11/18/2024
First time at the National dog show week in Philly and it was an experience to say the least! The crowds were nearly impassable to get to the ring, it was very difficult to navigate with a large gorilla at my side.
Throw out dog etiquette with most of the spectators, hands were coming from everywhere grabbing the dog. I felt like Jodi foster in silence of the lambs walking by the jail cells with hands reaching out and kissing and slurping noises at us walking towards Hannibal Lectors cell.
I’m beyond proud of this dog for hanging in and maintaining his sweet temperament all arduous 4 days of showing. It far exceeds beyond the pretty ribbons he received. He truly represented everything we strive for as a breed. From kids literally hanging off him. Hands in his face, mouth, tail. His first time being on TV, on a TV set, camera crews in his face, cameras on a zip line racing on top of him, music from huge speakers with thunderous bass blaring in group, spot lights and the heat coming off of them. Capped off by a friendly hotel fire alarm blaring in the middle of the night and even being stopped in the stairwell “is this the dog that was at the dog show” as people raced with him taking selfies with him as we ran down the stairs. All with a dog who has climbed his way to #1 his first year of showing ever, taking off into specialing straight from finishing his championship in a weekend a year ago, whose “normal day” until this year has been hanging out at home playing hide and seek with his human kid. A lot for any being, let alone a dog.
Despite all of that, at this prestigious show, he comes home with 4 out of 4 breed wins. Group 2, Group 3 and makes the cut in possibly the steepest competition he’s been in amongst America’s top working dogs. My nerves are shot, I’m considering a job as a warden now. But this big guy, I’m so very proud to call ours. ❤️ Watch for Gambino on Thanksgiving day on NBC. Good boy buddy. Thank you to the judges for their recognition & to ALL who are behind the scenes supporting us. It means the world.
🤌🏻RBIS MBISS GCHS. Bowater’s Five Families🤌🏻
#1
