The nursery is ready. Sunny is getting ready. She is getting lots of rest in anticipation of the big day.
Mar 252018
Jan 202018
Simon is back in the ring at 8 1/2 years of age competing for his Grand Champion Gold title. Once achieved he will be the 11th Bichon to received the Gold and the one and only Bichon Frise to have been 100% Amature Owner Handled. He will be in a class of his own. Simon loves the ring and has picked up where he left off winning back to back Best of Breeds at Puyallup this past weekend. The Gold is in sight.
In other news:
Oliver went Best of Winners on day 1 of the show for a 4 point major. He is very close to finishing his American Championship but we are going to hold him out of the ring until we go to Nationals in May. It’s always a dream to finish a dog at Nationals and we have done it once with Baron. Maybe we can be fortunate again with Oliver.
Jan 172018
Mitzi was too interested in playing to win any ribbons at our recent shows in Puyallup, WA. She stood still long enough for Anita to capture this picture of our pretty girl.
Dec 252017
It’s been a couple of years since we made the trip to Orlando for the largest dog show in the country. It’s a great show to see all the stars of the dog show world, canine and human.
Similar to Nationals, we take a dog there with cautious anticipation. Hoping for our dog to show well, maybe pick up a ribbon or two and represent us well. That’s all we ask. We have yet to be disappointed.
This year was Oliver’s AKC Nationals debut. He is only 13 months and still very much a baby. Baby hair and a baby brain. But he’s a pretty tough little guy.
First day out Oliver was experiencing the biggest and busiest venue ever. He was not totally comfortable with everything but managed to show well and we were happy when he was awarded Reserve Winners dog behind a very nice dog.
Day two was much the same. Oliver was a bit more comfortable, showed a bit better and again awarded Reserve Winners Dog.
Day three he started coming into his own. He was more comfortable, showed better and was awarded Winners Dog for 2 points. Yippee!
Day four was the Puppy and Junior Stakes. A competition for puppies and juveniles. Oliver was victorious that day and won Best of Breed Puppy going over a nice Champion. Sweet!
Day five (the main event). More Bichons showed up for the big day. Oliver was on his game that day. I could not asked him to show any better than he did. He was awarded Winners Dog and Best of Winners for a 3 point major!!! We were over the moon!
The Best of Breed lineup was beautiful. It’s wonderful to see so many quality dogs there and Oliver fit right in.
We are hoping that this is just the start of something big.
Here is a little montage of our experience. The following images were captured by Dina Taylor (with the exception of one).
Well that’s it in a nutshell. We could not be more happy with this little guy. Looking forward to 2018.
Sidebar: Dina was looking to see an alligator while we were in Florida. There were none sited at the Convention Center or the Grand Hyatt where we stayed. But while on our way to the airport she spotted this beauty at a shopping mall.
Nov 242017
Brooklyn joined me to watch the National Dog Show. Watch and learn, little girl!
Nov 142017
Over the weekend Liberty added more titles to her name–getting her first agility title. Liberty’s official name now reads, CH Absolutely Snowbird Free Reign, BN RN CGC TKA NA NJ. Tasheena’s goal for Liberty–be the MOST titled Bichon Frise on record–and Liberty and Tasheena are well on their way to achieving that goal. Way to go!!!!
Nov 032017
Brooklyn, aka Absolutely LDH New York Minute
Brooklyn is 6 months old. She’s a very busy puppy!
I made the mistake of leaving my chair too close to the dresser. She chewed my drink coaster and knocked off the remote. The next day I moved everything away so she couldn’t reach anything. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. She climbed onto the dresser, kissed herself in the mirror and proceeded to knock a plant off onto the floor.
Oct 222017
Reprinted from The Bichon Frise Reporter – Fall 2017
Best Beginner Puppy
ABSOLUTELY AGAPE HAPPY TALK
I’ve looked forward with great anticipation to many judging assignments, but never with as much joy as I did for the 4-6 months baby Bichons. They did not disappoint me. They marched in the ring like, “I’m here, and what are we going to do?” They were absolutely adorable, beautiful, high promise, stable and said a lot for our faithful breeders. I was exceedingly proud.
Bichons mature at different rates or speeds. Some have a coat from day one, some get such an abundance by two years you’re in wonder at the whole spectacle. Judging “on the day” for a more mature dog is appropriate, in my book, but judging these youngsters took vision, knowledge of lines and an eye for proportions. There was not a one I would have dismissed as unworthy. What a thrill.
When the handler put the ultimate winner on the table for examination, I commented about the expression, face and overall package, she just smiled. I think she knows a good thing when she sees it” Absolutely Agape Happy Talk (D): Breeder/Owners: Sue Swindle & R. Swindle & K. Paulson & S.Kennedy. By GCH Brereton’s Rise and Shine X Ch. Absolutely Agape Fast and Flashy. We will see and hear more from this beautiful dog in the near future – Hide and Watch!
I would have liked to place them one through four, but that was not prearranged, so I was very pleased to present this absolutely gorgeous Bichon as my overall selection. I was not in the least surprised when my “next door neighbor from Alabama, Mary Spruill came up and said, “That’s from my breeding”. The proof of the serious breeding. Thank you all so much for the most charming of all my assignments!
Ann Hearn
Note – Thank you to Mary Spruill as the owner of Oliver’s Sire: Brereton’s Rise and Shine. However, the praise for this breeding rightfully belongs to Sue Swindle. Sue selected the stud dog (Riser) to pair with our girl (Flo-Jo) and she arranged and facilitated the breeding. Sue and Karen whelped the litter and Oliver and his sisters were raised in Sue’s home. Appreciation should certainly be given to Mary Spruill’s long standing record of excellent quality dogs and we are extremely grateful that she has trusted us with the use of her bloodlines, but credit for Oliver rightly goes to Sue.
In my humble opinion – Sheri
Sue, Baby Oliver and Sheri
Oct 222017
Our most recent ad for the Reporter. Can you tell how proud we are of our dogs??!!??
Oct 222017
From the 6-9 Month Puppy class, Oliver finished his Canadian Championship quickly. He will continue to show in Canada to complete the requirements for his Grand Champion title. When you are on a roll, why not? Meanwhile, bring on the stateside competition!