Day out in Drouin, Victoria

I headed down to Drouin in Victoria to visit Alyson of Pagliaccio Italian Spinoni.I had the chance to squeeze in a few shows and some tracking training before I head over to the US of A!

The big strawberry... really was big!

Emmy the birthday girl

Spinoni party!

I love a good party

Posers... The cat didn't want to join in!

Down town Drouin

ME with my beautiful Best of Breed rosette and statue!

Check out my haul!

My trip wouldn't be complete at Pagliaccio wouldn't be complete with out some tracking traning. We hit the fields and I'm proud to say that I managed to come home with a few ribbons. Lucky as I felt a bit embarassed sharing a house with so many tracking champion spinoni!!

I've been better!

Just before I left Drouin I had a heart stopping trip around the yard. Serena thought it would be a great idea to take me for a joy ride around the garden with all of the other spinoni in hot pursuit... I thought we were friends?? Luckily after the promise of biccies I was left on the ground!

Canberra Royal... Roadtrip!

After being plucked, bathed and blow dried we hopped in the car to venture to the capital city of Australia, Canberra (Australian Capital Territory).

My first show outing would be Canberra Royal. I strutted my stuff and after winning best of breed I went on to win my first Best in Group.

I thought I'd take some photos on the way home, so you can see the landscape and some very funny looking animals that I encountered along the way.

Our first stop was the Dog on the Tuckerbox, in Gundagai, New South Wales (NSW).

They sure do have some strange birds! Emus.

Quick stop to herd a sheep in Wagga Wagga, NSW

BIG paws!
Hopefully I don't see that dog soon

Back on the road again

Checking out an old windmill on the way

Storm's on its way

Selfie

Me with a strange looking dog with a horrible topline!!

Almost home

Show training...

I have heard Catherine talking the past few days about some big shows coming up in Australia before we fly to America. She said that I will need some practice shows before I go as she thinks I'm a naughty puppy and may not stack or bait very well. Stack? Isn't that what people do at supermarkets; maybe she is going to make me work for a living!? BAIT?? Are there going to be sharks at the show?!!? I was starting to get really worried about this showing business; so I took it upon myself- being the 21st century pooch that I am to do a little reading and online research in preparation for me to become the multi Best in Show winning Spinone I know I can be!

So firstly I hit the newspapers... Dog News Australia; Then the magazines- Dogs in Review. It's all advertising!!! No tips or any mention of stacking or baiting. A positive note from all this reading is that I am yet to sight a shark at any of these shows... so far so good I guess!

One thing I did notice in all these photos how beautiful the dogs look. Standing looking at their owners and running so nicely; and I don't see any of them chasing balls or toys?! Hmmmmm. I might need to get my hair and nails done before I go to one of these shows I think!

Back to the Internet. Those magazines aren't for beginners... I need to start from the beginning. I found a few good online books and after several hours of reading I finally understood the meaning of stacking (what's so hard about the word standing? and baiting (food!). Being the food connoisseur that I am; I eagerly await the bait. Will it be steak or perhaps smoke chicken??

I learned a few more things that Catherine failed to mention. I have to run!! Not only in a straight line but also in a triangle and maybe even a circle. If I win my class and I get a challenge certificate that goes towards my champion title! Hopefully I can get the 100 points I need to be an Australian show champion before I leave to go to America! I hope she knows all this stuff. She didn't mention any of that. I'm thinking it might be a bit hard to win a Best in Show. Maybe I'd better get fit if I have to do all that running around. Thinking about all that running made me tired and I had to have a little sleep!

After looking at all of the magazines and newspapers I found an advert that I could relate to. I have decided it will become my motto for the year!

(Did you notice that he has a fuzzy face like mine!)

Meet SIENNA

My name is 'SIENNA' which is short for: Spinone Italiano Enjoying New & Novel Adventures!

I am an Italian Spinone. I was born and bred in Australia. I have heard that there is many more of my breed scattered all around the world. So I have made it my mission to try and visit as many of these people and their dogs as possible. I have heard that Spinoni are successful in many different fields including showing, obedience, hunting, tracking, agility and sleeping on the couch to name a few. I will endeavour to try my natural ability in all of these disciplines and make many friends along the way. My first big overseas trip is to the 2010 Spinone Club of America National Specialty to be held in Pennsylvania, USA!

This is the blog I have started so that you can read about my travels and shenanigans along the way. If you would like me to come and visit you this is how you can help me on my journey.

The aim of this game is to show how interconnected the Italian Spinoni fraternity is world wide. If I come to visit; you need to do the following:

• Send Catherine an email (siennaspinone@gmail.com) with the following information: your name, kennel prefix and location (city, state, country).
• Date and sign (or attach your kennel business card in) my Passport.
• Email a description of our time spent together (the more the better), what we did and where we went, including photos and quotes.
• Once I have finished my stay, email Catherine with the name of who you passed me on to
• Catherine will regularly update this blog with pictures and my diary entries.
  
• You can view the map, of where I have been to date.

The Rules:
1. SIENNA must travel with a person. She's not allowed to be mailed.
2. Whoever has SIENNA can decide where she goes next.

If you would like to have SIENNA come to stay, you can either contact the person who currently has her or contact Catherine to be put on the list below. If you run into any of these people they have already shown an interest in hosting SIENNA.

AUSTRALIA
Alyson Mills

If you would like to have SIENNA come to visit you, please email Catherine at siennaspinone@gmail.com to be put on the list.

This is based on the idea of Bev Holoboff's STAR (Setter Travelling Around Randomly) a Gordon Setter toy that is travelling the world amongst the Gordon Setter fraternity. You can see STAR's blog here.