WIN PHOTO ARRIVES! 2009 ASCA NATIONALS...

EBBTIDE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH aka "JJ" wins the BRED BY EXHIBITOR DOG CLASS and RESERVE WINNERS DOG in Greeley, CO. Ann, of course, handling JJ. That's Senior Breeder Judge Laura Shivers on the left. Thanks to my #1 Assistant, Judi Scherrer, for helping me wash and groom JJ, and assisting ringside. Thanks, too, for buddies Nancy Pantusa, Cathy Franklin and her good-natured husband, Mark, for cheering us on in Winners Dog. We all know it takes a village ;-) Thanks, too, to all the Aussie people who appeciated JJ and were kind enough to tell me.

2009 ASCA NATIONALS - Part 4 : CONFORMATION

If you're getting tired reading about the 2009 ASCA Nationals, just think how it was to BE THERE!?!
Not that it wasn't enjoyable....
Which brings us to the actual Nationals Conformation competition. First shown was EBBTIDE FENNEL HILL CD in ALTERED OPEN BLACK DOGS - FIRST PLACE and WINNERS DOG!! Again. That's right - it's been almost a year since I had the pleasure of showing him at the Las Vegas ASCA Nationals (where he won the same award). It took us 3 tries in Greeley to get back on our game, but, happily, it came together on Wednesday ;-) By the way, he is now called ALTERED CHAMPION EBBTIDE FENNEL HILL CD ! Nice way to finish a championship!
Next up on Wednesday (after Spencer's awesome Novice B win), was the BROOD BITCH class. EBBTIDE MADAM PRESIDENT CD "Maddie" at 11 years young, WON THIRD PLACE with those over-achieving offspring of hers: CH. SPENCER CD, A-CH FENNEL CD and A-CH GOTCHA CD! It was icing on the cake to look down at those pretty faces and realize all 3 had made a significant win in the Obedience ring the past 2 days!
That was Wednesdays Nationals results...let me catch my breath....
Thursday, EBBTIDE AS YOU WISH "Cali" made a beautiful showing in the BRED BY EXHIBITOR BITCH class, but failed to make a placement. We're not calling it a failure, thanks to our many long-time breeder peers who complimented us on her showing that day. Thank very much to all of you for taking time to give us a thumbs up. It was appreciated.
Friday: EBBTIDE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH "JJ" and I got our game on and were thrilled to win the BRED BY EXHIBITOR DOG class! We missed some of our old cronies in there (but wait: maybe we wouldn't have won...!). What an honor to win that class at Nationals! Later that day we returned to the Winners Dog class and got sooo close, ahhh, oh well - we're happy, too, with RESERVE WINNERS DOG! Yes, the old handler, surrounded by the young, quick and wrinkle-free (I'm not talking dogs here) dug deep and trotted soundly (again: not talking dogs) with that amazingly huggable JJ to the bridesmaid (best man? I need oxygen to think) spot. Yes - oxygen: Did you know Greeley, CO elevation is 4, 860 feet? Did you know Cloverdale, CA is 800? Yes. Yes, I should win an award for not dying. Thank you. But, enough about me...
There was more Friday: JJ's cute cute CUTE (and sound) little sister, EBBTIDE YOUR WISH'S MY COMMAND "Panda" (you know: from Texas) made the final cut and unofficially won 6th place in OPEN BLACK BITCH. There were, like, 20 in that class. Nice job, Nancy & Panda! And just 20 months old and still growing hair ;-)
Which now brings us (thank God) to the very last day, Saturday, and Best of Breed. 193 Special Dogs?!?! We were pleased that CH EBBTIDE FINE FELLOW CD "Spencer"made the first cut. It was brutal out there ;-) Congrats to our fellow Northern California buddies, Maddie Ruble and her crew, AND longtime friends Cathy & Alan McCorkle for their BEST OF BREED win with CH Heatherhill Dazzle Park Laine.
Time to go home. Believe me, there are many more stories to tell...but I'm beat!

2009 ASCA NATIONALS - Part 3 Obedience at Nationals

The ASCA National Finals Obedience Competition led off with A-CH EBBTIDE GONNA GETCHA CD "Gotcha" qualifying in the Novice Division. In the finals, dogs have two complete works under two diferent judges. Scores are added together for the final placements. GOTCHA scored a 197 and a 199 to earna 396 and THIRD PLACE in the Novice Finals!! First & second place were 397+ and 397. No pressure there, folks. Yikes. Two outstanding performances by owner/trainer/handler Susan Gore and Gotcha!! Gotcha came into the finals in 9th place. We are proud of this team!
In the Open Finals Division, EBBTIDE FENNEL HILL CDX "Fennel", won 6th PLACE after finding out the morning of the competition, as alternate, he would be able to compete. Congratulations to owner/trainer/handler Laurie Rubin and Fennel!
The next day, CH EBBTIDE FINE FELLOW (AKC CD) "Spencer" was handled by owner/trainer/handler Judi Scherrer to FIRST PLACE NOVICE B with a 197!! Out of 70 entries! Let it be known that his heeling brought tears to the eyes of a certain highly critical breeder. I'm not going to elaborate on the minus 2 points for the sagging Long Sit...I'm just happy I missed that.
OH! SPENCER also won HIGH SCORING CHAMPION OF RECORD !! How sweet is that?! Answer: Very sweet!
Thanks to Susan, Trish, Laurie & Judi for representing Ebbtide dogs in such a fantastic showing. All three were happy, attentive workers and a joy to watch. Carry on...

2009 ASCA NATIONALS, Part 2 - More Pre-Shows

Saturday'a Pre-Show: Spencer & Fennel took the day off. Cali and JJ may have well taken the day off, too :-(. Gotcha made her debut in the Nationals Altered Best of Breed ring all three Pre-Show & Nationals days, but failed to knock off the Big Boys & Girls. Owner/handler Trish Maddan looked great out there and reported "she had fun". And, we have to remember, people, that's why we do this. Gotcha had much bigger plans in mind (see Part 3). Panda and Nancy nailed a nice 3rd Place in Open Black Bitches. That was nice!
Sunday's Pre-Show: JJ & Spencer took the day off. Fennel won 2nd Place Altered Open Black.
Monday's Pre-Show: Spencer was still waiting for Judi to arrive...EBBTIDE AS YOU WISH "Cali" won 2nd Place in BBX - that made me smile. As well as JJ's 2nd Place in BBX Dogs!! Things are looking up! EBBTIDE YOUR WISH'S MY COMMAND "Panda" 4th Place Open Black Bitch. EBBTIDE FENNEL HILL CD "Fennel" FIRST PLACE Altered Open Black dogs. Gotcha and Susan had an awesome individual work in Novice B obedience, but was felled by a little rest on the Long Sit :-(( Did she sneak out to the Texas Roadhouse the night before?

2009 ASCA Nationals Greeley, Colorado, Part 1

Seven Ebbtide dogs made the trek to Greeley, Colorado for the ASCA National Specialty to compete in conformation and obedience. From Northern California came:

• A-CH Ebbtide Gonna Getcha CD CD RN CD JSN GSN RSN "Gotcha"


• CH Ebbtide Fine Fellow CD (AKC) "Spencer"


• Ebbtide Fennel Hill CD "Fennel"


• Ebbtide As You Wish "Cali"


• Ebbtide Careful What You Wish "JJ"


• Ebbtide Madam President CD "Maddie"

And our Dallas, Texas buddy drove up (with her crew, Nancy, Cathy & Flirt):

• Ebbtide Your Wish's My Command "Panda"

We opened at the first Pre-Show (Saturday's ASC of Utah show) where Panda and her owner/handler, Nancy Pantusa, started things off with a really nice 3rd place win in Open Black Bitches (18 in this class). The "Wish" litter is 20 months old. A very nice win. At the 2nd Pre-Show, I suggested I show her (you know - the Expert helping the Non-expert). Panda & I got nothing. Ok. Next day Nancy shows Panda and gets 4th Place Open Black Bitches. So much for the so-called Expert... Way to go, Nancy and Panda!!! You two rock!