going to be a long long night.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Countdown begins
going to be a long long night.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Great weekend on the field and in the ring
I've gotten real lax with my blog since I lost Gossip. Kinda lost my heart. . .but this week has been too good for my kids
Two Saturdays ago, Gibbs' new mom Kathy & I met up to go coursing. I wasn't running anything personally, but took Bonnie's First for her, we had an absolute blast, even if her dog felt inclined to give me a sponge bath for the 2.5 hr drive, guess he didn't like the smell of my soap LOL
Wendy & Frank had come out with Nacht & family, so it was a nice day with great friends, weather was a bit too warm, but the zoimobile with the AC on kept the kiddos nice and cool. . .Some amazing runs, with Nacht forgetting Grandma was there(after climbing up me to give kisses) and putting in some runs reminiscent of not being a FCH LOL Gibbs runs like a herd of horses, the ground almost shakes as he thunders around, not light on his feet like his sister Jenny, and First's daughter Shimmer was bound and determined to take off before the T of Tallyho LOL After the dust had settled, Gibbs managed to pull out a 1st of 7 for a 3 point major win! Kathy was and still is in denial, she made sure they checked their addition, wouldn't believe anyone who told her he had some nice darn runs and earned it! The shocking part was seeing Nacht, who is not a newbie, who is almost 2/3 of the way to her LCM, pick up a 2nd for a point! They both made me pleased!
Sunday, I went alone. The course was tough with the visual barriers and the high grass, and when Ziva & Tipperary cut at the wrong time, they got severely unsighted, but Ziva did manage to run well enough to pull out a 2nd of 5 for another single. I had gone hoping to get a QC on Frankie, but this event didn't start til 10-10:30 despite having an 8:30 roll call, and when I left at 5:30 on Saturday, they still hadn't done BOB runoffs! NO way I was sticking around. But was real proud of my kids!
This weekend I chose to make it a lazy weekend, got a mad dash trip out to OH, drop off a dog, see friends, look at stud dogs, and zoom back, but Ziva went away with Kari to do some training to be a show dog. After blowing out both knees in the last almost 2 yrs, I've come to terms that until I get in a lot better shape and get my knees both rehabbed, that it's better to let Kari do the hard wrok. I didn't expect much from my Z girl, and she did exactly what I'd expected yesterday with trying to be a GSD and run ahead of Kari, but her cousin Payton (Mandolin Mielikki's Aloha) won his first major by going WD/BOW under Ms gallant!He started off this year by going RWD at GNY's specialty, has picked up the rest of his singles, and now just needs one more major! He is by of SBIS BIF DC/Can Ch Mandolin Mielikki's The Dance SC, CD, TDI out of Witchcraft spirit of the Tsar.
Today, Ziva had her trotting shoes on, and actually settled down for Kari to go WB for 2 points :) She'll be out now and then this fall, and then seriously this winter, in between my trying to finish her FC. Really hoping she'll be my first personal DC(Her uncle Mir and Payton's sire were my first official DC's, but not owned by me)
So nice week for my kiddos! Fall is settling in, weather is cooling down, and hopefully we will be welcoming a gorgeous litter of puppies this fall. Time will tell!
Monday, August 6, 2012
The end of an era
She never achieved any titles like many of her siblings/half siblings did, never stepped in the ring, and had no desire to chase fake things. One of four of my sweet Kyra's (Ch Shefaro Mielikki Ebn Hasanna ROM) daughters, and one of a handful of Blaze (DC Silkenswift Blaze of CHaos CD, LCMV, SGRC, SORCII ) girls, Scirocco spent her life with her illustrious sire's owner/breeder Bonnie, gave her owner two lovely babies, but otherwise was just a silly homebody. . .She slipped away about two weeks ago, peacefully, in her sleep, the last of my Kyra kids to grace this earth.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Living with a golden oldie
http://www.mielikkishunt.com/touchet2.html
I am currently living a first. . I've never had a dog reach the age my Touchet has in all my years of owning dogs: a wonderous 13.5 yrs old. . she's a legend in her own mind, and my sweet 'golden schnausage'. She's not as spry as she used to be, creaky and grumpy, but she still gets up and gets going in the morning. . .still makes me laugh with her antics
She sleeps so soundly, she gives me scares a couple of times a week. Not sure if she's just that deep asleep or getting deaf, or a combo of both, as one day, I even patted her on her not quite as plump butt, and she didn't move, nudged her again, harder, and she came scrambling out of her sleep, looking to snark at a young whippersnapper that had bothered her, only to look sheepishly at me, wagging her pompom of a tail(I cut her coat back a few weeks ago)
It is rather scary to see your oldie laying out in the yard, and not see her sides raise with a breath, even when you toss a rock over the fence near her, or in the case of one day that really gave me a heartattack, the ditzy Trio(Gibbs, Jenny, & Ziva) raced over her, and she didn't move, just soaking in the sun. Since we've had a few oldies just pass away in their sleep, it's a worry every time she doesn't move.
She is a silly, sweet dog, always looks at me with eyes twinkling. Last few mornings she's been rattling the gate to the dog kitchen that keeps the old ladies from rampaging the house, woofing at me to get my attention, and not stopping until I slip her something out of the fridge. She's never been pushy for food, so not sure what's up with her, but I cater to her each morning if she asks for it. She takes the scritches, takes the snack, then walks away and leaves me alone while I fix the rest of my own personal meal LOL
She's always been a bit of a hussy with the boys, spayed or not, and it hasn't stopped. . I'm not sure if cougar is the right word for a gal her age, but she still will come up to a boy of her choosing, flick those ears up, wag that tail, stomp her feet, and woof at him like "SEe,I still got it!" And yep, she still has it, with her golden ringlets, gorgeous dark brown eyes. The boys have no clue what to do with her antics, but they make me laugh everytime I see them.
She still demands to go out in the big yards so she can snuffle around, lift her leg to pee on things, and then find a spot to sunbath in. . . she cant' get into a gallop anymore, but tries, gallumping around the backyard, and heaven forbid if you forget her, she will inform you that you left her royal Brattiness out, and that she's had enough with the young mob, it is time for her to come in and lord over the old dog kitchen yet again.
Every day is a blessing with my Touchet. . . I know each morning could be her last. Maybe that's what the morning routine is about. "See Mom, I'm still here!"
I am currently living a first. . I've never had a dog reach the age my Touchet has in all my years of owning dogs: a wonderous 13.5 yrs old. . she's a legend in her own mind, and my sweet 'golden schnausage'. She's not as spry as she used to be, creaky and grumpy, but she still gets up and gets going in the morning. . .still makes me laugh with her antics
She sleeps so soundly, she gives me scares a couple of times a week. Not sure if she's just that deep asleep or getting deaf, or a combo of both, as one day, I even patted her on her not quite as plump butt, and she didn't move, nudged her again, harder, and she came scrambling out of her sleep, looking to snark at a young whippersnapper that had bothered her, only to look sheepishly at me, wagging her pompom of a tail(I cut her coat back a few weeks ago)
It is rather scary to see your oldie laying out in the yard, and not see her sides raise with a breath, even when you toss a rock over the fence near her, or in the case of one day that really gave me a heartattack, the ditzy Trio(Gibbs, Jenny, & Ziva) raced over her, and she didn't move, just soaking in the sun. Since we've had a few oldies just pass away in their sleep, it's a worry every time she doesn't move.
She is a silly, sweet dog, always looks at me with eyes twinkling. Last few mornings she's been rattling the gate to the dog kitchen that keeps the old ladies from rampaging the house, woofing at me to get my attention, and not stopping until I slip her something out of the fridge. She's never been pushy for food, so not sure what's up with her, but I cater to her each morning if she asks for it. She takes the scritches, takes the snack, then walks away and leaves me alone while I fix the rest of my own personal meal LOL
She's always been a bit of a hussy with the boys, spayed or not, and it hasn't stopped. . I'm not sure if cougar is the right word for a gal her age, but she still will come up to a boy of her choosing, flick those ears up, wag that tail, stomp her feet, and woof at him like "SEe,I still got it!" And yep, she still has it, with her golden ringlets, gorgeous dark brown eyes. The boys have no clue what to do with her antics, but they make me laugh everytime I see them.
She still demands to go out in the big yards so she can snuffle around, lift her leg to pee on things, and then find a spot to sunbath in. . . she cant' get into a gallop anymore, but tries, gallumping around the backyard, and heaven forbid if you forget her, she will inform you that you left her royal Brattiness out, and that she's had enough with the young mob, it is time for her to come in and lord over the old dog kitchen yet again.
Every day is a blessing with my Touchet. . . I know each morning could be her last. Maybe that's what the morning routine is about. "See Mom, I'm still here!"
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
the joy of great homes & health testing
I love all my homes, but some are shining stars of responsibility
Shortly after I sold Gibbs, I got a call from a nice lady in the Midwest, who had fallen in love with him on the web, and was interested in using him on one of her girls. I let her know that although he'd been sold, he was available to the right girl, and we talked some more. She inquired upon his health testing, and I had to admit that I don't bother with health tests unless a) i'm getting ready to breed said dog, b) there's a concern. Since all the health tests done in Borzoi are only good for a year or so except for DM, it's not worth it unless there's a local, convenient clinic. I told her that if hse was serious, the health tests wuld be done before hand.
So, yesterday I sent a clinic notice to Gibbs' new mom, and instead of complaining about the prices, she asks "Which ones do you want done?" So, including doing DM(Even tho he's DM by parentage, I'm DM testing each breeding generation of my dogs), she's going to get his hairy tush CERF, OFA THyroid & Heart, and thus his Chic # :) So proud and pleased with her.
I've tried offering bonuses for testing, but even with those, the homes don't follow thru. . .someone I know was complaining about the cost of the DM test in the same breath they were wanting someone to breed to their dog. . that test alone is a must have, and worth the cost. I just don't understand
Weather here has been horrid, but this weekend is forecast to be nice and light for summer, so Gibbs will be joining Bounce & I at the coursing field for his QC, crossing fingers he'll get it!
Monday, June 25, 2012
Shows & Auf Wiedersehen Nacht und Gibbs!
The last two weeks have been so busy
Two weeks ago, I drove down to VA for a show with Ziva & Gibbs. . despite my worries, they were pretty darn good, my good knee? Gave up the ghost, on the thousandth down and back it said NOPE, and suddenly sharp pain was going thru it, the judge made me move her around yet again and then another down and back, even tho I had tears from the pain. . I stacked her, and he came over, I was fearful he was going to ahve us do yet another, and he told me not to worry, he wouldn't force us to move again, and we won our class. Nice gentleman, he made sure I had someone who could take her back in, cuz I could barely move by this time.
Had to hand her off to a sweet young lady Kari had brought with us. . .unfortunately, the ONLY time I ever hand her off is when we are going racing, so she was full speed ahead. . oh well, she behaved decently considering she hasn't been out in a year, and this is only her fourth time out period LOL so I was pleased with her.
Nacht moved into her new home after her new owners picked her up at the dog show. She's coming out of her shell and starting to blossom, especially without her devil sister beating her up in the yard. Her new home is GORGEOUS! I want to move there. Once she settles in, she'll be back out working on her LCM & her FC!
Then the following week, Gibbs moved to his new home. he jumped into the back of her car and didn't look back, squeaking his toy all the way home, where he emptied the toy box, and terrorized his cousin Titania LOL Second day he was there, I get an email asking if he had an off button LOL He had his new mom laughign so hard she hurt. Such a nice testimony to his goofy a** personality and perfect to help her heal after losing his great uncle about a week before she picked him up.
So the backyard is kinda empty. . .Nacht was a quiet soul, Gibbs was a loud, bright, obnoxious one. . you couldn't help but notice him trotting around the backyard, with his jolly ball flung over his head.
I look forward to see what both these pups do in their new homes. I miss them, but I know they're in WONDERFUL homes!!!
Two weeks ago, I drove down to VA for a show with Ziva & Gibbs. . despite my worries, they were pretty darn good, my good knee? Gave up the ghost, on the thousandth down and back it said NOPE, and suddenly sharp pain was going thru it, the judge made me move her around yet again and then another down and back, even tho I had tears from the pain. . I stacked her, and he came over, I was fearful he was going to ahve us do yet another, and he told me not to worry, he wouldn't force us to move again, and we won our class. Nice gentleman, he made sure I had someone who could take her back in, cuz I could barely move by this time.
Had to hand her off to a sweet young lady Kari had brought with us. . .unfortunately, the ONLY time I ever hand her off is when we are going racing, so she was full speed ahead. . oh well, she behaved decently considering she hasn't been out in a year, and this is only her fourth time out period LOL so I was pleased with her.
Nacht moved into her new home after her new owners picked her up at the dog show. She's coming out of her shell and starting to blossom, especially without her devil sister beating her up in the yard. Her new home is GORGEOUS! I want to move there. Once she settles in, she'll be back out working on her LCM & her FC!
Then the following week, Gibbs moved to his new home. he jumped into the back of her car and didn't look back, squeaking his toy all the way home, where he emptied the toy box, and terrorized his cousin Titania LOL Second day he was there, I get an email asking if he had an off button LOL He had his new mom laughign so hard she hurt. Such a nice testimony to his goofy a** personality and perfect to help her heal after losing his great uncle about a week before she picked him up.
So the backyard is kinda empty. . .Nacht was a quiet soul, Gibbs was a loud, bright, obnoxious one. . you couldn't help but notice him trotting around the backyard, with his jolly ball flung over his head.
I look forward to see what both these pups do in their new homes. I miss them, but I know they're in WONDERFUL homes!!!
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Gibbs has a new assignment
Sometimes, as a breeder or even as a dog owner, you have to make decisions you'd rather not make
I hadn't planned on keeping three pups out of the NCIS litter, but fell in love with Gibbs' personality. When the right home didn't surface, I had no problem keeping him. . .he's so much like his father: full of life, full speed ahead, so happy, bounce, silly!.
It's that full of life, full speed ahead that led to Grins hurting himself three weeks ago. . he wasn't paying attention, running around like an idiot, hit something, and is lucky he didn't cripple himself or worse kill himself. He will be 10 in September, but nobody who has met him recently believes it. He doesn't act it at all, the same old bouncy, trouncy, take off like a bat out of hell Grins he was 9 yrs ago when I picked him up. He has adamantly refused to turn in his Hell's Angels card for his AARP card. Bouncing around the backyard, tearing after his kids, fence fighting with the best of them, and finding him injured really scared me to death.
Gibbs is just as bad. . .and I've worried that he would hit a tree or another dog, as he runs around the yard, looking over his shoulders as his friends chased him, but finding Grins' hurt brought that worry to a boil. . .
Last month, Titania's owner came out to practice Grins' cousin Luthian at racing. She helped us out with boxing and catching the Borzoi. A few days after she helped, I get a note from her "I am starting to think about my next borzoi (I usually get the itch about every 6-7 years).
An answer from heaven. . .after talking back and forth, as I thought maybe Nacht would be the better option(she adores Nacht too), she told me she really wanted a male, and so came out two weeks ago and spent some time with Dork Jr. . .and the next day, I get a note from her that said "Having spent some quality time yesterday, I have to tell you, I am hopelessly in love with your dog. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."
an answer from heaven indeed.
He'll get to hit the coursing field between the two of us, she is tickled pink with how intelligent he is, is looking forward to trying obedience and rally with him, and yes, even the show ring!
I'll miss my idiot boy Jr, but I won't have to worry about him every day. His main job will be making his mama happy and trying to get Luthian to play.
I've always said the perfect home always comes around, it just may be awhile. . it was not an easy decision to make, but it was either this, or keep him in a smaller yard where he couldn't get up to speed, just to keep him from running around at warp nine. .I think he'll be much happier this way.
Good sailing, Gibbs
Sunday, May 6, 2012
temperaments in borzoi
Time to vent Temperament is important in our breed.
We have a big dog, a fast dog, and temperament is uber important. . .and I'm so sick of judges awarding poor temperaments. . .I've witnessed numerous times judges, sometimes BREEDER judges, awarding dogs who
a) tried to take a bite out of the judge
b) actually DID take a bite out of another dog in the ring
c) could NOT be touched by said judge.
In one case, the owner had to hold the dogs butt OFF the ground in order for the judge to go over it. An otherwise nice dog, but come ON!!!
I once had a judge tell me Borzoi had nasty temperaments, just before putting up a dog who tried to bite him,
WTH?
I saw another well known, big name judge, put up a dog she couldn't touch to see if he had both balls!!!
NONE of this is acceptable!
I've spayed and placed an otherwise GORGEOUS dog, because her temperament was not right. Killed me, but that's what you need to do. No way I wanted to perpetuate that problem, was it genetic? was it environmental(She was born just before my life went in the toilet and I've wondered if the Ex abused her since he was doing drugs and alcohol), or was it lack of socialization? I wasn't willing to take that risk. She's now a guard dog for a single woman, alerting her when people who shouldn't be there are near the house.
I prefer a more 'labzoi' personality myself, loves everyone, happy to go with anyone, not a problem no matter who touches them. These dogs make it easier to enjoy what I love most, which is running dogs, as I can hand them off to anyone, and they're able to slip or catch them without a problem, but now I have some'saluki' like ones: aloof, standoffish, until they decide they like you, then it's labzoi dogs, but even those do not pull away or snap or freak out in the show ring, they will look down their long noses at you as if to say who are you to think you can deign to touch their royal highnesses!
If a dog with a poor temperament mentioned above is the best dog in your ring on that day, tell them "I'm sorry, I really like this dog, but he/she seems to be having a bad day, bring him/her back to me at another time", but no way, no how, should they win the class, even if you absolutely LOVE them, let alone the points. All these judges are doing is rewarding these temperaments, which then perpetuates these temperaments. Temperaments is part of a breeding animal!
Obviously the owner/breeder can't be honest to themselves about it. If judges started making a stand, maybe the bad reputation Borzoi have with some judges would change. Take a stand judges. . .nasty temperaments should not be rewarded, dogs who can't be touched, should NOT be rewarded!!! Excuse them, with hold ribbons on them, whatever you have to do to make your point made. . .And kudos to those judges who DO do this(of which, I've only seen one, and that was a futurity judge! How sad is that)
We have a big dog, a fast dog, and temperament is uber important. . .and I'm so sick of judges awarding poor temperaments. . .I've witnessed numerous times judges, sometimes BREEDER judges, awarding dogs who
a) tried to take a bite out of the judge
b) actually DID take a bite out of another dog in the ring
c) could NOT be touched by said judge.
In one case, the owner had to hold the dogs butt OFF the ground in order for the judge to go over it. An otherwise nice dog, but come ON!!!
I once had a judge tell me Borzoi had nasty temperaments, just before putting up a dog who tried to bite him,
WTH?
I saw another well known, big name judge, put up a dog she couldn't touch to see if he had both balls!!!
NONE of this is acceptable!
I've spayed and placed an otherwise GORGEOUS dog, because her temperament was not right. Killed me, but that's what you need to do. No way I wanted to perpetuate that problem, was it genetic? was it environmental(She was born just before my life went in the toilet and I've wondered if the Ex abused her since he was doing drugs and alcohol), or was it lack of socialization? I wasn't willing to take that risk. She's now a guard dog for a single woman, alerting her when people who shouldn't be there are near the house.
I prefer a more 'labzoi' personality myself, loves everyone, happy to go with anyone, not a problem no matter who touches them. These dogs make it easier to enjoy what I love most, which is running dogs, as I can hand them off to anyone, and they're able to slip or catch them without a problem, but now I have some'saluki' like ones: aloof, standoffish, until they decide they like you, then it's labzoi dogs, but even those do not pull away or snap or freak out in the show ring, they will look down their long noses at you as if to say who are you to think you can deign to touch their royal highnesses!
If a dog with a poor temperament mentioned above is the best dog in your ring on that day, tell them "I'm sorry, I really like this dog, but he/she seems to be having a bad day, bring him/her back to me at another time", but no way, no how, should they win the class, even if you absolutely LOVE them, let alone the points. All these judges are doing is rewarding these temperaments, which then perpetuates these temperaments. Temperaments is part of a breeding animal!
Obviously the owner/breeder can't be honest to themselves about it. If judges started making a stand, maybe the bad reputation Borzoi have with some judges would change. Take a stand judges. . .nasty temperaments should not be rewarded, dogs who can't be touched, should NOT be rewarded!!! Excuse them, with hold ribbons on them, whatever you have to do to make your point made. . .And kudos to those judges who DO do this(of which, I've only seen one, and that was a futurity judge! How sad is that)
Monday, April 16, 2012
Working the dogs
So, last week was the first week in a while wehre I actually got off at a normal time and when I had extra energy, I worked a bunch of the youngsters.
I used to love working Gossip, but when I lost her, I lost interest, it just isn't fun for me unless the dog wants to work with you. I liked having a happy heeling dog. My instructor told me more than once she'd never seen a Borzoi so happy to work. . I've tried working dogs who weren't as eager to work, and they're just not as much fun. . .dogs who like to learn are just better for me LOL
I am going to LOVE Working with Frankie, who is so happy to work, and in fact, heels like a BC, looking up at me, wagging his tail the entire time. We worked on simple heeling position and sits, with a few swings thrown in. This boy reminds me of his Great Uncle Obie with how much he wants to do whatever I ask.
Grabbed Jenny, and she wagged her tail the entire time, heeling almost as nicely as Frankie, she's not as quick to catch on as Frankie, but I can tell she's goign to be a blast to work with also.
Grabbed Gibbs next and had to do a lot of leash work, as he's a lot like his father, he wants to please, but you have to catch his attention and keep it, he's very ADHD LOL Him we simply worked on walking nicely and sitting at heel.
Ziva. . .Ziva shows be careful what you name your dog, instead of paying attention to me, she paid attention to everything else. .an Israili Mussaud officer never keeps her eyes off the surrounding scenary in case an assassin is waiting to take you out. The cows across the street, the trees looking for bunnies and tree rats, anything but me. . .will have to find some sort of food that is more interesting than anything else going on LOL
Bounce. . I had to debounce bounce first, up and down the Aframe, which she's already doing after only two session and doing it right, hitting her contacts every time. Only after I did was she calm enough to work with LOL . .
Felt good to get working with them again. . .need to get back into Rally class. Rules have changed since I worked Gossip. . .but i think I'm going to have fun with these 5. . maybe I'll have a triathlon dog ready for next year's nationals!
I used to love working Gossip, but when I lost her, I lost interest, it just isn't fun for me unless the dog wants to work with you. I liked having a happy heeling dog. My instructor told me more than once she'd never seen a Borzoi so happy to work. . I've tried working dogs who weren't as eager to work, and they're just not as much fun. . .dogs who like to learn are just better for me LOL
I am going to LOVE Working with Frankie, who is so happy to work, and in fact, heels like a BC, looking up at me, wagging his tail the entire time. We worked on simple heeling position and sits, with a few swings thrown in. This boy reminds me of his Great Uncle Obie with how much he wants to do whatever I ask.
Grabbed Jenny, and she wagged her tail the entire time, heeling almost as nicely as Frankie, she's not as quick to catch on as Frankie, but I can tell she's goign to be a blast to work with also.
Grabbed Gibbs next and had to do a lot of leash work, as he's a lot like his father, he wants to please, but you have to catch his attention and keep it, he's very ADHD LOL Him we simply worked on walking nicely and sitting at heel.
Ziva. . .Ziva shows be careful what you name your dog, instead of paying attention to me, she paid attention to everything else. .an Israili Mussaud officer never keeps her eyes off the surrounding scenary in case an assassin is waiting to take you out. The cows across the street, the trees looking for bunnies and tree rats, anything but me. . .will have to find some sort of food that is more interesting than anything else going on LOL
Bounce. . I had to debounce bounce first, up and down the Aframe, which she's already doing after only two session and doing it right, hitting her contacts every time. Only after I did was she calm enough to work with LOL . .
Felt good to get working with them again. . .need to get back into Rally class. Rules have changed since I worked Gossip. . .but i think I'm going to have fun with these 5. . maybe I'll have a triathlon dog ready for next year's nationals!
GVFRRC
Dragged my sorry butt out of bed at a way too early hour saturday, loaded up the car and headed up to NJ for coursing. . .in the last 10 yrs, the number of AKC trials in the area have dried up, with most of them being 3+ hrs a way. Hoping PVBC will become AKC approved in the next year and that we can find a field to hold AKC events at, as it gets expensive going to NJ, especially with price of gas, but the hotels are expensive also.
Got there, only to realise something: all my blankets were in the dryer. . .something I had thought of as I was packing the car, but it had slipped my mind. . they were all clean, but they were all 3 hrs away LOL. Thank heavens for two very sweet Borzoi people: Charles Greene & Karin Johnson who lent me blankets for Jenny. Another friend offered, but I could've fit Jenny & Bounce in the IW blanket they gave me LOL
Unlike recent AKC events, we had a nice solid major in Open with Ralph & Ariel's Jag and a friend of their's showed up with two more. Usually a dog had to go BOB to get a major, so it was really nice to see that many opens.
The day was gorgeous, clear sky, nice breeze. A little warm for Borzoi, but with the running water on the field, was able to hose Jenny off after her runs. The runs were gorgeous, especially been Karin's Jolie & Jenny.I haven't seen Jolie run before, but she is gorgeous standing or at a gallop. Very sweet girl too. The judging could've gone either way, but my little girl impressed the judge just a tad bit more to eek out the win. In fact, the judge came over to ask who she was, saying that when she came tearing down the field she just KNEW she had to be Bonnie's breeding. I corrected her that she was my breeding, but 3/4 Bonnie's bloodlines, and she nodded after being told the pedigree, saying she definitely ran like her pedigree said she should. She had an equally amazing BOB run, and ended up finishing her FC in four trails with four majors & Four BOBS. With the entries we've had around here, that's an amazing accomplishment
The BIF run unfortunatly was a fubar, when a SD was walked up to the line with us and was told by the owner that the dog 'better not do something stupid' . . .the dog interfered with Jenny :( Why people run dogs like that I have no clue.
Then it was time to QC the nutter, AKA Bounce. .I asked Charles' Junior handler for help, as I thought if she could handle Dillon, Bounce's bigger, keen as heck cousin(their grandfather's are the same: Mir), she could handle Bounce. . umm, she almost couldn't LOL Bounce lowers herself to the ground like a RR LOL My baby girl had an AMAZING QC run, not running like a puppy at all(she's 15.5 months) and the judge told me I was goign to have a lot of fun with her, just before she tried to rip my arm off to go after the bunny going thru the machine LOL I love my little nutter.
After hearing that there were only two borzoi entered for Sunday, I cancelled my hotel room to come home. Sunday was spent catching up on my sleep, then grooming, bathing dogs, and playing with Grins' youngest: Roo & Kanga (they're not mine, so not my names LOL). After almost 6 wks of 12 hrs day, sunday was a nice relaxing day LOL
Got there, only to realise something: all my blankets were in the dryer. . .something I had thought of as I was packing the car, but it had slipped my mind. . they were all clean, but they were all 3 hrs away LOL. Thank heavens for two very sweet Borzoi people: Charles Greene & Karin Johnson who lent me blankets for Jenny. Another friend offered, but I could've fit Jenny & Bounce in the IW blanket they gave me LOL
Unlike recent AKC events, we had a nice solid major in Open with Ralph & Ariel's Jag and a friend of their's showed up with two more. Usually a dog had to go BOB to get a major, so it was really nice to see that many opens.
The day was gorgeous, clear sky, nice breeze. A little warm for Borzoi, but with the running water on the field, was able to hose Jenny off after her runs. The runs were gorgeous, especially been Karin's Jolie & Jenny.I haven't seen Jolie run before, but she is gorgeous standing or at a gallop. Very sweet girl too. The judging could've gone either way, but my little girl impressed the judge just a tad bit more to eek out the win. In fact, the judge came over to ask who she was, saying that when she came tearing down the field she just KNEW she had to be Bonnie's breeding. I corrected her that she was my breeding, but 3/4 Bonnie's bloodlines, and she nodded after being told the pedigree, saying she definitely ran like her pedigree said she should. She had an equally amazing BOB run, and ended up finishing her FC in four trails with four majors & Four BOBS. With the entries we've had around here, that's an amazing accomplishment
The BIF run unfortunatly was a fubar, when a SD was walked up to the line with us and was told by the owner that the dog 'better not do something stupid' . . .the dog interfered with Jenny :( Why people run dogs like that I have no clue.
Then it was time to QC the nutter, AKA Bounce. .I asked Charles' Junior handler for help, as I thought if she could handle Dillon, Bounce's bigger, keen as heck cousin(their grandfather's are the same: Mir), she could handle Bounce. . umm, she almost couldn't LOL Bounce lowers herself to the ground like a RR LOL My baby girl had an AMAZING QC run, not running like a puppy at all(she's 15.5 months) and the judge told me I was goign to have a lot of fun with her, just before she tried to rip my arm off to go after the bunny going thru the machine LOL I love my little nutter.
After hearing that there were only two borzoi entered for Sunday, I cancelled my hotel room to come home. Sunday was spent catching up on my sleep, then grooming, bathing dogs, and playing with Grins' youngest: Roo & Kanga (they're not mine, so not my names LOL). After almost 6 wks of 12 hrs day, sunday was a nice relaxing day LOL
Thursday, March 29, 2012
DNA testing
My dogs have been participating in various research groups for years now. . Obie donated blood to bone cancer research, touchet & Eros donated DNA to research on dental health, almost everyone I currently own is DM Clear by test or parentage(Still need to do Bounce, and debating whether to bother with Touchet). I am so proud of my puppy buyers who've gone on to DM test their dogs for the furthering of the breed health database, even if the dogs may never be bred or are past breeding age or retired.
But recently my dogs, well one currently, has stepped into another research field. Bounce donated blood to Vetgen for DNA Colour gene analysis
What colour is this borzoi?
Bounce (Shown above at just under a year) at birth, looked all the world to be a blue brindle, but as she matured, we wondered. ..at 15 months old, she looks like a chinchilla, except that she has dark dark dark dark dark grey pigment. Unlike our other blue, she has dark eyes. People argued with me she wasn't a brindle, and she couldnt' be a blue, so when I heard that research was being done into the 'chinchilla' gene, so we decided to do Bounce
I just got the results of first of the three tests they do, and yep, I'm right, she is brindle (kbrkbr will contribute brindle, cannot contribute fawn) is the results so far. . it'll be interesting to see if she's a chinchilla or actually a blue. .I don't care, I love her for so much more than just her beautiful colour :) I'm just tickled she can donate to further research.
Next on my list is to do Bella, who's an odd colour herself!
But recently my dogs, well one currently, has stepped into another research field. Bounce donated blood to Vetgen for DNA Colour gene analysis
What colour is this borzoi?
Bounce (Shown above at just under a year) at birth, looked all the world to be a blue brindle, but as she matured, we wondered. ..at 15 months old, she looks like a chinchilla, except that she has dark dark dark dark dark grey pigment. Unlike our other blue, she has dark eyes. People argued with me she wasn't a brindle, and she couldnt' be a blue, so when I heard that research was being done into the 'chinchilla' gene, so we decided to do BounceI just got the results of first of the three tests they do, and yep, I'm right, she is brindle (kbrkbr will contribute brindle, cannot contribute fawn) is the results so far. . it'll be interesting to see if she's a chinchilla or actually a blue. .I don't care, I love her for so much more than just her beautiful colour :) I'm just tickled she can donate to further research.
Next on my list is to do Bella, who's an odd colour herself!
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Time
Time, where does it go?
It doesn't seem like its been 6 yrs since I lost my Kyra. .. nor that it's been 11 yrs since she gave me my second litter or almost 17 since I joined the Borzoi world. .where does the time go?
It seems the older I get, the faster it flits away from me.
Sometimes I think we wish it away. . we're wishing this small lump of clay known as a newborn puppy would hurry up and grow up so you can pick who was staying, then you're wishing they're old enough to do something with, forgetting to enjoy puppyhood, then you're wishing they're old enough to give you the next generation, and then before you know it, their inky black face is now staring lovingly up at you with a gray mask and eyes clouded with old dog cataracts and you're wondering where that beautiful gait went as they stiffly get up, their bones sore with arthritis. . .and then suddenly you're staring into their sweet face, tears rolling down your face as you say good-bye.
This really hit home last year, when I was letting my sweet Dei go. . .she didn't live anywhere near as long as I wanted. It didn't feel like it'd been almost 11 yrs since she'd been born into my hands. . it seemed only a little whle ago she was chasing her brothers around the pasture, her puppy curls as white as the snow they played in, and definitely not three years ago that she gave me the NCIS litter.
It doesn't seem like Ms Touchet should be officially 13 yrs old. It seems like just a few years ago that she came into my life, a silly shy California girl who had no clue what to do in the first showfall she was in, but now she's creaky and cranky, and the oldest dog in the house.
So, where does time go? And is there any way to slow it down. . .maybe stopping to sniff the roses. . but I'm not sure. . .
It doesn't seem like its been 6 yrs since I lost my Kyra. .. nor that it's been 11 yrs since she gave me my second litter or almost 17 since I joined the Borzoi world. .where does the time go?
It seems the older I get, the faster it flits away from me.
Sometimes I think we wish it away. . we're wishing this small lump of clay known as a newborn puppy would hurry up and grow up so you can pick who was staying, then you're wishing they're old enough to do something with, forgetting to enjoy puppyhood, then you're wishing they're old enough to give you the next generation, and then before you know it, their inky black face is now staring lovingly up at you with a gray mask and eyes clouded with old dog cataracts and you're wondering where that beautiful gait went as they stiffly get up, their bones sore with arthritis. . .and then suddenly you're staring into their sweet face, tears rolling down your face as you say good-bye.
This really hit home last year, when I was letting my sweet Dei go. . .she didn't live anywhere near as long as I wanted. It didn't feel like it'd been almost 11 yrs since she'd been born into my hands. . it seemed only a little whle ago she was chasing her brothers around the pasture, her puppy curls as white as the snow they played in, and definitely not three years ago that she gave me the NCIS litter.
It doesn't seem like Ms Touchet should be officially 13 yrs old. It seems like just a few years ago that she came into my life, a silly shy California girl who had no clue what to do in the first showfall she was in, but now she's creaky and cranky, and the oldest dog in the house.
So, where does time go? And is there any way to slow it down. . .maybe stopping to sniff the roses. . but I'm not sure. . .
Saturday, January 14, 2012
year of the little black bitch
To my internet stalker: you might want to skip this, you will find this boring, I'm using my right to brag :)
The title is how a friend termed this year. .. and it has been the year of the little black dog for me.
Eighteen months ago, I was looking to place said little black dog. . but when the only performance home that came up was not a home i wanted to place a dog in, Bonnie Dalzell convinced me to keep Jenny. . and I'm so glad she said "let's co own her" Who knew those would be words I'd be sitting here being thankful for.
I've had running dogs now for 11 yrs and had some nice dogs in that time. Obie was a great coursing dog, but he never could figure out the racing game, always holding back waiting for the bunny to turn, Gossip was a great racing dog, but plastic was not her forte. .she thought plastic was for pansies. Jenny's father wasn't something to sneeze at, but after he ran his back off, he was never able to achieve his potential, partly cuz his body never recovered from getting sooo sooo sick, but partly cuz I was afraid to run him if it was over 80.
But Jenny is a dog of a different class.
I knew she was keen: she'd had some very successful practices, but I had no idea what the next 9 months would bring when I took her out in March. .I'd been just looking to get the needed points to qualify for the International Invitational (II), nothing else. The II was close to home and I wanted to go since they were holding it during a reasonable part of the year, so was only hoping to get those 20 needed poitns.
The title is how a friend termed this year. .. and it has been the year of the little black dog for me.
Eighteen months ago, I was looking to place said little black dog. . but when the only performance home that came up was not a home i wanted to place a dog in, Bonnie Dalzell convinced me to keep Jenny. . and I'm so glad she said "let's co own her" Who knew those would be words I'd be sitting here being thankful for.
I've had running dogs now for 11 yrs and had some nice dogs in that time. Obie was a great coursing dog, but he never could figure out the racing game, always holding back waiting for the bunny to turn, Gossip was a great racing dog, but plastic was not her forte. .she thought plastic was for pansies. Jenny's father wasn't something to sneeze at, but after he ran his back off, he was never able to achieve his potential, partly cuz his body never recovered from getting sooo sooo sick, but partly cuz I was afraid to run him if it was over 80.But Jenny is a dog of a different class.
I knew she was keen: she'd had some very successful practices, but I had no idea what the next 9 months would bring when I took her out in March. .I'd been just looking to get the needed points to qualify for the International Invitational (II), nothing else. The II was close to home and I wanted to go since they were holding it during a reasonable part of the year, so was only hoping to get those 20 needed poitns.Not only did she get those points, she then went Best of Breed, nad then on to Best in Field at her very first ASFA trial(then came into season LOL). Few weeks post season, she went on to win BOB the 2nd day of the II, which tickled me pink to bring home that gorgeous Pyerun trophy.
Her next time out coursing was AKC, where she picked up three majors and then had a BEAUTIFUL BIF run with a really awesome whippet: they were stride for stride thru a number of turns and suddenly she put it into a different gear and blew him out of the water. She added a 2nd BIF ribbon to her trophy wall. .she then went to the Region 8 Invitational where she went BOB on both days, bringing home the G'kar memorial trophy and then not setting a food down wrong, came away with the Reg 8 Best in Event Plaque and the Alleghany Derby trophy and a new FCH title. Next time out, she won the Grand Prix cup, and then went down to win BOB at the REg 4 saturday trial . For 2011, she only ran at 9 ASFA trials, but should be ranked near the top 10. ASFA's much slower at getting rankings out than AKC or LGRA/NOTRA is.
Her next time out coursing was AKC, where she picked up three majors and then had a BEAUTIFUL BIF run with a really awesome whippet: they were stride for stride thru a number of turns and suddenly she put it into a different gear and blew him out of the water. She added a 2nd BIF ribbon to her trophy wall. .she then went to the Region 8 Invitational where she went BOB on both days, bringing home the G'kar memorial trophy and then not setting a food down wrong, came away with the Reg 8 Best in Event Plaque and the Alleghany Derby trophy and a new FCH title. Next time out, she won the Grand Prix cup, and then went down to win BOB at the REg 4 saturday trial . For 2011, she only ran at 9 ASFA trials, but should be ranked near the top 10. ASFA's much slower at getting rankings out than AKC or LGRA/NOTRA is.
She spent most of the spring racing, only being beaten by Doro post slump, and I was soooo looking forward to when she was back on her game to see those two go head to head. Unfortunately his untimely loss just before the fall season started put a kabosh on that, but her and Focus still had some exciting racing. She finished her GRC in the Spring, her SGRC early fall, and picked up a total of 47.50 NRC points for the year and is #1 LGRA Borzoi, #2 hound. . .I sure would've loved to've seen her run against Gossip. . .amongst other greats. .but she's holding her own. . .
Wish i could've gotten her to the AKC Coursing national as well as that she hadn't been in season for the BCOA National, and would've loved to've seen her run the grand national, but she's still young yet, so who knows what the future will bring :)
It's definitely been the year of my little black dog. Next year, we'll start Rally and work on finishing her LCM & FC, and even try Oval in between trips into the show ring. . :) I'm so very proud of her. . .
Wish i could've gotten her to the AKC Coursing national as well as that she hadn't been in season for the BCOA National, and would've loved to've seen her run the grand national, but she's still young yet, so who knows what the future will bring :)
It's definitely been the year of my little black dog. Next year, we'll start Rally and work on finishing her LCM & FC, and even try Oval in between trips into the show ring. . :) I'm so very proud of her. . .
So, Congrats to my little black dog: MBIF, BIE Mielikki Dir Shepard at SIlkenswift FCH, SGRC
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