We started in dogs in 1973 with my first miniature Poodle.  I saw an add in the feed store for a purebred poodle for $50.00.  She liked me and indicated wouldn't you like a bitch, next thing I knew I was in training classes.  Patrick was an obedience dog who ended up with 195, 193 and 192 in his novice scores and receiving one leg of his CDX.  At this time we were living in a small house so I decided we needed to go with the toy rather than miniature Poodles. 

My first "show" Poodle was a very tiny silver beige girl who ended up a whopping 2lbs and 7".  She had a wonderful outgoing personality and never did figure out that she was tiny.  I remember hearing her hollering, came around the corner to see her chasing a big Rot mix dog off the beach.
 

The first dog I showed to finish was a bred by dog Arnettes Going In Style.  I started showing him at about a year old and finished showing him as number 14 with a BISS.  The highlight was the BISS taking it over the number one Miniature, Toy and Standard Poodles.  I finished his dad, Arnettes Honi Bear, after I finished him.   Honi Bear was the first dog I showed, the first time in the ring we took first in the class, the second day we did as well.  When the judge pointed at me that we had won, I said what... what did I do wrong... I couldn't believe we had won the points, a major.  That was such a fun day.

My heart Poodles were Honi Bear and Town Crier (TC).  TC was Honi Bear's grandson.  When he was a puppy he broke his leg, this is when he earned his name.  They thought it was mended and ended up breaking it again, so he got held for most of his first year.  He would lay in my lap on his back with his head on my arm and casted foot sticking in the air.  He continued that pose in my lap most of his life.  I lost him at 16 years old.

Poms were the next breed.  I had a Pom when I was a youngster.  One day Gail brought a puppy to the show and I got to close.  Dickens stole my heart, he came home with me.  He ended up being to big for showing and Gail replaced him with TOM (Try Once More).  Tom was later replaced with Rosa who was great. She ended up being my first Pom finished and is the mother of Rocky who finished as well.  Rocky was the father of five CH's so Rosa is the foundation of my Poms.

Bill can often be seen helping out outside and inside the ring.  His highlight memory was when we ended up with BOB, BOW, and BOS with three dogs on the same day.  Try being two people with three winners in the ring at the same time.

One of our big highlights was in 2006, when in Montana we took back to back 5 point majors - 6 majors in 10 days.  Finishing two client dogs and earning three BOB's with Souvy.

More of the story to come...