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UFO
was a natural showman.
He loved applause.
He would bob his
head up
and down in a
bowing jester saying
"thank you,
thank you".
As other
spectators
watched, they
realized that UFO would
turn toward the loudest
applause and do
his "Thank you"
dance.
Everyone around
the
arena tried to
applaud louder than the
others, so he would turn
toward the group that applauded the loudest,
which made others
applaud even louder.
It became a game.
I believe he had the attention of everyone in the arena.
The applause
noise was so
loud and
long!
You could feel
the excitement and
energy in the air.
While this was going on,
I made my way up to the
top of the arena near
the exit, so Mike could
bring UFO to me on his
way
out
to get his next dog to
show.
As I stood there
looking down on that
little dog working his
heart out for his
audience, I was
so proud of him I wanted
to cry.
A janitor came out and
asked, "What’s
going on down there ?"
I answered,
"It’s that little
dog with the tall man in
the ring,
that’s what’s going
on".
The janitor shook
his head and went back
to work.
I believe that no Best
in Show dog ever
received more applause
and appreciation than
UFO received that day.
UFO took
a Group 4 that day,
which was also special,
because it had been
years since a Papillon
had placed in the Group
at
Westminster Kennel Club.
UFO had it all:
conformation, beauty and
a special kind of
showmanship.
Mike stood by him
and gave him love and
understanding, letting
him be himself.
They were a team
!
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