The Long, Long Trailer

Indigo, our new arrival was growing so quickly.  Spring was upon us, the snow piles became small streams of water rushing toward the woods behind our home.  Funny how Spring rejuvenates not only nature around us but in each person there is a stirring within.  Anticipation of sun, warmth and trailers!  Okay, maybe you don't think trailers in April but I did!  

In attending more dog shows, I kept seeing a common site.....yes trailers and RV's.  I began to think that if we wanted to really belong in the "club" a travel trailer was what we needed!  If I were a red head, which I'm not......Lucy would be my other half.  Have you seen the movie, "The Long, Long Trailer' ?  The stars are of course Lucy and Desi!  Now if you HAVE seen the movie you will be able to appreciate this blog, oh so much more!  If not, rent the movie.....your funny bone will be so glad you did!  In this scenario Rob is oh so classic Desi and I am the zany red head.......Lucy.

It began after we returned with Indigo.  I started to explain to Rob that the cost of going to shows would be so much less if we had a travel trailer.  Hotels are costly and it can be hard to find a hotel that allows more then one dog.  Now that we had 2 poodles, it could be a problem finding hotels.  Also, wouldn't it be nice to go back to the oh so close trailer in between shows to relax, have a snack or take a nap?  Rob began to enlighten to my way of thinking; after all it does get to be a long day of sitting in camping chairs while awaiting your next ring time.

During the last part of winter is when the Trailer/RV Shows begin.  So we started our search for the perfect little trailer!  Never-mind you, we had never hauled anything behind our car except for a u haul!  We had delusions of grandeur, ignorance is bliss!  Looking on the internet also helped to fuel our frenzy for the luxury home on wheels!  RV's with outdoor shows and built in grills. Trailers with slide outs that made the space inside double.  Imagine a fat bass, swimming past that popping lure.....stalking ready to strike!  I think those sales guys saw us, like that fisherman saw his bass.......hooked!

Reality set in when we saw the price tags on those beauties!  We decided to step back....take a deep breath and reevaluate!  An RV was definitely out, checked off the list!  We couldn't afford the gas let alone the rig!  Now a sweet travel trailer......yes we could do that!  A little cottage on wheels, was our dream.  We began to stop at every trailer dealer along our route and expanded the search to a 1 hour radius from our home.  Going in and out of small trailers, trailers with canvas extensions, large trailers, 5th wheels and pop up campers......rather like Dr. Seuses' "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish"   I mean, who knew there were so MANY types of trailers!  What this did do for us was to help us narrow our search, see the target price and set a bulls-eye!

I still recall the day.....cold and windy, grey April skies threatened a shower as we walked on the wet gravel of another dealership.  I rounded a large 5th wheel and there she was.........a Dutchman trailer!  This is significant since my husband, Rob is Dutch!  It was a sign from heaven, I was convinced; this little beauty was THE ONE!  Rob approached me from behind and he saw THAT look.....my look.  We walked in awe up to "our" trailer.  First we slowly walked around her, just the right size........see as we searched we began to realize that size mattered........when it comes to towing weight!  Looked like nothing was wrong with the outside so.....we approached the door.......it was unlocked!  As if opening Pandora's box, the door slowly opened and my eyes beheld the glory of the interior.  It's a 28' Dutchman lite, which means our SUV can handle the size and weight.  It has a queen and a bunk house in the back.  No slides, but only had one owner, it was in excellent condition.  We bought it that day and are now the proud owners of our own dog show travel trailer!

The New Arrival

With the fever raging we moved into the winter season.  Rob talked about wanting his own Poodle to show and I dreamed of owning a travel trailer.  Did I mention in my web MD search that another side effect of Show Fever is the need for more!  More dogs, more gear, more of anything dog show related.  It was obvious to our friends and family that Rob and Karen had gone past the point of no return :)  

We were in the midst of remodeling our 1924 Storybook style house; our master suite was under renovations so we had moved into our guest room.  At night I would hide under the blanket and slowly open my iPad; hoping to not wake my snoring hubby.  There in my cocoon of blankets and soft light I would scour the Poodle Breeder web pages.  Looking for the right puppy for Rob; being an architect he needed a pup that would engage his eye for detail.  One night I found it.....a parti poodle, I hadn't seen one at any of the shows we had attended.  Remember we only had gone to two shows at this point and visited an local AKC show venue.  I excited saved the web site, gently closed my iPad, un-buried my  head and with a joy filled heart drifted off to sleep; I had a surprise!

Within the next week I called the breeder; we chatted for an hour and she still had the pup available!  The catch was she held back 2 pups trying to decide which one she wanted to keep; my heart sank.  She reassured me that she would make a decision in a couple of days.  I had wanted to surprise Rob, but the anticipation got the best of me.....yup, I told him!  He looked at the photo and loved the puppy, but then thought the pup may not get tall enough for him.  Rob's a really tall man and he envisioned walking down our neighborhood with a toy poodle!  He's confident, but NOT that confident!  So I had to call the breeder back and tell her the news; she was disappointed too since we had hit it off on the phone so well.

Just a few days later, we are snuggled into our warm bed; the cool winter air permeates our guest room (we needed to yet install a new furnace), Rob turns to me, "I really think that little fella is cute.  Do you think he might still be available?"  The woman of action that I am......I reach over to the night stand, whip out the iPad and immediately send off an email.  I now get it.....breeders NEVER sleep!  I get an email back almost instantly....."Yes!  I am so happy you changed your mind!"  Okay, maybe I'm weird but.....every time we get a new dog...... I have this heart racing, excitement.......like hearing "you're going to have a baby!"  okay maybe not that exciting but really.......it's close!

Like knowing your pregnant, it's name time!  Oh my gosh, we make lists of registered names, checking to be sure they aren't already used; then you have to have a call name! This exercise can take us anywhere from a few days to weeks.  You'd think we were naming the next President!  Well, maybe the next Westminster winner!  Seriously, how does it sound in the TV emcee voice????  You don't want it so hard the announcer can't say it correctly.....this is stressful stuff!  Laying awake at night; I am the most creative at night, names like flying cars down the interstate whiz by......I keep a note card on the bed stand for just these moments.  

We now have it narrowed down to 4 registered names and 4 call names.......whew!  As the day approaches to pick up the new arrival, there is much preparation to do.  I think a puppy shower should be thrown for every new puppy.  I mean, we throw showers for weddings, babies, retirements........gearing up for a new pup is costly :)  I mean he can't get old used, hand down, pre-chewed toys....right!  or  that raggy old blanket that has seen it's better day, what about food bowls, collars, leashes and a name tag!  See what I mean........PUPPY SHOWERS!

It's winter, we load up the car with a kennel (used.....Sienna's old one she outgrew; hope he doesn't notice!), TOMTOM gps and a new fleece blanket!  Yes, I felt guilty over that old used, kennel.  Full tank of gas and we are off, hoping for good weather; it's a 4+ hours drive to the rendezvous location.  We pulled into the deserted country club parking lot; I mean who's golfing with 6" of snow on the ground!  We arrive first; leaving the car running we wait ..... 15 minutes goes by, did we miss him?  I begin to get anxious, maybe he hit a snow storm?  Wait!  I have his cell.......maybe I should call?  Rob, ever calm reaches over and pat's my hand.  I know what THAT means.......give him more time.  Looking up Rob points to a red pick up pulling down the drive.....YES!  he's here!  The Stork Arrived!   I need to remind myself, this isn't MY puppy but Robs!

The hand off.....  Out of his crate comes this furry, spotted puppy!  Such a face!  The love begins all over again!  Another family had shown up as well and were equally excited about their new arrival!

There is something thrilling about getting a new dog........even friends, family and even neighbors get caught up in this new arrival into your home.   Hmm....maybe those shower invites weren't such a bad idea!

I've Got the FEVER

Remember how I said that Rob hadn't been bitten by the show bug.......after that win; he had the initial symptoms for a case of the Fever!  Show Bug Fever!  He came back to the grooming area, heady with triumph; slapping backs with Chuck and Gary.  Football players in the locker room had nothing on these guys!  The boys all went out front to get ready for the Gun Dog Group event.  This is where Rob and Sienna, represent the Gun Dog Group for a chance at Best In Show.  That's huge, well to us it was, since we had only been in 3 shows (counting this one).  Illusions of Westminster like sugar plums danced in my head!

There was a nice showing for the Gun Dog Group, around 12 dogs.  Sienna and Rob looked polished and ready to show.  Okay, I have to say my husband is a very tall and handsome man, so when he enters the ring people notice.  Once again, I am sitting in the back so that Sienna wouldn't get a whiff or sight of me.  They really did look amazing as they glided around the ring. Rob's long legs, made Sienna reach out in perfect poodle movement.  I could hear the people around me making comments on these two; I was so proud!  The ring time seemed to go so quickly and now the judge was making his choices.  Three beautiful rosettes, flowed gracefully from his hand......Tension mounted.....who won this event went on to the coveted Best In Show ring.  Rob kept his focus between Sienna and the Judge.  The Judge awarded 3rd place, then stood back for a last look at the line up.  He moved forward, in slow motion for me.......stood in front of Rob and awarded Rob the 2nd place Rosette and then moved on to award the 1st place ribbon to the Golden Retriever.  Was I disappointed?  Well yes, I was although happy with 2nd in the group, after all we made it to Group.

How do you know you have Show Fever?  Some of the symptoms are:   A person has a skewed color perception.......you see in hues of BLUE!  Blue being the color of a 1st place ribbon!  As the fever progresses it can include Pink and blue color vision.......BIS Ribbon colors!  Some individuals have a heightened sense of being critical about oneself.  If this occurs, its advised to look in the mirror and say this mantra;' I did my best. I did my best.  You can't win every event. You can't win every event'.  In some cases of the disease you will begin to steal Rosettes from the show secretary tables or from a display of another handler.  If you notice an abnormal competitive drive.....( left untreated this can become dangerous), such as: pushing other competition or taking leashes and brushes from another competitor and yelling at the Judge. If you have the later symptoms, its time to seek professional help! The Disease is in its final stages.

I would say Rob and I were in early onset of Show Fever........I was seeing Blue!  Rob, left the ring very happy with his Red Rosette Ribbon.  We proudly displayed it on Sienna's kennel as we watched the BIS ring.  I noticed a heightened awareness of the BIS ribbon as it lay on the table; the biggest ribbon I had ever seen with long flowing tails......cue angel choir..and a beam of light..

The glorious Ribbon was awarded, everyone applauded and the lights dim on another show weekend.

Rob and I both talked on the drive home about getting to the BIS ring one day.....how that would be amazing.  He shared his disappointment in not getting first in the Gun Group and though he was pleased pleased with his performance; that blue ribbon was so close.  Stage one of Show Bug Fever!

I suspect Show Fever is HIGHLY contagious to anyone who is showing.........I probably should look it up on Web MD!

Best In Show (Part 2)

On our ride home from the Grinnell, Iowa show, you would have felt you were in Russian chess match as we strategically planned our next move.  We were giddy coming down from our wins in the show ring.  We decided to do a show closer to home this time and as I looked through upcoming events on my iphone, Rob drove.  

Now, I have to confess, at this point I am not so sure that Rob has been bitten by the show bug; on the other hand I had a raging case of showing fever!  Rob is my supporter and best friend; he believes in my dreams and sometimes gets caught in the current that rushes me down stream and into wild waters!  Ever the wise man, wearing a life preserver!

I did indeed find another show closer to home.  Again the agony of filling in the form........I really can't say that I am a lot better at it now, after all these shows!  My brain goes numb just looking at the blanks that need to be filled in :)  We had two weeks in between the Grinnell show and our next venue.  I needed to get into "fighting shape" (cue Rocky theme song!).  So every day I poured over handling videos; I learned don't stare at the judge.......move when he points to you! It was Practice, Practice, Practice!  Sienna stacking on the table and off the table.  Running up and down our driveway; our neighbors were probably thinking, "Why doesn't she just take that poor dog around the block!"

It wasn't long and Rob was packing up the Toyota again, as I gave Sienna the last blow dry and brushing.  We would arrive around 1 hour before the show, so I wanted her ready to go from crate to ring if I ran out of time.

The Peoria Opera House is a unique place to hold a dog show.  I was excited because it sounded oh so grand.  When we arrive and walk in, the large stage was decorated so beautifully with a harvest motif.  This would be a 2 day event with 4 shows again and it was really just as far away as Des Moines had been.  Rob didn't say anything about the miscalculation on drive time to me; but we arrived as the show was beginning!  I quickly changed as Rob brought in all our gear and set up.

The Peoria show always draws a lot of Poodle people from all over the Midwest; so the competition was there.  Ring time and we were all lined up to go in when called.  If you had touched me, your hair would have stood on end from the static energy vibrating my entire body. Sienna must have felt the lightening, with the leash acting as rod; poor thing was fidgeting all over the place.  "Number 101 to the ring", the ring steward called....that was me!  We entered the ring with 5 other poodles, each one decked out in the their Sunday best.  No gloves or hats but amazing cuts and top knots.  Each of us going through the hoops, the Judge in my imagination wearing the top hat and coat of a Circus Ringmaster and that made me the clown!

When your in the ring you really only have around 3 minutes total to show off your dog in the best possible light.  Thinking of a Circus again, it's the lady with the white horse going around the circular center band, a bright spotlight on HER.....than she rides out of the ring........done!  So you have to focus on the dog's movement, the stack, head and tail; keep that tail up! It was our moment in the center stage; Sienna wouldn't stand still for her stack and when the judge went over her body she squatted!  "Don't touch me!" she would have shouted.  He motioned for us to do a down and back.  Sienna did move, like we were on a stroll in the park rather then a brisk, elegant gait.  As we did our last go around, I knew, I knew I had blown it.  The judge went down the line for the last time and we didn't make the cut.  I was so disappointed and I believe Sienna was too.

There was one more show to do and it was a better performance but we still didn't make the grade.  With my tail between my legs; we loaded the few items we would take to the motel and left.  I licked my wounds all night and didn't sleep to much.  Instead, the circus music would play and I could see myself the clown stumbling around the ring and poor Sienna, with a large red Rudolf nose prancing beside me!

Waking the next morning exhausted!  Rob came into the room with cups of coffee and a cheerful 'well its a whole new day!'.  I started to sit up to take my steaming cup of java but instead I could't move!  My back was out!  A little background on that :)  I had bone cancer and it spread to several locations; one being my back.  Since then my back is very temperamental and it decided that after standing on the sloping opera house floor grooming and then running around the ring up hill and then down hill that IT had HAD enough!  So there I lay......inhaling the aroma of my morning brew, wondering what I was going to do and how we were going to get Sienna into show mode.  Picture a cartoon bubble....... light bulb went on over my head!  'Rob, you have a suit!  You are going to show Sienna!'  Brilliant! is what I was thinking; however the aghast look on my husband's face said something totally different!  FLIGHT!  RUN!  Two left Feet!  Being a woman I just looked at him with that, 'your my knight in shining armor' ......please look.  

As we drove to the show location, Rob in his suit, I was encouraging him.  Actually, I should have had a cheerleader outfit and pom poms!  When we arrive, 2 show friends greeted us; as I gingerly removed myself from the SUV.  Gary and Chuck immediately knew something was wrong.  I pulled the guys to the side and explained that Rob needed the cliff notes version of dog showing quickly!  These two angels jumped in; took Rob and Sienna outside and gave him run down on Dog Showing 101.  I could tell from Rob's face 20 minutes later he felt some relief and was joking about the movie, "Best In Show".

It was SHOW time!  I couldn't stand ring side for two reasons; the minute Sienna saw me she wouldn't focus for Rob and I just couldn't stand.  I had a good vantage point from my seat.  Rob and Sienna were called into the ring.  I held my breath..........this is it, sink or swim.  They went through the paces; poodles whirling around the ring.  The Judge examining each one and then resorting the group.  Rob and Sienna were assigned the second location on the go around.  It was now decision time..............On the final uphill lap the judge awarded Rob and Sienna 1st place!!!!  She was a Champion but also would go to Group!  Amazing........!  Rob who isn't one for shows of public affection bent down and kissed Sienna!  Taking the ribbon, I thought I heard the music from Chariots of Fire playing :)