No Stopping the Ben Train in Oamaru

We said last week, Ben was just getting started, and boy did he prove us right this weekend. The North Otago Kennel Association put on 2 Champ shows and an Open Show in Oamaru, the Steam Punk capital of the world. Ben rose to the challenge by taking the Best Junior of Group in all 3 shows against some stiff competition and then topped that off with the Reserve Best of Group in both the Open Show on Saturday, and the Champ show on Sunday!

We arrived on Friday evening and put up the gazebo with a thunderstorm approaching which was a precursor of the weather pretty much for the whole weekend. Saturday saw us back and the grounds bright and early where a cold, squally rain had set in. The judges set up the tables under the shelter of a gazebo (thankfully) and away we went.

Under judge, Chris Graham (New Zealand), Ava took Best of Breed, Best Bitch and Best NZ of Breed, Ben - who loves all forms of water - took Reserve Best of Breed, Best Dog and Best Junior of Breed and Best Junior of Group. Nikita - who despises all forms of water - took Best Neuter of Breed and Reserve Neuter of Group while Tara took Reserve Best Neuter,

In the Open Show, under NZ Judge, Carrie Tolley, Ben stepped up and took Best of Breed, Best Dog, Best Junior of Breed and then took Reserve Best of Group and the Best Junior of Group! We didn't enter the two Neuter girls in the Open show, for which they were eternally grateful. Curled up in their crates in the car with puppies and the heater on seemed a much better idea than walking around on wet grass behind Ben who was having an absolute blast playing in the rain.

Ava clearly would rather have been in her crate with her aunties and the babies, but she still managed to take the Reserve Best of Breed, Best Bitch and the Best NZ Bred of Group.

We went home pretty happy with our results, and just hoping the weather might improve in Sunday, thinking if that's the best we do all weekend, well, we didn't have a lot to complain about.

Ben had other ideas, however. Sunday morning the weather cleared and he was in fine spirits. Under Australian judge, Michelle Hammond (QLD), Ben took Best of Breed, Best Dog, Best Junior of Breed and then took Reserve Best of Group and the Best Junior of Group in the Championship show, too!

Ava took the Reserve Best of Breed, Best Bitch and the Best NZ Bred of Breed while Tara took Best Neuter of Breed and Reserve Neuter of Group. Nikita stayed in the trolley. Princess doesn't do wet grass, LOL.

We then met up with the new family of little Sulley, the first of our December pups to head off to his new home, and handed him over with his puppy pack and lots of cuddles. We've already had videos of him playing with his new big brother and it looks like he's settling in really well. We have 4 more leaving this week, including one off to Australia, so we are in for a few bittersweet farewells as our babies venture out into the big wide world.

We also took the opportunity to do a bit of show training with Star and Pete. With the improved weather on Sunday they were able to spend time in the pen which meant lots of cuddles from pretty much everyone who walked past the pen. Thanks to Arvia Caldwell for her help wrangling the pups and doing such a great job with Star.

Thanks to the NOKA for a great weekend and the committee for some well run shows. We had a great time and will definitely be back next year.