Kitaco was off to a cracking start at the Banks Peninsula A&P Society shows, the first Champ shows of the year in the South Island.
This weekend also marked the official return to the ring of Stellar (Kitaco Starglow). Young Stellar started her career with an All Breeds Best Baby Puppy in Show and was well on her way to fame and glory when, at about 8 months old, she got a terrible fright (still haven't been able to pinpoint the exact cause) and she turned into a reactive bundle of nerves.
We really thought her show career was done, but we also made a decision that turned out to be the best thing we could have done for her. While Tinky was at our place raising her babies (and then her sister's babies) we sent Stellar to live with Debra.
Debra took Stellar on and set to work. It's hard to describe the amount of work Deb did with Stellar over the next year, from twice daily walks to desensitise her reactiveness, obedience classes, playgroup and so many other tyes of socialisation. She carried her in a sling when they went out, so she could reassure her, any time Stellar got nervous. She gained Steller's trust and taught her not to be reactive and slowly, over the past few months we have seen the Stellar of old returning.
Stellar always had the sweetest temperament, and thanks to Deb's dedication and hard work, that temperament is now there for all to see. Stellar can still be a bit talkative if she decides something is not right with the world, but a single word from Deb will calm her down, she is so trusting of her.
It was for this reason, we gifted her to Debra a few months ago. The idea of removing this dog from such a wonderful home (with her new best friend, Tinky) and bringing her back to our place, was unthinkable.
It was with some trepidation, however, that we brought Stellar back to the Champ show ring for the first time this weekend. We'd tried her out at an Open Show and a Ribbon Parade (Best on Parade, thank you, very much) and she'd had a fine time, but there is a big difference between Chihuahua Club specialty shows where she knows all the dogs and the most of the people, and a full-on champ show with international judges and other dogs in the line-up with whom she is unfamiliar.
We need not have worried. She was wonderful on the table, friendly and happy to be handled, and except for a bit of shennanigans when she was walking (so many good smells in that grass!) she performed beautifully, and not only that, she won the Intermediate Class on both days (and no, she wasn't the only entry in her class, LOL).
We cannot thank Debra enough for all the work she has done - and continues to do - with Stellar to get her back in the ring and bring her back from the bundle of nerves she was a year ago, to the sweet and confident pup she started out as.
On other news... in Show 1, Serena also took Best of Breed for the Long Coats, Best Junior of Breed and Best Bitch and Ava took Best Open Bitch of Breed.
In the Smooth Coats, Scotty took Best Dog and Reserve Best of Breed.
On day 2, in the second show, Serena took Reserve Best of Breed, Best Junior of Breed and the Best Bitch CC, Ava took Reserve Best Bitch and Best Open of Breed and Stellar took Best Intermediate of Breed. In fact, the entire Bitch line-up ended up being Ktaco girls, which was rather fun. Ben took Reserve Best Dog.
On to the Smooth Coats and Scotty did it again with a Best of Breed, Best Dog CC, Best Puppy of Breed and then went on to take the Best Puppy of Group.
Thanks to the Banks Peninsula committee for some great shows, although they need to fire whoever was in charge of the weather, LOL. Thanks too, to our Junior Handler in training, Shelby, for all her help with dogs over the weekend. She was just wonderful and we really appreciated the help.
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