2015 BCCA National Week in Olympia, WA
Well, this week could not have more dramatically exceeded my expectations! I’ll start with the big news… Scarlett won. The National Specialty. I could not be more excited and pleased. She showed really well and looked great in the damp conditions. I’m so grateful for the honor of winning and all the congratulations from so many people near and far. Thanks to breeder-judge Gail Miller Bisher for finding my girl in a crowd of really fabulous dogs and congratulations to all the winners on the day!
Scarlett’s BOB 2015 National photo. Thank you breeder-judge, Gail Miller Bisher
But, while I can’t stress enough that the winning was amazing, there was much, much more to the week in the PNW. Our trip out was uneventful. The dogs arrived safely and happily, and that’s was just what we were hoping for. Scarlett traveled out via United Petsafe with her friends Alex and Niki, and Amy traveled with me on the plane. I think Amy had the bigger job, keeping me sane, as I’d never flown a dog outside of bringing Scarlett home from the UK. We got to the hotel in Olympia and settled in – meaning, we pretty much ate and went to sleep – you know, “East Coast” time.
We had the next day free and were eager to go explore! So, Amy and I grabbed our favorite Bobby (Claire Bowden) and off we went to Mount Rainier. We did the whole park in a day including a few brief hikes and a few white knuckle driving moments – side note: guardrails are a good thing, let’s have more of them. We experienced all four seasons in one day!
 Amy and Casey on a giant log |
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 Amy and Claire |
 Caught! One wild Scarlett |
 and an Alex and a Niki |
 Wildlife
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The next day was agility day at the national (and my birthday!). A good time was had by all. We had a good run, two okay runs, and one omg-that-was-tragically-awful-run, as well as a fabulous time running the relay. It was a great day out in the sunshine enjoying time with friends and beardies.
 Scarlett Jumping |
 The Angry Beavers relay team! |
 Scarlett on the Dogwalk |
 Good butt scratching time waiting for the group picture |
 Group picture |
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A fun birthday dinner, and relatively early to bed, and the next day was the NWBCCPS Specialty show with breeder-judge Ian Copus. I had the pleasure of showing other people’s puppies in sweeps, which is always a good time, and then winning the Open Dog class with Lisa Voss and Barbara’s boy, Clark. The air was crisp, the sun was shining, there was green grass, great weather, good food, and a full (very full) day of showing as the entry was about 165 dogs in regular and there was all of puppy and vet sweeps to do before that. Scarlett ended up Select Bitch and Alex got an AOM, too. So, our travel buddies had a good day at the show.
 Scarlett in the ring |
 wag, wag, wag |
 Scarlett and Alex towards the end of the show |
| <Coming Soon: Select Bitch Win Photo> |
The next day, it was back to National festivities with Obedience, Rally, and Sweepstakes. As, I had only one dog to enter, I decided to enter everything. Scarlett as in Novice A and Beginner Novice Obedience for the first time, as well as Rally Advanced and Excellent. She did everything in Novice A really well, except the offlead heeling which involved visiting the crowd of spectators- despite not being nearly ring ready. In beginner novice she was kind of a rockstar. Our only major points off were from me messing up the heeling pattern. When she stayed on the sit-walkaround, I could not have been more proud of my girl. Her neck nearly swiveled 360 degrees, but she held. She came away with 3rd place and her first BN leg, but the icing on the cake was that she won High Scoring Champion in Obedience!
 Figure 8 |
 High Scoring Champion in Obedience! |
 sit-stay |
Sweeps was in the afternoon and I had an interesting time showing puppies again. Let’s just say, there was no one more grateful than me that there was no videographer on this day of the national 😀
Thursday was dog and bitch judging, and I had almost nothing to do, except make sure that the dogs that Amy was showing made it to the ring when they were supposed to. In a history making event, Amy won Winners Dog at the National for the second year in a row with new Ch Aberdeen No Questions Asked, bred by Tina Miller, and owned by Kay Krivas. That’s never been done before. Needless to say, we celebrated!
 Amy & Niki |
 #futuresobright |
Finally, the big day had arrived – and it was wet. Quite wet. It only rained for a couple of hours, but the damp conditions stuck around. Certainly made for easy grooming. 4-6 month puppies were first and then veteran and performance dogs. Specials dogs went in the ring at 11am, and were pared down to the final 9 by a little after noon. We then had time to wait and prep the girls, as specials bitches could not start until 130pm. At 130, we reported to the ring. Scarlett was the first girl in the line-up, and bitches were split into two groups. The first group showed and the first cut was made. We made it! The second group came in and a cut was made there, too. Then all bitches who’d made the first cut went back to the ring for a second cut. Scarlett was showing great. She held still for exam and was free stacking really nicely – which is good b/c it’s never an improvement if I have to hand stack. It’s so nice to have a partner who really does it all and my only goal is to stay out of the way and NOT FUSS. Scarlett made the second cut, and we got a 10 minute break before returning to the ring with the final boys. There were 9 specials dogs and 7 specials bitches remaining, plus winners dog and bitch. So, 18 dogs in the ring, and 10 awards to be handed out. The judge too everyone around again and then pulled out pairs to go around together. She didn’t all Scarlett and I out, and I thought we’d been forgotten. In the end, we did go around with WB/WD. Then back to our places. It seems the judge had narrowed it down to her final four and she called us out to the middle for another trip around. Scarlett was a rockstar, I was a basket case. At this point, I figured, worst case I had just won select bitch at a national specialty and that was amazing! And, then I thought, “oh geez – don’t do anything to screw it up.” So, we went around again, free stacked, and went back to our spots.
The judge’s choice was made and she went to get the big purple and gold ribbon – while I fussed-and fussed-and told myself not to fuss. She thanked the entry, told everyone they were lovely – and then said, “Best of Breed is 150” Scarlett & me! Before I knew it there was screaming and hugging and crying – all at once (click the movie below) – But OMG – it was Scarlett! Scarlett is a National Specialty Winner. Wildest dream – come true!
 Scarlett in the ring |
 Scarlett in the ring |
 Scarlett & Casey in the ring |
 Bitches |
 Connected |
 Scarlett & Casey in the ring |
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It seemed like a good idea in April, when my flights were booked, to head out on the red-eye on Friday night after judging. After all, we’re always done in the early afternoon and the red-eye would be so much easier on the dogs, plus allow for maximum home front recovery time. However, things started to get tight given the times the super set in the JP. And then – we won! Clearly – I was mistaken and should’ve stayed to celebrate. However, nothing to be done but pack up and go. We missed all the celebrations, but had a couple of nice glasses of sparkling wine on the plane. There will be more celebrations in the near-future. I may never stop celebrating 😀
