WHITEHORSE, Yukon Territories

Yukon Kennel Club shows in Whitehorse, Yukon Territories

Met my friend, Janine, at the Vancouver Airport for the flight up to Whitehorse for the Yukon Kennel Club shows.  We had two dogs with us - Jesse, the Giant Schnauzer and Bolli, our PBGV. This was my first trip up to Canada's Most Northern Dog Show and to the Yukon so I was very excited and grateful that Janine invited us along.  The Yukon shows have been on my personal bucket list for many, many years.  Once in Whitehorse we stayed at the rustic and quaint Mountain Ridge Motel and RV Park.  This motel has the most stunning view out of our windows that overlooks a deep valley filled with scrub forest, surrounded by breathtaking, snow capped glacial mountains. A warm breeze from up the valley floor kept most of the mosquitoes at bay..thank heavens for that!  Our weather for the most part was warm and sunny...some overcast...and today a big thunderstorm over on the mountain ridge.  The only rain we had occurred while we were occupied indoors.

The Yukon Kennel Club members and exhibitors were very welcoming.  You couldn't ask for a better team to share our wins with.  I've met so many new people that, sadly, I wasn't able to remember all their names but they are all in my memories about this great show!  Janine and I had such a great time in the show ring too!  Bolli outdid himself, showed spectacularly for Janine, and won his Canadian Championship!!  There is little PBGV competition on the west coast so we had to do it the hard way...defeating PBGV Specials and taking the rest of the points in the Hound Groups.  Bolli's tally for the weekend - Best in All-breed Puppy Sweepstakes, 6 Best Puppy in the Hound Group, 2 Best Puppy in Shows, and 6 Hound Group 2nd place rosettes.  Not at all bad for a pup who just turned 8 months of age!

Janine had to leave a day early so I will be taking the dogs back to Vancouver.  Good thing they get along so well.  After I sign off here I will be heading out country and/or into town to play tourist.  Both dogs are sleeping on the kitchen floor so I am going to wait until they rise before I go out.  They tuckered themselves out with a full bore, no holds barred, playing session...giving me some time to pack up, clean up, and catch up on the news at home.

The National & Regional Specialties in Houston, TX PART 3

Bolli winning Best Puppy in Breed at the Central Regional PBGVCA Specialty in Houston, Texas...what a little spitfire he is..even in his photos!  Handled beautifully by Chris Hajek.  Judge for the Specialty was Gloria Geringer.

18 days

The short of it - the whirlwind adventure started on the day Bolli turned 6 months old.  Who knew that it would be so thrilling from the get-go!  Day 1 to 4 Oceanside Kennel Club shows, Day 7 to 9 PBGVCA Regional and National Specialties, Day 15 to 18 Aristocrat Hound Specialty and Renaissance Kennel Club shows.  Final tally?  2 Best Puppy in Shows (all breed) and 1 Best Puppy in Specialty Show (PBGV Regional), 5 Best Puppy in Group (all breed) and 1 Best Puppy in Specialty Group (Hound show), Best in Juvenile Sweepstakes (all breed), 1 Hound Group 4th, 1 Hound Group 2nd, 8 Championship points (only 2 more to go).  Amazing!!  Bolli is now taking a well deserved rest...and so is my pocket book *smile*.  I couldn't ask for a better companion....THANK YOU Jan and Ross!!

The National & Regional Specialties in Houston, TX PART 2

Forgive me if I am jumping ahead...I will post when I get back to Canada about Bolli's great first show weekend in Abbotsford.  Will have a couple of days when I finally don't have any place to be!

Thursday - We have armband #5....that is, we are the FIRST dog in the ring for all of the shows, an 8 am. judging time!  After arriving late the night before after a longgg trip I had been looking at getting some rest to be refreshed in the morning.  Didn't sleep at all....TV and snoring of my roommate (sorry J.) plus the very HOT room and no fresh air did not help whatsoever.  Up every hour or so and when I finally did get some sleep it was J. that woke me...."It's 7:15!"  Neither one of our alarms had gone off. We both scrambled to get dressed, look presentable, rushed the dogs downstairs to do their business, a quick trip into the grooming area with little time to spare until Bolli and I were in the ring.

There were 3 in his Regional Specialty Junior Puppy sweepstakes class.  Bolli showed as well as he could under the circumstances but placed a disappointing 2nd.  He won a beautiful limited edition print and an armadillo stuffed toy which he loves!  Unable to compete for Best in Sweepstakes sadly.  What made the whole thing worse...after the fact it was discovered that the puppy who beat him was NOT eligible to compete in sweeps.  Too late to do anything about it...Bolli had missed his chance to go up against the rest for the Best win.  I still don't know how it is going to pan out...will we get the sweeps prize money that we should have gotten for what would have been a class win? or the 1st prize rosette?  No one has told us.  After our nightmare dealings with United this was only more frustration on our plate.  Hopefully the entire show wasn't going to continue to be like this.

A bit of time to rest up and finish the finer points of grooming then pass Bolli on to Chris Hajek..a wonderful handler..who would take Bolli in for the regular classes.  He showed beautifully for her and won his class easily.  Didn't place for Winners or Reserve...he looked very immature against the seasoned PBGVs.  Had to wait until the end for the Best Puppy in Show competition....and Bolli WON!  What a thrill that was after all the chaos of the past 24 hours!  His litter mate "Bubbles" won her Sweeps class but only placed 2nd in the Regular classes.  What a spitfire she is...didn't like Bolli getting too close to her...a character but very, very sweet.  She will be a contender when she matures so watch for Mirepoix's Pierre-Jouet in the show ring in Minnesota!

Saturday - The National Specialty has arrived!  Another early morning start...this time without missing our wake up calls.  By now the issue of the ineligible dog has been resolved (except for how we are going to be compensated for the mix up) and the dog is present with the right handler on the end of the lead.  The judge dumped both Bolli and his sister...could almost see that coming.  No comment.  Entered the regular classes to a judge who delighted the crowd by giving all his instructions in French.  We didn't fare as well as day 1, winning only a 2nd in our Junior Puppy class but "Bubbles" not only won her class but went WINNERS BITCH and BEST PUPPY at the Specialty!  Wow!!  Talk about keeping it in the family *smile*.....to be continued in PART 3

The Regional & National Specialties in Houston, TX PART 1

Getting there: I will NEVER fly United Airlines again with a dog.  Arrived in Seattle at the Park & Jet to leave my van there for the week I was away.  The shuttle was very obliging to take the crate and my luggage to the airport but not having a dolly with me to move the crate I needed to locate one to get my gear to the counter.  $5.00 it cost me to use one from the self serve (only 25 cents back when you return it)...at Houston it is $4.00 BTW.  Loaded up and headed to the counter to check in and low and behold they no longer accept dogs at the airport!!  In order to have Bolli with me as "excess baggage" I had to take him to the cargo facility to "PetSafe" (what a ripoff that is).  Now I had no transport and my time was getting closer and closer to boarding. I checked my bags, loaded Bolli back onto the dolly and headed outside to hail a taxi to get me to cargo.  A reluctant taxi driver who had no idea where we were going except that it was "over there" somewhere.  Top it off the address that PetSafe gave me by phone at the ticket counter was an old one....they had moved last year!  We got to where we thought we were supposed to be but there were signs on the door saying they had moved but no address to go to.  Luckily the business next to them had moved also and did have an address.  The taxi drove me to it but it was not PetSafe.  The workers there did know where it was so we back tracked to get to United Cargo.  Paid the driver and dragged the crate to the counter.  Took at least a half hour to check him in and say goodbye.  Outside the building taxi after taxi passed by but would not pick me up.  Started walking towards the terminal still hoping to get a ride, past a hotel and there happened to be several people standing outside the lobby entrance.  "Are you waiting for the shuttle to the airport?"  "Yes we are."...so I stood with them and hitched the ride.  Back at the airport and the long security lines, over to the Starbucks to pick up something to eat and drink on the plane, then to the farthest end of the airport to my gate.  Just in time as they were already loading!!  The whole process took the full 2 1/2 hours I had allotted to be checked through.

The flight was disappointing...don't get much for your dollar anymore.  Did I mention that Bolli's cargo fee was well over $200 plus the unexpected taxi fee of $20!  Alaska Airlines flew a friend's dog in from the same airport for HALF that cost AND they were able to check the dog in with their luggage at the ticket counter.  Hello ALASKA, good riddance UNITED.  Encountered some turbulence on the way.  Only got drinks (small glass, less than a half a can of pop) and no snacks (peanuts or cookies).  Cheap.  Arrived at Houston and saw Bolli be offloaded the plane.  Picked up my luggage from the carousel and headed to special services to get Bolli.  Guess what...you knew this was coming...he's not there.  "Sorry, ma'm (hate that term) you have to pick him up at cargo."  What the hell!!  Fortunately I had a very understanding hotel shuttle driver who obliged and found the cargo terminal, waited for us, and go us to the hotel.  Thanks Sheraton!

Now, tomorrow, I have to repeat this mess all over again..  Believe me I have notified both United and PetSafe of my anger and disappointment with their service.  If they had even transported the dog to the terminal (a drive of about a block) instead of the cargo (at least a mile away) I would have been much happier....but not that much.  It ruined a great start to my vacation....

It's almost SHOW time!

By this time next week Bolli would have made his debut in the show ring...hopefully with fantastic results and a few rosettes to show for it.  It's been having quite the challenge getting him ready on my own..not easy trying to pluck and trim with a swirming puppy licking your face at every opportunity or giving playful nips on any piece of exposed flesh he can find.  Thankfully, teething is almost over and those new teeth aren't razor sharp.  As luck would have it we will be one of the first dogs in the ring Friday morning.  Still debating whether I should drive all the way out there the night before (after work in the rush hour) to set up, before driving double the distance back home to bathe Bolli, get him brushed dry, and hit the sack for a very early alarm.  It won't be any better for the BIG show in Houston...ring time there is 8am!  We fly in the night before....not much time to acclimatize to the new surroundings and the time difference.  This will be a real test for this young puppy....AND me!

Before I sign off....a BIG CONGRATULATIONS to "Jilly" who won Best in Show at the prestigious CRUFTS dog show in England!!  And yes, she is a PBGV!!

5 Months - What, no more bunnies?

This endearing photo was taken out in the back forty on one of those rare dry days on the island.  I was clearing out the blackberries and the ivy while Bolli explored all the brush piled up in the yard.  He likes to always make sure where I am and by the time this was taken he was pretty well worn out and ready to come inside.  I was ready too.  My hands were scratched, pricked, and torn from all the thorns and my barrels were full of chopped up branches.  Time to rest.

Something has been out back scratching around all the new piles of brush.  We have had rats, squirrels, raccoons and skunks visit the yard...none of which I hope to encounter with Bolli.  With all the major problems with bunnies at our local auto mall I'm almost tempted to bring one home to add to this menagerie of critters.  Probably not a good idea.

Only 3 weeks away from Bolli's first shows...the "cluster" as I'm now calling it will be the most intense series of shows that I have ever attended in the past 30 years of showing.  It's too bad in a way that they all have to come together but that is the way it worked out.  I'm willing and able to pull Bolli from the competition if it gets too much for him (I will probably be the one to conk out first!).  Once it is done there will be a longggg stretch to relax in before another show comes up.  Unfortunately his other "Mom" is unable to handle him at the shows so it will all fall on me.  The handling classes have been a great refresher.  We are so close to being ready.  Let's hope we have some points and rosettes to show for all the work :)

Pineapple Express and other woes

"Rain, rain, go away..."  The Pineapple Express has arrived on the west coast...warmer temperatures and copious quantities of rain.  Living on an island formed in the river delta (they don't call us "Mudflatters" for nothin') on a soil of sand and clay makes it problematic when the rains set in.  The entire yard is "squishy" which results in plenty of mud for the critters to pack in on their morning romps.  Bolli is easy...just a quick dip in the sink to clean the mud off his feet.  The Pyrs?...well, they prefer to head either under the shed or up on higher ground in the shed itself (not their preferred choice as they can't guard from inside a building).  Alex is up to his neck in it (okay, so I'm exaggerating a bit...but not much...lol) while Holly is so well hidden under the shed I sometimes wonder if she is still in the yard.  Even meal times is not much of an incentive to leave her comfy confines.

Handling classes are going well.  Moved to a new building and new trainer.  First class there she ran us through all the patterns....the up and back, the triangle, the reverse triangle, the "L", the "T", running two dogs side by side....I'm surprised she didn't toss the "Z" at us.  Only did that once for a judge in Alberta, talk about throwing a lot of handlers in a tizzy!  More room to move in this building, more crowds, more dogs, more distractions.  Bolli did sooo well on his patterns, his gaiting though starts out well but he tends to drag more and more on the second time around the ring.  He's a puppy, and though I want him to be in perfect form for the upcoming shows, I have to be realistic.  Puppy classes are just for that...puppies and all their charms and inexperience.  Bolli will grow up soon enough so I don't push him too hard.  BUT, gosh, can I get him to stand still long enough to get a picture?  No...he's does the one foot shuffle.  This will be a challenge to keep him stacked for just a few more seconds, at least long enough for a judge to see him posed and/or the photographer to take his Best Puppy in Show photo....*smile* and *wink*

Bolli at 3 months with his "stuffy"

The top 5

Top five items of PBGV interest..

Rawhide chew bones - started with a small one but Bolli demolished that one in a hurry.  Located all the pieces and tosses them away.  Plan B, buy a bigger bone.  It took him just over a day to split this one into 2 pieces.  Never found the smaller "knot" but the bigger end comes and goes as Bolli covers and uncovers it from it's various hiding places.  We lost it for several days (guess I moved the box it was hidden in or it went out with the recycling bin) so bought yet another one..this time MUCH bigger so I can find it.  It is still hanging around.  Bolli gets frustrated that he can't hide it as easily and for the most part it stays out in the open still intact.

Pancakes - can't say that Bolli likes my cooking.  Put aside one pancake for him as a treat, broke it up and gave it to him in pieces.  He proceeded to try to bury it in his blankets and tried to smuggle pieces outside to bury in the yard.  Don't think he ever did eat one.

Shoes - I've learned over the years to keep the 'good' shoes out of reach.  Kennel shoes are fair game.  Although I discourage any nibbling on any shoe Bolli is quite pleased with himself if he can sneak a shoe out of its spot.  He is not a secret chewer but loves to race through the room with his prize in mouth daring me to notice.

Kibble - not content to leave it in the dish, nor very interested in actually eating it, Bolli has kibble spread from one end of the kitchen to the other and down the hallway.  A little hard on bare feet (my preferred foot attire) and a nuisance to pick off the floor.

The Bed (mine, not his) - it is high enough that I have to pick him up to get him on it and too high for him to safely jump down, hence the cushions on the floor just in case the inevitable happens.  Unlike "Jak" who would find a spot nestled against my back, tucked under the top comforter, "Bolli" hasn't a clue just where to plunk himself and changes spots every few minutes or so.  He doesn't respect the term 'to sleep in' and when he is awake everyone should be too.  You have no choice or you will get your hair chewed, face, neck, arms or any other flesh that is exposed washed or even nibbled on.

..I'm sure I will be adding to this list....

Countdown to the Show Ring

It has been over 10 years since I last took a PBGV into the ring.  It had ended quite unexpectedly when "Jak" lost all his coat due to a medical condition.  After winning Best of Winners at the National Specialty in New Mexico, multiple Best Puppy in Shows and Hound Groups wins, plus being #2 PBGV in Canada for several years we had to pull him from competition.  A very difficult time as he was in his prime but with a devastating illness.  Now with "Bolli" on the edge of his show career it is time to celebrate and get ready for his first steps into the ring.

I'm feeling very rusty, can't find all the grooming paraphernalia that had been toted around many years ago, the CKC show rules have changed to require more points, a Grand Championship is now there to strive for, entry fees have gone way up, and many new breeds have been added.  Dug through all the boxes I could locate in storage but no PBGV sized show collars or leads to be found.  No local pet supply places carry them and there hasn't been a vendor at any of the local shows to get them from.  There will be vendors at his first show but that is a little too late.  Hate leaving things at the last minute.  This problem might require a trip "down south" to the Seattle shows to see what I can purchase there...a 2.5 hour drive.  Then there is the matter of a grooming table to take to the event.  My current table is an extra large one for the Great Pyrenees...a bit ridiculous for a PB.  LOVE the GroomRight ones but no local supplier and they are quite pricey.  With all the upcoming show expenses - entry fees, hotel, flights - it will just have to wait until later.  I'll figure something out.

"Bolli" too needs some preparing.  Took him to his first handling class to get him comfortable in the building, around other dogs and crowds of people. The experience was a good one for him.  Can't say as much about the instruction though.  Poorly organized, little actual hands on time and not much gaiting.  The instructor was all over the map.  Can't see how anyone who had never been in a ring could get anything of value out of that session.  We will HAVE to find another option and I did.  The new building is small but the training intense, gentle on the dogs, and valuable to the handler!  Thirty years of showing have given me some bad habits and it is now time to correct them.  I have learned something new at each session and Bolli just keeps getting better and better.  His first class put him in front of an aggressive English Bulldog (wow was I ever surprised, every one I've ever met has had the sweetest temperament).  Bolli's reaction was outstanding for such a young pup.  He took it all in stride and never let it bother him.  The Bulldog was moved ahead of us so Bolli was not distracted about what might be happening behind him and we kept a safe distance back.  I was so proud of him!  Two more sessions to go before I have to figure out what we both need to work on before his first show.  Our flight is booked, the hotel has been confirmed, AKC papers have arrived, and the entries are in!!!  It is the anticipation that is killing me :)

January 19, 2013 Our First Week Together

Our first morning dawned mild and dry, unusual for this time of year where the west coast normal is dull, rain, rain, and lots more rain.  Time for a trip out into the yard.  The back forty is a jungle of brambles and brush..a perfect place to introduce Bolli to the wilds that he may encounter when we attend our first hunt test.  After the North Carolina hunt trials I am determined more than ever that I will experience a hunt first hand with a PBGV at my side!  Bolli was reluctant to head out on this adventure into the new yard but it didn't take him long to get the hang of it and start exploring on his own.  Whenever he went astray I would step over a low, tangled pile of fallen poplar and cedar branches and criss-crossed blackberry brambles and call him to me.  This photo was taken as he contemplated whether he could make it through the bush to reach me.  The trouper he is, it didn't take him long to figure out how to jump, squeeze and barge through the brush to get to the other side.  He was so proud that he made it each time where he was well rewarded.  A few zoons through the yard and all was right with the world.

Bolli has been one of the easiest puppies I've lived with.  He has settled in very quickly and as I begin to learn his routines, and he mine, there has been very little "incidents" in the house.  He's not a chewer..all my shoes are still intact (thankfully) of course, it helps having a chew bone around at all times.  However, he loves to climb up and over stuff to find places to hide it when he's not using it, sometimes getting into trouble while he figures out how to get out of the mess he'd gotten himself into.  Bolli sleeps all night up on my bed.  No problem settling down for the night.  What a sweet face to wake up to!  A few stretches, a groan, a wag of the tail...I am so glad we found each other :)

January 11, 2013  Time to leave the woodlands of Minnesota and return with Bolli (pronounced Beau-lee) to British Columbia.  Woke up to melting snow and a light mist over the lake.  The drive and walkways had turned to ice overnight so our biggest worry was the drive to the airport.  Instead we were greeted with fog, thick, plane stopping fog.  As luck would have it - after I checked in with my bags and gone through the security - they cancelled our flight out.  Rescheduled the flight for later in the afternoon which meant leaving Duluth at 3, connecting in Minneapolis/St.Paul at 5, and arriving in Seattle 3 hours later.  One look at the fog probably meant that flight would not be leaving either so a quick call to Jan and off we were driving the 3 hours to the MSP, the much larger airport that surely would be in operation with or without the fog socking it in.  Arrived at the airport in good time.  Bolli was a gem and settled in right away into his carry-on.  How can a pup be sooooo heavy?  Of course, the gate was the farthest from the entrance point, couldn't wait to get there to take the weight off my aching shoulder.  A bit of fuss on the takeoff but he was quiet all the flight.  Fortunately we were seated between two dog lovers and ahead of a crying baby.  Bolli was a saint!  Can't say much about the flight other than the seats were as hard as a bench and leg room, due to a pup under the seat, left me cramped up.  Arrived at SeaTac, untangled myself from the seat, and headed to baggage check.  As expected my suitcase never made the flight so made arrangements to pick it up in Bellingham if it ever makes it there.  Had to scrape the outside AND inside of my van windows before heading out for the drive to the border.  Stopped on route at Denny's for dinner as I hadn't eaten since breakfast and it was now after 10pm, chosen as it was FREE for my Birthday.  Continued on again with only another stop at the Rest Stop to give Bolli a pee break and for me to catch a quick snooze....with the 2 hour time difference from Minnesota it was much later than I expected. Thankfully no problems getting across the border.  One more stop for gas before I ran out and a sudden realization that my house keys were in my wayward suitcase!  Didn't want to call my siblings at 1 o'clock in the morning so I risked going home and seeing if I could pop the window that had been giving me problems before.  Thankfully the neighbourhood wasn't watching and the police weren't parked in their usual spot or else I might have been reported for breaking into the house.  Was able to get in (mental note: put spare key back and fix window!!). Didn't take much time to get Bolli fed, watered and out into the yard and finally into bed with Bolli at my side.  What a great ending to an overly eventful Birthday that I WILL remember for a long time  :)  Welcome home Bollinger!

Bollinger January 2013

Love it out here!!  The home by the lakeshore, nestled in the Minnesota woods among the white pines and silver birches is so relaxing and yet invigorating.  Managed to get some of the best sleep I've had for ages...quiet...dark.  Not like Lulu Island with the bridge next door, trucks rumbling by, planes flying overhead, and the lights of the city beaming into the house and back yard every night.  Now this is what I call a vacation!  And what is the icing on the cake?  The dogs, of course.  Bollinger is amazing!  He is different in type to my beloved "Jak" who passed away last year only one day shy of his 14th birthday.  But, it is a good thing.  This puppy is very well put together, thick course coat with stunning markings, balanced, strong bone, attitude...did I say attitude?...Bollinger lets everyone in the room know that he is present.  Inquisitive, bold, outgoing, confident....got to LOVE it!  Spent the day Tuesday stripping out the puppy coat.  Had a bit of a challenge as he wouldn't cooperate by keeping still, however, by the time Jan was done he was sleeping on the grooming table.  With Jan stacking him for me to take photos we were able to get a few relatively good ones to send off to friends but Bollinger needs to come out again for another session to get the perfect shot for me to post here and on Facebook.    Want him to be looking his best for his coming out pic.

1am Monday morning and I haven't been able to get a good sleep as I'm not used to going to bed before 8 o'clock at night.  Alarm is not programmed to go off until 2am but since I'm awake now might as well get up.  A few last minute items to toss in the suitcase and into the back of the van for the drive across the border to Seattle's SeaTac Airport.  Left David in charge of the critters at home so I won't have to worry about whether they will miss a meal...heaven forbid!  Reaching the border at 2am is not recommended...got through quickly enough but they move about all the pylons from their regular setup which is very confusing trying to leave the area.  Never saw such a mess in all my times going down south.  Took the long way round to the highway.  The drive to Seattle didn't seem to take as long as it usually does but the weather was dreadful and made the driving conditions terrible. Heavy rains, large puddles that you couldn't see until you were on top of them, and the wind was really howling threatening to blow the van right off the road.  Couldn't see much of the road ahead behind, or beside, the semi's.

The flight from Seattle was a lot smoother than the drive.  Landed at Minneapolis/St Paul around noon (2 hour time difference).  Had about a one hour layover which I needed!  If you have ever been to this airport you know how HUGE it is.  As luck would have it my flight landed at one end of the terminal and my next flight took off at the opposite end...that's one hell of a walk, even with the moving sidewalks.  The flight into Duluth was turbulent but short.  I make it in one piece...thank heaven.  Jan was right there waiting for me at the loading zone.  The weather, a balmy 30+ degrees F with just a covering of snow on the ground.  Beautiful country...softly rolling hills, white birch trees, and plenty of wildlife (tracks everywhere in the snow...rabbit, deer, pheasant).  Didn't take us long to get to Jan's log cabin on the shores of Schultz (hope I got that right) Lake.  The sound of PBGVs barking at our arrival was music to my ears.

Took a few minutes to get settled and outside again to greet the pack, AND to finally meet the newest addition to my family...."Bollinger"!!

October 2nd, 2012 - Little did I know that the phone call I made to Minnesota on this day would coincide with the arrival of a litter at Mirepoix, nor did I know that 12 weeks later one of those puppies would be coming home to Weskyuwin.  He had a fan club from the very beginning, when his puppy photo was posted on Facebook.  The comments were very complimentary, so much so that I became reluctant to change his name from Bollinger to something short and easy.  He already had a reputation attached to that name so "Bolli" it will remain.  Why Bollinger in the first place?  Bollinger is the maker of a very fine French Champagne and the entire litter's names were based on that theme.  All going well the American Kennel Club will accept our choice for a registered name - "Champagne on Ice".  

In one week I will be headed down south to the mid-west's winter on the shores of Lake Superior to meet with Bolli for the first time.  I promise to take lots of photos and post them for you to see.  Then, as he matures, you can follow his progress as he grows into my next show star.  I only expect the best for him...he deserves that from me.