Nov 07 Vsba Dog Show Results

I posted the positive press in another thread, but I wanted to show some pics here. This was his second time in the ring...at 4 mos he was out of the ribbons for Mr. Bob Lummus (with my wife handling lol). Today my pup took 3rd in his conformation class. I was down on that at first, but both dogs that placed ahead of Achilles were 9 mos. in the 6-9 category, and both won the best of their respective colors in the fun portion of the show. Achilles also took best brindle under Mr. Gary Hammonds this Saturday. Of course I was handling this time, and apparently made the difference lol. My wife was not the best photographer, but here are some pics...

THE HARDWARE



Me and Achilles w/ Mr. Hammonds (he's not as worried about the picture as he was trying to go after other dogs)



Achilles with ribbon after conformation class 6-9 months



Waiting to go in conformation



Waiting to go in best brindle

 

Good pics bro. Congrats on the win....

 

CONGRATS! the dog looks great! hope everybody had a good time.

 

Thanks guys...it was the first time Ive seen Gary hammonds, and I enjoyed that experience. He is passionate about fighting BSL, and didnt dance around his feelings on many matters. He frankly told people that if they don't fight now they will be trying to pass on patterdale terriers and boston terriers to future generations because the APBT will be extinct. That is the frank truth. Alot of people won't say it, but court battles are lost daily, and the whoopin' we're taking in the press is a b!tch. He also told people frankly while judging about having overworked, starved, dehydrated, etc their dogs. IMO it is hard to argue with someone whos seen as many bulldogs as him over they years. Also he gave advice in the show ring about treating dogs that apparently had allergic reactions, or fresh wounds. One guy was showing a dog that had been in a yard accident (makes you wonder with a conditioned dog with fresh wounds, but stranger things have happened), and another guy brought a pup having an allergic reaction to cedar chips...he was told to use Benadryl first, and then got his ass chewed about not using cedar chips if the dogs allergic. Some view that as arrogant, but I apprecaite a frank old timer. He also told you when placing dogs why he was giving a dog 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in each class. He also told people what collars would go better on which dogs, etc. All in all, he taught class, talked dogs, and judged a good show. I sure enjoyed it.

 

Congrats! He looks good!

 

congrats on the win bud. you said you do conformation, but from the pictures it looks as if achilles has a gay tail. just curious.

 

Good catch. I didn't notice that till you mentioned it.

 

Usually a comment as simple as that wouldn't irk me, but I have noticed frenchie that you'll try to start sh!t with me from time to time. I usually ignore you (like that smart ass comment in the TG thread) but let me take this opportunity to say grow up. Not a big deal, but really...grow up.

Anyway, I didn't say I "do" comformation as you imply. First of all he is an unregistered dog, but I have taken him to two fun shows like the one above. Im not a show guru...we've been to VSBA shows twice which are unsanctioned (as far ABDA and AADR, etc.) So again no...I don't do conformation as you're trying to infer. That being said gay tail, or not I can do whatever I want with my dog (by virtue of ownership). If I choose to waste my entry fee on a gay tailed dog in a show...please feel free to make it none of your business. That entry fee still supports a club that fights BSL, and I have a nice Saturday out with my family watching other owners do positive things with their dogs. He will do fun pulls, and probably the hang time event when he's older, but for no we'll have fun with this. So there's a good explanation for you.

As far as Achilles having a gay tail he doesn't. He usually carries his tail straigt back while moving like this...



or in an upright position depending on what's going on around him called "challenge tail" (upright but not curling over the back) which is commonly confused for gay tail. His tail doesn't actually curve over his back...



I am sure that is called challenge tail because there are dogs all around, and he happens to be slightly dog aggressive at 7 mos. That is also the reasons that he's glaring, or looking to the side in every picture. In the picture above where he appears to have a gay tail he was lunging while Im' pulling back on the lead. Also if the tails wagging (which it is) you can't get a good picture of gay vs challenge tail. Also... you can see how far his back is hunched after I pulled back on the lead, and my wife was snapping the pic. Otherwise his tail doesn't curl over his back, and I think I made that more clear with those other two pictures. Also see the picture from the fron view while he's standing still, and the picture with the ribbon where the curled tail over his back is noticeably absent.

Even if he does have a gay tail, and that is a conformation fault I don't actually care. He is unreg'd for one, and not bred to be a conformation champ and two...all dogs have faults. We still love him, and will place him in this show many more times in the future, but thanks for pointing that out.

 

I don't know what Frenchie intents were when he asked, because obviously I am not him....
But I thought it was a legitamite *sp* question, your dog does look good, no doubt, but from those first few picture it did look like a "gay tail" (no offense intended). Now knowing it was just a fun show,and not a points show, changes things a bit as well...No one has a perfect dog, so it's all good.

 

congrats! nice looking boy you got there~kinda partial to brindles...

 

I got you Jean, and if he has a gay tail so be it. My heart is not broken that he'll never be an ABDA champ because he can't be ABDA reg'd. He is a rescue, won't be bred, and we had fun at the show...and we'll do it again even with a gay tail. I am not irked at the question, but I did take it as a subtle snipe by the OP. Like I said not a big deal. I'll consider... fun show, internet discussion, take a deep breath, and Im ok now. Agreed...no one has a perfect dog.

 

dont worry about what anyone says about your dog as long as you are having and the dog is having fun you are doing great. trust me many people in this breed will try to bring another one down even though "we are all in the same fight" i guess cause your dogs tail may be different than his/hers you shouldnt be in the solution to everything that goes on with this breed so with that said everyone that has a dog with an awkward tail get out lol.

 

Yeah, I understand where you are coming from as well. I just wanted you to know I wasn't "attacking" you or your dog, just was curious to the answer. ...It's cool that you rescued and that you get to go to fun shows like that. I wish we'd have just a fun show, so I could bring my dogs.

 

You know we're neighbors in TN and NC...take a trip out here.

 

Okay, so I am just now seeing this thread.


screamin' eagle....don't worry about it. I haven't seen your dog in person yet, but from the pictures you posted, he looks fine. Gary Hammonds must have thought he looked good as well. As you stated, the VSBA shows are fun shows. We all come out to support the club who puts on these shows to give bulldog owners something positive to do with their dogs. I, personally, enjoy coming out and meeting people who like the same breed of dog as I do and seeing their dogs.As long as you and the fam had fun, that's all that matters.
Congrats on doing so well. I hope to make it out there in December. Hopefully I'll see you there.