Julie,
thanks for the comments and I do hope to get to some shows up that way later this summer. Kimm shows all our dogs and we like to see them in the ring so some shows are possible.

The out of ring shots were important to understand Rowdy's entire show experience. We don't stick him in a crate and bring him out when it's ring time. He socializes with the people and with the other dogs and simply enjoys everything and everyone. You can't do that with every show dog and certainly not with every Rottie but we've been doing it that way for 10 years and we're not going to change it now.

BTW, an interesting twist on the story is the fact that the judge, George Heitzman, judged Rowdy in his very first show at 7 months of age -- the Gulfstream Specialty in Miami -- and gave him Reserve Winners Dog to a 5-point major. When we reminded Mr. Heitzman of that, he misted up a bit. Then growled "I didn't give him the AOM because I felt sorry for some old dog. I gave it to him because he's a damn fine show dog right now." Linda kissed him .

Jim