Updates

Well, we haven't had any wins, but Rocky did show very well at Beltsville this weekend.  He stacked and baited exceptionally well, and had good energy, and if we could only have gotten some better movement out of him, I think he would have been a contender.  Unfortunately he was up against a very tough crowd in the Gun Dog group, and the solid Standards were moving out much better (although I don't think even they placed very well).  Ah well, another day another lesson.  Onward and upward!

Here's how his clip is coming along- although I'm really leaning towards a full-on show clip for next time around!

Progress is Progress

Another show weekend unfortunately failed to pay out wins, but, more learning has been acquired.

One judge commented on his non-standard clip as being a distraction.  So, Rocky is going to surrender his studly German clip for the time being, in the interest of finishing his title.  We have to grow back his ears and tail into a more traditional Poodle look.  Something more like this:

We also have to find ways to make him appear "happier" in the ring.  Next show is possibly November.

Meanwhile, as we say goodbye, here's a photo timeline of his grooming evolution thus far:

Quite a ways to go, overall.  :-)  But the things we've learned for shaping out his chest and legs will still apply to his new clip, so nothing truly lost in that adventure.

Courtland Results

Success!!

Points finished and 2 of 3 competition wins earned.  Only one win left to Champion!

Rocky showed much better this time around, although is limp did return slightly towards the end of the weekend- perhaps more conditioning, more chiro, and more meds lol.  But overall his movement was great, and his ribbons are there to prove it!  He even beat out a Parti-Colored Champion to earn his Breed Win!!  

Leah also got some great pointers from other Poodle handlers and the Judges, so with some more training and grooming, hopefully he'll only need one more shot at the ring to get that final win and be on his way!

Way to go Rockstar!

Stacked Photo

Nice stacked photo Leah got after his groom & chiro appointment.  And for comparison:

His best groomed stack from his previous show in January.  I see major improvements all around!  Better stack, better posture, the groom is showing off nicer angles.

Almost Show Time!

Rocky joined the others for a nice chiropractic adjustment this week, and also received some painkillers just in case.  Yesterday he got his show groom (we'll have to do some touch ups at the show grounds I'm sure).  But for the most part, he's prepped and ready to go!

More Grooming

We clipped Rocky back and submitted him to the show sites that have been helping Ruff and I prepare.  We got some tips back on stacking and grooming both.

We clipped him shorter for the weather.  His crest is too short- we need to grow it back out.  It was also suggested to trim the fronts of his front legs and back of his back legs to shorten his body length, and grow some extra chest & belly hair to form a better curve from his throat down through his tuck-up.  For stacking, we need to get him standing square to make him look shorter and more angled.  We're going to grow him out until the last weekend in April, then we'll do his show clip.  Whatever doesn't grow we'll fake with fluffing and a stark contrast with short hair on the butt and body.

Updates

Took the big boy to the World of Pets Expo, and first we did a little haircut modification.  I didn't spend a ton of time scissoring, mostly just took the big chunks off with clippers to make the cut more what I wanted.  I was pretty happy with the results.

The topline still needs some work, but the hip angles are MUCH better, and he looks nice and trim now.  Now we just have to get that neck to grow in!