Dex x Chili 11/18/2021

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Chili had three, beautiful, show quality girls on January 22, 2020. She was a fantastic mom,  and I couldn’t be prouder of how she handled motherhood. Look for Rillo, Esmee, and Luna in the ring once dog shows resume!

Chili did the damn thing! Select Bitch at the National Specialty. That means out of over 500 entries and 100+ champion bitches she was awarded the second highest placement for bitches! It was a win I will never forget. Kari and Chili’s teamwork shined as they made cut after cut and finally were award that big ribbon!

Unfortunately, Bravo caught a stomach bug the night before the breed ring. He cheered his sister on from his bed and didn’t get to strut his stuff. 

2019 has been so exciting! Josh and I got married!! And, of course, we had Chili and Bravo by our side as we said our vows. Our beautiful second cousins walked them down the aisle in our own backyard... It was a dream. Also, Chili will be on the cover of Steve Moore's Ridgebook Vol. 2. She won the cover by vote, and I couldn't be more proud. Those mountains are the background in front of which Josh and I got engaged, and also from which the river runs that inspired our kennel's namesake. 

In the show world, we have had many fun wins this year. Chili is 14 points away from her SILVER grand championship! We will be spending the rest of the year traveling and seeing how far she and I can go! Bravo will tag along and be her biggest cheerleader!

Stay tuned for Chili puppy updates come fall! 

Chili, Bravo and I had a wonderful time at the National Specialty this year! We even got to bring my mom along, who is basically my dog show sidekick at this point. Our events started on Wednesday where C, B and I competed in the Endurance Trial . It is a 12 mile run that starts and ends with an obedience check. The point of the obedience check is not to test obedience, but to test the willingness of the dog to work after running 12 miles. Endurance is not just to test the  physical ability of the dog, but also the mental stamina to take orders after 12 exhausting miles! The 12 miles is split up into 3 four mile legs. Before and after each leg there is a veterinary check: paw pads, heart rate, respiration, temperature. Bravo, Chili and I ran 8 miles before handing Bravo off to my friend and second handler Sharon! Chili was unfortunately in her post-heat funk, and I pulled her after the 8 miles. So she has 2/3 of an ET  (we joke she has a lowercased et... We will try again in Ohio next year!) Bravo finished with flying colors and proudly adds ET to his list of accomplishments!

The REAL fun began Friday with the Best of Breed competition. I showed Bravo and couldn't be more proud of his presence and pro-like demeanor in the ring! He has been slow to mature in the ring and really showed his stuff that day. While he didn't make any cuts, I am so excited to get him out to shows this next year and work on his grand championship!

Chili was handled by Kari Adams PHA -- those two are a dream team together. They made it through two cuts to top 20 bitches!! I was elated! 2019 should bring some fun times for this team as they keep this momentum going! 

We skipped out on lure coursing to go see my brother in Aspen, but fall lure coursing is starting up next week and we can't wait!

After taking a little break from conformation, Chili set out to get her toes wet in the show ring before nationals. Over the past year, Chili and Emmy worked as an owner-handled team and won a Best in Show - Owner Handled together! But they knew the true winning team was with Kari Adams. This was their first show back together, and did they knock it out of the park. 

Hound Group 3, 2 Best of Breeds, Best of Opposite Sex, and Select Bitch. 18 grand champion points that brings her up to over 3/4 of the way to her Bronze Grand Championship! They are en fuego! Can't wait to see what Chii and Kari can accomplish together!