Maturing Meerah

Both photos of Meerah taken last June/July before I took her out of the ring. A truly huge puppy. Of course she will always be too tall, or as was said in the WPBW critique "above top size," but as she fills in that frame, continues to mature and hopefully get more coat I'm confident she can only look better. A puppy should never be the finished article, but I do think Meerah will take longer than some to get there. It's OK Mwnci we can wait! 

The most recent photos, her coat just starting to tuft, care will have to be taken when considering showing her out of coat I think, it may not be a great idea! 

WELKS - Finally!

2nd, Orin (3rd) and 4th in OD

 Our journey to Malvern was not the best. I set off from home at 4am, with an arrival time of 7.35am. giving me loads of time to get the trolleys and dogs to the ring in time for 9am judging. Owen was 10 mins late for the meet up at Maentwrog; well, 7.45am arrival, no problem. The A470 is among the most scenic of routes, and even at that early hour it was stunning. As usual the Sat Nav wanted me to go through Welshpool. As ever, I said, "No." The route through Newtown may be 5 miles longer, but it's a lot more straightforward. We were about 15 miles south of the Welshpool roundabout when with no warning we came to a full stop, "Police" - Road Closed. Shit, where did we go now, Google maps gave no ideas other than to head for Builth past Llyn Clywedog, and I knew that would bring us down much further south than I needed, so I opted to go the 15 miles back to the Welshpool roundabout. Our arrival time suddenly became 8.25am - and yeah it was that time when we arrived. With hindsight, maybe I should have continued past Llyn Clywedog down to Rhayader, that would have made the journey a total of 163 miles, (4hrs and 12 mins) so just 13 miles more than our original route, but at the time, and with no help from Google Maps, I made an executive decision!!!! I must admit I did giggle at one point when Owen said,"Rhian, I think we are going a little too fast!" 

Meerah when she was still 3rd

The judging of Veteran dog and MPD had finished by the time we set up, but there was still enough time to get Orin organised. I was happy with his third, he simply was not going to be any higher in the class and apart from the air scenting, he did great. 

To be honest, seeing Meerah pulled out third was a shock to me, I was really chuffed, for me and for her handler and number 1 fan, Owen. He is new and inexperienced, but he has the potential to be a fantastic handler. Sadly Meerah lost one place on the last lap, I guess she paced at the wrong time, maybe an experienced handler would have noticed, maybe the judge could have pointed it out to the handler, but it's not her place to do so. Anyway to be honest, it didn't matter that much, Owen and Meerah did a great job and I was thrilled.

Miss Beti

I thought back to the last time Meerah was exhibited at Malvern and, travelling alone that day, how I cried most of the way home. I recall how she looked that day; she was like a giraffe in the ring with other nice females of the same age. I was honestly embarrassed and regretting my decision to put her in the ring for scrutiny; I envisaged people taking the piss out of me for showing her and out of her for how she looked. But now a year on, she really does look so much better, and with luck and good fortune, she'll look even better again in another 12 months time. She has plenty of scope for maturity, and I do believe taking her out of the ring for those 8 months was the right thing to do.

Baby Beti was out in her PJ's, lol bless her. She was second to large LSH in full bloom. She went well and I do hope that on another day, the class could have been hers. Though I would have thrown my toys out of the pram should either of the other two entries have been in front of her. 

Judging was finished in our breed by lunchtime, but we chilled and chatted before leaving for home. What makes me travel so far to watch GSD go round a ring? Well, the love of the dogs, the breed and the love of like-minded people. These be my peoples! 😉

The journey home didn't go to plan either. Sat Nav said turn left out of the field, I said NO! I don't want to go home via the M5/M6/M56, it's 50 miles more one way, and I've sat too many times in crawling traffic on those motorways. I set off right, went up the hill and turned left for Hereford to get onto the A49 - within 10 mins "Road Closed."  As Victor would say "I don't believe it!"  I've no idea where we went then, but we crossed the M50 😲. I was totally at a loss and Owen was snoring. Eventually I got onto the A49, put Ed on for company and made my way back home. Despite the road closures, it was a lovely day, and I saw some "extra" beautiful countryside. 

Call Out Again

Another early morning call out to Tremadog: "I can't get up, I can't get dressed, will you come and help me?" Best I get dressed then eh Mam was the reply. I had fed the dogs, but not myself, and I was in my PJ's when she called. Anyway, I got organised, put the girls in the van and shot off to Tremadog. 

After letting myself in, I called out "RSPCA calling", and I got a humorous response, so I knew where I stood. 

After getting Mum downstairs, for the first time ever, she allowed me to take over and make her breakfast. We sorted out the medication, and she then had a snooze until Jackie came. We went through the shopping list with her before taking the girls for my now semi-regular circuit, up the lane, through the fields and into the woods. Though it was really breezy, everywhere was stunningly beautiful. 

I got back to Mum's, made her a cuppa and waited for Jackie to arrive back before heading for home. Alun and Lynda should be there by now, so that gives me three days to relax, or more likely, start filling up this skip! 

Critiques From WPBW

Puppy Counting

 How many do you see? 

I've shared it with a few people and had results from 4 to 7, but Suzanna who did the scan, and a GSD friend who is trained to scan both say 5. I can clealy see 4 at the top, circled is no 5 that I missed in the video.

Beti - Season Day 1 (I think)

It's a lot of blood for the first day, maybe she started yesterday or the day before? Her coat should come back nicely now! 

WELKS

Orin was 3rd in open with only the CC and RCC winner in front of him. 

Owen and Meerah did just great. Meerah pulled out third in a class of 6 but sadly lost one place on the movement. Though she is a super mover, sadly she paced when it mattered. 

Bald but beautiful. Considering her current state of undress, Beti managed a credible 2nd out of 4 in PGB.

Camera Pics

The dogs had to lump it in the field today, but it was lovely out there. If this was "Summer temperatures", then I'd be happy. For the first time we had to cover the run to use it this afternoon, but the guys were better off out there than in the house.  

I took the camera with me into the field, so some of today's photos, like the one of Meerah and Sammi have been taken from a distance with the zoom. 

To Show Or Not To Show?

 That is the question. 

Beti still has her knickers and skirt, but despite the sunshine telling a different story, her coat looks tatty and that yeuk grey colour that comes at the end of a moult. Bathing her is an option, but it's likely to bring out her frills. She is obviously lean, but to be honest I don't mind that too much. I just don't know what to do. Maybe take her on Sunday and see who is in her class and how they look. Of course I can also give her a last minute spit and polish, which could help. 

My main man looks super, though I doubt he'll be to the judges taste on Sunday - I would imagine she will want something with, shall we say a "harder" overline! If Reno is there then I'll have to accept my placing with grace! 

Studs And Puppies

 As I'm sure you know, I pay a yearly subscription for my dog to be registered on Champdogs. It's a great site, and it's strictly monitored; they check pedigrees and need proof of health tests before they add them to your dog's page. Last week I had a puppy enquiry; I replied and told them I would not have a litter this spring but that a female had been mated to Orin, I suggested they get back in touch should they require more details. I heard nothing. 

Last night I had two more emails, one from someone else looking for a puppy, but they wanted lines back to "Balko." No can do, but as he was Idol's sire (Ross' grandfather), I suggested they look at his progeny. Balko was a significant sire of his time, but he wasn't the dog for me – though all these years on, I don't remember why! 

The other e.mail was asking if Orin was at stud; I sent out my standard reply and was shocked to get a response this morning. Most people who email are only fishing, and more often than not, nothing comes of it. They said the female was health tested and well-bred; of course, I then asked for proof. They asked if they paid my fuel money, would I go to them? ... Hmm 2 hrs ish away, yeah I guess, though it's not the done thing; I have done it before ... and then they asked if they could pay at confirmation of pregnancy? Well, hell no, sorry, as I explained to them, you pay for a service, not a result, and I didn't know them from Adam or his ants. Of course I have done it in the past; I proved Nico on Ziva, but I didn't charge Kevin, who had the next litter from him, until we knew Kia was pregnant. Similarly with Orin, no money exchanged hands before confirmation of pregnancy till the 3rd or 4th female. Also, if there is one or no puppy, then a free mating is obviously on the table. Orin now has nothing to prove as a stud dog or sire, he will mate even difficult bitches and usually produce quality puppies, but getting those first few females below his belt was paramount before thinking about stud fees, after all, I didn't want to put people off using him by pricing myself out. At the time there was a fair bit of interest in him as he was proving himself in the ring, to be honest he was hardly beaten till he moved into limit.  But of course proving himself as a sire of quality puppies, well, that's not just a different story to showing success, it's a different book! I really hope for a pup, male or female who is the quality of Beti, or better, in the forthcoming litter. The best of Orin and Mattie in one package could be wonderful. 

Anyway, I've digressed, as I do. Having been given the female's name, I checked her out on the RKC website, breeding was Ok I suppose, but an elbow of 2, no sorry. My dog, my rules, sorry Orin, no stud this time!