We went to an outdoor show in Woodstock, Ontario Canada for three days in mid-July! We stayed in the wonderful Comfort Suites in nearby Ingersoll. All of the staff there spoils us rotten because, well frankly, we are so beautiful and sweet! Anyway, they take good care of us there. And we drove to the show in Woodstock every day just a few minutes away.
This was our first outdoor show. It was a lot like camping. Mommy and her friends Fern and David (www.bichonlovers.com)helped set up the canopy and the exercise pen. We had electricity, water, and nearby modern washrooms (for you Americans that's restrooms!). There were plenty of vendors and lots of dogs. The first day was mostly setup and getting oriented. But there was a free handling class by Eric from Chris Christensen Systems (www.chrissystems.com) that Mommy says was incredible! Gigi went with Mommy and I stayed back at our setup with Luci. Eric taught Mommy and Fern lots of great tips about showing and dogs. Then he gave them a grooming lesson using Gigi as the example. Mommy already uses the Chris Christensen products such as White on White shampoo and the white show chalk, but Eric showed her some brushes that were just incredible. So of course she bought the 3 piece set for Bichons! I love these new brushes because they don't pull on my hair. I especially like the butter comb - it goes through your hair like butter to pouf up our hair! It makes us even more gorgeous!!! Anyway, throughout the three day show Eric continued to teach Mommy and Fern about grooming bichons and let me tell you, the before and after pictures of Junior(Fern's dog) and Gigi were really something! I am only going to put the after pictures of Gigi though because the before looks so bad.....
Mommy also found this product for cooling dogs. Gigi was getting very hot in the sun on Friday while Luci and I were just chilling back in the shade at our site. This cool coat is wet in cool water, wrung out til almost dry. Then you put in on and it doesn't make your coat wet, but the evaporation keeps you cool and comfortable. Gigi gave a big sigh of relief when it first went on and every time after! I will have to get Mommy to take a picture of it! If you want to keep your doggies cool, this is the way to do it!www.mustluvdogs.ca
Mommy was able to get her scissors sharpened at the show too, and let me tell you I am glad! They were so dull they would pull our hair and not cut straight! Now they are sharp and make us beautiful again.
Saturday it poured, but the show must go on........believe or not they showed in the pouring rain. The hunting dogs didn't seem to mind, and Gigi did her strutting stuff in the rain too, but I was a little worried with all of the lightening!
Eric showed Mommy another product that has really helped with Gigi's tearing. Gigi isn't as pretty as me because she tears, but Mommy is working on that. Mommy is using a spray that is called "Peace and Kindness". Eric demonstrated it by spraying in his own eyes!! It has helped the gunky stuff that comes out of her eyes a lot, but the stains will have to grow out now. Mommy did find a mixture that is supposed to take the stains out, update on how it works in a few weeks.
Gigi won Best Puppy in Breed three days in a row, and she loved showing! Every time Mommy started to put Gigi's lead on, Gigi would get very excited. She wagged her tail and had a lot of fun each time. Gigi will need to keep learning about focusing on her ring and not being distracted by others. The grass was especially distracting with all of the smells of other dogs.
Here are some pictures of Gigi just before the last show. I think she looks wonderful, and remember, the judges don't penalize for tearing. She also has a modified cut because she is a puppy.
The next show we are planning on is in Tillsonburg, Ontario in October. I am not sure who Mommy is going to show, Gigi or me, but I know I get to go along no matter what. Mommy promises to take some new pictures of me after she grooms me with her new skills so watch for that!
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