Happy Birthday to me ! Cali finished her AKC championship in April of this year. One of the difficult decisions I make each year around the Spring is whether or not to attend the Poodle Club of America National Specialty in MD (otherwise called PCA). PCA is a yearly pilgrimage for poodle lovers,handlers, breeders, and owners from all over the world. There are hundreds of entries, agility, obedience, conformation, seminars, friends, etc etc.
Everybody who is anybody goes to PCA - it is truly a handler's show, but there area lot of opportunities there for owner handlers as well. For the past two years, I have opted to forego the journey to PCA and show my dogs in Louisiana. As an owner handler, it can be very difficult to win against professional handlers. With Cali being just a few points shy of her championship, I decided to take her to a local show instead. Her co owner Tabatha Waters of NOLA , made the 6 hour drive to Shreveport, LA to help me get her titled. I can honestly say it was a lot of fun! We met friends there and showed our poodles without the pressure and stress of competing with the top handlers. I managed to put 4 points on Jacki, Tabatha finished Cali, and our friend Robyn put a couple of points on her pretty girl, Kenzie as well. My little Camille, who just turned 6 months old, also won Reserve Winner's Bitch Twice! I was really proud of how well she did.
It was a very successful show. We took some professional pictures with Garden Studio photography, which I hope will be in soon!
Here are a couple of candids from the 4 day show: Camille on the Boardwalk in Bossier City
Jacki all sprayed up after her win