2008 USASA National Specialty & ASCA After Shows

Well, the USASA Nationals was a great time, and successful in my eyes. We went with Cappy, Brodie, Meme and Hotshot. We had some expectations that we didn't meet, and some that we exceeded.

To start with, Brodie, at 23 months was in the open Red Class with a total of 8 very nice reds in there. While Brodie was being his normal self, he got the job done, and Pam Levin liked him. Unfortunately he couldn't contain his excitement with all the clapping, hooting and hollering in Winners so messed himself up..but that is ok. We received a beautiful throw of the logo for the prize and a ribbon I won't trade in for anything. (photo to be added)

Hotshot, unfortunately didn't fair as well at the Nationals, but at the ASCA shows after the Natls he was a Clean Sweep for the Veterans classes. With a number of 7-10 and 10 and up dogs and bitches, Hotshot walked away with Best Veteran in Sweeps, Best Veteran and Best Veteran, thus earning him the Overall High Point Veteran Dog. That ribbon already has a place of honor on Cassie's wall in her new home. (Photo to be added)

At the Nationals tho, Alyssa Grossnickle used Hotshot for Junior showmanship. She was absolutely flawless in her presentation of the dog, and that earned her the coveted title of Best Junior Handler over some nice competition. Congrats Alyssa and Hotshot!! (photo to be added)

Cappy was shown in a class of 19, and actually did very well at the Nationals. He didn't make cuts or place but that was ok..she showed very well.

At the after show, he did however win his class and was pulled out for Winners Dog, so I can't much complain for a dog that has only been shown for 4 shows :) (Photo to be added)

Now the fun news...we have a new addition at Hotshot Kennels, and living at Cassie's house. Her name is Myshara's Bringing Sexy Back, aka Justine, and she is 10 months old. She is the pretty blue girl from the BISS Ch. Starswepts Hi Flyin at Hisaw (Riley) and BIS Ch. Briarbrooks Im Too Sexy (Simone) cross. (photos to be added)

Justine is already proving her mettle by placing 4th in a very competitive 9-12 class at the Nationals. Thank you Sharon Fontanini for co-owning this beautiful Riley and Simone daughter with Cassie. She'll have tons of fun with her.

Till the Memorial Day shows....
Happy Showing

New Champion

We we have a new ASCA Champion here at the Kennel. Brodie went to the Southern Colorado Australian Shepherd Club "Kiss The Blarney" shows March 15 and 16th. Our day started like any other, getting dogs in the Tahoe, Starbucks, helping with set up and registrations, etc.

Cassie didn't come with me in the AM as that was obedience, and instead chose to stay home and bathe up Hotshot for the Veterans classes that day.

Our judges were Kym Base from Gypsum KS and Kristen Walden (non-regular) also from Kansas.

Kristen did a great job in puppies and veterans. We had three Veterans entered, Ray Schafers Ch. Las Anamas Jack of Diamonds (Blue), Ch. Carolinals Rave Reviews (Bronson) and Ch. Calais Country Hotshot of Carolina (Hotshot) all entered. It was a very nice line up of some nice dogs. Kristen thought so too as she had a tough time with these old boys. But Cassie and Hotshot came out the Victors!! Another Best Veteran.

Then it was Kym's turn. We had Cappy and Brodie both entered. Cappy was in the BBX classes mainly for ring time, and Brodie was in the Open Red classes. BBX had three dogs and Cappy was 2nd under Kym. For the 4th time in the ring, I was happy with that.

Brodie's classes were fun. We actually had FIVE open red tri dogs. That is not usual for us in our area. Kym awarded Brodie 1st place, even tho he was being his normal A-D-D self, and went on to award him Winners Dog and Best of Winners for a 5 pt major.

At the end of the day, this left brodie needing 4 points to finish his Championship.

On Sunday, we did the same ole thing, starbucks, dog show, grooming, braiding etc. Our Judge today was Judy Parks of Colorado Springs.

Cappy behaved better and Judy decided she liked him. She awarded him 1st in the BBX class. Brodie still had 5 in his class. Judy agreed with Kym, and awarded him 1st. And later awarded him Winners Dog for the 4 point major to finish him.

Watch for Brodie, Cappy and Hotshot at the USASA National Specialty next month...and cross your fingers for them.

Until later

By-passing the Denver shows :)

Well we found out that Brodie does NOT handle bitches in season very well and that's all i'm going to say about that!! :)

Till next time

Denver Cluster of Shows

Well, it's that time of year again. Might as well start a new part of the site at the start of the show season. Kinda great timing.

We have the Plum Creek Kennel Club/Colorado Kennel Club shows starting Friday, with the Front Range Australian Shepherd Assc. Specialty on Thursday. These shows are the biggest the state, and seem to be the ones that take the most out of you.

5 days on concrete, going up and down stairs doesn't appeal to me much, but seeing good friends and great dogs makes us hit the show every year.

Unfortunatley, at the specialty, they don't have Veterans, so our Namesake Hotshot will not "represent" for us on the Breed Level. But he will be there with a Junior Handler friend of ours, Alyssa who is an excellent handler. Hotshot will be happy to show again, and we wish them the best of luck.

(Cassie & Hotshot at the 2005 Nationals, Hotshot 9 years of age)

Brodie, Hotshot's son, will be entered the entire weekend in the Open Red classes, this will be his 1st time in Open in the AKC rings and the competition is defiatenly there. Hopefully he will succeed in the rings. Like any dog show, you never know what will happen, and you can only hope you are a contender.

(Cassie and Brodie in Rapid City earning one of the Majors from the 12-18 Classes)

We decided to not enter Cappy, as it doesn't make sense to compete our boys against each other to us for points, and Cappy is just turned 1 year, and not quite ready to show. But Cappy's sister will be there entered in Junior Showmanship with Dani her handler, and Dani has also entered her in either Rally or Obedience. I can't remember which. But Kellie (the dog) just turned a year old on the 22nd of January. Last weekend Dani took Kellie to a fun match and they earned a respectable 98 out of 100 in Rally..Way to go Girls!!

We wish Kellie and Dani the best of luck as well.

Kellie and Dani earning Reserve Jr Handler with Kellie at 11 Months old

Well time to sign off for now, and will add some other doings and new on Hotshot Kennels' dogs and puppies and their owners as time allows.

If i have forgotten you or your news, please let me know..it's not on purpose :) it's blondeness