~Becky

Courtesy of: 1800PetMeds.com

Friday April 5th. I arrived early, set up, and started doing some drills with the dogs.  This was the first show I had taken Flash to in years and the first show where I had another dog with me.  He was insanely jealous that I was working Jazz.  As both Jazz and Flash were entered in the same class, I had to move one of them up into first place, so there would at least one dog between them, otherwise I would not be able to warm up the other dog.  Flash and I entered the ring first and he was beyond happy to be showing.  We walked out of there with a score of 99 out of 100 points, netting us First Place and a nice new squeaky toy!  There was only one dog between Flash and Jazz, so I wasn’t able to work with her as much as I had hoped.  However, she did great and ended up with a score of 93 out of 100 and Fourth Place!  Not to shabby.  Still, she wanted that toy like no body’s business!  I told her she needed to step up her game to net a new squeaky toy.

Flash says: That’s my toy, Jazz!

Saturday April 6th.  Again Flash was first in the ring, but there were more than one dog between Flash and Jazz today, so I knew I would have time to get Jazz fully focused and ready to play.  Flash scored 90 with no placement. You see, there was this invisible monster hiding in sign 6, which required us to redo that station. He wasn’t going to go near that station, much less do the left about turn in front of that sign!  It took a lot of praise and encouragement, but he finally made it by that sneaky spooky sign.  Of course the monster was still lurking around and Flash had to watch the sign the entire time we were heeling, which lead to more points off. I let him sniff the sign when we passed it again, at which point he decided it was no threat.  Lots of praise and play after. Still not sure what that was about, but I was hopeful it was a freak incident.  Jazz scored 95 and placed second out of 12 dogs!   She was animated and happy, if a bit to enthusiastic.   I’ll take that any day of the week!

Sunday April 7th.  Flash again was first dog in the ring.  I think next time I do this I will move Jazz to last so I can watch other people go first.  Because I did one sign incorrectly, Flash lost 10 points due to my mistake.  His final score was 88, so without the 10 point mistake he would have had a 98.  Still, he passed and received his qualifying score which is all that matters in the end.   Jazz benefited from my education and did get her revenge!  She scored 98 and first place!  She snatched that squeaky toy from the judge faster than you can say “Poodles Rule!”.

I am happy to say that they are now: UKC CH, U-RO1 Tintlet Rhapsody in Blue RN  “Jazz”
And
Karbits Energizer OA, OAJ, RN, CGC, TDI  “Flash”

We met some REALLY friendly and supportive people at the shows.  One lovely women who had a Parti girl and a really nice women with a Saint Bernard.  Both are local, so maybe between the three of us, we can get enough dogs to start an advanced show obedience and rally class.   It was nice to get back to the obedience side of things.

Keith and the kids came to watch today and took some video.  Here is Jazz’s First place run on April 7th, 2013

~Becky

I hit the road by 4:45pm, giving me just enough time to make it to the cargo area if I took the toll roads in Austin.  I arrived on time, 6:00 exactly.  The lady at the Delta Cargo desk looked at me quizzically when I walked in.  I said I was there for the dog arriving on the 6PM flight from Atlanta.  It was pouring buckets of rain.  I said “I’m sure it is likely delayed a bit with this weather, but I wanted to make sure you knew I was here”.  She said “Umm, I don’t have any information about a dog, they always call me”.  I said “Well, can you check the flight and see if someone forgot to let you know” and she did.  No dog on the flight.  I’m shocked.  WHERE IS MY DOG!  She doesn’t seem the least worried and says “well, I don’t know what to tell you, he isn’t on that plane”.  She did not make any attempt to locate my dog, she acted as if he really didn’t matter.

At this time I break out the phone and call Julie, I get her daughter and tell her she needs to let her mom know that River is lost, no one can tell me where he is.  I call Keith, who was out to eat with the kids.  I explain that River is lost, no one knows where he is.  Keith said he was on the way home and he would need some numbers to start working on finding River.  I get off the phone and the lady turns to me and says “You can’t use cell phones in here, cell phone use is prohibited inside the cargo office”.  My mouth falls open.  REALLY?  You guys have lost my dog and your telling me I have to go out in the POURING RAIN to attempt to locate him???  REALLY?????

I keep my calm, I’m very polite and say “Well, my dog is lost, I’m going to need to use my phone and I am not walking out in that rain.  Please bare with me”.  She just looks at me.  I say very nicely “Can you please see if you can locate my dog.  Here is the information I have.  I can call myself OR you can call and that way I am not breaking any rules”.  She starts pecking on her computer.  In a few minutes she says “I think he is on his way to Atlanta now, it says he will arrive at 11:30 pm.”  Right as she says this, Julie calls.  She had been on the phone with Delta.  Julie confirms River is indeed on a flight to Atlanta.  Somehow he missed his 10AM flight, then he missed a second flight, finally they stuck him on the 7pm flight out to Atlanta, he was due to arrive at 9pm Eastern.  After several more phone calls, Julie then asks if I wanted him to stay overnight in Atlanta at a boarding kennel OR let Delta attempt to get him on the 10PM eastern flight to Austin.  Airlines do not like to transfer dog to another plane with only 1 hour lay over, but because this was a “special” situation, they would try.  Well, according to the lady I was standing in front of, he was already booked for that flight.  I told Julie I wanted River HERE, I would stay in Austin as long as that took.   My trust in Delta was shot and I wouldn’t leave a dead hamster in their care overnight unless forced.  Julie agreed and called her 1-800 number contact back to confirm River was to aim for the 10PM flight to Austin.

By this time I’m getting pretty shaky.  I had not eaten, it was 7:00 and I had left the house at 4:30 with no stops.  I spoke to my cargo employee and asked her for her name and a direct phone number so I could contact her in a few hours.  She reluctantly gave me her number and her name after she stated it was against policy.  I explained the weather was an issue, I was afraid there might be some delay, and I didn’t want anyone thinking I was not going to be there to get my dog.  I told her the overall plan.  He might be on the plane to us or he might not make that flight and he would have to stay over night in Atlanta.  She looked down at her computer and said to me “We close at 12:30am” and I said “well hopefully he won’t be late.  If he arrives at 11:30 we should be fine, right?” She said it took 30 minutes to unload the plane, she might not have the time to get him.  She was firm that she locked the doors at 12:30 no matter what.  I’m on the verge of tears at this point.  I asked her where I would find my dog if she couldn’t get him.  Baggage claim was her unemotional answer.  I politely asked her for that number as well, just in case I needed to call them and attempt to figure out a way to carry a 500 extra large dog crate and dog across an international airport to my parked car by myself at 1AM in the morning, and I walked out.

Keith calls me when I made it to the car and you guessed it, I totally lost it.  I can barely speak through my sobs and he tells me to go get something to eat, to give him the direct number to my Cargo person, and that he would handle everything.  I ask him not to do anything that would make working with this person difficult.  I won’t have some person mistreating my dog because he went off on her.  He assured me he could handle this, it wasn’t a problem and he would not cause any issues. I know my husband, if anyone could manage this person it was Keith.

I head to the nearest place to eat.  Hypoglycemic is so much FUN!  I don’t do well with low blood sugar on a good day, much less a bad one.  I needed food fast, even if it wasn’t the best food.

Around 7:30PM Keith calls me back.  He spoke to a very helpful gentlemen who assured him that they would make sure River was on that plane and set us up with email updates every time River’s bar code was scanned.   Julie also called and gave me the name of the lady she was working with, who said she would also call as soon as River made the flight… or didn’t.

I eat my greasy burger in my locked car and kill time listening to a book on tape, trying to decide what had gone wrong.  I have flown dogs many times.  Oh you hear about horror stories, but I’ve never had it happen.  How could the ball be dropped so very badly?  Was there anything that could have been done differently?  Yes, there were a few things that would happen in the future, IF my dogs ever fly again.  First I will insist on the email update every time the bar code is scanned.  I won’t have to call and hope I get someone just to ask if my dog actually made it on the plane.  I’ll know if their code gets scanned.  I’ve never had this offered to me as a shipper or receiver, but you can bet it will absolutely happen from here out.  Next, I will never use Delta again.  Fool me once, shame on you.  I won’t be a fooled twice.  I can understand there being a problem, but no contact is unacceptable.  Had they called and said he missed the plane, fine.  These things happen.  Julie could have picked him up and we could try again another day.  Leaving my dog crated for 16 hours for no reason is cruelty.

At 9PM Central (10 Eastern) I get a phone call from Julie’s contact that River is indeed on the flight to Austin.  Julie then text me to ask if I spoke to her contact and I get an email stating River’s bar code was scanned plus a phone call from Keith confirming all of the above.  River is alive and he is on his way.  Now I just have to wait.

Airports are never in the nicest neighborhoods, by this time I had to find a restroom that wasn’t sketchy and preferably not in a place where I would robbed and shot.  It was full dark, the clouds were breaking up with no rain in sight.  The seeder aspects of Austin were coming out of the woodwork in full force.  After 30 minutes of driving I found a clean Burger King to relieve my bladder, stretch my legs and walk Jazz, who came along to keep me company.  Jazz is a wonderful girl, not a peep out of her the entire time and she helped cheer me up with her silly nature.

10PM: I get a call from my local cargo lady.  She was polite, empathetic, seemed truly concerned about River.  She said that his flight was due to arrive early, at 11:05 and that she would drive over at that time and wait for them to unload him.  She would try to have him back at the cargo area by 11:20 at the latest.  Well… seems she doesn’t need an hour to get a dog to the cargo area.  I thank her, tell her I really appreciate the call, and praise her for going above and beyond.  Then I smile.  What DID Keith say to her???  If you have spent time with my husband especially in a work environment, you will know he has people skills.   I’m sure what he accomplishes it can be learned to some degree, but to move people the way he does takes something extra.  To me it is a super power I will never have, magical in nature.

I sit for another hour outside the Delta Cargo area and play with Jazz.  That funny girl was set on making me laugh, she kept leaping out of the back of the van over my head, then bouncing back in to the van and doing a ‘bow’ in my lap as I giggle hysterically from both fatigue and relief.  No, I didn’t have River yet, but I had a good idea he would be ok even if he had to pee in his crate. It would be ok and Jazz was providing an excellent stress outlet.

I was waved over to the cargo platform at 11:20 by an excited women.  She had my boy!!  River was ok but she wanted to give him some water.  I let him out of the crate and happiness exploded.  Wiggling, bouncing, joyous black poodle was whirling around me.  The Delta cargo worker broke down.  Tears rolled down her face and she said “Oh my, oh he missed you so much!  I can’t believe how happy he is to see you.  I’ve never seen a dog so happy before” and she turned away.  I told her I needed to walk him before we did anything else, that I was sure he bladder was going to explode.  He did not pee in his crate.  A few drops had hit the floor during his happy dancing, I didn’t want to make him wait any longer.  After a quick potty break we returned to sign the paperwork.  I was given a piece of paper by my new friend with a number written on it.  She said “I just want you to know that we at Delta take pet transport very seriously.  I have written a number down for you to call and explain exactly what happened to this lovely dog.  Hopefully we can make sure no other animals are lost in such a way again.”  As she was saying this, my beautiful boy was standing calmly beside me tail wagging and acting like nothing at all was amiss.  All was right in the world and he was just happy to be out of the crate and standing next to me.  I thanked her for all her effort in helping me get River, let her bask in the glory that is a well bred and socialized Standard Poodle, then packed up our things and left.

I’m sure you are wondering what Keith say to this women?  He told me he called her up and in a very concerned manner asked her why his wife was sitting in her car crying.  Why was no one helping her?  Why was a living, breathing creature, that needs food, water, and a place to poop and pee being treated like a package?  What could he do to help them help his wife.  He asked he if she could help, that I was alone up there, while he was at home with the children 2 hours away.  He would pack up the kids and drive there if needed, but maybe she could help, make things smoother.  I’m not sure why River was lost, but I did see a change in one person last night, a change for the better.  Someone who was bitter and closed off let some emotion show, let her barriers down.  Hopefully she saw that there are nice people out there even when bad things happen to them, they are not unreasonable or confrontational.  Maybe she saw how her own actions can make a difference.  I’m sure her job is thankless and boring.  Hopefully she took home a little light last night, in the form of a happy poodle memory.

I can tell you, it will be a birthday I don’t forget for a very long time.  Happy Birthday to ME!  I have my River home!

Jazz and one tired River

~Becky

Today though, I’ll keep things short and sweet, and by sweet I mean 8 little bundles of LOVE!  Yesterday I had the extreme pleasure to do an aptitude test on a litter of 8 week old Std Poodle puppies.  If you are not familiar with the testing, please visit this site for full details.

http://www.volhard.com/pages/pat.php

With my breeding dogs and the drive that I prefer to work with, my puppies tend to score a few 1-2 , a lot of 3′s, a maybe one or two 4′s.  This litter was almost all what I would consider level 4 puppies, though they did score many 3′s but on the low end.  VERY calm, very laid back, very stable, and almost zero prey drive, and no biting which is atypical of Poodle puppies.  You could easily raise these pups to live with cats, chickens, just about any wildlife because their core drives are so low.  In short, they were a bunch of LOVELY pets or future therapy dogs.

Out of her litter of 8 pups, Jama has one boy and possibly one girl available to pet homes.  If you are interested in a stable pet, this might be the litter for you.

Please visit: http://brittonspoodlesandlabs.webs.com/ for more information.

~Becky

There is a lot of new developments that need to be covered here on the blog, but with Kenzie is still occasionally popping a fever I simply don’t have the energy.  Until I have her healthy, the blog goes on the back burner yet again.

Until then, enjoy a photo of this little guy

How about we name him… “Tintlet Anutta Secret Keeper” -  He is Sirius Black and will be busting out of Azka… I mean Tintlet the end of May, after our trip to Hawaii   I’m totally excited!

~Becky

I’ve had River here for about 2 weeks and as I have no fancy photos of the boy, I thought it was time to resolve the issue.  Black dogs make for hard subject matter.  The dog is either over exposed so you can see their face or the correct inky black color and you totally lose the eyes.  Or they come out looking blue, when they are indeed black.

This photo is over exposed and blue but I still like it.    I could correct it in photo shop, but then what would I learn about taking photographs?  I need to increase my Fstop setting on him too.  That long nose is out of focus in most of these.

The color is almost perfect in this.  The black is not blue or overexposed.  Nothing is more beautiful than a poodle in the wind.  I love this photo, even if the wind is blowing his top knot flat and making him squint his eyes.

He is in the shade here, light behind his head.  This washed out the photo, but it gave it so much depth!  I love love love it!

“Is this my good side?”  Makes me think this should be his facebook profile photo. 

Although this is similar to the wind blown photo above, I liked it.  He is looking back over his shoulder at the kids playing.  The light was perfect.  He is a touch blue instead of black in this photo, due to the harsh 2pm light and the fact my UV filter broke and I haven’t replaced it.  Still, this is a ‘banner’ worthy photo for the blog or website.

His eyes are shadowed in this photo, but he looks so regal, so poodle, I had to share it with you all.  The color is more correct, though a touch off perfect black.  This is the “Man I wish she would hurry up and get done taking photos, I’m getting bored” look poodles seem to perfect within a few minutes of experiencing a photo shoot.

River is exceptional with the kids.  He is not at all rough, never nips, lets them do whatever they want.  Kenzie and Aiden both told me they love this boy and are very happy he is staying with us now.  These kids are jaded, with all the rescues and puppies.  They have experienced more dogs in their 5 years than most people have their entire life.  It takes a special animal for them to utter such words.

I’m trying to teach River to stack so we can start showing in UKC conformation.  He is starting to get the idea, he now will do a stand stay for me, looking straight ahead.  However, he hasn’t grasped the full show dog ‘look’.  He needs to take a step forward and raise up that tail and get an attitude of “I am awesome!”

Kenzie decided she would help River with his tail in this shot.  He needs to lean forward, he is bracing back against Kenzie’s tail push.  Because he is leaning back, he looks a little down in the pasterns, high in the rear, and straight in his front.  There is an art to “Stand still, but look natural while you do it”.  I have not had him up on ‘stacking blocks’ to train his stand, so he isn’t doing to badly for an untrained dog.  The reason I wanted to share this photo is not because it makes River look good, but to show off my future dog show handler, Mrs Kenzie!  She looks ready for her Best in Show photo, if you avoid looking at those hideous hot pink toe Crocs she loves so much!  Crocs are far from pretty.  Toe shoes are even worse.  Combining the two is a ghastly sight.  Maybe I can sneak those into the next “Goodwill” load.

We are having a blast with Mr River, enjoying his funny personality and needy boy nature.  It is just the breath of fresh air this family needed after placing Mocha last fall.  I can tell you Jazz is over the moon, she just need to get out of season so they can actually play!

~Becky

Becky,

Two of the picture were before the groomer shots and the other four are the after the groomer glamour shots.  All are of Sasha’s normal daily routines. Apollo and Sasha have become nearly inseparable. They watch out and protect each other . The other day the acupuncturist came to give Apollo a treatment and Sasha kept trying to get between the doc and Apollo.  We finally had to move her to another room which she made very clear she did not like.  Today while Sasha was at the groomers Apollo laid and watch out the window all day for her to come back.  When we brought Sasha back this afternoon both acted as if they had been separated for weeks they were so glad to be back together.

Sasha still counter surfs which Apollo really appreciates as he is a participating beneficiary. We have become very careful not to leave anything on our cabinets these days. Sasha’s daily routine is breakfast at 7AM, followed by a drive to the local Whataburger. Everyone their just loves to see her in the morning. After we get back home she goes for a walk in the LC (lower commons park) then it’s nap time. 6PM we go to the ranch and put the horses to bed, so she gets a good run through the pasture, with the other dog (Winston) at the ranch. Lately Sasha has been getting up just before the alarm, then comes into our room and stares into our face until we wake up.  IF the alarm goes off before we wake up she woof’s at us until we get out of bed.

Hope all is well with you and your family. We can’t thank you enough for allowing us to be adopted by Sasha. She is a complete joy to be around every day.

I will send more updates this summer

Deborah

Later this week Quincy will be heading to the vet to get his Hips, Elbows, SA and Thyroid test done now that he is over 2 years of age.

~Becky

In this blog post I will be focusing on Georgie and her second and last litter.  Last year Georgie was bred to River for a wonderful litter of 7 babies.  All were outgoing and their conformation was good to excellent.  I was very pleased with the litter as a whole, though they ended up maturing smaller than I originally thought they would.  Other than the smaller size, the litter has surpassed my expectations.   The puppies are all thriving in their homes, be it training for service, therapy, performance sports, or just beloved pets.

I looked high and low for a performance titled Std Poodle within a reasonable drive of Georgie’s home to sire her second and last litter.  I located Tag, who lives near Nashville, TN, and spoke to his mom about the possibly of using him.  Linda was very excited and started health testing Tag as time and finances allowed.   Everything was on schedule until Tag came up hypothyroid a few weeks back.  You can read about Tag here: part 1: Tag Update.  I sent out word to a few of my friends, none of which have a performance titled dog within my driving distance (OK, MO, TN, MS, LA, AR, TX).  I attempted to ship semen once and that failed.  It is extremely expensive, I am just not willing to try that again with the fertility vet choices I have near Georgie’s home in Bella Vista, AR

Next, I visited Piper and her foster mom, and I decided she should not be bred.  Piper is the puppy we fostered from our Georgie and River litter last year.  She broke her leg in a freak accident and it isn’t healing correctly.  You can read the entire story here part 2:Piper Update

Lastly, Georgie has come into season MONTHS early!!  She wasn’t due in until the end of April – early May.  Courtney called me on Thursday of last week to tell me the bad news.  Oh the timing is HORRIBLE!!  Keith and I will be going to Hawaii for our 18th anniversary the end of May.  The trip is paid for in full with no way to get a refund.  If I bred Georgie now, she would be due 3 days before that trip.

So, where does this leave us as far as Georgie and her 2013 litter?  I would say most importantly, it has pushed us back a few months.  I didn’t want to skip this cycle, but a short cycle (4 months or less) often results in small litters or no pups at all.  I decided it would be better for her to wait and have a normal cycle before I breed her and ‘maybe’ I can locate a stud for her during these next few months.  If I do not locate a stud I feel is suitable for her, I would be breeding her to River again.  I loved that litter, the temperaments were amazing.  I don’t own any of the pups from the litter now with Piper due to be spayed, so it would not be a waste for me to repeat the breeding.  I believe Hazel and Jay are both still intact, they have not been altered yet.  This means the combination of Georgie and River has not been lost.  BUT neither Hazel or Jay’s parents are breeders.   They may never show their dogs, they may never title their dogs, they may never health test their dogs, much less breed them after all that is done.  It would be a shame not to have a puppy with such amazing parents bring more Poodles into this world.

With all this said, right now my plan is to look around for a stud who is titled in performance sports and fully health tested.  If I do not locate that dog, I will repeat the litter between Georgie and River.  I haven’t bred a litter of pups that are due Oct / Nov in 10 years!  This will be an event.  Winter puppies at Anutta!

Georgie and River, 2012

Please note, we are still on schedule for a summer litter with Ziva, who is scheduled to be bred to Bill (AKC CH UKC GRCH Jacknic’s Big Love of Jacknic Kennels).  They will be lovely Standard Poodles, calm and sweet just like their parents.

~Becky

When I was in Arkansas last month, I was able to make the 3 hour drive up to Northwest AR to see all the dogs up there and pick up River to start his UKC titling venture.  I spoke with Courtney about the future goals for Georgie.  I spoke to Diane about Zelda’s future litters and options, and I spoke to Sarah and evaluated Piper to see what her future would hold.

Piper is the puppy we fostered from Georgie and River’s litter last year.  It was the first litter from Georgie and the second litter from River.  The litter was really nice.  The temperaments were very outgoing, not a shy baby in the entire group of 7.  I placed 2 of those puppies as service dog prospects, many others going as light performance dogs or future therapy dogs.  The conformation in the litter was good to excellent.  Overall, a nice nice litter of out crossed puppies.

I picked up all the puppies in the litter at 7 weeks of age except the puppy I decided to foster.  This puppy was “Piper”.  She had the temperament suitable for the foster family and her conformation was really good.  A bit straight in the front, but other than that, she was really nice.  Good head, really nice rear, perfect top line, long neck.  Her sister Hazel had a nicer front, but Hazel was to much dog for the foster family to handle.  Because Sarah and her family lived not far from Georgie, it would have been silly for me to pick the puppy up and keep her for a week or two, only to have to drive her all the way back to Northwest AR and deliver her Sarah.  With that in mind, Courtney decided she would just keep Piper for one week until she was old enough to go home to Sarah.  Courtney and Sarah are best friends, so this seemed to be the best solution for all involved.

At just under 8 weeks of age Piper broke her left front leg in a freak accident.  We think the other household dog (a hound mix) caused the break, but are not sure as no one ‘witnessed’ exactly what happened, only heard the puppy scream in pain.  Courtney was crushed, we spoke many times on the phone, vets were contacted, choices on what to do were made.  I told Sarah I would take this puppy, fix her up and find her a home, that she absolutely did not need to take a puppy with a broken leg.  She insisted she still wanted Piper.  Long story short, the leg has not healed properly.  This was not unexpected, puppies and broken legs do not mix.  The leg is 2 inches short and starting to twist.  Multiple specialist have been visited over this pups life in both OK and TX and there were/are no good choices.  Due to the amount of crate rest, her entire front is atrophied especially the Left side.  Eventually, the leg might have to be amputated.

Here is as close to a stacked side shot as this pup will ever get.  She simply cannot stack like the other dogs or she would fall over sideways on the short front leg.  Note her poor front, due to crate rest and the way she must stand to stay balanced.  The rest of her is very correct (amazing neck, top line, tail set, rear, etc).

Notice in this photo you can see how short that left front leg is.  Her feet are not shaved so it is harder to see, but her leg is not touching the ground.  Notice how far down she is in her pastern on the right, due to the extra weight she carries in her front.  Also this is how she must stand to be fully balanced.

Piper cannot be shown and the stress of carrying and whelping a litter is not a good option.  Could we breed her?  Yes.  Should we breed her?  No.  Because of this, I have decided to remove Piper from the foster program.  Sarah loves her, no matter what happens with that leg.  That is the beauty of the foster program and why I foster most of my ‘prospective’ breeding pups.

~Becky