Elimination Round...

Week 8

The puppies are approaching take off to their new big girl worlds. So much has happened in the past few weeks: eating on their own, learning how to climb stairs (and fences), tug-o-war, potty and crate training, trips to the vet. Mommy Darjeeling is quite enjoying this stage, playing with them constantly yet still insistent on cleaning up after them and setting boundaries. Sir Barclay, a typical water sign, picks and chooses his tolerance based on his mood of the millisecond.

Week 8 is significant for puppies with a Top Model career as this is when the elimination round begins and for those who must go back to the Bali Spa, pack their belongings and go to a home as a pet.

Blue Boy "Chai"

Blue boy, still the biggest and first to chow down for meals, has grown into a fine young man. He's always with some puppy toy but not like in a Linus - security blanket kind of way but the all around jock who carries the football under his armpit. Blue boy can cover some amazing ground and is quite fast. He's definitely an easy keeper and will do well in a home that has a gym and goat yogurt smoothie bar.

Blue boy is one the finalists for Taji's Next Top Model. According to the judges, Blue boy has "it all going on" and "all the assets of his sire and dam and void of their few liabilities."

Red Girl "Raspberry"

Red girl has blossomed into a fine young lady, complete with manners and poise. Prior to the last week, "Raspberry" was a bit too spirited and needed to report to Lady Farnsworth's finishing school of which Mommy Darjeeling is an alumna from. Much like her mother, Red girl benefits from bonding and some firm attention. She still doesn't like surprises but when you ask her politely, she is happy to oblige. We think she'll do well in a home with another well-mannered older basenji who can mentor her.

Red girl was the last to be eliminated and did not make the finals for Taji's Next Top Model. Although the prettiest and most photogenic, she doesn't have her mother's ability of movement so is not considered competitive enough compared to her stronger siblings. Also Mommy Darjeeling wants her children to have careers that don't only rely an a pretty face and thinks Raspberry needs to find some philanthropic duties to serve under.

Yellow Girl "Banh Mi"

Banh Mi is the darling of the bunch, complete with the highest sense of etiquette. The only puppy with complete house privileges, she possesses so much of her mother's better qualities (and the triple curl tail). Always the first to greet and make you feel at ease, she often is found just sitting by your feet to chat the day away. Although she wears a lot of eye shadow to hide her pretty face, Banh Mi, like her mother, prefers not be judged by her looks only.

Banh Mi is the second finalist for Taji's Next Top Model. The judges have said she has "great shoulder layback, solid topline, good rear, pretty head with a kind and expressive eye." In keeping with the Taji's line of great tri-coloured dogs, Banh Mi is in the running to become Taji's Next Top Model.

White Boy "Pekoe"

White boy is the epitome of zen dog. He's definitely a beta personality and will greet you with his ears pinned back and tail wagging.  White boy has the "labrador" gene from his mother; barking, licking and with the quintessential puppy demeanor.  We await to see if he also inherits her "stuck tongue" habit. But Tragedy never becomes him. Always the last to wake up and eat, he lets life dictates his next move. He will make a great addition to any home.

As if fate would judge his collar colour, White Boy's 4th place entry to this world also meant he was the first to be eliminated from Taji's Next Top Model. He has a finer boned body like his sister Red Girl and his tiny butt won't permit him to sashay / shante his way down the runway.

JUDGING
Puppies are evaluated at 8 weeks before they hit their awkward teenage gangly stage. This is the period where adult attributes can be predicted before the acne and hormones set in. In general, the characteristics that are used for evaluation are head expression, body/leg balance and proportion, movement and temperament. Each breeder has their own interpretation of these elements but they all follow the breed standard set by the AKC. The basenji "standard" can be found here.

For this season, Grandmother Katie has only two photos in her hand on who will become Taji's Next Top Model.

Stay tuned for the season finale and who will be:

Taji's Next Top Model,
Taji's Make Me A Supermodel,
Taji's What Not to Wear,
Taji's Project Runway