Grey day, GRAYT day!

On Sunday, October 6th, the Garden State Weimaraner Club hosted their annual fall Specialty show.  Along with my co-hort Sallie, the three dogs and I headed to NJ.  I chose to go to the show after Amy encouraged me to show Dodge as a Veteran at the Specialty, and of course I put Swing in the classes since she needs the mileage and exposure.  She performed well in the ring, I got to see her move thanks to some video that Sallie took for me, and I can see where we both need a little work to help her continue to pick up points towards her CH.

The star of the day was my wonderful/gorgeous/handsome "Little Man" as I have called him since he was a baby.  Dodge was entered in Veteran Sweepstakes (Swing was not eligible since she is over 2 now and the oldest they can be is 24 months) and he won that class and went on to take Best Veteran Dog in Sweeps.  Next he was entered in the Specialty, again as a Veteran, and he won the class which put him in the line up for Best of Breed.  There were 19 Specials, Winners Dog, Veteran Dog, Winners Bitch and the Versatile Bitch and after we all checked in the judge excused all of the girls and proceeded to judge all of the males.  After a few more laps around the ring my boy made the cut which meant that we would be back in the ring after the girls had their cut.  Dodge kept getting better and better each time he was in the ring so when we went in for the final time I had a good feeling that he was going to be recognized in one way shape or form.  We were pulled out with two other males to do a go around and then a free stand in the center of the ring and I couldn't have asked for any more of an effort than what he gave me.  Other than a rear leg that wasn't perfectly lined up (his tendency has always been to pull one of them under himself when he does a free stack) he stood out on the end of the lead, held his stand while the judge walked around him, and looked just stunning!  He knew that he needed to turn it up a notch and at that point I began to think that she just might give him the win which would add BISS to his name!  I believe it was close and when it was all said and done he walked away as the Select Dog, a very exciting accomplishment.  Here's a shot that KellyAnn, a friend of Linda from Grayhart Weims, took.

I can't tell you when this shot was taken since he was in and out of the ring FIVE times that day.  I know there are more pictures of him so as soon as I pull them off of the camera I'll post a couple.  It was nice having Amy and Michael there to see Dodge show.  Their boy, Fala, did a nice job in his Sweeps class as well as in BOB competition.  Hopes are that he has a litter on the ground by Thanksgiving (he was bred to Linda's girl Jam and I know she'll have an announcement on her blog, http://grayhartweims.blogspot.com/, once the pregnancy is confirmed).  And I may be convinced to put Dodge back in the ring a few more times when a judge that likes him is in the area.

Swing is in heat now, 6 months to the day (10/11) from her last heat, and that means that by next weekend she will be at the kennel.  I'll take advantage of the one on one time with Dodge to work on some agility handling skills as well as more personal play in obedience training.  AND I have been promising him that I would get him back out on the tracking line.  Until next time!