Page 16 - 9 Spring 2023 Newsletter

The Dancing Queen.

By Sue Lindsay and the Mezanda Keeshonds

Lexie, Mezanda Teacher’s Pet, was one of a litter of nine born to my Dax,
Julyn Jadzia at Mezanda, in July 2002.
At 7 weeks the litter were tested by hearing dogs for the deaf and she was
listed as a reject because of her want for cuddles rather than being interested
in chasing a toy. Their expert said that that would mean she would be difficult
to train! How wrong they were.
As a “keeper”, Lexie joined my Mobile Petz teaching and therapy team,
working alongside her mum and family. She proved to be such a quick learner
and could be relied upon for essentials such as an emergency wait, recall and
follow, being confident to work in a wide range of environments from hospitals,
the classroom and a secure unit for young offenders, thoroughly enjoying
herself and being loved by everyone.
Lexie soon progressed to basic tricks such as ‘touch‘ and walking through
hoops held at floor level and at 6 months started a successful puppy career
in the show ring from which she retired with a Crufts Veteran win at 13.
As a junior I enrolled Lexie in advanced training classes held near to me in
Ringwood, where we lived, as she was proving to have such drive for learning
new things to do. She was the first Keeshond they had come across but was
able to train the instructors well in breed methods of activities such as scent,
distance control and indoor flyball. This included
getting pots lifted for her with sausages
underneath so she didn’t have to flip them
herself !
It was through this club that I started to take
the first steps with competition freestyle which
became Lexie’s passion. We achieved a straight
distinction on a test day with the Paws n Music
association and from there started to compete.
Pam Luckhurst kindly helped me put together
my first outfit and Lexie and I worked out
a routine to a Shania Twain track.
Our very first competition in front of a panel
of three judges didn’t quite go to plan due to
Lexie recognising the previous test judge who
had given her a shortbread biscuit from a
plate and she duly left me for a few seconds
to see if there was another on offer!

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