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

The Grayhart Girls Great Southern Adventure - Part 6: Grand Finale

 Well, this is the final post on our road trip down south, which had an incredible ending.  The last day of showing in Greenville on July 30th was a successful one, with Jam getting an Award of Merit, owner/breeder handled, over multiple group winning specials, at the Greater Charleston Weimaraner Club Supported Entry at the Hendersonville Kennel Club Show under Judge Dr. Michael Woods.  The competition was tough, as this was part of the WCA Southern Regional Specialty weekend, with many top ten specials from all over the country entered.  The judge, took his time and seemed to take forever to make his final decisions, walking up and down the long line of bitches, stopping at his top three picks, one of which was Jam.  He finally made his mind up and we were thrilled to get a piece of the action at this large show.  I was so proud of how well Jam did amongst all the specials with her limited showing.

Once the show was finally over and we packed up and said our goodbyes to all our friends, Debbie, Sky's owner and I, made the ninety minute drive back to her lovely house in Western North Carolina.  We had a terrific dinner, one of many, with husband Joe, took the dogs for a well-needed run and hit the sack to get up early for a long awaited hike in the mountains.

The Grand Finale

The Smokey Mountains in North Carolina are scenic and have awesome hiking trails.  Debbie took me and our four dogs to one of her favorite trails in Piscah National Forest for a 3-hour hike through the woods and up hills to scenic overlooks.  We took many pictures and I've posted some of my favorites.  The dogs had a great time running and hunting and we couldn't have had a better time watching them and getting some well needed exercise and time in the great outdoors. After our hike, we dropped the dogs off at the house and toured quaint, downtown Waynesville.  Then another relaxing dinner and off to bed for my last night in the south. 

 This was taken after the hike with tired dogs!  l-r: Sky, Trixie, Savi and Jam

 

 The dogs were excited to range out and there were no people for as far as the eye could see!

 We stopped for lunch and to take pictures at the top of this mountain...

 Debbie got this cool shot of Savi, who seems to do everything with enthusiasm!

 Savi enjoyed a quick dip to cool off

 Savi posing on the monument...

 Momma Trixie and her three daughters....l-r: Sky, Trixie, Savi and Jam

 Beautiful Sky posing

A wonderful ending to a truly fabulous trip.  It was wonderful to spend quality time with friends, visiting with our Southern pups, and my girls successful showings at the agility trial and conformation shows, were just icing on the cake.  Till our next adventure...

GSWC Specialty Show at Plainfield Kennel Club

Savi practicing before Sweeps

 One of our annual Memorial Day Weekend traditions is to support our club's Specialty show, which is part of the Atlantic Shore Classic show circuit in Freehold, NJ.  It is one of our favorite show sites, except it can and usually is extremely hot and humid this time of year.  Under 80 degree weather, we did our best to keep the dogs cool and have a good time.  It was a busy show, as we had three of our girls entered, Savi, Trudy and Jam, and I was fortunate to have my good friend, Kellyann there to help with the girls and take pictures.  The club served a lovely lunch to everyone entered and we even got to spend time with Michele and Mia, who came for a short visit.

Mia, Grayhart's American Woman, had some show training and we can't wait to start showing her this year.

Savi, getting ready for the judge to examine her.

 Savi, Grayhart's Shear Genius,JH,CGC, (Clay x Trixie),who has not been shown much, did very well, especially since she does not care for the hot weather but held her stacks, stood for exam and gated nicely.  She placed 3rd in sweeps and 3rd in the 12-18 class, both the biggest classes of the day.

Trudy, Grayhart's Special Reserve, (Zeke x Trixie) spent a wonderful weekend with us and found every tennis ball in the house, no matter how well hidden! She remembered how to be a show girl and placed 2nd in the Open class.  She got to then go home to swim in her pool.

Jam waiting for her turn to go in the ring, she's cool as a cucumber..

Jam, CH Grayhart's Purple Haze,CD,JH,OA,NAJ,NSD,V, held up very well under the hot conditions and received an Award of Merit!  After the show, we celebrated by visiting our favorite vendors and Jam and Savi both got fabulous new collars.

Happy 3rd Birthday to our Jimi Hendrix (Parker x Trixie) Litter

Jimi Hendrix pups 36 days old

This was our first litter and all of these pups, not so little anymore, hold a very special place in our hearts. We have enjoyed watching them grow up and made lasting friendships with their owners, all part of our Grayhart family.  Even though the pups are spread across the country, from Long Island, NY & New Jersey, to North Carolina and Kansas, we get regular updates/ pictures and have had a number of mini-reunions. These dogs have accomplished so much and continue to excel in whatever their owners ask, from conformation, agility, tracking, hunting and just being the best family companions ever.

Happy Birthday to...

• Marshall, CH Grayhart's In From the Storm (training for obedience)
• Sky, Grayhart Lightfoot Early Morning Rain, JH,TD,RN,NSD,V, CGC (major pointed)
• Ranger, Grayhart's Midnight Lightening (major pointed)
• Mia, Grayhart's American Woman (in training for show, agility, obedience)
• Monty, Grayhart's Stone Free, JH,CGC (in training for show & Senior Hunter)
• Jam, CH Grayhart's Purple Haze, CD,JH,OA,NAJ,NSD,CGC,V (our Special & competing in agility/obedience/Senior Hunter)

Oh, and Jam had a great birthday weekend getting an Award of Merit at the Garden State Weimaraner Club Specialty show at Plainfield Kennel Club! Of course, we then went shopping and picked out fabulous new collars for our special girl.

 Mia came for a visit at this weekend show & looks terrific!

2011 WCA National Specialty

Lots of ribbons for the Grayhart girls - this doesn't even include our obedience ribbon or Bliss' haul.

The 2011 Weimaraner Club of America National Speciatly was held last week at the Robert's Centre in Wilmington, Ohio with the related agility trials held at Queen City Dog Training Club(QCDTC) in Sharonville, Ohio.  Our Nationals adventure began with a long, almost 12 hour drive out to stay near the agility trials, which began on May 14th.  Three dogs (Trixie,Jam and Savi), three humans, leather leads stock, displays, soft crates, luggage and everything needed for the dogs and humans for a week away made for a very packed mini-van.  It was a week of exciting competition in various venues and socializing with friends from all over the world.  A major highlight of our trip was getting to meet and spend time with Jen Boyd and Bliss, Grayhart's Launch My Line, who flew in from Alaska just for the Nationals.  The only disappointment was the weather, which rained almost nonstop until Thursday, the day we left.  Fortunately, all the activities for us were indoors.

Bonnie (owner of Jam's sire, Parker, GCH Hibourne's It's All About Me) and me waiting for Jam's AOM picture.

Jam & Jamie in the BOB competition where they received an AOM!

I am still overwhelmed at the successful week we had as our hope was just to maybe get a placement or two but we ended up with many agility class wins, new titles in obedience and agility, Bliss, Grayhart's Launch My Line, placing 3rd in almost every huge 12-18 month conformation class and the Futurity, and Jam getting an Award of Merit. not an easy feat at a National with such a huge entry and high quality of dogs.

Jen & Bliss

Savi was along for the ride and was only shown in one day of sweeps and at the Columbus Specialty.  She was a good girl and I was pleased with her showing even though she wasn't in the ribbons. Not to be left out, Savi, came everywhere with us and thought that the Nationals were the best party she's ever been to and loved playing with her littermate Bliss!

Savi in the Sweeps class

 In the obedience venue, Jam finished her Companion Dog (CD) title with a 3rd placement and score of 185.

 Jam heeling

New CD title with a 3rd place for Jam

Trixie even competed in Open A Obedience and would have qualified with a 1st place if she had held her out of sight group sit but I was happy with her performance since we have not focused as much on competition obedience and her individual run was very impressive.

Trixie, off lead heeling with attention.

We were entered in three days of agility trials and I was thrilled with how Trixie and Jam performed.  Some of Jam and Trixie's runs are posted on other blog posts. The QCDTC is a wonderful venue, with cushy, matted flooring, air conditioning and indoor bathrooms.  The only negative was that the ring is the minimum size allowed by AKC, which made for very tight, challenging courses for the big-strided Weimaraners.  Judges Laura English and David Hirsch designed terrific courses that were fast and fun and were very encouraging to the competitors.  We were honored to be running alongside some of the top agility Weims in the country and were impressed with their drive, athleticism and owner's handling. 

Trixie 1st place Exc A Std!

The first day, Saturday the 14th, was the WCA All Breed Agility trial, where Trixie and Jam had stellar performances with Trixie winning the 24" Exc A Standard class and a 3rd place in Open Jumpers with Weaves and Jam earning 4th place in 24" Open Standard.

On Sunday, the Keeshond All Breed Agility trial, Trixie gave us an exciting Open JWW run winning the class, getting her 2nd 1st place of the weekend. Jam showed what a star she could be winning the Open Standard class which also gave her a new title - Open Agility (OA)!!!

Jam with her New Open Standard Title & !st place Ribbons!

On Monday, at the WCA Specialty trial, Jam won the Open JWW class! Both girls had great Exc Std runs but Trixie knocked the last bar and Jam knocked the top panel of the panel jump.

All the dogs were terrific travelers and held up well under crazy weather conditions from cold rain at the beginning of the week to warm temps at the end. This is a testament to their solid temperaments and training.  A busy week for sure and an exhausting trip but well worth the drive to see the top dogs in the country, meet other breeders, attend the Breeder's Ed seminar and have a great time.