A Milly and Hush Update

I wanted to give you a few quick updates on the pups. First, Hush is in season. This is her first heat cycle, and so far we’re doing well. She went into season on Monday, May 16, 2011 (putting that on the blog, as I’m sure I’ll have to refer back to it at some point!). I had a feeling this was approaching, I’ve blogged about it in the past, but last week there were more and more symptoms. First, when grooming her she transformed from sweet puppy into common street walker when the high powered dog dryer came near her tail. Second, while drying her after her bath I noticed a smell – not an infection smell, or a dirty smell, just a distinct musky odor. So, it was no surprise on Monday when I saw some blood on her fur. All of the signs are there – bleeding, swollen vulva, enlarged nipples, change in personality, interest in other dogs, etc. Now, I have the joyous task of keeping her away from males for the next 4 weeks, and making sure she doesn’t leave blood on my white carpeting. Did you know that even neutered males still try to mate females when they are in heat? I didn’t. They can even get tied like an intact male would during breeding, crazy, isn’t it? So, it’s just us girls for the next month. Mind you, since males can smell her from up to 6 miles away, we have to be insanely careful in everything we do. To be extra safe, I keep a diaper on her when outdoors. And of course, she is always on a leash.

Milly is scheduled for her semi-annual senior exam today. I always get a little nervous, since the later years in life are so critical for preventative care. Milly is 11ish, and it might be time to make her 12, and in great health and extremely fit and active. But, I won’t feel at ease until all of her blood panels come back after today’s exam. I worry. I noticed what I think might be tape worms in both dogs’ stools two weeks ago, and so we’ll also be doing stool samples on them. Neither dog has fleas, but they did get into a few dead animals, which is another way to contract tape worms. I am confident in the ophthalmologist I have been using with Hush, but because the specialist is out of town, I’m going to let my general vet take a look at Hush’s eyes to see if we can put her on something until our next ophthalmologist appointment.

Finally, this weekend I will be going to the dog shows in Manassas, VA to watch. While there, I will be meeting with a very well-known dog show handler to discuss Hush. I have decided, while I do want to do some showing with her myself, I feel I need to improve more in my handling abilities before taking her in the ring. I want her first few times to be very positive, and a professional can guarantee that. He will be doing an informal evaluation of Hush, and if he deems her show quality, which we know she is, we’ll then discuss a schedule. Because of her age, she isn’t likely to win that much at this point in the game, so we will be very selective in what shows we enter her in. This handler lives about 2.5 hours from me, so relatively close, and Hush will be boarded with him and his wife (also a well-known handler) leading up to any shows for training and conditioning.

Eye Exam

I’ve been so busy lately that I rarely have time to post. A few months ago Hush had an encounter with an insect on a hike and her face swelled up like a balloon. It was incredibly scary, and the normal Benedryl routine did not work. Her face continued to swell, her lips were so puffy I measured them at 1.5 inches wide, and we rushed to the vet.

That afternoon, I had taken Hush and Milly on a short hike in the woods at lunch, as I do almost every day. After our hour long wooded jaunt, I gave her water, brushed her coat, and put her back in her crate and returned to my office. When I came home after work, about 2 hours later, I noticed her eyes seemed red and funny looking, almost droopy. I gave her Benedryl, and kept an eye on her, but when I noticed she was getting much worse and her face was rapidly swelling I headed to the vet. At the vet, I was told it was a good thing I brought Hush in, because if the swelling had continued her airway may have become obstructed. The vet gave her more a Benedryl injection, some steroids, and sent us home with instructions to give her Benedryl (2 pills x2 daily for one week). The swelling immediately went down. Within two days the only trace of the reaction was her red and droopy eyes.

Fast forward a few weeks, and the eyes still had not cleared up. Because Hush is a show dog, and I plan on breeding her at some point (after she has passed her clearances), I did not want to mess around with vision and made an appointment with a veterinary ophthalmologist. She had a complete eye exam – they dilated her eyes and examined them just like a human retina specialist would – and was given a clean bill of health. Her eye problem is a non-contagious form of conjunctivitis, and not at all serious. Hush was prescribed a month of eye drops, and we left the vet relieved this was not a major health problem. The vet assured me this will in no way hurt Hush's vision, thank heavens!

Well, that was 6 weeks ago, and her eyes have not changed at all. So, it is time to head back to the ophthalmologist. Unfortunately, she is out of town for the next few weeks so we won’t be seen until June 2^nd, and now I need to decide if I should take her to a regular vet in the meantime, or just wait it out. I’m eager to get this taken care of, first off, because conjunctivitis can’t be comfortable, though Hush doesn’t seem to notice. And secondly, the red droopy eyes are unattractive, so our dog showing is on-hold until this has cleared up.

Dog Show Fashion or Faux Pas

So much goes into showing dogs, and I’m only just starting to crack the surface. But, one thing I have found that seems to go hand-in-hand with a thin show lead is terrible fashion sense, especially in regards to female handlers. Yes, this is a MAJOR generalization, and I know many people who show dogs with very good fashion sense, but there are quite a few terrible outfit choices out there… so many that there are even Facebook groups devoted to policing the terrible fashion at dog shows! Acid wash denim skirt suits, nude panty hose with tennis shoes and a bedazzled velvet blazer, orange ballet flats… yes, these are all fashion statements I’ve seen in the breed ring, and on some big name people, to boot (pun intended).

As some of you know, I love fashion – I even interned with Jill Stuart in college. I have a very eccentric sense of style – part classic and preppy, part trendy, and very quirky. I’ve been told many of my outfits look more like costumes one would wear when playing a role, than actual apparel, but that’s me! I’m creative, and unique, and to me, life is one big performance.

This said, I pride myself on having a good appearance, things I pull off might not be for everyone, but I do put forth an effort. With this in mind, I absolutely do not want to fall into the category of terribly dressed dog show person.

For our final conformation class, a judge is coming in, and we’re doing a mock show. Complete with show apparel and all! In picking an outfit, I’m looking for something that makes Hush pop. What would be appropriate for showing a Golden Retriever may not be appropriate for showing a Dalmatian. Hush is a light gold, but she’s rapidly maturing to a medium gold color. In picking an outfit, I’m looking for something she stands out nicely against – and I’ve found blues and purples look great beside her. Of course, finding an outfit that goes nicely with her would be easy, but finding an outfit with pockets for my bait, that won’t attract dog hair, and that can be worn with flats I can run in is a whole different story!

One outfit I am considering is very similar to this dress.

So far, I’ve narrowed it down to:

· A long sleeve cotton dress (with pockets) that has navy and green stripes, but I’m worried it is a bit too busy.

· A blue cowl neck sweater dress, belted.

· A navy paisley skirt, with salmon t-shirt (with sequined neckline) and a green sweater (with pockets), but this might be a bit too springy.

All outfits will be worn with ballet flats. So now, I just have to make my last minute decision!

Practice Makes Perfect!

Last night was handling class, and WHAT A DIFFERENCE! I’ve been practicing every day for the past week, and the results are finally becoming really noticeable. I focused my practice this week on a few things standing still, forced stacking (where the handler physically moves the dog’s legs into place), showing the bite, and gaiting. I learned last week that Hush is pulling and throwing off her movement when we gait, so to remedy that I’ve worked a lot on loose leash walking when she’s on her regular collar. By revisiting the concept of not pulling and remaining at my side on all walks, this should translate over to gaiting when I put on her show collar and lead.

Class began with only one hiccup, another dog eyed Hush while his handler was putting on her armband, and saw that opportunity to try and start a fight. Hush was a bit shaken up, but okay. I wish I could say the experience didn’t happen, but that’s part of having animals, things like this happen, and it gave our trainer and excellent opportunity to discuss how important it is to always keep a watchful eye on where your dog is looking. You do not want to let your dog make eye contact with another dog, and you do not want to let your dog get into another dog’s face. In our case, the Dalmatian had been eyeing Hush for quite a few minutes, and pounced on the opportunity of a distracted handler. It was interesting to see, that even in a very controlled environment things like this happen, and it made me shudder at the thought of all of the people who let their dogs pull them to me and don’t ask permission before their dog’s head is right in my dog’s face. It’s always good to remember that just because your dog is great with other dog that doesn’t mean the same is true for the dog on the end of someone else’s leash.

Once our armbands were secured and Hush had a slew of people love on her and comfort her, we began by entering the ring in numerical order. The other bitches that are normally in class were absent, so I was the only even number, and had selected 24 (the last number). Once around the ring, line up, stack your dogs, and as each dog came out for the judge we were instructed on which gaiting pattern to do. So, I might do the triangle, while the person in front of me did down-and-back. This required us to pay attention to what the judge was saying.

As we stood with our dogs stacked in line, the “judge” immediately commented on the vast improvement she had seen in Hush. Not only was she stacking very nicely (YAY! I’m getting the hang of it, slowly, but surely), but she also was much calmer than she has ever been before, and stood patiently while she was looked over. When it was our turn to come out of the line and stack for the “judge” the hard work I’ve put forth all week was very apparent. We were asked to show the bite, and did so effortlessly, like old pro’s. Gaiting went okay. I knew all of the patterns, but Hush was a bit skittish at the far end of the ring (where we had problems last week). We’ve been practicing outdoors, so we’re going to need to find some indoor arenas to get some more inside experience. General socialization and exposure to a variety of places and surfaces will help with this. During the mock-show we even placed 3^rd, and were provided with reasoning as to our placing! Beating out some really great dogs and handlers made me especially proud.

There is still a lot to work on, but we’ve come a long way… and I feel like the parts are starting to fall into place.

Three Steps Forward; Two Steps Back: Conformation Class with Hush (Part III)

“Next, we are going to work on our “L” pattern,” the instructor tells us. She pulls someone out to demonstrate, selecting a student who has gone through this class on numerous occasions with her other show dogs. To do the “L” you go down the long side, turn left, down the short end of the ring, turn around, change the hand your leash is in, and come back. The idea behind it is to display your dog to the judge with the dog always closest to the judge. We’re told, this complicated pattern, is usually only used in “group” or “Best In Show” classes (meaning you’ve already won your breed and/or group) or at big shows (like Westminster).

Of course, this student makes it look easy. I watch closely, but I keep missing the tricky part as each classmate goes through the exercise, and I’m still not exactly sure how to change hands with my lead. It’s my turn. Hush stands, somewhat, until she decides to sit.

“Start with your courtesy circle, and then an “L” pattern,” I’m instructed; the wording makes me realize my teacher has now morphed the roles of “judge” and instructor into one, for me, her challenged student. I don’t know how to do a courtesy circle. She shows me.

Flustered, from not knowing how to do my courtesy circle, I take off, and we’re doing okay. Hush is pulling, and moving terribly, but, we’re headed in a straight line, like a person who denies being intoxicated during a sobriety test, we weave left and right, confident in our motor skills, and sure we will not be deemed inebriated… like I said, we’re going in a straight line.

At this point, Hush slams on the breaks, rears up, and tries to run backwards. I’ve been through this before with the many horses I’ve shown. I decide to try to make her work through it. A firm correction on the lead, I look forward, and pull, hoping to encourage her to get back to work. If Hush was a child in a supermarket, she would be the one who wraps their legs around a stationary object, refusing to move, while a temper tantrum erupts. But, she is neither a green pony, nor is she a demon child… she is, a puppy.

“Stop. Come over here.” I halt in my tracks. Gather my lead, and walk over to the instructor. “This is why I do not like puppies this young in my classes.” I want her to have her puppy spirit. This needs to be fun for her. You can ruin a good show dog with just a few bad experiences. Instructor/”The Judge” transforms into Mother Hen, she bends down and wraps her arms around Hush, showering her in affection, praise, and love. She explains to me how and when to encourage vs. correct, and asks me to do it again.

I start, Hush slams on the breaks and refuses to move again, but this time, I soften on the lead, hold a hot dog in front of her nose, and urge her forward with enthusiasm. I get to the end of the ring, and line up, at which point I’m told I forgot to finish the exercise.

Crap. I forgot we were doing the “L”. I somehow get through the exercise, it is as if the rest of the class are trained marshal artists, moving seamlessly through each step, as they kick their way to a black belt. I, on the other hand, am a damsel in distress, I’ve encountered an attacker in an alley, and I throw punches into the air, most of them missing my assailant, my only driving force being my will to live, and in the end, I survive, but I’m horribly bruised and shaken up.

After we are dismissed, I wish my Cruftsbound classmate words of encouragement and congratulations. And head over to my instructor to get last week’s handouts, the ones that covered just about everything that I don’t know, and should. We chat, she reassures me that I’m doing fine, Hush is doing fine, but it is so important that we not crush her spirit… as that can make or break a show dog. And then, I get the compliment I’ve been waiting for, “She is a very nice and extremely promising show puppy.” Which, coming from this woman, is quite a compliment.

I leave class, feeling like I’ve just been through a war zone, alive, but missing some limbs, and my ego isn’t simply bruised, I think it has died. I’m comforted by the after class chat with my instructor, but I feel so inadequate. I am in this class, which is supposed to be for beginners, but I’m the only true beginner that signed up for it, so it was open to more advanced handlers, too. I’ve made a complete fool of myself, and I want so badly to go home and practice, I want so badly to blow everyone out of the water next week in class. But, it’s hard. When you aren’t even really sure what you’re doing, to practice correctly. It’s hard, when you know nothing, and you have a dog that also knows nothing, and has the attention span of a four year old jacked up on Pixie Sticks.

On the drive home, scenes from Toddlers and Tiaras flash through my mind… beautified children, throwing temper tantrums on stage, and mothers, bribing them into submission. As someone who competed in pageants (as an adult), this mental imagery gives me a bit of understanding as to why it is so important not to push a puppy too hard, and to keep things fun. After all, I cringe when I see those toddlers, dressed like street walkers, with haunting eyes and robotic motions on stage… all of the wonder of childhood sucked out of them. I might not have a clue what I’m doing, but I’m trying… and, from now on this will be fun for Hush… I don’t want to put her in a position where she throws another temper tantrum again. We have many years ahead of us, when we have to be serious, but for now, I’m embracing her youthful spirit. I think this is the first of many lessons I will learn on my journey to the breed ring.

Three Steps Forward; Two Steps Back: Conformation Class with Hush (Part II)

Apparently a triangle is when you jog down the long side, turn left, jog down the quarter line, and then back towards the judge on the diagonal… and another lesson I missed when I was absent from class. I’ve been practicing jogging in straight lines with Hush, but the dog/handler combo I’m watching as I wait my turn in handling class makes the triangle seem effortless, and I tell myself it won’t be so bad. More dogs go through the rotation, and finally it is my turn.

My piece of hot dog in my right hand is turning to goo, in my trembling, perspiring palm. I ask Hush to stand, and start fiddling with her legs… I know what I’m supposed to have them look like, but every time I lift one leg, Hush shifts her wait, or moves another leg.

I look up to the instructor, “How do I get her to stand when I adjust her legs?”

“You need to get her where she doesn’t move,” I’m told.

“But, when she moves, what should I do to tell her not to move anymore?” I plead for some sort of guidance. I feel inadequate, and unworthy as I stand before this famed AKC Judge.

I clumsily get Hush into a somewhat “stacked” position, and “the judge” approaches. With this, Hush starts wiggling like mad. “She needs to be able to stand and not move,” we’re reprimanded. I jerk on Hush’s lead, hoping if I think about it enough, I can will her to turn to stone.

“Now, show me her bite.”

I’ve watched enough dog shows on TV to know this means you want to look inside her mouth. If I can get a horse to open its mouth for deworming, a dog should be a piece of cake. I grab ahold of the top and bottom of Hush’s jaw, and pry her mouth open. Hush loves to pick up anything she encounters – my socks, sticks outside, litter we encounter on walks… and, channeling the crocodile hunter has become second nature to me.

“No. You need to do it from the top, like this.” The “judge” has transformed back to instructor, and demonstrates. I’m not exactly sure what she’s doing, but I try my best to mimic it. This time, I attempt to pry Hush’s mouth open by holding from the top only. “No, like this.” She demonstrates again. I take a deep breath, and think, crocodile hunter, I am the crocodile hunter! My attempt is a failure again, but I still don’t have a clue what I’m doing wrong. “I need to see her bite, to see how her teeth line up,” she dictates to me. The skies open up! The angels rejoice! I have an epiphany!

Why hadn’t she told me this from the beginning? I lift Hush’s top lip, and pull down on her bottom, she pulls away, shaking her head, thinking I am about to go crocodile hunter on her again, but I’ve accomplished something. It wasn’t pretty, but I’ve done it.

“Now, gait her in the triangle.” I gather my lead, and off we go. Hush is falling to the inside, and our triangle looks a lot more like an oval, but as we head down the diagonal back towards the judge, I feel Hush starting to move nicely.

“She’s moving weird upfront. I need to see you do that again so I can tell you what to change.” I start over.

I finish. “She’s pulling. You cannot let her pull on the leash ever. Not in walks, not in practice. Never! When she pulls, she moves terribly and it skews her front end.” I look down at Hush, it feels like my tail should be between my legs at this point, and she is hopelessly oblivious. I decide to end on a good note, and step in front of Hush to ask her to stack. At which point I’m told, “Never get between the judge’s line of view and your dog.” Oops, I think to myself.

After you gait your dog, the judge will examine it once more, and then will either tell you to “once around” or “thank you”. If the judge says thank you, that means they’ve seen all they want to see, and you can just walk back to the end of the line. If they say once around, you are to show off your dog until you get to the back of the line. I was told, “thank you.”

Everyone in the class finishes this exercise, and the teacher gives a brief lecture. She asks who went to the matches over the weekend, I had planned on going to one, but didn’t because I got sick. She emphasizes the importance of attending these practice matches, and then congratulates a classmate who won something or other. Then, she turns towards the beaming gentleman from before class, “He will be flying to England to exhibit a dog, one he has never handled before, at Crufts this week.” The class erupts in applause. I’m honored to be training alongside such a talented handler, but, at the same time, I can’t help but think of the irony. My classmate is being paid to fly to England, to show in their version of Westminster, and I don’t even know how to show my dog’s bite.

(To be continued…)