Well, two weekends in a row now we've hit conformation shows. This time out, we decided to try UKC. A couple other Westie ladies talked me in to going to this show but then backed out about a month ago due to another committment. So I decided to try it anyways, though I assumed no other Westies would be there. It was definitely a different type of environment than AKC. Some people wore jeans and tshirts. Some dogs were clearly not use to the show ring. Breeds I'd never heard or seen before. As Westies are normally buffed & puffed a lot for the show ring, it's kind of weird to go in to the UKC ring without any powder, hairspray, or other gunk in his hair. I'm not sure how I feel about that. I washed his head the night before so he didn't have his usual texture to it, making it look flat and he also got a part right down the middle. I don't think he looks his best without a little stuff in his head hair. I think he might like it too. . .he thinks he looks all cool with a big old head of hair. ;) He doesn't like the teasing part but he does look impressive when it's all puffed out. . .anyways, I digress. . .
So Rhys took WD, BOW, BOB, as quite frankly, there wasn't any other option. ;) But then the more surprising part happened when he went on to group. He took a Group 1. Then we went on to Best in Show. And apparently, as we found out firsthand. that they award a reserve best in show. So that was pretty awesome. First UKC show and up we pop with a reserve BIS. He also took a group 1 in both the next shows too. So he is pretty dang close to being a UKC champion. If there was one more westie there, he would be a UKC champion in one weekend. But since there wasn't, we'll have to find a show somewhere else. Now I've got a goal of going BIS. UKC will probably be my only chance for acheiving that so why the heck now. ;)