Simmering high noon
Seething, sweltering long days
July sizzles on
For those wondering the salutations at the home page for each new month and then also found at each month’s blog page are Haikus.
It is a form of Japanese poetry where a story is told in 3 lines that are written in 5 syllables in the first line, 7 syllables in the 2nd line and 5 syllables in the 3rd and last line.
Nature and emotions set the tone for the subject matter.
I am
what I appear to be
The love and passion that I have for Labrador Retrievers is what fuels my drive for my total involvement with the breed. The never-ending quest for the Betterment of the Breed is the legacy that I would
like to leave behind after it is all said and done.
This Blogging Off section reflects the "tell it like it is" persona that comprises one of the many hats that I wear in my daily activities with Labrador Retrievers and the people that own them.
"Questions are the keys to understanding,
answers are the open doors that will follow,
choosing the right door to proceed through will
determine if the correct path was taken."
V. Sandy Herzon
July 25th
WTFN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No it's not a TV Station..............It's What The Fake News!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow! Thank you all that provided their own WTFN……………………that’s ‘What The Fake News’!
Dozens and dozens of examples of horribly twisted, mangled, crazy concoctions, outright dangerous miss-information…………………worst of all are the stories of deception and tomfoolery, done on purpose to lead those reading to follow along with DIS-INFORMATION!
Yep, diabolical and sinister people using the Internet, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other communication conduits to spread vicious falsehoods on all sorts of made up matter and crud.
They of the forked tongue variety, preying on the gullible that follow along like there’s a bouncing ball in front of them, hypnotized by the craziest sounding falsehoods……………….dastardly diatribes and cornball conspiracies that are so far off from reality that there isn’t a zip code allocated for their origins!
I checked out some of the websites spewing these alarmist assumptions and totally off the wall conclusions made by ordinary Tom, Dicks and Harrys……………………..case in point www.react365.com a website dedicated to the nefarious to spawn the worst of fake news possible and then have it disseminated to social media as if though it were bona fide content.
So, now we ordinary folk read these rat trap offerings, thinking that they are legitimate and then ‘sharing’ this newly found information, not realizing that it is far from anything ‘good’…………….they in turn become the spreaders of the manure which makes it feel and sound ‘right’ coming from a known entity…………..so the ordinary folk unwittingly become the broadcasters of the garbage that is made up by those working their devious plots!
I cannot reiterate the following enough…………………………………the SOURCE is the almighty! Make sure that anything that is read comes from legitimate, bona fide, certified, documentable, and known SOURCES!
Do not accept anything from any 2nd party source………………do not repeat anything that is quoted on Facebook unless it has been verified and validated, don’t become an accessory to a crime……….the spreading of falsehoods and gobbledygook.............WTFN!
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July 24th
And The Emails Just Keep Coming
Emails asking for puppy information come in droves, week in and week out……………from as far away as Nepal, Myanmar, South Africa, Malaysia, Estonia, Patagonia (Argentina) and as close as Kendall FL.
Over 1200 a year they keep coming!
Next to inquiries for puppies, inquiring minds next want to know about Chambray Labradors Owner’s Programs for the Betterment of the Breed!
Straight out, we have over 1200 emails a year………..yes a year………………..that want to know availability for our puppies. We answer each and every one of those emails even though we only produce an average of 6 litters a year which adds up to less than 50 puppies that will be made available to 50 families.
Yes, again, each and every puppy produced for show purposes are placed! None kept by us, as in ‘Keep the best and sell the rest’, which is the traditional, long standing standard operating procedure in place by the other 999% of top show breeders. At Chambray Labradors, we produce and place the best where the best will do the best for their new owners and for the breed.
So, after sifting through all those asking for puppy information………………..there is another rather large subgroup, about 300 or so a year that have perused through our informative website or that have had contact with other Chambray owners or that somehow are interested enough to delve deeper into our exclusive and one-of-a-kind Owner’s Programs.
Since we are 100% about disclosure and sharing of information about the breed in general and our practices and protocols in specific…………….we provide loads of pages chock full of just that………….information!
All there is to know is published to the website for the discriminating puppy searchers. Then, to take it a step further, we have instituted an Interview Process where we meet personally with those that want to know more………………and more we give!
The Owner’s Program is multifaceted and variable according to those that participate. There are owners that take advantage of all available amenities, all training programs, all the mentorship that is offered, all activities planned and there are owners that just use our Lifetime Support System for all information available and there are some that know we are here for them if the need arises, however they remain to themselves as they see fit…………………all that is good by us.
The Owner’s Program encompasses:
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At Kennel Training (AKT) where each and every show puppy placed receives, Lifetime Free Training on an individual bases for the dog and the owner. Appointments are set up and an hour is dedicated to whatever needs to be done with the puppy/dog to make sure it is a model citizen.
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Night Training Classes where socialization and integrations is the key to a well behave and obedient dog in all settings, this is also Lifetime Free Night Training Classes for all show puppies and dogs.
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In-Kennel Training (IKT) where for major discounted fees, Chambray show puppies and dogs are kept here at Chambray Acres and we do all the work with the training.
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Show Dog Management Program. This is the gem that is the showcase for our organization because it is what the world sees. We take the best of the best and training and condition and then we take them into the ring and display our product and service like no one else can!
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Stud Dog Program. Only the best of the best of our males will be encouraged to join our Stud Dog Force. We provide all there is to further the great qualities of the breed by offering the best Chambray dogs to perpetuate the next awesome generation of puppies.
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Puppy Placement Program. The stellar program that ensures that each succeeding generation of Chambray puppies will be as good as or better than the previous awesome generation.
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Total Mentorship in every aspect of the breed.
July 24th
Facebook ~ Fake News ~ Fellow Labrador Owners
Fake News & Facebook Go Hand & Hand!
Since performing a ‘Facebook Exorcism’ about 6 weeks ago…………………..of those Facebook so-called
‘Friends/Followers’, a cleansing of the 1st kind, getting rid of all the naysayers, the purveyors of doom and gloom, the extremist of both ends of the political spectrum, the conjurers-distributors-broadcasters of Fake News…………………………….I have been in relatively Facebook bliss!
Yep, I scroll up and down looking at cute puppy and kitten photos, kind and friendly posts and shares.........at good will pieces and happy ending stories...................of great dog show results.......................of awesome photos of Labradors from all over the world……………..yep, goody two shoes never looked so good!
Now every once in a while a Fake News post will show up, slipped in sideways by the craftier villains of negativity!
Perfect example the Silver Labrador post that had lots singing the praises only to find out that they had been punked!
Worse than that was the ‘medical’ faux pas posted by a newbie breeder about the use of a heartworm medication……………………….WITH THE WRONG DOSAGE………………..100 TIMES THE WRONG DOSAGE!
Information that can kill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So FAKE NEWS is no longer the political soup de jour………………no sir, now it is being directed towards every possible topic and group of naïve people that read and take everything on Facebook as the gospel truth…………….all the way to the grave!
So, we are not talking Political Fake News perpetrated by the extreme ends of the political spectrum……………. churned out on an hourly basis by and spoon fed to the rabid readers of doom and gloom and conspiracy bumblers………………NO, NOT ALL…………………we are dealing and faced with FAKE NEWS OF THE WORST KIND FOR DOGS………………..directed at Labrador Retrievers and their owners by all sorts with differing agenda!
Of course, normally wise, educated and not easily swayed folk ALWAYS consider the SOURCE of any information!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is paramount and all-important……………..the source is what gives any subject matter the credibility for others to cipher through and hopefully base their decisions and conclusions on.
Just recently, the Fake News spread on Facebook and other social media was the use of a monthly heartworm medication with the absolute wrong dosages!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 100 times the potency!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The SOURCE?…………….yep you guessed it, some yayhoo who had just gotten into breeding dogs!
The outcome…………………hundreds and hundreds of dogs, maybe thousands exposed to short and long term toxicity and health problems, many hospitalized and some even expiring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You desire information on Brain Surgery…………………you DON’T CONSULT with your plumber!
Rocket Science information is never, ever researched in comic books!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Canine Genetic &/or Medical Information is never, ever taken from simpletons and yayhoos on Facebook and other gabby social media!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Medical practices/administration and Genetic Research is best left to the PHDs, the Research Institutes, those certified with doctorates in genetics, anatomy, health and other fields that they have totally mastered with decades and decades of hands on applications and practice and most important of all………….. Accurate and substantiated with COMPLETE DOCUMENTATION!
The SOURCE! The source folks, is the all mighty when dealing with information!
The SUBJECT MATTER: is another extremely important item to consider!
Medical and Genetic Research for Labradors has been going on for over 50 years! The top universities and health foundations with the most dedicated professionals have poured their lives into this subject and have provided those with dogs that most advanced information there is! They are the ‘go to’ SOURCE on the SUBJECT MATTER!
They are the only word and the last word on the subject………………what they have uncovered is what breeders need to go by…………….not GOBBLEDYGOOK stirred up by yayhoos that heard it from their neighbor that heard it from someone at the pet shop…….well you get the picture……………….the usual ways that miss information, dis-information, propaganda and all sorts of other really, really bad ways that information is spread about and then the masses, the blind as bat followers, the aimless wandering sheep will just go along with……………..with dastardly consequences………………..that’s not to mention all the evil stuff that is conjured in the minds of the demented, those with ulterior motives, those out to do harm on purpose…………….the information saboteurs, those with personal agendas.
SOURCE & SUBJECT MATTER
So, Just Say NO to Fake News & Yayhoos
July 23rd
FaceBook FAKE NEWS!
Yes, there it was, the 'news' all legitimate Labrador fanciers, breeders, exhibitors and handlers have been waiting to see and hear!
DIRECT FROM POST:
After years of debate the AKC has ruled that "Silver" Labrador Retreivers are in fact not Labrador Retreivers at all. Dennis Sprung, Chief Executive Officer of the American Kennel Club released a statement that read "We at the AKC apologize to the breeders and trainers out there that genuinely care about breeding standards. We understand that in the past the AKC has let profits cloud our judgment in matters relating to breed preservation and adherence to past practices. From this point on Silver, Fox Red, and Charcoal Labs will no longer be recognized by the AKC".
The source REACT365.COM
The only problem......................FAKE NEWS!
This is the perfect case of getting the FACTS from the most credible SOURCE..............Or in this case, the absolute worst place to get any information!
Way, way too often information posted to Facebook and other social media outlets are 'dis-information', which is more grievous than 'misinformation'.
Dis-information is done on purpose by devious, nefarious blokes to cause some type of discord or harmful public relations to specific targets.
The SOURCE in this case is a site dedicated for just this sort of underhanded distribution of FAKE NEWS!
I received half a dozen of emails from well-meaning and gullible owners celebrating the news! Unfortunetely I became the bearer of bad news.
My recommendations is to BOLO...............................BE ON LOOKOUT for Fake News because now a days, there is more bad news, fake news, dis-information being fabricated, distributed, spread than real to honest good news and Facebook and other social media is the worst purveyor, aided by the blind followers spreading the word that isn't worth the space it occupies on the screen!
July 22nd
More Chambray Owners Than Meets The Eye
When I thank my owners for the great opportunities that managing Chambray’s Owners Program has given me………………………..there is one rather large group of owners that are the silent stalwarts that we don’t see at the dog shows and that seldom get mentioned because their dogs don’t show and don’t end up with champion’s titles!
However, each and every one of those ‘not heard from dogs’ are champions in their own rights! What I am referring to are all those puppies that are placed and become someone’s dear family companion, a pet that doesn’t show and probably will never breed, yet they occupy such an important role in the whole big picture of Chambray Labradors!
For every show dog, there are at least 8 Chambray dogs that will never ever step in a ring of any kind!
Yep, that’s 100% correct, less than 2 show-bred puppies from any litter end up as show dogs that come from my breeding program.
Without the placement of those home-bound dogs, it would be impossible to maintain any type of breeding continuum to breed show dogs. There needs to be a place/home for all the companion puppies in order to plan other litters.
After yesterday’s blog, I received as many kumbaya messages from pet owners as I did from those that take part in the show management and puppy placement program!
My oh my, what great memories seeing the dozens of names from owners that I haven’t seen nor heard from in years! Even with fading memory affecting me, I was able to bring back the faces of those that touched base with me via email.
Thank you to all that are still ‘in touch’ through the Blogging Off section, letting me know that they frequent and stay up with the rest of the Chambray family of owners.
Times like these lets me reflect and know that my involvement in Labradors has been a very positive one for the vast majority of owners that have taken part in these last 4 decades.
So, the 'Thank You' goes out to all loyal, appreciative Chambray owners.................the 90+%ers, past, present and future.
July 21st
Unique Feeling
Recently at the West Palm Beach dog shows, while celebrating our newest Bronze Grand Champion, Chambrays Duke Destined For Greatness, a longtime top Rottweiler breeder approaches me to congratulate me for ‘yet’ another ‘great’ dog……………..her terms!
“Now, wouldn’t it have been much better if you were also the owner of the dog?” she would more or less press the issue of me not keeping the best…………………….remember that 999% of all breeders keep the best and sell the rest………………..keeping in mind that all breeders of all breeds at the dog shows in Florida think that I am a madman to be placing my best produce with ‘common folk’ (not really what they call them, it's actually a little more gritty and graphic)!
In fact at most dog shows, that’s a favorite topic of conversation with other breed’s breeders when it comes to talking about me and my Owner’s Program!
Most cannot fathom nor comprehend how I place my best puppies with people that I have just met. Of course they don’t know how the complicated Puppy Placement Program works, the lengthy Interview Process and the weeks of decision making process that I go through to finally place a top conformation puppy with.
Thanking the Rottie breeder and educating her a bit more, my response was “You have to be standing in my shoes to feel what I feel when one of my dogs…………….owned by someone else reaches a milestone and then watch a whole group of people to be celebrating, as what is occurring right now!”
“I am so happy for you, even though I will never understand how you do it!” she offered as she patted me on the back and walked away shaking her head ever so slightly.
I have had the thrill to celebrate 2 record setting Silver Grand Champions, 9 record setting Bronze Grand Champions, 20 record setting Grand Champions, 58 record setting Champions, 2 record setting Best In Show winners…………………………..all owned by someone that I choose to place the best of the best dogs with!
How many breeders of any breed can boast that?
It is a feeling so unique, so special that I seriously doubt that there will be anyone that can ever imagine what that feeling is like!
I live for that feeling!
Thank you to all my owners for making it possible.
Chambray Labradors and the Owners Program for the Betterment of the Breed where we celebrate 90%!
Can you imagine what any country in the world would be like if it had 90% Agreement??????
If 9 out of 10 of their citizens agreed on all the political agendas…OMG that would be nirvana!
All corporations and companies doing business strive and would die for an above 90% satisfaction rate!!
I worked for Sears when Sears was Sears & Roebucks…………………..back in 1970 when it was the premier of all stores and brands……………………where everyone graduating from high school first applied to for a part time job and celebrated if they were the lucky ones chosen, the ones not chosen would then apply at JC Penney’s , McDonalds and down the line. At Sears “Satisfaction Guaranteed Or Your Money Back” was our entire working mantra!
‘The customer is always right ‘ was hammered at every single associate’s meeting and everyone on the sales and service team was made aware that 90% Satisfaction was the goal…..or else!
The following is what the 90 PLUS PERCENTERS of the Chambray owners have to say about their experience with Chambray:
And Now A Word Or Two From The 90+%ers, The Satisfied Chambray Owners:
It really is quite a system you have built for a breeder to accomplish the feats you have so far, even with all the "lost" dogs for one reason or another... I can understand other breeders trepidation... but to see what more can be accomplished as a breeder with a system like this its almost a no brainer. Especially for extending your lines, and the great pool of dogs you get to work with.
As you stand back and look over your whole flock - past and present with great pride, I am happy I decided to be a part of it and help contribute 2 Grand Champions to your cause. Most of all I am most happy to have two great pets that stand out in any crowd! Not only are they fun loving happy go lucky sweet hearts they are so beautiful people turn heads when walking down the street, and it's not for me! I am frequently asked about them and given great compliments.
Thanks for the awesome dogs and a fun run through the shows! They are times the wife and I will always remember. John
I can only imagine the feeling.
I know with just a few days short of a year's Chambray ownership, the excitement and joy I feel following not just Charlie's siblings but all the other Chambray dogs. I might just be sappy but I love going to the show superintendent sites and Facebook to see how everyone is doing. I cannot wait to add Skylar's siblings to the list.
I celebrate here in Cali every Chambray win like it’s my own.
To know you have created this phenom must bring such satisfaction and joy! Danna
You are the special ingredient that makes all of this happen! Your dedication, knowledge, willingness to share and most of all love of the breed.
I am blessed to have been able to learn from you and still continue to learn every day. J Baker
What an incredible legacy. Ali
We love ya Sandy 😊😊😊 Marie
Soooo proud to be part of the Chambray family, 3 dogs and 15 years! JC
You bring us together and the dogs bind us as one. Mike S
For me it started in 1996 with my first Chambray dog and now 21 years later, with my 5th Chambray dog, I am still part of the journey. You had me at ‘Welcome’ and that’s the way it has been ever since! CC
There is no other breeder or handler that goes to the extremes that you do with your dogs or with your owners. I have witnessed you negotiate with the best of them and also with the hard to handle ones and I am not talking dogs here! The Rottie breeder had it right, “How do you do it”, especially with the whack jobs that come up every once in a while. Keep it going man, you’re the boss! Sam E
Seeing is believing and experiencing the whole makes the individual feel so much part of the process. I had read about it and listen to others that were already part of it, but nothing prepares a person for the realness that takes place being among the Chambray owners. I was there this past weekend at West Palm Beach as someone new with a puppy that was not old enough to be showing and yet the owners that were there, some with dogs and others cheering on was something to behold..................seeing is indeed believing and I am in!
DM
July 18th
Florida Fall Shows & The Real Big One
The AKC's Royal Canin National Championships
Orlando Fl, December 12th ~ December 16th
Hopefully the bad aura cast about by the recent episodes of the dog flu is now past us at the dog shows and things can get back to normal with attendance.
This past weekend at WPB, the entries were about at 75%.................which is a sizable increase over the Orlando show entries that dropped to the 50% mark……………….so if the rising trend continues here in Florida, we should be cranking at the usual numbers come the Deland Fl shows in mid-September and carry through the rest of the Florida Fall shows leading us to the December Royal Canin National Championships.
It is a bit more difficult to anticipate the out of state shows because those are attended by a larger variable of entries from different states and areas. Since we have lost so many shows in the past 3 months, Team Chambray will now add extra out of state shows to our itinerary.
That is now a work in progress, creating the show roster to benefit the dogs that need majors, since majors in Florida is not a sure thing in the coming months.
Right now we are putting the finishing touches on the December, Orlando Royal Canin week of shows roster. We are now lining up the commitments for our champions and also the class dogs that will be featured at those world-class shows.
Besides the main event, the AKC’s Royal Canin National Championships on Saturday December 16th, there is also a top billing Labrador Retriever Club Specialty the day before on Friday and that is preceded by Tuesday’s, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s All-Breed Dog Shows sponsored by the Central Florida Dog Clubs.
Because entries, grooming space and even hotel accommodations are at a premium, we start now in July to affix all the trimmings way before hand…………….especially the lineup of champions that will sign up for us to handle for the 5 days of shows!
The Royal Canin National Championships is the big shebang! It has become for breeders what Westminster has been for owners…………..however Westminster has had a 140 year head start, with Royal Canin taking over this past year for Eukanuba that had been the sponsor since 2001.
Now it is the most prestigious event for breeders to bring on their very best to show the entire world and some great ones from around the world will make the trek for these 5 shows to be in the limelight alongside the best from the USA.
So, the call now goes out to the Chambray owners to start making plans for December 12th through the 16th in Orlando for the super extravaganza canine event.
July 17th
We're Back!
Yea, the shows are back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a welcome change of scenery after a two month layoff from the dog show circuit!
Plus a great turnout of Chambray owners for the West Palm Beach Shows! Thank you all for coming and supporting the home team.
There were some great oldie goldies there………………..some owners that go back with us 25 years and more! Wow, that a great sight to see and for us to catch up on.
We had Chambray owners bring their ‘Chambray babies’ with them to visit Grand Pa Moses (me).
10 ½ year old Chambrays Georgie came with his family, the Buzzetti’s…………….Georgie now all grizzled and white faced, he the true ambassador of the breed and today still going strong………………..how befitting for a Hogan son to come and make us all feel great right here where it all started for both he and his sire!
BBE Bronze Gr Ch Chambrays Ruff Jewel Walter and his owner Judith Baker also came to visit us at WPB, Walter that gave me my biggest handler/breeder thrill by being awarded the 2015 Bred By Exhibitor Best Of Breed with breeder/judge Carl Gene Leipman judging, he also was the #1 Select Grand Champion! WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We had more than a dozen other owners come, without their dogs in the competition and sit in the crowd and cheer us on………………….there were many brand new Chambray owners there watching perhaps for the very first time what a dog show was all about.
We also had visitations from a host of prospective new owners that have already participated in the Interview Process or will be visiting Chambrays Acres in the coming weeks/months.
Once again with all that backing and support, Team Chambray rose to the occasion, celebrated yet another record-upping benchmark with the 158th consecutive dog show winning weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That unheard of, ‘never-before' and maybe 'never-after’ streak now spans 6 ½ years of winning at every dog show weekend that the ensemble of Team Chambray competed at………….at all-breed dog shows, at specialties, at the Florida Winter Circuit, at the Nationals, at the Eukanuba National Championships, at the new Royal Canin Championships……………………….at every venue in Florida, in Georgia, in Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, South Carolina, Puerto Rico………………….at every place and state that Team Chambray ventured to.
Starting in January of 2012 all the way to this WPB 4 days of shows, there was been Winners Points, Grand Champions Points, Best Of Breeds……………………..we have seen a record setting 35 new champions crowned……………………..2 of those new champions under the age of 1 year old…………………….2 Silver Grand Champions, 9 Bronze Grand Champions, 20 Grand Champions………….and the beat goes on!!!!!!
All of the above doesn’t include all of the weekends that other Chambray dogs with other handlers have been winning from California to Kalamazoo and back again……………….wins in a total of 14 different states………………..Winners Dog, Winners Bitch, Best Of Breeds and Grand Champion Selects.
This 2017 July West Palm Beach series gave us the 2nd Bronze Grand Champion of the year. We celebrate Bronze Gr Ch Chambrays Duke Destined For Greatness CGC and doing it in super style with back-to-back Best Of Breeds to summit over the 100 Grand Champion points for his Bronze title.
Duke is owned by Alyona Nikitsina and Gadi Shvarzman of Boca Raton and was superbly handled to the finishing of the Bronze by Laura Coombs.
Stepping up to the plate and whacking 3 homers out of the park was Chambrays Ruff Walter Jackson with 3 Winners Dog awards for a total of 6 points towards his AKC champion’s title. Jackson is owned by longtime Chambray owners Holly and David Blount of South Miami.
Pointing out and now with 9 Points is Chambrays Rose On Center Stage by winning Winners Bitch the very first show on Thursday. She is owned by another longtime Chambray owners, Juan Marrero of Miami.
Winning yet another Winners Dog and now only needing 3 singles is Chambrays Magnum N Counter who is owned by Elena Dillion of Palm City Fl.
The rest of the roster showed really well and each dog will continue to go through the Chambray Development Program getting each ready for their day in the Winner’s Circle.
Thank you all…………especially the awesome folk in Chambray’s Owner’s Programs!
July 12th
Very Wet Countdown To WPB
So, here we are, T-Minus 12 hours before the clanging of the opening bell...............the long, long semi-imposed hiatus is going to be finally over in half a clock's revolution.
Yes sire and ma'am, the last show was soooo long ago that I don't remember much of it.................but then suffering from short term memory loss will certainly be a main contributor to not recollecting.
What a welcome break in the monotonous routine of doing the exact same thing day in and day out since the Deland dog shows in May. Of course it would have been an afternoon's delight if the weather here in South Florida were not approaching monsoon levels today.....................and the worst of the dying depression will swoop over this neck of the woods sometime tomorrow!
Hey, a mans got to do what a mans got to do and women too....................so here part of Team Chambray is working with raincoats, umbrellas and the truly hardy are going commando sans weather gear...................but dripping wet is not my style, so panchos, umbrella and soaker boots is my calling.
Loading the van that just made it back this afternoon from being at the mechanics for the last 2 weeks was a big stress reliever, because transporting a boat load of dogs that short hop and a skip (95 miles), running one and a half hours up the pike is not easy thing to navigate without..................and trying to rent a comparable vehicle the day before departure sure as heck is not the way to go.....................at least not for me that plans everything out to the last detail!
So, last minute bathing and shampooing...............grinding nails on dogs that were just dropped off today...............that we had not seen for weeks and weeks on end.........................thinning and trimming totally frizzed and curled woolly mammoth dogs and others that have blown major coat in the last weeks or so................working magic on some and others will just have to do!
Working some training in, which in the past would have been impossible...............now with the new indoor A/C building makes things more manageable and not as much at the mercy of the elements!
Also, having spare rooms for the members of Team Chambray to crash in for the evening after our catch-up work is completed, waking up to loading dogs and hitting the dusty trail towards the show site before the sun rises, is a major comfort for all of us.
Hopefully there will be a major break in the weather the closer we approach the 4 AM wake up call so that at least the dogs can be loaded as dry as possible as can be accomplished in this splish-splash weather.
As the weather gets a little drier for the weekend, we are hoping to get a great Chambray owner's turnout to root the home team on.
Good luck to all and safe driving!
July 9th
The Thrill Of Victory Vicariously
To answer someone's long email:
The vast majority of dog breeders celebrate personally when their bred-by dogs win…………………..that is, they are more than likely to be there at that dog show when one of their dogs wins points, breeds or a group placement!
That’s because they own those top show dogs that are doing all that winning! Following the centuries-old tradition of keeping the best for themselves, those dogs are the ones most likely to be doing the winning.
That is a simple theorem to follow………………….however, the exception to the rule dictum comes into play with Chambray……………………where we place our best with folk that have the betterment of the breed in mind and take full advantage of all the mentoring, expertise, training, conditioning and unparalleled handling that comes with each puppy placed………………………….we get to experience all the winning from our dogs in a vicarious way!
Yep, our Chambray owners taste the thrill of victory in most cases way before we know what has transpired at a dog show. That’s because they are the owners of those top show potential dogs and they are the ones that are having those dogs shown throughout the USA.
From Minnesota to California, Oregon, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Georgia, Mississippi, Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, South and North Carolina…………………of course Florida……………..and if I have forgotten one of our great states, please pardon the missing gray matter in the failing memory department.
I know what a phenomenal thrill it is when a bred-by dog wins and you as the breeder are there to savor that moment……………yet, in the privacy of my own home, in front of my computer screen…………………..the same exalted feeling overwhelms me when I receive the MBF Infodog notice or an email from my owner of a Chambray dog winning a Best Of Breed or Winners Points at far away shows!
Even though there is no one else around in my Labrador Museum here at Chambray Acres, the smile on my face is exactly the same one that can be seen if I were at that dog shows where the dog just won at. It doesn’t matter how many times it happens the feeling is always the thrill of victory over and over again!
Sharing my greatest dogs with those that appreciate it and savoring the successes is my contribution to the breed.
Due to the unpredictable weather, the Chambray Acres Health Clinic schedule for this weekend has been postponed and rescheduled for July 23rd.
All those that had signed up will maintain their spot in line for X-Rays which we limited to 6 dogs. If there are any cancellations, we will notify those others that are on standby.
Dr Cesar will continue to take more dogs for vaccinations for the Dog Flu,
Bordetella, boosters and rabies and whatever else vet-wise that needs to
be taken care of.
We will also take more dogs for DNA testing if the kits are ordered before hand from
PawPrint or GenSol
As always, Chambray Labradors and the Owner's Program
serving the canine community.
V. Sandy Herzon
July 9th
It's Almost Show Time!
So, now we are 4 days away from the West Palm Beach Dog Shows!
Chaffing at the bit and chomping at that same bit, either/or……………are as close to acting like a horse that I have ever felt about an up and coming event!
Yep, the adrenaline is brewing, the juices are flowing, the excitement is in the air as the days dwindle down to ‘show time’!
You all have to remember the caged-tiger effect that I have been through sitting at home and not going to a dog show for these last two and a half months.
So now Thursday looms huge in the eastern morning horizon as we will be making our way over to the South Florida Fairgrounds in West Palm Beach…………………way before that sun rises and illuminates the Miami sky announcing daybreak.
Making the 1 ½ hour trek two counties north from Chambray Acres, we arrive at the fairground just as clarity beckons the busy bee dog people that are camping out around the Expo Center and the rest, just like us that descend at that designated spot from all points, south, north, west and east!
For those planning on attending and cheering on Team Chambray, the home team around these parts, the times and rings have now been posted.
Labrador Retrievers will be in bright and early with an 8:30 AM curtain call, Thursday, Friday and Saturday…………………..Sunday it will be at 8:00 AM…………………all 4 days in ring 7!
So, plan on coming to see some of the top puppies from the Class of 2016…………………..some of our mature dogs making a run for their championship……………………plus………………one of the strongest lineups of Chambray Champions ever assembled under one roof!
One of our class males, Chambrays Magnum N Counter can very well become Chambrays 60thHomebred Champion by winning Winners Dog at 2 of the shows!
Five of our superstars will be going head-to-head for the top honors………..BEST OF BREED.
Bronze Gr Ch Chambrays Tank’d On The Boulevard
Grand Ch Chambrays Duke Destined For Greatness
Grand Ch WinQuest Chambray Famous Amos
Ch Chambrays Maxed N Counter
Ch Chambrays Southern Magnolia’s Beau
We could be crowning our 2nd Bronze Grand Champion of the year as Duke is right on the cusp to garnering the 100th point needed to vault into the rarified air of a Bronze title.
Besides reaching our huge Chambray Owner contingency, I have sent emails to well over 60 none-Chambray Labrador owners from the South Florida area to come and watch our dogs at work and play and compete for the Winners Points, Grand Champion and Best Of Breed awards.
The excitement builds and Thursday AM cannot come fast enough, hope to see many of you there!
July 4th
Longing For The Thrill Of Victory
The long layoff from the dog shows feels like an eternity right about now! Having cancelled the rest of May’s shows, plus the 2 weekends of shows in June………….. 4 days of Tampa and 3 days of Orlando, both of those weekends a 30-year tradition for us……………..the repetitive daily routine starts to get rather monotonous!
It’s not so much the work that gets boring…………………it’s doing the same thing 7 days a week, without the ‘get away’ mentality that driving off to a dog show brings…………….driving off somewhere else, that breaks up the same old, same old!
So, now we anxiously wait for the 4 days of dog shows at West Palm Beach on July 13 to the 16th. Although, it is only an hour and a half way from Chambray Acres, it will be the break in the routine that will be most welcomed.
Since the show entries for Labradors didn’t make it to majors, it will be mostly our younger males and females comprising our starting lineup from the classes. The only exception will be Chambrays Magnum which has 11 points and both majors and could finish his championship by winning 2 days of Winners Dog. The rest of the class dog/bitch roster are all chasing singles and of course, eventually majors when they each point out.
Gr Ch Chambrays Duke Destined For Greatness will be the specials to watch, as he is just 2 or 3 points away from his Bronze Grand Champion’s title. Depending on the turnout/absentees, he could very well take a BOB and attain that BRONZE all in 1 day!
Winning points and titles is the end game of showing dogs………………………..for me, it is the environment that is my ‘call of the wild’!
It is getting there early and setting up………………it is the priming and grooming of the dogs to get them psyched out and ready………………it is the hustle and bustle right before the opening bell to start the show………………………………it is the entrance into the ring and sizing up the competition……………………it is the head to head jockeying for the best presentation of the dog………………..it is putting all of the training and conditioning, all the effort and energy, time and money, putting it all on the line and providing the judge with the best side possible of the dog……………………all leading to the possible payoff of having that judge point to that dog as being the winner of that class!
From the Wide World Of Sport’s opening theme song……..The ‘Thrill of Victory’ is etched indelibly in the far reaches of my mind……………………..there’s nothing that compares to putting in all the work as best as can possibly be done and then to savor the riches that comes from that effort!
Yes, I long for the change of scenery…………………that same old, same old training, conditioning………that same old making each dog the very best it can be………to then take them for the ultimate evaluation, the one done by the anointed judge/person for the day and it coming out all smelling like roses!
WPB can’t come fast enough!
July 3rd
Happy Birthday America The Beautiful
July 1st
The heat and humidity are bearing down big time on all at this time of the year, our canine companions as well.
More dogs suffer from heatstroke, sunburn and dehydration on the weekend of the 4th of July than any other weekend or holiday!
Make sure that there is plenty of shade for our furry friends, that they have unrestricted access to water and to use sunscreen on their nose.