Niomi...I think that Cream Puff or Puff Puff is very cute. But what do I know...I had a toy poodle named: Tiny.

Love your post. Showing---anything---is a great Mother+Son activity. And so great when you take an animal not expecting anything huge and clean up.
My son took a homebred Guernsey heifer to our county fair once and cleaned up, won the whole thing. Still one of my fondest memories of things we did together.


Amy's right about not bitching about the judge, others, the unfairness of the whole situation where winning is based on a subjective opinion. You can ruin it for a child if you make them think it's all rigged.

Love Cream Puff too -- a feisty little spitz, perfect for your climate. A person that I know who is connected to a pom breeder says there are some bad nerves in the breed right now.

Yes Betty! I know I am going to have to explain the "politics" to him someday, but for now I just want him to have fun with it, and not worry about the ribbons, just the experience!

That is why I took this female for breeding. She is a longer in the back, and just under 5lbs, so a little bigger than most show females. But what I am breeding for is BALANCED dogs, who can free whelp, healthy overall and GREAT TEMPERAMENTS!!

This girl has an impeccable temperament. She is not afraid of anything, never cowers, and DOES NOT bark (other than if she is in her crate and has to go to the bathroom). Not even when people come to the door. Visitors just can't believe that she is not the typical "yappy little dog". Its so hard to explain to non-dog people that the yapping is *usually* related to insecurity.

I have a new male coming tomorrow, who I hope to breed to her next year, who I have spent the last 5 months looking for, so that I could get what I wanted. It is SO hard to find good small dogs, because people put the "cuteness factor" first, and temperament and health last, at least that has been my experience so far. I even had one breeder ask why I would bother OFA'ing Cream Puffs heart and thyroid, because people would buy the dogs regardless...lets just say I passed on her puppies...LOL

"I know I am going to have to explain the "politics" to him someday, but for now I just want him to have fun with it, and not worry about the ribbons, just the experience!"

Ditto.

I showed in the breed ring for 10-12 yrs. MY daughters showed in Jr Handling a couple of times and refused to do it again. They cleaned up and all that did was make them want to get out. Waaay to many stage parents creating monsters.
After the Jr handling jaunt both my daughter's put breed points on my dogs in the breed ring.
As to the rules (snicker, snort)I could tell you things that would make your teeth curl.
I put 5 CHs on 4 different terrier breeds with out the dye jobs, sprays, chalk, plastic surgery, drugs, etc. I can only say enjoy your win and know you did it legitimately. That beats all the political "stuff".