2006
- A year full of activities, some would say too full. I tell you
that I'm having more fun than I can remember ever having
at any previous time in my life. I'm not getting older, I'm
tidbit about the family here and there.
- January brought tax season, as it does every year. Maybe some day I'll get to retire, but until then, I just keep filling in
those tax forms. The year started off bright and early New Year's day, when the first puppy from my 2005 litter went
still hard to let her go. Later in the month, one Sunday morning a friend and I slipped quietly out of town with our obedience
dogs and headed South, over the bridge-tunnel to Hampton, Virginia to compete in an obedience trial. We both had visions
of returning home with green qualifying ribbons to surprise all our dog friends. On this day, it was not to be. For me it was
the first of many attempts at earning that first leg towards Kira's novice obedience title though 2006. My dog is doing a very
good job of teaching me humility. The second puppy, Kate, went to live with my co-owner, Pat Taylor, and then there were 7.
- February on those few days that I wasn't working, I went to matches and practices, here and there, obedience,
conformation and lure coursing. Our big accomplishment was that Dallas managed to pass her Canine Good Citizen
the next session of classes to finish and then went back to take the test. She passed!
- In March we actually managed a few competitions. One straight race meet where the dogs had lots of fun, I got lots of
exercise and we got a stuffed toy as a prize. One obedience trial where I got way too nervous, Kira didn't have any fun
had fun, and actually earned some points, we got ribbons and I got to spend the entire day outside with good people and
great dogs. It could have been warmer. I got to have lunch one day with my two most favorite men - my brothers Marty & Les,
which was a real treat. But then this is the time of year that I do see everyone, as they need their taxes done.
- April - Ah, the end of tax season! Even before the end of tax season things were busy. After years of listening to one
particular Whippet breeder preach on the e-mail lists about health testing, and in particular, cardiac testing, Pat and I
about. One of them was Dallas. What a shock, but in talking about it on our way home, we decided to take Dallas out of the
breeding program. There would be no litter born at my house in 2006. The murmurs are not considered life threatening at all,
Parker has one and he's still around at over 15 years old now. The murmurs won't stop Dallas from participating in any
activity, we just felt that it was better to not take the chance of passing the murmurs on to another generation. Then at the end
of the month, three days before we were scheduled to leave for the Whippet National Specialty in Boston, Kira was diagnosed
with a blockage in her intestine. The X-rays had the vets convinced that it was either bone or rock, but could be plastic. I told
them, my money was on plastic. Sure enough, I now have a $1,400 bit of black plastic trash as a souvenir. We were able to
leave for the Whippet National on schedule, although Kira was not able to compete in the Triathalon that I'd entered her in. So
instead of competing in Obedience, I volunteered to be a steward, and got to see all the Whippets compete. That was
enjoyable in it's own way, and certainly a lot easier on my nerves. My most hearty thanks go out to my friends Kim & Rob
Meyer for putting me up at their house for the entire week of the National. Let it serve as a warning to all, if you invite me to
stay at your house for a dog show, I probably will! Anyone involved in purebred dogs should plan to attend a national
specialty at least once in your life, as the sheer number of fantastic dogs all in one place at one time is a magnificent thing to
behold.
- May - Spring. We got back in the swing of classes, an obedience class for Kira, a conformation handling class for me,
and an agility class for Saluki Zuli. We were entered in a couple of shows, a match, a lure coursing trial and a race
does mean that I'm out three nights a week. At least I'm doing something fun.
- June - traditional month for weddings, and that's the way this June started off. My niece, Jessica got married. The
wedding was north of Pittsburgh on a Saturday and we all from Maryland (and Les also) all stayed in a local hotel
overnight after the reception. Since I was already close to Ohio, I got up the next day and drove over to Toledo, Ohio
where I had entered Kira in obedience and rally. We came really close go getting a leg on her CD there, but not quite.
However we did get a qualifying score and our first leg in Rally Novice, so it made the trip worth while. I also met up with a
Greyhound friend there who had come down to the show from Detroit (about an hour north) so I went up to Detroit with
Toledo to spend the night with some other Greyhound friends. The dog world is a small one! The next weekend I had dogs
entered in a local match and managed to win Best in Match with Painter. What a thrill, I certainly never expected that. Then the
very next morning, I attended a mini-seminar on Tracking. We did a little beginning work, and Kira really seemed to catch on
quickly. Just what I need, another venue to train my dogs for!
| Click on picture for larger view |
- July started off with the big Versatility weekend, four events, straight track racing, oval track racing, conformation and
obedience matches and lure coursing. Scores are given for placements in each event and then there is an overall
to as I thought it was completely out of my grasp. He did just win it by a hair, but he won it nevertheless. It was a thrill that will
stay with me for the rest of my days.
- August saw us off again making another attempt at an obedience leg. I entered Kira in rally also since it was an indoor
show (the only kind to do in August!) we flunked out in obedience but got our second leg in Rally Novice which made the
Field both days. That almost never happens! In the middle of the month we had three days of dog shows just outside of
Easton, MD which is one of only two dog shows that are in any way local to me, so I entered all three days and took advantage
of the tattoo and cardiac clinics they offered.
- In September we went to the Greyhound Eastern Regional specialty show in the pouring down rain. It was the absolute
worst conditions I'd ever experienced for a dog show. Half the ring was under two inches of standing water, and the rest of
we were entered in the specialty Greyhound only lure coursing trial and we got no ribbons that day either. But I did get to spend
the night with my friends Tom & Leslie Carroll and that by itself is worth the trip. At the end of the month, Kira and I made
another unsuccessful attempt at obedience, but got our third leg in Rally Novice, and finished her RN title.
- October is always a busy month when there are two or three things I'd like to do every weekend, but we always spend
Columbus Day weekend at Dewey Beach, DE with thousands of Greyhounds and their people. The annual Greyhounds
spent several weekends lure coursing and at the end of the month I had a good weekend where Ruby won Best in Field on
Saturday and then won a point in the conformation ring on Sunday.
- November - I got my first taste of High School football in over 35 years, as my nephew Josh finished the season as the
starting quarterback for his JV team. That Josh can really throw a football and managed to win the last two games of the
we failed again. I also had Marseille entered in conformation and actually won with her. It was the first point I'd ever put on a
Whippet, and I was thrilled to do it at home, so to speak, with all my friends there. Kira and I started doing some tracking training
in November and it seems that she really does have quite the talent for it. We saw the end of Zuli's agility career this month
when she went off course in class and attacked a Mini Schnauzer. We'll have to find another sport for her where she can't hurt
any other dogs! Thanksgiving weekend was busy with dinner at Mom's house, coursing one day and showing on the other two
days of the 4 day weekend. This was the month that Avery & Derby both earned their Junior Courser titles and Avery ran in her
first trial.
- December - Had some opportunities to do more tracking training with Kira and it's really amazing how fast she's catching
on to this new game. I decided to blow off our obedience entries this month as all I was teaching her was that it was OK to
both he and Avery ran their first ASFA trials on December 30th. Their brother Ripley finished his ASFA Field Championship on
December 30th as well. I was very tickled that I was able to see Ripley's first runs of his career and able to see him finish his first
Championship as well. Saluki Zuli finished out the year as the #1 AKC lure coursing Saluki in the Country, much to my surprise
and delight.
So that's my year in review - I know, more than you wanted to know. Thanks for reading all the way down here to the end. If
you're not already bored stiff, consider checking out the rest of my web site, I'm getting more and more stuff up there every day.
Drop me an e-mail and let me know how you're doing!