My apologies for not updating sooner but things have been manic around here, even more so than normal, lol.

We had a fantastic time at the Huntly Kennel Association Championship shows held in Ngaruawahia a couple of weeks ago. The weather was just beautiful and the dogs behaved themselves strutted their stuff quite nicely.

On the Saturday Monty took Best Dog, Dog Challenge, Best NZ Bred of Breed and Best of Breed. Cookie took Baby Puppy of Breed.

Then on Sunday Monty took Reserve Dog, RCC, Best NZ Bred of Breed and Reserve Best of Breed. Cookie took Reserve Baby Puppy of Breed.

But the highlight was watching my dear friend Paula win Baby Puppy of Breed and Baby Puppy of Group with Cookie's brother, Riley (aka Galerie Silver Shadow) on Sunday. I am so proud of Paula and Riley.

Meanwhile, on the homefront, it looks like Sable has a belly full of babies. She is very big already and is not due until the 12th October. Thankfully my Mum will come and stay with her, Coco and Cinders while we are at the Nationals.

I can't believe it is only 2 weeks until we head away on our trip. We will leave on the Tuesday and drive down to Paula's place where we will stay the night. Then we will all head down to Fielding together on the Wednesday. My girls are very excited as Paula's daughter is coming too, so it will be a real girlie trip.

That will be the end of me doing much showing for a little while as I will be pretty much house-bound when the pups come along. I am pretty sure that Coco and Cinders are pregnant too and they are due on the same day as each other, only 10 days after Sable!

Thankfully I have some really great friends who will come and help and my children are pretty awesome at pitching in with the dogs, especially when there are babies.

Well, I will try and post again before we leave for the Nationals. Until then, have a safe and happy time.

Caroline 

The girls have all finished their seasons (I hope) so now Monty can get back to being Monty instead of the superstud he thinks he is, lol.

Now it's just a waiting game to see who is pregnant ... I hate the waiting, grrr.

Cookie had her first show yesterday and although she tabled well, she did not want to walk around the ring at all so instead, did several hops, skips and jumps along the way with a couple of twirls for good measure.

But! The judge loved her anyway and awared her: Baby Puppy of Breed, Best Bitch, Best of Breed, Baby Puppy in Show and Reserve in Show!

 I am just stoked as Cookie is only 4 months old and beat some lovely Frenchies, all who were older and more experienced than her. The judge did comment that she needed some training ... pffft, training? ... what's that?

Well, only two weeks until the Huntly shows so I will have to do some serious lead work with her but she is a fast learner like her Dad and has that pizazz in the ring that he has too so, altogether with her looks, it is a good combination.

Have a safe and happy week, until next time.

Caro 

Mia has settled in beautifully; I can't believe how quickly she has assimilated into being part of the pack. Her and I are doing some serious butt work at the moment as we are both a tad meaty in that department; hers a result of 4 weeks in quarantine with no exercise, mine a result of eating far too much of the yummy food I love - also with no exercise.

Sable is on heat at the moment so Monty has a one track mind - bless him. I look forward to a nice natural mating with these two and hopefully that will set the precedent for the Galerie Frogs as I have to admit that AI'ing is not my favourite pastime, lol.

Little Cookie is coming along nicely, I am so pleased with my little homebred bundle of fawn fluff. She is a delight to have around and I just love the feminine version of Monty's head that she seems to have inherited.

Only 8 weeks until the Nationals now. I am really looking forward to that trip. I better get my act together and do some serious ring training with the dogs though.

Well, it is a lovely day here in Auckland, New Zealand. No rain, well, for the moment that is. You can never tell with our weather as we can have 4 seasons in one day - you know, like the song. Great NZ band, Crowded House.

Anyway, time to get the dogs outside and the washing on the line.

Have a safe and happy weekend.

Caro  

On a brighter note, all the pups have settled into their new homes very well. Cookie seems to have adjusted to being the only baby here now, for a little while, that is.

It is a very exciting time with our new Canadian girl due to come out of quarantine in 2 weeks.

We are organising for the Nationals, at the beginning of October and also planning a couple of litters in the meantime.

Sable and Cinders will be mated to Monty and Coco will go to the South Island and be mated to a stunning American Import at Gefion Kennels.

I think time is just going to fly by with all that is coming up. I am going to take a little break from showing so that I can get our new girl ready and focus on the planned matings. Luckily there is not much happening on the show scene over the next couple of months.

Have a safe school holidays and keep warm, until I post again.

Caro :~)

Our Canadian girl, Mia, arrives in New Zealand tomorrow and will spend a month in quarantine before joining us here. I will go and meet her on Tuesday with Amanda, who co-owns her; we are both very excited at the prospect of finally meeting Mia.

I can't believe I am starting to organise for the Nationals again already! It seems like such a short time since we were at the National Dog Shows in Christchurch and here we are, preparing again - this time at the bottom of the North Island though.

Although it is not until the beginning of October that it all takes place, I am sure it will just fly by, and we have so much to do to get ready, especially with Mia and Cookie to train up for the show ring.

I will take the girls with me this year as Callum went last year. Maddi has already qualified for the Young Kennel Club so she will be competing at the Nationals and Rhian will help me with handling and holding the dogs.

I am looking forward to sharing accomodation with Paula, and to seeing her show Galerie Silver Shadow (Riley). I am sure we will have a great time and we will have Errol and Vannessa staying at the same Motel so it should be a lot of fun.

Have a safe and happy weekend, until I post again.

Caro :~)