My husbands heart ~ISSR SHILOH~

[Hedgewitch]

Yuki came to us as a surprise. We went to a show with Mali and our new puppy Rani here in NC. When we left that morning I told Steve, my husband I heard Mali tell Rani, every time we pack the car like this we are getting another puppy. I laughed and told her, "No we are not getting another puppy!" I was so happy there was a show close to home as traveling long distances is very hard on me. It was a fun gathering, very warm and friendly. Small cabins all set up around a central grassy area where the show ring was set up, grant it the show ring was not big enough for an adult Shiloh to really get into full stride but the atmosphere was wonderful.

Bright colored canopies lines the sides of the ring and flags lines the ring, majestic dogs could be seen everywhere accompanied by their proud companions. It still bring s smile to my face when I think back on that weekend. Steve Mali, Rani, and I arrived early and set up our exercise pen so the girls would not have to be on leashes all of the time. Rani was very young and I am a bit of a nut when it comes to things like Parvo, and did not want her to be roaming everywhere but where I had her, so she spent most of her time confined. I had my electric chair with me for the first time and being the rebel that I am did not use it as much as I should have so it spent most of the time under the canopy, while I roamed with Mali at my side. She had gotten quiet good at making sure I did not fall, even on uneven ground.

This was the weekend we got to meet Mali's sister for the first time, Rani was in her first dog show and rolled over offering to let the judge rub her belly, (silly girl), she also barked at someone taking her picture while she was in the ring too. Rani can be a bit feisty! We made new friends and got to see old friends. It was a wonderful weekend. We were all packed up and ready to leave. Steve had the girls in the car and I had gone to say bye to Ma, when Ma invited me into her Cabin for a little chat.
When I left the cabin we had a new puppy. She was a plush coated girl, buff colored, soft temperament, with a large bone structure. It seems I was incorrect and Mali was correct all along, we did get another puppy. My husband always wanted a buff colored puppy. We had planned to keep one of Mali's pups as she carries the white gene.

On the way home we talked about names. He wanted to name her Snowflake. SNOWFLAKE! That is a mouthful. I refused. Give me a break. We went back and forth. I got an idea and called my draught's fiancé, he is from Japan, and asked him how to say snowflake in Japanese. She is the clown in our pack, always there to make us smile, low dog that does not chose to keep her ears erect, but I have pictures to prove they do go up when she wants them up. Yuki came to live with us and became my husband's heart.

Months have passed since I typed this and Yuki is now at 14 months nearly 100 pounds and 30" ay her withers. She is still on the very soft side but her confidence is building daily. She has come a long way from a puppy who would urinate on the floor at a strange sound to a dog who passed her adult temperament test, though she did only squeak through. A pass is still a pass. There have been other dogs who did not pass. She will not greet strangers with a soft kiss if they let her come to them.

Yuki has passed advanced obedience including hand signs only, and is going to be moving on to S&R this fall if life gives my husband time to work with her. She keep her ears erect more often now and is no longer settling for always being low dog in the pack.