Preparing for our first Show

Yesterday Peggy and I travelled to North Devon, where we met Chris, Mark, Tegan and Ollie.

Chris and Mark groomed Peggy up for me and transformed her from a scruffy toddler to a beautiful teenager and I could not be happier with the results.

I was also given some fantastic grooming tips and complimented on Peggy's excellent table manners.

 before

 after

Whilst I have owned standards for nearly 10 years, I am still very much a newcommer to the breed (particularly showing) and as such I am learning all of the time. In the dog show world, newcomers are sometimes viewed with suspicion and there is a sad culture of some of the more established people discouraging the newer ones.
There is a real divide between the 'elite' show folk and the novices and, from what I can gather the show world can be one that is filled with needless drama that causes stress and upset to all involved.

This really does sadden me; not only I am keen to avoid any such dramas, I just think it a real shame that people with the same interests who clearly love their dogs very much can't just be nice to one another.

It is by sheer fluke that I managed to find Mark and Chris, who share the same forward thinking views as myself and are just wonderfully supportive and kind. They have been and hopefully will continue to be a great support on our journey so I'd like to say a huge thank you to the boys for all of their help, positivity and entertainment throughout the groom. It was refreshing to meet such lovely people!

Whilst we were at the salon we also had the privilege of meeting Tegan who owns the gorgeous Ollie. Ollie is an Uncle to Peggy and aside from being beautiful, he has the most lovely temperament.
It was fantastic to meet him and have a glimpse into how Peggy's coat could be styled in adulthood.

I also think he enjoyed having a little play with his niece.