The Big Country

We are back from our trip to Montana. We survived. It was a very successful trip if I do say so myself.

The first two days Raimi was the only Invictus dog entered and he did very well placing in his class both days. He acted like an idiot in the ring but he is not accustomed to show road trips and it was a lot to take in for a silly boy. The set up at Great Falls involved a long trek to and from the rings but the motorhome was parked under some lovely shade giving trees and we stayed relatively cool. The mostquitos were persistent and I had Raimi inside much of the time so we didn’t end up in the ring with welts all over him!

My mom finished Leah’s championship in Great Falls. The rest of the trip involved getting single points on the rest of the Pulis and trying to calm Reno down in the ring enough so you could see his movement – he is so excited to be alive it takes some management to get all 4 feet on the floor! I also showed Berry (at left) who is a filler dog - used to get points on 'better' dogs - but gosh and golly she is darling. See how she smiles?

We then drove into Missoula in the scorching heat, did some shopping, and made it to the show grounds in good time. We managed to set up the pens and debated a bit about putting the awning down. See the ominous clouds we decided to ignore? In the end we didn’t bother with the awning and of course it poured buckets that night and everything got soaked. We got the awning down the next morning with a little second guessing and a relatively low level of frustration.

The first day in Missoula was a very good one for Invictus as Raimi won Winners Dog for a 3 point major and his sister Geddie (at left) won Winners Bitch and Best of Winners(which means she beat Raimi!) for a 5 point major. Hooray! It was a really great day for us.

The next day Geddie placed 3rd in her class and Raimi placed second in his - there we are the middle dog - the class hasn't been placed yet. A so-so day but a good showing just the same. We spent a lot of time relaxing and I spent a bit of time getting a nice toasty burn on my shoulders. My legs are still ‘maggot white’ as my mother calls them but my feet got a bit of a burn …

The last day was a hoot as it was Zero’s very first time in the ‘official’ show ring at exactly 6 months old. See how handsome he is in his pen? Of course he acted like a puppy but our judge Mr Sabella saw correct angles, clean down and back, open and correct side gait, and a stable temperament. Raimi went on to place second in his class and was then beaten by Zero for Reserve. That’s right! Zero took reserve to a major! That means out of all the male Ridgebacks at the show a 6 month 9 hour old baby boy placed second to all the class boys entered. Geddie won the very large Open Bitch class, then Winners Bitch and then Best of Opposite Sex over specials for 5 points! She now only needs 3 points to finish her championship and that will make her Halo’s first US champion.

Did I keep the wrong dog??? Ssshhhhh … don’t tell Raimi!

It was a great circuit for Invictus – we placed in our classes every day, won 3 of the majors and Reserve to a major with a puppy. I AM SO PROUD OF HALO’S BABIES!!!!!!

Halo is still in raging heat at my friend Tanja’s house and has settled in marvelously with the cats, Tanja and the children. She apparently is the hit of the neighbourhood.

Thanks again to Erin Coogan of Aegis for taking such good care of Geddie and Zero and for showing them so beautifully! And of course for selling me Halo who is an absolute dream of a foundation bitch!