“Quality Before Quantity”

Aircastle Standard Poodles

News Of The Week (November 26, 2009)

Dottie Does It Again!

You know, sometimes there's just that one special dog that comes along and changes your whole perspective on things.

 

For me, it's my girl Dottie.

 

When she was born, she was a reasonably nice pup, but nothing to write home about.  After all, her brothers were stunning, and grew up to become International and UKC Grand Champions.  And her sister finished her UKC title before turning a year old.

 

Her mom and brother Blu were ranked in UKC for a couple of years, and both won the breed at the Top Ten event in their respective reigns.

 

Her dad is a Grand, and has his CGC, RN, and is rated “Complex” as a Delta therapy dog.

 

I was so busy with them, I sort of let this little kennel pet just hang around the house.  She was a bit big, and didn't have quite the type I was looking for, so I didn't show her.

 

Then it happened . . .

 

We needed a dog to fill a class at a show one day.  So who was available?  Dottie was UKC registered, so in she went.  All went well, and her brother got some extra points we needed.  On to the next show.

 

When the judge pointed to Dot in the second show, I sort of scratched my head and figured it was a fluke.  "She's no show dog," I thought!  But hey, she sure enjoyed showing, and we did need the filler points.  So we kept her in play.

 

A few shows later, Dots was a little older, and a bit more mature.  Some of my judge friends kept saying they thought I was overlooking her.  So when I needed a filler and entered her she surprised me and won again. 

 

It was her third win, and I laughed when I called Barb heading back from the show and told her we now had another UKC Champion.

 

That's when we decided to take her to an obedience class.  She ate it up and did extremely well, in fact, so well, I figured, what the heck, I'll just take her to the Delta Therapy dog certification and see how she does.

 

She not only qualified, but she tested "Complex", the highest rating for the Delta program.

 

"Dottie," I wondered?  "How on earth did she do that?"  I just knew Glenna, the coordinator, had lost her mind . . . that is, until I took Dots to her first therapy session.

 

I stood there in amazement as my little underestimation wooed and cooed all of the kids into her presence for pets and loves.  Now, almost a year later, she goes to facilities where few dogs can go, all because she's one of the most stable pups I've bred.

 

Who would have thought?

 

But she wasn't done.  With a little obedience behind her, and a peoplemom who is an AKC Rally-O judge, it was time to see how she did in Rally.

 

Though her handler brought her some non-qualifying scores in UKC, she has done quite well in AKC, and hopefully will complete her RN on Friday, the 28th.

 

But she still wasn't done . . .

 

On the weekend of November 20th and 21st, our little girl Dottie, who had somehow gleaned two previous GrCh passes under some stiff competition, pulled out three more.

 

I could scarcely believe it, but our little girl is now a Grand Champion!

 

Moral of the story.  Never underestimate a Poodle.  They can and will amaze you continuously!

 

Congratulations, my sweet Dottie, and hopefully this Friday we will make your name just that much longer.