Packing starts tonight, the dogs get groomed tomorrow, and we leave at midnight on Friday for New Jersey. Somehow, our first dog show has gone from something we were planning for to something I actually need to pack a bag for. Nike and Panda will be joining me at the ICKC Big Hair show, and between preparing two young dogs and figuring out an 80s themed outfit, there has been plenty to keep me occupied.
I am excited. I am also nervous. The dogs, meanwhile, seem perfectly comfortable leaving all the worrying to me.
A 90s Kid Attempts the 80s
Being born in the 90s has left me at a slight disadvantage with this theme. I appreciate the fun of it, but putting together an outfit has required more thought than I expected. After seeing some of the plans other people have shared, I am fairly certain my interpretation will be its own source of entertainment.
The outfit has officially been decided, though, and it will remain a surprise until the pictures make their way online. I cannot promise it will be a hit. I can promise that I am participating, and that some of you will probably get a good laugh out of it. Hopefully, Nike and Panda will be looking so lovely that nobody spends too much time assessing my understanding of the decade.
Our Dirt Road Practice Ring
There have been many attempts at stacking and many practice trots up and down our private dirt road. There have also been plenty of reminders that these are very young dogs. They have the energy of children and, conveniently, the patience of children too.
Getting everyone’s feet where they belong is one thing. Convincing them that those feet should stay there is another. Finding that beautiful trot takes practice, especially when a puppy thinks picking up the pace sounds much more enjoyable. We have been working through it together, and I am learning how much the person holding the lead has to practice, too.
I see things in both boys that make me excited to present them. I also know that practicing on a familiar road at home is different from walking into a busy, unfamiliar place. There will be a lot for them to take in, and I want to remember that when we get there. They are still puppies in my eyes, with plenty of growing and learning ahead of them.
The First Time on the Other End of the Lead
This will be my first time attending a dog show at all, and my first time stepping into the ring. We are arriving as beginners, right alongside our dogs. That is exciting to say out loud, although it certainly comes with a few butterflies.
We can spend hours evaluating our dogs at home, studying their movement, and comparing them to the breed standard. This will be the first time a judge looks them over, and our first opportunity to be around other Yakutian Laika in a show setting. I am looking forward to seeing those dogs in person and having something to learn from beyond our own photographs, videos, and observations.
This is an ICKC show, not an AKC event, so it will be a different experience from the AKC shows we have also been preparing for. It is still a meaningful first step for us, and an opportunity to bring two of our young dogs into the ring and learn firsthand. Caring deeply about what we are doing does not make the nerves disappear. If anything, it explains why they are there.
Fresh Coats and Reasonable Expectations
Tomorrow, Nike and Panda have their grooming appointments. Panda’s coat is looking amazing, and I am excited to see him all finished and ready to go. Nike still has his puppy coat, so the two will bring slightly different versions of “big hair” to the weekend. We will see how they turn out, although I suspect both will be considerably better prepared for the theme than I am.
Of course, ribbons would be special. I would be lying if I said otherwise. But there is already so much value in making this trip, learning how to present our dogs, and finding out what we need to work on next. I want the boys to have a good experience, and I want to come home feeling that we gave them patience and encouragement while we figured things out together.
For now, packing commences, the outfit stays under wraps, and our little stretch of dirt road has done its part. We are heading to New Jersey with two much loved young dogs and a handler who is probably going to need a reminder to breathe. I am grateful we get to do this, nerves and all, and I look forward to sharing the experience with you. The pictures should be worth waiting for.
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