Tess's Sparkling Shasta

[BeagleMama]

[img][img]http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j186/ ... 07017W.jpg[/img]

I hope that works - anyway, Shasta is not out of show bloodlines - I didn't originally intend for her to be a showdog. Her uncle Shiloh is a great therapy dog - loved by the many people he visits (as well as by me). He is also a READ dog - goes to our city library where the little children take turns reading to him - no, he doesn't really listen but he is a great companion for them and it helps the children with their reading skills in a non-threatening environment. This is the reason Shasta originally came to my home. Because she is related to him, I am hoping that eventually she will be great at the same thing. In the meantime, Shasta is a 10 month old female pup who stands around 14 and a half inches.

I have other work I need to do rite now - be bak sometime.[/img]

[Sandy Valley]

Nice looking beagle-love her ears!

[Windkist]

pretty color!!! clip those toenails ;-) She sure has a smile on her face!

leah

[BeagleMama]

Yes, those toenails did get clipped this past Thursday eve. I also got a little brave and cut her whiskers for today's show. Will probably show at Lawrence, Kansas in October but not sure after that. And the tongue stayed in the mouth today - it was terribly hot that practice day in a metal warehouse the kennel club leases and with no fans or any means of climate control.
Time for bed.

[Larry G]

If you want a real show dog I have a new litter and any one of them will fix you right up. PM me.

[Beagled1]

I hope that works - anyway, Shasta is not out of show bloodlines - I didn't originally intend for her to be a showdog. Her uncle Shiloh is a great therapy dog - loved by the many people he visits (as well as by me).

Hey, thats a NICE looking hound there!!!!!!!!! Mind if I ask what bloodlines he's out of? When I started out in Beagles, the objective was to show a field line hound ... well, my foundation bitch didn't exactly work out (back is too loooong/hare footed) but who knows, we may still get something showable out of her yet! I love to see a field bred hound in the show ring and wish you lots of luck with him! The only thing I can see is he is either hare footed, but as someone mentioned a good nail clipping will do wonders ... the feet alone shouldn't hinder that nice looking boy from going places, tho

[BeagleMama]

Thank you for the compliment on Shasta - Shasta is actually my little female pup. As I said, she is not from show bloodlines and as for hunting - not sure if you would be familiar with her breeding. Not sure if well known outside of my home area here in northeast Kansas. I have a copy of her AKC 4 generation pedigree - I will get it scanned and put it here in the next 24 hours. Briefly, I will say that her daddy is Owen's Go Tornado.

I also wanted to show a picture of my older Beagle, Shiloh (Ringo's Little Boy Shiloh). I know there is a lot on this board having to do with breeding - but this guy was neutered when he was almost 1. I had no business with a stud dog nor did I have any use for one - besides Shiloh is a big Beagle - over 16". However he does think he is God's gift to the hunter - I don't have the means to hunt with him but if I did, I bet he would make one of the best.
[img][img]http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j186/ ... ge2006.jpg[/img]

Speaking of the dogs - they need to go out. I'll try to get the pedigree here tomorrow.[/img]

[BeagleMama]

If you think these two look a little alike - they are related. Shasta's dam, Schafer Farms Contessa, came from the same litter that Shiloh did making my two uncle & niece.
G'nite

[BeagleMama]

I wonder - is there a limit on each post - this may be a little long. First, I wanted to put up the pedigree I have for Shasta-
[img][img]http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j186/ ... Shasta.jpg[/img]

Second - I'm going to tell you a little about my Beagles and why they live with me. Shiloh is the first Beagle I ever owned - also the first purebred. I may be a little different from many if not all of you - I've always had dogs - at least as far back as I can remember however, they were and always will be my pets - my companions - my family. Anything they are besides that is purely the proverbial cherry on top. I did not get Shiloh with the intent of using him for therapy work - I had read about it and thought it would be a great thing to do that but Shiloh did not join my family with the stipulation that he be a good therapy dog or else I would find another dog to do therapy work with. Many of my cyber-buddies did therapy work with their Beagles and It just so happened that Beagles make really good therapy dogs; Shiloh is one of the best - he loves it and the people he visits love him; not just the residents of the nursing homes and the hospice where we visit but the staff too as well as the families of residents. Shiloh will continue to provide this invaluable service only as long as he is enjoying himself and how do I know he is - all one has to do is watch him strutting down the hallway with his tail held high in the air - wagging back and forth.

Now, as for Shasta. She joined my family in November of 2006. The main reason I wanted her - same/like breeding of Shiloh - has his temperament and with her - the idea was there that hopefully, she would become as good as, if not better, a therapy dog like her uncle Shiloh and this remains a goal of mine for Shasta. She has completed basic level of obedience and when I walk off my deck with a hula-hoop in my hand, Shasta can barely wait to rush down and jump through - very excitedly. Almost every day she shows me different behaviors that make me believe she is going to be a terrific all-around companion. I have a feeling if I can train her for agility, she would excel at it - she is jumping higher now than her height. While Shiloh is a great hunter and there is nothing, outside of physically pulling him away, there is nothing that will take him off a scent - not even food. On the other hand - Shasta is a little different. If Shiloh is on a scent, Shasta will follow UNTIL I show up with treats in my hand - I can be clear across the yard and if she sees me - she'll come running. Now, as for the show ring - remember what I said was the reason I'd stop Shiloh from visiting - well, that is the same for Shasta - as long as I can afford it and she is enjoying it then we will continue. If she doesn't get the points or the ribbons - that is not the reason she will stop being the showgirl that she loves to be. I am not going out and get another pup just so it MIGHT do good in shows. And not every show dog enjpys the show ring like Shasta does. I am going to do another post that includes the links to the videos I got of Shasta in the show ring. All I have to do is think about that little wagging tail in the show ring - that's all I need to see to know Shasta is meant to be there. By the way, there are shows at Lawrence, Kansas in October 2007 - come watch - there are almost definite plans (definite tentative?) that Shasta will be there. Videos of Topeka shows to follow in next post.[/img]

[BeagleMama]

Ok - taking a little time here to put up these videos. They were taken August 18 & 19, 2007, first shows for Shasta at the Capital City Cluster in Topeka, KS. Shasta was the only entry to show each day in her puppy class - there was suppose to be another entry each day but they never showed up. She got the 1st place ribbon and reserve winner's bitch each day she was shown.

This video is from the 18th -


The next 2 videos are from the 19th-
[/img]



Ok - so we are both new at this (that is a friend of mine, Lee, who was showing Shasta & she is new too at showing Beagles - she has shown her Canaan Dog to his championship). Shasta is showing her puppy-ness and her immaturity as well as lack of experience in this show. But I have watched many dog shows on TV and a few in person - I believe there is a much desired quality called show ring presence - I may be new at this but I think I see that and something else I see that is just as important to me - Shasta is having fun. Even one of the judges remarked "She sure is enjoying herself today". To me, that means almost as much as any win - even a major.[/img]

[Honey Pot Hounds]

Good for you! As long as you are having fun there's no harm in showing her and you can't win if you don't show up right?! Also, if you get bit by the showbug and Shasta doesn't end up as champion material you can still breed her...and if you breed her well you might just get that winning show beagle out of her....and you'll have had a lot of fun and learned a lot along the way. Wishing you and Shasta the Best!

Cindy

[BeagleMama]

I'm right there where your thinking is - we will keep showing when and where we can, as long as Shasta is showing me she is having fun - whether we win the points or not. And in a couple of years, depending on how things work out - there is the possibility - even if it is small - of breeding her. If possible, if I do breed her - I would like to find a small, 13" or smaller, little Beagle boy conformation champ to breed her to. Of course that all depends to on having everything checked out that I need to before breeding her. It sounds like alot of "ifs" but I want to do whatever I can to promote the breed, especially in my home area - where quality Beagles are few and far between.

[Honey Pot Hounds]

I'm having a hard time getting the video to run (it's my computer problem) but from what I did see you may very well finish her Championship thanks to her up attitude, moving out and wagging tail! Thats half the battle right there!
Don't show in jeans...dress like you are going to the office (Ladies=newscaster..Gents=sportcoat and tie. NO JEANS)
Wear flat comfortable shoes.
Do you have grooming help? Handling lessons??

[Honey Pot Hounds]

Also, if and when you decide to breed her talk to me or Leah, or both. We know a lot about many of the champion stud dogs out there. We both attend NBC Nationals and read Show Beagle Quarterly, and research show bred stud dogs constantly, etc., We can probably help point you in the right direction with someone fairly close to you.

[Windkist]

She looks pretty darn good in the ring to me. She needs a little training and some polish but, that will come. I'd definately keep at it and enjoy it and be sure to watch the other handlers especially at the group level and you'll learn a lot. I'd hold off breeding for awhile until you get more experience. I had been in dogs a lot of years already when I got my first beagle and I still waited 4 years before I chose a mating. Lots to learn ;-)

Leah