Showtime !

April 26 /08

Day 1:

Well, we're back from Day 1 of the show and we'll be heading back early tomorrow morning for Day 2. We had a really great day. This is how it went:

We were up bright and early and ready to boogy down the highway towards Iberville, which is about 45 minutes away. I was so excited but I had to compose myself or else I might flub it in the ring. So I stayed quiet, sprawled out in the back seat of the pick-up all tucked up in my soft cushypillow. Mama and Papa thought I was asleep, but really I was meditating and trying to relax myself so I'd be a calm Boxer by the time we got to Iberville. When they stopped at the greasy spoon for breakfast, I did some deep-breathing and chanted my relaxation mantra:

."Hari Om ... Vishnu Vishnu ...

I wanna be da bomb so I gotta be calm ...

Hari ommmmmmmmm."

Then I fell asleep and woke up just as we arrived at the arena. Mama took me for a little walk and wouldn't you know it? My breeder, Barry, who I hadn't seen in months, drove up just as I was doing a last-minute poop. And everyone laughed at the fine "howdy-doo" I had for him. That bit of impeccable timing got me off on the wrong paw, but things did get better later on.
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Well, if I tell you that arena was a sea of doggies, all excited and preparing for their big moment. All I can say is it's a good thing I'm a bald dog because most of them were having their fur combed and blow-dried and curled and gelled and who knows what else. Anyway, I met up with a couple of my Boxer relatives and we played a bit. But ringtime was drawing near and we had to get buffed up so we were quickly assigned to our private quarters for some last meditative moments and alone time.


"Hari Ommmmmm ...

Soon I was practicing my turns and stuff with darling Emily, my handler, and I knew I was going to be a contender. I was calm and in control and wore my best serious face, thanks in good part to the smell of the liver bits in darling Emily's pocket, which I knew would be mine very soon!

.Well, it was finally showtime and we were ready to roll. Darling Emily romped me around the ring and the judge went over me and I managed to maintain my composure. I won a BOS (Best of Opposite Sex) ribbon which means that the BOB (Best of Breed) winner was a girl and I came in second in breed from among the remaining boys.

The judge had chosen me and a cute fawn girl as the top two and my family and friends held their breath. Then she asked darling Emily to move me to the front spot. In Canada, that is the place where the judge positions the winner, so everyone thought I got BOB, or first place. (I know, it's complicated.) But then she had a last final look and chose the fawn girl. So I came in second. If I had the choice of which Boxer I'd want to come in second to, it would have been the fawn girl because she was so adorable. She had the cutest white knee socks!

After the show all the Boxer people went out to eat while us doggies rested in the cars and then we were on our way home.

My BOS ribbon


Here are videos of the show. I'm with my darling Emily who's wearing a gray skirt and black jacket. If I didn't tell you about darling Emily, could you have spotted me?

Here the judge gives me a going-over.

This is where the judge played Musical Boxers!



So I was a good boy in the ring. I was a little ticked at the judge for positioning me first and then giving me second place. I had delicious visions of yanking off her shoe and running away with it but I fought the urge.

Going home after today's show ... I love riding with my head out the window and my jowls blowin' in the wind!

... we'll see what tomorrow brings ...

April 28 /08

Day 2

Today was a much better day for me, doggies. I won two ribbons, one for BOB (Best of Breed) which means I came in first among the Boxers, and a Third in Group ribbon, or third among the winners of each of the l8 breeds in the Working Group. Looky:

My Best of Breed ribbon

My Third in Group ribbon

Even though it was a long, tiring day, I had so much fun. Long and tiring because if you win your first competition, you have to hang around the arena and wait for your next one. That can get pretty tedious. Fun because I love being in the ring and because in between rounds, I went for walks, snoozed. and sniffed and snooped around the arena without being much of a pest. I was a very good boy. That's what everyone said.

Anyway, please excuse the quality of the next video. Someone was kicking Mama's seat and it made her camera move around too much. She says she's sorry and if you get dizzy watching it, just click off. No problem.

You'll probably recognize me right away in this one. I'm the only Boxer in the ring. The other dogs are the winners of their breeds, all of whom fall under the category of Working Group. We're called that because we were originally bred to perform jobs such as guarding property, pulling sleds, water rescue, etc. I'm with darling Emily who really knows how to bring out the best in me. This is the last couple of minutes of the Best in Group competition when the winners are put to the side to receive their ribbons.

The grande finale of the Working Group competition

In this next video, I'm being cajoled into posing for my official winner's picture. Well, by that time, I was dog tired, I tell ya, and I just wanted to plop my tired tush down and take it easy. But it dawned on me that the more I co-operate, the sooner I'd be outta there. Also, Mrs. Nicejudge was watching and I want her to pick me next time so I better be a good boy. And besides, darling Emily still had some liver bits in her pocket and I'd do anything for liver bits.

Picture Imperfect

So now life will go back to normal and right now I'm a tired but proud and happy Boxer.

I hope all of you had a great weekend too.

Thanks to all of you who wished me well for the show. It made me feel so good and I appreciate it very much. I'll be catching up on all your blogs this week to see what you have been up to.