I took Betty to the Greater Wichita Poodle Specialty and Salina and Wichita shows in early April. She was the only Open bitch and then was completely ignored for Winners and the points. It was very disappointing and I would have cut her down to concentrate on agility except that she was already entered in the Seward County shows this past weekend.
I decided that if she didn't get at least a reserve with competition I would cut her down.
Saturday was under judge Robert Sharp (now on my DNS list). Seriously I swear the old guy can't see more than 4 feet in front of him and is very heavy handed on the dogs. He smacked Betty on the topknot and grabbed her jaw from behind her head and pulled her head up to look at her bite. Bless her heart, she only rolled her right eye toward me with a "WTF" look.
The other Open bitch showed up 2 minutes before ring time and the owner/handler was still picking leaves out of an unbrushed dog. Of course she won the class. A local professional handler, told me he had seen some screwings in his time, but that one took the cake.
Sunday was a different story. Still no points but at least it was encouraging. We had a judge change to Karen McFarlane, whom I will now stalk around the countryside to show to. The same bitch was in Open with us, but had been brushed and sprayed up this time. She still didn't show well and had her tail down. Betty won the Open class and was being considered for Winners. The PH's very nice black 12-18 month bitch got Winners and Variety (no dogs or specials entered) Betty got reserve (with competition)!
Later the PH told me the owner/handler of the other Open bitch had approached him early Sunday asking if he had someone with him who could handle one of her bitches in Winners since she expected a repeat of Saturday when her puppy won her class (only one in it) and her Open bitch won. He asked her if she wasn't counting her chickens before they hatched, and said "You know that little silver bitch is very nice." She just said Pssht and walked off.
After Betty won Open this woman was totally pissed and then even more so when Betty got Reserve over her puppy bitch. I was amazed, particularly when she appeared at least 5 or 6 years older than me. What happened to losing gracefully?
Anyway that's our weekend story. Next three weekends are AKC agility with Cash. Betty gets to go along to hang out. I'm going to keep her in coat for the time being and cross train in agility. That way if I run across a judge I think will like her I can still be ready to show her.
The first video is the Winners class and the second is the Open class. I didn't realize until I just watched the video again that it appears that the "other" handler tried to run up on us. Betty just lengthened her stride and stepped right out. What a good girl!
I decided that if she didn't get at least a reserve with competition I would cut her down.
Saturday was under judge Robert Sharp (now on my DNS list). Seriously I swear the old guy can't see more than 4 feet in front of him and is very heavy handed on the dogs. He smacked Betty on the topknot and grabbed her jaw from behind her head and pulled her head up to look at her bite. Bless her heart, she only rolled her right eye toward me with a "WTF" look.
The other Open bitch showed up 2 minutes before ring time and the owner/handler was still picking leaves out of an unbrushed dog. Of course she won the class. A local professional handler, told me he had seen some screwings in his time, but that one took the cake.
Sunday was a different story. Still no points but at least it was encouraging. We had a judge change to Karen McFarlane, whom I will now stalk around the countryside to show to. The same bitch was in Open with us, but had been brushed and sprayed up this time. She still didn't show well and had her tail down. Betty won the Open class and was being considered for Winners. The PH's very nice black 12-18 month bitch got Winners and Variety (no dogs or specials entered) Betty got reserve (with competition)!
Later the PH told me the owner/handler of the other Open bitch had approached him early Sunday asking if he had someone with him who could handle one of her bitches in Winners since she expected a repeat of Saturday when her puppy won her class (only one in it) and her Open bitch won. He asked her if she wasn't counting her chickens before they hatched, and said "You know that little silver bitch is very nice." She just said Pssht and walked off.
After Betty won Open this woman was totally pissed and then even more so when Betty got Reserve over her puppy bitch. I was amazed, particularly when she appeared at least 5 or 6 years older than me. What happened to losing gracefully?
Anyway that's our weekend story. Next three weekends are AKC agility with Cash. Betty gets to go along to hang out. I'm going to keep her in coat for the time being and cross train in agility. That way if I run across a judge I think will like her I can still be ready to show her.
The first video is the Winners class and the second is the Open class. I didn't realize until I just watched the video again that it appears that the "other" handler tried to run up on us. Betty just lengthened her stride and stepped right out. What a good girl!
