The pup is growing up .... almost 18 months old now. In the video he gets into his nice gait a bit, in spite of turning to look for me. Nicole Dunn has always handled him at shows and I was sure sorry she was not able to be at this show with us. I have problems with my back and I am not able to do a very good job of running Journey. He is a big guy, (89.2 lbs.), with a long reach and he is fast. I am not fast.
I showed him in the first show and he got Reserve Champion. In the second show the Judge told me she liked what she saw, but she would really like to see him move out a little longer than I could master. She asked me if anyone else could run him for me. A friend, Mike tried but Journey does not know him and that did not work out. My daughter and her husband were there to watch and I just had an idea. I told the Judge I thought Journey would show for her. I turned and asked Laura if she would show him. It really took her by surprise and I didn't know if she would agree. Laura has only seen a couple dog shows and to top it off she is allergic to dogs! The best thing they had going though is that Journey knows her and loves her. She is also in good condition and can run.
She answered "sure". It was kind of a blindside ... maybe a good thing I did not ask her ahead of time. Well she did an excellent job. Although Journey was looking for me, she still managed to do a great job of showing him. I was so proud! even though I was only able to sneak peaks from behind a trailer where I was hiding. No one mentioned pictures, but Laura's husband, Kevin managed to take a couple short videos.
Well they got a Champion of Champions, and a Best of Breed. There were eight other White Shepherds showing. The videos are of the Herding class. They did not place in Group. They had some tough competition.
Laura & Journey
This show was held at the Longview Fairgrounds, in the horse arena. It was really cold. The surface is dirt, which is really safer than cement with rubber strips - but it is, well, dirty. Outside was even worse, with many mud puddles and squish to walk through. I managed to keep Journey fairly white, in spite of all that. After we finished showing for the day we went to lunch and then home.
Journey in the middle.
Sunday we headed back to the fairgrounds. Unfortunately Laura and Kevin had other things to do so I was on my own. In the first show we did not place. I was not running well at all and Journey was all over, cutting in front of me as I attempted to run. He also decided to add some running jumps, high in the air, to give me kisses.
I searched desparatey for a Junior Handler to help in the 4th show. I was unable to find her. She is very good and I was sure she would show Journey. He knew her slightly and it might have worked but we could not find her in time. That left me in the ring with Journey, not feeling very hopeful. His best feature is his movement. All the Judges rave about it, but it is painfully obvious that he needs a faster handler. I am not it! So this time I had a rather "do or die" attitude. All I could do was the best I could, with a pinched sciatic nerve to deal with.
Well, he did it! In spite of me. He got the Champion of Champions, and many compliments from the Judge. So that was two more legs toward his Grand Championship, giving him three total. Two more to go and he will have his Grand.
"Is this OK mom?"
