My First Show

S. here.
Mistral and I had a huge day today, neither of us can keep our eyes open without a huge amount of effort put in.

We got up very early, around 4.30, neither Mistral or myself liked that at all, we are both accustomed to rising at a grand hour of 10.30 and this really threw us both.
Being the first show both my OH and I where running around like mad things packing the car and trying to remember what we needed and what we might need and offcause forgetting a few important items we only realised where missing by the time we arrived at our destination.

With the dogs piled in the car and passing out again almost right away, we went off to Cooma.

Thankfully the trip was pretty non eventfull, we where very curious about all the rain clouds, gathering darkly on the mountains we where heading too.
There was a small amount of concern with having a pure white dog and the possibilty of mud but we would just have to deal with it as it happened.

The showgrounds where very nice and green, a change from our place where everything is often crunching and brown.
Mistral went off his head again, barking and being a pain in the butt, refusing to do as I said and having heaps more fun saying hello to every dog he could see. The other dogs where not nearly as interested in him and he was in them thankfully. Lestat, as usual, was perfectly well behaved, making a mockery of all the training I have done with Mistral and the lack of training Lestat has needed.

We where meeting up with Mistrals breeder and Mist's brother Barney and sister Star.
All pups where thrilled to see each other but Star and Mist seemed to have an almost instant bond, both being loud and rather full on dogs.
I don't think Mist really enjoyed the pre show grooming. He is always well behaved when on his grooming table but this had been going on for two days now and I think he was pretty sick of it all and I wasn't really doing a fantsastic job but it seemed to do the trick.
He took home puppy class, dog challenge and best of breed!
After the disaster we had with him impersonating a worm in the sweepstakes I was over the moon, I could not stop smiling. I was so proud of my little man.

I know its not all about winning, its more about having a great time with my dog and doing something be both enjoy so much. I was amazed at how he took to the show ring. Each time he went in he became more in tune with what I wanted, more focused and lord did he start to prance!
He is such a show off!
The more people watching apparently the better. This dosn't do anything for my nerves, I was terrified I would stuff up but everything went so smoothly and without a hitch.
Thankfully.

So we have started the show career on a very good foot.
I can't help but wonder if this will continue or if it was just really good luck.
S.

Mistrals stunning brother and sister, Barney (top) and Star. Both lovely little dogs.