In Memory of Gaia

While grooming Hummer today I was reminded of Gaia, his Sire. Although not exactly like Gaia, more a combination of Father and Mother, Gaia and Angel, Hummer has a similar sweet temperament that Gaia was able to profoundly project with his wonderful eyes and gentle nature. In 2006 and 2007 Gaia won a Specialty and many Group wins. He had a special presence and regal stature along with his big-hearted gentleness that made him irresistible to the judges. Gaia was 6 years old when he made his debut to the Northern California show circuit. He made a big splash as a mature and very large Newfoundland. As I look at Hummer with his more mature head and body and luscious coat, perhaps he will have as successful a career in the show ring in his 5th, 6th, and 7th years. We miss Gaia, and wish he were still with us. Other Gaia offspring will carry on his legacy, like Fritzy and Pilot, two most formidable Newfoundlands. Hummer will try his best starting with a show in Hollister on May 1st, to be the Best of Breed Newfoundland and carry on the memory of Gaia. We will never forget you, Gaia, Dog of Earth, Wind, and Fire, dog of gentle breezes and sweet rose petals.

A Spring in Your Step

The first day of Spring, a day of promise, a day of new beginnings, an anticipation of the future. Spring gives new light, new color and a passion for what might be. Spring Fever. A new energy.

Wild Irish Rose

When Irish Eyes are smiling, it's probably because they were just looking at Wild Irish Roses. Roses announce Spring in a very special way with their beauty, color, and fragrance. Wild or otherwise, Roses make a strong statement.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I hope it brings you all luck and good fortune, lots of laughter and good food, not too much beer, or Irish Whiskey!! We are enjoying the springtime weather and more sunshine, and are resting until our next dog show in May. Until then we enjoy daily walks and training, coat care and optimum nutrition. Hummer is also working diligently to rear his little Labrador brother, Alexander, who will join us in the dog show endeavor. Please visit Alexander's Blog which has a link in the link-list of this blog (mistymountainschariotsoffirealexander.blogspot.com).

The Irish, known for their fierce fighting, red hair, great whiskey, and great horses, green valleys, and magical sense of wonder and humor, also linen, handmade sweaters, and beautiful Waterford Crystal, hold a special place in our hearts.

Competition

There is nothing like competition! The recent Winter Olympics has shown us many sides of competition from the Great Wins to the near losses, to the falls, crashes, and even deaths due to miscalculations, fears, and inexperience of the competitors. Anything can happen! Competing brings out the best in all of us, it gives us a chance to do our Best Performance. When you win the Gold Medal, or Best of Breed, or even Best in Show, you know you have done everything you could to make it happen, from the best conditioning, best nutrition, best training, best grooming products and techniques, ....there is a process, a formula, and even a natural talent or Breeding for Excellence. It is an effort above and beyond the usual. It is an effort with heavy doses of determination, desire, passion, and exertion of extraordinary energy. We are looking forward to our next competition, our next opportunity to show that we have it all together, that we have done everything to show that we are a Newfoundland of Excellence, a Newfoundland with substance and beauty who is worthy of Best of Breed. The dogs that win are not just beautiful, they show something special, whether it is a look in their eye, a movement in the ring, or a certain energy that catches the eye of the Judge, the Winner is something SPECIAL THAT DAY. Every competitor has a chance, every competitor has an opportunity to prove their prowess. We will enter Competition on the weekend of Memorial Day at the Hangtown Kennel Club in Placerville at the end of May, and expect to win. There is nothing like Competition....

Life After Cow Palace

The Cow Palace Show was, as usual, great fun and a wonderful chance to meet the public and share our beautiful dogs. The weekend came and went in a flash of grooming, showing, and talking non-stop to people who passed our bench in droves of strollers, wheelchairs, couples, babies, children, petting and hugging Hummer who stood as long as he could for all the adoration and awe inspiration over his size and sweet disposition, until he could defy gravity no more and lay in irreversible relaxation on the floor for the remainder of the day. He may not have won the competition, but as one of the patrons said " He still has won," as Hummer stood in the middle of a huge crowd of people who adored him with camera flashes and patting him on top of his head. One incident that stays in my mind is when I was walking him back to the bench with two kids who were walking along side him and wanted to pet him. I gave the boy, a big kid of around 11 years old, Hummer's lead and I let the boy walk him. I told him to tell Hummer to "Wait" and he immediately stopped walking. It worked! Hummer stood still until the boy commanded Hummer to move with "Let's go". The best appreciation of this breed is to put your hands on him and feel his strength and then to walk along side him. I think the boy went home telling his Mom he wanted a Newfoundland.

I still don't know if there will be a Cow Palace Show next year or not. Hopefully so because we love this show and enjoy sharing the Karazan Newfoundlands with the world! Until then, Hummer is helping raise a wonderful yellow Labrador Retriever named Alexander who he has accepted into his family with a huge open heart. Alex will be shown in the Labrador ring along side of Hummer this year. See you at the Showgrounds!

Will we have to say Goodbye to the Cow Palace?

Once again we head for the Golden Gate Kennel Club Cow Palace Dog Show this January 29th and 30th for great competition and an opportunity to share our dogs with the public while on a benched display. Receiving his first points two years ago, Hummer will again compete for Best of Breed amongst several other wonderful Karazan Newfoundlands. Now mature at four years old and having reached his full size in chest and head, Hummer is an impressive Giant Breed who will gladly take praise and pets from the crowds of people passing by the bench. There may be new plans for the Cow Palace and this may be the last time we have a benched show at this venue. At least this year we will be in the North Hall where we will be near the nice show rings and great vendors. We look forward to the Cow Palace traditions and trials, a show that gives you every opportunity to show your dog to the inquisitive public with a chance to answer, How much does he weigh? Does he shed? How much does he eat? Does he need a lot of exercise? What I hope the public goes away from our bench with is knowing that the beautiful Newfoundland is gentle and patient and will give all of his attention to anyone interested. That even though the Newfoundland is large in size , he is also large in heart and sweetness and will thrive on all of the attention from adults and children alike.