Dog's Day Out

It's been a busy week for one of the puppies. Wendy, Ollie's new owner, had entered him for two shows. One Easter Monday and the other today.

Everything was new to both him and Wendy and they both coped very well.

At the first show Ollie was in a class with about 9 other dogs, some of which had been showing themselves off for years. Ollie, being a very lively dog, thought he was there to play with all the other dogs in the ring and as he walked around first tried to play with the dog in front of him and then the one behind him but they were having none of it.

The judge picked out about 5 dogs to stay in the ring but unfortunately Ollie wasn't one of them but he did do well for his first ever show.

Today we went to Shepton Mallet, Bath and West Show Ground. I had asked Wendy to phone me at 7.15am to wake me up so I wouldn't be late to pick her up at 8.30. I left home at 8 giving myself 30 minutes to do the 30 minute journey to her home, even in the Saturday morning traffic that would be plenty. Well it would have been if I hadn't got lost again.

When I did arrive at her home it was nearer to 9am and I was panicking. Wendy lives near the M5 and so we had to go straight across to the other side of Bristol to get onto the A37 and once on the right road we still had the drive to Shepton Mallet.

We arrived at the show ground with about 10 minutes to spare. We quickly put the table up, Wendy did Ollie's hair and they were off, into the ring, to show off to the judge.

There were 5 dogs in the class and they were all puppies, but only one was younger than Ollie so Ollie was still at some disadvantage.

He walk around the ring like he owned the place. Head high and proud and tail up and over his back, just as it should be, he looked lovely. Then came the time to put him on the table so the judge could have a good look at him.

He stood and waited for her and as she approached he decided she was a long lost friend and jumped up at her, tail wagging so fast his hair was going everywhere.

The judge tried to calm him by talking to him but this made him worse and so after a quick look Wendy was asked to walk him around the ring again and then back in line with the other dogs.

The judge took her time, looking at all the dogs again and then she picked out the winner, then the 2nd placed and 3rd. She then turned and picked Ollie, he had come 4th. Wendy was very happy with the placing and Ollie was just Ollie, trying to play with any dog which come within smelling distance.

Now sat at home and watching my two puppies, nicked named the terrible twins, I wonder if they will ever be ready to go into the show ring or am I doomed to have two hairy dogs that never grow up!

Ollie's Family

Ready to Go

Summer having her dinner

The puppies are 8 weeks old tomorrow and they were checked by the vet last week and all are in very good health. Summer will be going for her first jab on Thursday, an experience I don't think she will enjoy much.

Ollie will be the first to go to his new home and I am sure he will be very spoilt. His new family have been to see him a couple of times and have been surprised eash time how much he has grown.

They are planning to show him so I will be visiting his new home when he's a bit older to help get him ready for the show ring. I am also planning to show Summer so they will be seeing each other a few times a year. I wonder if they will remember each other? Time will tell.

Photos of Blake for Laura

Here are some photos of Blake that I promised I would post for Laura of Southampton

More Shih Tzu Photos

Here are some photos of the puppies I took in the garden today. they have grown so much since taking the first photos which are here and here

SUMMER

SAMBA

DANI

AKOS BUZSKY

It's been a little while since I wrote anything so i thought I would sit here and try to think of something interesting to tell you all.


Just to update you on the puppies first. They are now all up and running around. They are very playful and love having visitors to play with. I have decided to keep Summer and start showing again. She has the waggiest tail of them all and has already learnt where she has to go to the toilet, well males are always longer to learn, aren't they?

The family who have picked Ollie have said they may show him too, so it will be brother and sister battling it out in the ring.

I remember when I had to wait to collect the mum of my puppies when she was a puppy after seeing her. It seems such a long time, but as the saying goes, take advantage of the peace and quiet because once they arrive you have to have eyes in the back of your head.

As I've not shown any dogs for a while, I am out of touch with the show scene and where they hold ringcraft classes. If anyone knows can they let me know please?

Apart from the constant work the puppies require, the house is quite quiet now. Lou went back to Portsmouth Uni on Thursday to start her last year. She did forget a few things which she has asked me to post to her, but we managed to fit all her stuff into my small car. What a change from the first year when we needed two cars to take everything down and then at the end of her second year when it took two trips to collect everything. Let's hope she doesn't buy too many clothes or I may need to hire a van to bring her back next June.

Last night was the first time in ages that I had the house all to myself. Usually, if one of my daughters is staying out the other is home but now that Lou is in Portsmouth, if Amy is out then it's only me. The plan was for Amy to have friends come back here after they had gone to a party, but a text at 11.30 last night informed me of the change of plan and that she would be staying out instead of her friends staying here. I must say it was very quiet, well it would have been if it wasn't for the puppies running around the room most of the night and me running after them trying to keep them from going behind the TV.

Well I had better go and get some shopping as we have hardly any food in the house. Not too sure where I'll go yet but let's hope they have some cream cakes left, I fancy treating myself.

That's a Funny Name for a Shih Tzu

The Puppies Now Have Names

The Puppies are now a week old and have more than doubled in size. We have also named them all so we can tell who's getting on well and who may need a bit of help.

One of the smaller ones at birth is now one of the biggest ones. here she is in my hand.

Summer Sleeping

Their noses haven't completely turned black yet and their eyes and ears have yet to open. I expect they will be everywhere when they can see where they are going.

Is this what Donny Osmond meant when he sang Puppy Love?

Great Balls of Fire

I was just catching up on the news and came across this story, which made me smile after my recent experience with Mr. T

The only advice I have, Men, if she don't want you there get out!

I didn't have a photo to go with the news story so I thought I would put one of the puppies who are now one day old. We've been thinking of names for them and as we were at the England under 21s match last night we may name them after some of the players. I'll up date you when we've decided.

All lined up with no where to go

Six New Arrivals - Shih Tzu Puppies

Well it was a bit touch and go if we were going to be able to make the football tonight.

I've taken 2 weeks off work because my dog was due to have puppies next Saturday but she decided she wouldn't wait and the first one arrived at 3pm today. I wasn't home and I had a frantic phone call from my daughter which was short and to the point. 'The dog's got something hanging out of her. Please come home'

I wasn't far away and by the time I got home the puppy was out and not long after the afterbirth was delivered. Now 3 hours later we have six puppies, four boys and two girls and a very good mum looking after them.

Three arrive and mum is shattered

Just waiting for the last one and then a good rest

My friend looks at one of the new born puppies - a new experience for her

Puppies, How Cute

I went out to visit my friend this morning to catch up on the gossip and look what I found sleeping in the corner of her sitting room. 5 Shih Tzu puppies.

Aren't they cute.