Pastoral & Working Show at Malvern

[thugulike]

12th July 2008, is anyone taking their dog(s) to that show?

[lankeela]

Sadly no, I am working that day so the girl I work for can have the day off to take her bitch, as the judge is a good one for her.

Her dog Florence is already a Champion, so she is hoping to do well. The showground is in a wonderful setting although the weather makes a big difference. It can change in minutes as the clouds come over the surrounding hills.

Are you going, and if so which breed do you have/are interested in?

Am already planning to go next year though, as we have a judge that should like my type of dog.

[lankeela]

Durrr! Of course you have a Mastiff! Hope Gorgeous George is keeping well.

[thugulike]

Ha ha. We're going to stay overnight in a posh B&B. They asked me how many dogs and I told them only 1. They asked if he was well behaved and I said, very well behaved. But they didn't ask me how big he was. Mr thugulike thinks we should take a tent just in case they object to a 14 stone mastiff in their bedroom. We're getting along quite well. George will stand beatifully whilst I play judge but still has little pace between a lope and a full gallop. Sigh. We're working on it. 5 minutes in the garden every night

[jules77]

I have one dog entered, my tri bitch.

[lankeela]

Looking for No 2 eh jules?

[jules77]

I wish L, she is out of coat but not quite bald or I wouldnt take her, and you know what rumours are like........people have already suggested who the ticket winners are.

[wolf63]

thugulike - take a picture of the receptionist''s face when she sees your little angel, mention that he is just a puppy.

Have you any recent photographs of him?

[thugulike]

Wolf I do have some good photos of him but I don't know how to load them on AB.

He isn't a puppy anymore he turned 1 last month. He's a big boy now. My he's eating for England at the moment which probably means he's going to have a growing spurt. Good job they're not greedy dogs, he can and does walk away from food when he's had enough. Anyone like to feed him for a week?

Jules, do you show border collies? This is sounding like an AB get together. Small world isn't it?

[Ice.Maiden]

Hope your dog does well, TuL - I love Bull Mastiffs. Whether yours wins or not, I'm sure he's a very handsome boy. x

[jules77]

Hi Thugulike, close, but not BC's, I show Rough Collies.

[jules77]

If you want to post some photos you can join http://photobucket.com/, and download the photos from your PC to photobucket. You will see four links underneath each photograph. The top one says EM and IM, and the second one is the Direct link (it starts http//), copy and paste the direct link to your answer on here, and we should be able to click on it and see photos of George.

Hope that makes sense.

[lankeela]

Ice Maiden was close too, George is not a Bull Mastiff, he is a Mastiff, often called the Old English Mastiff. They are quite a bit bigger than a Bull Mastiff. Talking of which I believe your judge at NW&PB's is a Bull Mastiff person, although she does write the Mastiff breed notes in Dog World and judged them at Crufts a few years back. My next show is South Wales on Sunday although not showing as my friend is judging, then East of England at Peterborough, Paignton, then Bournemouth. With a few open shows in between, its becoming a very expensive hobby! By the way jules, I am judging Roughs and Borders at Folkestone next March.

[lankeela]

The world of dog showing is indeed very small. A customer on the market had a puppy that looked like a very pale coloured Golden Retriever. People were stopping to make a fuss, and I asked him if his Maremma was bred by Mrs So and So. He was gobsmacked that I even knew what breed it was, and even more so that I knew who the breeder was. He came from miles away and no-one else knew what breed it was. Whatever the breed, when you show you will get to know someone with them, and thats why we are usually able to recommend breeders when people are looking for a puppy.

[jules77]

Oh Lankeela, Folkestone is toooo far for me, especially if it is Open Show, perhaps next time?!

I am at Welsh Kennel on the 16th August?

Sorry thugulike for taking over your thread.

[thugulike]

Nay problem jules. Maybe we'll meet at Malvern? I'll try and gets some photos of George sorted.

[lankeela]

Not doing WKC as that is a Saturday as well, so have to do the market while the boss traipses off to Builth. Shame, because we have got my favourite judge Albert Wight. Will have to wait for him to do Crufts in 2010.

[jules77]

sounds good Thugulike, you got your pass yet?

[thugulike]

Hi Jules
Yes, it came a few days ago. Just given George a bath and there's fluff everywhere. I don't envy you with a very fluffy long haired dog. How long ahead do you start intensive grooming?

[jules77]

I give them all a good groom once a week, but if they have got really dirty and muddy in between they will have a quick brush over when dry, although I do comb behind their ears every couple of days.

I only bath all over twice year, but before a show I put them in the bath to do their legs, bib, tummy and 'bum', and then use the damp towel I have dried them with to rub them up all over and spray on some rinseless shampoo....then I get the 'blaster' dryer out, which I have just used in preparation for a show tomorrow, and it has blown my tri bitches coat half way down the road!! Not impressed as I have entered four shows over the next few months and it looks like she maybe almost bald soon.