Guess what, Osy?
I'm finally going to meet Katja this weekend! And two of her Shikoku!
I know, I know, kind of ridiculous that it's taken me this long since I'm typically 30 min - 2h away from where she lives, but she's going to be at the dog show in my town!
She also has one Shiba entered. I wonder which dogs she's bringing.
I'm so excited!
I know, I know, kind of ridiculous that it's taken me this long since I'm typically 30 min - 2h away from where she lives, but she's going to be at the dog show in my town!
She also has one Shiba entered. I wonder which dogs she's bringing.
I'm so excited!
Comments
YAY!!! I am SO excited for you!!!! Should be a TON of fun
LET ME KNOW HOW IT GOES!!! Details woman! Pictures!! Info!! lol
Enjoy yourself
I had an amazing day! I met Katja and she had Kuma and Aiko with her, as well as a Japanese import Shiba named Kuro. I really enjoyed talking to Katja - she knows a lot about her dogs and is really committed to the breed(s). She told me that it is very hard to title her dogs since she's the only breeder around... sometimes she has to take 3 of them, and she handles them all herself! (Well, except when they have to go in together - then she has to ask another handler she knows to take one in.) Kuro is a beautiful B&T boy - he won Best in Group!!! Katja was very surprised by that, she said she didn't expect him to do so well because his coat isn't very good right now.
She told me about the first time she showed Shikoku after they were starting to be recognized (they're not fully recognized in the CKC yet) Yana either won Best of Group or placed second - and she was absolutely thrilled, she said all the other professional handlers were REALLY mad. The judge told her, "You deserve it, you have a really nice dog here" but she says she hasn't placed so high with the Shikoku since.
Aiko needs 4 points to finish her championship and Kuma needs 3. Aiko won over Kuma - so she got at least one point today. Then Aiko took second in Group so I think she got another 2 points! I was very happy and so was Katja - but while I was sitting ringside I heard the other handlers saying, "What is that breed? Is that the shukuku? That dog shouldn't be in the hound group. It looks like a working dog or a sled dog." Then when she got second they were talking about how it should have been given to another dog. That kinda pissed me off.
I felt bad for all the pups cause it was soooo hot out - and Aiko doesn't like dog shows. Katja gave them Rescue Remedy before going in the ring. Both Kuma and Aiko's tails were down in the ring. Aiko was very sweet - Katja said she is normally very wary of strangers but she licked my hand right away. Kuma... well, typical boy dog, he peed on everything, lol. Katja said she is a little worried about him because all the girls she tried to breed with him didn't want to and snapped at him, and such a young dog will often not want to try again if that's his first experiences. I stayed with her while she groomed them for the ring and she said they are a very easy dog to prep for show, all you have to do is bathe them, keep up on their nail clipping, and use a small slicker brush to fluff them up a little bit.
Unfortunately I did not get any pictures (bad me!) - though the show is still on for two more days, I am supposed to go back tomorrow to see the GSDs (my grandmother is up and used to show hers) so I will take a camera tomorrow even if I have to "borrow" one from someone here [mine broke
BUT I know now the Shikoku is my perfect dog. They are TOTALLY gorgeous in person - more so than shows in the pictures. I dragged the boyfriend over to take a look too, and he approved! If only I could speed up time so I could have one of my own...
It must be great seeing the breed in person! I'm sure it only makes the wait even harder tho
[ & if you plan on speeding up time...speed it up for me as well!!! lol ] ~