My first Conformation Show in Koenigswinter / Germany, October 2003
Mmmhhh ...Where to begin?! I should probably tell you first that I think being shown at the ASCD e.V. (Australian Shepherd Club Deutschland) is really something special. For this shows the judges invited travel all the way from America !
The show takes place on two successive days. Different judge judges every show. So there are two show on one weekend. At these show a dog, which is very good in standard, can become ASCA (Australian Shepherd Club of America) champion. That of course (or so I think) can not be achieved with just one weekend. One can become ASCA champion in Germany because the ASCD e.V. is so to speak the daughter of the ASCA.
Parallel to the conformation shows obedience trails are held on both days. At this trails a dog can earn certain working titles. We are not (yet) interested in obedience. So that is just for information ...
That should be enough briefing. I hope I understood and explained it correctly. Now to the heart of this story.
I think Mistress has been nervous ever since she got the confirmation of our booking for the show. So we started training the "quick extended" trot. I was supposed to walk my best at this show. We did not have to train the "good stance" for I always stand especially well when I want something and no other trick seems appropriate.
Before every show Mistress trims the hair on my paws and legs. I am put in the bathtub and scrubbed down. The best part is the toweling afterwards. I am not averse to that ... but the energy she put into it that time ...
Just in front of my tail set my hair does not want to lay flat. Mistress says that is because of the high opinion I have of my self that makes my carry my tail so high?! To make those hair behave I spend most of the Saturday balancing a wet towel on my but ...Well if it is important to Mistress ...
Since our External navigation system (we already know it is also known as Master), was on board this time, there is nothing to write home about the trip. Knowing we would get safely to "Koewi" I snuggled into my box and went to sleep ... Awaking only in "Koewi". First we fetched our papers then we went in search of a tent that a nice friend of ours had left for our use.
I was surprised by the lag of nerves from Mistress. Or did I just not see it?! She was intent on looking at the action in the rings or "puesseling around" with me. I did not care for the sun that emerged from behind the clouds made for comfy warmth. Master took up his book set his chair in the sun and went to read. I took a sunbathe and slumbered on, unimpressed by the proceedings.
I believe it was after the break when it was our turn in the ring. Sorted be numbers (mine being the last but one) we trotted extended through the ring. After one full circle we stopped and I presented myself. The judge looked at all the dogs in the stance. Then one after the other was handled and had to show its gait again.
When it was my turn I presented myself superbly. I had only eyes for Mistress. It was my job to stand ... And what a stance it was! The judge looked at me, handled me and controlled my teeth. But I was not impressed at all. I was rooted to the spot. The judge signaled mistress and we went diagonal through the ring. I presented myself again and at the next signal we rounded the ring again and returned to our place.
The judge made us trot in teams of three to again see our gaits. When we halted the judge sorted Mistress and me to the third space in the line. Mistress looked stunned and I feared she would not understand but then she went and I with her.
Mistress was so out of it that she did not realize that this last round was the round of honor. Only when the spectators started applauding she realized that we had made third place! She was so happy she nearly cried and I tried to jump into her arms ... Well our joy was not up to standard, as Mistress remarked later but that was beside the point. Mistress was grinning from ear to ear when the judge handed her the rosette.
I don´t have to say that Mistress kept telling me for days how well I did!
