Friday, December 30, 2011

Beach stacks of Bravo

Time to pose for Linda

Of course, we had to get some stacked shots of Bravo and see for ourselves what a handsome boy he is!  The last time I stacked him, he was 8 weeks old!


What a good man and the fabulous beach was the perfect background for our photoshoot.

Our visit with Bravo's family continued at the beach at Half Moon Bay

Dinner and Sunset 



                                

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Christmas with Bravo

Spending holidays with family or friends is always special but this year was extra special as we spent Christmas day with Bravo, BIF GCH Grayhart Crescent's Bravo, (Clay x Trixie), and his family in California!  I hadn't seen our blue collared pup since he left at 8 weeks of age and although Jay sends me pictures and we speak often, it was wonderful to spend time with him and his family.
 After a lovely morning walk around the Stamford University campus and the Rodin Sculpture Garden, we finally arrived at Bravo's house and he was excited to see us.  We played with him and of course, couldn't wait to see our handsome show boy on the move - trotting around his dog run, with a floating gait!
Sweet and well-mannered, Bravo is such a good boy and enjoyed playing tug or retrieving his favorite toys.  He also gave kisses.  
Jay and Ron opened their home to us and prepared delicious food for a full day of eating as well as great company, meeting the family and their close friends.  They even welcomed our friends who live nearby to come visit.  A truly memorable Christmas Day!

Friday, December 23, 2011

Happy Holidays from Grayhart!

Photo and design by Sara Renee.

Merry Christmas from Whitmore!

Whitmore, Grayhart's Millionaire Matchmaker, taking his nativity responsibilities very seriously.
Love this holiday card and photos from the McNeal family.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Gray-t Weekend for the Grayhart Girls! Delaware Water Gap KC Show

 Sunday was the Delaware Water Gap Kennel Club show and the Weims had an 8:00 am ring time.  No sleeping late for the princesses.  Trudy stayed with Pat in his room and my girls enjoyed going back and forth between Kel's room and mine in our suite.  They are truly creatures of comfort!
 Sunday was a repeat performance of Saturday.  Ike was Winner's Dog and both Savi and Trudy won their classes.  Pat stayed on Trudy and I took Savi in for winner's.  I was thrilled when the judge pointed to Savi and she was Winner's bitch.  There was a major in dogs so Savi would have to go Best of Winner's to get the major.  Again, Michelle, our Weim friend, took Savi in for me while I showed Jam.  Michelle worked hard to show Savi off.

Jam showed really well and was full of attitude.  After all the champions were examined and lined up, the judge had the one dog special and Ike gate around together.  She then pointed to Jam and had us go to the front.  Then placed Savi second and then Ike.  She had the group go around together and the final results....Jam won Best of Breed, Savi was Best of Winners and Ike was awarded Best of Opposite!!!

This gave Jam a Grand Champion major and also earned Savi her second major.  Savi now only needs one single point to finish her AKC championship title.  We were just floating after the judging was over.
Jam - Best of Breed (unofficial win picture)


Since Jam went Best of Breed, we needed to wait around for the Group competition. The Sporting Group, was the last group before Best in Show. We had a lot of time to kill, so Kel and I bundled up and took the dogs for a long walk and then went out for Chinese food for lunch. We then visited the many vendors and did some shopping. It was a thrill to watch our friends show their Vizslas and see Jenna go Best of Breed with her special, Miles. Miles won the breed on Saturday and had gotten a Group 2.

The Sporting Group was late in the afternoon and since it was full of professional handlers and some of the top dogs in the country, my goal was just to have fun with Jam and make her shine.  Kel got some terrific shots of Jam and Miles in the group.
 It takes about 20 minutes for each of the seven groups to be judged.  It is a long time for the dogs and you want to make them look their best when the judge is looking.



Congrats to Jenna and Miles for winning the Sporting Group and competing for Best in Show!!!

A wonderful end to a great weekend!  We look forward to the dog shows in 2012 and finishing Savi and Trudy's championships.  We plan to breed Jam in January so she won't be back in the show ring until after her maternity leave and she's in shape.

Gray-t Weekend for the Grayhart Girls! Lehigh KC Show

Kellyann and I headed off early Saturday morning to Allentown, Pennsylvania, for the last show weekend of the year.  We were looking forward to seeing friends and hoping that we could finish the year with a win.  What an amazing weekend it turned out to be, beyond our wildest expectations.
Savi, Winner's Bitch for 2 points!
 Saturday was the Lehigh Kennel Club show.  I showed Savi in the bred-by-exhibitor class, which we won.  Pat O'Brien, who was there to show both our Trudy as well as a very nice puppy named Ike, out of Pat's dog Duke, littermate to Zeke, Trudy's sire.  Pat went winner's dog with Ike and then won the Open bitch class with Trudy.  Since Trudy is so attached to me, Pat and I decided to switch dogs and I took Trudy in for winner's and he handled Savi.  We were afraid that if I was standing behind Trudy, she would keep trying to turn and look at me.  Trudy was quite the happy girl and tried kissing me nonstop while I stacked her.  The judge even commented on my happy girl.  The judge pointed to Savi and she was Winner's Bitch for 2 points!

Next was the Best of Breed class and a fellow Weim friend took Savi in for me as I had to handle Jam.  Ike was picked for Best of Winners and Jam was awarded Select Bitch, earning Grand Champion points.
Jam in the Best of Breed class
This show has a Bred-by-Exhibitor competition and Savi was Best BBE Weim, so we waited for the BBE groups which did not start until mid-afternoon.  The BBE Sporting group was last.  After a long wait, it was finally our turn to show.  The group was quite competive, with eight sporting dogs, most of which had gone winner's for majors in their respective breeds.  Savi showed well and we had fun in the big group.
 Yay!  The judge awarded Savi a Group 3!
Savi doing a bow while we played and had fun in the BBE group.
After a long day at the show, we rushed off to the hotel to meet Pat and Ike's owner, Sandra, and went out for a fabulous celebration dinner.  Back at the room, Savi and Jam had a wild play session, well deserved after being crated all day and strutting their stuff in the show ring.

Off to bed to get our beauty sleep for Sunday's show...

Photos by Kellyann

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Resting up...

An exciting weekend of showing in Lehigh PA!  Lots of news and pictures to share once we have time to update the blog.  Savi and Jam got their beauty sleep at the hotel before the second big day of showing.  All I'll say for now is that it was a gray-t weekend!!!

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Life is ducky!

Savi is a nooker...not all Weims are but it is a Weim trait - sucking on toys or blankets in a trancelike state. I personally think that it is soothing for them.  When Savi does it, she also kneads her front feet, with them going back and forth, so cute.  Amazingly, this duck toy, one of her favorites, which still makes a quacking sound, is from Savi's litter's whelping box and has lasted a long time.  Quite a feat for any toy, especially a stuffy that makes noise!

Speaking of things that last...I took Savi to obedience class for the first time since the summer.  I was so proud of how well she did, showing how much training she had retained.  To be fair, even though she has not been in a formal competitive obedience class in months, doesn't mean that there has not been training.  My dogs get training everyday at home, whether formal or informal and we include obedience in agility and field work.  They have to work for treats and I'll take a few minutes to practice various skills, whether it is sending to place or a drop on recall.  My goal for Savi is to get her ready to compete in novice obedience and earn her CD or companion dog title in 2012.  A very doable goal to work towards as she's had a nice foundation and knows the exercises.  Just a matter of fine tuning and focusing on her on and off lead heeling.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Naptime

Afternoon naptime, no matter how many dog beds we have in the house, Trixie wanted to squeeze in with her daughters.  L-R: Jam in the back, Trixie and Savi.  Amazing how the Weims love the little cuddler beds that are designed for smaller dog.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

As seen in Martha Stewart Living...

 What a nice surprise to see Savi, Grayhart's Shear Genius,JH,NSD,NRD,CGC, in her Gap Kids ad in the December issue of Martha Stewart Living magazine.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Sky's Novice Standard Agility run


Sky, CH Grayhart Lightfoot Early Morning Rain, RN,JH,TD,NSD,NRD,CGC,VX, running in the Novice Standard class on November 27th in Pendleton, SC.  No "Q" for this run due to a missed dogwalk contact but Sky had a lovely run, controlled, focused and nailed her weave poles.  This girl has a ton of potential and I know that Sky and Debbie have many Q's in their future.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Longchamp Spring/Summer 2012 Campaign with Coco & Jam!!!

Jam & Coco, photo by Dane Shitagi
So excited to see the first released shot of Longchamp's Spring Summer 2012 campaign.  Supermodel Coco Rocha has been chosen as the face of this campaign and we are thrilled for her.   Of course, it is also thrilling to see Jam, CH Grayhart's Purple Haze,CD,JH,OA,OAJ,SD,VX, in this beautiful shot.  We had a great time on this shoot.  Stay tuned for more images and video!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Handle this

It wasn't a Weim only class but with four Weims training, we definitely had the majority.  From left to right above, Jam with me, Bebe with Bonnie and Steve working the puppy.
What better way to spend a rainy Tuesday morning than go with friends to handling class and then out for a scrumptious lunch?  An added bonus was the shopping at Total Pet Care, where they have terrific prices on food, treats, toys, collars and everything your dog would need.
 Savi practicing her free stack
 This shot of Savi is actually the reflection in the mirror on the other side of the room.
 another free stack of Savi after our go around...
 Jam, out for some ring practice as we get ready for the Delaware Water Gap and Lehigh shows in two weeks.
 Good girl!  She remembers how to be a show dog.
 Jam loves Steve and he took a turn working her...
 And around we go...
 More treats please!
 Jam above and Savi below...
 Kel tried her best to take shots of all the dogs without intruding on the class.  It was challenging with the poor lighting and constant moving but I appreciate the pictures she took.
Savi
After class, we all went to a Long Island favorite, Maureen's Kitchen.  They have the most awesome menu, hard to decide between their yummy breakfast options or creative sandwiches.  Lots of comfort food and great company = a perfect day with friends!

Monday, December 5, 2011

Fit to be Tricked

Savi, working her muscles to balance on the peanut ball.
 Last Saturday, we attended a terrific seminar:
"Fit To Be Tricked"
Specialized Trick Training
A Fun Way To Optimize Fitness, Flexibility & Coordination

with World Renowned Animal TrainerSassie Frankie Joiris and
Agility Champion and Guinness World Record Holder, 
Chris Ott-Parker
Comprehensive program designed with Internationally Recognized Physical Therapist "Ria Acciani, MPT"

"This one of a kind seminar focuses on specialized trick training designed to
improve your dog's accuracy in performance events while keeping them fit,
increasing physical strength, decreasing muscle recovery time and raise your
dog’s learning ability, focus and drive.

Frankie (Sassie) Joiris and Chris Ott-Parker are international seminar presenters and full
time dog trainers with a combined 60 years experience training dogs in agility, obedience,
conformation, search and rescue, hunting events, as well extensive experience in
television and film. Both Frankie and Chris have competed at the top levels of multiple
dog sports venues with multiple breeds of dogs and are well known for their ability to
customize training to fit each team’s unique strengths and ability."


 At the full day seminar, we learned all kinds of tricks and stretches to keep the dogs healthy and mentally stimulated.  We were too busy to take pictures at the seminar but we started practicing some of what we learned at home with the giant peanut ball.  It takes great balance and strength for the dogs to sit or stand comfortably on the ball and then do tricks on it, like waving while sitting.  Savi and Jam both came with me to the seminar but I primarily concentrated on working Savi.  She learned to catch foam rings around her neck, jump through hoops and various body positions and building body awareness that will help in all the sports we do.  Jam loved when she got to work, as she patiently waited in her crate, watching us work and didn't make a peep.  Jam showed off her balancing skills, doing doggie surfing and pushing the peanut while standing on her hind legs.  All of the skills and tricks we learned will be perfect activities to keep the dogs busy on cold, winter days.
 Trixie, above, and Jam, below, watching Savi work on the peanut until their turn.  Both love working the peanut as they get treats and find it fun.
Back to Saturday. The seminar was an all day affair, from 9-4:30, and dogs and handlers worked hard.  We were exhausted when we arrived home and Savi and Jam were so tired.  They crashed on the couch and didn't move for hours.
 A tired Weim is a good Weim!

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Sky's New Champion & Best of Breed Photos!

New CH Grayhart Lightfoot Early Morning Rain JH TD RN NSD NRD VX CGC, what an exciting day this was!


Sky's first time in the ring as a special she goes BOB and earns 2 grand champion points!
Huge congratulations to owner/handler Debbie & Sky!

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Support Tri-State Weimaraner Rescue!

Donate $5 to TriState Weimaraner Rescue and be entered to win this terrific Chillydogs Great White North Winter Coat!
Black, size large
Details below

Perfect for a male Weimaraner or other large dog!


Your dog will be the coolest dog in the snow!

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Three heads are better than one...

Savi almost climbed this tree!
 On a recent hike at Harriman State Park, the dogs had a field day chasing squirrels and finding nests and other interesting smells in many of the down trees from the recent storms.
 All three girls got in on the act...
 Jam is in the orange collar, Trixie in green and of course, Savi is in pink.



They never caught anything but had a ball trying!