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!

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!!!

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). ... keep me in mind for Gibbs if you decide he needs a spoiled rotten pet home."

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