Galaxy
Digit
(2015-2023)
Pomegranate
(2009-2019)
Bison
(2002-2011)
— Pictures of Bison
— Pedigree
— Health Clearances
— Bison's titles
— About the name
— Show Stories & Record
— Show Schedule
Orca
(2005-2014)
Panda
(1996-2005)
Pockets
(1990-2006)
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Sometimes, things get way beyond your control. I had shown Bison a few times by the time we reached our first regional specialty, and had been taking classes. We were both "getting it". I could get him reasonably stacked, moving correctly. We just had to wait for Cash to get finished to have a chance to even win our class!
The first day at the regionals, we were in a class of 8 or 9 nine-to-twelve month old dogs. We showed well, and finished 4th. Ecstatic at those results, we returned to the hotel. After a long final walk for the evening, I noticed a police cruiser out in front of the hotel. Thinking nothing of it, we went up to our room on the second floor.
That's when I saw the open door, and the cop talking to two people inside a smoke-filled room. The familiar smell of marijuana wafted out. We went into our room. A half-hour later, the smoke was still coming out of that room, and was permeating ours. I called down to the hotel lobby to complain, and perhaps another 1/2 hour later, they spayed Lysol in the hallway, masking the odor, not neutralizing it.
I got very little sleep, as Bison panted all night. At 6 am, I decided to feed him breakfast. Normally a slow, methodical eater, Bison polished his bowl in about 5 seconds. Bison was still panting when we went to the showgrounds. He was still stoned.
After some grooming, I decided to move him around a bit to practice. He tried to tackle me. Twice. But he'd settle down and I could move him.
We went into the ring with our class, and waited to be examined. While the first dog was being examined, Bison tried to tackle me in the ring. Chest-high. Fortunately, I wasn't caught unaware and stayed upright. Time came for his examination; I stacked him and backed away. The judge took a step forward and Bison broke his stack, sat next to her and gave his best "Hey baby" look to her. She actually smiled and asked me to restack.
That task accomplished, she sent me down-and-back on the diagonal mat. And then sent me again. And then a third time. Satisfied with the third trip, she sent me around the ring. And then she asked me to do it again.
After the last dog was examined, we stacked our dogs in a line. As she was going over Cash, one dog ahead of us, he broke his stack. I quickly lifted him by his rear "handle" (conveniently located on his underside) and tossed his back legs into a perfect stack, just as she finished looking at Cash.
She then pointed to Cash and Bison, and asked us to move our dogs up. Doug started moving Cash to the #1 spot, I was right on his tail ready to go #2. "No no no" she exclaimed and pointed us to 2 and 3.
All the while, I had to wonder what the handlers who finished behind Bison were thinking...
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