Sand Spring Year In Review 2023

Posted on January 1, 2024 by Sand Spring Chesapeakes

As we end 2023 I want to reflect back on the year and share with you what we have been up too.

Starting off in January Gertie received her AKC Rally Advanced title. We did virtual videos, we needed to pass three courses.

In February Slammer and I completed his UKC Conformation Grand Show Champion with a Total dog to boot! This makes his 6th Total dog pass.

In April Slammer became a dad again to a lovely litter of pups born to Ruby. 7 more kids out there.

April 22nd was the ACC WI Chessie Fun day held at our home (Stancerville). People and their chessies came from all over the US again. It was a fun filled day. We are always thankful for the beautiful day we are given with so many wonderful friends. This couldn’t happen without everyone chipping in.

In May Slammer and John passed their first AKC Master Hunter test.

While JoAnn got to take a trip to Vegas with her friend Jodie. We had a wonderful trip, we saw so many things and places. We put on 90,000 steps while there, we got around! A special moment during the trip was when I brought my friend Susie back to Vegas to be laid to rest. She passed away 9 years ago and her last wish was for me to take her ashes to Vegas and spread them at the place where Susie took me to Vegas for my first time. It was so bitter sweet. I miss her dearly and she is pulling the one arm bandit all day long.

Another very special memory from my time in Vegas will stay with me forever as it is permanently on my arm for me to each each day. I designed a tattoo and had an artist at H & H tattoo company apply it.

The paw print is Guilty’s, the heartbeat is her actual heartbeat, the outline is her and the cattails are actual cattails that I got when I put her great grandfather Norman to sleep. Her memory lives on.

The end of June W.A.C.K.O. club hosted a Elite Shed Dog event at Stancerville. It was a three day event. Slammer and Gertie passed each day. On the second day Slammer received a 3rd place. Slammer has 65/100 and Gertie 30/100 points needed for their champion titles.

In July Slammer and John passed their second AKC Master Hunter test.

Slammer also became a dad for the fourth time. Dicca and him had a litter of 11 pups which kept Dicca’s owners on their toes.

August was a productive month. Slammer and John passed their 3rd AKC Master Hunter test.

September started out the busy month by JoAnn going Bear hunting with a friends brother and his bear hound dogs. I was successful the first morning I went out.

My friend Kim S talked me into showing Slammer in AKC conformation. I couldn’t show the first day so Kim showed Slammer, I then received a text stating that Slammer went WD/BOB for a 3 point major. To say I was surprised was an understatement. Host clubs were the Greater Racine Kennel Club and the Cudahy Kennel Club.

The second day of the show I showed Slammer and we received WD/BOB for another 3pt major. This guy was on a roll.

September was the month I had been working all year for. The ACC National Field Trial Specialty was being held in Stoughton, WI. I was one of the committee members to make this happen. It was such a great 4 days. The chair-cochair, committee members, volunteers all did an amazing job. I was happy to be apart of this event.

Right after the NFT John and Gertie headed to Saskatchewan for a week of snow goose hunting. They had a great time with their friends. Hoping this next year I can get back into going.

While John was in Canada I went to another dog show with Slammer. This show was hosted by the Sheboygan Kennel Club. He received a second and a RW.

The end of September I entered another dog show this time with Riggs. Host club was Rockford-Freeport Kennel Club. Riggs was 1st and then WD for his first 3pt major. On the second day he was 2nd/RW.

The end of October I hit a three day dog show with Slammer again. Host clubs were the Kenosha Kennel Club and Skokie Valley Kennel Club. The first day Slammer went 1st/wd/boboh for his 3rd 3pt major. The second day he went 1st/RW. The third day he went 1st/WD for his 4th 3pt major. He’s on fire!

We ended the show season of 2023 with 4 majors, 12 points and NOHS Bronze with 10 points. Unbelievable!!

October we started guiding at Lone Oak Shooting preserve again along with regular hunting. The dogs are having fun picking up birds. Gambler at 12.5 years and Glory at 12 years are still hunting and doing a great job at it. I have to scream a little louder as they are deaf but they get the job done.

Through out the year Gambler, Glory, Slammer and Gertie visited Clearview Health Campus once a week doing pet therapy. Bringing smiles to the residents.

The middle of December Slammer and I went to another Elite Shed Dog event. He timed out the first day, passed the second day and had to scratch the third day as I was called to go bobcat hunting. He now has 75/100 points to earn his champion shed dog title.

John and I both had bobcat tags, John drove me up to Sheldon, WI to hunt with the same peeps who took me bear hunting. John happened to be near the cat before I got there so he tagged it. There wasn’t another chance for me to hunt as it hadn’t snowed again before the season closed. We hunted with hound dogs and what a trip it is to witness another breed hunting.

Gambler got the privilege to hunt with his Boykin buddy Ted one last time. Gambler is 12.5 years and Ted is going on 14 years with walking disabilities. They have been hunting together a couple times during the pheasant season for the past 10 years. Gambler doesn’t play well with others but he respects Ted and it’s amazing to watch these two dogs work together to get the job done. I always have fun watching the Boykins hunt and hunting under them. Thank you Ted for many hunts with Gambler.

Bruce was able to snap this photo of Gambler and I walking side by side hunting. When Gambler’s dad Norman was 12 years old John snapped a photo of Norman and I walking side by side at Lone Oak Shooting Preserve. I now have to favorite photos of me and my pals.

Shank is Shank and has been visiting the Vet School every 3-4 months to have her cataracts evaluated. She is on daily medication and her eyes are stable. She is a fun loving little gal that doesn’t know she has a problem. Bones is her buddy as she is always stalking him and trying to play with him. He is still going strong with his megaesophagus with not having any health issues from it.

We had a uneventful Christmas and New Year.

This brings Sand Spring Chesapeakes 2023 to a close. We had a fun filled year with hoping more fun and accomplishments in 2024. We hope you all had the year you wanted and hope you have a happy, healthy and safe 2024. We will be seeing you!

Upcoming Whelp

Posted on May 25, 2021 by Sand Spring Chesapeakes

LITTER SOLD 7/27/21 Due to whelp 6/9/21

Sand Spring’s Stud “Riggs” was bred to “Sadie”. Pregnancy confirmed and due to whelp 6/9/21.

Contact Jeremy Quackenbush for more information regarding this upcoming litter.

Jquacksr@yahoo.com

608-295-0087

Sadie

OFA Clearances click HERE

Riggs

SHR U-CH Sand Spring Lethal Weapon JH CGCA CGCU SPOT-ON

7/11/15

Male, Light Brown, 90#, Height 26 in

HRCH U-CH Sand Spring No Gut’s No Glory SH THD CGCA CGCU TT SPOT-ON

HR CH SRR’S North Point Thunder Bay SH WDQ CGC

OFA Clearances click HERE

Click HERE to view Rigg’s accomplishments

Click HERE to view Rigg’s health clearances

Rigg’s was easily trained for hunting and hunt tests. He is a great family dog that lives with small children, he’s very quite in the house. He has a on off switch, knows to be calm in the house and great drive in the field. Excellent temperament and health clearances.

Sand Spring Conformation ~ Dodge County Canine Club

Posted on May 23, 2018 by Sand Spring Chesapeakes

Sand Spring Conformation ~ Dodge County Canine Club

left to right: Willow and Josey, Guilty and Lynne, JoAnn and Gambler, Tom and Riggs.

On the weekend of May 12-13, 2018 the Sand Spring gang competed in the Dodge County Canine Club UKC conformation show. Three of Glory’s offspring were entered along with Gambler. Gambler and Josey are Grand Champions already, they were competing for their Total Dog recognition and Top Ten points. Riggs and Guilty are Champions already competing for their Grand Champion title.

Riggs was picked for the winner of the Champion class against Guilty in one of the two shows on Saturday. Riggs and Josey also competed in the Brace class at the end of the breed showing. Brace is where you have two like dogs showing at the same time by one person. They need to move the same and look the same while showing. Riggs and Josey won the brace class in show 2.

Gambler was picked for winner of the Grand Champion class over Josey in show 2, he then went Best of Breed which made him eligible for his Total Dog recognition. This is the picture after the first day of Conformation and Rally Obedience.

Guilty was picked for the winner of the Champion class against Riggs in show 2, she was also awarded two reserves on Saturday.

On Sunday she was picked for the winner in the Champion class for each show over Riggs. The first show step sister Josey was picked for the Best of Breed and Guilty received reserve. Show two Guilty was picked Best of Breed over Josey. This picture is after Sunday’s dog show.

JoAnn showing Riggs and Tom showing Guilty.

Tom and Riggs looking pretty damper.

Tom trying to show Riggs and Josey in Brace.

Riggs has other things on his mind.

We won the Brace class in show 2 on Saturday.

Brace class was the highlight of Saturdays shows. Tom tried to show Riggs and Josey together but Riggs thought he needed to breed Josey during the class and wasn’t listening to Tom. I decided to take on the task and pulled it off. The judges were great and the spectators were having a great time watching. In show two the judge asked me to go around the ring again, she was smiling away and Tom asked her if she had me going around again just for fun and the judge nodded and smiled bigger. It was so much fun, I will admit we never practiced, it was a spur of the moment thing and I had no idea what I was doing but it was fun and that is all that mattered and we pulled off a win and a very cool basket donated by the club.

A great weekend was had by all!

Pheasant’s For Riggs

Posted on January 26, 2018 by Sand Spring Chesapeakes

This past weekend we had some really nice weather so we put out a few pheasant’s for Riggs. He hasn’t had much experience pheasant hunting so it was time he got some.

Riggs had a blast with his pheasant’s. He got two on his own and the hunters got two for him to retrieve. With a couple more outings he will have pheasant hunting down pat.

It’s Official

Posted on January 24, 2018 by Sand Spring Chesapeakes

The 2017 UKC Conformation show season and the Top Ten Standings have been posted. When you show in Conformation in the UKC if your dog wins the class it is showing in and there is competition behind them they will win top ten points one point for each dog that they beat. The top ten dogs with points will be invited to the UKC Premier held in June at Kalamazoo, Michigan. They will show in the Top Ten show and there are semi finals and finals. You compete against all breeds of dogs and try to win over them to become the top ten dog. It’s a big deal in the UKC. I’ve held this position before. Gambler and I were first in the top ten two years in a row. When he went to the Premier we made it to the finals and was amongst the 10 finalists to be chosen from.

Here are the results of 2017 Top Ten Standings

UNJ U-CH Sand Spring Guilt By Association JH THDN CGCU

There is more exciting news, there are 4 other Sand Spring dogs that made the Top Ten. Josey owned by Tom and Irene Pawlisch had a wonderful year, huge congratulations to them this is the second year in a row they were in the top ten. Riggs owned by Roger Glasgow and JoAnn Stancer along with Gambler and Glory owned by JoAnn Stancer earned placements. This is Gambler and Glory’s third time being in the top ten. I’m pretty proud of all the Sand Spring dogs! Now we need to plan our summer vacation to the 2018 UKC Premier!

Wordless Wednesday is a community linkup of bloggers. Visit our host, BlogPaws, and you can use the icons below the post to hop from site to site. It is a great way to discover new blogs…..or even just a convenient way to find all of your favorites in one place. When you visit each site, be sure to leave a comment and let them know you found them through Wordless Wednesday.

A Year and A Month in Review

Posted on December 31, 2017 by Sand Spring Chesapeakes

A Year and A Month in Review

My year in review starts back in December 14, 2016 when John and I drove to Eau Clair, WI to pick up Riggs one of our puppies out of Glory and Thunder’s 2015 litter. Rigg’s current family at the time couldn’t keep him because of unforeseen circumstances. They tried and tried and finally made the call to me to help them out. We gladly welcomed Riggs back home to Sand Spring Chesapeakes. Riggs was 17 months at the time and still intact, being that we have Gambler who is intact as well and has a case of short man syndrome our best friend and neighbor Roger agreed to house Riggs and have him be his dog and a co-owner with us. Riggs former family still follows along with Riggs adventures and we are still friends, they will always be the reason for Riggs great upbringing.

A couple weeks later we got a call that Preacher needed to come back home as she wasn’t working out in her new home, there was personality conflicts between the two girls that lived together so on Christmas eve Preacher came back to live with us again. All our pups are welcome back home, we hope that they won’t be coming back home but sometimes things don’t work out like we hope and we need to do what is right and take responsibility for the lives we helped put on this earth. We had a full Christmas with Grandma Nellie, Glory, Gambler, Preacher, Guilty and MK all living at our house.

We all rang in the New Year of 2017 together. 2017 brought many ups and a few downs. The winter wasn’t a terrible one so we were able to get out and do some hunt test training. Riggs only had obedience work done with him so at 17 months we had to start out from scratch. Roger along with John and I tackled his training, since we were training him we trained Guilty at the same time since she is 6 months younger. Riggs really wanted to please and was doing really well with his training. Once the weather got nicer and the pond opened up it was time to see what he would do in the water. He hadn’t swum as a little puppy so it took some time for him to figure out the water and now he is like a fish.

February 12^th Guilty received her UKC Show Champion title under judge Barbara Burns. Host club was the WI Boston Terrier Association held in Ixonia, WI. She was just a week over her first birthday.

March 9^th, Guilty received her Alliance of Therapy Dogs and her R.E.A.D (Reading Educated Assistance Dog) certification. Guilty is doing therapy work at Beaver Dam and Fall River Middle School.

In March Preacher received her UKC Top Ten status certificates as well as her invitation to perform at the UKC Premier this coming June in the Top Ten Breed and Dog Standing show.

Grandma Nellie turned 12 in October of 2016. Over the winter she was having troubles with her back legs. She was showing neurological signs. She would crisscross her back legs, they would go out on her and she would fall over, she wasn’t able to jump on the bed like she could in the past she was slowly going downhill. Her mind was still all there so you could see her give it her all until the night of March 14th,when I got home from work and John let the gang out to meet me in the garage she ran out to meet me and then she just stood there and wouldn’t move. She stared at me and I could tell by the look in her eyes that there was something wrong with her. She was a little old lady telling me her time was up. We spend the next day loving on each other and the night she spent loving on John. They said their goodbyes as I knew when I took her to work with me the next day March 16th, that we would run some tests but I knew in my heart she wouldn’t be coming home. It turned out that she had a heart base tumor and it was bleeding making it hard for her to breath. It was time for her to be at peace. She was an amazing dog, mother, grandmother and best friend. She was our first breeding bitch and gave us 3 wonderful litters. She taught us so much about raising puppies, hunting and living life to the fullest. She will forever be our turd.

May 13-14^th Momma Glory came out of retirement for the Dodge County Canine Club show to show in the champion class for a chance to get a leg towards her grand champion title and she took Best Of Breed at one of the shows to receive one leg out of 5 for her title.

In June Guilty received her AKC Therapy Dog Novice title and her Canine Good Citizen title. She completed 10 therapy visits for her title.

Guilty attended the 2017 UKC Premier in Kalamazoo, MI. She tried her paw at lure coursing where she ended the course too early so didn’t receive any passes, she did receive her United Novice Jumper title completing 5 jumps in the novice level. She also won Best Of Breed in one of the dog shows she attended, with that win she got one pass towards her grand champion title and a spot in the top ten breed and dog standing.

Gambler received his AKC Trick Dog Novice and Intermediate titles.

July 30^th Sand Spring Lethal Weapon JH “Riggs” received his AKC Junior Hunter title. Host club was the Wisconsin Amateur Field Trial Club, his judges were Richards Andrews and Carol Greenwald.

Then in August Riggs received his UKC HRC Started Title. He went 4 for 4 on his tests. Host club was Muddy Waters HRC.

August 22^nd Riggs passed his AKC Canine Good Citizen test while Guilty passed her AKC Community Canine and Urban tests. Gambler and Glory both passed their Canine Good Citizen Urban test.

Over Labor Day weekend Guilty and I set off for Madison Retriever Clubs fall hunt test. She needed one more pass for her AKC Junior Hunter title which she pulled off. She is now UNJ UCH Sand Spring Guilt By Association JH THDN CGCU.

Preacher left our home for her forever home with George and Susie. John and I have known George forever through our trapping and selling of hides. George is retried now and was looking for a chessie. We told him about Preacher he came and hung out with her and took her home. She has been living the life as an only dog, she has been to North Dakota hunting, up north hunting, hunting on the Mississippi river, fishing with George, going to church with George, she spends all her time right by his side. I couldn’t of asked for a better home, I am happy she and George have each other.

Riggs received his UKC Conformation Champion title on September, 11 2017 at Central Wisconsin Kennel Club. This weekend there were 4 UKC shows, Riggs needed to get BOB in three of the shows in which he did. Judges for the shows were Dr. Bev Siglfelten, Jeanne Heger, and Stanley Matsumoto. Under judge Stanley Riggs received a Group 4 out of 7 dogs in the Gun Dog group. Riggs was handled by Tom Pawlisch

The end of September Guilty and Riggs took their American Temperament Test, both passed with middle of the road scores. They have even temperament. “A Sound Mind In A Sound Body”. With Labor Day brings the beginning of the school year so our pet therapy starts up as well. Each session I rotate out the dogs. Gambler, Glory and Guilty all have their titles so I take one each time. I took Glory a few extra times this fall as I knew she would be coming into heat later in the winter and we would be breeding her so she wouldn’t be able to do therapy. Gambler has started back up with the Beaver Dam Middle school kids. He is in one room this year, I have just taken Gambler so far as the kids that need the pet therapy have requested just Gambler come visit as it will help them with consistency. I figure any way I can help these kids make it through the day we will do. I’ve visited some of these kids for 4 years, it’s nice to see the changes in the kids and know that Gambler is helping them out.

This fall once again we packed up our gear and headed off to Saskatchewan, Canada to snow goose hunt. We took all three dogs, this year I hunted with Guilty all week and John had both Gambler and Glory one on each side during hunting. I had a lot of fun with Guilty, this was my first-year hunting with her as John hunted with her last year. We had a successful hunt, made many new memories with our friends that go with us and we got to hunt with one of Nellie’s puppies again. Pearl who turned 10 on Christmas this year hunted with us again and she did an awesome job for a senior gal. Nellie made the trip with us, she hunted with Guilty and I and on our last day of hunting some of her remains stayed behind in the field we hunted. She also was laid to rest in Kerrie’s flower garden. It was her final flight. Part of her and her father Norman are in a place that we will all ways cherish.

We spent the fall hunting and guiding with our dogs at Lone Oak Pheasant Preserve. The dogs loved being able to hunt pheasants with others. The clients loved hunting with dogs that would flush and retrieve, we all had a great time.

Glory came into heat this fall/winter just like we knew she would. I had spent many months researching stud dogs. We made a decision on who we were going to use so we put our ducks in a row and when it was time for the breeding to take place there was an unfortunate turn of events with the stud dogs semen sample so we needed to come up with another stud quickly. When your bitch is in heat there is a small window of time when things need to get done correctly. We decided we would do a repeat breeding with Bear (Guilty’s dad), a surgical insemination was done on December 13^th. Everything went according to text book just like it did in 2015 when we did the exact same breeding, it wasn’t until a week later that things went aray and we would be left wondering if this pregnancy would take place. Glory had a reaction and got an infection next to the surgical incision which is assumed to be from the extender in the frozen semen sample. She needed to be sedated and a drain was placed by her mammary glands to drain the fluid that has accumulated. A couple trips were made during this time to have ultrasounds done to make sure she didn’t have a pyometra. She was put on antibiotics and is healing up really well. We won’t know until the second week of January if the pregnancy took so as we come to the last day of this year we hope to close out the teary days and enter into 2018 with smiles, relief, good heath and little brown furry ones.

Thank you to all who follow Sand Spring Chesapeakes, those who support us and share in our happy moments and are there for the sad moments. Life is about ups and downs and without friends and family it would be a lot harder to get through the days so we thank you and love you all. May you all have a blessed and healthy New Year!

Riggs’s First Pheasants And Ducks

Posted on November 15, 2017 by Sand Spring Chesapeakes

This hunting season Riggs is having a lot of firsts. As you know we got Riggs in December of last year after hunting season was already over. Riggs didn’t do any hunting until he came back to us. We started out training him for hunt tests, entered him in hunt tests where he received his AKC Junior Hunter and UKC Started Retriever title this past summer. Now that we are done training for hunt tests we are off hunting. Riggs has gone waterfowl hunting a few times and pheasant hunting a few more times. Here are pictures of his first birds.

Riggs pheasants.

Riggs ducks.

He really enjoys getting out and hunting and is doing a really great job at it. The hunting season is still going on so there is time for him to get more birds.

American Temperament Test Society

Posted on September 26, 2017 by Sand Spring Chesapeakes

American Temperament Test Society

“A sound mind in a sound body”

About Canine Temperament

Because of breed-specific dog legislation and negative publicity associated with many breeds of dogs, temperament testing has assumed an important role for today’s dog fancier. The ATTS Temperament Test provides breeders a means for evaluating temperament and gives pet owners insight into their dog’s behavior. It can have an impact on breeding programs and in educating owners about their dog’s behavioral strengths and weaknesses as well as providing a positive influence on dog legislation.

What is temperament?

W. Handel, German Police Dog Trainer, in his article, “The Psychological Basis of Temperament Testing,” defines temperament as:

“the sum total of all inborn and acquired physical and mental traits and talents which determines, forms and regulates behavior in the environment”

The ATTS test focuses on and measures different aspects of temperament such as stability, shyness, aggressiveness, and friendliness as well as the dog’s instinct for protectiveness towards its handler and/or self-preservation in the face of a threat. The test is designed for the betterment of all breeds of dogs and takes into consideration each breed’s inherent tendencies.

The test simulates a casual walk through the park or neighborhood where everyday life situations are encountered. During this walk, the dog experiences visual, auditory and tactile stimuli. Neutral, friendly and threatening situations are encountered, calling into play the dog’s ability to distinguish between non-threatening situations and those calling for watchful and protective reactions. *ATTS website

To start the test your dog needs to be on a 6 foot leash with a flat collar, no training devices can be used. You walk to each station without talking or correcting your dog. You complete a station and you are asked by the chief tester to continue on to the next station.

You are asked to come onto the field to start the test, before you start the chief tester and the testers have a brief meeting to discuss the application you filled out, on the application it asked what events your dogs had done and if any titles and your dogs disposition and health. Each breed is tested differently so they go over that breeds criteria.

Once they are done with their discussion then you are asked to start the test.

Station #1 – Neutral Station: I was at this station so I didn’t get any pictures. I’m a pretty neutral person, eh? I was actually chosen to be at this first station because of my work and experience with dogs. I was to get a feel for the dog first off so that if I picked up on anything or got mixed signals from the dog I could alert the next person in line to be careful with the dog. Luckily all the dogs were great and showed me no signs of being wary of them. The neutral stranger walked up to the person ignoring the dog, shook hands had a brief conversation and then sat back down.

Station #2 – Friendly Stranger:

The friendly stranger came up and approached the dog and started petting it and talking to it.

Station #3 – Hidden noise: A person behind a blind shakes a bucket with rocks in it as the dog is approaching and then sets the bucket on the outside of the blind so the dog could look into it.

Station #4- Gunshots: The handler stops at the station with their back to it and waits for the gunshots.

Station #5 – Umbrella: You walk up to this station and a person opens an umbrella and you keep on walking and the dog should go and check out the umbrella.

Station #6 – Plastic footing: You have your dog walk across a strip of plastic.

Station #7 – Wire footing: Your dog walks across a wire fence (ex-pen) that is laying flat on the ground.

Station #8 – Non threatening: A weird stranger comes out from behind a blind mumbling softly.

Station #9 – Threatening: The weird stranger walks closer to you talking loudly.

Station #10 – Aggression: The weird stranger gets really aggressive with his words, tone of voice and has a whip stick that he is snapping.

At the end of the test the handler will receive a critique of the test and will be told if they passed or failed. If they passed a certificate will be mailed out to them.

This was Roxann and her dog Lobo that took the test while I took pictures of them at each station. Lobo did great and passed. Thank you Roxann for being my blog post test subject.

Guilty and Riggs were the Sand Spring dogs that I took. They both scored evenly right down the middle of the score sheet meaning they have an even temperament which is a good thing. They passed the test.

Riggs

Riggs made the testers laugh, when he was at the gunshot station he started squatting to take a pee, he was peeing when the gunshot went off and he continued to pee until he was done then he turned around to see what he should be fetching up.

Guilty

Guilty’s highlight of the test was when she came upon the umbrella she was like yea whatever my mom used to open these things when I was a little puppy and she sat down in front of it and stared off into space waiting for some birds to fly on by.

I enjoyed working this test because I got to watch how each dog completed the test. Thanks to Canine Solutions LLC for hosting this event and to the club members that volunteered their time to help make this a successful day I thank you all.

Riggs New Camera Subject

Posted on September 20, 2017 by Sand Spring Chesapeakes

Finally I got myself a new camera after my old one decided it didn’t want to work anymore. I didn’t want to buy a new camera but wanted a bigger better camera so I bit the bullet and got one just in time for my annual trip to Saskatchewan. I of course had to try out the camera and Riggs was my first new camera subject. I got a Nikon D5300 with a new 18-200mm lens. The camera has different settings on it than my old Nikon and has higher iso settings so hopefully I can take some early morning pictures when hunting. Riggs was eager to have his photo taken, he is a pro.

Junior Handlers Sophia And Willow

Posted on September 18, 2017 by Sand Spring Chesapeakes

When we were at the Central Wisconsin Kennel Club UKC conformation show held September 9-10, 2017 in Amherst, WI Tom and Irene signed their two girls Sophia and Willow up to be junior handlers for each show which happened to be two shows each day.

When we go to competitions you can bet some props will be pulled out and some fun being had.

Saturday’s fun:

Captain Poopie Pants.

The poop hat was brought out for some laughs. The girls are such good sports and go along with anything that they encounter (adults being crazy).

Willow and Glory.

This club’s order of showing was different than other clubs we have been at, usually the junior handlers compete first followed by puppies and then the regular group classes. Puppies were first then it was the junior handlers. There wasn’t a ring steward or line up list so it was a bit confusing to know when you were suppose to be in the ring. The judge called the numbers out for the ones that were suppose to be showing in the ring. Willow who was showing Glory was in Novice Junior Handler (8-13 yrs) so she entered the ring first along with a gal that was showing a Aussie. After they showed it was now Sophia’s turn with Guilty in Novice Senior Junior Handler (13-18 yrs) class. The judge called one girl into the ring and started watching her handle her dog while Sophia stood by the entrance to the ring awaiting her turn. We were wondering why Sophia wasn’t called into the ring but there was no ring steward to ask. After the judge was done judging the other girl and when she came back to the table Tom asked her when Sophia was going into the ring. The judge looked in her book and said she wasn’t entered, when in fact she was entered. After searching it was found out that her name and number was listed in small print above a line which was hard to see. Since the judge already judged the class she couldn’t judge Sophia. The look on Sophia’s face was heartbreaking to her parents and to Sophia herself. This was her first dog show and she was super excited to do something new. Usually when we are at dog shows the adults show and the kids hang out and be our pit crew so this time it was their time to have some fun and have us be the pit crew. The judge was very apologetic and felt bad that the error occurred but it was out of her hands. It was now up to us to make sure she wasn’t missed for the second show.

Sophia and Guilty.

The second show was a new judge and again no ring steward. The one gal got called into the ring with her St. Bernard then it was time for Sophia to get called in and we waited and waited and nothing happened so Tom spoke up and the judge finally saw her name and called her in. She got to take Guilty around the ring and she did a great job!

The girls and their ribbons.

Sophia received a second place in the second show. Willow received a first, second and a reserve winner in one of the shows. They were happy, I was so proud to see the girls handling my girls in the ring. They did an excellent job with only one day of practice with my dogs.

Just hanging.

Sunday’s fun:

The baby head made an appearance.

For Sunday’s show the baby head made an appearance, there were some American Flags, hats and craw-fish hats that came along too. The best hat was the Mexican cheese hat that Irene got at a gas station along the way.

Group photo.

Don’t we look like a fun group of people to be around? One thing that happened at this show which I couldn’t believe happened was that when Willow was wearing her crab hat she got told by an adult that she shouldn’t be wearing that as it could scare the dogs! Willow was crush as she had no idea nor did we that she would get told that. She was about having fun and her fun got shot down. The dogs at the dog shows should be taught proper socialization but I guess there are some show dogs that the owners don’t ever let them leave their crates in fear that their fur will get damaged or messed up so those dogs aren’t used to the surrounding things. That’s those peoples problem not ours and it shouldn’t infringe on our fun.This world would be a better place if people would just relax and have fun.

Willow and Glory.

Sophia and Riggs.

The second day of showing wasn’t any more organized then the first day. There was a list telling the order of the show but there was still no ring steward and a different junior handler got missed this day. Willow showed Glory again they are in-sync with each other now and Sophia showed Riggs. Riggs was a handful and had a bee in his bonnet this day, thinking it was because the hurry up and wait on getting into the ring and he was just plain bored and of course a young dog so he wanted to do something instead of just wait.

When you are a junior handler the judge asks you questions about the breed of dog you are showing so Willow and Sophia had to be up on the traits of the Chesapeake. They also were asked where different body parts were on the dogs. The girls were also asked this weekend to show other breeds in the regular classes. They showed Toy Fox Terriers and American Bulldog. They got different handling of dog techniques this weekend.

The judge asked Willow where the Chesapeake originated, she answered America, the judge said “your wrong it originated in Canada”. Will gave her a strange look and said “I don’t think so” and then the judge said “oh yea your right, I’m getting my dogs confused”. It was a laugh for the day!

Sophia received a first and second for showing Riggs while Willow received a first and a reserve again for showing Glory.

Despite the disorganized show and ring disappointment it turned out to be a great weekend. You have to look past the small stuff and focus on the big picture, we all learned something during this show and hanging out with friends was the best part.