Springfield Shows

Pictures are pending, but we had great fun at the recent shows in Springfield Mass. In addition to breed and obedience, this show is billed at the largest indoor agility trial in the US. While I did manage to run Corey in 3 classes, alas, no qualifying scores. Poor boy just can't multitask like his mother could. Guess we'll concentrate on agility only trials in the future.

On Friday, Daisy was BOB and Group 4, and Spring was Select Bitch for her first Grand Champion points. Half sister Lucy was Winner's Bitch, Best of Winners for her first major. Corey was not entered.

On Saturday, Spring was BOB - what a thrill! Daisy was Select Bitch and Corey was BOS. Corey's puppy Derry was Winner's Dog for his first 2 points, handled by Ann Smith.

On Sunday, Corey was BOB and a Group 4, while Spring was again Select Bitch. Daisy wasn't shown on Sunday.

What a fun time. I'm was so pleased with how well Spring show and behaved. I showed her in the classes and Linda McCartney-Roy took her in for group. What a big thrill for Spring - lots of noise and plenty of other dogs to be fascinated with. Let's hope for more experiences like that in the future!

Grand Champion

WOW - at the shows in Pennsylvania and New Jersey this last weekend Corey was awarded Select Dog at all 3 shows he was shown in. He is now an AKC Grand Champion. AND the only dog of any breed to also be a Champion Tracker. I couldn't be prouder of this boy. And huge thanks to Linda McCartney-Roy - his awesome handler who made this happen in 3 weekend of shows together! What team they have been.

He is now:

CT GCH Blackthorn Coreopis of PatchMt RN NA NAJ Canadian CH TDX

Finger Lakes Show

While this photo was not taken at the Finger Lakes show, I wanted to post it. Corey and Spring sitting at the Cape Cod Shows.

Sure had mixed results at the shows on the Finger Lakes in beautiful central New York. COLD and WET = MUD and miserable conditions.

I showed my sister's Cardigan Welsh Corgi - Arthur. What a nice puppy. She has done a really great job starting her first show dog. He was solid and confident on the grooming table and happy to let the judge exam him. Still needs some polish to be real competitive, but very nice start. Now to let him mature so when we do show him some more he can win! Arthur sure was friendly, happy and out-going even under noisy tents and around more dogs than he has ever seen in one place. Love his temperament.

Dal judging was a very mixed bag. Thanks again to my sister for helping me keep things in perspective. Only a dog show, and only that one judge's opinion on that one day. Corey did end up with 1 Select Dog award - for another major and 4 points towards his Grand Champion title. Up to a total of 18, all 4 awards have been majors.

And Spring was very competitive on Sunday shown at the last minute by my friend Stephanie. Maybe we'll keep her out and about some just so I have something to show to keep myself busy.

Cape Cod Shows

What a good time we had on Cape Cod!

On Friday, the Dalmatian Club of Southern New England had their first of two regional specialties. There were about 50 Dalmatians entered each day. Spring was awarded Best Senior in Sweepstakes, and then was Winners Bitch/Best of Winners for 4 points. Dad Corey was awarded Select Dog – kind of like First Runner Up in the beauty contest. That gave him 5 points towards his Grand Championship title.

Then on Saturday, Spring was Best Senior and BEST in SWEEPSTAKES. She was, also, again, Winners Bitch/Best of Winners for 4 more points. That was enough points to complete the requirements for her AKC Championship. Dad Corey was awarded Best of Opposite Sex, again for 5 points.

On Sunday Spring was shown as a Champion. She is just a little too young yet to compete at that level of competition. Corey was again Best of Opposite Sex, another 5 points.

Spring showed wonderfully. She was so calm and steady throughout the 3 long days of shows. Wagged her tail and trotted around the ring happy and confident. What a fun dog she has been. She is now:

Am/Can CH PatchMt Spring Thyme at Blackthorn TD

Super Weekend

Wow, what a great weekend!

At the big circuit in New Jersey Daisy WON the Non-Sporting Group show, and picked up 2 more Best of Breed wins over big entries.

Saturday at the shows in North Conway NH Corey was BOB, Group 2 with his new handler Linda McCartney-Roy.

Sunday Morning at the University of New Hampshire campus Spring PASSED her Tracking Dog test - on her first attempt!

And then, Sunday Afternoon Corey was again in the Group ring with his new best friend Linda and WON the Non-Sporting group. His second group 1 - YEA!!

Spring in August

Spring has been having a fun month. First at the shows in Fitchburg on Sunday she was WB/BOW for her first major. That gives her a total of 8 points so far. Then, we have been to the tracking fields. With the very HOT weather she wasn't at her best, let's hope for cooler weather for the upcoming tests.

New Champion Tracker!

On August 1st the Dog Tracking Club of Maine held its second Variable Surface Tracking Test at Colby College in Waterville Maine. To PASS and add to his name, Corey is now CT CH Blackthorn Coreopis of PatchMt RN NA NAJ. It is one year to the day that his mother, Carina, passed her test at this same site. Both had drawn Track 1 – now I will always be happy to be the first to go!

To show how difficult this test is, the pass rate is about 5 percent. In the 15 years the test has been around, only about 248 dogs have passed. There now 6 Champion Tracker Dalmatians, quite an accomplishment for our breed.

Corey is the ONLY Dalmatian who is also an American/Canadian Champion, not to mention those agility titles he shares with his mother Carina.

To become a Champion Tracker a dog has to earn their Tracking Dog, Tracking Dog Excellent and Variable Surface Tracking Dog titles.
To add to Corey’s credits, he has passed all three tests on his first attempts, and has also passed his Canadian Tracking Dog and Tracking Dog Excellent test on his first attempts. Maybe we will now try for their Urban Tracking Dog titles. (Karen Hopmans – want to offer that one in conjunction with a Canadian National?)

Corey wowed the gallery with his near flawless performance, pulling me down the line like he was on a mission. At each of his articles, cloth, plastic, metal and that final wonderful leather, he threw himself to the ground, so proud of what he had found! We have worked hard to accomplish those “indications” and I was so pleased when I saw how excited he was to show me his finds. He did 648 yards of grass, dirt, asphalt and mulch in 14 minutes. A record for the 2 judges, Mary Thompson and Ed Presnell.

I love all the compliments I receive at these events. Things like “Boy, are all Dalmatians such great trackers”, how wonderful his temperament is and what a great working dog he is. He was so focused to the task at hand. Who says you can’t work intact boys in performance events?!? One visiting judge said she had heard great things about my Dals before the test and was so pleased to see all those nice things were true.

And, a very, very special Thank You to my very best friend, Linda McSherry. Corey was first alternate, and Linda withdrew Maeve so Corey could have his chance to shine. I owe her big time – and now it is Maeve’s turn to add CT to her name!