My 8th Show in Zuidlaren / Netherlands, March 2004
As it is with every show I was "prettied up" a few days before - the hair on my paws was cut but I did not take a bath. Mistress thought that too often was not good and I really did not need it. The hair at the root of my tail did stick up wildly though (Mistress says that is because I think quiet a lot of myself and hold my tail so high). So that part of me was made wet and I got to balance a towel on my butt ;-).
We wanted to go to the show together with my sibling Merlin (Netop be Forewarned) and his Mistress. So we started towards the Netherlands at 11.00 am on Saturday. After 2.5 hours we arrived at Almere without getting lost. We were welcomed warmly and everyone was happy about the reunion.
The alarm rang at 6.15 am on Sunday and Mistress had real trouble getting out of bed. Merlin´s people had had a party the previous evening - they had been married for 12.5 years and felt the need to celebrate ... Though our Mistresses were very tired and asked themselves "Why are we doing this again??" we managed to be in the car by 7.00 am, heading towards Zuidlaren.
We arrived 1.5 hours later. After going through the veterinary-check we headed towards the boxes that were offered for the use of the exhibitors. That is to say us dogs. The judgement was to start at 10.00 am. Though we arrived before 9.00 am, everything went by in a blur until it was my turn. Mistress was guilty. She kept "puesseling around" me. Looking me up and down, combing me ...
After I donned my show collar we went to the ring to watch Merlin and his human. Merlin was the only male in the junior´s class and was awarded a "very good". When Merlin had left the ring it was already time for the open class of the bitches.
Since I had for once the lowest number, the two other computers got in line behind me. One of them was my sibling Nina -"Indian Dream Crazy Girl". Then we all trotted around the ring once. I was the first to present myself at the judge´s table. I stood as if rooted in the ground - but I could not keep my tail from wagging. The best I could do was to do it slowly. When my gait was checked I hovered like an elf (or that is how Mistress put it).
After surveying the other girls the judge bade us trot one more round. He signaled for us to halt and sent my sibling to the third position. After a short eternity (that was as Mistress perceived it) he made us take second place. Mistress was mad with joy and I just had to jump up on her. Merlin´s human was not enthusiastic about that since she wanted to take pictures. I was judged excellent 2 (want to read the judges statement?).
Mistress told me countless time that I had done very well. I contently slipped out of my show collar and ate my treat. Then we went back to the ring to follow the other proceedings. Merlins human thought I should done my show collar again. I would have to enter the ring again, wouldn´t I ?!
She was right. And at this second time I was awarded the "Reserve CACIB" though I was third in line. I don´t really know what the term means but Reserve CACIB sounds just great. Don´t you think ? ;-)
After that entire hubbub it was time for shopping and I pawpicked some very tasty treats and a great toy ...
In theory we could have made it to the Agility training that very same evening. But since Mistress though she could not get any more into her head that day, we stayed at home and had a nice cup of tea on the sofa. We also spent the Monday with Merlin, Shadow and their humans and had a lot of fun ! At about 6.00 pm we drove towards Germany.
Thanks a lot for the great weekend we were allowed to spent with you.
We are looking forward to the show in Leeuwarden in April, for then we will meet again
!
