Excitement in New Mexico

The first weekend in November we headed down to Rio Rancho, NM for the Sporting Dog Fanciers of New Mexico specialty show. As mentioned previously, Georgia just needs a major to finish, and we were hoping she would get that last major at these shows. We entered Sasha and Hazel as well, largely because we needed them to make sure we had enough bitches to make a major. Carter was entered because we're trying to get those last few grand championship points for him, but we ended up leaving him home.

We've been to these shows before, and the weather at the beginning of November in New Mexico is usually fairly pleasant. Not so this year, though. The forecast was for cold, rain, and wind. Saturday morning was chilly and windy, but no rain yet when we headed to the show site at 7 am. Grooming at these shows is outdoors without power, so we brought the EZ Up tent for cover. As we were getting the tent set up, the wind was a concern, but the threat of rain made it necessary. Just as we got the first dog on the grooming table the rain started and the wind picked up, though. it quickly became apparent that the tent wasn't going to stay up, so we had to break it down, as the hailstorm started. They ended up delaying the start time of the show for an hour and a half, while we took the top off the tent, tried to secure loose items, and got the dogs back into the car in a hailstorm. Then we spent the next few hours huddled in the van, trying to dry off wet clothes and do what grooming we could on the dogs from inside the van.

The rain cleared up after a couple hours but it was still very cold, with winds of up to 40 mph, when the show finally started. Definitely not the nicest weather to show in, but it turned out to be a good thing that we stuck it out. Sasha and Hazel were entered in the 12-15 month class, with Georgia in bred-by. Hazel was first and Sasha second in their class. Georgia won bred-by, so was only one step away from the win she needed. However, a big surprise came in the winners class when Hazel went winners bitch for her second major, And an even bigger surprise came when Sasha went reserve. I was disappointed Georgia didn't win, but couldn't really complain. Especially when Hazel also went best opposite over two specials, making it a 4-point major and bringing her point total to 10 points, both majors at 15 months old.

Sunday's weather was chilly, but sunny and not too windy. Results were the same in 12-15, but Georgia was third in bred-by, ending her hopes of finishing that weekend. Hazel ended up going reserve, but no points that day. So Georgia is still on the hunt for that second major. Not sure when she'll be able to get it. Shows are probably on hold at least until after the first of the year now, as we get into the holidays and have weather considerations and family obligations.

Breeding plans are unfortunately affected by our show results. I want to finish Georgia before breeding her, as the time to get her back into shape after a litter to get that last major would be considerable. She is due in season again in January and I would have bred her then if she had finished before, but now it will probably have to wait until the season after that. So it looks like our next litter will not be until fall

In other show news, the same weekend we were in New Mexico, Faith was entered at the ESSFTA supported entry in Fort Wayne, IN, where she was BOS in sweeps on Sunday. What a great win! And to round out the good news from the weekend, I also learned that Mali (Kalwa's Keeper of the Flame), who lives in Georgia, has earned her NA title and has one leg toward her NAJ. She is the first Kalwa springer to earn an agility title, and we're very proud of Mali and her owner, Marilyn Davey. What a great weekend all around for the Kalwa crew across the country!

October Update

Not a lot of news to report for October. Carter and Georgia went to the Greater Las Vegas English Springer Spaniel Club specialty shows in Primm, NV October 14-16. We were hoping for that last major for Georgia, but didn't get it. Carter did win a 5-point grand champion major by going select dog at the specialty, though, and only needs 7 single points now to complete his grand championship. And on the east coast, Faith picked up two more points in October, bringing her total to 7.

We are heading to the sporting dog specialties in New Mexico next weekend, for another chance at that last major for Georgia. Fingers crossed for her to finish! That will most likely be the last of our shows for the year. If she does finish her championship, Georgia will likely be bred in January 2012, but if she isn't finished yet, we will probably postpone breeding her until fall.

Hope everyone has a happy Halloween!

Update. Finally.

It has been a long time since I updated this blog, and even longer since updating my website.  I apologize for that, and plan to make an effort to keep things more up-to-date.  So, let's catch up on recent Kalwa news.

The Elements litter are over a year old now, and are doing great.  Of the four that are being shown, Hazel (Kalwa's Elements in Harmony) has been the most successful.  She currently has 6 points, with one major.  She earned her major under judge Pat Trotter from the 6-9 month puppy class, going Winners, Best of Winners, and Best Opposite (over 2 specials).  Very exciting!  Her sister, Faith (Kalwa's Elements of Faith) has also done very well, with 5 points so far.  And brother Sterling (Kalwa's Elements of Sterling) has already picked up his first two points, as well as 3 reserve wins in only 3 weekends of showing.  Sasha (Kalwa's Elements of Style) is holding her own, with a puppy group 3, but generally places behind her sister for now.

In other show news, Georgia (Kalwa's Sweet Georgia Brown) is close to finishing now, needing just a major for her championship.  She has earned 7 points, including a major, in her last two weekends showing.  We're heading to Primm, Nevada for a specialty in two weeks; fingers crossed for Georgia to finish!  Carter (CH Kalwa's Incense and Peppermints RN) has been working on his grand championship and he has also done well in the past few months.  He now has 13 grand championship points, with 3 majors and 4 wins over other champions, so he just needs singles to finish now.

In breeding news, I have decided not to breed Kali (mother of the Sweet litter and the Elements litter) again.  I was planning to breed her on her current season (she came in a few weeks ago), but the timing just isn't right for puppies just now for a variety of reasons, and Kali is already almost eight, so waiting and breeding on her next season isn't really an option.  So, the current plan is to breed Georgia next.  She is due in season in January, and will probably be bred then, as long as she finishes her championship by then.  I am in the process of considering potential stud dogs, and will update information here and on the website as plans are made.