Hello! They call me Tara. My "important" name is Longcrags Tamara Rose. I was born in Dumfries, Scotland in September of 2002. My Granny's name is Christine Turner.  I came to the United States on January 31st, 2003.  I traveled on an airplane with a charming young man named Steven, who took care of me on my trip.  My new mum would not hear of me being placed in someplace I've heard called "cargo", so I had a lovely trip riding in the plane with humans, as it should be.  I was only 4 months old, after all.     I suppose that you aren't interested in ALL of my adventures since I've been here, but you might like to read some highlights.

    I rather enjoy showing off a bit, and my mum is glad of that, because that's what she wanted - a "show" dog!  I didn't get to do much in the first months in the states. It took me awhile to adjust to your accents.  I can say that I have not been in a show that I have not placed, and for that my mom is proud.  Mum entered me in a show in November of 2003, and I got some silly award that says I was the "Best Opposite Sex".  I do not understand the big deal, but it made mum happy, and got me some sirloin for supper, so that was alright with me!  Here's a picture of me with my mum and my judge, Florise M Hogan.                  

     After the show in Spokane, we took it easy and enjoyed playing in the snow during the winter here.  I don't enjoy snow as much as some others - particulrly that brat, Rain!  Spoiled brat, if you ask me! Doesn't know her place when it comes to showing respect to her elders.  She is not here any more, so I don't have to put up with her nonsense. I keep hearing her name mentioned, as though she is coming back, but if she does, I hope she has learned some manners.  This is Rain and myself before she left for Canada.  Rain is about 6 months old in these pictures, I think.

     My next big adventure came in April of 2004 when mom packed me and my room mates in a room on wheels, and we went for a very, very, long ride. I heard mom talking to other humans about something she called "Nationals". I heard that word over and over again for a long time, so I knew that it would be something very special.  When "my" day FINALLY arrived, there were so many beautiful girls in the ring that mom was quite taken away by them.  I will admit that there were some very pretty bitches there, but I'm just as good as any of them!  Just ask me!  I got a little bored waiting for my turn, but when it arrived, I made mom proud, I'm sure.  The judge was very nice, and I was glad that mom had washed me and brushed me so that I looked my very best.  When all was said and done, the judge told mom to move me into the 3rd place position and trot around the ring one more time.  She left me there, and I got a pretty yellow 3rd place ribbon.  Mom was so happy that you would have thought that I had taken First!!  My Granny's best friend, Macara, was there to meet us when we left the ring, and oh, my - it was so exciting!!  Aunt Macara was crying, and blubbering about how Granny Christine would have been so proud of me.  I was glad mom was happy - it usually means something especially yummy for supper when she's happy with me at a show.  She showed me a pretty sparkling thing later on, and said that it was mine, too. I don't know what it's for, but I suppose I could drink water from it.  Here I am with my judge, Charlotte Patterson and Terry McIntyre, who worked very hard at putting the show together.  

 Less than 4 weeks after these pictures were taken, I have my biggest news of all!!!!  I am now officially a Mother!  You can read about my kids in various places around this site.

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   More from 2004:

Turner competed for the first time in Cloverdale, British Columbia, in mid-November 2004, at 6 months old. He took Reserve Winner's Dog on Saturday and Sunday both, beating 2 adult males for the honor. The following weekend he competed at the Toy Specialty in Portland, Oregon, and took Second place in the Sweepstakes Class.  He is beginning to not look as much like his mother as he did, so here is a picture of the two of them on Thanksgiving weekend, 2004.

I am very proud of my young son, Turner, who earned his first AKC point on

Mother's Day of 2005 in Elma, Washington, under

 Mrs. Betty J. Duding

UPDATE

May 31st, 2005 Turner went Winners Dog

at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

2006

Mom says that I won't be competing any more in the show ring, and that makes me sad. I love to show off!!!  Well - mom decided that after a lot of begging, that I could compete one more time at the PAPS Specialty in Enumclaw, Washington in August. I was SO excited!!!  Well - little did I know that she was putting me in some class called "Brood Bitch"! Holy cow - what was I in for, anyway?  I got all fluffed up, and looking my very best, and was especially proud when I realized that I got to show off my two sons on this day!  Turner is 2 years old now, and has a half-brother that mom calls "Levi" that is 10 months old. Both are very handsome boys, if I do say so myself. Well - it wasn't just MY opinion, either, because the judge that day was Ruth Zimmerman, and she thought my two boys were pretty darned special, too, and awarded me FIRST PRIZE!!!

Aren't we a handsome family?

Thank you, Ruth Zimmerman!

Gayle Main

cadgets3@charter.net

Rock Island, Washington