|
Ron & Jessica Turcotte |
Arkas Kennels Reg'd Bouvier des Flandres |
 |
|
|
Click on the thumbnails to view a larger version of each picture. Use your browser's BACK button to return you to this page. Quin - Can UKC CH Stonepillar's Star Jewel HIC In July of 2003, I brought my little bundle of fur home. Quin was my first Bouvier and even though I'd read extensive material on Bouviers and how to raise a puppy, I still felt totally unprepared. My little boy was quite a handful. He was and is very smart. He knew how to circumvent all of the rules you read about. He constantly challenged us to come up with new ways to outwit him. While we've both had other dogs in our lives, Ron and I hadn't had a dog in a very long time. Quin was the first puppy we raised as adults. Quin was also the first purebred dog we've owned and so this was the first time CKC Sanctioned events were open to us. With some trepidation, I agreed to enter the Conformation ring with Quin. How hard could it be right? You run around the ring in a circle and let the judge examine your dog. I figured this should be a breeze. Well, I was in for a big surprise!! For our first show in February of 2004, Quin galloped and gambolled around the ring. He then tried to sit during the exam. Thankfully, the judges were very understanding and gave us extra time and suggestions. In October of 2004, after a lot of learning on my part and more training on his part, Quin completed his CKC Championship at the Nipissing Kennel Club's Thanksgiving shows by going Best of Winners under judge Patricia Lanctot.
In April of 2005, at our first show in six months and our first time entering as a Special, we took our first Best of Breed at the Guelph shows over Specials competition. Our thanks to judge Mr. Fernando Da Costa Maia.
May 2005 saw us entering the UKC shows for the first time. We had an amazing weekend. We completed the requirements for a UKC Championship in just the four shows held that weekend and took home two Group 1 placements. For anyone not familiar with the UKC, I highly recommend them. The shows are very relaxed. Judges speak to you, and they'll tell you good and bad points about your dog or give you a tip if you're doing a poor job of presenting them. In fact, I saw one judge helping a couple of Juniors in an empty ring with their handling. My only complaint was that there was no show photographer. However, one of the judges, Mr. J. Ray Johnson, kindly agreed to pose for a picture taken by Ron.
In July 2005, we tried our hand at a Herding Instinct Test. I'm pleased to report that both Lacey and Quin passed their tests with flying colours. They can both now claim a HIC. Quin showed a lot of drive and interest for the sheep and Lacey was an utter natural. The tester, Sue Jewell of Have Ewe Herd? in Barrie, was very impressed with her. We are now looking into ways to make herding part of our regular training activities. Stay tuned for more news about our herding experiences. So far, 2005 had been very good to us. It continued when we took home some lovely rosettes from the Temiskaming dog show in August. There were six limited entry shows over three days. Quin took BoB each show over Specials competition. He then went on to place in Group each and every show. I'm so proud of my boy! In total, he was awarded four Group 4 placements, one Group 3 placement, and one Group 1 placement. My many thanks to the judges at the TKC shows who recognized Quin's many fine qualities: Mr. Kereluke, Mr. Wild, Mrs. Shoreman, Mr. Richard Paquette, Mrs. Beland, & Mr. Gordon.
The October Nipissing Kennel Club show rounded out our 2005 season. Against some very strong breed competition, Quin showed his heart out and finished the weekend with a Best of Opposite Sex, two Group 2 placements, and another Group 1 placement. What a boy!!
|
|
|
