Toby's Indian Name

Back in August, we gave Toby an Indian name. Let's just say, he has an "aim" problem.......

Kristina Terra bought Toby a special gift at the Enumclaw shows in August. Here's a photo of Toby wearing his special present: orange goretex gators.

Oh, and his Indian name (in case you haven't figured it out) is:

Toby Yellow Paw.

The Pack Leader

12 lessons on leadership I've learned from our pack (applies in real human life as well). Our pack leader here is Rowan, our red Borzoi. All Hail Rowan:

1. The Pack Leader does ask for attention, her mere presence commands it at all times.

2. The Pack Leader communicates nonverbally (a lip pulled back ¼” over one fang, or The Look, is all that is needed).

3. The Pack Leader is clear in her expectations (Thou Shalt Not Play in My Bedroom! Thou Shalt Not Steal My Food! Thou Shalt Not Chew on My Bone, even if I buried it 50 yards into the woods, five weeks ago!).

4. The Pack Leader will only rarely and when absolutely necessary verbalize strongly (bark, growl), and you had better pay attention!

5. The Pack Leader is always consistent in her expectations.

6. The Pack Leader commands respect with her appearance and body language.

7. The Pack Leader watches and listens at all times for the good of the pack.

8. The Pack Leader takes care of her needs first; knowing that without a leader the pack is lost (ie: “In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, securely fasten your own oxygen mask before attending to your children….”).

9. The Pack Leader will defend her pack from outsiders at all costs.

10. The Pack Leader will administer punishment only when the pack does not resolve the behavior or issue on their own.

11. The Pack Leader considers every pack member as equal, (even the lowest member of the pack, who’s special purpose sometimes is just to take out her aggressions on and prove her dominance).

12. The Pack Leader shows compassion when any pack member is not well.

Open Mouth, Insert Foot

Today was the Puget Sound Borzoi Specialty. Toby was fourth in Open in a class of 10, Catie made the cut but didn't get a placement. And, Toby's sire was Best Stud Dog in the Specialty. The weather was nice and we had a good day overall.

Last night, Rich stopped by the grocery store to pick up supplies with which to groom the borzois. As he was in the checkout line, he got a call on his cell phone. I heard that there were some pretty shocked looks from the cashier and those in line when he told the caller that he was at the store buying baby powder and cornstarch to turn Toby white again.

Life Moves Pretty Fast

Ferris Bueller: "Live moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while you could miss it."

That quote seems to be the story of our life this summer. Last weekend our coursing club had three days of events - a lure operating seminar, Junior Courser tests, and a lure coursing trial. Across the street from the coursing field was an AKC conformation show where we entered Toby in two shows. We also had a BBQ and party at our home Saturday night, and had a house guest for 4 days.

The weather was extremely hot and humid - almost 100 degrees, and sweltering. I have the sunburn to prove it, too....!

This weekend was the last chance we had to qualify Rowan for the AKC National Lure Coursing Championships to be held here in September. She only needs one more point, but unfortunately she won't qualify -- but not because she tried and didn't make it. With the soaring temperature and the course conditions, we scratched her from the event - it was just too dang hot and better to not risk an injury than otherwise. I suspect we'll have our hands full at the NLCC working anyhow and wouldn't have time to care properly for a hound we'd have entered.

Both Rowan and Catie are at the end their heat cycles, thus poor Toby has not been eating since he's got OTHER things on his mind, and he's lost weight. We considered not showing him this weekend since he doesn't look his best, but decided almost at the last minute that we'd do it just for practice. I'd pretend that we were in handling class, and not expecting to win anything - just have fun and practice, since our Specialty is this coming weekend.

Lo and behold, the lad took Best of Breed on Saturday for 2 points, and Best of Winners on Sunday for 1 point! So, in the absolute hottest part of the hottest day, Toby and I got to go run around the Group ring, which almost killed me from heatstroke, but was fun nevertheless. He's such a good boy! Win photo coming soon.

The highlight of our weekend was hosting the judge for our lure coursing tests and trial -- Gary Runyan of Runyan Borzoi. It was a pleasure to have such an interesting person here for four days and we're very happy to have made a new friend. Thanks Gary for putting up with our humble abode and our dogs - they loved having your company too. Kisses from Catie.

Calgary Shows

Rich returns tonight or tomorrow from Calgary - and although I don't have ALL the details, I do have some photos to post plus show results for our girls, and it sounds like it was a really great weekend for all the Tovaritch gang. I'm proud of Rich and both Catie (Tovaritch Catherine the Great, SC) and Rowan (Tovaritch's Beresina, SC) for how well they all did!

Now, the results and photos (Rowan is the one without the white on the end of her muzzle, and the larger of the two red bitches):

Rowan and her sister, Tovaritch's Barishnya, were Best Brace in each of the four shows they were entered in:

8/1 - Alberta Sporting Hound Association Specialty Show
Judge: Mr. Dana Cline
Best Brace in Breed and in Specialty

8/2 - Alberta Kennel Club - All Breed Show
Judge: Mary Keast
Best Brace in Breed and in Group

8/2 - Borzoi Club of Canada National Specialty
Judge: Sr. Ramon Podesta
Best Brace in Specialty

8/3 - Alberta Kennel Club All Breed Show
Judge: Roger Hartinger
Best Brace in Breed and in Group






Catie was Winners Bitch and Best of Winners for 4 points:

8/2 - Alberta Kennel Club - All Breed Show
Judge: Mary Keast
Winners Bitch, Best of Winners (11 class entries)




And, Catherine also pulled Reserve Winners Bitch at four of the five other shows, including the Canada National Specialty:

8/2 - Borzoi Club of Canada National Specialty
Judge: Sr. Ramon Podesta
Reserve Winners Bitch (11 class bitches)

8/3 - Alberta Kennel Club All Breed Show
Judge: Roger Hartinger
Reserve Winners Bitch (10 class bitches)

8/3 - Foothills Gazehound Club Specialty Championship Show
Judge: Sue Badick
Reserve Winners Bitch (11 class bitches)

8/4 - Alberta Kennel Club All Breed Show
Judge: Patricia Hartinger
Reserve Winners Bitch (9 class bitches)









Rowan also did well and was Winners Bitch, Best of Winners and Best Opposite for 5 points:

8/3 - Alberta Kennel Club All Breed Show
Judge: Roger Hartinger
Winners Bitch, Best of Winners, Best of Opposite(10 class bitches, 1 class male, 3 Special males, 3 Special Bitches)






Thanks to Greg and Lexy and the Tovaritch gang for their warm Canadian hospitality and help with handling, grooming and all things over the last week! Here's a photo of the whole Tovaritch gang this past weekend:

Like Ships in the Night

I returned home from Lompoc Monday night around 11pm. It was a great week and although we didn't place in the shows Saturday or Sunday (I did show Toby to #4 in Open on Saturday, about 14 entries) - I met nice people, saw beautiful dogs, had a lot of laughs on the trip and it was great all around.

Icing on the cake was Zabava Mercury's (Toby's sire) two Best of Breed placements on Friday and Saturday, plus a Group 4 on Saturday, it was very exciting!

About 18 hours after I returned home, Rich leaves for Calgary for a week with both Rowan and Catie - six shows in four days. Both girls are now in season so it should be quite an adventure for him. I'll be home this time while he goes with dogs.

Seems like our entire summer is just flying by and we aren't seeing much of each other.

Toby is Reserve Winners Dog / Lompoc Specialty!

Wow -- Kristina showed Toby today in the Specialty -- all the way to Reserve Winners Dog! He was absolutely gorgeous and Kristina did a fabulous job showing him. (Thanks Kristina!). Here's some photos of Toby in the ring; RWD show photo coming soon:

Road to California - Arrival

After a day and a half of driving (actually, riding, since Kristina drove the whole way), we arrived in Lompoc last night. We spent Tuesday night in Yreka, CA at an inexpensive hotel that was home to several feral cats. How nice for the borzois to see on their walks around the property....(not).

Toby is doing great, he loves to GO and thinks hotels are pretty cool. Plus, he has two of the three most loved people in his life along for the trip - Kristina and me. And, a new big stuffed orange monkey to play with; a gift from Kristina. Life is good!

Today, we drove to Solvang for breakfast and a walk through the town. We brought the four borzois along for a walk through town and met many nice people who stopped to adore the dogs, which of course they fully expect.


Here are some photos of Solvang and surrounding area (Click on photo or text for larger image):



Toby and I in Solvang, CA



Vineyards and countryside



This region is known for its flower fields



Another view of the flowers



Danish architecture in Solvang, CA



Mercury and Kristina in Solvang, CA



Toby and I in Solvang, CA



Colorful side street in Solvang



Irina with Busya (Boo) and Mars (Listik) in Solvang



Grapes growing along the sidewalk! They were tasty, too.



That variegated leaf is a HOUSEPLANT in Washington.



Another neat building in Solvang

The Road to California ......(Lompoc, CA)

Today, Toby and I began the journey along with Irina and Kristina Terra and three borzoi (Toby's breeders) of Zabava Borzoi to Lompoc, CA, where we will be attending the Western Sighthound Specialties. It's a long trip, and we were on the road by 4pm (only about 6 hours behind the original plan), not bad at all; all things considered!
It's about 1050 miles and 17 hours to Lompoc:

Lure Coursing can be Dangerous

Yesterday I returned home from my three week island retreat, house-sitting 11 borzois. The dogs were great and the time passed quickly. I left and drove straight to a lure coursing trial, where I met Rich and our three borzois - Toby, Catie and Rowan. Catie and Rowan now both have their Senior Courser AKC titles as well. Toby ran beautifully and was pure poetry in motion, however we didn't get photos of him running, unfortunately. Toby now has his Junior Courser title, too. Here's a photo of both girls running this weekend:




Now for the dangerous part of lure coursing.


Saturday I had volunteered to field clerk, which means, after every few courses, you run across the field to the judges area, retrieve the score sheets, and bring them back to the Field Secretary's table. Since I had just returned from the Island, I had my bicycle with me. After a few times hoofing it across the field and back, I discovered that I could just ride my bike out and back, much faster and it worked great!

Sunday morning, when we arrived, I walked across the field that was slick with dew to retrieve my bike. Shortly after climbing on and starting to pedal, the ground came up and smacked me in the face. At first I thought I'd broken my nose, then realized my back, neck and shoulders hurt like hell. As I rolled off my bicycle that I somehow landed on top of, Rich saw me and came running. My left shoulder was bruised, down my chest and my left breast (handlebars I think), my cheek and nose were bruised but thankfully not broken, my thigh, knee, and calf had huge bruises and I mildly sprained my ankle. Oh, and knocked a crown loose on a tooth I later discovered. I think I suffered a mild concussion since I had a headache for 8 days and was very sleepy for 2-3 days after! Fortunately a doctor was on site and checked me out as more or less OK.

Then, later in the day, as Rich was retrieving Toby after his run, he slipped and fell on the start line and twisted his arm/elbow severely too. We decided that neither of us earned OUR JC's that weekend, lure coursing can be dangerous after all.

A Secret Admirer?

Today I was working away in the office, and glanced down into my computer bag. Seems that an anonymous borzoi has left me a gift....a cute little stuffed tiger. I turn it over and it has a red heart on the front. Wonder who left me that, placed so carefully in my bag? How sweet! * Click on photo for larger image.

Sesame Street Flashback

I'm housesitting for a few weeks for some borzoi breeder friends. Here, we leave our shoes at the door and wear soft slippers in the house.

Today, as I was passing through the living room, I noticed this: Click on photo for larger image....

And, I had a sudden deja-vu of this Sesame Street Song from my childhood. Remember this one?:

Three of these things belong together
Three of these things are kind of the same
Can you guess which one of these doesn't belong here?
Now it's time to play our game (time to play our game)!

Now I've got that Sesame Street song stuck in my head all day, no damage to my shoe, however. Let the games begin!

Late Night Snack

Okay, I'm sitting in the living room working tonight and about the same time I realize that there are no dogs in here with me, I hear a strange sound coming from the bedroom on the other side of the wall behind me. Kind of like the headboard is banging against the wall? What the hell......

So, I go in there and find several dogs on our bed, all watching in particular one black & white borzoi in particular in repose across the bed with her late night snack:

Show Success in Elma

This weekend past, we (I) showed our new borzoi boy Toby (Zabava Tabasco) at the AKC shows in Elma, Washington. We are pleased and thrilled to report that on Sunday, Toby was Best of Winners for one AKC point, and his sire Zabava Mercury was Best of Breed and went on for a Group 3rd placement. Show photo to follow!
In addition, Rowan (Tovaritch's Beresina) was Reserve Winners Bitch on Sunday.

Down The Hatch

Today I took the two borzoi girls for a long walk, about 4 miles all told. At the end of the walk, just as we were turning up our road and in the last couple hundred feet, both girls (true hunters that they are), spotted something moving in the leaves on the side of the road.
Usually, if it's too small to be a squirrel or rabbit, it's just the wind rustling around a dried leaf. Not this time. As the girls about yanked me off my feet to investigate closer, I saw a small black mouse dart out of the leaves, about two seconds before it disappeared.
In the blink of an eye, I saw the last half of the poor little critter's tail go just like a piece of spaghetti across Rowan's lips and down the hatch.

New Member of the Pack -- Toby

We are pleased to announce and introduce the newest member of our pack -- Zabava Tabasco, aka "Toby" (or Tabasitch, as we also affectionately call him, just like his first family did):

Toby is a gorgeous, structurally sound, sweet and affectionate 2 year old male Borzoi who we'll co-own with Irina and Kristina Terra of Zabava Borzoi on Camano Island here in Washington State.
Although we don't have a private beach to offer Toby here at Winterfell, we do have nice wooded property with trails and squirrels to chase. We are in love with him already, he is fitting into our routines just great.
Watch for Toby in the show ring and on the coursing field soon!

Borzoi Nationals

It's been an incredibly busy two weeks.

Last Tuesday (the 15th), after 3 hours of sleep, I got up at 2:45am and was on the road by 3:15am with two Borzoi and two Silken Windhounds. Destination: Sacramento for the Borzoi Nationals via a short stop to drop off the Silkens with Paul & Karen Sanders at Allagante Silkens in Oregon. It was a long drive -- 770 miles, and 15 hours all told including stops for the dogs and me.

I arrived just in time to watch Futurity, and see our new boy Tabasco, aka "Toby", place second under Brood Bitch class. More about this new addition to our pack in the next post!

Rich flew in Thursday morning in time for most of the conformation shows that day. Although our girls didn't place, it was fun to show them, see beautiful dogs, meet friends both new and old and enjoy the warm 70-80 degree sunny weather while it snowed back home in Washington, we heard.

Here is an image of Ivor (Catherine's sire) and his get showing in Stud Dog class at Nationals. Although we didn't place in this particular show pictured on Saturday, Ivor and his kids did take first place in the same class at the BCNC Specialty on Sunday. Catherine (and I) are fourth in the line (second from the right):


Rowan and her littermate Bitsey were shown by Lexy Hancock in Brace Class. Again they didn't place, but they were an impressive brace:



Monday morning we drove home and arrived around midnight, very tired but glad we made the trip.

Off To Oregon -- Need New Show Clothes

When we received my show photo from the win with Catherine this week, I realize that I really need new show clothes. The jacket I was wearing that day (see post below) is actually a medium taupe-y color, not dark gray/brown. The lighting in some of these show venues is horrible! Also, I realize that Catie totally disappears in front of my black pants, must change that. I NEED new clothes badly Clothes -- I can make those.

The perfect Borzoi showing clothes are, clothes that look great on you when you are running as fast as you can. It's that simple. After some experience, I've decided that means....nothing that "flaps" when you run or your dog will try to play with it. Nothing that hangs below your waist that will gather up or bunch when you have to bend over. Something you can move your arms in (when running as fast as you can), and buttons or closes in front. And, in a color, print and pattern that complements your dog, one of the most important factors here!

So, I am off to Oregon later today to house-sit for some friends while they attend a Canine Cruise in the Carribean for 9 days. I am bringing my sewing machine, iron, notions, sewing tools, some patterns, a mountain of fabric and our two Silken Windhounds. I hope in between caring for 20 dogs, 2 horses, 2 llamas, a few cats and koi that I can get something made to bring to Borzoi Nationals (and wear) in April.

First AKC Win

Yesterday, my first AKC win!

We entered Catie in Open, in anticipation of Borzoi Nationals coming up in April, when she and Rowan will be in the same class and apparently next to each other in the class. In handling class, Catie is always waaaayyyy too interested in what Rowan is doing, especially if Rowan is ahead or behind her in the line up.

Since she'll be a few weeks over 18 months when Nationals happen in April, we thought this would be a good practice run to have both girls in the same class.

Much to my pleasant surprise, Catie took Best of Breed for at least 1 (possibly 2) AKC points! Our first AKC win, and Catie's first points toward her championship. She really is maturing nicely and we're both learning as we go, after may shows it feels great to know that we CAN do it:

Borzoi Haiku

My lens has captured
Beauty, grace, fluid motion
Catherine The Great.