his head.

An American Kennel Club champion, Tank is one of three mastiffs in Terry and Heather Boggs' house. Tug, also an AKC champion, and Gretchen lumber through the house, too."

Our dogs are treated like our children," Heather said. "I have five kids, not two."

Terry always wanted a big dog, and when he first saw a mastiff a few years ago, he fell in love. And so did Heather. But neither of them knew what they were getting into."

I thought we were going to get a dog," Heather said. "I didn't know we were going to get into showing and breeding."

The couple got Tug in February 2004 from a reputable breeder in Georgia. Tug comes from a champion bloodline, and in order to maintain the success, Terry and Heather decided to show him and found a handler in Illinois.

Tug became an AKC champion in six shows. To become a champion, a dog must acquire 15 points, including two major wins (a major win is worth three points or more). Points are awarded based on the number of dogs competing.

The couple planned to get a second mastiff from Tug's handler, who was breeding his first litter. They wanted a female so they could breed her with Tug.

Heather traveled to Illinois to watch the birth of the puppies. She spent six weekends with the puppies, poised to bring home the next addition to her family."

And I just fell in love with Tank," she said.

The couple began working with Tank in February 2006, teaching him first to stand properly for judging. When he was 5 1/2 months old, they sent him back to the handler in Illinois for more formal dog show training, and at 6 months, he was ready to enter the ring.

Tank became an AKC champion in seven shows.

Despite their crowning achievements, the mastiffs are just normal dogs, Heather said, although passersby would disagree. When Terry and Heather take their three mastiffs for what is supposed to be a leisurely walk downtown, the two-mile jaunt takes nearly two hours because people constantly stop them to ask how tall the dogs are, how much they weigh and how much they eat.

Mirra Sweeps Atlanta!

2008-09-06T16:55:00.002-05:00

Little Mirra isn't so little any more! Oscar's daugher (and there can be no mistake with her muzzle!) won three straight in Atlanta. On Saturday and Sunday, she threw in Best of Winners, too. The following is Saturday's picture. She was expertly handled by Wendi Cowell.

Amara Update - 20 Day Old Photographs

2008-08-24T20:49:00.004-05:00

Well, darling Amara turns 3 weeks old tomorrow, but since I'll be working instead of celebrating this milestone, here are some picks of the Diva Daughter one day shy of three weeks.

On another note, but no less exciting, Mirra won Winner's Bitch all three days of this weekend's shows in Atlanta. No points on Friday since she was the only girl, but more showed up on Saturday and Sunday and we did get some points, and Best of Winners! Yeah, Mirra! Mirra was handled by a professional handler for the first time, and I must say as a spectator, she sure did look pretty!

Amara's Two Week Birthday

2008-08-18T18:18:00.004-05:00

The photo above is of Amara at 13 days. She's cuddling with a new toy on Jim's shirt. Jim's son James made fun of me for the toys, but you can see she is quite pleased with this one! Today, on her 2 week birth day, her weight was 3.0 even. She's doing great, with a big ol' fat belly.

Caroline, Lucah's Mama, says she looks a lot like her boy, which is a wonderful compliment. Jim said the same. I'm still the infatuated mother who thinks she looks perfect, so I try to refrain from comment. Most of the time.

We Have a New Generation....

2008-08-11T17:43:00.004-05:00

...and her name is Amara.

Chocolate delivered two puppies by c-section - a brindle girl and a fawn boy. Unfortunately, the little boy has passed away. He was a dear, dear boy with a very soft nature compared to his sister.

He was dubbed the Roo Man from the moment of his birth and though he was here for only a few short days, he will be in my heart forever.

Now, the little girl was different from the outset, full of spit and vinegar. I will have to get some pictures in the upcoming weeks that show her spirit.

2008-07-27T18:33:00.002-05:00

Pictures from last weekend.

A Little Factoid...

2008-07-22T19:00:00.002-05:00

Caroline, Lucah's mom, e-mailed me today with a wonderful little detail that's we'd overlooked until now. Both Lucah's sire and dam are members of the Mastiff Club of America's Hall of Fame. So is Chocolate's dam, as of this year. And we think her sire may be eligible or coming mighty close.

Whoopee, you may be thinking. What exactly does that mean?

Weeeeellll, so glad you asked. It means that Lucah's sire produced AT LEAST 10 CHAMPIONS. This means he produced not only very nice dogs, but consistent dogs. Lucah's dam produced at least 5 champions. Chocolate's dam has a confirmed 5 AKC champions and 1 Canadian champion and another closing in on her titles this fall. The Diva's daddy has at least 6 champs that I know of, but probably more. I'm going to look into it, that's for certain.

Sooooo, that means that these darling puppies have at least three and possibly four out of four grandparents in the Hall of Fame.

And it gets better. Lucah's mama won the Brood Bitch Collar Award in 2004 with all of her champions.

Wow. The more I learn about these babies, the more excited I become. These are going to be some AMAZING puppies!!! What out world!!!

Rolipoly Diva

2008-07-08T12:55:00.004-05:00

Chocolate Singing

2008-07-08T12:17:00.002-05:00

These were taken in May. The ChocoDiva generously consented to let me share the stage for this lovely duet.

Some pictures

2008-07-08T12:03:00.000-05:00

Me and Oscar in May Chocolate
Oscar
Oscar

And we're PREGNANT!

2008-07-07T18:24:00.002-05:00

Finally!!! I've been holding out on updating this blog for a while now as I didn't want to get too excited.....but Chocolate had an ultrasound today and we have a CONFIRMED pregnancy today.

Daddy is the handsome, debonair studliest of the studs Ch. Comstock's Listen to Your Heart. We'll we listened, Lucah, and now we are getting ready to welcome some great little spirits into the world!!!

Lucah:

Brandon - Mastiff Baby Ambassador

2008-05-11T17:41:00.003-05:00

My friend Crystal's boy, Brandon, showed recently in Anderson, South Carolina. The local newspaper was there taking pictures, and one of Brandon made it onto their website http://www.independentmail.com/
Good job, Crystal, on raising such a winner! In the background, you can see Bob Poteat, Brandon's co-breeder.

Photo: Ken Ruinard

A Special Boy

2008-04-22T11:18:00.003-05:00

"I have sometimes thought of the final cause of dogs having such short lives and I am quite satisfied it is in compassion to the human race; for if we suffer so much in losing a dog after an acquaintance of ten or twelve years, what would it be if they were to live double that time?" ~ Sir Walter Scott

My mother lost her beloved Mathias Sunday evening. He was playing in her back yard with her CCI puppy in training and Zeus, her German Shepherd puppy. One of the dogs ran into Mathias, Mathias went down, seized and died. He was a vibrant, healthy dog and an integral part of my mother's life.

But Mathias was a special dog in more ways than even she knows. Mom started competing with Mathias in agility and other dog sports when he came home from CCI to be her dog. By then, I had Oscar and was starting to compete in conformation. Finally, my mother and I had something very much in common that we could talk about with ease--and usually be on the same wavelength. This was a really big deal in my life and I will always be grateful to Mathias for this special gift. So, thank you, Mathias, and many blessings on your journey.

I explained it to St. Peter,

I'd rather stay here

Outside the pearly gate.

I won't be a nuisance,

I won't even bark,

I'll be very patient and wait,

I'll be here, chewing on a celestial bone,

No matter how long you may be.

I'd miss you so much, if I went in alone,

It wouldn't be heaven for me.

~Unknown Author

Mirra Takes on the Bred-By Class

2008-04-05T18:25:00.002-05:00

And wins!

She earned first place both Saturday and Sunday at the Newnan show last weekend. She didn't get Winner's Bitch, but her aunt, Caledonia's Pursuit of Perfection aka Lexus, did, so we didn't mind too much. Lexus is Oscar's littermate and a beautiful girl of a completely different build from Chocolate. Lexus is well-muscled and svelte, versus Chocolate's heavier build. Lexus should have finished eons ago, but when she was out before, was always competing against either her mother or one of her littermates and seemed cursed to Reserve every time. These days, after two litters, she would smoke her sisters, I think. But then, she's always been a favorite of mine.

Mirra competed today in the Brierfield show and won Winner's Bitch and Best of Opposite. I would normally be jumping up and down in excitement, but we were the only girls showing, so no points! Ugh! The rain seemed to scare everyone away.

Mirra Makes a Splash

2007-10-20T20:09:00.000-05:00

Sweet little Mirra, also known as Kiokee's Mirra Image of Morrigan, did very well at the show in Augusta. She won her class, then winner's bitch, best of winners and best of opposite over a special. The judge was Mrs. Jean Fournier.

2007-09-30T19:30:00.000-05:00

This is Athena, one of Oscar and Reba's puppies, at six months. She is owned and loved by Tammie Anderson and has been a good little student in her obedience classes. Catie shared this photo and sent me an update about sweet Athena. How very wonderful to hear that Oscar's babies are doing well!

Mirra Mirra on The Wall.....

2007-07-04T08:43:00.000-05:00

Oscar's darling girl, Miss Mirra as we call her, is growing up BEAUTIFULLY!

Here are a few pictures from two weekends ago..

Ginni's New Name

2007-06-04T19:58:00.000-05:00

Ginni lasted less than 24 hours, I'm just very late in updating!

Her name is now Mirra. Her registered name is a secret from He Who Knows Not and so can't be listed here for a while. But check back, just in case!

Beautiful Mirra is living with my dear friend Sandra McCurry and we have decided to co-own her together. This was a difficult decision, but in Mirra's best interest as I am simply not home enough at the moment to care for her like she needs.

She adores her new family and plays with her Uncle Niles and Auntie Roxi (who is really a cousin!) to her heart's content and runs Sandra ragged with her theatrics. She truly is her father's daughter!

Everytime I see her, I'm amazed. She looks just like Morrigan and has such fantastic bone! One thing I can say for Oscar, he can sure pass along his Momma's genes with style.

Since I had the camera out....

2007-05-06T11:54:00.000-05:00

This was also taken in the early hours this morning, but doesn't he look great? He's sitting at the top of the stairs that lead into the top of my backyard while I'm sitting on one of the lower stairs (I think!) and obviously, he's looking down. But this is Ginni's proud Papa, Oscar.

I think they are both looking at Ginni, but don' they look beautiful? I wish I knew how to get rid of Oscar's alien eyes, but I still like the picture.And lastly, but certainly not least, her highness the Princess Goober. I took this picture, believe it or not, while Ginni was sitting in my lap. Chocolate found this fascinating and watched us very carefully. Since I never seem to get pictures of her that have her ears even a little up, I quickly snapped this shot over the wiggling puppy.

Settling In

2007-05-06T10:43:00.000-05:00

Who could resist this face? This was taken EARLY this morning when the sun was just rising. Ah, life with a puppy, the early mornings, the late nights.....the puppy breath to make it all worthwhile :) This one is later in the morning, I think. She's discovered the hose and thinks it makes a fine toy. I couldn't work the camera fast enough, but Ginni was pouncing on it and picking it up and trying to shake it for all she was worth. Quite adorable.

This last picture is pitiful, but its the only one I have so far of them all together. Chocolate's in the back, getting ready to find the perfect place to you-know-what, Oscar's looking between me and Ginni as if to say "Mom, what's she doing?" and Ginni has discovered a tree stump.

I had commented that Ginni seemed much more calm than her daddy, but I have learned in the last 24 hours that she was just settling in. She has all the gusto and enthusiasm of her Daddy. From the moment Oscar came home, he was fearless, into everything and always moving a mile a minute--Ginni is the same way.

I never saw Morrigan as a puppy, but I have it on good authority that Ginni is her spitting image, down to the little white spot on her belly. Awful big shoes to fill, but we shall try!

Ginni's Debut

2007-05-05T20:53:00.000-05:00

Okay, so Oscar's daughter came home today. I am eternally grateful to Jim for going and picking her and picking her up for me at the Anderson, SC show today. Earlier this week, Catie FINALLY sent some pictures and so I'll share those here first. I haven't been able to take many today as I've been running around like a crazy person, but that's besides the point.

This first picture is of "piglet" (as Catie called her) on the left and "Oscar Minor" on the right. The puppies are 8 weeks old.

This next picture is of the whole crew.

The puppy laying down toward the left front is the one that I have kept. Her name is now Ginni and I hope to have pictures up in the morning that you can really see, but here is one to tide us over.

She's darling, very sweet, like her father, but calm and patient, unlike her father.

I'm already excited about showing her in the fall. I know I should wait for her to mature more, but I'll be too excited and so I'm sure we'll be out in the puppy classes!

Chocolate's Best of Opposite, Newnan, GA 2007

2007-04-18T14:39:00.000-05:00

A Big Ol' Head

2007-04-14T17:20:00.000-05:00

This is my favorite picture of Oscar. My bosses at work made me swear it wasn't photoshopped as they'd never seen such a big head on a dog. My dad was attending the show with us once again and snapped this picture when I wasn't paying attention. I keep it in a frame that reads "I want to be the person my dog thinks I am." What can I say? I love my boy.

Pass The Cigars

2007-04-07T10:02:00.000-05:00

Yep, Oscar's a daddy. The lucky Mama is Kiokee's Get 'er Done, bred by Catie Arney.

Oscar sired seven beautiful puppies, 5 girls and 2 boys, all fawn.
One of the little girls will be mine and I am so happy to welcome her into my heart. I confess, I did cry on hearing the news that they had all been delivered safely. It is such a magical concept, not only that there is new life on this planet, but also the knowledge that my beloved baby boy will live on in these new little bodies. Rumor has it that Oscar's personality is well represented in one of his little boys, affectionately nick-named "Oscar Minor" by Ms. Catie. We knew he had a pretty powerful personality, so it's no wonder that these pups are a handful. Thank you, Catie (and sweet Reba!), for this most precious gift!

Chocolate's Best of Opposite Weekend

2007-04-01T18:04:00.000-05:00

We showed in Newnan, GA this weekend. Well, Chocolate did. Oscar stayed home and guarded the house.

She did VERY well. Catie Arney of Kiokee Mastiffs took her in for me both days and did a FABULOUS job handling my soft girl. Professional photographs will be on the way in a couple of weeks, but here are a couple I took. Ms. Clark is the judge in the photo above. Her husband, Mr. Clark judged Sunday. Rufus, Ch. LazyD King Rufus of Seawright, won BOB both days.

Callisto (aka Our Nemesis) also showed this weekend. Here is a picture of the girls illustrating that even competitors can be ladies. And look, Terri, I even got your head! So much for the Headless Handler moniker.

Trojan, Chocolate's littermate, also showed this weekend in open dogs, winning winner's dog and best of winner's both days. I have pictures of him, too, but I'll let Jim put those up at his site, which I know he will :)

Chocolate News

2007-03-01T20:40:00.000-05:00

Chocolate had an adventure last week. I wanted to test the waters as far as taking her out as a special. And recognizing that I am a very novice handler, decided to hire Gary Sheetz. The plan was to meet him at the Greenville shows and pass Chocolate to him so she could spend some time with him and then show in Valdosta and Tallahassee the following weekend.

Fate interfered, but Chocolate did finally make it down to Gary in Valdosta. I wasn't able to be there until Sunday. There were only 4 specials present: Chocolate, a male I didn't get the name of, Balou and Honey. At the moment, Balou is the #1 mastiff in the country and while Honey is not ranked at the moment, she finished 2006 as the #4 mastiff and #1 bitch in the country. Honey also went BOS to her littermate Ivan at Westminster and also the Eukanuba show, I believe. In other words, she's hard to beat at the moment.

I drove down to Tallahassee Sunday morning to be at ringside by 8:30am and see my girl strut her stuff. This was Chocolate's very first time traveling without me or Jim. Her first time away from home for any length of time, and she was away a week. When I reached the ring, I avoided Chocolate and managed to keep her from noticing me. Gary played with her and did everything he could to make being in the ring fun, and while Choc didn't look like it was her favorite place to be, she wasn't miserable by any means.

But she didn't win. I'm told that on Friday, the judge gave her a serious look, looking at her and Honey closely before giving it to Honey.

That said, Chocolate looked fabulous. It was quite an amazing feeling to watch her circle the ring since until then I'd always handled her. She went around with a loose lead, head high, her gait perfect. She has the best top line, the prettiest feminine head. Absolutely exquisite, even if I do say so myself!

She is going to make some beautiful puppies.

Chocolate's Championship Photo

2007-03-01T20:15:00.000-05:00

This picture was lodged between my front door and the screen door since....oh, probably mid November or so. Since I never use my front door, I never knew the postman had tucked in between the doors....

The judge is Dr. Bill Newman and the show was put on by the Kennesaw Kennel Club in Marietta, Georgia, in October. Chocolate went up against her young nemesis, Miss Callisto, otherwise known as Pegasus Oso Bodacious Callisto. (Incidentally, Miss Callisto went on to win back to back at the Montgomery shows and earn her championship there, becoming the youngest female mastiff to become a champion. Congrats to Terry and Callisto!)

Grandma's Famous Liver Treats

2007-01-13T14:58:00.000-05:00

1 cup flour
1 cup cornmeal
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 cup wheat germ
1 lb raw beef liver

1. Put liver in food processor or blender and liquefy.
2. Add dry ingredients and mix well.
3. Drop 1 tsp of mixture on greased cookie sheet. Flatten with the bottom of a glass dipped in cornmeal.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.
5. Store in freezer until ready to serve.

Probably Oscar's favorite treat after Peanut Butter. Chocolate is an indiscriminate treat hog. She doesn't have a favorite, though she does scarf down green beans like there's no tomorrow. Maybe if I could figure out a treat to make with green beans.....hmmmm.....Does Grandma have any suggestions?

Honoring the Mother

2006-12-04T15:26:00.000-05:00

This picture is at Jim's old house and includes from left to right:
Me, Oscar, Jim, Lexus (Oscar's littermate) and Morrigan, Oscar's mother.

Morrigan passed away yesterday. This picture does a good job of illustrating how she always behaved when I saw her. Regal and tolerant and surveying her domain as her silly offspring struggled to grow up, learn their place in the world, and honor her gifts of life and love.

Thank you, Morrigan, for your beloved babies. I swear to cherish them always.

She has been the Maiden,

and remembers that joy.

She has been the Mother,

and recalls that pleasure.

But she has changed,

learned the mysteries of the Wheel

ever turning,

the Wheel that is life, death, and rebirth.

May your Spirit live with us forever more.

Just a Couple of Cute Pictures

2006-11-12T12:04:00.000-05:00

I have Oscar's rope. He wants it back. Badly.
Ignore the hideous shed in the background...need to tear it down, but for now it houses the lawnmower. Wouldn't normally show this one, but doesn't she look cute?
Chocolate's Ostrich impersonation.Kidding. Just a bad shot on my part. She likes to weave between the trees. Makes her feel like a powerful Queen of Forest or something, I'm sure.

You Coming?

2006-11-04T15:49:00.000-05:00

Chocodiva LOVES this cooler weather we've been having the last couple of days. She asks to go outside every other minute--and I let her and Oscar stay out for big chunks of the weekend.

Here are a couple of pictures from this morning that show her good spirits.

In the first, she's looking back as if to invite me to come running around in the backyard, too. She forgets sometimes that Mama doesn't run.

Oscar loves toys. He always has. He used to automatically destroy all toys, but lately seems to savor them for a while before unstuffing, decapitating, or in some other manner rendering his toys unrecognizable. I'm not a big fan of outdoor toys, as that would mean I have to go through the yard finding everything before I can leave him or Chocolate outside. Os will pick up anything and make it into a toy, too, so I spend waaaay too much time already going around picking up sticks and debris that I worry he'll grab onto and hurt himself with.

However, some time ago, I relented and let him take a red rope outside. It stays outside now. And Chocolate, being the clever little diva that she is, knows the best way to get Oscar to play is to pick up one of his toys. Mind you, if Oscar's not around, she has absolutely no use for toys.

The picture's a bit dark, but you can see she's got the rope.

.....But You Can Still Call Her The ChocoDiva

2006-10-29T15:16:00.000-05:00

Yep, she did it! Won today over a very pretty little girl named Callisto. She won Winner's Bitch under Dr. Bill Newman, who as he told me today, loves the breed.

It was a rather pitiful set of shows, but in the end, Chocolate earned her championship, so I won't whine too much. But let me just say that never have I seen so many absentees. We got this by the skin of our teeth. Thank goodness she had three majors coming in.

And so the pretty girl known as the ChocoDiva, Chocobaby and her highness the Princess Goober has added CH Morrigan's Godiva to the list of names to which she will respond. If she feels like it.

Following in Big Brother's Footsteps

2006-10-26T09:45:00.000-05:00

So the ChocoDiva won today. She even won Winners and Best of Winners. Yippee!

However.....

Only TWO girls showed up. And if you're thinking that's okay, she won BOW, so she took the boys' points, too....don't go there. Only TWO boys showed. The Diva won, but only earned a single point, so now she's following in Oscar's footsteps and needs one measly little point to be finished.

Tomorrow's another day.

Chocolate's Getting Ready for You Know What!

2006-10-14T21:16:00.000-05:00

So the ChocoDiva went to the vet today. She was very excited to go for a car ride--she actually enjoys them these days. And she hopped out of the car when we arrived without any worry, too, which as everyone remembers, was not the case when she first came home.

All that said, when we actually walked into the vet's office, she all of a sudden remembered that she didn't like it here too much. And the place was hopping with oodles of little dogs and one rather snippity black shepherd who needed an attitude adjustment--or a new mama. But I digress...

So she had her blood drawn for her thyroid and other assorted testing and we worked out the forms and labs to get her the proper certifications. It was very exciting for me, even though little Chocobaby would have preferred to be anywhere but there. But we're actually moving along toward baby-makin' time and I can't wait.

One thing that always impresses me, though never surprises me is this: Even though she really didn't want to be there, even though they stuck a needle in her leg, lost that vein and had to stick her again in her other leg, even though she had to stand on this icky moving table on which she barely fit, she didn't make a single protest. Never had to be restrained in any way and was a lady--no, a Diva--the entire time.

Only Two Points To Go!

2006-10-05T18:49:00.000-05:00

So Chocolate had an excellent weekend, as well. Her only defeat came her first day out, Friday, and it was a loss to her little niece, Rox aka Morrigan's Roxi Gives A Lickin. Chocolate did win Reserve and we really couldn't begrudge Roxi her win since she went on to take Best of Winners, thus earning her last major and her championship.

However, on Saturday and Sunday, Chocolate seemed to win rather handily, but the handily part is probably just me getting cocky :)

She did well, seeming to handle the ringside atmosphere better every time we get out. I could wish she had the outgoing personality of her brother Oscar, but then she rests her head in my lap with her easygoing sweetness at the forefront, and I think, how could I want her to be anything different? Chocolate is the epitome of excellence in the Mastiff. She has undergone more than most humans could bear and yet has maintained not only a strength of character and strength of body, but a loving disposition that makes you want to cuddle her all the time. Which goes back to her favorite pastime and the reason she prefers home to shows--more cuddle time at home.

Her pictures are not spectacular and I did let her down a bit on my promise to do better this time. The best one is of her and Oscar together, but the scan is not coming out right, so I'll have to add it later.

Since her stacking is deplorable in the above photo, I feel the need to say that it really is all my fault, as Chocolate is perfect. Really, she is. Her leg doesn't stick out at that odd angle unless I make it do so! She looks like she's getting ready to make a break for it! Yeah, yeah, she says, I know I'm gorgeous, but enough with the photographs already!

Going for Breed

2006-09-29T20:25:00.000-05:00

As if my poor heart hadn't had enough emotional upheaval, Oscar had to go and win Best of Breed on Saturday. What's he trying to do, kill me?

Ha! Yes! Oscar won Best of Breed on Saturday under Judge Don Jones. This was a funny thing. I'm sure Dad was laughing his head off as he watched me watch Os and Gary.

Here's the gist:

First it was weird not having a dog in the classes. I kept feeling like I needed to be somewhere, but there was nowhere for me to be until I took the ChocoDIva in. So in we went in Open Bitches (where we both SO belong), which we won. I'm happy and hopeful, for there seem to be a lot of girls there. My thought processes on show days, however, are never ever reliable as I'm a mass of nerves. I don't want to spend too mcuh time of Choco's wins as she deserves her own posts when I get done with the OsMan. She won Winner's Bitch, though and so in we went for Breed.

Except Mr. Jones had an observer in the ring this day and seemed determined to do things in a certain way that had everyone very confused. He held WD and WB out, then kicked the females competing for breed out of the ring too, which included Os and Choc's neice Roxie. He only wanted the males in at first. Then I think he completly dismissed a few of them. Then he brought the females back in and then the WD and WB. The Winner's dog, by the way, was Beowulf's something something Balou Moon who is a beautiful dog who also finished his championship this weekend.

Anyway, I'm at the end of the line in the ring where it sort of wraps around a corner watching as the judge lines up Os and another dog and seems to judge them head to head. He's whispering back and forth with his observer and seems to be giving it a lot of thought and then makes them each go down to the corner and back again and line up at the opposite side. The other dog had been in front of Oscar, but when they came back from the little trot, he had Oscar go ahead of this other dog. Meanwhile, I'm over in this corner making ridiculous noises and wondering if I'm really seeing what I'm seeing. Ann Skyler-Cobbett was handling Balou and being very kind to me and I think it was her presence that kept me from being insane. Then the judge pointed to Oscar. Mind you, I'm still in the ring with Chocolate! I started jumping up and down in place and then covered my mouth, 'cause I just knew I was going to scream. Poor Chocolate was sorely neglected for those few moments. But my boy, the day old champion, had just won BEST OF BREED!

In future, I'll handle it better, I'm sure, but Saturday I cried. Then we called Jim and I screamed. My boy, my baby boy.

He entered the Working Class Group ring Saturday about 4:30pm, representing the Mastiff with style at the hands of CJ Harve. I had to hide, along with Dad, Mom and Jim who had dropped everything to come and watch. We all watched from behind the crowd. I cried some more.

We didn't make the cut this time, but we'd made it to group and I couldn't have been happier. As everyone knows, I have no children and never will. Os and Choc are my children and watching him strut his stuff in the Group Ring must have felt like what a parent feels when a child graduates or some similar accomplishment. We'd worked so hard, put in so much effort and there was the reward. And I think Os knew he was getting some attention. In a couple of the pictures, CJ's talking to the crowd around the ring and Os looks like he's grinning, I swear.

And then when he did his down and back for the judge, people in the crowd, strangers, cheered for him. That was mind-numbingly amazing. Of course I think he's beautiful. Of course his breeder thinks he's beautiful. But these were strangers, and yet dog people, who thought my baby boy was worthy of their claps and cheers. Wow.

A Family Affair

2006-09-29T20:17:00.000-05:00

So for Oscar's championship weekend, he had an entire cheering section that included BOTH his Grandpa and his Grandma. What a treat for him. What a treat for me:)

These two pictures, and most from the previous post, were taken by my mother, Suzi Metz. The first one is of my dad calling Tamela and a rather satisified looking Os. I'm posting the second simply because my baby boy looks so adorable!

A Champion is Made

2006-09-29T18:58:00.000-05:00

Dog shows are fun.

Simple sentence. Simple fact. Simple bit of nonsense that is oh so easily forgotten when one is stepping into the ring. Lest we fool ourselves, this is a competition. And who in their right mind wants to lose?

Certainly not me.

Hence my somewhat sadly drawn conclusion to retire him unfinished some weeks ago when Oscar and I started the August Atlanta weekend shows. I’d taken it into my head to show Oscar myself, and I think I did a reasonable job of it, with one troubling exception. While he would move fine for me, he had no expression on his face. After all, what was there to be interested in? Trotting around in a circle? Please. Trotting around in a circle next to Mom? Whatever, he sees me everyday. Nothing interesting there. How was I supposed to finish him when he was barely tolerating the silly circling of the ring, and would obviously rather be somewhere else? Besides that, Os is big and when he shifts around being bored, he practically tosses me around the ring. Like most mastiffs, Os doesn't stand, he leans.

Coming out of the ring that August Saturday with a lousy YELLOW ribbon, I was beyond disappointed. As I was waiting to go in with Chocolate, I struck up a conversation with a lovely woman with Bernese Mountain Dogs. My frustration was like a foul aftertaste in my mouth and she commiserated with me like only another dog show person can. Yes, she said, it is frustrating. Yes, he is beautiful, what a heartbreak it must be. You should meet my handler, she said.

I was wary, but truthfully, willing to grasp any rope thrown our way. So I met Gary Sheetz, her handler, Saturday and resolved to introduce Oscar to him and see what Oscar thought. I arrived at the Sunday show early and promptly hauled Oscar over to meet Gary. Immediate connection. Really, Os took to Gary like Gary was his long lost best friend. I was delighted and not a little surprised. See, Oscar has been described as a Mastiff Ambassador, a Used Car Salesman and a million other things that basically mean he’s never met a stranger. But while he has never met a stranger and wants to meet every single living being on the planet, the second he turns away, he’s forgotten them. Not so with Gary.

Os and Gary entered the ring on Sunday and stole the show. They were perfect and went on to win Winner’s Dog and a 3 point major. Needless to say, I am completely and utterly sold on the handling expertise of Gary Sheetz. As this rather companionable pat between pals illustrates, Os thinks he's pretty great, too.

So entering the September Atlanta shows, Oscar had 14 points and two majors. A pretty comfortable place to be, but something easily forgotten when I saw all the beautiful dogs competing on Friday. While I’m getting a tiny bit—a very tiny bit—of experience, I am still absurdly nervous both for watching my boy and then for knowing I’m going to be taking the ChocoDiva in. So I’m standing at ringside gripping Choc’s leash for all I’m worth, praying my boy doesn’t misstep, that the judge sees the beautiful boy that I see and awards him accordingly. But remembering the times he’s been overlooked or snubbed.

Sometimes, things just fall into place. Ribbons fell smack dab on my boy Friday. Judge Carmen Battaglia pointed to Oscar for the blue ribbon in open dog. Yes! We’d made it out of the class. At this point, my heart is pounding and it’s suddenly very hot in the Exposition Center. So close...

And then the time came for Winner’s Dog and a truly magical moment came to pass--the sort that burn into your brain and you know you'll remember them for all time. Judge Battaglia pointed to Oscar!

I didn’t scream. I sort of squeaked. My eyes watered and I kept blinking away the tears and clenched my teeth—I had to keep it together, just a little longer. A single refrain repeated over and over in my head: he did it, he did it, he did it! And I still had to take my girl in and I thought, if I made a cake of myself, that wouldn’t look good for Chocolate.

But I met Gary and Oscar at the gate and you better believe that I hugged Gary for all I was worth. He’s a dream of a handler and put Oscar in the spotlight with an ease that boggles the mind. At one point when the dogs had been getting ready to go around as a group, when they’d taken possibly 5-6 steps out, Os had started to pace. Gary stopped the entire group and started him over. I was shocked and immediately scared about what sort of repercussions that would have. But not only did the judge allow it, he warned the rest of the group to give Os room. And then Os strutted his big ol’ self around the ring like nobody’s business.

People have commented about Os and his pacing and I’ve been embarrassed about it for long enough. This last weekend, Os proved that not only can he walk, he can trot, run, sing and dance like a champion.

He's my pet that turned into a competetive show dog, my baby boy who now ansers to Champ. He's my Oscar, thank you very much, Champion Morrigan’s Cu Mac Shimidh.

Oscar's Second Major!

2006-09-21T18:53:00.000-05:00

Yes, it finally came! His picture from the last show in August. Gary Sheetz is handling and the judge is Mr Roger R. Hartinger. Os won his class, then Winner's Dog and then Best of Winners over his little niece Miss Roxie. This was Gary's first time handling Oscar and the pair really did well. I was beyond pleased. Contrary to the deer-in-the-headlights look I have on my face, I was jumping up 'n down for joy. I had just about given up on my baby boy! But he just needs one measly little point to earn the title 'Champion' in front of his name and Gary's handling again this weekend. My hopes are high!

Dang, can you tell I'm still new at this, or what??

2006-09-16T15:08:00.000-05:00

Whoo-hooo! Chocolate's show picture came in the mail today. Hopefully, Oscar's will arrive on Monday. Regardless, here it is. She's so much prettier than this picture shows-I simply get so very nervous when the camera's turned our way. Ha, who am I kidding? I'm so nervous on show days, I can hardly remember my name.

The judge is Mrs. Terry L Berrios who was ever so very kind to me, even when she had to remind me of what I was supposed to be doing. She also remarked on how pretty Choco's rear was, though you can't tell in this wretched picture. (on a side note, it feels very odd to remark upon a "rear" ) Chocolate's ungainly presentation here is completely my fault.

My goal for the next show? Achieve a perfect Show Picture. I know the Chocodiva is up to. The question is, am I?

Baby Diva

2006-09-07T19:52:00.000-05:00

Papa Jim sent this picture saying that no Chocobaby collection could be complete without this image. I have to agree. What a precious girl.

Chocolate's Show Pictures

2006-09-04T18:18:00.000-05:00

Everyone has to promise to remember that this is my very first show and prior to this Chocolate had only been out once as a baby. So we were both newbies and her stack reflects that. However, doesn't she look beautiful?

In the first picture, she'd won reserve. The judge was a very nice woman by the name of Nikki Riggsbee who gave me a lot of pointers afterwards.

In the second picture, Chocolate had just won Opposite. Again, she overcame her handling to succeed.

I know these are already up at Jim's site, but I think I'm getting impatient for the pics from her win in Atlanta. I'm posting these to tide me over until then!

The ChocoDiva

2006-09-04T15:16:00.000-05:00

This picture is from May of this year, and while perhaps not her most flattering, shows Chocolate's alternate personality, the Princess Goober, at the forefront. See, Choc pretends to be a Diva, but at heart, she's a bit of a clown.

And Sunday's Show

2006-08-27T13:10:00.000-05:00

Wow, what a weekend. We picked up our remaining 50%!

Yesterday I met a professional handler by the name of Gary Sheetz. I arrived at the show early today in the hopes of speaking with him regarding Oscar. Gary loved Oscar. And the feeling was very much returned, I could tell. Os immediately adored him. We talked at length and then agreed that he would take Os in today. And what a spectacular debut they made. Os looked like he was having a ball and moved beautifully, greeted the judge like he was the man's new best friend, and over all simply ruled the ring. They were a magnificent team and the judge obviously appreciated it. Os won his class and then went on to take Winner's Dog and then Best of Winners. He earned a 3 point major, which puts him one tiny little point away from being a champion.

And to top off a great weekend, Os's little niece, Roxie, took Winner's Bitch. How's that for keeping it in the family?

Saturday Show

2006-08-26T20:18:00.000-05:00

Well, we had a 50/50 day. Of course, our winning 50% was spectacular.

First, Oscar competed (it was a 4 point major for the dogs) against some exceptional dogs. Actually, the dog that took Winner's Dog (Greesons Even Mo Betta)was very nice, I thought. Os did okay. Better than his handler (me!).

Chocolate, the winning half of the 50/50 split, did fabulously, overcoming her ridiculously nervous handler to take Winner's Bitch. When we returned to the ring for Best of Winner's, not only did she earn that, but she took Best of Opposite to Southport Sherman's Best of Breed (who, incidentally, went on to win Best in Show). Sherman, to those who might not know, is the current #1 mastiff in the country and the top winning mastiff of all time. Chocolate, in taking Best of Winners, took a "crossover"--she earned a 4 point major since she won over the Winners Dog. So she has her two majors out of the way and now just needs 7 points to complete her championship.

The poor babies are sleeping right now, getting their beauty sleep so we can try again tomorrow. Hopefully another major and another crossover win for my Chocodiva!

No Holds Barred

2006-08-26T19:56:00.000-05:00

This image is of Chocolate and Oscar wrestling in the backyard. I forget when it was taken-probably Springtime. Oscar, ever the gentleman, is letting the Chocodiva think she's winning.

They love to play in this area of my backyard. This is a circle of sand and gravel that apparently makes for good landings and their claw don't snag.

Oscar in Chalk

2006-08-26T19:20:00.000-05:00

This is a portrait that I had done of Oscar in December of 2005. That made him just barely 2 years old. He is a sweetie and absolutely as loving as his expression shows here!