show wins in south carolina

Wow is all we can say about Cindy's incredible wins last weekend. These sorts of moments don't happen often but, at 7 months of age, she beat out 6 champions to win Best of Breed. (Her mother, Lilibeth, also had a big win like this in Atlanta and her aunt, Lilly, as well in a huge show in Atlanta). It was a 5 point major and there were 19 pugs entered. Cindy had to beat an incredible bitch in the bred by class (a long time breeder who, in fact, bred her great grandfather). The black ribbon "Bred by Exhibitor Best of Breed" is a very special ribbon and not often awarded. She then had to beat some more amazing bitches from different classes to win Winners Bitch and then beat out a gorgeous male imported from Europe for the Best of Winners. We were so surprised when she presented the final award of Best of Breed since the ring was filled with so many incredible pugs including many who were already champions. Thank you Judge Bonnie Linnell Clark for recognizing our beautiful girl and all of our hard work as breeders.

Here she is waiting for the Toy Group, followed by the Owner Handled Group. You can tell that her right eye is not 100% healed yet (from an injury .... who knows what it was, but perhaps a thorn from a weed that sprouted over night from Hades perhaps).

I also got her a special "prize" for her big wins -- she now has her own piano ($20 on Facebook Marketplace!) so she can be an official Pugiano star now.

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Cindy had been wearing the "cone of shame" but I told her before the show that it was a "cone of pride" because she was such a good girl. Of course we took it off before entering the ring. Here she is wearing it at a Love's dog park en route to the South Carolina. Lola, Cindy's sister, has learned how to take the cone off so they have been separated for a couple of weeks. You can see the joy of them playing together at last!

We haven't had an eye injury in forever it seems but these girls love to run and play hard (Lola and Cindy) so who knows what caused it. A little puncture right in the center of the eye. Did you know that a simple blade of grass can cause an eye injury? Here is Cindy New Year's Eve . . . .

Lola had taken off the cone when we went to this dog park at KOA. I should have put it back on (for a 3rd time) because, indeed, I saw a thorny vine by the fence as we were leaving! Also, who knows what was hiding in those leaves. You can never let your guard down protecting those pug eyes!

Cindy

Lola

Lola showed the 2nd day and, alas, the judge didn't seem to like her so she didn't win anything except a yellow ribbon ;( However, she had fun and I was so very thankful that she could recover from the horrible incident at the previous show in Perry, GA, when that handler dragged her around the ring and terrified her. (That's another post and another story, but we have heard of similar situations with other pugs when that sort of experience would scar pug -- puppy in this case -- for life.) Here are Lola and Cindy and Umberto waiting to show on Sunday.

Umberto didn't win anything either day but he gave a tremendous performance and I was so very proud of him. Cheerful, jaunty, and stared a hole through the judges' eyes after the down and back each day. The judges just preferred a different type (larger, longer legged) of pug. We are striving for correct size, though, and bone and substance, so we will stay on the path we feel is right for the breed even if it is not "flashy" and popular in the ring. Stay the course and in it for the long run ;)

These shows definitely tire these blessed pups out! Here is Cindy sacked out once we got back to the hotel room (actually, it was a tiny cabin at KOA).

We won't be getting out to show again for awhile due to some upcoming concerts and work. (Also, in 63 days approximately, there might be the possibility of puppies out of Iona and Parker! If Mother Nature decides to grace us with pups that is.) Here is precious Iona this past Christmas opening her stocking!