Dear Ms. Allie,
A few days ago my hooman Mommy and I went on a big trip. It was my first time to
stay all night with Mommy Jan by myself. I had a good time with lots of good treats
and walks and playing in a new sleeping room, but I am confused. We went to a
place that Mommy Jan told me was a dog show. There were lots of new people and
all kinds of different dogs and all kinds of new smells.
The first day some strange lady (who I was never introduced to) said "hi" and then
she started to touch me all over and then look at my teethers. She scared me some,
but I remembered other peoples from school doing the same thing, then I was ok.
Then we got to go around the ring so everyone could see how pretty I was. I thought
I did real good, cause I showed everyone how fast I could run.....but, Mommy Jan
said that was wrong and I shouldn't go so fast.
When I was done running, I looked for my teacher, but I couldn't find her
ANYWHERE. She always hides from me at school when I get to go around the ring,
so I looked all over for her, but she wasn't there. Mommy Jan then told me I was
supposed to look at the lady who looked at my teethers, not try to find my teacher,
Miss Barb.
Ms. Allie, I am so confused. I want to be a good "show" girl for Mommy Jan, but I'm
not sure what I'm supposed to do.
Thank You!
Little Dot
Dear Little Dot,
It sounds like you're off to a good start since you understand that everyone is looking
at how pretty you are. And you'll love going to dog shows with Mommy Jan because
that means that all the other dogs that live with you will have to stay at home! See,
the whole point of a dog show is to pick out the most beautiful Basenji girl with the
best personality. Here are a few things for you to remember when you go to shows:
1) Always stand pretty. No matter if the judge is looking you over or not, you should
always stand with your head held high and your chest out, and your feet placed just
perfect. Remember, if you act like you're a princess, and stand like you're a
princess, the judge will think you're a princess.
2) Stand still on the table. It's important to let the judge feel of all your curves and
joints. You want them to wish they could be shaped as perfectly as you. Of course,
I never have figured out that "looking at the teeth" thing. Humans do some pretty
strange things. And it could be worse. My brother, Jagger, said that the judges
actually used to touch his "boyworks." Ohmigosh, I think I would just faint!
3) Walk like a dancer. When you walk around the circle, you should pretend you're
on a balance beam--walking lightly with your feet all following the same line. If a
human did this, he would probably walk around with a book on his head. But you can
just pretend you have a tiara on your head!
4) Flirt with the judge. I have found that male judges can't resist a pretty girl. So
when you finish your down and back and then look up at them, go ahead and bat your
eyes a little. Giving a slight wiggle to the tail is good, too. One time when I did this
to the judge, he said "she's the cutest thing I've ever seen." Then he handed me and
Debbie a ribbon. (He was such a push-over!)
All in all, if you can remember these few things, you should do well. And when you
get lots and lots of pretty ribbons, you can start hanging them all around your crate
so the other dogs can look at them and wish they were as beautiful as you. Good
luck to you in your show career and I hope you get picked as Miss Basenji 2008.
Your friend and mentor,
Allie
(former beauty queen and still very lovely)
A few days ago my hooman Mommy and I went on a big trip. It was my first time to
stay all night with Mommy Jan by myself. I had a good time with lots of good treats
and walks and playing in a new sleeping room, but I am confused. We went to a
place that Mommy Jan told me was a dog show. There were lots of new people and
all kinds of different dogs and all kinds of new smells.
The first day some strange lady (who I was never introduced to) said "hi" and then
she started to touch me all over and then look at my teethers. She scared me some,
but I remembered other peoples from school doing the same thing, then I was ok.
Then we got to go around the ring so everyone could see how pretty I was. I thought
I did real good, cause I showed everyone how fast I could run.....but, Mommy Jan
said that was wrong and I shouldn't go so fast.
When I was done running, I looked for my teacher, but I couldn't find her
ANYWHERE. She always hides from me at school when I get to go around the ring,
so I looked all over for her, but she wasn't there. Mommy Jan then told me I was
supposed to look at the lady who looked at my teethers, not try to find my teacher,
Miss Barb.
Ms. Allie, I am so confused. I want to be a good "show" girl for Mommy Jan, but I'm
not sure what I'm supposed to do.
Thank You!
Little Dot
Dear Little Dot,
It sounds like you're off to a good start since you understand that everyone is looking
at how pretty you are. And you'll love going to dog shows with Mommy Jan because
that means that all the other dogs that live with you will have to stay at home! See,
the whole point of a dog show is to pick out the most beautiful Basenji girl with the
best personality. Here are a few things for you to remember when you go to shows:
1) Always stand pretty. No matter if the judge is looking you over or not, you should
always stand with your head held high and your chest out, and your feet placed just
perfect. Remember, if you act like you're a princess, and stand like you're a
princess, the judge will think you're a princess.
2) Stand still on the table. It's important to let the judge feel of all your curves and
joints. You want them to wish they could be shaped as perfectly as you. Of course,
I never have figured out that "looking at the teeth" thing. Humans do some pretty
strange things. And it could be worse. My brother, Jagger, said that the judges
actually used to touch his "boyworks." Ohmigosh, I think I would just faint!
3) Walk like a dancer. When you walk around the circle, you should pretend you're
on a balance beam--walking lightly with your feet all following the same line. If a
human did this, he would probably walk around with a book on his head. But you can
just pretend you have a tiara on your head!
4) Flirt with the judge. I have found that male judges can't resist a pretty girl. So
when you finish your down and back and then look up at them, go ahead and bat your
eyes a little. Giving a slight wiggle to the tail is good, too. One time when I did this
to the judge, he said "she's the cutest thing I've ever seen." Then he handed me and
Debbie a ribbon. (He was such a push-over!)
All in all, if you can remember these few things, you should do well. And when you
get lots and lots of pretty ribbons, you can start hanging them all around your crate
so the other dogs can look at them and wish they were as beautiful as you. Good
luck to you in your show career and I hope you get picked as Miss Basenji 2008.
Your friend and mentor,
Allie
(former beauty queen and still very lovely)
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