It wasn't easy. Ryan had many issues. He was dog agressive, yet was fine with his own family members. He had sever separation anxiety ( which makes it almost impossible to keep the coat on the ears!!). After a while though, he was able to settle, and he was becoming that wonderful show dog everyone knew he could be! We won several breeds and we were "paying our dues", so to speak, to do greater things. However his anxiety never truly went away and it was extremely difficult to keep him in coat. He always seemed to destroy his ears! Then, as I stated earlier I moved to Bermuda. Essentially putting an end to Ryan's US show career. We did come back for the 2000 national specialty, where I made Sandy show him in the breed for his final show, she was a little worried she wouldnt make it around the ring but had always wanted to show him this was her chance, they made the cut which was a major deal for all of us!!

 

After 3 and a half years in Bermuda, Ryan had become the perfecct dog. He was one point off his Bermuda championship when I decided it was not worth keeping him in show coat, for one show a year. So retirement was his lot in life now. Sleeping on the bed, enjoying the front porch, watching tv. We were very happy. However, Ryan started to develop very odd behaviors. Such uncharcteristic things that it had me very concerned. We couldn't find anything physically wrong. Slowly he got worse and worse. Then one day I noticed a bit of liquid on his nose. At first thinking nothing of it, then paying closer attention, I realized it was not a good sign. I took him into my job, where I had Dr. Glandville check him over.

It was a one sided nasal drip. We had been leaning towards the thought that Ryan had a brain tumor, this was surely a tell-tale sign. A few weeks past, and things still deteriorated, I could no longer watch my wonderful Ryan go through this. I knew I could not watch him become deformed as the tumor would of grown in his nasal passage, totally distorting his face, as well as his severe panic attacks, and just moments where he was a shell of what he had been. On a very good day, I took Ryan in for one last visit. It was extremely difficult, however, I wanted him to have the dignity he had always possesed!!

 

Ryan, you will forever be missed.

 

 

 

When we moved, I had no idea what the future was going to hold. As always Claire loved the ring, and showed her heart out in the Bermuda shows. She befriended a young man, Kyle Tavares, and well it was a wonderful match. Kyle showed Claire in junior competition to 3 Best Junior in Show titles, he went winners bitch with her every day in one set of the 4 day shows, and with a sporting judge from England he took Best Open dog in Match, and then Best in Match over all(which, in Bermuda the matsh win is just as nice a win as a regular show win), they were an amazing team.

 

Claire loved her home in Bermuda, however Bermuda has some out of the ordinary laws. I decided to move out of the family house and get my own apartment. However you are only allowed 2 dogs per household on the island. Well, I also had with me my 8 year old Labrador bitch, Regal. With Ryan's issues keeping him with me, and no way I could depart with my Regal, a heavy heart decided that Claire would have to be placed. I had met a couple that had a springer, Cocoa. Seeing how they were with their dogs, I knew that this HAD to be the home for Claire. I approached them and asked them if they were intersted. Hesistant, yet willing to try, we set up a weekend to take her to see how it went. Well, they live in England now, and Claire(now Somer) and her companion Cocoa, compete in agilty. I think its more the fact that Bobbie and James are the ones competing, but non-the-less, she is loved and is amazingly happy in her new home. Many thanks to Bobbie and James for being the loving amazing parents I knew they would be.

"Genna"