Shaksper News

An aperiodic blog about Shaksper Norwich dogs - both mine and those in other homes. To see how the dogs are related, use the relationship feature of my pedigree database.

31 Dec
AKC agility judge Don Wittke emailed me: Rumor has it that this baby Ewok is one of your breedings! What a cute dog! Two double Q's over two days of agility! Is the fluffy coat a recessive gene? Don and I have known each other for some years. I instantly recognized that Don is holding Polly ("Shaksper Hippolyta"), owned by Lynn S. Congratulations to Lynn and Polly on their double Q's! And yes Don, the fluffy coat that Polly has is caused by a recessive gene.

30 Dec
Jennifer B. sent me this picture of Gucci ("Shaksper General Chang") along with this holiday picture. (The picture includes snow, so I will assume it is a holiday picture!)

26 Dec
Another holiday picture:

25 Dec
More holiday pictures:

24 Dec
Some holiday pictures:

15-17 Dec
The 2023 AKC Agility Invitational was held in Orlando Florida this weekend. The top five regular agility dogs of each breed plus the top preferred agility dog of each breed are invited to the competition. Mandy ("Shaksper Amanda Seyfried") and I were one of the five regular Norwich agility teams that were invited. Here are the six Norwich handlers and five of the six Norwich. When the dust settled at the end of the weekend, Mandy was in fifth place among the Norwich.

3 Dec
Forewing sent me this picture of Josh passing on a hug from me to Otto ("Shaksper Othello") in his new home.

2 Dec
Maggie sent me this picture of Porchie ("Shaksper Dick The Butcher") in his new home.

1 Dec
Sandy sent me this very cute picture of Smedes and Peanut ("Shaksper Victor Garcia").

28 Nov
Happy birthday to Gucci ("Shaksper General Chang") who is one-year old today. Jennifer sent me this birthday picture of Gucci with a friend.

21 Nov
Sarah sent me this picture of Jimmy ("Shaksper Iago") waiting for dinner.

8 Nov
Happy birthday to Ophelia ("Shaksper Ophelia"), Bear ("Shaksper Guildenstern") and Valor ("Shaksper Rosencrantz") who are four years old today.

Kristy sent me these pictures of Valor ("Shaksper Rosencrantz") at a park in Abu Dhabi:

31 Oct
Halloween pictures!!!

29 Oct
Manny sent me these picture of Yoshi ("Shaksper Tom Snout"):

27 Oct
Happy birtday to Boo ("Shaksper Guiderius") and Argus ("haksper Arvirargus") who are seven years old today.

2-5 Oct
This is the beginning of "Montgomery" week. "Montgomery" to a terrier-person means the terrier-only conformation (dog) show put on by the Montgomery County Kennel Club at the beginning of October in eastern Pennsylvania. Montgomery is often the largest gathering of Norwich terriers in the world. Around Montgomery has grown up other terrier events, and many terrier parent clubs - including the Norwich Terrier Club of America - often make Montgomery their national specialty and hold various club events during the week. For me, the four days of terrier-only agility is the highlight of the week, being my favorite agility trial of the year. During the second half of the week I attend the health seminar, banquet, and business meeting of the Norwich Terrier Club of America, and finally "Montgomery" (always held on a Sunday). I have attended every Montgomery since 1997.

Here are this year's Norwich and Norfolk attendees at the Montgomery Terrier Agility Cluster. Mandy ("Shaksper Amanda Seyfried") and I were able to earn one of those difficult "double-Qs" where you have to qualify on both the Standard and the Jumper's course on the same day.

25 Sep
Jennifer sent me this picture of Gucci ("Shaksper General Chang") in their lovely garden.

19 Sep
Happy birthday to Ben ("Shaksper Soren Ben Miller"), Bentley ("Shaksper Prince Edvard Williams"), and Paige ("Shaksper Paige Morgan") who are all thirteen years years old today.

16, 18 Sep
Ophelia ("Shaksper Ophelia") was bred.

14 Sep
In the rural county where I live, hunters are allowed to use dogs to help them hunt. Many of my neighbors have large packs of hunting dogs. Occasionally one strays onto my property so my dogs capture the intruder.

11 Sep
Christine sent me this picture of Fergus ("Shaksper Petruchio") sleeping in his toy basket.

10 Sep
Winnie ("Shaksper Tamora Queen Of The Goths") has come to stay with me for a week while Karissa and Tom travel. Winnie lives in the city, so she enjoys walking in the woods when visiting me.

8 Sep
Patrick sent me this picture of Bernard ("Shaksper Henry Pole") (on the right) with a friend.

7 Sep
Siri ("Shaksper Serena Mckellen") had two male puppies by c-section today. Details are in her puppy diary.

4 Sep
Christine sent me this picture of Fergus ("Shaksper Petruchio") and tells me that Fergus is adjusting well to his new home.

3 Sep
Jen B. sent me this picture of Gucci ("Shaksper General Chang") practicing going through a tunnel.

Happy birthday to Marian ("Shaksper Frances Flute"), Yoshi ("Shaksper Tom Snout"), and Watson ("Shaksper Peter Quince") who are all one-year old today.

2 Sep
Kristy sent me this picture of Valor ("Shaksper Rosencrantz") between a snake and a scorpion in Abu Dhabi.

Gywnie ("Shaksper Gwyneth De Lesseps") had three puppies - two boys and one girl - by c-section today. Details are in her puppy diary.

31 Aug
Happy Birthday to Sayer ("Shaksper Soothsayer Of The Ides"), Portia ("Shaksper Porcia Catonis", and Tavi (Shaksper Octavia Minor") who are all eight years old today.

24 Aug
Winnie ("Shaksper Tamora Queen Of The Goths") and Karissa - I suspect the picture was taken by Tom.

20 Aug
Mandy ("Shaksper Amanda Seyfried"), Izzy ("Shaksper Iras"), and I competed at an agility trial in Richmond this weekend. Mandy earned one of those difficult to get double-Qs (qualifying on both the Master Standard course and the Master Jumpers course on the same day). This was Izzy's agility debut. Izzy did very well earning two blue ribbons.

16 Aug
Happy birthday to HP ("Shaksper Harry Percy"), Elvis ("Shaksper Edmund Mortimer"), Boo ("Shaksper Lady Catrin Mortimer"), and Madeline ("Shaksper Lady Elizabeth Percy") who are all three years old today.

8 Aug
Ultrasound today confirmed that both Gwynie ("Shaksper Gwyneth De Lesseps") and Siri ("Shaksper Serena Mckellen") are pregnant. Details are on their joint puppy diary.

4 Aug
From left to right - Wilson ("Shaksper Geoffrey Pole"), Doug, and Watson ("Shaksper Peter Quince"). Sally and Sal brought Wilson over for a play date with Watson (and Doug and Joan). Doug commented that the two dogs are almost identical. Wilson and Watson are second cousins (once removed).

28 Jul
Happy birthday to Gwynie ("Shaksper Gwyneth De Lesseps") who is three years old today.

26 Jul
Happy birthday to Mandy ("Shaksper Amanda Seyfried"), Peanut ("Shaksper Victor Garcia"), and Sophie ("Shaksper Sophie Hall") who are 11 years old today.

22 Jul
As one of the top five Norwich doing agility, Mandy ("Shaksper Amanda Seyfried") has received an invitation to the AKC Agility Invitational to be held in December in Orlando.

20 Jul
Amy sent me this picture of Marian ("Shaksper Frances Flute").

28 Jun
Both Gwynie ("Shaksper Gwyneth De Lesseps") and Siri ("Shaksper Serena Mckellen") have come into season. I plan to breed them both.

25 Jun
Sally sent me this picture of Wilson ("Shaksper Geoffrey Pole") having summer fun.

22 Jun
Yoshi ("Shaksper Tom Snout") has come to stay with me for a bit while Manny and Jane do some traveling. Yoshi's litter-brother Watson ("Shaksper Peter Quince") was recently here visiting, so it will be interesting to compare them.

19 Jun
Manny sent me this photo of Yoshi ("Shaksper Tom Snout") modeling his STAR Puppy medallion.

5 Jun
Watson ("Shaksper Peter Quince") likes Piper's hideout. (Piper is the daughter of my petsitter where my dogs are temporarily staying.)

4 Jun
Izzy ("Shaksper Iras") had two male puppies this evening born via free whelp. Details are on their puppy diary.

2 Jun
Lynn S. informs me that Polly ("Shaksper Hippolyta") has earned the PACH2 title. PACH stands for "Preferred Agility Champion"; the "2" indicate that Polly has satisfied the requirements two times over! Much congratulations to Lynn and Polly!!! Here is the celebratory picture with (from left to right) the judge, Polly, and Lynn.

1 Jun
Watson ("Shaksper Peter Quince") has come to stay with me for a bit while Doug and Joan do some traveling.

26 May
Happy birthday to Winnie ("Shaksper Tamora Queen Of The Goths") who is nine years old. Karissa sent me this birthday picture of Winnie.

25 May
Izzy ("Shaksper Iras") was barking furiously in the woods. When I investigates as to why, I discovered that Izzy had found a young fawn. I was trying to call Izzy off the deer, and got this picture of the two of them looking at me - the fawn on the left, and Izzy on the right. As long as the fawn was still, Izzzy just barked at it. But when the fawn moved Izzy gave chase and tried to nip the fawn. I finally caught Izzy and the fawn was able to escape.

17 May
Happy birthday to Estelle ("Shaksper Charmian") and Izzy ("Shaksper Iras") who are two years old today.

14 May
Doug sent me this picture of Watson ("Shaksper Peter Quince") and writes "Happy Mothers Day to Boo and all the Moms." [Boo ("Shaksper Lady Catrin Mortimer") is Watson's mother.]

6 May
Congratulations to Boo ("Shaksper Guiderius") and Jennifer and Keith for having two clean ("perfect") runs - a "double Q" - at the 2023 Westminster Master Agility Championship in New York. Unfortunately their time was not sufficiently fast to get them into the finals round, but just going clean is a big accomplishment!

The Westminster Master Agility Championship is put on by the Westminster Dog Club, which also holds a famous conformation show ("dog show") a few days later. It is famous for being the second-longest, continuously held sporting event in the U.S. (The Kentucky Derby holds the record for being the longest.)

I was the "emergency" judge at a three-day agility trial in Delaware. (The scheduled judge was sick, and I was asked to be the replacement.) Manny and Jane brought Yoshi ("Shaksper Tom Snout") to watch the agility action and so that I could see Yoshi. Here is a picture of the four of us together. (The people in the background are walking the course preparing their strategy for running the course with their dog.)

4 May
Ultrasound today shows that Izzy ("Shaksper Iras") is pregnant! I have started another puppy diary.

25 Apr
Happy Birthday to Polly ("Shaksper Hippolyta") and Robin ("Shaksper Robin Goodfellow") who are six years old today.

10 Apr
Doug sent me this picture of Watson ("Shaksper Peter Quince") and Wilson ("Shaksper Geoffrey Pole"). Watson lives with Doug and Joan; Wilson lives with Sally and Sal. Watson and Wilson are nearby neighbors. Doug remarked that Watson and Wilson look like identical twins; actually they are second cousins (once removed).

9 Apr
Victoria sent me this picture of Portia ("Shaksper Porcia Catonis" ) wishing everyone a Happy Easter!

6 Apr
Congratulations to Yoshi ("Shaksper Tom Snout") on earning his STAR Puppy Certificate. Manny and Jane sent me this picture of Yoshi with his ribbons.

31 Mar
Mandy ("Shaksper Amanda Seyfried") earned her MACH5 title today at an agility trial in Concord North Carolina. This means that Mandy has completed the requirements for the Master Agility Champion (MACH) title five times over. The requirements for the MACH title are 20 double-Qs (qualifying on both the Standard course and the Jumpers course on the same day) plus 750 "speed" points (running faster than the expected course time by a cummulative total of 750 seconds). Speed has never been Mandy's problem; getting those double-Qs has always been the hard part. So the MACH5 title means that Mandy has earned a lifetime total of 100 double-Qs. Here are Mandy and I in the customary picture with the judges under whom we earned the 20th double-Q to get the MACH5 title.

27 Mar
Amy sent me this picture of Marian ("Shaksper Frances Flute") and writes "Marian finally got big enough and figured out how to get on the coffee table."

26 Mar
Izzy ("Shaksper Iras") has come into season ... two months earlier than I expected. I plan to breed Izzy. If she becomes pregnant, I will start another puppy blog.

16-19 Mar
Mandy ("Shaksper Amanda Seyfried") and I competed at the AKC Agility Nationals in Tulsa Oklahoma. Unlike the AKC Agility Invitational, where the top five dogs of each breed are invited, at the Nationals the top dogs in each jump height (irrespective of breed) compete. Mandy competes in the 8 inch jump height (which is dominated by Papillions). While we did not realistically expect to be one of the top dogs and make the finals, it is always fun to compete and see how we rank. Mandy and I did the two-day day drive from North Carolina to Oklahoma. On Thursday we participated in the warm up round, to let the dogs get used to the running surface and the equipment. Then over the next two days we competed in three rounds (runs).

When the dust settled, each Norwich team had run clean (no faults) in two of the three rounds. (So none of us had a chance for the Challenger's round or the Finals on Sunday.) Mandy placed 63rd out of the 124 dogs competing in the 8 inch height division. Very respectible! Plus Mandy was the top Norwich of the three who competed. We stayed to watch the Finals, then began the two-day drive home.

18 Mar
Manny sent me this picture of Yoshi ("Shaksper Tom Snout") at a Law School. Clearly Yoshi is planning on studying Terrier Law! (Actually the "T" stands for "Temple", as in "Temple University")

8 Mar
Happy Birthday to Percy ("Shaksper Thane Of Lennox"), Duffy ("Shaksper Thane Of Fife"), and Rocco ("Shaksper Thane Of Ross") who are all four-years old today.

Lynn T. send me this birthday picture of Duffy.

1 Mar
Gucci ("Shaksper General Chang") in his new home with a new best friend.

Chris and Portia ("Shaksper Porcia Catonis") visiting the Wright Brothers National Monument at Kitty Hawk NC.

23 Feb
Happy birthday to Artie ("Shaksper Arthur Pole"), Bernard ("Shaksper Henry Pole"), Reggie ("Shaksper Reginald Pole"), and Wilson ("Shaksper Geoffrey Pole"), who are all one-year old today. Here are some birthday pictures:

22 Jan
Lynn S. sent me this picture of Polly ("Shaksper Hippolyta") - on the right - with her half-sister (same father) Roo ("Tidewaters Roulette @ Coventry") - on the left. Both Polly and Roo are "fluffies" - meaning that they have a longer softer coat than most Norwich terriers.

21 Jan
Victoria tells me that Portia ("Shaksper Porcia Catonis") loves to ride in the basket at the hardware store .

20 Jan
Jane says that Yoshi ("Shaksper Tom Snout") is learning how to use a smart phone.

9 Jan
Ultrasound today at North Carolina State University showed that Ophelia ("Shaksper Ophelia") is sadly not pregnant.

5 Jan
I heard that Jennifer and Keith's dog Madeline ("Shaksper Lady Elizabeth Percy") had two puppies today - a girl and a boy - by free-whelp (natural birth). Unfortunately the boy was born dead. I am told that the girl is doing well.

Griffin and John visited today with Estelle ("Shaksper Charmian"). Here is Griffin holding the two sisters Estelle on the right, and Izzy ("Shaksper Iras") on the left.

2022 Shaksper News