Well better late than never right?  The Collie Club of America National Specialty show was so much fun!  Amy had arranged and organized a huge grooming area for all of us, I lost count at how many dogs and people--it was organized chaos.  My thanks to Amy for her oganizational skills.  I was totally overwhelmed when I walked in that day.  There were so many set ups with breeders I've read about and dogs I've only seen pictures of.  It's so nice to be able to meet breeders and go over their dogs.  I found everyone to be delightful and open about showing off their dogs, letting me go over them, etc.  It was a huge learning experience.  I have many notes in my catalog about dogs and their offspring and a new short list of boys that I'd love to breed to in the future.                                                                  

There were oodles of really cool vendors, and yep, the credit card got quite a workout.  But that's what the 2nd job is for right? :-)  And of course the dogs got a few goodies to take home.  Dora was entered in Best Of Variety and it felt very cool to stand out in that huge ring and show my dog.  I had no illusions that we would even make a first cut, but I wanted to show my dog and she did a wonderful job.  Dora hasn't been in the breed ring since she finished but she picked up and proved that there are brains in that pretty little head of hers. 

The biggest news of the week was Jam's performance in Rally Advanced.  The first day we did not qualify, but he did not leave the ring and he did the jump with what passes for joyful abandon for Jam!  I felt like we took a High In Trial or Best In Show just knowing that he stayed in the ring!  The next day he made me a very proud mom and completed his RA title.  Big thanks to Sahra who is a wonderful coach (I will try never again to give my dog a stay signal while at the same time asking him to move position!--handler error, handler error!!) and to Jam's cheering section!  We came home with two rosettes, one for qualifying and one for earning a new title.  Pictures to follow! 

What would a person do without wonderful friends?  Jean kept my other dogs for me while I was off galavanting in LaCrosse.  It was such a relief to know that I could leave for a week and not have to worry about the old guys.  Riley has more bad days than good and even though Maddy is geriatric she is like the energizer bunny who needs hearing aids I'm afraid.  Although that could be selective deafness caused by "I'm a terrier syndrome".

I can't wait to attend another Collie National Specialty.  Dave is determined that we will go next year to MA--I'm not totally convinced on that trip yet!

Until next time...