The life and times of an English Airedale Terrier puppy

Monday, February 26, 2007

It's Showtime!

I had the most exciting day yesterday. I wasn't too impressed when it started out though, as mum got me out of bed at 7am! Sunday is normally lie-in day around here. Dad was working so mum dropped him off, then we went out for walkies. I met 2 really fluffy chow dogs. When we got home mum opened the stair gate which only ever means one thing...bath time. Noooooooooooooooo. I actually wasn't very dirty, so it was only a quick splash about luckily. When mum had dried me off with the towel, I could see she was thinking about something. She disappeared off into her bedroom & came back with a machine. She turned it on & hot wind was blowing at me. I think mum thought I was going to be scared of it, but I LOVED it! It felt so nice & it was fun opening my mouth wide & trying to eat the wind. Mum found that pretty hysterical, weird hoomans.

Anyway, once I was all groomed, mum put my harness on & we got in the car. We drove down a big motorway where lots of cars were zooming past. After about an hour we arrived at a hall a bit like where I go to Puppy Class. I could hear dogs barking. I suddenly remembered that mum told me a while ago that we had entered my Airedale Club's show in the Companion dog classes. Well, she natters on about so much stuff that I can only remember so much of it!

The dogs were first to be judged. This is my brother on the right of the photo. He's not my litter mate, but has the same parents as me. I think his pet name is Arthur. 2 of my actual litter mates were here as well. They are called Dylan & Bertie. I didn't manage to get my photo taken with them, but their dad said he has some nice photos of us together from when I went back to the breeders after my original owner took me back, so they are going to e-mail them to mum. They are both going to Crufts, so keep your paws crossed for them.

After all the dog classes, it was time for the Companion classes. Here the judge is deciding the 1st - 3rd placings for best puppy under 18 months. That's me & mum in the centre. We got 2nd place! I was trying my best to behave even though the others wanted to play.

The judge looked me all over, felt my body, looked at how I stood & moved & even checked my teeth. I was a really good boy & stood nice & calm, so mum was very proud of me.

We also entered "Best Movement". We got a Reserve in this. The judge spoke to mum afterwards & said that although I moved the best on the lead (leash), I didn't have the correct gait in my back legs (I carried them close together), so she had to mark me down. The dog that won was dragging his owner round the ring! Mum said she would rather I walked nicely to heel than anything!

I also got a 2nd placing for "Most Handsome Dog". Mum was so proud of me for performing so well & being so well behaved. I got LOADS of liver treats when we had finished! I loved being the centre of attention & strutting my stuff!

This is my dad, Patrick. He is lovely. He is really strong & solid, so I hope I grow up to be like him as I am quite gangly & skinny at the moment.

This is Rupert. He was a really noisy boy & barked almost the whole day. He was desperate to hump my, so I was giving him the cold shoulder, which was just making him bark even more, oops!

This little guy was 6 months old. His name is Archie. He was still really fuzzy like I used to be, & was really playful.

This big guy is Dennis. He is 6 years old. He was really gentle, & really seemed to like me as I am very calm for a puppy. He kept licking my ears which was sooooo tickly!

Meeting all these other Airedales was a perfect chance to swap stories & tips. Here we are discussing ways to score more food & treats from the hoomans. As Dennis has 6 years on the clock, he was a great fountain of knowledge & information.

I passed on a few tips myself to my younger Airedale brethren. Seems like he's listening hard to my tips on getting the hoomans to play tuggie & ball with you for hours on end.

There were Airedale's of all shapes, ages & sizes there. Lots were show dogs, but there were lots like me who are pets too. Mum says everyone was really friendly & happy to swap tips & chat about us Airedales. Mum got a few people's email addresses so hopefully we can meet up with them again soon.

After lunch it was time for the girls to be judges, apart from they called them bitches. They were all so pretty. I really liked this girl, she had such pretty eyes that she almost looked like she had eye make up on.

Here are some of the girls comparing beauty secrets.

This little madame was only 6 months & 3 days old, but she clearly already had flirting down to a fine art, poking her cutie butt right at me!

Here are some of the pretty puppy ladies getting judged. They were all so petite. See how nice they all stand. I guess that's how wide apart I'm supposed to hold my back legs, hmmm.

This is my breeder's girl. She is not related to me though. She is a beautiful Airegirl & is groomed to absolute perfection. I think she is called Annie.

Here I am with my breeders. It was so nice to see them again. I remembered David on the left very well & leapt up at him giving him lots of kisses. Mum told me off for jumping up as I don't usually do it, but I was just so excited!

I had such a great day, but I was seriously pooped when we left. I slept like a log the whole way home in the car, then for another 3 hours when we got home.

Mum eventually managed to wake me up to have some dinner & then took some photos of me with my rosettes. See how pretty they are. Shortly after this photo I managed to get my teeth into one of them, but it wasn't all that tasty.

I also got certificates, so they can go with my obedience awards. Mum got some little envelopes with money in, so I have requested some tasty treats & maybe a new toy. I think I more than earned that!

Not a bad haul for a morning out!

I finished off the day with a nice rawhide bone, yummy! What a perfect end to a really fun day.

Licks
Oscar x

19 comments:

Headgirl said...

Congratulations! What a smart boy!
Do hope mummy continues to show you....I say watch out Crofts!

Anonymous said...

Hiiiiiiiii mon Oscar je suis fière de toi. Dans mon coeur tu es le numéro un. Ca doit être beau un pays plein d'airedale. Ici en Suisse il y en a vraiment peu. Environ 40 naissances par année pour toute la Suisse alors ça fait pas beaucoup. Quoi de plus beau qu'un airedale ? 2 airedales.... Gros bisous pour mon chéri, Faya

Suki & Joey said...

Good job, Oscar! Wow, there were tons of airedales there. Did you enjoy competing? I would be scared. My mommy keeps talking about getting me "spayed" (whatever that means) so I won't be able to do that kind of stuff, but it looks like fun! Congrats :)
Puggy kisses xoxo
Suki

jaffeboy said...

well done Oscar. All of you look so smart.

U deserve a big marrow bone for doing so well.

Sophie Brador said...

Of course you won all those ribbons! You are the best. They may have made a mistake about second place though. You should ask them to check into that one. I can't believe that you wouldn't be the handsomest dog of all.

Molly the Airedale said...

Congratulations Oscar!!!!!!!!!!! Whooooooohoooooooooooo!!! You're so lucky that you get to hang out with all of the Airedales!!! You'll get to Crufts too one day - just you wait!

Love ya lots,
Maggie

Cash said...

CONGRATULATIONS OSCAR!!! WOW, you are such a good...smart boy! I know your Momma is so proud of you...even if you don't hold your back legs apart enough for those judges!!
YOU GO!!!
Jasper

Liberty Doo Dah said...

You rock Oscar!!
All those ribbons & stuff! Wow! Looks like you had lots of fun with all those other ADTs! I love playin' with other ADT's more than any other breed cause they don't mind playin' bittey face with me!

..and don't worry about those back legs! Practice makes Perfect!

AireWOW!
Liberty

Bogart H. Devil said...

CONGRATULATIONS OSCAR!!!!!

But you got robbed on the "Most Handsome", looking around at those other Dales you definitely should have won FIRST PLACE!!!

Love,
Bogart

Loui (and his mum!) said...

Oh well done Oscar! I am very impressed with your rosettes. Keep up the good work and who knows, you might be a Crufts one day.....

Loui xx

Joe Stains said...

congrats!!!!!!!

Boo Casanova said...

oscar, you have a fantastic day like me last sunday. i was tired like a dog too and i sleep for the longest time i remember.

so many airedales. i hope there would be a show like yours. not all dogs are up for serious competition rite?

wet wet licks

Boo

Fu Fu said...

Congrates Oscar, woh there's so many Airedales that I can't really tell which one is you. Do did you get treats and toys from the prize money?

~ fufu

Myeo said...

Congrats. You really did a good job. It was som much fun looking at all the airedale photos until we get confused like who is who..haha.

Love
Boy n Baby

Simba and Jazzi said...

Wow you won loads of stuff, well done,

Simba xx

Huskee and Hershey said...

Wowieee.. Great job Oscar!! You looked like you had a fun time..!!

Marvin -The Hollow Hound said...

Well done and Congratulations Oscar! I am so envious too! When you are a Mutt like me, you never get to go anywhere where they give out cute rosettes and certificates.

I love all the pictures of you and your "relatives",

lovely Jubbly! You are sooo cute too! love and licks, Marv xxxx

Chelsea said...

Wow it was like an airedale convention! You guys and gals really know how to put on a show!

Congrats on your ribbon. In my opinion you should of been number one.
The number two should of been what you did AFTER the show.

xoxoox
CHELSEA

Sunshade said...

Oscar, I think you're handsome doesn't matter how you stood!!! I have the worst possible kinda of coat for an Airedale according to standard, but mum and many other people love it.

The meet up looked like a lot of fun, besides the "conformation" part. I HATE dog shows, have I told you that?? I'm not sure if you've read this, but I embarrassed mum good a few times at dog shows..hehe.

(http://sunshadethesuperdale.blogspot.com/2006/10/dog-shows.html)

Oh, and my boyfriend SOLO, he won Best of Breed at Westminster this year. Mum is happy about it, I think he would be even sexier if he gets to roll in goose poop and romp around on the beach......

Love nibbles,
Miss Sunshade