Wednesday 22 February 2012

The Adventures of Frodo the Faller - repost

This is a republication of a post from my early days of blogging and is the first of a series about our remaining Dalmatian. He is ten years old now but it tells of him as a pup.
When Frodo was a little chap, before he became a Faller, we would occasionally take him to dog shows. He was always very excited to see all the different breeds of dog and could barely contain himself. Eventually it would be our turn to enter the ring – yes, Frodo is a dog. What did you think? Who would call a child Frodo? J.R.R. Tolkien did, for one, although now I come to think of it Frodo Baggins was a Hobbit, not a human. I digress – something I frequently do. I ascribe it to having had four children and spending my entire working life with young children. It’s almost impossible to hold one’s train of thought when interruptions are frequent, repetitive and insistent. Many are the profound ponderings, grand philosophies and life-enhancing schemes that have been half-developed and abandoned; rather like a lovely dream from which one is abruptly woken and to which one longs to return but cannot, or like the floaters in your eyes that you can never quite focus on. Maybe the fruition of such deliberations would have proved them to be half-baked so better they were left embryonic. The first time Frodo and I ventured into the ring – on which occasion, by the way, he qualified for Cruft’s, the supreme beauty show of the canine world, though for a puppy to qualify the requirement is a first, second or third place in a class, so it’s not very exacting. Why should it be? A puppy is full of promise. To resume, the first time we went into the ring, neither of us had much idea what we were supposed to be doing although we had attended Ringcraft classes – well, only one actually, as Frodo was five months old when he came to live with us and his breeder had already entered him for his first dog show just after his six-month birthday.
Not wanting to disappoint and convinced we had a puppy that was going to become an instant star we bravely went along. With hindsight we would have let the breeder down less if we had not fetched up at the show at all. Notwithstanding, we galloped around the ring, Frodo leaping and prancing like a circus horse and biting his lead, me trying to look as though I was in control. Finally, we were called to a halt so that the judge could ‘go over’ the puppies. I was now an unattractive shade of puce, which clashed with the purple jacket I was wearing, and panting heavily. In fact, I was panting more than the puppies. All the other handlers looked calm and collected. With good grace Frodo allowed himself to be handled. This could be the start of something big! During subsequent shows, however, it became apparent that Frodo was enjoying the whole shooting match rather less than I was (and I was not happy to be careering round in front of so many people – I’m not a shrinking violet, but I don’t like to be on public display) My handling abilities had not developed noticeably and added to the requirement to keep Frodo moving at a steady pace, showing off his superb conformation, gait and spotting (he’s a Dalmatian) was the necessity to prevent him taking lumps out of the other exhibits as we charged past. The final indication that the show world was not for Frodo was when the judge was gently examining him and he growled (Frodo that is, not the judge) – a soft, back-of-the-throat, please stop growl, a warning that he was not enjoying the whole experience. So our beautiful boy was to be for our eyes only, never to receive the highest accolade in the show dog world, Cruft’s Supreme Champion. As it was, it would never have happened anyway because shortly before his third birthday Frodo became a Faller, of which more anon.

18 comments:

  1. Frodo doesn't need the title Cruft's Supreme Champion to be a real champion. :) I don't blame him for growling.

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  2. look at his stance!
    he's wonderful

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  3. Aaaw ... I just LOVE the first photo :o)

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  4. Frodo has something better, Janice. He has the love of bloggers from all over the world, who love him for himself and not for his conformation or stance.
    He really was a beautiful pup, wasn't he? I'm glad you decided to re-post this.
    Hugs to Frodo and the others (to be fair).
    K

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  5. From his photos I can see why you wanted to show him off. Good looking.

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  6. A beautiful dog! No wonder he did so well at first. My little dog would go crazy if anyone but the family touched her. I'm afraid she isn't show dog material either.

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  7. I feel rather relieved that he didn't have to face a life of beauty contests! He's lovely, and you love him - what more is required?

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  8. He's beautiful.
    A 'faller' doesn't sound good. Sounds like epilepsy.

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  9. Isn't he handsome!!
    Can't wait for your to explain what a 'Faller' is.

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  10. A very nice active dog.

    Greetings,
    Filip

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  11. Thanks for sharing lovely photos of him! I love to look at Dalmations after watching 101 Dalmations!

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  12. I don't think I would like to be paraded around a ring or examined by a judge either-wise Frodo! Have you seen 'Best in Show'? I really love that film, so funny and the dogs are such stars.
    I am ok thanks-I can't remember the comment-I was ill at half term but seem to have mainly got over it now. Thanks for asking!

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  13. He is certainly a handsome dude!

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  14. Please post more of Frodo. I'll be a faithful follower.

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  15. Frodo wins the prize in my book! He's a beauty and your story is so sweet.

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  16. He's a real beaut!
    Alas, I can't claim to have had four children, but I did spend all but two or three of my working years with young children and also know the joys and pains of having grand schemes of work interrupted. Mind you, it did prepare me for old age when one doesn't need any outside help to lose the thread!
    Enjoyable post.

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  17. Wow...what a pro Frodo is! He looks like he was all for it in the pictures. Now I'm very anxious as to what a Faller is....
    Hugs~

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  18. What a very handsome fellow Frodo is!


    x Fiona

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