I'm waiting my turn to shine in my very first show as a 18 month Rottweiler Male. I'm being shown by Margaret, my first Mom and Breeder. See how calm I am, watching the other enteries and learning their moves.. Here we go. WOW can you see me NOW. I have my gait going smooth, we are in the grove. Head up, looking alert, my top line is very flat, even, well held with the movement of my gait as we travel the show ring....I'm putting my heart and soul, as well as all my focus into my performance for this Judge. Show time and remembering all my training. Keep cool, I tell myself, you can do this. Auntie taught you well, just stay cool. It is up to the Judge, I did my best. He looks like he has a lot on his mind. Yes it looks to me it will be a very close call for us 18 month old males competitors, judging by the expression on his face. Well, I know I did well with the handling part of the competion. It will come down to his likes and dislikes in the Standard, which I fit very well. Time to hold my breath... Drumroll!!! I placed third against the two other 18 months entries, not bad I think. You see, my competitors it turned out, were two 18 month old dogs the Judge you see here had bred. OMG, the Politics of Dog Shows. Not to worry, I had a wonderful day being with all those Rotties, watching and learning the show moves. The day was not wasted, I learned lots. Back home Pieter took my picture with the medal I won for my 3rd place finish. I wish my Auntie Karo could have seen me go in the show, she would have been proud of her pupil, I'm sure of that! I also won a beautiful ribbon to go with the medal. It was a great time and a good day for me, I did not know then that I was to retire as a show dog. I travelled to another show with my girl Neka about two years later, however, I just watched her from the side lines, cheering her on in her first and second shows. She retired after those shows. We then became the "Dogs with Jobs" at "The Rested Dog Inn".


Ace's Rainbow Bridge page 8