We just call her Moxie, but this last weekend a whole lot of other folks were introduced to her full name, Taji’s Chock Full O’ Moxie. Look out AKC, Moxie had her very first dog show and she liked it.
It’s downright astonishing how Katie can take my goofy, cuddly, muffin of a dog and turn her into an smooth, elegant, stunner. I honestly didn’t think she could do it. I should know better by now (Moxie is our third Taji dog), Katie is an unstoppable force. Everywhere she goes she leaves beautiful, and most importantly healthy and well mannered dogs in her wake.
I know some of you are thinking that dogs shows and breeders are evil and that we should have gotten a puppy from the shelter. I don’t disagree that getting a puppy from a shelter or rescue is a great thing. I do however strongly disagree about breeders and dog shows being bad.
Here’s the thing, Katie has been breeding dogs for something close to 20 years. She never breeds more dogs than she has qualified homes for and not a single dog has ever ended up in a shelter. If there’s a problem, any problem, for the life of the dog Katie takes them back. She keeps them and cares for them until she’s found another suitable family. It doesn’t happen a lot because Katie won’t place a dog with a family without a lot of research, but life is unpredictable and things don’t always work out, but Katie always takes care of her dogs. If there were only breeders like Katie we wouldn’t have any shelters.
(this is M’bali and Max, Moxie’s mostly litter mate)
What’s even better than that is how a good breeder works to improve the health and temperament of their breed. Kona was a stunning example of Katie’s success. Sixteen and half years old and never a chronic health problem. Accidents and vaccines are the only reason he every went to the vet. A long active life (he was still jumping up on the bed until the last few months) and a huge savings on vet bills.
The show thing can seem like a silly beauty contest for dogs and in some small ways it is, but the primary function is finding the best examples of a breed. Form and beauty is just the best way to judge the health and function of a dog in a short time. No system is perfect and I will admit to finding a bunch of grownups running around a wet field in suits and skirts a bit funny, but I admire their goals and the effort they put into it. Plus who am I to make fun of someone else’s odd hobby. I sat ringside and knit and no one made fun of me.
(the dog in the front is Moxie’s brother Dante, Moxie is second)
By the end of the weekend Moxie won her first winner’s bitch and now has 4 points and a major to her credit. It doesn’t matter to us if she’s a champion or not, but we are proud to be a small part of helping Katie work toward healthy, happy, and yes pretty basenjis. Congrats Katie and thanks for trusting us with such a wonderful and loving girl.
Plus it’s Tuesday and she’s still sleepy so how can we not like that.
Oh my goodness, she's getting so big!
Posted by: twitter.com/SusanMoskwa | August 10, 2011 at 09:14 AM
Woo hoo! Go Moxie! Great post about how a good breeder can make all the difference. My parents owned a pet store for many years and always worked with local breeders who took great care of their dogs. Shelter dogs (and cats) are great but I don't think there's anything wrong with finding a breed you particularly like and finding a good breeder who has such a high set of standards as Katie is great! Looks like Moxie had a good time at the show!
Posted by: Mya | August 10, 2011 at 09:16 AM
Excellent points about breeders and you are right on the money with them. Congrats to Moxie! Nice job. Now go knit before she gets into your yarn again! LOL I've been chuckling following along on twitter. My Emma used to do the same thing to my projects when she was Moxie's age. Thank goodness she has grown out of it!
Posted by: woohoogirl | August 10, 2011 at 09:53 AM
Go Moxie!!
Posted by: Max | August 10, 2011 at 12:07 PM
What a beautiful breed. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Janet | August 10, 2011 at 07:02 PM
She's beautiful and I totally agree that great breeders produce healthy and sound pets. Congrats on her points! I'm so glad that leg break didn't keep her down.
Posted by: Trista | August 25, 2011 at 11:42 AM