Mocha....

She’s gone…

Ch. Tramac Mochamotion, OA, NAJ, RN

Mocha is free of the indignity of a body that would not do as she wished....

It matters not what she won, she was so much more than the ribbons, so much more.

I am just grateful she was mine.

The joy she brought to our lives will out live the sorrow we now feel. Our hearts are broken.

Meg, the Callea Family & Jim

Day 25

More cute photos!!! They are really getting the potty box thing down! And they love the eating thing too!

WESTMINSTER 2010!!!!!

Bindi wins BEST OF BREED at Westminster 2010!!!!! This is the photo from the website.

We had a great time in NYC and it was extra great because Jennifer went. Thanks Jennifer for taking the time!!

Bindi was such a good girl! She showed like a rock star in the group and made the cut!!!! She did a great job in the breed too. She really does not like the judge holding on to her head too long.... but she got thru that. Brat!

Here is the web site to watch the breed video;

http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/2010/results/breed/dalmati.html

Puppies are here!!!

Tess had 5 puppies on Sunday Jan. 31, 2010. Check the puppy blog link for more puppy info and photos!

http://tramacpup.blogspot.com/

Tess puppies on the way

All of Daphne's puppies are in their new homes and are doing well!

Now it's Tess' turn. Check the puppy blog page for more info.

http://tramacpup.blogspot.com/

PUPPIES!!!

Daphne had puppies! Please check the puppy blog page for up to date info and photos.

http://tramacpup.blogspot.com/

Orca's in the backyard!

Last week we had a pod of Orca's come up the inlet we live on. Last time they came in was about 5 or 6 years ago and before that the locals said it was more than 20 years ago. So their networking must be working as there are a lot of seals in Oakland Bay. We figure it's like a McDonald's to them!

A full house!

Boy do I have a full house!! My kids plus 3 extra visitors.

Bella & Simona came about 2 weeks ago and are settling in well. Their Mom has gone through a nasty divorce and needs to work 2 jobs and does not have time for the girls. We are hopeful that Bella will be able to go home in a few months and we are looking for a home for Simona. She is liver spotted, a bit busy and very loving and needy of more time that either of us can give her.

Rickie is Ina's brother and he arrived Monday. His Mom had a hip replacement on Tuesday. He should be visiting for about a month. But with Rickie's arrival I was surprised in asking about how much he eats that his Mom does not put WATER on his food. I guess I will have to be more insistent about telling my puppy people that hydration is a very important component to Dalmatian health. So consider your self reminded!

Bindi and I are off today to shows in Indiana. Keep your fingers crossed!

3+ monts.... an update :)

It seems hard to believe it's been 3+ months since I posted to my blog. Mom ended up having giardia and at my insistence was given the antibiotic for giardia and with in 36 hours was MUCH better and back to normal within a few days. Dad is well and both are out on their boat for an extended trip up to Canada! They are traveling with friends and hopefully they will all travel together for a bit longer.


My dogs are doing well. Mocha is OK and doing as well as can be expected. She has a bit of trouble getting around, but has no problems taking care of getting out to potty and of course eating! She has the best internal clock, and wants her meals and cookies ON TIME please!!


Jasper, Tess & Ina are all doing well. Not much going on with them at the moment.


Bindi has been to a few shows in the last month and has done well. She won several breeds, 3 Group Firsts and Specialty Best of Breed#9 at the Greater Twin Cities Dal Club. We're smiling!


Tanner is being shown a bit and won the AM Denver Specialty (#15) and both Puget Sound Specialties (#16 & 17) as well as the group the following day, all shown by Jennifer! The sweetest part of the PSDC weekend was Breeder Judge Marilyn Dromgoole measured all the special dogs on Friday and Tanner measured in, no problem. Thank you Marilyn for taking the time to do the measurement so everyone there now knows just how tall he is.


Daphne, Tanner & Bindi's sister was bred to Ch. Prince Hart "Angus" on Monday 8-24, fingers crossed. I will post to my Puppy Blog with Daphne's updates. http://tramacpup.blogspot.com/ Her son Zephyr (sired by Marlin) was Best of Winners at the Saturday PSDC Specialty for 4 points and WD the next day for 4 points!! He's been shown 3 times and now has 8 points and 2 majors! Shown by Jennifer! Thanks Patty for taking him back in for the breed. Good work team!! I'll get a photo up when I get one.


Also... just to get the word out... I am getting back Bella (Jasper & Phoebe's sister) and her daughter Simona back due to tragic family issues. Hopefully Bella will go home in a few months but Simona who is 2.5 years, will be looking for a new forever home. She is a very sweet liver girl who is a bit on the busy side, not bad, just not a girl for a quiet household. So if you know someone who is looking for a Dal please let me know. Thanks!

CRAP!

Well I'm home... Started out Friday with Dad taking Mom to the hospital, she stayed for 2 nights and is better, but it's taking a long time for her to get her starch back...

Then I took off with Bindi, Jasper, Tess & Ina in the motorhome for the roadtrip... Lots of Memorial Day traffic.... but got over Tiger Mt. no problems... I heard on the radio there was a wreck on I-90 further up the mountain, so I thought I would stop for gas and groceries. I pulled off at North Bend about 2 hours (in good traffic) from home. Filled up with gas, no problems... then drove across the street to the Safeway parking lot.... no breaks! I had to stand on the break peddle to make the damn thing stop. So I got it parked, and called AAA at about 5pm and they said they were swamped... I called Tom & Pam and they brought my box truck and van from home and we loaded up the doggies and Tom & Pam went home with them and I loaded my van with what I needed for the weekend and waited for AAA. The guy showed up at about 12:30am... and got it loaded up and I was on the road by 1:30am...

I took off for Spokane and made it almost all the way, but had to stop for a nap for about 1/2 hr and got to Spokane at about 6am.

I was pretty tired for the show on Saturday, but with a good night sleep was fine by Sunday.

So now to decide if I EVER will step into that motorhome again! It has stranded me several times now. All normal, no way to anticipate problems... but still it's always something with a motorhome.... I think I'm more likely to trust Alaska Airlines at this point!

At least I'm home with the dogs and Mom is better!!

A looong road trip ahead.....

Not too much to report here... I talked to Jennifer and Phoebe is getting what we refer to a "thick" so hopefully that means puppies!

I'm off on an almost month long road trip working. This weekend in Spokane andCoeur D'Alene. Then we stay over and work the next weekend in Yakima. Then head for home for 1 1/2 days.


Then we leave for 4 days in Vallejo at Woofstock and lay over for the 4 Gridley shows the following weekend.



The Woofstock shows in Vallejo are fun. It's all about the 60's! I'll have to get my tie-dye shirt out of the mothballs! It will be a lot of work (a good thing!) but it's will be fun too, which is a nice change for shows lately. Hopefully it will not be as hot as last weekend in Vallejo, 95+ degrees...


Dad is going to drive with me for the California trip. We are going to lay over at Bodega Bay, a place we camped at when I was a kid. When we first started camping at Doran Beach it was nothing but a spit of sand. There were squatters and the fee was $1 a night. Now you have to make reservations and it's $25 a night. But it should be fun!! I'm taking the doggies with me, Mocha will stay home with Mom, but the others should enjoy the beach! Bindi, Tess & Ina have never see waves! They should LOVE it!! Pictures when we get home!!!

I'll have to dig out my old Flexi leads so my good ones don't get sand in them... nasty. Maybe time for new ones... I'll bet some of mine are 15 years old... I wonder how long they last before they get "tired"? hmmmm

Better get packing!

Well, Tess survived the dreaded Pink Foot!! But the carped did not… so it will go into the dog room, maybe that was Tess idea to start with!!!

Bindi had a good weekend in Woodland, CA. She won the Breed both days and won the Group on Sunday. It was very hot for a girl from the Northwest!!! But she showed great. Many people who have not seen Bindi show before comment on how well she shows and how pretty she is :) That was Bindi’s last show for about 6 weekends… this darn work thing….

We are now into Spring weather patterns. I love them, sunny one minute, downpour the next. The grass loves it too. Which the dog like, they eat grass like they are goats! My dogs eat grass like it’s a supplement, when Sophia ate grass it always made her sick, but not the dogs at my house.

Even when I’m traveling while doing potty walks if they come along to some “good grass” the start chomping! And when I get home they go out and start eating grass as if saying “finally good grass”! There is some kind of sticky weed they REALLY love… I checked and it seems not to be a toxic weed. They even go so far as to put their feet thru the fence to pull in in… Yep, GOATS!!

Izzy made it to China! I got a photo of her doing what Izzy does best! Looks like she made the trip fine. Now she needs to learn how to bark in Chinese!!

It's the dreaded PINK FOOT!!!!!!

No, that's not blood on Tess' foot or on the towel in the photo! It's pink ink from a pen with liquid in the barrel. I found little pink foot prints all over my house this evening.... OK who did that?? I got stuff to clean it up and found the chewed up pen...

I was not going to get mad at whom ever had ink on the bottom of their foot because they could have just stepped on it when walking by. Then Miss Tess came to see what I was doing! Tess had pink on the top of her foot and was the ONLY one that had ink on their feet at all.

GUILTY!!! She hasn't "killed" a pen in a long time. She used to kill quite a few in her younger days...

I got Tess in the tub to wash her foot off, but she will have a pink foot for a bit. I threw out the towels... No point in cleaning them, it will just make for a load of pink whatever I wash next.

That's what I get for watching a bit of TV in my room with Mocha and leaving the rest loose. Really, they never do anything bad now that are grown up. I guess we have too much rain for Tess!

Do ya think I'll get Hot Pink Poops??

Phoebe and Dylan puppies

Champion Tramac Just Want the Spotlite "Phoebe"

I have had a few phone calls about puppies and thought I would put up a photo of Phoebe and Dylan. Phoebe lives with Jennifer Meisch in St. Helens, OR jmtdals@aol.com Phoebe is due June 19th or so.

And this is Dylan, Champion Cranbrook's Special Delivery

Both Phoebe and Dylan are about 7 years old, BAER Bilateral have OFA and CERF numbers and are healthy to date.

If you go to my web site there are photos of Phoebes parents, Dustin & Mocha. My web sit is very out of date.... but you can see her parents there. http://www.tramacdal.com/

We have a new Champion!

Ina was WB and Best of Opposite yesterday to finish her Championship!Tanner was Best of Breed won a Group 4th. Ina just needed one point and it was only her 10th show. Ina finished with 3 majors won at specialties or supported Dal entries, all from Bred by.

I think we will take a pass today because Ina and Tess went out after breakfast and dug a huge new hole... so she is covered with mud, but they had a GREAT time! Our new neighbors said they put stuff on their new lawn to keep the moles out... guess they are moving over here... so the girls will be busy keeping them out of our yard "naturally" :) Hopefully they don't catch them...

Here is a photo of Ina playing in the snow this winter and a photo of Jasper in the mud a few years ago, he was sooooo proud of his new hole.... Ina did not get this muddy because my yard does not flood much any more. But it's a fun photo all the same!

A quiet week...

Well, things are rather quiet here this week. We have had a few days of lovely sunshine and the dogs love it because they get to run in the big yard!

I built a "Dog House" on the back of my house a bit ago and my brother is going to insulate it for me, so maybe I will get it done so I can use it!! Spring sure gets your juices going to get things done!!

We do have show this weekend, Bindi is not entered I just entered her daughter Ina. Ina has been shown 9 times and needs one point to finish, so hopefully she will get that one point this weekend. Not to sure what to do with Ina... She might, maybe be looking for a home after she finishes... not sure. Time will tell....

A very nice weekend

Bindi and I traveled to Beaumont, TX last weekend. There were 3 all-breed shows and an evening specialty. Donnie & Sharon Boyd were also at the show and invited me to keep Bindi's crate in their set-up. We had a great time chatting all weekend!

Bindi won the Breed 3 of the 4 times in the ring with a Group First and a Group Fourth and she won the Specialty!

I tried Crawfish. I have eaten them before but was told on the plane by my seat mates that Beaumont was the best place to get them. Well.... they were fine, but to much work for what ya get. And the spice they put on them just messed up my hands... but it was good all the same. Cultural eating.

When I was walking Bindi in a field at the show there were strange mud chimneys (for no better explanation) around holes. Now if were home I would just think "ground critters", but these were different. So I asked a local and was told they were crawfish holes! Yep, right there out in the middle of a muddy field. Go figure!!

Another sad day for the Callea family

Today we lost my brother's family Dal, Sophia. She was 14+ years old. She had several strokes over the past 2 years or so, but with very indulgent care she did very well. Pam trained Sophia for her C.D. and started on open, but she had problems with jumping so that was not to be. Most likely that was just fine with Sophia!

Sophia was wonderful with my puppies over the years. She was a great Auntie! Even to Mocha's puppies. She and Mocha hated each other, plain and simple. They loved to mark where the other one could not cover it! It was quite a game for them over the years.

Sophia was a creature of comfort. She almost always had to have her special quilt my Mom made for her and she always had her head on a pillow. She loved her bed by the wood stove too. In her last few years she "trained" Tom & Pam to cook for her. She loved trout, grandma cookies, beef stew and every now and then dog food... but not so much!

As they all are... Sophia was such a special girl.

Tramac Simply Sophia, C.D. aka Sophia Maria Callea 1-10-95 ~ 4-22-09

Izzy moves to China!

I talked to one of my puppy people (we have been doing phone tag for a bit) she and her husband are moving to CHINA! And Izzy and Snoopy (the Beagle) are leaving for China next week. Bobbie found a pet transport company that flies with the dogs from start to finish. I guess there was lots of paper work to get it done, but all seems to be a go right now.

They have a house with a yard in a fenced area and there are several families on their street that also have dogs. She even found the same food she feeds the kids for sale in China. Talk about a culture change!! I hope to get an email once they settle in. All the best for a safe trip and new life!!

Well, things are getting back to normal here. Yes, I'm still smiling :) I'm going to try to get a photo of Mocha and Bindi when we get some sunshine and I'm home. Maybe next week.

Jennifer called yesterday and she took Phoebe in for her surgical breeding to Dylan! That makes for puppies around June 6th or so. Jennifer wanted liver puppies, but Dylan is pure for black so she will have to wait for that brownie she has so longed for!

Our trip to DCA - OMG!

Well, were home from DCA and it seems all but a dream. Jennifer & I got to the hotel in Lawrence, KS late on Monday evening. Jennifer and Tanner had a delay due to weather in Denver but got to the Kansas City airport in fine shape! We got settled in our room and went to the hospitality area to visit. By the time we were done visiting we both realized that neither of us had eaten anything but snacks all day. So we went hunting for something (anything) at almost 11pm... not much to choose from.

On Tuesday we watched the end of the bitch classes and all the dog classes. Winners Dog & Winners Bitch were littermates bred by Tom & Michele Wrath. Congrats!! After Stud Dog & Brood Bitch it was time to get started dressing for the DCAF Gala and the Top Twenty.

The Gala was nice, kind of quiet, but fine. Then we went up to get Tanner & Bindi for the Top Twenty. By the time we got them down stairs to the crate room they were READY!! It's really strange how they know this is a special event. Mocha did the same thing!

When we finally got to go in the ring Bindi was so buzzed up I had to keep her under extra control, something I almost never have to do! Then back to her crate to wait for her turn... I had a new long dress that I did not practice running in before we went into the ring... Note to self.... practice when wearing a long dress... Tanner was up first and had Queen's, Don't Stop Me Now http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUBwjyhRweQ&feature=related for his music. The crowd went NUTS when he hit his free stacks. What a good boy!!!

Then it was Bindi's turn, her music was Hall & Oats, You Make My Dreams Come True, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2Um-w2nfRA&feature=related she was so cranked up she FLEW around the ring! I had to hold up my dress to keep up with her! WOWZER!! She did her free stack well and did a nice swing into another free stack. Good girl. Then I had to get her to go in a straight line for the up and back. She flew! Bindi sometime does not want to hold still to have her teeth looked at... so it was to be for Dr. Doane. What a brat! But we got thru that... Then we did some more free stacks and then around and out of the ring. WOW what a buzzz! Then we did photos, man that seems to take a long time... They don't announce the Top Twenty winner until the dinner the next evening. Then is was time to walk the dog and try to get some sleep, ya right....

Wednesday dawned with much warmer weather than the previous days. Breed judging started at 9:30am. All the dogs have to go in the ring at the start; they then divide us up into groups. Tanner was in the 2nd group of boys and Bindi was in the first group of girls. When we left the ring I took Bindi back to the room so she could rest. I got back down in time to watch Tanner. He was of course a good boy and he made the cut in his group. Then the judge brought in his 3 groups of boys for one more cut and Tanner made that cut too!!

Then it was Bindi's turn. She was MUCH better about her teeth. Good girl! She too made the first cut in her group. Then the judge again brought in his cuts of girls and Bindi made the final cut. Then the judge took a lunch break. Jennifer got some lunch but I did not eat... I did have some of the meat I bought for Bindi if you call that eating...

Now we were down to the final cuts. Tanner & Jennifer were in the front with the boys and Bindi and I in the middle with the girl cut. The judge made another cut (I think) and then got down to the final placements. He first pulled out a liver boy and put him on the other side of the ring, maybe the start of his Award of Merit's? Then he pulled his Winners Dog to go in front of the liver dog.... hmmmmm maybe that is his Best of Opposite and Best of Winners... That means it's going to be a bitch for Best of Breed. Funny how your brain flies! He stopped and looked at the girls again and then pointed to Bindi and said to go to the front of the line. OMG! Bindi always turns it up a notch every time she makes a cut, just like Mocha. So she was on auto pilot by then! I never had to touch her again. She just free stacked and wagged her tail!! Then the judge arraigned the Awards of Merit and then said something like "are you all waiting for something?" I don't remember just what he said... Then he looked at me and said "take them around" OMG!! I told Bindi to walk up and held on and away we went, she floated around the ring... then Rick pointed to us. I though I was going to fall down, I slowed down Bindi and grabbed her. She was sooo silly, lots of kisses! Then the hugs, lots of hugs!!! The brain really goes blank!! I hope there are some photos of us in the ring. Writing this sure helps me to remember what happened. But it really turns into a blur... I do remember LOTS of hugs tho!! Tanner got one of the 6 Awards of Merit. Good boy!!

We did our photos and Jennifer said they looked good. Still floating we went back to room and started working on the Award of Merit frames I do for the winners. Then I got packed up and Jennifer, Bindi & I left for the airport. I had to be in Sacramento to work on Thursday.... So we were going to miss the Awards Dinner... bummer and the announcement of the Top Twenty winner. I asked Jennifer to call and leave me a message on my phone about the Top Twenty so when I landed in Denver to change planes I could find out who won.

When we landed in Denver I turned on the phone, no message... But a few minutes later my phone buzzed that I had a message, it was Jennifer screaming "you did it, you did it, Bindi Sue, Bindi Sue!!!!!!! She WON!!!! Here's Jim hang on..." I just started crying!! The guy sitting next to me asked if I was OK, I said I was fine it was good news, he thought someone must have died... I was just sitting there saying over and over, "I don’t believe it". When I got off the plane I called Mom & Dad, WOWZER. Talk about not needing a plane to get to Sacramento!

So that was our trip to DCA 2009! It’s still hard to believe it happened. This was the shortest DCA I have ever been to. I really did not get to visit much or see that many dogs. That darn work thing…. Whatcha gona do… Bindi was very glad to see Dad at the airport on Sunday night when he came to pick us up. Dad had the last page from the DCA results printed the size of a poster and taped it in the van when he picked me up!! http://www.dcanational.com/2009/spot_check_wednesday.pdf

When we got home Jasper, Tess and Ina were very glad to see me, so I played with them for a bit, Mocha spent the night at Mom & Dad’s so Bindi could sleep with me and then we crashed!

Spring forward????

Did you know that today was the day we were to spring our clocks forward until our past President changed the date? Well, my atomic clock did NOT know it... So I got up one hour early this morning... and for any that know me that is NOT A GOOD thing!!! I did not realize it however, until it was too late to go back to bed...

So I have a little time before Bindi and I leave for DCA to blog. Seems strange that the welcome party was last night.

Hey, something to talk to your Vet on your next visit... Ask them to show you how to do a Heimlich on a dog. Mocha got a golf ball sized goodie stuck in her throat and was on her way out... I did get it out, but using a Heimlich might have been better than sticking my hand into her mouth... just a thought.

Well, much to the dogs dismay.. I have time to do toenails!!! I'll be gone for a week, so nothing from here for a bit. (I know you are waiting with baited breath to read my blog) Keep good thoughts for Tanner & Bindi!

Well, time is getting close! DCA is next week. So I have started packing. I have to pack for two weekends... one for DCA the other for 4 days of work in Sacramento. I think I know what I am going to wear for DCA... but that is subject to change at any moment!!

Both Jennifer and I are looking for that special guy at DCA for Bindi & Phoebe. Hopefully we will find a dog that will just "nick" with the girls...

I'm glad I let the girls out to play in the big yard yesterday as it is raining again... They get muddy in the big yard, but not too bad. Nice thing about Dals is they shed any dirt about an hour or so after it dries. Bad thing.... it's now in my house... oh well.

Mom made it home from Florida and is she glad to be home!! I don't think I need to worry about my parents retiring to FL :) Too hot, too humid and too many strange critters. ( 2,4&6 legged!)

Back to packing!!!

Well, Dad took off in his boat!!! He made it to Gig Harbor yesterday, a short trip but at least he's on the water! Looks like the water should be good today for him, a bit overcast and no wind.

Mom is in FL with her cousin, they went to Key West yesterday and had frozen Key Lime pie dipped in chocolate! Yum! She sounds like she is having a good time too.

I sent maybe 8 photos to Purina for their magazine for a Spotlight on Shea Skinner. What did they pick? The worst photo I sent them... go figure. Drives me nuts. Not good for Shea or me... Whateva...

Ina, Tess and I went to class with Jeannie last night. It was a much smaller class this time than last, I just played with the girls on the side this time. Ina did really well. Maybe the competition with Tess or the confidence of having Tess there helped her to push up on her front the way I want. Good Girl!

I guess I had better get to work... I still have a whole show to edit so they can be mailed.

Just another Wednesday

Well, we had a very windy night! But no trees came down. A VERY good thing! I hope this weather holds a bit so Dad will go out in his boat. He has some very good friends who have been working on the engine, hopefully he will take the time and go! Dad sent me a video about lighthouse in France, I'm glad we don't live any were near there!!!



Here it is on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNpH5tx4Pu8



Bindi and I will be off to DCA in a little less than 2 weeks. This will be a very fast DCA trip for us. We meet Jennifer & Tanner at the airport on Monday afternoon, get to the hotel late Monday, show in the Top 20 on Tuesday, in the Breed on Wednesday and we'll be on a plane at 7:30pm Wednesday to Sacramento for work Thursday thru Sunday. I'm hopeful we will see just the right boy to breed Bindi to. Better get going, Bindi is getting mad that I have not let her have the last of my coffee yet! Silly girl....

Some of you know we lost Zack last week.

Zack came from Bob & Lois Wilthew as a stud fee puppy. Mom & Dad picked him up at the airport and he sat on my Mom's shoulders all the way home. He lived with me at my house for about 3 years, Mom said she wanted her own dog, maybe a little dog... then she thought maybe Zack might like to spend some time with them as I was traveling with so much with work and with Mocha so he stayed and became their dog.

He was the only Dal we have ever had that really liked to fetch and retrieve. He also sat-up and would do it so he could see out the window better. He never stole anything from the counter or table. He was a kinder, gentle kind of dog. Zack never went with Mom & Dad in their boat as he did not like to movement of the boat, but he loved going in the motorhome with them.

It was a quite end, with Mom, Dad and myself at the Vet's. Dad brought an oatmeal cookie for Zack and left his hat for Zack. It was so sad as it always is, but comforting to know that he is free of his failing body and mind.

Tramac Dapple by Design "Zack" 9-25-95 - 3-17-09

Our first post!

Hi all,
Sue MacMillan has a blog from this site and I really enjoy reading about her spots and fish, so I thought I would give it a try. Now, don't look for something from me every day like Sue, but when I think of something to say or have a photo of interest, I'll post. As many of you know me.... I'm not real good at keeping up on this type of thing (just look at my web site...) but I'll give it a try!

So here goes... This post is a test to see if I get it right!