out and about
Adventures With Rollingview's Cape Crusader
Continues...
Reporting in from recent Conformation Show Rings around the area we welcome Rollingview's
Cape Crusader and his handler extraordinaire, Douglas Bender.
Introduction:
Hunter: a.k.a. Hunter-man, Hey-cutie & Huntaire
Official Handle: Rollingview's Cape Crusader
Sire: Auriga's Gone with Jon (Robbi)
Dam: Rollingview's Babbling Brook (Smudge)
Breed: Old English Sheepdog (OES)
Date of Birth: May 19th, 1999
From Dollard Des Ormeaux, QC:
May 20th and 21st, 2000.
(Doug and Hunter's Third Show)
I am sure most, if not all of you have been waiting anxiously for the next
chapter in Doug & Hunters excellent "show" adventure. Well, we wrapped up
another show weekend yesterday. Since we both work, we have only been showing
in two or the three day shows. We're off today for a national holiday and we're giving the
other kids, Mike and Molly a bit of well earned attention.
This was Hunters first competition as an adult and the first show on Saturday was going to
be my first time out without my handlers. That is, people that take care of me. Carol was
flying back from a business trip in Paris and was due to arrive well after the Best in
Show comp. We were due in the ring at 1:30. The competition was about 30 minutes from
home, so that was really nice. I washed Hunter's whites on the Friday (his 1st birthday),
so he was looking really nice. Oh, another lesson for Doug (seems like these are never
ending). I took Friday afternoon off, came home and took the crew for a walk in the woods.
There is a new development with golf course going in but the woods are still pretty much
in tact.....well, at least the walking trails. We were out there for a couple of hours.
The dogs were running around and enjoying all the smells of spring. When we got home, I
noticed Hunter had a big gob of what I thought was dark mud on his snout. After a closer
exam, I realized it was
black oil or grease. I tried some dry shampoo on it.....nothing. Next, I tried lemon
juice......nothing. Dishwashing soap......nothing.
Hmmmmm..thinking....thinking....paint thinner ???? That's a little drastic.......laundry
room.......Javex, Stain Away.....directions......works on blood, mustard, chocolate &
"grease" !!! I put some on his snout, rubbed it in and let it sit, while I
prepped the tub. It rinsed off right away.....phew !!!! The rest of his whites came
out really well. Ok, back to the
show. We got to the arena around 11:15 am and were searching around for a place to setup.
At our previous shows, we always had someone reserve a spot
for us. I dropped the gear and began setting up, when some little turd, said that it was
reserved. After a bit of back and forth, I made another lap and found the OES corner. They
welcomed us with open arms !!!
I got setup and Hunter brushed out. With 45 minutes to go, Barbara strolled in. I was
relieved to see her, as I still had the final touches to do and I was running short of
time. We got him ready, then out to the ring. Hunter behaved quite well in the ring.
Although, he did seem a bit tired. Next time,
I am going to wash him earlier in the week. Anyways, the judge went over the dogs very
quickly and really didn't seem to pay much attention. As he sent the dogs around the ring,
he looked away and chatted with people on the outside of
the ring. Hunter placed third (out of three). Not our best showing but we did get to go
home early, so it wasn't a complete loss.
Sunday morning we were on at 10:30. This time, I had my handler Carol with me. I can't
stress enough the importance of an assistant (gofer) at a show. This time in the ring, the
judge spends serious time going over the dogs. The bite,
snout, head, head again, shoulders, front legs, shoulders again, top-line, haunches,
hawks, anglelation, top-line again. The down and backs were very closely watched, as were
the run arounds. After the run around, Hunter stacked
nicely.....the judge just stared .....then came over again and went over them. Hunter took
the breed (including a special). I felt that was a good win since the judge really seemed
to go over the dogs. By this time, it was 11 am......the group competition wasn't until
3:30. After Hunter had a quick nap
and light lunch, we went for a stroll around a nearby lake then hung out and watch a bit
of the show. After a light touch up on Hunter we went out to wait beside the ring. My
handling instructor** was there with a bearded collie.......competition. He said that they
decided to move it to an outdoor ring. Not being born yesterday, I said I'd follow him
when he goes. He laughed and said, he was just trying to give his dog an advantage. I
laughed with him, then pulled out my can of orange spray paint (kidding). We were called
into
the ring.....we were last in line. We haven't seen this judge before. Again, this judge
takes her time with each dog. As we do the down and back, people applaud......as soon as
Hunter hears the applaud, he head perks right up and
really becomes alive. So far so good......he stacks nicely. Waiting....waiting......more
waiting.....we get pulled, yeah baby. The judge goes over them again....this time more
quickly....then we each go around the ring.
In the end, Hunter did not place, but it was a good competition and I was very proud of
him. Several of the OES crowd who were competing over the weekend and others who just came
by to watch were there supporting and that was great.
Our next competition is at a booster in Brome, Quebec. June 9 -11th.
Doug & the Shaggy Lane Gang
(Hunter
and Carol Bender taking a well earned break.
Photo courtesy of Doug Bender.)
Adventures with Rollingview's Cape Crusader in the Conformation Show Ring
continues on the next page...
**Douglas
Bender and Hunter's handling instructor is Graeme Burdon from St. Lazare, QC.
(Copyright, OES-L Mailing List, 2000. Monday, May, 22, 2000 edition. Used
with permission from Douglas Bender.)
Keep an eye open for different topics of interest such as: profiles on
people and their dogs, to name but a few interesting topics...Also, have a look at what Rita Susanto and "Justin" have been up to these
days.
Why not be part of "out and about" and send in your canine
companion's accomplishments to us. To do so, please send us a brief description of how you
both did in the event(s) along with the location(s) you and your canine were both in to:
NK Concepts - Dog Supply Training Specialist.
|
Adventures with
Rollingview's Cape Crusader
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