:No Wine Before Its Time

In the quest to help Dante and Vickie further develop their skills to break through ‘making the cut’ in the group, we met at my grooming shop Friday afternoon. Vickie had prepared Dante’s coat with a fresh bath and proper drying. She wasn’t happy with the way she’s been trimming his feet and coat. She didn’t want me to trim them. She told me it was going to painful for me to watch, but what she needed was for me to teach her, not do it. I am not a teacher, but I try. And I usually need a scissors in one  hand and a comb in the other to answer specific questions. After banding up his long side coat and rear skirts, the two of us bumbled through…me trying to give her step-by-step procedures, developing her eye to ‘see’ what needs to be scissored away. He looked good when she was through. So, I guess we were successful.

After a leisurely late lunch at Creekside Cellars, Vickie came to my house to spend the night. Yes, wine was in the forecast. Pulling several bottles of wine out of her wine bag, Vickie presented me with this awesome magnet..

Some of you know that’s Edmund’s name. Ch. FFT No Wine Before Its Time. It is now stuck in a place of honor on the frig, right next to the It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere magnet Ginny gave me several years ago. How fun! I’m reminded daily of friends and dogs.

Before heading back home Saturday, we spent some time moving Dante. My camera will take 3 minutes of video. I also played around with the continuous shooting, which takes still shots in fast succession. This slideshow starts with the continuous shooting sequence, then Vickie moving Dante, ending with me moving Dante.

An observation I made watching this was the body position of the handler. We were working on a somewhat uneven surface, which doesn’t help. Later, sorting through files and photos (still sorting!! almost done!!!! couldn’t have put these together quickly without *all* the prep work I’ve done these past months), I came upon a photo of Tammy moving Ian. Her body language is excellent, in spite of Ian lagging a bit behind her. The whole picture says ‘here’s my dog’.  Inspired, I put together another slideshow with a number of Apso Aficionados moving Apsos. The body position of the handlers demonstrates a nice combination of body language. Basically from the waist down, the handler is moving forward; from the waist up the handler is slanted a bit towards the dog. The lower half is telling the dog to move forward; the upper half is telling the judge, ‘hey, look at my dog!’

Presentation. Presentation. As Carol says – in reference to food – presentation is everything.

:DATED MATERIAL….from Kathy

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is presenting a symposium at the Aspen 
Institute in Aspen, CO, July 24-26.  Take this opportunity to send a 
short, personal letter asking his Holiness for a blessing on Debby 
and her life’s vocation, dedicated to preserving the Tibetan Lhasa 
Apso through her Fleetfire Kennel (www.fleetfiretimbers.com and the 
Gompa Lhasa Apso Preservation Program Trust 
(www.gompalhasaapso.com).  Brag on Vickie’s gallant rescue efforts 
finding new homes for lost and abandoned apsos through the Apso 
Rescue Program (ApsoRescueColorado.org) and her participation in the 
Trust.  Ask his Holiness to support these programs!

Tell the Dalai Lama how much you treasure your dogs…what joy they 
bring…how their very presence in your life encourages/uplifts your 
spirit as you trek through Tibet’s rich history and culture.  The 
Lhasa Apso is truly an ambassador for the past, present, and future 
of Tibet.  This is a “shout-out” from the heart to his Holiness, that 
we are committed to this special breed of dog.  Make the Dalai Lama 
smile–share a photo of your pooch!

Address your letters:
His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Attention:  Kitty Boone, Vice President of Public Programs
The Aspen Institute
1000 North Third Street
Aspen, CO 81611

Deadline:  Please mail letters no later than July18.  Include a SASE 
envelope–be optimistic!

:How to paint an apso

You’ve got to take a look at Katy’s blog!

I hope all of you realize there’s a link to Katy’s blog on the left hand side of this blog. Scroll down to :Apso Aficionados. Her blog is “Katy’s Raindance Journal”. You’ll also see Ken and Katy’s Critter Spot and Beautiful Apso Art. Both fun places to visit, that’s not what I’m writing about today. Through her Raindance Journal, she shares, in step by step progress, How to Paint an Apso, complete with Zeke in his spot in her studio.

I love Katy’s work. Mychal’s Bone is one of my all-time favorite ‘dog’ paintings. Right here, right now, in front of me sits “Panchen: Blind, Travelin’ Silver Dog”. Looking over my left shoulder Is “All Said and Done”. Here’s a bit of what I wrote to Katy upon receiving those paintings:

Even as I’m typing this, I have glanced to my left, feeling my heart warm for several reasons. There is Sadie My Lady painted by my friend Katy from a photo I took on a trip with dear friends. The shadow in the background on the right is Ginny is her pajamas. Julie asked me to show Sadie that entire National Specialty week. Sweet Sadie showed with all her heart – indeed a big heart – and I enjoyed every minute. What a meaningful painting! I’m glad it’s here to keep me company!  

And her response:

:Tooo Funny!! Himalayan Chews Taste Test

Courtesy of Kathy’s Pack

 Tess’s smell test…

Tess loves the taste…

Sophie loves yak chews…

Petey runs and hides from Himalayan chews!!

:Kathy wonders if anyone has tried Dog Yak Treats…

She sent this…

Dog Yak Treats
Bark, July-August ’08, page 28 gives a nice story on this treat,
introduced into the US by a Peace Corps worker from her assignment in
Nepal…the dog treat is a combination of yak, dried cheese curd, cow’s
milk and a little citrus.  Nepalese herders eat this treat themselves
during their long days and nights, for quick energy.  Now the chews are
available in the US…see link to site…interesting…has anyone tried
them?