Farrah the Débutante Shiba

It finally came in the mail! Farrah's first show picture. San Jo Lillith Fair, June 12, 2011, Tacoma Kennel Club, Mr John Madieros, Winners Bitch for 5 pt Major win her first weekend out. I love this picture of her, she is just beautiful and showed well. I luvs my little baby. She is 9 months in this photo.

Farrah's Big Day (Show Win Brag!)

Farrah (San Jo Lillith Fair), made her AKC debut in Puyallup this weekend. As she is a 9 month old puppy and this is her first show, I didn't expect an outstanding performance. My goals for her were for her to have fun, pay attention to me, and mind her manners. Boy was I thrilled when Judge John Madieros awarded her Winner's Bitch on her second day for a 5pt Major! Woot! The weekly handling lessons and classes are paying off. Early socializing is such a huge deal with this breed and can help make happy, confident dogs that are enjoyable to take anywhere. Good girl Farrah.

Just starting to drop her gorgeous puppy coat

Blurry shot of her awesome reach

The Judge loved her movement and front and asked to see her
go around several times, really studying her

Head shed and false eyebrows!

She has a toosh like her mommy, Lillith

She had a great time

Tail drop on the table is ok, it comes right up as soon she is baited

 

Show Scene: Western Washington Cluster

6 months ago, I entered my very first pointed dog show with my very first show dog, Ike, a Shiba Inu as most of you know. I had taken handling classes for a few months by then and gone to matches, but was still a horrible nervous wreak. 6 months later, I returned to the same venue as a (slightly) more experienced handler, a year exactly from the time I had watched my first dog show in person. I believe the differences from that day 6 months ago to this January show are profound. I'm not saying I'm great at it or anything, but at least this time (hopefully) I looked like I knew what I was doing a little more. Well, I managed to attract a fan and fellow Shiba newby anyway who was kind enough to share these pictures of us from last month...And please ignore my giant gams, it's all the camera angle I swear.

Ike looks so naked while he stands at attention. He was totally out of coat.

Ike says, "Pick me! I'm a good boy."

Ike is Winners Dog in the best of breed lineup, his brother Mr. Jones (bred by Leslie Engen) is to my right

Ike has a Brag

We packed our little bags and ventured out yet again to the dog shows for another try at glory. Ike is growing in a good coat and he just really seems to enjoy showing himself off and being around the show comotion. This time we were in Vancouver, an intimate venue with 6 Shiba entries.

Ike was Best of Winners both days. We came back with some new friends, some Championship points, and some excellent experience. He was a very good boy and a good traveler. Beebe spent the weekend in daycare and became completely hoarse/squeaky from barking with glee. She sounds like a maltese now.

We are all home and snuggly by the fire now after losing power for a day (I guess Fall is here). Somebody managed to find a rubber ducky in the autumn leaves...

Weekly Shibatudes: an update

I will try and post a weekly or so update about our goings on.

Ike: We went to the breeders and I got a very good lesson in ring handling and proper presentaion. Long and short of it, if I am careful with how I move and present him, Ike should be fit enough to officially start doing some shows.

I entered him in the June 6-7th Puyallup cluster, so we will see how it goes! I have a few weeks anyways to iron out the kinks and go buy something suitable to wear for myself.

Beebe: Week 3 of her CGC class has gone by with good progress. She is showing very good focus and attention. She still can't seem to keep the "bark" inside, every once in a while one just slips out. She is doing extremely well with heeling and sitting to be pet. The instructor told me she had way too much obedience training. With shibas, you can never have too much training.

Agility class is likewise, going very well. Beebe has really "turned on" with this type of training and her obedience work has improved 10 fold because it's turned into an awesome game now. Tunnel-okay with that but sometimes she decides to back out of it or jump on top of it, same with the chute. Weaves poles-would rather try and jump over them (I don't know how this works in her brain). Aframe-loves it! Dog walk-my shiba may be a mountain goat. Tire-does ok. Teeter-umm, it moves when she touches it so she would rather it didn't exist.

We may be taking some time this summer to enter some Obedience/agility competitions, and will post dates later.