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GRAND CHAMPION!!!
So VERY proud of all she accomplished!
June 2013
CH Bodanna's Blue Line Snow White 

She did it!! Yay Vivi!!!!
June 2012

August 2011

July 2011

June 2010

May 2009

SHOW UPDATES

In last June 2013, Vivi went Select Bitch at the Cambridge show which FINISHED her GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!  This is the same show that she got her very first point & how fitting to get her very last point as well?!  So very proud of everything Vivian has accomplished in her show career!  I've enjoyed every single second of it!  :0)

In early June 2013, Vivi went Select Bitch in Fargo which gave her a defeat & points towards her Grand Championship.  It was a supported entry so she got a very pretty ribbon!  :0)

In late October 2012, Vivi had a great weekend in Sioux Falls, SD where she went Select Bitch and got 3 majors towards her Grand Championship!  It was such a fun weekend!

In early August 2012, Vivi went Select Bitch at the Freeborn County Kennel Club show in Albert Lea, MN for one more point towards her Grand Championship.  This is the third year we've gone to this show & the third year we won!  In 2010, Vivi went WB; 2011 BOB & 2012 Select Bitch!  We like this show!  :0)

The weekend after Vivi's back-to-back wins, we went to Fargo for 3 days worth of 5 point majors.  On Saturday, June 2nd Vivi won Winner's Bitch & Best of Winner's under judge Joseph Gregory.  This win FINISHED her Championship!!  Wooo hooo!!!  So very, very proud of my snow monkey!  

On Sunday, June 3rd Vivi was "specialed" in the Best of Breed class & came in Best of Opposite giving her 5 points towards her Grand Championship!!!  Here we go again!!!!!

Memorial Weekend 2012 (May 25th & 26th) Vivian won back-to-back days at the Key City Kennel Club show in St. Peter, MN!  Was not expecting that at all!  Saturday she went Winner's Bitch under judge Desmond Murphy and on Sunday she went Winner's Bitch & Best of Winner's under judge Frank Sabella.  Both judges loved her tail & said she had the cutest face!  Oh they are so right!  After these wins, Vivi is "singled out" meaning I can only show her at major shows (3 or more points)!!

On December 11, 2011 Vivian went Winner's Bitch under judge Dr. Robert Indeglia at the Granite City Kennel Club in St. Cloud, Minnesota.  This was a very fun win because it was my birthday & also, Steve was there & finally got to see Vivi win!!  What a wonderful birthday present!!

On August 13, 2011 Vivian went Winner's Bitch, Best of Winners AND Best of Breed under judge Eugene Blake at the Freeborn County Kennel Club show in Albert Lea, Minnesota!!!  What a fun surprise!!  We've never won BOB before so it was quite the experience!!

On July 1, 2011 Vivian went Winner's Bitch AND Best of Winners under breeder judge Jan Lewis at the Milwaukee Bulldog Club's specialty show for her first MAJOR win!!!  Was not expecting that at all!!  So very, very exciting!!!!

2010 Show Notes
2009 Show Notes

....and With that Win....A Reflection...

I'm happy to announce that Vivian is now a Grand Champion!!! 

Back in June, on a quiet Thursday morning, Vivian went Select Bitch at the Cambridge show which--in a very uncermoniously fashion--gave her her Grand Champion title.

Last June when Vivian got her Championship title, it was such a urphoric feeling that I couldn't stop smiling for WEEKS!!  Friends cheered for us ringside when it happened because they knew she just needed that last win!  There were hoops, hollers, & tears!  It was what I had been working so hard for.  It was amazing!!

However, the Grand Championship title was bittersweet.  There wasn't any cheering, there wasn't any big fan fare, hell no one but me even knew she got her Grand Championship.  It seems it's just the peril of this title.  While I'm still very proud of it, of all the work we've done in her show career, the Grand Championship really allowed me to show her for another year....which I'm very grateful for as I loved every second of it!!

This win meant, after showing her for 4 years, we were done.  She's retired from the conformation ring.  No more 430am wake ups for a 2 hour road trip, for a 2 minute prance around the ring.  I know it doesn't sound like fun, but it is...err...was.

While I've only been showing for 5 years (I showed Doc for a bit first), showing, or bulldogs have been such a big part of my life.  I've made great friends from all across the country, I've seen the best in people & the worst in people.  I've learned I DO have a competetivie side--even if I didn't like how it made me feel at times (when we lost).  Hahaha  I've learned so much about the breed, the breed standard, what I like in some bulldogs, what I don't like in others. 

I've learned this "hobby" of mine totally sucks you in and has so many impacts....

-Planning your (non-dog show) vacations--"ummm I can't go then, it's our specialty."

-Wedding RSVP's--"ooh yeah, I won't make it, it's a dog show weekend."

-Friendships--"to fellow dog show friends: are you going to Duluth, Des Moines, Fargo (aka any "dog show town")"--to non-dog show friends: "ummm yeah, that's the weekend I'll be in Duluth, Des Moines, Fargo, etc"

-Shoe & Clothing Purchases--"can I bend over, stack, & kneel in that?" Or "I can't wear white, it will clash with my dog."  Or "oh this is my dog show blazer....I don't get THIS dressed up for work."

Heck!  Showing bulldogs is how my passion for sewing started!  If it wasn't for Vivi going into heat & needing panties...well...I don't know that I'd have an entire room dedicated to my sewing!  Sewing panties, grew into cool collars, cool jackets & belly bands!  Quickly I found out I had a talent for sewing & added many items to my "line" of goodies!  It's so cool because of Vivi, bulldoggers & non-bulldoggers across the country have items I've sewn!!  That's crazy to me!!

I have no doubt I'll be back in the conformation ring some day--whether helping friends or with a dog of my own.  I also have no doubt I'll be able to take some time (to sleep in on the weekends) & get Vivi and Howie into some obedience classes....no for real Steve, I will.

With all this being said, I couldn't help be think of how much of my life dog shows have been in one aspect or another.  Obviously, I couldn't have continued on this path without the support of Steve--Vivi's biggest cheerleader!  My parents, in-laws & non-dog show friends who have supported me, wanted to learn about the shows, were there for my biggest wins & losses--I couldn't have done any of this without you!  My dog show friends--you have been such a big part of my life for the last 4 years...without your mentoring, shopping (Hobby Lobby anyone?), laughs & of course understanding of this love...I would not have a Grand Champion--all points put on her by me by the way--on my couch! 

Lastly, to those of you who have read my blog or visited my site--when I was posting often & even when I haven't--reading about my dog show adventures & enjoying the photos have been so awesome!  Thank you for taking the time to include my stories in your life!

So thank you!  Thank you all so much! 

With Love-

Vivi & her momma

How Do I Even Tell You This...

I still don't believe it myself, so I'm having a hard time preparing this post.  But you guys....on Saturday, Vivi WON IN FARGO!!!!  This win gave her the 2nd major win she needed & therefore she earned her AKC Championship!!!  OMG!!!

I don't have any (clear) photos to show you, but I do have a video to share.  It's eleven short videos of our Open Class & Winner's Bitch Class & win.  My awesome friend & travel partner, Kristen, took the videos for me & I'm so very glad to have them...watching them over & over & over again almost makes me believe it!!  Ha!!

On Sunday, I showed Vivi as a "special," meaning since she is now a Champion she is no longer shown in the regular classes, but now in the Best of Breed class.  A few years ago, AKC implemented a Grand Champion title for dogs that have already gotten their Championship....so that's what Vivi could try for next.

For a Grand CH, you need more points & more majors & you have to beat other specials....and on Sunday, Vivi got Best of Opposite (Best of Breed was a boy dog, so the judge needed to select a girl dog in the Best of Breed class--there was the Winner's Bitch, another special girl & Vivi)!  That placement got Vivi a 5 point major towards her Grand Championship!!!  Kinda crazy to think, considering how long it took to get her first & second major for her regular championship!  But we'll take it!  Hahahaha!!

Here is that win photo:

Soon I will give you more details on the entire weekend!!  It was a lot of fun...for more than the obvious reason!  :0)

Hope all of your weekends was just as great as mine!

Not One Win this Weekend....

Vivi & I went to St Peter, MN this weekend for a dog show.  We didn't win one day this weekend...instead we won TWO days!!  Woo hoo!!  Was NOT expecting that at all!  I've seen others do it & been in awe...this weekend, I'm not in awe, but in shock! 

Vivi now has 12 points & that means she only needs 1 more major (a major is a show worth 3-5 points) to get her AKC Championship!  Majors are not always easy to find locally, so we'll be doing some traveling--Fargo this weekend--paws crossed everybully!!

At the show we visited our friend Hank & his momma Corrine.  Hank is very handsome & has done some modeling for all our favorite store (Target of course).  The last couple years he's been on some of the Halloween costume packaging.  He's also on some 3M packaging...he's so cute!

I LOVE his paws!

 

When we stand ringside, Vivi often will do this:

She's been doing that since she was a puppy when we went to class.  I think it's sweet!  Like, "she's my momma!"  hahaha

The bullies got McDonald's hamburgers & fries to celebrate Vivi's wins & they also got these stuffies from Chuck & Don's.  Lots of celebrating going on here!!

Howie & I decided to go for a walk Saturday night.  He was READY to GO!!

Doc enjoyed all the nice weather we had....well the nice weather in between all the rain anyway!

Hope you all had a great weekend too!!

Ribbons & Cake

This past weekend, Vivi & I headed to St. Cloud, Minnesota for a show.  This show is about 1 hour from us, but there was road construction & detours & it was at 2pm on Saturday (we usually show right away in the morning)...all those things lead me to be all out of sorts & literally walk into the show site at 2:05pm!  Talk about a fast show...I walked in, waited about 10 mins for us to go in the ring & then was on my way home!  LOL

On Sunday, we showed a bit earlier & Steve was able to come with so we got there in plenty of time to sit ringside & relax a bit.  That felt much better.  I did have a little conversation with Vivi before the show & while in the ring...see, Sunday was my birthday & I told her that ALL she had to get me for my birthday was a win...and she did!  What a great birthday present!

"A Girl & Her Bully In the Skyway"

"Mommas got cake, I got dees rwibbons.."

"I fink I'd wike to have da cake next time."

Introducing BOB

This past weekend Vivi & I were in Albert Lea, MN for a dog show.  Ring time was 8am & it's almost 2 hours from my house so it was another EARLY weekend.  (I have reminded myself again that NO ONE but ME is making me get up at 4am for this!)  :0)

Vivi was in rare form Saturday morning as I was grooming her...she was umm...let's say affectionate/dominate to my arm.  Made grooming a little difficult & for some reason was her "dance" of choice the rest of the day??  Not sure why, it's not like she's in heat or anything...remember THAT story??

Anyway, back to BOB.  Vivi & I carpooled with Nancy, her brother Matthew & Bo (Viv's nephew).  It was a nice ride down & we got there in plenty of time to relax ringside....they even brought me a Diet Coke, so you KNOW I was all happy!!

After the boys it's the girls turn to show & we go in & well...here I'll just show you.  Vivi was entered in the Open class for girls.  Not all the girls were ready when we were, so the judge watched Vivi alone & then allowed the other two to come on in.



Yay!  Vivi won the Open class!! 

Now what you say?  Well all the girl class winners go in for what's called Winner's Bitch.  This is where you get the points towards the championship.  Albert Lea was a smaller show, so there were only two girl classes, so there were only 2 girls up for Winner's Bitch.  50/50 shot right?

So in the ring we go....



Yay!  Vivi won Winner's Bitch!  She got 1 more point towards her championship!!  But wait...there's more to a dog show than Winner's Bitch!

After Winner's Bitch has been awarded, then Winner's Bitch & Winner's Dog, along with any other "specials" (sounds like a lunch platter, but actually means a dog that already has his/her championship) go in for Best of Breed.  Since there weren't any specials entered at this show, it was just WD vs WB for Best of Breed.  Wanna watch?


OMG!!  You saw that right!  Vivi got Best of Breed!  So ladies & gentlemen, I'd like to introduce you to BOB (Best of Breed)--

hehehehe I bet you all thought there would be a photo of a puppy named Bob in here somewhere didn't you??  And yeah...she's doing exactly what dance you think she's doing in this photo!!  What a nut!

Well I hope you enjoyed seeing our win first...ok secondhand...It was a lot of fun & quite the day!!  Oh that's right...it's not over, but this post is.

Next up...what's after BOB you ask??  Group...ah yes, group. 

Ummm...This Post Can't Wait!!!!

Vivi & I have been to lots of shows over the last month, nearly every weekend since Memorial Day.  Now it's almost Independence Day (how crazy is that!!) & I finally have some GREAT news to share!!

Mary, Bailey (Viv's half-sissy), Winnie (Mary's new Toller puppy--holy cute), Vivi & I headed to West Bend, Wisconsin this morning for a 3-day show including a specialty show today.

I'm happy to report Vivi WON!!!!!!!!!  She got her first major (you need 2 to get your Championship)!!!  Majors are kinda hard to come by, but specialty shows (shows that are just one breed) usually are majors.  I still can't believe it...even as I type this...while it's becoming more real, I still am in shock!

Wow...a major!! 
Vivi won Winner's Bitch & Best of Winners at the Milwaukee Bulldog Club's Specialty Show under Breeder Judge Jan Lewis!!  Woo hooo!!!!!!!

What a Weekend!!

Hi Everybully, it's me!  Vivi!

Momma & I have been very busy the last couple weekends...why you ask?  Well, it's show season again!  We went to Fargo, North Dakota this weekend, we were in St Peter, Minnesota last weekend & we were in Eau Claire, Wisconsin two weeks before that!  Phew!!  Oh hold on....Momma is telling me what to write....oh ok.  Momma said this coming weekend we have another show in Jordan, Minnesota...jeez!!  Busy, busy, busy!!

It's ok though cuz we don't have a lot of shows around these parts during the winter--and well that can last 6 months, that's what momma says anyway....But really, I'm a pro at this show stuff...after all I am almost 3 & I got into the show business (oh I made a funny) at the ripe old age of 6 months.  Momma & I work very well in the ring together.

 I'm so OK with showing that I can fall asleep waiting for the judge...

hehehe...ok, that's not true, but it looks like I am asleep doesn't it?? 

Momma says I kinda stick out cuz of my coloring...this photo kinda shows that doesn't it??  I think it's a good thing...I'm cool with that...maybe that will make me memorable??  Momma likes to sing, "one of these things is not like the other..." she's so silly my momma...look at all those girls...they all look different, wonder if their momma's sing them the same song??

Momma & I had lots of fun this weekend in Fargo & met all sorts of nice bulldogs & their owners.  We hung out in the hotel room a lot.  She sewed some cool collars & I supervised.

Here is Crash (isn't he a cutie??) with one of Momma's cool collars...his momma Deb said they are MAGIC COLLARS cuz as soon as Crash put on his cool collar he stopped panting!!  True fact!  I saw it happen!

Oh & so many people came to say hi to me & gived me hugs & pets!  This little girl stayed with me for a long time.  She was nice.

At our hotel there was a wedding going on in the courtyard...but I wasn't invited....sad.

Ok, I guess that's a lot for you to take in.  Sorry it was so long, but it was a big weekend & thank goodness I had photos to prove it all to you!!  Thanks for reading!
Love-
Vivi (& my momma)

Been Awhile...

So I thought I'd post some show photos!  It's been a few weeks since our last show & last weekend we to Hutchinson, MN for the Sunday show (we couldn't attend Saturday).  Vivi didn't place, but she stacked well & I thought she looked great.

Here are some photos that my friend Christy took for me while we were in the ring.  Thanks Christy!

 Here is Vivi's half-sissy Bailey & Randy...don't they look great??!!

Next show is at the end of the month.  Wish us luck!!