Getting ready....SUCKS

Once a year I take a few days and head up to the house in Traverse City, MI. We usually go up the week of the 4th of July but we are heading up later in July this year.

It takes me about a month to get everything in order so I can leave. I am usually a nervous wreck the whole time I am gone.

I have two people coming to check and care for the sheep/chickens and 2 other people coming to take care of the dogs. I have to make sure there is PLENTY of clean beds, (not that they do not know how to use the washer) but Iwant it to be easy for them. I need a stock pile of food, treats, instructions, ect.

I make sure everything is scrubbed down and cleaned, including the house. I hate coming home to a dirty mess. So in this heat getting the farm ready for me to leave really sucks right now.

It's always about the weather

You will never hear me complain about it being to hot. The hotter the better for me. But, you have to understand I am 5'2" and about 110 lbs. So not much there. It also works the other way as well, no insulation and i am always freezing.

Today was very pleasant and comfortable. I decided to open the windows and doors for the dogs and just have the fans on. The last few days the air has been struggling to keep all the kids cool. I think they are happier and healthier when they get lots of fresh air and can come in to cool down after a tough day of being a dog.

So today is a nice break for them

Bow Wow out :)

Burns my butt :(

I will be the first to admit when i am bored I do lurk at other people's websites. Like breeders of dogs and sheep. Sometimes cats and horses but mostly dogs. One thing that really gets me hot under the collar is when people use AKC Championships as their selling points when their dogs are either 1) not even AKC registered 2) Not an AKC Champion 3) not even out of 1st or 2nd generation AKC Champions or 4) uses someone else's accomplishments to promote them because they own a 4th cousin once removed of an AKC Champion dog. UUGGHHH

And the reason why I get so upset is I have a DROP DEAD GORGEOUS PUFF female named Sable who has been out showing for 2 years now. She is the correct puff cresteds but just needs a major to get her AKC Championship. Now a Major is when you beat at one time 10 dogs or more. So in order to beat that many dogs there has to be that many entered. So you don't know how many until you enter. This is what we call in the dog show world chasing a major. I counted and I have entered 34 shows that I did not go to because there was less then the 10 dogs I needed so at $30 a pop that adds up.

Now i have Sable this weekend with Mary at $75 a day plus boarding plus mileage at the MI shows and as far as I knew the major held. Until I saw 2 people did not show up. HOW frustrating. Unless you are a true show person you have no idea how much time, money and effort goes into an AKC Champion and for others to use them like candy when they are not even earned is sickening.

Bow Wow Out :)

New Chinese Crested Puppies Born

There has been lots of buzz and anticipation of this litter just born today. Lyric who is a red hairless female (the full litter mate to "FEZ") just had her litter. So far there are 4 cute little babies.

The dad is the Shambala male "Boeey" who I use often on my girls since he produces very nice puppies.

Lyric started in labor around 7 am and had her first puppy around 9. I am not sure if she is done But if she only has 4 I will be OK with that. I would like to see healthy puppies even if it is only 1 over a lot of unhealthy ones.

The run down is Black and tan hairless female, black spotted hairless female, black and tan puff female & black and tan puff male.

I will post more info and pictures soon.

Bow Wow out :)

Winnie the non-crested

Most of you know I have a Pyrenean Shepherd to help with the sheep. She is 15 months old so still pretty young. Until she matures in the head we figured go ahead and get her AKC Championship and have some fun with her in the ring.

She has been a Champion since Memorial day and went this weekend with my handler Mary Norton-Augustus. Mary and I share the handling of both Winnie and Sable the Crested. Depending on the show and location. Winnie kicked some herding behind by so far taking a GRP 2 over the # 13 overall all breed dog an Australian Shepherd. SO I am crossing my fingers for today in hopes for another big win.

When I brought Winnie home, not ever having this breed, I questioned what I was doing. But now having been with her since September I have no regrets. Her breeder has done a wonderful job on her and I Hope years down the road I can produce a PS as nice as Winnie.

Bow Wow Out!!

The Dog days of Summer

Today is the same as any other day. Lots of work to be done. Even though it is nice and warm outside I still have tons of things that need done everyday.

I do dog laundry everyday at least 2 to 4 loads. I have my own washer and dryer just for the dogs. Each dog or puppy has its own bed or pad to sleep on and there is always accidents in the morning so i try to keep up on it, but sometimes it gets backed up. My washer can only hold so many dog beds :)

Floor is swept and mopped, everyone gets breakfast, played with, brushed out, ect. That is a daily thing 365 days a week.

Today they will have to go "night night" early since I have my foot surgery and will need to rest the remainder of the night. I am sure they wont mind. The air will be on and so will the TV so they can relax the evening away. Sorry i have not posted in a while just been super busy and my blog seems to get pushed farther back on my list of things to do.

I have new puppy pics and videos I will be uploading on the website so check them out later today.

Bow Wow out :)

Scoop on the Poop

Been a few days since I blogged. I guess I have been too busy :) Also not feeling all that well. Tim came home from the house in Traverse City with the flu and I got it, but not as bad. He is still really coughing and sounds horrible. I just got the nose, eyes and throat of it. So far.

Dogs are enjoying the nice days. I love when they can be out laying around just being dogs. We had our Donkey's hoofs done on Sat. and I tossed the cut hoof pieces to the girls. They love things that are stinky and gross to chew on. So they chill outside knawing on thier treats.

I got Winnie's AKC Champion Cert. In the mail yesterday. She is now official. I guess work on her Grand CH and get her ranked. She is going out with Mary most of the summer since it is hard for me to leave the farm for days at a time. Mary loves her and really enjoys showing. I will take her out to the local shows but anything over an hour she goes with her.

Other than that not much happening. It is a raining drab day today and I should be working on my book. I am about a third of the way done. I need motivation :)

Bow wow out !!

Again it has been awhile

Not much going on in the Crested world lately, well at least not mine. Steph took 4 pts this past weekend in Toledo with Smudge. He is a hairless male out of Hayden and Fionia. Kind of a funny story, she used Fionia becasue she owns Hayden (A FEZ son) but was to give the co-owner of Fionia pick puppy back.

The whole time she kept saying that Smudge was pick and the other owner kept disagreeing so he took another puppy which turned into a pet and Steph kept smudge and he is almost finished with his AKC Championship and got a group 2 out of the classes. Guess she was right and he was wrong. maybe next time people will listen.

I think Izzy Steph's all black puff girl out of Hayden is preg. she was bred to Boeey and looking like a burnt sausage. I will keep everyone posted.

Show results

Sorry I have not been on in a while, but getting ready for my 5 day show weekend which started Thursday. Winnie the PS took Winners Bitch for a 5 pt major. She only needed 2 pts so that finished her and she is now an AKC Champion.

Today which is Sat. Was the PYren Shep. National Speciality show. Winnie was moved up to the Champion class and competed for Best of Breed. He (the judge ) was from France and spoke no English so we showed under an interpreter. He has been in PS's for over 50 years so he knew his stuff. There were 55 entered today and Winnie made it in the top 12 cut.

That is Unbelievable for a 13 month old puppy. She was the youngest Champion to compete. Her breeder was there from Canada and Just LOVES HER she said she needs to mature which is true. She brought me a true French Sheep bell from her trip to France. Boy the sheep are going to love me for this one. CLING CLING CLING all day and night.

Sable my CC on the other hand is still in her show rut. 3rd out of 6 in the Bred By class. Such a beautiful bitch but can't get a break. Sorry if I offend anyone, that's nothing new but the competition was well yet to be desired. Where is the consistency, the standard, it sucks to loose to dogs with no merit. Judges need to step back and re read the AKC standard. That's my grip for now.

Bow Wow out!!

Mode of Transportation

I am still with out my Truck, let's see it has been 8 days. But you know not really having to leave is a plus. Yesterday I had a few things to do, but just shanghaied my mom and we spent the day eating McDonald's, weeding at the winery, relaxing for an hour, taking a puppy to the vets, oh and eating our fill on Dunkin donuts. AAHHHH the joys of no transportation.

Hopefully it will be done today. It seems the service department has come down with a nasty bug. Hope they get the "Cooties" out of my truck before I get in it. I have the BIG PS nationals next weekend and 5 days of showing and driving is no fun when you are sick.

Bow wow out!!!

When it rains, it pours.

Actually, that is so true even literally. Raining pretty hard today and the rest of the week. We really do not need more water. My hay fields are getting tall, and if they go to seed the hay is to stalkie for the sheep. But more rain makes it grow faster which in turn makes it seed sooner.

Dogs are in today, not happy about the rain. Henni my bw puff can clear any fence so when they are in and out she has to be crated otherwise she will be all over the countryside. So she got a nice snack and will spend her day curled up watching TV. I think Regis and Kelly is on for them.

Waiting to hear on my truck. You know I should break down and get a new vehicle and it would solve everything. But who wants that huge payment :( If I commit to that payment it really limits my extra curricular activities. So what is the point of a new truck if you have no money to drive it or no money to spend when you get there.

Bow wow out!!

Welcome Allison, want to hear the POOP?

Hey, It was nice to see my long lost CC friend, Allison, is a follower. (She just follows so she can have her daily laugh.)

I know she is sitting back, saying "Glad that's not me"

Well, Allison, my truck is broke so where are my Lottery winnings. You know we had a promise.

Great, you get to keep up on the latest POOP, got plenty of it.

Bow Wow out!!

Puppy leaving...on a jet plane

Today, I drop off "Romper" a powder puff female puppy to here new owners. They are flying into Cleveland to pick her up. I told them I would meet them at the coffee stand. It was funny because they asked "Which Coffee stand" and I laughed "The only one they have, Cleveland airport is not that big"

After I drop her off I am heading over to the winery. If you have not already figured out I spend a few hours a week at a local winery. I wanted something where I could actually get away from the farm and socialize with other humans. My job description is actually "Jane, of all trades..... I am usually found outside tending to the grounds.

Sometimes it can be a bit stressful, since the owner is an out of state owner, but it keeps me out of trouble. Not like I am getting rich off of it, but sometimes it's not always about the $.

Bow Wow out!!!

Ready for the PS Nationals

I just got my entries in for the big Memorial day shows in New Castle, PA. It is the PS national Speciality and Winnie only needs 1 pt to finish. We are entered this coming weekend in Tallmadge, OH but there is no dogs or bitches in the classes, only 3 dog specials. We would need to take the breed to finish. She has done it before so there is hope.

I am also hoping for majors on Sat and Sun for Sable. Poor Crested.... I have entered her in over 13 shows and have had to be absent due to no majors. Where is everyone????

Now I hope for big entries in New Castle so I can knock it out of the park with these two girls.

Here we come Eukanuba!!!

Bow Wow Out!!

Puppy leaving..or maybe not

I was so excited that one of my black puff males was going to his new home today. He is such a sweet wonderful little guy. He is a bit shy and needed a lap to snuggle on. But last night the new owner had to cancel. She felt a new puppy was not the right choice at this time. Poor "Bubba J" he was so looking forward to his new mommy.

So he is still looking for that perfect lap to sit on. Until then, he gets to hang with me and enjoy some of the nice weather.

Bow Wow out!!

This DOG-GONE rain.

Again, I should just copy and paste from past post. Today....Rain and high of 50. Dogs are not happy. They need some sunshine. I need some sunshine.

More mud puddles today. To bad I can't sell mud. I would be a millionaire. That and poop. Got lots of poop on the farm.

Still planning on making an appearance at the Bucyrus shows with Winnie. Not expecting a lot but we need some face time.

Today getting dog food, I think. Having my dogs on a high end diet is very expensive. So I make the hour drive to the Distributor in order to save about 50% per bag. I like to stock up so I don't have to make the trip but once a month. I also pick up for several other people so everyone wins.

Bow Wow out!!

Come on nice weather

Again another raining day. My dogs are in laying on their beds wondering when the rain will let up. They LOVE laying out on the doggie hammocks and soaking up the rays. Not going to happen today.

TV is on for them, but just the news. They like the sounds of the TV it makes them feel like I am in the room with them. I have less barking and howling when they can watch their shows.

I would rather have them outside running and playing but today I think will be a day of relaxing.

Death 2 the devil equals low gas prices

Since the announcement of the death of Bin Laden, the price of oil per barrel dropped nearly 2 dollars in 3 hours. It is amazing our the Devil has a hand in everything we do. It is like once evil is removed the clouds clear and the sun appears.

For doggie things today, the price of gas may be a blessing for me. I have doing a 5 day show 130 miles away and driving back and forth each day. At the price of gas now, I need to set back over 400 dollars just for gas and tolls. Maybe this news will grant me a little bit of a break :)

Bow Wow Out!!

Its a Dog day

Not much going on with the Cresteds or the PS or even the poodles. i worked Winnie the PS out in the yard today. Since she has been with Mary for the past several shows, I needed to get the feel of her again for the shows coming up.

She did really well. She is such a goof ball though. We walked down the drive at a nice pace to get the paper and she kept her tail where it needed to be.

She is going for practice. Unless she takes a GRP1 then she is a CH.

Bow wow out!!

Fez's grandson "Smudge" takes his 1st pt

I posted earlier about my BFF Steph and her dog Smudge. Just got a call and she took Winners Dog for his first AKC Champion Pt. only 14 left to go. This would make Hayden's 1st sired AKC CH Hayden is a Fez son so Smudge is Fez's grandson. Steph says he moved like a dream today.

Me, Pixie Chinese Cresteds, may not pump out tons of Champions but I hold my own.

Bow wow out!!