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| Argenta's
Photoalbum |
Washington, October 2003
Part one
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What a nice trip we had!
Gunilla was invited to judge
the sweepstakes at The Potomac Valley Standard Schnauzer Club's
Speciality and at the same time we delivered Argenta's
Sigrid Svensk to her new owner
Linda Dobbie, Kennel Centara, USA.
So off to USA went three Argenta-generations!
Birgitta, Boel, Gunilla, Caroline and Alexandra together with
the puppy Siri!
We packed our summerclothes in huge suitcases and were ready
to leave a snowy and cold Stockholm for a warm Washington. As
we left in a snowstorm, we were forced to bring our warm jackets
with us.
And we were so grateful when we landed at Dulles airport outside
Washington. It was freezing cold! The wheather had changed from
Summer into a very cold and windy Autumn just in a few hours!
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Caroline and Alexandra on the airplane.
A
sunshine-story!
When we booked our tickets we were told that we were not allowed
to take little Siri with us in the cabin. She had to sit in
a crate inside the cargo compartment. So at Arlanda airport
in Stockholm, while the girls cried, we put the small puppy
in her crate knowing that we wouldn't be able to see her until
we landed in Washington 13 hours later!
It's always nice to fly but knowing that you have a small, scared
puppy somewhere inside the plane takes away most of the charm
of the flight!
We changed planes in Copenhagen, Denmark, and when we boarded
the new SAS-plane we saw Siri's crate standing on the ground
outside the plane. As we thought is was too noisy and cold for
her, we asked our flight stewardess to tell the cargo crew to
put Siri inside the plane as soon as possible. When she looked
outside and saw the scared little puppy, she became a bit irritated
with us. She couldn't understand that we preferred to let the
puppy ride inside the cargo compartment...
When we had explained that our highest wish was to have Siri
with us, she went to the captain and got his permision to bring
her inside the cabin. Birgitta emptied her carry-on-bag and
gave it to the stewardess.
We then saw her run out of the plane, down on the runway and
inside into the cargo. Meanwhile, the captain started the engines,
the "fasten-your-seatbelts-sign" was lit and the plane
was getting to ready to fly.
We almost heard the film-music when our hero, the stewardess
Inger, walked down the aisle with little Siri in her arms!
It was sad that we didn't get to see the faces of the cargo-crew
in Washington when they carefully took out the crate. On it
was a big sign "Hello, my name is Siri and I'm a schnauzerpuppy."
And inside the crate was just Birgitta's shoes! 
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Siri in Birgitta's bag on the floor!
This is a much better way to fly!
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At Dulles-airport, we were met by Georgia
Sabean and Valerie Yantz. They took us to the Holiday Inn Washington-Dulles
where most of the scheduled meetings were beeing held. The SSCA
Board Meeting, The Junior Showmanship Clinic, The Breeder's
Roundtable, The Educational Seminar, The Annual Meeting, The
OktoberFest Social, The SSCA Auction and The SSCA Banquet &
Annual Awards.
It's always wonderful to meet our American friends!
Georgia and Jean, Joy and Val, Linda, Gail P, Pat and Bob, Judy
and Dick, Nancy and Pete, Gail M, Kayce and Gayle...
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Jean and Georgia had made a special welcome-sign for us.
"Welcome - Argenta Family".
No wonder we love them!
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Thursday, Oct. 23:
AHBA Herding Test and Picnic Lunch, Berryville
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In USA, the Standard Schnauzer is an accepted herding breed
and this day we were able to see a lot of schnauzers doing herding
tests.
"The AHBA Herding Trial Program allows dogs to demonstrate
herding ability in herding trials at started, intermediate,
and advanced levels on a standard course and on farm/ranch courses
which vary in detail but include specified requirements. The
testing program includes Herding Capability Tests, for dogs
taking part in tests for herding instinct and beginning herding
work, and Junior Herding Dog Tests, for dogs in early training,
at a level preparatory to trial work."
Our biggest interest were of course to see Argenta's
Questor Quincy in action!
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Quincy and the judge.
Quincy passed his Herding Capability Test
and got his first "leg".
He needs to pass this test twice to get the title
"Herding Capability Tested" (HCT).
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It was a fine but cold day so the girls were glad to wear their winterjackets!
Siri thought it was very exciting to look at all the animals!
Here she is eyeing some sheeps!
Ooops, a rather big sheep!
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While the adults were busy on the Breeder's Roundtable, the
children were given a lot of good practice and tips on the Junior
Showmanship Clinic.
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Gail Pfeiffer was nice to lend Caroline and Alexandra her dogs.
The girls didn't just learn a lot about showing dogs, they also got
new friends!
Dennis, Kelsey and the Danish boys Nicolai and Frederik Staunskaer-Braathen.
Alexandra and Charisma Lady Jambalaya
Caroline and Ch Asgard Fawr Princess
Alexandra and Kelsey.
In the background, Charlotte Staunskær.
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Don't miss the next page
Washington,
October 2003, part two.
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