Life with Spots
Seren is currently in season so she is having a holiday in the Lakes. She is loving mooching, playing with her frisbee and Mac’s ball. The weather is being kind to us, lots of sunshine. She’s got about another week to go before she returns home. I’m jealous that I can’t spend it with her, but I have to work!
Seren’s critique from the May SKC show. Thank you to judge Jenny Wright for such a comprehensive, honest and helpful critique.
I always find showing Seren more stressful than Lottie or Mac, maybe it’s because she’s my homebred baby, and my pick of the litter, but I love what she does in the ring and how she works.
The future is going to be bright for my little feral star 🌟❤️
Limit Bitch Entries 12 0 Abs.
1st.and RBCC Wallington’s Ailsadot Astral Lyra.
3 years, black spotted. This bitch has lovely breed type with nothing exaggerated about her. Has substance and overall, in a fit muscular condition. (I liked her size and weight proportions). Good head shape with a dark eye, correct ear placement and carries her ears well. With dark pigmented black spots on a pure white background, she is eye catching. This bitch excels in front assembly, with a well angulated front and a good layback of shoulder. A level, strong, powerful back, with a strong loin and breadth to loin, transitioning into strong, rounded hindquarters, a correct tail set and carriage completes the picture. Where she comes into her own is on the move. Absolutely reaches and drives with propulsion, keeping a level top line and a rhythmic action. I considered her for top honours, she truly looks good in profile action, moves effortlessly around the ring. (Just some constructive criticism, handler appeared a little nervous and needs to relax, has a habit of ‘pillaring’ the bitch’s neck, which pushes her whole front assembly back and detracts from a clean outline, this can easily be remedied with practice. This is a fine example of the breed; she will stand naturally if allowed to without the above that spoils her overall outline).
Sophtspot in the Zone x Kaytoni Isn’t She Lovely at Ailsadot
(Mac and Lottie)
We took the Spots to a secure field, as Mac is super sensitive to smells at the moment so has to be on a lead for walks. The secure field allows him to mooch around rather than going where I am.
The pond/puddle has become a squelchy mud pond, and all 3 loved going for a paddle. They ended up with black legs!!
They all had fun, tried out the agility equipment and played. seren found a stick and it made her day 🤣
They came home and slept!
Mac is 8 today! I can’t believe we have had him nearly 8 years old, he certainly doesn’t actually 8!
He’s had his favourite walk and snacks, even a little birthday cake!
Seren, Ellie and I had a bit of a road trip to Edinburgh for the Scottish Kennel Club May Champ show and October Champ Show being held on the same day, and the Dalmatian Club of Scotland Champ show. We stayed in our usual hotel and Seren had the choice of who she slept with – she chose both of us!!
First up was the October show, judged by Penny Wills. In a big Limit class Seren got a respectable Very Highly Commended, which I was pleased with as the judge seemed to prefer livers.
Next up we had the May show judged by Jenny Wright. In another strong Limit class she came First, which meant we went into the challenge, where she only got the Reserve Challenge Certificate!!! Our first RBCC, and she pushed hard for the Challenge Certificate.
Needless to say we were on cloud 9, surprised, stunned, shocked by getting the Reserve Challenge Certificate.
We took Seren to have a leg stretch at the Kelpies, before going back to the hotel. It was a lovely, sunny afternoon and the Kelpies looked fantastic.
The haul from the Scottish Kennel Club shows –
The next day we went back for the Dalmatian Club of Scotland Champ show. This show was outside by the airport so Ellie was happy – she loves watching planes take off and land.
The judge was Keith Nathan, and likes a liver. In her Post Graduate class she took Second, and we did think for a bit that he was going to pick Seren for first.
Scotland was amazing, some fantastic results and some great handling advice so we can improve on standing and moving. We had a great time.
First champ show since Crufts, and it was just Seren and I. I do like National, lovely, big ring, spacious benching, and it’s always been good weather.
Under judge Charlotte Page, Seren got a respectable Reserve in a strong Post Graduate class. I was super pleased with how she went for me, especially as it was her first time on grass in nearly a year!
The Spots love going to my parents, they love the space, the stream, the ponies … they love everything!! We’ve had some trees cut down after storm damage, so it seemed the ideal opportunity to get some core balance and on practise …
Seren also had her third birthday … Naini made her cake and served it with ice cream and strawberries… spoilt girl!!
I wanted to get some more professional photos of the Spots, maybe for adverts, so I asked the lovely Natalie from Hellherder Photography to do a photo shoot. We travelled down a a lovely secure field in Ashby de la Zouche for it. The field was at the top of the hill and we had a seasonal storm brewing, so it was WINDY!!! Ears were going everywhere … but Natalie got some fantastic photos …
Ellie came back from university so we’ve had a few days off, doing the beach and going to my parents in the Lake District. The Spots love both the beach and Naini’s, they are their ideas of heaven!
We like to go to Formby, I love the mix of dunes and sand, you can get some lovely photos, as well as giving the dogs a good core work out whilst they run up and down the dunes! Seren loves the sea, especially if it involves chasing birds or running with Mac, she is definitely the happiest in water!
The weather in the Lakes has been a bit grim, but the sky finally stopped leaking and let the sun out for a bit!!
I know it’s nearly a month since Crufts, but I was waiting for some photos to arrive before posting.
First up was the handsome Albus (Ailsadot Astral Peacock), in a Post Graduate class of 25. He was shortlisted to the last 8, I am super proud of both him and Emily for doing so well.
Seren was in a limit class of 29, it was a very long hour in the ring! She didn’t get shortlisted, but showed her socks off amongst dogs much older than her.
Lottie was last to show, and didn’t get into the ring until 4:30pm, 9 hours after we arrived. She was a little sore and stiff from being in the crate, but she rocked the green carpet. Sadly unplaced in a big class of 15 in Good Citizen.
It was a really long day, but both the canine and human girls enjoyed themselves, got to have a look round and spend money!!
Ailsadot Dalmatians 