Well Im finally back from Orlando Florida where the weather there was 73 when we arrived on the 10th of December. I was peeling clothes off as we travelled further south. It was nice while it lasted, now Im back up north and freezing.....sigh.
Wednesday we made our way to the Waterhouse Center to set up our grooming stuff and to walk around. I was amazed at the setup, it was the same as Westminister but larger and the show was not benched. At least I didnt feel like a sardine in a can at this location. We were given a bag lunch but I was too nervous to eat it but my husband volunteered to eat the bag lunch for me. Time to show, and I wore a wild blazer for the judge, my daughter was appalled that I would wear anything this loud and I was amazed that I could still fit into the jacket as it had not been worn in 10 years! I was a nervous wreck, apparently I did not realize this but I guess I was a tad bossy to my husband and a Malinois friend of mine who was with us that also qualified to show. I started belting out orders and not realizing it, they forgave me in the end and my girlfriend had never seen me quite like this. I felt like a total novice all of the sudden with the atmosphere and all the dogs and show people from everywhere! Im surprised I remembered what I was doing LOL! Gunner was a good boy and didnt try any antics in the ring on this particular day. I have had to put alot of training into this dog to keep his head up, when first taking this dog out to dog shows he was worst outdoors than indoors as he wanted to sniff the ground all the way around the ring, the more I attempted to pull up the more he would fight the collar and pull down. We have gotten him out of this habit thank goodness. Then he has become so fickle as I have had a handler on him after we qualified for this event and he has decided he is mommified to the point I had to leave the building and now when I show him he has decided to become attached to daddy, looking all over for him. Sheesh! When the judge pointed at Gunner for the breed my husband told me he didnt know if I was going to puke or cry, as I had that look on my face. Good thing I had makeup on or I guess I would have turned all white! I just felt numb and happy at the same time and was happy this was over with. This was quite an experience and I was very pleased to have been able to make it to Florida with only 4 months to qualify this dog for this event. During the groups I was much more calm than I was during the day, hopefully we will get to see the berner on tv as they did not show the berner on tv with the Philly show. I caught a glimpse of the dog during that televised event. My daughter told me she would die if I wore that blazer on tv! We stayed through the weekend and took the breed all three days in Orlando to finish off the season. Since being in what I call a training mode, Gunner is now ranked all breed and breed, and now the seriousness of all this starts in January but thank goodness I get two weeks off so that I can recouperate from sore muscles and shin splints and the worst part of all this is that I get to start from the beginning of the year instead of a portion of the year. Oh well I love the dog shows or wouldnt be going through all of this. Pat I havent forgotten about the brag fund! Sindi Leo L-Sin BMDs Sumerduck, VA
