Last weekend’s conversion of the old photo pages to the new gallery style is now complete, with all the dogs’ ads pages now restored. Additionally, new photos have been added to the following pages:
- Branwen’s stacked and running photos
- Kestrel’s running photos
- Lark’s running photos
- Tiercel’s stacked and running photos
- Ringer’s running photos
- Ellie’s candid photos
- Kai’s candid photos
- Spice’s candid photos
- Stormy’s candid photos
- Owen’s candid photos
I wanted to make special mention of Owen’s new photos, because they are so special to me…
In the Open ring at the Seattle Kennel Club show around 1998 or 1999.
I found them recently when I was cleaning out my old training bag. They were tucked in a plain white envelope among a pile of old obedience rule books and armbands that dated from the time I was actively competing with him in obedience. I had completely forgotten, but evidently one of my training classmates had shot and given me a half dozen or so photos of me and Owen competing in the open class at the Seattle Kennel Club show, back in the “old days” in the late 1990s when those shows were still held at Seattle Center. It was such a bittersweet treasure to uncover these forgotten old mementos, and I’m glad I finally made time to scan them and get them online.
Cheerleader!
Owen was a wonderful obedience dog, and truly loved to work, but like most sighthounds, he stressed easily and would shut down in the ring. The Seattle KC shows were very popular with the general public, and very crowded, hot and noisy, and it was pretty ambitious of me to enter them, knowing how stressful an experience it would be for Owen. I only entered one day, and didn’t think he’d qualify, but I wanted to have as much fun with him in the ring as possible. In fact, I remember distinctly that we did not qualify, but that it was a hugely positive experience for us. I remember being so proud that he was able to work through his stress and put in a pretty credible performance.
Exercise finished. Big grins on both our faces.
I always did a lot of cheerleading with Owen in the ring. Between exercises I would get him jumping around, spinning, and doing whatever I could to burn off his stress and keep him cheerful and upbeat. I am sure I always looked like a major dork in the ring with him, but I didn’t care.
Showing Owen in obedience was all about living in the moment, and enjoying the experience no matter what. I think these photos really capture that feeling. At least for me, looking at them really brings all that emotion rushing back.
One photo that I wish had been taken, but sadly never was, was of Owen doing his long down. He always did his long down completely flat on his side, and it never failed to get a laugh from the spectators. I remember vividly giving him the down command in the ring at Seattle Center and hearing the entire audience in the packed stands erupt in laughter. It makes me smile even now.
God I miss that dog.
