Portuguese Water Dog Club of America National Specialty
Callaway Gardens, Georgia
September 17 - 23, 2011
Callaway Gardens, Georgia
September 17 - 23, 2011
This year's National Specialty was held at Callaway Gardens in Georgia. What a fantastic site for a week of fun with our dogs and friends old and new! I arrived in Georgia with Barb Crowther and our Azul and Mister on Friday, the 16th of September in time to practice at the water site with Mister. He performed all the exercises and we were set to race over to the hotel and get settled. Now we were ready to start our week! I have recapped our week below. Click on any thumbnail to start the slideshow. The pictures this year are awesome.
September 17, 2011 - Today was Mister's day to do his Tracking Test. Barb had been working with him for the past year getting him ready for the day and was excited and nervous. The weather was great for tracking and since we were tracking early in the day, the Georgia was not going to be a factor. Barb and Mister drew second track and they were set to go. To say Mister had a rocky start would be an understatement. He spent ten minutes sniffing and rummaging around until, just as the judges were about to give up on him, he decided to get going and find that glove. And find it he did! He completed the whole track in about four minutes once he decided to go and do it! Even the judges were amazed. Perfect turns, no hesitation. Mister had earned his Tracking Dog title! A great day for all the tracking dogs as all four dogs entered passed the test.
September 18 - Water Work Day! Mister was going to be trying for his Working Water Dog title. His practice on Friday had gone smoothly and he seemed happy with the boat and the trial site having done all his exercises without a problem. Barb and I were feeling rather confident that this National would be starting off with a 2 for 2 in new title attempts. First exercise was the gear bag retrieval which Mister loves and performed perfectly, even taking time to stop and pose for the photographer. Then onto the boat and out for the real work to begin. Second exercise was the dummy retrieval from the boat. No problem. Next onto the 3 article retrieve. Again, Mister was awesome, finishing the exercise with time to spare. Next was boarding another boat which took him away from Barb, then he had to jump into the water and retrieve a dummy, but could not jump off until Barb gave the signal. Perfect! He had trouble finding the dummy in the water for a bit, but Barb gave him his direction commands and he was fine. As Barb was pulling him into the boat and getting mentally prepared for the last (and, for Mister, the hardest) exercise of the blind retrieve of the float line, there was an eruption of cheers and hoots and hollers from the crowd on the shore. What the heck? Barb was confused, the steward was confused and Mister decided that, upon hearing me shout and cheer the loudest, he was done! I could have sworn that he was finished. And I had started up the cheering section! Poor Mister. Barb kept telling him to get off the boat, the float line, by that time, had floated all the way behind the farthest buoy and was partially hidden and there was a lovely looking dog playing on the beach down the ways. He plunked his butt on the boat and there was no way he was going to go. "Hey, Mum, I'm done. Don't you hear them cheering for me?? I rocked it!" Ah, well. Next year. There's always next year.
September 19 - Monday was a busy day for Barb and me. Mister was off to Agility and I had Azul in Futurity in the 6-9 Month Puppy Bitch Class. Mister's other puppy, Zeppelin, had made the trip down with Amy Ewald and was entered in the 6-9 month Puppy Dog Class. He and Amy were hot today and placed Fourth! Congratulations!
Azul was in great spirits. She is so much fun to show. Her attitude is that wherever she is, there's a party happening and everyone comes to see her. What more could you want from a show dog?? She had a wonderful time and I could not have asked more from her. She didn't place, but we got used to the ring and showing outdoors for the first time, so I had my eye on Sweepstakes and Regular Conformation classes later in the week.
Mister had an equally terrific time. He was entered in Novice Preferred classes at the Specialty which gave Barb the chance to run him herself outside. He ran faster than Barb, so she had a tough time keeping up with him! His standard run was fast and flawless until the A-Frame where he blew his contact (first time ever) and so NQ'd. His Jumpers run was wonderful. The two of them had a ball on the course and ended up with a Q and a Third Place ribbon!!
Azul was in great spirits. She is so much fun to show. Her attitude is that wherever she is, there's a party happening and everyone comes to see her. What more could you want from a show dog?? She had a wonderful time and I could not have asked more from her. She didn't place, but we got used to the ring and showing outdoors for the first time, so I had my eye on Sweepstakes and Regular Conformation classes later in the week.
Mister had an equally terrific time. He was entered in Novice Preferred classes at the Specialty which gave Barb the chance to run him herself outside. He ran faster than Barb, so she had a tough time keeping up with him! His standard run was fast and flawless until the A-Frame where he blew his contact (first time ever) and so NQ'd. His Jumpers run was wonderful. The two of them had a ball on the course and ended up with a Q and a Third Place ribbon!!
September 20 - Tuesday was a very busy day! Mister had his second day of Agility runs. Once more, he had way too much fun in the Standard course and this time knocked a bar, but his Jumpers course was awesome and for a second day in a row, he and Barb placed Third and left the trial with a new Title! Novice Jumpers Preferred. Congratulations to Barb and Mister!
Azul and I were entered in Sweepstakes. It was a very hot day, but I was thrilled with the way Azul just kept her tail up and was so happy the whole time. Nothing seems to faze this young girl. We had a strong group of 6-9 month puppy bitches and I could not have been happier when the judge pointed at us and gave us the third place ribbon. What a great day for Azul!
Tuesday night was the inaugural Top Twenty Event at the National Specialty. All the dogs that placed in the Top Twenty in Conformation in 2010 were invited and Mister was there in all his glory for the big night. He was the only owner handled dog there that night. I was able to sit in the reserved special seating section and got to watch the most gorgeous dogs strut their stuff. Barb waited in the back waiting her turn. To say she was nervous would be a huge understatement. When Mister came out and had his turn, what a wonderful thing to see! I was so proud of him! He performed really well and I thought he was the best looking thing there. It was an unforgettable night!
Azul and I were entered in Sweepstakes. It was a very hot day, but I was thrilled with the way Azul just kept her tail up and was so happy the whole time. Nothing seems to faze this young girl. We had a strong group of 6-9 month puppy bitches and I could not have been happier when the judge pointed at us and gave us the third place ribbon. What a great day for Azul!
Tuesday night was the inaugural Top Twenty Event at the National Specialty. All the dogs that placed in the Top Twenty in Conformation in 2010 were invited and Mister was there in all his glory for the big night. He was the only owner handled dog there that night. I was able to sit in the reserved special seating section and got to watch the most gorgeous dogs strut their stuff. Barb waited in the back waiting her turn. To say she was nervous would be a huge understatement. When Mister came out and had his turn, what a wonderful thing to see! I was so proud of him! He performed really well and I thought he was the best looking thing there. It was an unforgettable night!
Top Twenty Event
September 21 - Today was a day of Conformation events.
Zeppelin was entered in 6-9 Month Class Puppy Dogs. He looked great and he and his owner-handler, Amy Ewald, did a wonderful job!
Azul was entered in Brace with her half-brother Zeppelin. They are both Mister puppies and boy! do they look similar. Zeppelin had just turned six months a week before the specialty, so I had my hands full with these two very young dogs on a single lead! They did a wonderful job and took second place in Brace! Whoo! Hoo!
Mister was entered in Stud Dog with Azul and Zeppelin representing his get. All three did a wonderful job, but did not place. It was hard to be competitive with his get when they are yet so very young and the other competitors had grown offspring with them. Now, next year, watch out! They are growing up beautifully! I am very proud of these two young puppies.
Zeppelin was entered in 6-9 Month Class Puppy Dogs. He looked great and he and his owner-handler, Amy Ewald, did a wonderful job!
Azul was entered in Brace with her half-brother Zeppelin. They are both Mister puppies and boy! do they look similar. Zeppelin had just turned six months a week before the specialty, so I had my hands full with these two very young dogs on a single lead! They did a wonderful job and took second place in Brace! Whoo! Hoo!
Mister was entered in Stud Dog with Azul and Zeppelin representing his get. All three did a wonderful job, but did not place. It was hard to be competitive with his get when they are yet so very young and the other competitors had grown offspring with them. Now, next year, watch out! They are growing up beautifully! I am very proud of these two young puppies.
Stud Dog and Brace Competition
September 22 - Today was Conformation for all the girls. Azul was entered in 6-9 month Puppy Bitch class. Her class was huge with over 20 entries. Such Beautiful young girls. Once again, I could not have asked for more out of this young pup. She sailed around the ring and I was just along for the ride. What fun! I was over the moon when Judge Nancy Liebes pointed at me as her choice for first placement! What a wonderful honor. Way to go, Azul!
Barb was busy during the morning and missed Azul's flawless performance as she was over with Mister in the Rally ring. I missed Mister's performance in the ring, but Barb was so very happy with him. Even being outside with so many wonderful smells and oh! so many pretty girls to distract him, Mister was able to keep his head together and ended the morning with a qualifying score and another new title. He now has his Rally Excellent title! What a good boy, Mister!
Barb was busy during the morning and missed Azul's flawless performance as she was over with Mister in the Rally ring. I missed Mister's performance in the ring, but Barb was so very happy with him. Even being outside with so many wonderful smells and oh! so many pretty girls to distract him, Mister was able to keep his head together and ended the morning with a qualifying score and another new title. He now has his Rally Excellent title! What a good boy, Mister!
Mister's Rally Trial and Azul in Conformation
September 22 - Last day of the 2011 National Specialty. Today was the Best of Breed competition and then the whole week wrapped up with the Annual Awards Banquet. The ring for the dogs was muddy and very slippery thanks to a deluge of rain we had received through the night. Throughout the morning, there were slips and spills, lost shoes and a lot of fire ant hills that needed to be dealt with. What an exciting way to finish off a National Specialty!
I was very proud of our boy Mister that day and oh! so very nervous as he made one cut after another. With so many gorgeous dogs in the ring, it was a joy to see him holding his own and then some. After Judge Nancy Liebes finished making all but her final cut, Mister was still in the ring and had a shot, but that was not to be this year. Barb and Mister left the ring on the last cut. Next year in Wisconsin, Mister!
The awards banquet was a perfect way to end the Specialty with one last opportunity to talk with all our friends that have been coming for years and lots of new ones. This year was a particular joy as Barb was called up to receive Mister's Bronze and Silver Register of Merit awards. Mister finished this year's Specialty with three new titles, two register of merit awards and a Versatile Companion Dog classification. What a week!
Looking forward to Lake Geneva in Wisconsin in 2012!
I was very proud of our boy Mister that day and oh! so very nervous as he made one cut after another. With so many gorgeous dogs in the ring, it was a joy to see him holding his own and then some. After Judge Nancy Liebes finished making all but her final cut, Mister was still in the ring and had a shot, but that was not to be this year. Barb and Mister left the ring on the last cut. Next year in Wisconsin, Mister!
The awards banquet was a perfect way to end the Specialty with one last opportunity to talk with all our friends that have been coming for years and lots of new ones. This year was a particular joy as Barb was called up to receive Mister's Bronze and Silver Register of Merit awards. Mister finished this year's Specialty with three new titles, two register of merit awards and a Versatile Companion Dog classification. What a week!
Looking forward to Lake Geneva in Wisconsin in 2012!
Best of Breed Competition
