Happy April from the Annihaus Blue Suede Litter Kids. At least this time I managed to remember it on the first of the month . Must be because today is my birthday.



Hugs and kisses from Moxie and her littermates.

Jim

Another great one.

Happy B-day. That must be fun.

Happy Birthday Jim! I hope you have a lovely holiday also. I'm off to the American Eskimo Dog Club of America's Agility trial this weekend in Amherst, NH. Hopefully I can get some good shots, one ring, indoors. ( and a 3 hour ride each way) I am bringing my D700 and my 70-200mm VR F2.8 I hope it is long enough. It would also be nice if I brought home a couple of QQ's and some MACh points too.

Penny

Good luck on the double Q's and MACH pts goals! That's very impressive. Of course, you're running those fluffy dogs which is really not much of a challenge . . . . Compared to Rotties that is.

The 70-200 should give you enough reach. I've used a 70-200 F2.8 to shoot several Agility Trials (although admittedly I'm not nearly as competent as Jim Poor) and it was more than adequate. Please share your results.

Jim

The focal length should be fine, at an indoor trial. 400 would be GREAT, but 200 is certainly workable. My "dark building" lens is a 200mm prime. The added flexibility of the 70-200 should serve you well.

The one concern, depending on the lighting, might be that 2.8 isn't bright enough, but with white dogs, you'll have an advantage there too.

I'd love to go to an all Eskie trial.

It's a hoot! If you thought a sheltie trial was bad, at least they come in different colors! LOL! It's pretty bad when you have to do a double take on your own dog! I'll post photos as soon as I get home on Monday.

Thanks for the tips!

Penny

Cute as a button.

How are all the other pups doing?

All the pups are doing fine. Moxie is feeling much better and has migrated to ID with some of her normal food today. She will be staying home while we're going to Colorado but she needs to rest and that much travel in a car is not resting.

Sundance and Max (he's visiting again) will be going with us to the National and both are entered in Carting while Max is entered in Open Dog in Conformation. I have a lot of training to do before they are ready for the Carting Test especially since I will be shooting Futurity that day and Linda will have to show the two biguns. I'm already worried.

Cassidy will be staying with her son, Jasper, 140 lbs. of true love. She'll whip him into shape.

Harry Potter and Marion Louise will be staying with Linda's sister, RoseAnn. They are both very sweet kids and they will enjoy the adventure.

Moxie is scheduled to stay with mom Juneau and brother Ike. IF her belly is healed enough for the utter chaos that will follow. If not, we may take her with us. She'll drive the boys nuts but what the heck. Why make things easy when you can complicate your life beyond comprehension?

As for the rest of Moxie's litter, we've seen them all recently and they are all tremendous lovers. Very people-oriented and very much into being held, touched and cuddled. I have no idea how that happened but I'm delighted it did. Nothing nicer than a really nice, gentle Rottie.

Jim