Next Stop Newark!

The Top Lodge Trio including husbands (they are all CFGB Committee members) spent all day yesterday in the Lady Eastwood Building at Newark and Notts Showground preparing this weekend's Canine Freestyle GB HTM Show.

The CFGB Committee have been so busy the last weeks sorting entries, allocating judges, buying rosettes for the winners, getting running orders out and all the other things that needs to be done to make sure the show can be a success.

It is hard to imagine, that this big, empty hall will transform into a pretty HTM dance floor!

Kath laying down the very first carpet tile...
About 2000 more had to follow before the ring was ready!


Nicci Hindson offered to come and help - thank you!

WOW!

What a beautiful ring!
We are almost ready to dance!

And fencing to keep both dogs and handlers in the ring :o)

Just the warm up area to do...

The Trio is back in Newark today to finish off - still lots to do!

And tomorrow morning it will all be ready for a weekend of fabulous HTM. See you then!

Erin's first bath

Erin just discovered the one big disadvantage that comes with living with a dog groomer...
The baths!!!! She has had her first bath!!!!

Eeeeuuuu water all over!

Even in the face!

Are you done soon???

And she survived!
Who would have thought that????

Erin

Karen and Allan have decided on a name :o)
'Puppy' will - some day! - answer to the name Erin.

Erin is doing well. The first week since she left the resuce center has been tough. It seems that Karen got more worm than dog sent over from Ireland! Erin has been very poorly from round worms, but she is improving every day and will soon be ready to chew shoes up and tease Kes and Fly like any other healthy puppy.

"Puppy" Meets More Friends

It was a quieter day for "puppy" today. Not feeling so hungry - not feeling so lively - but sleeping quite well after a very noisy night!!

Karen wanted to take Kes and Fly for a good walk so Kath looked after "pup" for an hour.
She wasn't feeling so sleepy as lots of new friends to meet. Allan called in on his way home to help out.

She looks quite big when alone





but Spice seems to dwarf her here!

Very dense fur. Any ideas what her parents may have been?

A Special Puppy Day

Today was a very special day for both Karen and Allan. For quite some time they have been searching for a new dog to join their family and yesterday they made their now usual weekly visit to Second Chance Rescue in Chellaston, Derby.

Second Chance are slightly different to the usual rehoming centres as they also regularly take in a number of dogs and puppies from Ireland.


When they arrived to look at this week's dogs, one small puppy caught the attention of Karen straight away. A beautiful little girl, sable and white and approximately 9 weeks old. She had arrived at the centre just that morning along with three other puppies from Ireland.

After spending some time with her, Karen put a reserve on her but this was subject to "puppy" passing the vet's examination due later that day. During that evening Karen telephoned the centre and was delighted to find out that "puppy" had received her first vaccinations and had been cleared for adoption.


This morning Karen and Kath excitedly went to the Rescue Centre to finalise the rehoming.

"Puppy" was very pleased to see Karen and wasn't at all worried when lifted out the pen away from the other 3 pups. A thorough run through the paperwork by Jo Fairbrother who explained everything very well and off "puppy" went to her new home after being micro chipped.

"Pup" travelled home very well - we expect she must be used to travelling as she had covered some distance from Ireland to Derbyshire already!

A lovely sunny day - so "puppy" was introduced to both Kes and Fly in the garden. It was nice to see that "puppy" already has good dog manners and she certainly seemed to find her feet - in every corner of the garden!


After exploring and playing, Pup had a late lunch and almost a nap - but life is just too exciting for "pup" to close her eyes for a second! Top Lodge Dancing Dogs will be dancing for this Charity at their Summer Fun Day - date to be finalised.






NB Please note the Rescue Centre is currently looking for donations to raise £10,000 or building materials to help restore their Main Building. PLUS Newspapers and Blankets always needed.

Kath and Spice on 'Big Welsh Bite' Poster

The Trio will be performing at the Food & Agricultural Show 'Big Welsh Bite' at Ynysangharad War Memorial Park, Pontypridd on the 31st July - 2nd August. Kath and Spice are on the poster advertising the event. See it here!

Happy Memories

It is funny how little everyday things can remind us of dogs from the past and the happy memories they gave us. The latest series of Britain's Got Talent made Kath think of her first dancing dog Ginnie. Ginnie once performed in 'Brilliant Creatures'. The host was Stephen Mulhern, who was also the host of BGT.

Ginnie gave Kath so many wonderful memories. She was the most successful dog in Heelwork to Music and Freestyle in England having won more competitions than any other dog. At 14 years of age she finished on equal points in the Crufts Heelwork to Music Competition 2007.
Ginnie performed 24 different routines and competed 54 times. She placed 1st 32 times, 2nd 14 times and 3rd 5 times.

Ginnie was a remarkable dog and paired with Kath, she became extraordinary.

See more about her performance in Brilliant Creatures here!