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!

home is where the heart is

I have developed a strong belief that a perfect home will always come up for each of my pups/dogs. . .when someone inquires on one of my dogs, if they're not gungho gotta have it, I've come to the decision they don't need my puppy/dog. . .

I want my homes to WANT said dog, not just kinda, but with all their heart. . .Maybe I'm overly cautious, but I don't want bouncebacks. .1 bounce back in almost 14 yrs, one sold back to me(and one death, something you just don't expect) in 8 litters, that's a good track record, and I want to keep it that way.

The only time I didn't go with that, I was pushed to wait the prospective wishy washy buyer out by my cobreeder, who assured me it was a good home, and well, I finally told said buyer to forget it, go elsewhere.

I don't normally place my adult Zoi. . but with my current pack, most of them can do more than one thing, so we can interact with each other their entire life doing fun things. First they run, then they start showing and obedience training. . .

Kani unfortunately doesn't fit in any of that. . she does not have enough prey drive to run, she's too submissive to people, you let her go, she goes and rolls over on her belly in front of someone, her seasons are so erratic and short(5-5 1/2 months) that she never carries enough coat for long to be shown, nor does she have a show ring personality. Because of her short seasons I worry about pyometra amongst other things so since she's had one lovely litter, I have been toying with the idea of spaying her and trying to decide about placing her, but she is so cute and sweet and such a great puppy sitter, I just couldn't do it. She is so darn special as her father's daughter, I couldn't do it. I hate letting dogs i've grown out this long go. Numerous people who've met her brother Dandy emailed me inquiring on her, but I just couldn't do it.

That changed this weekend.

When we moved to MD, there was a college kid working at Bonnie's kennel. Kani fell in love with him, she adored him to no end. She would turn herself inside out everytime she saw him, and if I'd been willing to part with her then, he'd've stolen her in a heartbeat.

This weekend, Kyle came down and picked Kani up. . his family had lost one of their two dogs, and they wanted a Zoi. . both parents work out of house, so a house trained, cat safe Borzoi was the best bet. . and I made the hard decision to let her go. Even to the minute he pulled out of the parking lot I wondered if I was doing the right thing.

But the giant Grins sized grin on her usual submissive petite polite grinning face when he came in the door told me i'd made the right decision. I have never seen her grin so huge as when she saw him Saturday. Her entire body wiggled in excitement, she crawled into the comfy chair with him and just looked sooo content. She hopped into his car and didn't look back.

Got an email this morning that everyone absolutely loves her, she's already curling up on the couch with Kyle's little(Teen) sister taking naps, isn't sure of the Greyhound and ignoring the cat. . .she may even go to school with his mom who's a teacher, which she would absolutely LOVE as kids are her thing. . I couldn't've designed a better home for her if I'd tried.

The perfect home came along. It just doesn't happen overnight. I've had others who wanted to take her and give her a forever home, but it just wasn't what my gut said to do, this time, my gut said yes. It made my month to know she's loved and in what sounds like a perfect home.

When I breed a litter, I know that I may end up keeping puppies longer than I'd really like to, because I am so picky, thus the Holiday litter is 13 months old, and Aurora is still with me. She is an easy going, happy, sweet puppy who's showing some interest in the running game, so it's not a big deal for me. Compared to Bellsabub(my keeper Bella who is an evil lil witch LOL), she is a perfect little angel. Bella is the better built dog, but Aurora is just too sweet and everyone loves her.

As I mentioned before, I've had two fruitloops inquire on her but my gut said to run away, I am so thankful I did. They ended up being personalities I didn't want to work with. Life is too short to deal with loonie puppy buyers LOL

A few months ago, a lovely lady I met on line inquired about GIbbs, she fell in love with blacks. . but i told her he was way too much dog for her, just NOT the right dog for her. He's too busy, too speed ahead, that he needed a home where he'd have a job other than holding down a couch. Unfortunately all the homes who've been interested in him are people who want 'just a pet'. . there's nothing wrong with that, if the dog will fit the home. . .Gibbs needs a home that'll job with him, do Obediance work withh im, something that'll keep him busy, he is not a sedate dog, not unlike his father. She thanked me for my time and my honesty, and we have become friends

I could've easily've sold him to her, but again, I don't want my puppies coming back barring the owner's death. I think Gibbs would've driven her nuts and then some LOL. Hell, he drives ME nuts somedays. . .and I would've had to figure out how to get him back from California, no thanks. . .so I helped her get one of the Pickle Hill dogs, and she's in love with little Nikki.

Unbeknownst to me until recently, she fell in love with Aurora, but as a person who's only had rescues, she had the mindset (not a bad one, as she's not anti breeder) that made her feel slightly guilty about buying a dog, so she thought of adopting another one of the Pickle Hill dogs. Unfortunately the California borzoi owner who was supposed to bring back another PH dog for her got into a horrid accident and that trip has been postponed indefinitely.

She talked to someone I know about adopting their foster, but backed out after hearing someone else really wanted her,and there were Pickle Hill dogs in california needing homes. Problem with them was their custodial owner is. . well .. no nice way to say it, so we'll go with Odd. .. the custodial owner blew up when rescue got their hands on the unregistered dogs that were on the farm, saying it would destroy the Pickle Hill heritage, that even tho they were paperless, they could still be bred, and you could make money doing it, because Borzoi went for $1200 in California. If that's true, I'm sure those are registered pups from champion parents! Not unregistered unknonwn pedigree puppies!

She had an unregistered male that Nikki's mom wanted to take, but kept jerking her chain about wanting to place him, but not wanting him neutered, (yes, it is a soap opera! LOL) and finally Nikki's mom gave up and one thing lead to another, and she came back and asked if Aurora was still available.

Back and forth conversation with her using me as a soundboard whether she should go ahead and push for the rescue out in California or buy Aurora. . she kept asking for advice, I kept telling her "go with your heart." I'd love to place Aurora, but I'm not going to push someone one way or another. It's their decision, and if they really want the puppy so be it, but if they can't make up their mind, I have no desire to place said puppy with them.

At which point she demanded why couldn't I be a pushier seller LOL. I'm not a good salesman, that's why Aurora's still here LOL I could've promised the one buyer YES she'd be a top quality show bitch, YES she'd definitely finish, and had her sold back in August if I was a better salesman LOL

Her hubby told her they had extra money now that they'd quit smoking, to get her if she wanted to LOL That it would be nice to have a dog without baggage that rescue dogs come with

Another home I wasn't looking for specifically, but I knew the right home would come along. This nice lady's been in love with Aurora since her pictures first went up, but poor Aurora's had home after home fall through or be denied by me. . .she told me if she'd known I had no problem placing what she considered a gorgeous dog in a pet home, she'd've gotten Aurora instead of Nikki, LOL that's ok, Aurora'll have someone her age if this sale goes through.

Until the contract and deposit is in hand, I've learned not to consider a dog sold. . .if it works out, I know AUrora'll be in a wonderful home, if it doesn't, she'll stick with me and enjoy placing with her sister's and running when it gets warmer. She is pretty enough to be shown, or pretty enough to be a couch ornament, her future in that way doesn't matter to me, only thing that does matter is a great home

Health Tests

Soo, one of my goals this year has been to try and be a little more "responsible" in getting my health tests sent in to the various registries.

it's a PITA. . why? Because when you CERF at most places, you take the paperwork home. Last time I had Cerf's done, my friend wanted to scan 'em for her records, she scanned 'em, and well, I have no clue where they went. .::SIGH:: I found half of them, but not the ones of dogs she had done at a CERF clinic here at her house, but by the time i found the half, they were expired, darnit.

Sooo, when I saw the Nationals testing, I took advantage of it. Can't beat the prices, which included sending the paperwork in for you. . two of my breeding had their eyes done(I believe testing a young dog unless you're worried is not worth the money, so didn't bother with Gibbs). Gossip (Mielikki-Windhaven's Petty Gossip RN, JC, CGC, SGRCIV) and maui(Mandolin-Mielikki Maui Waui) both CERF'd clear & got clear heart exams. Just waiting on the results to get posted on the CERF & OFA websites.

Today Eros (FC Mielikki's Somebody T'Luv SC, FCH) and Grins (FC Silkenswift Rider of the Storm SC, FCH, ORC, GRC) went to New Bolton with Grins' breeder and got two clear health tests. Bonnie's getting them scanned in now and they will be in the mail ASAP.(long as they don't disappear on her desk LOL)

Now to get Gossip's thyroid done soon as she's done blowing coat, a last thyroid done on Dei, and eyes on both her & Touchet!

River & ROM & Weather

River AKA Brooks JR, from the Mandolin-Mielikki Hawaiian litter managed to single himself out today! Now to find those illusive majors. . and then on to work on that DC, where all he needs is his singles. May have to see about borrowing him like I did his papa and work on that :) Pat really would like to get Brooks ROM. . Will have to work on sister Reba's FC & GRC this year. Hoping Mir gets his ROM this year too, by my books he's lacking just a few points which he should get when First finishes her GRC :)

ROM is a register of merit. . dogs get points via the titles their get gets. My Kyra got her ROM, and is 14 points shy of her ROMX, which I doubt she'll get cuz her youngest litter is 9. . .depends on if Eros is in shape to show and Kari thinks it's worth it, otherwise I'll turn to Dei and work on hers :) It's a nice 'award' that's basically quality of get. . .

Racing season starts back up in three weekends, sn*w is slowly melting(YEAH!). I'm hoping it melts fast enough FOR racing Season to start. Focus needs a few points, Reba needs 3 points, First think needs 6 points, and Tipperary just started. On top of that, can't wait to get the MOnsters(Gibbs, Ziva & Co owned Jenny) on the field and Ms Emma may join us. .. hope they all run clean. Tony leaves in a month. . .I'm going to miss him, he's such a sweet little red head!

I took Gibbs to Rally class last week, he was a hit. . even if he was totally confused in class LOL He has no clue where his butt is unfortuantely. Was very good meeting the dachsie and was just a good boy. . .I'm going to have fun with him, got lots of compliments :) He's a tank, and I love it!

And the great weekend continues

Got an email early AM, that River(keep tryign to call him Brooks, he looks so much like his father), out of the Hawaiian litter picked up yet another show ring point :) He's down to looking for his majors and a single. He's showing again today, so here's hoping!

Me, I'm staying home. I toyed with the thought of goign to SC, but with Umbra being sick, my still not having kicked the cold from the Nationals, I just couldnt' get the energy up to be excited about going. And for a 9+ hr drive, I have to be excited, so we stayed home. Which IMHO is good, they're calling for snow today LOL

Reba

What a day. . .I decided on a whim, last minute really Saturday night, to go coursing Sunday. The weather was unusually nice and the puppies needed to get out. So, I got up early, packed up Reba (Mielikki-Mandolin Pahu Pahu JC) & three of the babies and headed out to Hanover. Gibbs & Abbey were in a crate, while Timothy curled up in the backseat with cousin Reba. . she was such a good good girl, a wonderful Auntie to these babies. In fact, as I pulled into Hanover, I looked back and found him draped across her, SOUND asleep.

This is one of the few times I miss having the Explorer. It is much harder to travel with puppies in the Neon than the Explorer. Setting up was. . fun, to say the least LOL

Clicked Timothy on the harness and wandered over to give my entry. Harnesses are DA BOMB in leash breaking, I have not had the hysterics, flailing, screaming, nothing with the harnesses. They did balk walking over the driveway, but considering my feet balked LOL that gravel is not conduit to kindness to feet.

The three babies were sooo good, getting used to the noises of the big RVs, meeting new dogs, for some reason, they all liked the Pharoah Nanu, but Gibbs was sure not sure what to do with Robin's IW Claires' big feet. Claire was playbowing and stomping. LOL Considering her head may weigh as much as they do LOL

Reba had a nice day, winning her open stake, then running off against Serrano, the Kazan son out this way that has been burning up the field. She won BOB to my delight and I decided since the weather was actually VERY decent for mid June, to run for BIF. To my surprise and delight, she won that too :) Her first AKC event, she picked up a nice 5 point major as well as a beautiful ribbon and a huge bed that I gave to her cousin Gossip :) (Gossip's my bed dog, and her bed was looking pretty horrid, not as comfy anymore, Reba's not a house dog, would love to be one tho LOL).

Reba's daddy Brooks got his first points at his first AKC event with a BIF win too, so it's a nice win. . . She is my fourth Bred by BIF (Brooks, Obie, Eros are the other three).

Bonnie was tickled, see, I don't own Reba, I cobred her :) She's Bonnie's silly little red head. I'm taking her out because I have nothing that courses at this point, well, nothign competitive. Hopefully one of these babies will change that, but we won't know til next year.

So, means I'll have to get her out some more :) Might even start Rally with her, she's a fun little girl to work with, sometimes regret letting Bonnie have her. :) but at least I'm close enough to steal her LOL

Ramblings & puppy pictures

So much I want to do, only one me to do it with LOL

While thinking about not having a competitive coursing dog, i realised it's a good thing LOL there's not enough time in the day right now to do what I want to do with the dogs I have now lOL I'm hoping by next summer, Gossip'll be ready for the Agility ring, as well as Obedience LOl, that on top of showing her and Grins, who has time for a competitive coursing dog? If i get the need, I'll borrow Focus, or Crivens or Carrot. . LOL but I truly expect my weekends to be full next year anyway, so nothing to worry about.

Got pics of some of the kiddos i thought I'd share. .
Mr Dandy, out of the Hawaiian litter. I am so glad this boy has finally found the perfect forever home. His first home bailed out after his owner got severely ill, 2nd one wasn't willing to deal with a young busy dog(hell, he wasn't at her house more than 12 hrs before she decided she couldn't deal with him, geez), but this one is a charm. She's had Zoi before, but this one fits her personality. .very sweet, very laid back. . .that entire litter has a wonderful temperament.

Mr Loki AKA Mielikki's Can't Stop Me Now JC, with his daddy, who's really sick, have my fingers crossed he comes thru surgery 100% Di.

Here's Dickens AKA Dickie Doo(Mielikki's great expectations), Loki's nephew. . he hopes to join cousin Gossip in the Obedience ring next year, sounds like he's as smart as she is, just a bit more willful where she's much more interested in working for mom. He's out of the rose litter(Umbra X Storm), in fact, the puppy mama broke when he was 7-8 wks old, but you couldn't tell it. His newest buddy is Jake, not bred by me, but a pretty puppy none the less.

Ms Hecate, (Mielikki-windhaven's Wicked Rumour) from the Gossip litter, is very loved and very spoiled up in Canada.

I can't believe how gray Ms jezebel has gotten. . .OTOH, she is 6.5+. . I know KC loves her dearly, do miss her now and then, but I make sure to give my buddy Brazen or his brother Jammin some lovin when I see them racing, tho it's their sister Chillie who makes me drool, now THAT'S a Greyhound

This is Dicken's sister Minnie (Mielikki's Minnie Mouse), spoilt and loved dearly in the south. I love getting pics of my kiddos, no matter if they're show pups or just loved and very spoiled pets.

And this is Ms Gossip telling me she can too fit in the suitcase and should be going to Las Vegas with me damnit ! LOL She's not dirty, BTW, that's all the damn ticking she has. .there are two colours I hate: ticked and piss yellow/paper bag brown Borzoi. .so of course the fates had to curse me and give me the best bitch I've ever owned/bred in a colour I can't stand LOL

River brag

Just a shortie, tired and trying not to come down with a cold before I leave for the howlidays

Brooks' look a like son picked up another single and a BOB this weekend, leaving him needing just one more singles, then she'll have to start looking for those majors. Judge raved to her over his sidegait. .he's a lovely boy, can't wait to see his babies.

Gossip & I are going for her second leg of her Rally, can't WAIT!

relax

And that's what I did this weekend.

Reba has been sound, but decided to come into season this weekend, two weeks early, thought of still going coursing, but this cold from PVBC's specialty dunking is still lingering, so why bother? Kinda wish I'd gone, was a huge entry, but oh well, not enough money to go around

So spent it enjoying dogs, especially Brat. . Love this bitch, a lot. Got her entry off for her next Rally show, and wishing there was yet another before the end of the year, but nope, not that we don't have plans for.

This is Kyra's great granddaughter, reminds me of her uncle Eros, a lot, sweet girl.

It's too dark to see, but it's Gossip being a twit(I wanted her to stand on the dog house) saying hi to her cousin First, who wasn't sure what Gossip was doing up on that DAWG house, you're not supposed to be ON it LOL

Touchet looked absolutley lovely in all the gold leaves this weekend. Wish all Borzoi were as spry & bouncy as she is at almost 10.

Dei showing her Mountain Goat Genes. .we can't keep her off the dog houses LOL

Got home today and worked Dei on Rally, since she's my next project, and doesn't have quite as far as El Dork* does. She's not bad, not as happy to work as Gossip, but it's conceivable we can get her RN, we'll be trying this winter. .at least the indoor shows I won't have to battle for her attention with the squirrels LOL

*AKA Grins :)

Got on line to see Payton had picked up yet another point, first time out with his new owner, so I'm tickled for him. All the boys but Dandy(who's neutered) are pointed, Reba's pointed in the field, and Kani'll be going out with Kari this winter, to see if we can build her confidence up. She's a lovely bitch, drives me nuts to see her so submissive

Thoughts

Kani's in season. . . And it's so tempting to breed her to Grins. She's never going to carry enough coat to show, since she's in season every 5.5-6 months, and goes down almost as naked as Kyra and only has good coat maybe 12 wks a year (6 wks at a time). She's young(3), she's probably more fertile than the other dogs we've been talking about breeding to him (all not due back in to next spring at least). The breedings we've had lined up either didn't happen or were cancelled. She's a lovely little girl, 27 inches tall, nice body, could use a prettier head(it's a Dutch head, not something I'm keen on on a bitch), lovely temperament, isn't as keen on running as I'd like to see her, but also haven't worked with her much. The times I've taken her, wasn't sure if she was running the squawker or running to me(tho Bob did say he thought she was chasing the squawker). What she doesn't have is confidence to do it(something Grins doesn't lack)

Thinking thinking thinking. . .

oh, Piccies!

I forgot to post these wonderful pics that my friend Susan Amicucci took our last time out


That's Gossip's nose you see coming out of the box before it barely opens LOL

That's Gossip digging in to show her competitoin her fuzzy little ass.


Dei racing her little heart out


Dei's adorable little face watching the bunny, I hate to see she's starting to gray.


The three girls(Reba, Gossip, Dei) taking off

And then some lovely photos of them walking to the line.

Cerf'd

I'm pleased to announce 6 dogs I bred andcurrently own and one more that I co own had their eyes checked yesterday and were Cerf'd clear, YIPPEE!! :) I'm not sure if Reba was done, Scirocco was missed because she was in the kennel, but they'll be done next time.

This gives Touchet everything she needs to get her Chic# :) I am so darn tickled :)

Nice damn weekend

Whahoo.

Unfortunately I let my cell die last night LOL (I was busy introducing Mr Wiz to his lady to be) Otherwise I know Ms Nancy would’ve called me with this WONDERFUL news

Sammy, a Kyra grandpuppy, my pick puppy out of Nancy’s B litter in fact, picked up a BIF win this weekend. I know his owner is flying on cloud 9. She’s wanted a great running dog since Wings retired, and she’s got one. I am so glad I was able to connect those two(nancy & Robin) when I couldn’t take Mr Sammy-man

I told his future wife to be(Kani), she didn’t care LOL. She’s in that young(2.5) teenager brain stage, what EVER LOL

Mr River went coursing and picked up some more points towards his FCH. I can’t wait to see what his puppies are like, if they have his silly goofy temperament, I know the breeder will be ecstatic! And she was able to see the LIE that was spread about him running dirty was just that, and since she’s been doing this quite a long time, I think she knows what the hell she’s talking about.

And Ms Gossip continues to heal. She actually PLAYED with Mr Wizard last night, or at least, tried to get him to play LOL HE was exhausted after his first full weekend of coursing. She spent most of the weekend in the big yards playing, came up a little lame, but seems to be fine this morning. Every boy seems to be interested in her butt, I wish she’d come into season damnit!! My luck, she’ll wait til the middle of the spring racing.

ARGH.

T.H.I.F

Yeah, it's the weekend, the end of the week from hell
Work suxs, it's boring, I'm overworked and underpaid. never thought I'd miss ACS, but I miss their pay schedule. Nothing like getting paid what you put into something. If you slacked off and dicked around, you got paid accordingly, if you busted your ass, you got paid accordingly. It used to infuriate me to know thatp eople right off the street made what I was making due to inflation, as well as the fact that those who didn't do their job did, when I left, I was averaging $3 more than the average for the office. .

It was also nice to be able to work from home, wish they'd allowed me to continue doing so when I moved.

Anyway, the season has started!!! Gossip can go and schmoooooooooooooooooze. . she wont' be able to run til this time next month, 8 wks post op, but next weekend at least she can start playing in the small puppy yard.

Now just waiting to see if the surgery screwed with her season. It did with one of Bonnie's dogs, took Esme 3 months to come into season. .

So, this week all weekend Racing, next weekend is ASFA, friend John is so excited, he's got Wizard and is chomping on the bit to get him out running. Wizard's a nice boy, and reminds me of cousin Grins in someways, and his owner is a trip LOL I remember being so excited about my 1st running dog, granted, John's got a much better one lOL

Then off one weekend, and then back for AKC. Need to get Reba going on her titles and work on Eros' LCM/LCX. John's offered to help get them out LOL, I think he'll do better with Reba, Eros is too much dog lOl