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| Sugar Bay's Beringer, Group 4 with Judge Jack Ireland from Ontario Canada |
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| Sugar Bay's Beringer Group 4 with Judge Deny Janssen from Bogata, Columbia |
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| Sugar Bay's Beringer with Judge Jack Ireland for his NEW CKC CHAMPION photo |
For those of you that don't know a darn thing about a dog show, the dogs are in different "Groups". In Canada the Coton de Tulear is in the Toy Group. So there are several different breeds of Toy dogs that compete with their own breed for Best of Breed. The dog that wins BOB is then able to compete in Group. Beringer was one of 15 Toy breeds on Friday and 13 Toy breeds on Saturday in his Group (Group 5), winning 4th place twice. He gained 4 points toward his CKC Championship and needs 6 more. Beringer's sire is Multi-CH W10 Cowboy's Rio Bravo and his dam is Multi-CH Sugar Bay's Mademoiselle Monet. Thank you to Judge Christopher Neilson and Judge Robert Dawson for choosing Beringer.
Beringer's last bath was about one month ago. I don't like to bathe them too often because I think it takes out coat each time. It takes about a month before the coat starts to get a little more difficult to groom (a comb doesn't glide through but sticks a little). Beringer is probably the most relaxed dog I've ever come across. I can't say that he LOVES his bath and the "Big Blow" dryer, but he is always calm and sweet and puts up with it. What he likes to do the most, is to dive bomb any stray leaf that's floating on the water and catch it before it goes down the drain. He'll blow bubbles to get it. He's quite a character.
Agnes took me to my old places: University of Poitiers where I went to school and the little apartment where I lived and also back to her parent's house. Renee played the accordion (so beautiful) and Coco, her mom showed us the collection of traditional dresses, hats and clothing of the region that she has been collecting. It was a veritable museum. Carol took photos and I'll get them later. Agnes made a wonderful lunch of Ratatouille, chicken and my favorite "chicory" salad frise... and of course good red wine.
We took the train to Poitiers, which is about 2.5 hours by train south of Paris. I had gone to school there about 25 years ago! Clouseau was such a wonderful traveler and would sit in a chair when we had dinner or a beer. He got a little something too of course.
Thought I'd share with you what I feed my dogs. The kibble is First Mate New Zealand Lamb and the raw food is Instinct Venison or Lamb. Then I add some carrots, apple and some fresh spinach. They also get salmon oil in a capsule some "Show Coat". They like it a lot.
Beringer is 9 months old and a chunky monkey. His coat is huge and actually easy, so far, to care for. He has never developed any eye staining. I'm not sure but I think it may be due to his diet of raw food and First Mate (no grain) kibble. All the dogs get this as well as salmon oil, fresh apple, carrots and lightly steamed broccoli. He is already half way (5 points) toward his Canadian Kennel Club championship. He's daddy is Cowboy's Rio Bravo who, by the way, won the breed last year at the 2010 World Dog Show in Denmark. This was out of 140 Cotons! Beringer is such a sweet gentle boy and loves to bring me his toys and when I pick him up he likes to snuggle.
Last week-end my friend Carol with her Cavalier "Diamond", and me with both Clouseau and Beringer drove the 4 plus hour drive to Maple Ridge BC Canada to be in the Oceanside Kennel Club CKC dog show. We took off early on Friday morning for ring time of 1:30 PM and since I wanted to follow the GPS directions, we went way out of our way to get there and almost didn't make the ring time! Beringer (Sugar Bay's Beringer) won 4 points (need 10) toward his CKC Championship and as a puppy, nicely done. 
Yesterday, my friend Marla and I participated in "Meet the Breeds" at the Seattle Kennel Club Dog Show. I took both Beringer and Ziggy who were great ambassadors for the breed.
