George and George: One Boy and his Dog - A Journey to the Junior Warrant Semi Finals
A couple of years ago | was asked to write the following piece for the Lhasa Apso Club newsletter. NOELAC have kindly agreed to republish it in George’s memory.
A while ago, when I said I would write an article about the Junior Warrant Semi Finals at the London Excel on 20 October 2018, I visualised an informative piece about what the experience was like for someone who has never actually entered the JW heats or attempted to qualify before. My last JW being gained in December 1996 [and yes I do feel really old saying that but I was very young at the time — honestly!]. I don’t even think there even was such a competition back then. In the end it has probably turned partially into a tribute to my nephew gorgeous George and his doggie George [George - Taemarus Never-ending Story JW].
We hadn’t planned on keeping George [the dog, not the boy! We’ll cherish whatever time we are blessed with George] - we really didn’t need another boy dog in the house. We have Jenson [almost 16] and Bentley [Taemarus Living Daylights] then aged 18 months. We had kept Bentley and his sisters Grace and McKenzie from a litter of four [epic failures at parting with them]; the only remaining dog from that litter, ‘Elliott’ was to be George and Ebonie’s [my niece’s] dog. A lot of thought, care and planning had gone in to it around George’s extremely serious life limiting condition, to ensure he would be fine with a puppy. Elliott was settling into his new home fabulously and was so lovely with George when disaster struck 48 hours in. Ebonie, who had seemed to become unwell, was taken to hospital in anaphylactic shock - she was allergic to Elliott and no one could explain why as she had never been allergic to any of the dogs ever before. I had to play the wicked Auntie and take Elliott away, breaking the children’s hearts.
So later, when this litter of three George, Epernay and Karma was born George was their first visitor and bonded with George. On the second visit Ebonie was allowed along to see how she reacted to the pups and claimed Epernay as her own, named after her she said. George therefore felt it was only right that he should have a boy dog and named after him too. Clearly they could not go home with the children because of Ebonie, so they both had to remain living with Auntie Mary and Uncle James, who made an agreement with George to show his boy and report back with pictures on his progress in the ring.
So, off we went with our unplanned additional boy… George was very proud when his baby made a few small milestones, Best Puppy at East of England and short listed in the group, various open show wins, several best in show and reserve best in shows, a nice second rosette at Crufts and enough firsts at champ shows and open shows to add up to the Junior Warrant and also a place in the Lhasa Club’s Gala [perhaps we should let George pick out all future puppies].
George was very excited about this Junior Warrant situation, although at that stage Auntie Mary had no idea about the JW Semi Finals or the regional heats. After a bit of juggling with places given in case anyone drops out making 64 places at the semi final in total from which ten dogs are selected to go to the final, held at Crufts.
Dedicated to the precious and immortal memory of our gorgeous boy, George Eden Taylor (16 January 2006 — 10 November 2020)
George who died as he lived; making a difference to others. Flew one last superhero mission & saved the lives of 3 children.
Carrying out my final promise to you to keep showing your boy and make you proud.
Forever the biggest part of our family and our hearts.
“FOREVER YOUNG”