This photo is historic for Blyss Kennels, taken in May, 2005, of Bob and me with Opal. She had just won her class at the Bucks Co Kennel Club Show. The future looked so bright! See: https://blysskennels.us/our-dogs/opal/index.html
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I had the pleasure yesterday, May 25, 2014, of attending the Plainfield Kennel Club’s annual point show. I am a member of that club, and I enjoy being so enormously. It is, as are most dog shows, a true gathering of like minded individuals who assume they know one another very well without having to be introduced simply by virtue of they fact they are present at the same event. Their wants, needs, goals, tasks, skills, etc., could not be more perfectly aligned as they are there.
I do look upon my dog club memberships, of which this is only one of several, as a way I keep up with an activity with which I have an obsessive passion, for good or ill. I know people, and people know me, all through the accomplishments or the breeding (the breeders, or the get), of my borzoi. I am very proud of them all, especially given the tremendous tragedy of Bob’s unexpected illness and death three years ago forcing me to place in a loving home the one remaining dog whose title was only three points from being finished. I simply could not do it myself, it was not meant to be at that time. And even that story is well known, as is the story of the successful placement I made for him, and the ongoing rumors that he may be back soon to complete those elusive last three points. Such is the stuff of the drama in my life.
The other topic of interest is whether or not I will acquire another borzoi, and if I do, as it is assumed I shall, from whom (which breeder)? And, will it be all white, as those that have gone before, or will it have color, and if it is to have color, how much? Or, another way of wording the question is, will I return to the two breeders from whom the original Blyss Borzoi were acquired or go to another breeder. Speculation abounds.
My mind is particularly stimulated during and after the day of a dog show. I see the range of borzoi currently being shown, class dogs and specials. And, I see beauty in most. Although I do prefer a mostly white (background) dog to accentuate its dramatic black facial features: eyes, eyeliner, and nose, I put conformation, soundness, health and temperament before color. I have had all varieties of white dogs with flaws, and it is no picnic owning one. My own health collapsed when my most beloved borzoi puppy-bitch, pure and silvery white as can be, “Opal”, died and became an Angel before her second birthday. Being white or primarily white in color does not make it “free” to own (feed and take care of), eliminate bad faults, congenital defects, or cancer. Having any kind of romantic fantasy about a beautiful dog is dangerous, regardless of its breed or color. Owning, keeping, showing, breeding dogs has no room for sentiment. This is especially true when breeding dogs (selecting breeding stock), whelping litters, and then evaluating the litter. There is only reality and reality never hides its face. The only question will be how much face are you willing to show to it, to give to it, to fix it, especially if it is a problem that can never be fixed.
I do not want to sound pessimistic. I love my borzoi, faults included. There will always be faults. One must know oneself to know what kind of borzoi, or any kind of dog, that is, one wants. Life is hard – for us humans. It is harder for dogs. They depend on us, we humans, frail and flawed, to care for them.
However, let me not end on a note of sadness, or by evoking a tragic memory for myself. I am so happy I was at the dog show yesterday, and especially happy that going to a dog show can make me feel that way. That, being at a dog show is for me a huge, happy social event that gives me a welcomed change from the long hours I spend alone, for my own life truly is a study in solitude. If not, I would never have a Blog, I suppose. I will dare to write it that happy women do not sit home alone writing in a blog anymore than they wrote in journals, diaries or letters in the past. A happy woman is a woman not alone, a woman who has her children around her, or has lots of friends and lovers, and travels to interesting places. My life has been a marred journey to strange places directed by a truly miserable family of origin. I have had to recognize it for what it was so I could discard it and redirect myself in the opposite direction from them. That is my mission and the remainder of my life’s work.
Blyss Blog is the communication tool through which I share the beauty and joy as well as the tragedies I have found on my journey to serenity through living with the Blyss Borzoi. Through my sharing of my own joys and pains, I hope I inspire others to face their personal joys and sorrows. I wish and hope that my readers too can work through them in ways whereby their own pains and joys can be constructive and not destructive for them. Most of all, I hope my readers in need of comfort find their own bliss for themselves.