Thursday September 2nd

Well the puppy and mother are still at the Vet clinic in Nashville. The prognosis looks better though. He seems to be stronger after a very week start. We get morning and afternoon reports and although very reserved, the reports are encouraging.

Laura and I have four tickets to see the very last concert from Brooks and Dunn. They are tickets for the mid level suites just to the right of the stage so, we were hoping that we would be able to go. As it turns out we were able and we asked two of our "dog show" friends to go with us.

So, guess where the concert is located??? You guessed it .... Nashville. So, we loaded up in the car and made the second trip to Nashville this week. (almost 200 miles)

We had a super good time and the concert was one of the best that we both had seen.

We needed the break !!!

Very eventful afternoon and night

Well, yesterday afternoon was different. Several weeks ago we bred one of our females. (Abby) The last time we bred her, she didn't have much luck carrying the puppies full term and lost the pups. So... we decided that we would try her one more time. Even this time she seemed to be having some type of trouble again. Abby's been acting like she's been in pre labor and stressing for the last 36 hours. She's been staying here at home during the afternoon and night and staying at the vet's office during the day. Needless to say, our hopes were not too high this time either.



Yesterday afternoon, Abby seemed to be going into labor. The vet told us that the x-ray only showed one puppy. Laura's stressing. I'm REALLY stressing. We're both upstairs trying to help Abby as much as possible. I'm so nervous that I just have to go downstairs, get me a glass of wine, and watch some tv !!!! Later, I hear the door at the top of the stairs fly open and Laura yelling what made me think of the old Young Frankenstein movie. (IT'S ALIVE !!!!)



Not having our hopes up for success left us totally unprepaired for a new puppy. We both had more or less prepared ourselves for the worst.

We had to start dragging out heating pads, supplemental formula, and all of the other stuff needed for the new arrival.



The pup seemed to be having trouble catching his breath and was very tired and weak.



So the puppy spent night last night at the emergency vets office getting some oxygen. It's a nicely marked little Boy. He was very weak last night, but seemed to be doing much better this morning. Both He and Abby are going today to a vet's office outside of Nashville. They're puppy experts and have the incubators and stuff needed to take care of newborns.





We're still not out of the woods yet, so everybody wish us luck. I think this little boy is going to be named TOUGHY.

Memphis Southaven dog show August 19-22

Well this was another long four day dog show !! It began for me on my day off Wednesday. I loaded up the Papillon Motel solo and carried it down to one of our favorite places to camp in Southaven MS. I set the whole thing up by myself because my wife had to work Wednesday. She came down Wednesday after work and showed the dogs on Thursday and Friday. I had to work Thursday and Friday (someone has to earn a little money to support our dog show habit !!!)

I then came down Saturday morning to watch the dogs Saturday and Sunday. We then packed everything up and came home Sunday. I know, It gets complicated sometimes.

Anyway, Cruiser took Reserve Winners dog on Friday and again on Sunday.

Mimi (who has lost 1.5 pounds and is much slimmer) took Reserve Winners Bitch on Thursday and Saturday.

Brooke won first place in Puppy Sweepstakes on both Thursday and Friday. She also won best Papillon Puppy on Saturday.

Again nobody won points, but all the dogs showed well and we did win several reserves.

Oh, well maybe next time.... !!!!!

Little Rock Arkansas Dog Show August 14 - 15

Well it certainly was a HOT weekend with temps in Little Rock far in excess of 100 degrees and that's without the heat index. H...O...T

Anyway we managed to show our three dogs ( Cruiser, Mimi, and Brooke).

Saturday, all three dogs won their classes. Cruiser and Mimi scored blue ribbons in their "bred by" classes and Brooke won her 9 - 12 puppy class.

Mimi won Reserve Winners Bitch to a five point major (not too shabby). Brooke also won "Best Papillon" in the best puppy competition. Of course that made us have to stick around till late afternoon to show Brooke in the best puppy toy group . She didn't make the cut but we were proud of her making it that far anyway.

Sunday, Mimi and Brooke won their classes, but no points.

All in All it was a pretty respectable weekend. Some points would have been nice but all of the dogs did very well.

The dogs only get three days off and it's off to Southaven MS for a four day show this Thursday.

Greater Shelby Kennel Club dog show

July 17-18 we traveled to Southaven MS for the two day show held by the Greater Shelby Kennel club. This time we were inside in the cool air (thank goodness) because it was another hot weekend. We stayed at one of our favorite camp grounds ( it has a pool and a hot tub, super nice facilities and an RV dealership next door) !!! We walked over to the RV place Saturday afternoon to drool over the class c motor homes. Maybe one day when our ship comes in we can upgrade the Papillon motel to a rolling "Papillon Palace". Yeah right.

All the dogs showed well and we were quite pleased. Saturday, Cruiser won winners dog and gained two more points toward his championship. We're still chasing his second major however. Cruiser has now broken into the double digits finally with a total of 11 points. We just waited till we got home to take his picture with his ribbons.

Our Kids at play

Well, we started our long weekend as soon as we got off work and got home Friday. We first had to make a trip to Camden to run an errand. Then we got up early Saturday morning to meet a friend of mine that I work with. He got one of our recent rescue dogs ( not a Papillon, just a plain ole puppy dog ) to take home with him and be the new family pet. She's on a week trial period, but I think she'll be fine. Good for Holly. Then we traveled on after taking care of that to Alabama to pick up Cruiser. Cruise's been with a handler attending shows in Florida trying to get his elusive second major toward his title. I'm glad my dog is finally back home safe and sound (no more empy lap syndrome in the mornings). We spent the rest of the weekend just haning out, attending church (we've been lazy lately), making homemade ice cream, working in the gardens, and just enjoying the weekend.

Since we don't have any dog shows this weekend or next weekend, and since it was another hot weekend, the pool was open for business.

Cruiser's Big Adventure

Well, Cruiser's been away with a handler for over a week now. He was entered in a three day show in Orlando Florida. Sorry, no pictures ( Laura wouldn't let me go ). Any way Cruiser's best chance for a win and a second major win came (and went) on Saturday at the show sponsored by the Central Florida Kennel Club. There were a ton of big name dogs there that he had to compete with. Anyway, Cruiser came away with Reserve Winners Dog to a four point major. For those who don't know, Reserve Winners means that you were the best of the losers. It means that you were painfully close to winning, but no cigar.

I guess we'll just have to keep on chasing that elusive second major win. We're proud of his reserve win none the less. That's not too bad for a little country dog from Tennessee.

Next we have to figure a way and a time to drive down to Alabama and pick him up. I'm sure he's ready to come home !!!

June 19 - 20 Dog show at Purina Farms

We traveled this weekend to Gray Summit Missouri for the dog show held at the Purina Farms facility. This is our second hot outside dog show in a row and it's taking it's toll on both us and the dogs. We were showing four dogs this weekend, Mimi, Brooke, Cruiser and we even broke Casper out of moth balls and entered him as a special on Sunday.

All of the dogs showed well under the circumstances. Our little puppy Brooke won Reserve Winners Bitch once again on Saturday from the 6 - 9 puppy class. That makes her record 5 reserves out of 8 shows !!! Not bad for a 6-9 puppy.

Cruiser went home with a handler this weekend to Alabama. He's entered in at a show in Florida next weekend. Wish him luck !!! He needs another major win to add to his points.
He should be back home in a couple weeks. I can't wait. I'm suffering from empty lap syndrome already.

Not much else worthy of reporting. Next stop South Haven MS.

Paducah Kentucky dog show

June 12 and 13, we attended the Paducah KY kennel club's dog show. Let me tell you, it was HOT. The show is held in a former corn field and the sun is absolutly unmerciful. Anyway, thank goodness the Papillon Motel has an airconditioner.... :)

We showed Cruiser and Brooke. We left Mimi at home this time.

Cruiser didn't do well on Saturday, but did take reserve to a major in dogs on Sunday.

Brooke did well both days, taking Reserve Winners Bitch both days and came really close (our humble opinion) to taking her first points on Sunday. We think she just let her puppy tendencies bubble over too much in the ring. Oh, well maybe next time. Brooke's won Reserve winners Bitch four out of the last six shows and she's only in the 6 - 9 month puppy class. This was only her second show weekend.

Way to go Brooke !!!!

Next stop Grey Summit MO. next weekend.

I promise to take my camera this time. It's an outside show, so I should get some good pics to post.

Plus Casper comes out of moth balls next weekend to show as a Special going for Best of Breed.

Ranger 2010

AKC Champion -- Ch Jansu Lil Lone Ranger o' Lawood

Tuesday June 1, 2010 we lost our very oldest member of our Papillon menagerie. Ranger was Laura's first Papillon and was an AKC champion. Ranger was just a few days short of his fifteenth birthday.