Kromi Stories #1

One of the first projects I tackled in this breed was information-gathering on Kromis that had lived in the USA since the mid-1990's and making contact with their owners. It was NOT easy. Most were gracious to provide photos and information for admitting their Kromis, even if deceased, to AKC's FSS.
Slowly, we added to the AKC FSS numbers each year. We were not in a hurry. I already was familiar with the process of AKC recognition and how much work is required. How much TEAMWORK! 
We continued to show at whichever AKC's FSS shows we could get to, especially if they had a Meet the Breed area. We had the very first  organized meeting of Kromi owners in Richmond, VA in June, 2018. We determined that this would be a true democracy club, without division and that we all would strive for a "takes a village" attitude.
In December, 2019, on the way back from the big Orlando AKC show and Meet the Breed event, I decided that it would be fun to have 2 litters at the same time. I bred Krystal with Bubba and Jenji with Hazell (Birkenstrand's Life in One Day, 2016). The puppies were both born in the coldest week of the year, around Valentine's Day, 2020.
---Then covid happened!
We couldn't go anywhere, our vet was restricted to emergencies only...but with so many restrictions on all this stuff and how we could socialize the puppies vs. how we had done it before (having a lot of people over, with lots of stimuli and going places with them, etc), we managed quite well, got pretty creative and met new owners at halfway points (welcome road trips, even though they were pretty boring), all masked up each time... and the pups turned out all right.
In fact, during most of that first year, 2020, my dog family here seemed to be doing fine with both of us home all the time, with nowhere to go. A lot of that isn't much different than normal but it was nice to know you could.
But as it went on, I saw more evidence in my Kromis of what actually was a global phenomenon (click for link to study). Our ultra-sensitive dogs KNEW the humans were going through something bad. Family relationship splintering, deaths and near-deaths... It's just been a really tough time. But it has been for everyone in so many ways. Add to that the regular competition for our attention! We ended up having to make some hard decisions about rehoming some of the dogs. 
In May, 2022, being fully vaccinated, I was finally confident enough to go to a dog show again, after staying at home (or in the car) 1.5 years, to the UKC Premier show (in the neuter category) in June, 2022.
I entered Charlie, a particular success story...one of several behavior-problem dogs that I had gotten back during that pandemic stress phenomenon (first in February 2020 from his puppy home and then again in August 2021, from his 2nd home). We were his last chance and since he cannot live anywhere else from now on, I had a big project.
I worked with him consistently, gradually getting him off the drugs he'd been put on from the vet of his 2nd former home. I used some similar aggression-reducing behavior training that I used to do in my  Australian Cattle Dog rescue days, that I'd learned from various books and experience. I turned his aggressive displays into fun, cued tricks that he now enjoys doing (big smile!).
He did well at the show, got a Group 4 and was happy, relaxed and accepted petting from anyone that asked. He had such a great time and I am so proud of him I might enter him in some more UKC shows some other time!

Charlie (Birkenstrand's Ticket to the Moon) at the UKC Premier, June 2022