So let's see I think I left off at the "bath from hell" .... which even though it was a horrific experience for all involved LOL it turned out well and I had a nice clean, coconut smelling Gabriel to show for it! As I said the show was on Saturday, March 24 so that morning we woke up bright and early to get ourselves ready ... we had to be at the show ring around noon and he was scheduled to in I think around 1pm. So I made sure I got together everything we needed (treats, towel for wiping away the drool, water bottle, water bowl, Xanax LOL (j/k) and I think maybe a bone I honestly can't even remember). After packing up our bag I realized I didn't really like the leash we had been using it was much too long and I needed him to be as close to me as possible since we were going to an enclosed area loaded with strange people and dogs and I wasn't sure how he would react. I also figured I would be doing most of the hanging on to him since Scott had already threatened us for a month how he wasn't going and how could I even think of entering him blah blah blah (SHUT UP already Mr. Negativity) - so since mostly likely it was just going be me, and the girls and Gabe's I decided he needed a nice new "short" leash so we headed over to Petco quickly and bought him a new leash, a nice big knuckle bone for afterwards and ok I will admit I also bought him these organic "calming" drops which supposedly help calm a dog down in stressful situations. A few drops on the tongue is supposed to do the trick but with that boy I'd say maybe half the bottle would have to be used LOL! So anyway as we were driving back home now to pick Gabriel up my cell is ringing like crazy and hmmm guess who it was .... Scott ... you know the one who wasn't coming ... well suddenly he was coming LOL! I knew he would ... he likes to threaten us all the time and when he sees that quite frankly we really don't care he suddenly puts HIS tail between his legs and comes along LOL!
Gabriel was really good in the car and luckily it only took about 20 minutes to get there. As soon as we got out of the car I started to get really nervous because there were ALOT of other dogs milling around as well as people and of course Gabriel suddenly became very intrigued with everyone and everything and that in turn causes him to "pull" extra hard as we are trying to walk him on his leash. But we did keep him pretty well under control ... I had some baby carrots in my pocket that I would stick under his nose when he would pull too much ... it didn't help all that much but hey I had to try something!
When we finally checked in we headed over to a quieter area and hung there and just let him get comfortable. After a little while we headed over to the ring where the mastiffs were being shown and met up with the others from our "group". That is when we found out that the person that was supposed to actually "show" Gabriel for us was not coming ... uh oh once again panic sets in. Luckily Eva remained calm enough to find someone else to show him for us (but that was not until Scott decided HE would be taking Gabriel in the ring to which we all said a simultaneous NO!! LOL) I don't think he realizes that there is a certain way of "showing" the dog and you don't just go in and run around the ring like a lunatic LOL! Plus to top it off this was Gabriel's very first time so we had no idea how he would act so for him to go in with Scott who also had no idea how to act LOL it would not be a good thing. So anyway Eva talked to her friend John Horn who I also know from our Mastiff Club and he kindly offered to take him in the ring. We owe him a huge thanks too because he was soooo good with him - he practiced with him on and off until it was time to go in and you know what I loved the most was how he kept talking to Gabriel and kissing him and just being so good with :o) and of course Gabriel responded by doing what John wanted (most of the time :o) When it was his turn to go in he ended up going up against only one other dog in his class who turned out to be his brother Gibbs! Gibbs of course did a wonderful job and he stood and walked and just did everything he was supposed to do. Gabriel on the other did "most" of what he was supposed to do but there were a few stumbles along the way along with the fact that Gabriel is an expert at "sitting" LOL and unfortunately sat a few times when he should have been standing. But that is ok because for the most part he did wonderfully for his first time and we were so proud of him!!! He ended up with a 2nd place ribbon which is pretty funny when I tell people because they think oh wow really that is so good but then I tell they there were only 2 dogs in the competition so that kind of puts a new "light" on his 2nd place win LOL! Scott, however, decided to tell his parents that Gabriel took 2nd place out of 30 other dogs LOL and them being down in Florida and having no idea about shows anyway believe him LOL!
Anyway after Gabriel was done we thought we would be leaving but since he was being so good we decided to stay and watch the rest of the Mastiff competition. Once it was over everyone headed out ... by the time we got home poor Gabriel was beat ... but he stayed awake long enough for me to give him his knuckle bone - his prize for being so good! So that's it pretty much our first show experience was a really good one ... not sure when I will enter him again ... I would have like to put him in one of the big ones coming up in May but I don't think we are going to be around for it so I guess I will just have to wait for the next one! Hopefully this time he will get a "real" 2nd place or maybe 1st (wishful thinking) .... I was kind of bummed there was only him and the other mastiff because when there are only 2 they automatically take 1st and 2nd ... it would have been interesting to see if he would have placed if there was more competition. But oh well maybe next time :o)!!!
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