9 September 2018

Today Finlay was exactly 15 months old, and what a day it was at Richmond Championship Dog Show at Loseley Park, just outside Guildford.

To think we only started dog showing in earnest, and dog showing with Finlay in January 2018. The first couple of shows at Taunton and Chichester this year were a world apart from where we are now, Finlay was an unruly puppy and such a handful, almost a little monster (a cute adorable monster, but still).

Deb then knuckled down training Finlay and set out to achieve......what exactly? She obviously wanted him to behave a bit better and to have a bit of fun showing him. We both felt it would be nice if maybe Finlay went on to win the odd class. So as the year flew past, it turns out we are now into show number 22. We didn't set out to win lots of classes, qualify Finlay for Crufts or for him to win a RDCC (Reserve Dog Challenge Certificate). But that is exactly what has happened. When you work so hard towards improving your performance, it seems a surprise to suddenly achieve something so momentous. It really shouldn't be a surprise, because it has been hard work, but crucially it has been fun and we've made loads of new friends.

One of the things I'd never considered before dog showing was the commitment you need. You get up early (or travel and stay overnight), you travel long distances and for all that you may not get placings. We've been fairly lucky with the weather so far, but it's been cold, raining, boiling hot, windy....sometimes all on the same day! But something drives you to want to do it nonetheless, so it seems we have caught the dog showing bug, whatever that is. The other thing that occurs to me is just how difficult it can be to come second....let me explain that for my non-dog showing friends.

At a Championship show the dogs and bitches are judged separately. There are typically around 8 classes in both dog and bitch - the winners of each dog class (and bitch class) will then line up in a "Challenge" (all 'unbeaten' dogs). The Challenge Certificate is then awarded to the best dog and bitch on the day, as decided by the judge. In each class there could be only 1 dog/bitch, or there could be many, a dozen or more....although in our limited experience, not that many in the dog classes. So you have to win your class, if you entered more than one class you have to have won them all. If there were 30 dogs entered, then you are aiming to be the best of 30 on the day. What Finlay won today was the 'Reserve' (Dog) Challenge Certificate (or RDCC), so in simplistic terms, second place in the dogs. So saying "we came second" really only tells a fraction of the story, because in reality we beat all the other dogs bar the CC winner. It isn't something that happens very often for any dog exhibitor, so we'll treasure this moment for a very long time.....

Finally, in order to become 'Best of Breed' on the day, the Dog CC winner and Bitch CC winner go head to head to decide the overall BOB winner. Doing that any more than once is quite some achievement, because it means multiple judges over a period of time will have judged a dog/bitch to be closest match to the breed standard of those competing on the day. That is no mean feat.

Here is a rundown of what Deb and Finlay actually did today - thanks to breed judge Evelyn Moore Hurley and Special Beginners Utility Group judge Sandra Marshall:
- Tibetan Spaniel Junior Dog - 1st
- Tibetan Spaniel Special Beginner Dog - 1st
- Tibetan Spaniel RDCC
- Best Tibetan Spaniel Special Beginner (he beat the Bitch Special Beginner)
- Special Beginners Utility Group - Group 4/Reserve
- Utility/Gundog Special Beginners Stakes class (20+ entries) - unplaced

It did turn out to be quite an emotional day, yes so I'm a bloke, but I don't mind admitting it really hit me seeing Deb and Finlay win the RDCC. Deb looked so shocked seeing the judge walk towards her. As for Finlay, he lapped up the applause.....he loves applause whether it is for him or not.

Another thing I've been proud of are our Special Beginner achievements. It is an opportunity to get the Tibetan Spaniels in front of more judges and more people sat around a ring noticing the breed. We've only recently started showing Tibbies, but we've been in love with Tibbies since the late 1990's, having owned two before. We're constantly bumping into people whilst out walking asking what breed Finlay is (same when we owned Louie and Nemo before) and saying how lovely they are. So getting the breed noticed and appreciated is something that we are both passionate about. Who wouldn't want to love a Tibbie!!

Today was a very special day!

Aileen bred us an incredibly cute, happy, handsome, healthy, adorable, feisty Tibetan Spaniel....and that was not by accident either. Only careful breeding can achieve that, I'm so pleased that we met her at Crufts in 2017 and took the plunge to travel almost the entire length of the UK to go and see Finlay. It was well worth the trip.

This is what all the fuss is about, the RDCC. This is the certificate you get on the day, apparently we will receive something further in the post directly from the Kennel Club. Never believed we'd actually get one of these....at this point, can't ever believe we'll get another!

Finlay's very first Reserve Challenge Certificate

Here is Finlay getting looked over by our judge from today, Evelyn Moore Hurley. The wag is ever present of course....

This was the Dog CC, as the judge was having her final deliberations over who to choose

Finally, this is the video Google made of the day

28 August 2018

'Balgay Kitang Po' - aka Finlay - one year, one whole year!!

It seems incredible, but we picked up Finlay from Aileen on the 28th August 2017, one year ago today. 

It is always going to be an adventure owning a puppy, any size/any breed, they are all an experience that you'll want to enjoy. But owning a puppy isn't easy. Settling into a new home, house training, chewing, innoculations, tantrums....so many things. But it is all worth it.

Finlay was the easiest puppy to settle in, he slept his first night without crying or complaint and has been like that pretty much every night since. House training felt like it took forever, but in reality it was pretty straight-forward. From the moment we got him he has been such a happy-go-lucky character, happy, smiley, waggy. Whether it is within our local area, my dads care home, the local shops or the dog showing circuit, everyone knows Finlay for the happy outgoing dog that he is. He melts everyone's heart and is a pleasure to own.

Now don't get me wrong, it isn't all roses, but it is all part of owning any dog. He isn't always the most obedient and compliant dog. Partly this is his own individual character and partly this is typical Tibbie. From quite a young age, he has been asserting what he believes are his rights as a developing male dog and it has taken a pretty firm hand to guide along and make sure he knows what is acceptable and what isn't. 

In certain circumstances you can rely on him to be unreliable. He isn't too bad off lead, but on occasions there isn't a treat in the world that is going to persuade him that coming back to us is the right thing to do. So off lead time is strictly limited to the safest of places. Open the front door and he's going to be out of it, I know where he'd go as we live just around the corner from a recreation ground which he loves and our road is relatively quiet. However, it is a circumstance that we just don't allow to happen. Tibbies and road sense, I've never met one that has any!

Dog showing....that was never on the cards when we got him. We asked Aileen if it was ok to show him, on the remote off-chance we ever did, "yes of course" she said. Hahahahahaaaaaa, the remote off-chance, we never saw that one coming. Whether Finlay has taken the dog showing world by storm we'll have to wait and see. Certainly FINLAY believes he has taken the dog showing world by storm - whether he wins or loses, he wags. That is all we'd ever ask of him really. The additional benefit of owning Finlay which we hadn't expected was all the new friends we'd gain as a result of the dog showing, so hello to you all!!

The puppy period, whilst sometimes difficult, is of course a complete joy and you don't ever want it to end. At 14 months old (getting on for 15) he is still very puppy at times and it is gorgeous to see. At some point he will grow up, and it seems to happen quite suddenly. Until then, we shall continue to enjoy puppy Finlay.

Here he is with a suitably regal Tibbie look on his face.

I'm posing dad!

This is a Finlay wagging compilation video. Here he is at various dog shows doing his thing, and he simply cannot do it without a tail wag. I love the last segment of the video which was during the Windsor Breeders Competition where the judge, Liz Cartledge, goes along the line of Tibbies and gets their attention - Finlay is the only one that gets a quick stroke under the chin for his cheekiness. What a star!

Finally, the part we didn't expect, the rosettes and prize cards that Finlay has won during the 8 months or so that we've been showing him. It is quite a collection for just one dog in a short period of time.

For those of you unaware, a red card or rosette is a first place.

12 August 2018

Finlay is 14 months old now, but we still call him a puppy....because he is.

Although he is growing up and in some ways he is showing signs of maturity, he is SO very puppy at times - and I wouldn't change that for the world. When you get a puppy, the time whizzes by, and they are such happy times but before you know where you are that puppy has grown up. My advice, take it all in and savour every moment of it, and in my case take 1,000s of photos and videos to look back on. You'll be glad you did.

Rough and tumble
When you are out and about with your dog, not every other dog you meet is going to be friendly, every experienced dog owner knows that. With the 2nd of our Tibbies, he was attacked by a black lurcher-type dog when he was only about 14 weeks old and despite everything we tried he was always likely to be grumpy with larger black dogs. The experience stayed with him, not helped by Tibbies being able to bear grudges for a lifetime! So we were anxious to avoid something like this happening again, but Finlay did find himself being attacked by a Tibetan Terrier (TT). 

My wife met this dog whilst out walking Finlay, the owner wasn't bothered but his dog was on a lead as was Finlay. Fin went up to this dog cautiously, rolled over on to his back.....so clearly sensed that the dog was dominant, so he did the right thing. A quick growl from the TT and he was attacking Finlay, he made contact and broke the skin on his ribcage. Finlay legged it and was very upset. "Is he an entire male" asked the owner, he is, "oh he can be a bit funny with entire male dogs". Well thanks very much. Following this, Finlay has been a bit cautious with other dogs and lost his confidence a bit. Nothing to worry about I think, he got a good telling off by a Tibbie recently, but he took it in his stride. He knows the difference between being put in his place (even very firmly) and plain aggression. It turns out that this TT is known in the area for being very unpredictable, shame we didn't know it sooner.....

It just goes to show that you always need to be on your guard. All we need to do now is avoid reinforcing any of Finlays anxieties, so far so good, but it isn't an easy task.

Feeding
Despite having times when he would eat and eat and eat, he can be a fussy little devil. He has been on a raw diet for around 5 months now and it really seems to suit him. He is putting on muscle and his coat is in great condition. We are on Natural Instinct complete raw food, which includes veg as well as the meat. He can be on a particular flavour, which seems like it is his favourite ever, then bam.....he stops eating it. Change flavour and he is off again. We have this cycle continually. The important thing is, he is doing well on it. 

(sorry about the next bit, but dog owners will understand) The nice thing for us about feeding raw, is what comes out of the other end. There is a) much less of it, b) it is much firmer than kibble-poo and finally c) it smells much less. 

He also enjoys raw beef bones, it keeps him occupied for ages licking out the marrow-bone. He doesn't have them very often, but they are a right treat for him. Spoiled dog, possibly!!

Rosettes
After all of the 17 dog shows we've been to this year, Finlay and Deb have amassed a rather impressive collection of Rosettes and prize cards. I put all the rosettes in a holder specially designed for the purpose and seem to have filled it completely up already. This is with just one dog in just 8 months, I hate to think how many some of our dog-showing friends have got laying around!!

As always a couple of photo's and video to finish. Fin does love a little paddle, not too deep but enough to wet his paws. He doesn't go full on swimming, yet.

Messin' around in the river....

This next one is yet another one of him waving, I already have several of this behaviour. He loves to wave, and in this case it was waving for a belly and chest rub. Well seriously, who could ignore this, I know I can't.....

6 August 2018

On Sunday 5th August, we (surprise surprise) went to another dog show and had more success winning Best Special Beginner at the SWTSC Open show. This lead me to thinking, what is it about Special Beginners?

This is how the kennel club classifies it:
https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/activities/dog-showing/already-involved-in-dog-showing/special-beginners-competition/

This is the key criteria:
"For owner, handler or exhibit not having won a Challenge Certificate or Reserve Challenge Certificate, or for those breeds not allocated Championship Status, Best of Sex or Reserve Best of Sex at a Championship Show"

What this means is that new exhibitors and their dogs get a chance to compete on a more even level with other people at a similar stage of their dog showing 'career'. Many of the people showing their Tibbies have been doing so for many years and have so much experience, it can be difficult going up against them. It is a competition after all! But where Special Beginners classes are offered, Deb and Finlay know they have a fair chance of competing and that encourages us to both go to shows (both Open and Championship) and take extra classes which also means more experience showing. Actually, some of the people we meet at SB classes (the AV ones generally) have actually been showing quite a while, so they or their dogs aren't necessarily inexperienced, they just haven't won a CC or RCC yet.

Although we're new to this showing lark, I think Special Beginners (SB) is a fantastic initiative by the Kennel Club, and for us it is working. Of course we will blow this if we ever go and win a CC or RCC with Finlay, which at the moment seems a long way off :-)

We've entered into two main types of SB classes, either breed specific or Any Variety SB Stakes, where we meet loads of different breeds. We've had very good success with the breed SB classes, in fact Deb/Finlay have yet to be beaten in a breed SB class, which is pretty amazing. The AV SB Stakes are much harder. Sometimes these are AV or AV Utility, but either way, they are often pretty large classes, a dozen or so at least. So to get a placing at one of these classes is very satisfying but isn't easy, Deb/Finlay have managed it on a couple of occasions, but they haven't won one yet. 

What I like about the big SB stakes classes is getting a Tibbie 'seen' at this level. There are certain breeds that are there every single time we are in a stakes class, but not often are Tibbies seen. So I think we are given an opportunity that would be a shame to miss, so often you go to these stakes classes and quite a few entries do not turn up, often because they are still stuck in breed classes or couldn't, for whatever reason, stay for the class. That is a shame. We've had two cracks at the SB Utility Group, one of which we came Group 4, which I gather was quite a coup. These groups are always right at the end of the show, and at 4pm after a long day with a 2 hour+ drive home, it would be easy to give up and go home, but we've been good so far!

I don't think I'd have a different view on Special Beginners if Deb/Finlay hadn't been so successful in this area! But then you always sing when you're winning..... ;-)

30 July 2018

There's no business like (dog) showing business!

How many?
Those fateful words were uttered late in 2017, when we decided we'd try a few dog shows to see how we got on with it and crucially how Finlay would enjoy it. So far in 2018 we've now done 16 dog shows! Not at all the plan, but we have had a lot of fun and learned loads in the process. I've no idea how long we will keep up with this level of showing, we've certainly got several more shows already entered and an upcoming 'diary' of potential shows. 

Learning
My wife soon learned that Finlay was not going to be an easy dog to show. He was around 7 months old when she first showed him and despite going to half a dozen ringcraft sessions, he was somewhat 'wild'. Therefore the thing you learn quite quickly is that you need an obedient dog, regardless of the dog showing. No matter whether your dog is a splendid example of the breed or not, the dog needs to show the judge what it is made of, and leaping and skipping his way around the ring, ain't going to cut it! So working with Finlay over the next few months was not only a good foundation for dog showing, but generally in a dogs life, you want the dog to do what you say. In truth he was quite good at doing what we said OUTSIDE of the show ring, but not so good in the ring. Practice, practice, practice!

Finlay turned out to be a very wilful dog, who liked to get his own way. The cheeky puppy in him allowed him to get away with murder, which is fine up to a point. You never want that cheeky puppy to go away, but equally you need some level of control. The most recent show we went to at Dorset County Canine Society was where a lot of that training suddenly came together. Finlay knew what he was doing, when to turn, to not wag too much at the judge.

The jargon
I think you dog showing people forget just how much there is to learn in the dog showing world and all the seemingly weird things that happen. But we're grateful for all the advice we've received (you know who you are) and the guidance on which ring to be in, what winning this class means. 

"Are you going to enter into Puppy, or Junior or Limit"?. What?

The first time we won a Special Beginners class, "now you're not going home early, you need to stay for the group" - the what?

"Now you've won best Tibbie puppy, you've got to stay for the puppy group" - the what?

"That dog gets to come into the ring because the dog that won the CC was the only one that has beaten it" - what?

"Are you counting the points for your Junior Warrant" - the Junior what?

That is just a sample of all the things we've learned in 2018.

The future
We've got a gorgeous, cheeky, full of character, loving Tibbie - we'll always have that no matter whether we show him or not. I think you will all be nodding your head at this point. So we'll show Finlay, he'll have good days and bad days, WE will have good days and bad days, but there is the social side as well. Swapping Tibbie stories, weather stories, terrible traffic on the way home stories, is all part of the day. We've got the bug right now, that's for sure.

Here are some videos of Finlay's journey. The video below was taken at Taunton Open show in early January 2018. This was Finlay when he was really not happy on the table, with some stranger wanting to look at his teeth. It is funny looking back on it now, it probably wasn't that funny for Deb at the time :-)

Next up is another Taunton video, this time of Finlay 'walking' around the ring. Whoa up there my boy, where are you off to. Thankfully he does a bit better than this now. Someone said to us recently just how much work we'd done with Finlay to bring him into line, you don't tend to notice on a show by show basis.....but it is part of the reason why I take so many pictures and videos, it gives you good evidence of what is now and what was then.

To compare, let's look at a video from last Sunday's show at Dorset County. A dog who, although still wags at the judge, is able to stay settled on the table and walk around the ring doing exactly as he is told. No mean feat, because as anyone who shows dogs knows these equestrian centres (well, anywhere really) always have really interesting smells on the floor which are far more interesting than bumbling around a show ring.

15 July 2018

Well hello there, time for another dog blog.

When we started dog showing we said "we'll do a few shows and see how it goes", we hadn't intended to do that many. Since the start of 2018, we've done 16, which was hardly the plan. Not only that we've got several more planned in the diary already, yes we have a show diary now, oh my gawd!!

The movement....
Just to be clear, I don't really know that much about showing dogs just yet. I had an interesting conversation at the weekend about what types of dogs I liked and who did I think would win a class, and it made me think, what do I like about Tibbies. To help explain that, here is a critique of Finlay from the Bath Championship show by judge Jane Paradise:

"Quite a handful here and more training will reap rewards. Well shaped skull, wide jaw and ex bite. Carrying  a quality coat and shawl. Plume balances with head to give a correct silhouette. Nicely sprung  ribs with a level topline. He comes into his own on the move, where he showed the others how to move straight with precision"

We have now had consistent feedback from various judges that Finlay's movement is really good, and that is one of the things I like to see in Tibbie's and in Finlay. When we are out for a walk with Finlay, outside of showing, he has this movement where he just glides along without effort. He flows, he moves very fast but without effort....he is so agile. When he recreates this movement in the ring, then that is when he shines. Yes he wags and has that cheeky glint in his eye and that is massively endearing. So movement, that is what I think I like. As for the "quite a handful" comment, well he certainly is that, but he is still young and Deb is still learning how to overcome his exuberance.....

The shows....
This weekend, we planned to do two dog shows, one in Yeovil on Saturday and one in Ardingly Showground on the Sunday (Kingston canine society). We didn't think we'd make it for a moment, but we did....and I'm glad we did because both days were successful in their own way.

At Yeovil under judge Alan Carter, unfortunately he was the only entry in his Junior class, came 3rd in the AV Utility Special Yearling under judge Pauline Lock and finally was Reserve in the AV Special Beginners Stakes under judge Colin Woodward.

At Kingston show under judge Marion McArdle he was Reserve in his Special Yearling class, unplaced in the AV Junior Stakes and was a marvellous 1st in the AV Utility Special Beginners class under judge Judith Catlow. He then went through to the final group for best Special Beginner in show and managed a creditable VHC under judge Pamela Mottershaw.

It is hard to forget that both Deb and Finlay have been showing only 6 months, so every show is a new learning experience, so getting anywhere is still unexpected. But the Special Beginner successes we have had are very heartwarming as they are getting fairly regular. And as someone pointed out recently, we can't be 'Beginners' forever, so we need to make the most of it!!

The heat....
To the uninitiated, it may seem mad to take dogs to shows in the heat we've had recently. Certainly in a car without air conditioning, it would be. But Finlay has been totally cool in the car and sleeps everywhere we go. The dog owners go out of their way to keep their dogs cool, from cool coats, gazebo's (both dog sized and huge garden sized), golf umbrellas, towels soaked with cold water to lay on, gallons of water, shade, shade and more shade. The end result is that there is nothing to worry about, dogs are well catered for and in the case of our Tibbie, I think he was cooler than we were. That said, this heat is a bit extreme, and it would be more comfortable at 20 degrees rather than 30+.

Some pictures from the shows:

Another fine standing picture of Finlay, he really is getting this now. He can stand back from Debbie without being on her feet and even the lead is slack now. What a cutie!

This video is from Finlays AV Utility Special Beginners class. Up against a Tibetan Terrier, Poodle and a Frenchie, Finlay strutted his stuff and charmed the judge. This was a classic Finlay/judge interaction, he absolutely won her over. And of course there was that movement again..... :-)

29 June 2018

Another dog show blog this one.....this time at the Windsor Championship dog show.

It was to be a very hot day, so Deb had prepared well, getting lots of water for Finlay including a frozen bottle of water that would thaw throughout the day and provide some nice cool water for Fin. In fact he did very well, the show was under tents and although some were warmer than others, a through-breeze generally made the temperatures bearable and he showed no signs of overheating. The Tibbie double coat was keeping him cool.

We had entered 3 classes plus the breeders competition, but more on the latter later. His results were (breed judge Miss Adele Summers):
- 1st in Tibetan Spaniel Junior Dog
- 1st in Tibetan Spaniel Special Beginners dog/bitch
- Unplaced in the Dog CC
- Unplaced in the Utility Special Beginners Group (Judge David Roberts)
- The Balgay breeders team came 1st, along with Deb and Finlay (judge Liz Cartledge)

As I've mentioned in previous blogs we thought we might have a crack at Junior Warrant for Finlay so had begun totting up the points, but unfortunately you have to have a certain amount of dogs to be in a class to be able to count the points....and that was not to be this time. So we turned up, we had fun, we won the class....but no points today. Even in the heat of the day, Finlay was wagging from start to finish, every person and dog he saw and every judge got a wag and a smile (as would be evident if you watch the video below).

The breeders competition was something else though, not something we've ever been a part of and probably never expected to be. But Aileen McDonald asked us to be a part of the team this weekend, so we thought "why not". It was an honour to be asked and after all, Debbie and Finlay have only been showing since January this year, so novices by anyone's standard. It was certainly great fun, and half an hour beforehand the team had a practice run to sort out who was doing what under the watchful eye of Sergeant Major Bevis. She ensured that the team was strutting in the right direction at the right time....also making sure Willow and Finlay were kept apart as right now, Finlay is very much in love/lust. The trial run worked perfectly so when it was their turn the team did some synchronised showing and clearly the judge was impressed. They really were almost perfect, couldn't have asked for any better. The team was:

Willow & Pauline
Heidi & Michaella
Rio & Pam
Finlay & Debbie

It was somehow less formal and everyone was having fun. I wish I had filmed it, but the bulldog team put on quite a show, it was wonderfully all over the place as the dogs galloped up the ring. That moment when the judge pointed to the Tibbie team as the winners was very special, a great moment for the breed and there was quite a big audience there too.

That evening even Finlay was pretty whacked, a good barometer of how the day went. But first thing Saturday morning he had recharged and was raring to go.

Did I get any photo's from the day, you bet I did!

This is probably the best stand I've photo'd - what a star. He isn't pinned to Deb's legs as he often is and he is looking up. Very impressive.

I'm standing mum!

The video below was made by Google, but represents a great idea of the day. Lots of the day captured....

The breeders competition performance

Team Balgay, the winners photo

Team Balgay