Ranger's Canadian Vacation

-photo by Linda Fitzmaurice

Ranger spent the last two weekends in Canada, where he finished his Canadian championship in three straight shows, and took a Sporting group three in only his 4th Canadian show. He's having a pretty good summer in the show ring.

Ranger& Sadie Take it up a Notch -Best in Show

Today, I got some wonderful news from Oregon. Ranger, AKA Bubbalicious, AKA Ch Javahill's Backwoods Boy, RN along with his Jr. Handler, Mercedes Messer, got a Best in Show at the Mt. Bachelor Kennel Club show. The news made me so proud! He is such a special dog!

I never even dreamed of this moment, and here it is and I wasn't there to see it or take pictures. He's been away for a month now. I miss him like crazy. He's more than just a pretty boy. He's my best bud, my hunting partner, and a huge presence in my life outside of the show ring. Just watching him run around the yard sometimes takes my breath away.

Can a dog have a sense of humor? If they can then Ranger definitely does. I often find myself anthropomorphizing what I imagine his thoughts might be. When I get home from work in the evening, he greets me at the door, woo wooing his joy that I'm finally home. He loves just hanging out with me on the couch or doing anything, as long as he's getting attention. When I heard he got the group, I told a friend that he was in for a long day. Her response was, "Don't worry, he'll be fine. It's all about him and he loves that."

When I'm training him it's hard to really be serious, because he gets a twinkle in his eye that seems to say, "Come on! look at me! you know I don't need to do that!" On the other hand, he learns things really quickly and if I have trouble communicating what I want from him and then we finally get it he gets a look that says "Well, why didn't you say that in the first place?" He's happy to do just about anything you ask him...as long as it makes sense to him, that is. He is a Toller after all.

It's Official! Ranger got his RN!

No, he's not a nurse! He's not even here at the house right now, he's away at summer camp in California. I hear he's having a pretty good time lounging in the pool and hanging out with puppies and pretty girls.

Last month, on Mother's Day in fact, he completed the requirements for his AKC Rally Novice title. It was a while between his first leg and his last, but he did it in three straight tries. He didn't waste a single entry fee. That's my boy! The certificate came in the mail on Monday. His official name is now Ch Javahill's Backwoods Boy RN.

Ranger hasn't gotten out to the shows much this year, but when he has, it's been pretty good.

Ranger Back to Back Group Placements

My Bubbalicious boy, Ranger, and I took a very quick trip out to California for two days of the Mission Circuit of dog shows, Sunday and Monday. He made the trip worth it by taking a Sporting Group 3 on Sunday and a Group 4 on Monday. I was so proud of him! He really turned on the charm in the ring this weekend. If he keeps this up I may never be able to convince him that there is a benefit to doing more than being a pretty boy.