Page 25 - Autumn 2024 Newsletter Online_Neat

My brain at this point was thinking. How am I going to get through this without
crying?
The prettiest bitch class with 20 hopeful owners was more or less
straightforward. Apart from a few dogs I know, who showed how pleased they
were to see me by doing full body wags and jumping all over me.

I couldn’t help myself but give Oliver another first for Bertie in the puppy
class, especially as he held my hand and smiled as we went around the ring
together.

I was hoping to be able
to operate an ‘already
seen by the judge’
policy, but they all
wanted another go
walking around the
ring, so I happily
watched all the dogs
walk around more than
once if they’d entered
multiple classes.

Thank goodness the
best biscuit catcher class was a knockout. There were lots of dogs in this class,
so it was a strict class, one miss and the dog was out. I only had to pick
between the last two on technic and flair; otherwise I might still be throwing
biscuits to them now. Typically these were Labradors and expert catchers;
no biscuit was going to get past this pair.

In the veteran class, seeing the old dogs limp into the ring like old soldiers
on Remembrance Sunday, with their cloudy eyes looking up lovingly at their
owners, had me fighting back tears again.

My voice cracked as I said, “What a privilege it was to see all of these lovely
older dogs, having lost our beautiful dog well before his time to cancer.”
Adding “Make the most of the time you have with them and give them an
extra cuddle from me this evening.” Breaking rule number 3, as initially I
couldn’t look the owners in their eyes or into the dogs eyes, in fear it would
make me properly cry.
My best veteran was a beautiful working cocker who had worked but was also
a very much loved family pet. Her 4 year old owner in a pretty blue Elsa dress
from Frozen skipped around the ring, with Maisy trying hard to match the
little girl’s enthusiasm. I bumped into the little girl’s father recently, sadly
Maisy had passed away, her rosette is proudly still on display. He is in the

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