The Uncles

This weekend having no dog events I went to visit a friend who has two of Lyric's brothers-Morgan and Walker. In appearance they are both so similar to each other and the masculine version of her.



While visiting I noticed both boys show a common greyhound trait-trancing. Although Lyric doesn't trance her father Uro and obviously some of her brothers do. Trancing is where they stand in a bush or low tree and slowly walk through it. They have a funny far away look to their eyes. Some dogs will trance for upwards of 1/2 hour-just slowly move back and forth. Walker is showing the trancing behavior in the below photo.

Bryn Checks In

It’s Bryn again.
I have now attended two conformation classes. Overall, I’m not too thrilled with them. I have much more fun in the house and backyard. There are lots of really small bouncing and barking dogs that appear to be really excited about the outing. There were 2 puppies whose ears held up with something. I heard the word “cropped”. Poor guys. Everyone was really nice and free with the treats. That was good. I guess everything has a good side. I’ll probably become as excited as the other guys in the class. It must be fun. There are so many dogs there.
I’m not sure what “conformation “ is. Several people have looked for it and can’t seem to find it. I know I’m not intentionally hiding it, but the “instructors” seem to think that I am hiding it somewhere around my backside because I like to sit down. They keep feeling and looking for it. But, when I sit down, it can’t be found.
Running around the ring is fun, but then comes the “let me see your bite”. I’m polite and let them. I know this request has something to do with being a “show dog” and that is OK.
There is another phrase constantly used. I seem to be doing that good. However, I don’t understand it. It’s called “free stacking”. What does a “stacking” usually cost? Who pays for it? I’ll cooperate by “free stacking” and maybe they will stop trying to find my “conformation”
I’m only 16 months, so when I feel confident with my new friends, and myself, I will reveal my hidden and elusive “conformation’.
More later- after my first show.
Bryn

The chair is either too small or I am too long!

Family Reunion

This past weekend was the Northern California Greyhound Specialty and for the first time since they were 8 weeks old all the puppies were reunited. From left to right is Darby,Tanner,Lyric,Bryn(and Marie),Echo and Becca.

For people interested in show results, they are as follows. For people interested in the dogs, pictures are as follows.


Darby showed well and was one of the four dogs to earn an Award of Merit.



Tanner won Best in Sweeps and his sister Echo won Best Opposite sex in Sweeps as well as Best Opposite sex in the show. A huge win for both of them.



Bryn was in her first show and made an excellent showing earning third place(her first ribbon) in a large Open bitch class.



Becca went Winners Bitch for another 4 points, Best of Winners, and earned an Award of Merit. She is now only 1 point shy of her breed championship.

After the show all puppy owners except Bryn and additional friends and their dogs were able to come back to the house for some play time.




The dogs played with each other until they were exhausted. The owners kicked back and drank appletinis and key lime martinis until they were exhausted. Then onto an Indian food feast. A good time was had by all.

Obedience Training

In addition to all the posts on agility I do obedience as well. I started back in 1983 with my first greyhound. Despite earning 7 CDs and 4 CDXs on greys I have never progressed to a UD. Training greyhounds in obedience can be very successful but challenging. What works with many "traditional" obedience breeds doesn't always work for greyhounds. I have learned over the years "less is more" with most of them.

Whisper is the exception and is the most work motivated greyhound I have ever owned. She thrives on repetition if it means more food. If any dog will convince me to go onto a UD it will be her. She is getting ready for Open and we were in our first match in the below video. Funny but the dumbbell retrieve followed by the high jump retrieve are two of her best exercises. Her nose got her in trouble that day. Below is her debut at the Open match.">

Lyric is a more traditional greyhound to train. She does it for me not because she loves to work. With Lyric definately "less is more". She gets trained less than 1/2 the time of the other dogs-Whisper and Echo. She is willing to work as long as I don't ask too much or too frequent. The dumbbell is her least favorite exercise. I finally clicker trained it. The dumbbell gave her trouble that day as well.">

Another few matches and we may be ready to compete.

Echo did a Rally Novice run through but unfortunately it wasn't videoed.

A note from Pearl/Bryn

Hello Aragon Greyhound fans!

My name is Bryn (aka Pearl and aka Blueberry). I, too, am 16 months old.

Until early April, I was in Virginia with Poppy and JD, my longtime playmates and friends. But I am now in cold and wet California. I’m told it will warm up.

My new playmate and her son picked me up on Tuesday, April 6, at Fremont, Ca and we went for a ride to Arbuckle, California. Whoever heard of a place called Arbuckle?

Two guys who were very excited to see me greeted me at the door. We jumped and played all the way through the kitchen and living room and out to the back yard. Then I had a chance to prowl around and take a look-see.

Nice! Someone is feeding doves- lots of fun to be had there. The boys, who are 7 and 8, are a lot of fun. Gator looks like me- a blue brindle. He’s 7. The other is white with red brindle. I guess that’s parti-color like JD. His name is Soda Pop and is 8. He is more laid back than Gator. I had to beat him on the head with my Frisbee in order to get him to play with me.

It seems I am going to be in a show-whatever that is. So my human playmates took me to an agility show last Saturday. My sister was there and we played a little, but we didn’t want to distract the dogs that were working! There was a lot of activity and people running from one place to another. I was tired when I got back to the car and slept all the way home dreaming of running and jumping.

Tonight, I am going to school- a conformation class. Is that good or bad? Gator and Soda won’t tell me anything. I already know how to sit, lie down, eat, run, fetch, retrieve, shake toys, get on the bed and be an all round happy puppy. What else do I need? I’ve heard new words like “stand, stack, come, go back” So maybe that is what this is all about. I’ll find out tonight and let you know. Oh! I need to go out and chase some birds.

When I wake up.
Bryn