Westminster Week Approaches

I had made plans to attend Westminster this year, as I was supposed to be in New York City for work, but the best laid plans go out the window when one is dealing with dogs.

Instead, I’ll be sitting at home and watching it on television, as I have to spend the week running Journey and Paris back and forth to Owen Sound for insemination and timing tests.

Paris has surged, so her insemination is set for Tuesday morning, bright and early. Ironically enough, Paris is being bred via frozen semen to Rebel – Ch Bullmarket Versace.

Rebel won breed at the Gardens (and a nice, hard look in the group) in 1997. We had his semen frozen shortly after that, and it’s that collection, eleven years later, that we’ll be using on Paris.

Dog showing might not be my favorite thing in the world – I’m too cynical to believe it’s the pinnacle of achievement I used to see it as – but there’s no denying the rush that you get from seeing your dog win in the big ring at Madison Square Gardens.

I promptly burst into tears, much to my everlasting shame, and my friend Charlotte’s amusement. I fully believe the stories I’ve heard of owners fainting or going into hysterics when their dogs are pointed to for the big, big ribbon.

My lovely boy Rebel passed away in 2006, and is dearly missed by all who knew him.

Westminster this year is especially bittersweet for Barb.

Champion Absolut Ooh LaLa V Amron, with owner Rita Perone, will be showing at the Gardens. She’s out of Barb’s ‘Dark Lola’ – Pinetree’s Absolut Lolita.

Lola is out of Roseanne, the very first dog that Barb ever got from me, and the beginning of our partnership. Roseanne passed away from cancer two years ago, and Lola was Barb’s last and youngest remaining Rosey daughter. Barb didn’t keep anything from Lola’s first litter – the litter that produced Isabella – because she figured she had lots of time before having to worry about doing so.

Unfortunately, Lola developed a health issue, and has been spayed and placed into a great pet home. She lives with Lauren and her ‘little brother’ Tucker (Bunny’s puppy) in New York City.

Watching Isabella in the ring will be Barb’s last chance to see a direct descendant of Roseanne showing at the Gardens.

Ironically enough, Roseanne’s first litter was the first litter Rebel ever sired. On Tuesday night as I watch the group judging on television, I’ll be holding Paris in my lap, and hoping that Rebbie’s next generation is successfully preparing to make its way into the world.

(BTW, you can follow along with the breed judging on the WKC’s website — here’s the link for Frenchies)