2003
Ch KayLaDee Raphael
and Kathy in NYC
I think anyone who has ever watched the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on television, the second Monday and Tuesday in February, has thought...."my dog can do that" or "my dog is just as nice as that one"...and from our sofas and our chairs (and where we are sitting) they are! I have always dreamt about taking a dog and walking out on that "green grass" with just the AURA of Westminster...and Madison Square Garden. THANKS to some very dear friends who encouraged us in exhibiting and the judges who selected Raphael to obtain his championship from the Bred-By-Exhibitor Class (with me as the breeder/owner/handler/trainer) .... it became reality.
Never having entered a dog at "The Garden",, our friends had encouraged us..."a GO for it" this is a "chance of a lifetime".
It was scarey, to say the least. With the world events and then the questionable weather and just the fear of not knowing how to enter...I was "not sure".... I didn't want to make it a "chancing our lives"!
Our entries got in...as they are limited and thanks to our friends, and fellow Beaver County Kennel Club members, Tim and Lisa Thomas, Raphael was also "benched" in their area with another professional handler, Bob Double, making our visit to Westminster MORE exciting. I knew Raphael was in good hands and I could enjoy the ENTIRE Westminster "experience".
Our Arrival...
Interestingly enough, another "encouragement" came from a newly acquired friend, Diana, who had grown up in NY and was now transplanted in PA and had adopted another dog of my breeding. The initial plan was to leave a day or two earlier so that she could visit with her family and friends on this trip, but my current family situation was not going to permit this. Those plans changed, but so did the plans of another friend and fellow Beaver County Kennel Club member, Pat Cohen. Patty O even "chauffered" me to "THE GARDEN". She had experienced this MANY TIMES before and made our "Maiden Exhibiting Voyage to the Garden"....a cherished memory never to be forgotten.
We saw a little bit of snow when we left PA early on Sunday morning and had a most pleasant drive and arrived at the hotel with NO problems!
I had tried to get reservations at the Hotel Pennsylvania, but Diana had done some research and found the Herald Square Hotel on the internet...not far from Madison Square Garden and "dog friendly"... Ironically....Raphael (named after his mother Angel) has a sister Cherub...and guess what was on the front of the old "Life" building?
YOU GOT IT.... a CHERUB....an ANGEL.....
The hotel was pleasant and clean and perfect...not elegant, but perfect for us!
Herald Square Hotel
staff loved animals, they welcomed us....and it was clean. Just be careful...not all
rooms have their own private bathroom facilities.... Showing dogs has led me to
some "interesting establishments".....this was a pleasant experience! And a nice
refreshing walk and easy cab access to anywhere! The "Subway" was not far...and I was impressed at how easy it is to get everywhere in such a "big city"!!!!
watching the "SuperBowl of Dog Shows" (click on the underlined links for more info)
1) Dine at Carmine's
2) Go to Zabar's
3) Visit Ellis Island (and I did find my grandfather's name and the year he came from overseas)
I didn't care what "extras" we did..... I was just "pleased as Punch" to be in NYC and letting the world
see my beautiful boy that LOVES to show! We got to do all three of Patty's wishes...and I enjoyed them
thoroughly...as well as meeting friends and dining in other facilities...like in Chinatown and a nice Italian
restaurant "uptown".
not only "schmoozing the women", but he LOVES his TOYS.....
Here is playing with "his Halo".... it's a ring from his Intellibone...that
used to be called a ring..and then a donut...but EVERY "Angel Boy"
needs to carry around his "Halo"....since it is pretty hard for him to keep
wearing it ALL the time.....
I was just "showing him off"..... He is such a wonderfully happy boy with a super show attitude.... We are truly blessed!
More about Raphael....click here and here
Raphael's webpages....
Raphael Growing Up
Raphael Showing
Raphael "The Champion"
Raphael and Cherub's Agility Mother - Angel
John and Nemo were two dogs behind us....
all I could think of...and say to Raphael....since
both he and I were so nervous was.... There
are 20 other Papillons here, Raph...you are just as nice as ANY of them....but let's have FUN!!!!
Out came his toys...and HE DID!!! To the pleasure of
"his" audience!!! :)
I think the FIRST time is always an experience that cannot be duplicated! With all the "lows" in my life to that point...(and what was to come) I NEEDED a "high"..... Of course, just to get to GO is an honor....if we would have gotten "pulled" or an AOM or even BOB the FIRST time at "The Garden" it would have even been
MORE exciting..... My true answer is.... "Depends on the dog"..... If I would have another "showey show
dog" like Raphael with even BETTER qualities (and particularly something that WE bred)..... "Probably...."
I learned a long time ago.... "NEVER say NEVER".... I NEVER was going to show a dog!!! <VBG>
