New NRD title for Mica!

 Congratulations to Debbie Moody and Mica, Grayhart Lightfoot River of Light, (Parker x Savi) for earning her WCA NRD (Novice Retrieving Dog) title at the Tarheel Weimaraner Club Retrieving Ratings test.  Mica is the first pup from our Fast Times litter to earn a title and we are so proud of this team.  

To earn the NRD title, a dog must retrieve birds both on land and then in the water.  The handler must stand in a circle, usually made of hose or rope, and cannot leave that spot, the dog must bring the bird back into the circle.

 Nice retrieve to hand!

 At the Novice level (NRD), the handler is allowed to hold the dog until they are released for the retrieve.  You can see Mica is straining with excitement.

Mica is a natural retriever like her Momma Savi and loves to swim like both her parents!

A lovely portrait of Mica and her older sister, Sky, CH Grayhart Lightfoot Early Morning Rain,RN,TD, JH,AX, MXJ, CAT, NSD, NRD,CGC, VX2, (Parker x Trixie).

2013 WCA Nationals Week Day 2: 5-pt Major win for Bliss!!!

Bliss

Thursday was a day chock full of events and excitement.  The Chattahoochie Weimaraner Club had a supported entry at the Valdosta Kennel Club show and the entry was huge, as this was part of the WCA Nationals week.  We were thrilled to get the call that Bliss, Grayhart's Launch My Line, (Clay x Trixie), owner/handled by Jen Boyd was Winner's Bitch and Best of Winners for 5-point major under judge Barbara Stenmark!  Not only is this an amazing win for Bliss but Jen and her family had traveled down from Alaska for the Nationals.  This is Bliss' first major and first points as there are very few Weims in Alaska and difficult to win championship points.

Debbie Moody and Sky, CH Grayhart Lightfoot Early Morning Rain,RN,TD, JH,OA, AXJ, NSD, NRD,CGC, VX, (Parker x Trixie) were back in the agility ring and Sky earned her first Master Jumpers with Weaves leg with 5 MACH points!

Jessica and Mia-belle, CH Grayhart's Special Request, CDX,RA,JH,NA,NAJ,NSD, RD, VX, (Zeke x Trixie), were entered in the RDX or Retrieving Dog Excellent stake of the WCA Retrieving Ratings.  Mia-belle, a high-drive performance dog, did a super job on her retrieve but refused to give the bird to Jessica - the prize was too good to share.  Back to more training and we are optimistic that Mia-belle will pass in the future.  The RDX is the highest level of the WCA Retrieving Ratings and includes multiple retrieves.

We are very proud of all our Grayhart girls and their owners at the Nationals!  They are entered in more events and we will keep you updated on all the fun.

Mia earns her RD rating from the WCA!

We are thrilled to announce that Mia, CH Grayhart's Special Request, CDX, RA, NA, NAJ,NSD,RD,VX earned her RD (Retrieving Dog) rating from the Weimaraner Club of America on October 7, 2012.  

Reported from Jessica: Mia did beautiful land and water retrieves and received many compliments from the other weim owners.  The RD test requires the dog to complete a land and water double.  The dog is supposed to be steady on the line (with no restraint from the handler) and should not move until sent to retrieve by the handler.  In RD, a controlled break is allowed if the dog moves.  As long as the handler is able to verbally stop the dog before leaving the circle, you can still qualify.  Mia did break a couple of times but I was able to control her by reminding her to sit.  The RD test also requires that birds be retrieved to hand and the handler is not allowed to touch the dog at any point during the test.  Mia is very close to being ready for RDX but we have to work on her steadiness on the line.  She is very steady in training but working real birds increases her adrenaline and drive exponentially.  We also need to do some work with her releasing the bird on command.  She does pretty well the first few retrieves but then starts to get greedy and wants to hang on to the bird.  I am hoping to run her in RDX in the spring if she is ready.  

The RD test also requires the dog to retrieve birds through water decoys which is what you see in the middle right side of the picture.

Thanks to Gretchen Stephenson for taking pictures of my girl!

New WCA Versatility "V" title for Savi!

Savi in the BBE Sporting Group where she earned a Group 3! She also went back to back WB/BOW, earning her 2nd major and a total of 5 points that weekend.

We are pleased to announce that Savi, Grayhart's Shear Genius,JH,NSD,NRD,CGC, has qualified for one of the Weimaraner Club of America's prestigious titles, Award of Versatility or V. The WCA recognizes Weimaraners who excel in a number of areas of competition and based on a point system, dogs can qualify for the Versatile title and then the Versatile Excellent title and beyond. The dogs must acquire titles in at least three different areas. It is an exciting milestone not only for Savi, who did this before her 2nd birthday, but for our breeding program as Savi is Trixie's 4th puppy to earn this award.

Savi's Versatile points came from the following areas: Field (JH), Retrieving (NRD) and Conformation (minimum of 10 bench points). Savi had a winning weekend at the Delaware Water Gap/Lehigh Kennel Club show weekend mid-December, which earned her 2nd major win as well as put her over the 10 show points needed to earn the V award. Savi only needs one single point to earn her AKC Championship title.

From the Weimaraner Club of America Rules & Policies, here are the requirements for Versatile and Versatile Excellent awards:

SECTION VIII- Versatile Rating Standards

I. Schedule of Available Versatile Points
A. Bench Champion.....................................................8
Ten Bench Points (includes major win)...............6
Five Bench Points.....................................................4
Bench Pointed...........................................................2
B. Obedience Trial Champion....................................10
UDX.............................................................................8
UD...............................................................................6
CDX.............................................................................4
CD...............................................................................2
C. Field Champion, AFC or MH..................................10
Senior Hunter, SDX or 1st place in AA/GD Retrieving Stake 6
Junior Hunter, SD or 4 Field Points.....................4
NSD or 1 Field Point................................................2
D. RDX............................................................................6
RD...............................................................................4
NRD............................................................................2
E. Champion Tracker (CT)..........................................10
Variable Surface Tracking (VST)...........................8
Tracking Dog Excellent (TDX)...............................6
Tracking Dog (TD)...................................................4

Section II—RULES Standards for Ratings
F. Master Agility Champion.......................................10
Master Agility Excellent (MX) or MXJ...................8
Agility Excellent (AX) or AXJ.................................6
Agility Excellent Preferred (AXP) or AJP.............5
Open Agility (OA) or OAJ.......................................4
Open Agility Preferred (OAP) or OJP...................3
Novice Agility (NA) or NAJ.....................................2
Novice Agility Preferred (NAP) or NJP.................1

II. Requirements for Award of Versatile “V”
A. Twelve (12) versatile points minimum total.
B. Above Twelve (12) points must be obtained from at least three (3) of the above six (6) groups.
C. Points are not accumulative in any one group (i.e., a UD entitles a dog to six (6) points. His CDX and CD cannot be added.)

III. Requirements for Award of Versatile Excellent “VX”
A. Eighteen (18) points minimum total
B. Above eighteen (18) points may be obtained from three (3) of the above six (6) groups and must include a Bench Champion, Field Champion, Amateur Field Champion, Obedience Trial Champion, Master Agility Champion or Champion Tracker.
OR
Above eighteen (18) points may be obtained from at least four (4) of the six (6) groups.
C. Points are not accumulative in any one group.
IV. Requirements for Award of Versatile Excellent 2 (VX2)
A. Twenty four (24) points minimum total.
B. Above twenty-four (24) points must be obtained from at least four (4) of the above six (6) groups.
C. Points are not accumulative in any one group.
V. Requirements for Award of Versatile Excellent 3 (VX3) – VX7
A. Must meet the requirements of Versatile Excellent 2 (VX2)
B. Minimum total points required:
VX3...................................................30 Points
VX4...................................................36 Points
VX5...................................................42 Points
VX6...................................................48 Points
Weimaraner Club of America Rules and Policies

Teamwork

Setting up for the water retrieve, I'm telling Savi to watch the duck as the gunner is getting ready to throw it in the water...

A picture perfect water retrieve!  Savi, without hesitation, dove right into the water, swam directly to the duck and grabbed it!  She swam back to shore and here she is on her way to me in the circle.  She brought it right to me and that completed her new Novice Retrieving Dog (NRD) title!  Next up, training for her RD, Retrieving Dog title, where she'll have to stay without retraint until released and complete double land and water retrieves.

Intense Savi during her land retrieve

Thanks to GSWC club member Michelle Ostrander for taking these terrific pictures

DVWC WCA Shooting & Retrieving Ratings

 Some pictures of Savi during her Novice Retrieving Dog run at the DVWC WCA Ratings test last Sunday.  For her land retrieve, she was off like a shot to go retrieve the quail.

Good girl retrieving it to hand in the circle!

 Once we passed on land, it was off to the pond for the water retrieve. Savi, who we know loves to swim, couldn't wait for her turn and impatiently paced and barked until it was our turn.  The duck was thrown, blank gun shot and I released Savi, who without any hesitation, jumped into the water and swam straight to the duck and grabbed it!  This year she did order the duck!  Then she turned around and swam right back to me and again, retrieved to hand.  That's a pass and a new NRD title, showing everyone how it's done.

 Jam was entered in the Shooting Dog as she had earned her Novice Shooting Dog title last year.  Due to the way the birdfield was set up and live fire, the spectators in the gallery had to stay pretty far away, which made picture taking difficult.  The shot below shows me collaring Jam, while Muddy is on point and waiting for the gunners to get in place.  Both dogs had terrific runs and passed.

Thanks to our pupparrazi Kellyann for these photos and cheering us on.

New WCA Ratings Titles for Jam and Savi!!!

Jam & Savi with their qualifying ribbons

We had a great time today at the Delaware Valley Weimaraner Club (DVWC) WCA Ratings tests visiting with friends and seeing many talented Weimaraners.  The DVWC and Garden State Weimaraner Club's put on a double ratings test at Assunpink Wildlife Management Area, with morning and afternoon tests with a delicious potluck lunch in between.  

We are proud to announce that both Jam and Savi qualified and have new titles!  Jam ran in the Shooting Dog (SD) rating, which is similar to the AKC Senior Hunter test but not as stringent, and had a terrific run that would have been a pass in a regular AKC Hunt test.  She was braced with her half brother, a Parker son, who already has his Senior Hunter title, and they ran very well together.  Jam had a nice honor in the backcourse.  In the birdfield, Jam used the wind and pointed the Chukkar on scent from at least ten feet away.  She held her point while I located the bird and was steady to shot and then retrieved the bird to me.  

Jam is now CH Grayhart's Purple Haze,CD,JH,OA,OAJ,SD,VX!

Savi was entered in the Novice Retrieving Dog (NRD) rating test.  This test includes both a land and water retrieve.  Savi had awesome retrieves to hand on and in the water.  Friends commented that she has a Master Hunter retrieve!  

Savi is now Grayhart's Shear Genius,JH,NSD,NRD,CGC!

Gray-t Weekend for Grayhart!

Jessica & Mia and Debbie & Sky - new NRDs!!!

Our weekend began on a high note with Mason finishing his championship and littermate Trudy, going Winner's Bitch/Best of Winners/Best of Opposite at the same show.  Well today, at the Tarheel Weimaraner Club WCA Ratings test, both of our Southern girls earned their Novice Retrieving Dog titles.  Congratulations to Debbie Moody & Sky, Grayhart Lightfoot Early Morning Rain, RN,JH,TD,NSD,NRD,V (Trixie x Parker) & Jessica Scharff & Mia, CH Grayhart's Special Request,CD,RA,NSD,NRD,V (Trixie x Zeke)!


From the WCA website, here is what is required for a dog to earn an NRD:


NRD—Novice Retrieving Dog 
A. Requirements for dogs competing for NRDs shall be as follows: 
1. Land Retrieve 
a. Dog is required to retrieve a single dead bird on land, a shot will be fired. 
b. Retrieve shall be a minimum of 20 yards, but shall not exceed 40 yards. 
2. Water Retrieve 
a. Dog is required to retrieve a single dead bird in the water with a minimum swim of 20 yards, a 
shot will be fired.

At the Long Island New York shows, Trudy, Grayhart's Special Reserve (Trixie x Zeke), handled by me, her breeder and co-owner was WB/BOS for a 3 pt major! Trudy now only needs three single points to complete her AKC show championship! Trudy's win photo to be posted at a later date.

Let the training begin!

After a year off, due to her baby brother, Jersey, Grayhart's Goin Someplace Special, JH,CGC, is now back in full swing. She is now training for her NRD! Our local Weimaraner Club, WCTV, is hosting a ratings test in October, and our very own Jersey Girl will be entered. Let's just hope I can stop her from playing keep-away when she retrieves! Keeping my fingers crossed.

Check out those webbed feet! Such a neat picture!

Reflect

Savi, candid swim shot from the DelVal/GSWC Retrieving Ratings, taken by Michelle Ostrander.

DelVal/GSWC WCA Ratings Test - Part 2: Savi's NRD test

As I had reported earlier, Savi was entered in her first NRD (Novice Retrieving Dog) ratings test but didn't pass.  The WCA Retrieving Ratings have two parts, a land retrieve and then a water retrieve.  At the NRD level, all dogs are tested on the land first and the dogs must retrieve the dead bird from a specific distance, 20-40 yards for the NRD test, and bring the bird back to the handler, who must remain in a circle with a diameter of 6 six feet.  No food or training collars are allowed.  The dogs that pass the land retrieve move on to the water portion of the test.  Savi completed the land retrieve with flying colors so off to the lovely pond we go.

Savi is quite the little fish so I was not concerned about her swimming skills and typically, she'll retrieve anything from the water, especially her favorite accessory, a bird.  Well, my fault for not properly introducing her to ducks, which is what they used for the morning test.  Savi swam out the distance but then, wait she said, something isn't kosher here, I didn't order the duck...her pup-a-razzi caught some video of her in the act:



Basically, no bird, no pass.  We patiently watched the rest of the dogs take their turn, some were successful, some were not.  Then the morning test was over and it was time for lunch...never one to miss an opportunity, we grabbed one of the used ducks and a teased Savi with it...hmmm, she thought it was time to play and the duck was much more her style...into the water it went and Savi followed for the retrieve.  We did this a number of times, increasing the distance and success!  Maybe we didn't get the title, but she is still a winner and we have the tape to prove it:

DelVal/GSWC WCA Shooting & Retrieving Ratings Test

Savi with her new title ribbon - Novice Shooting Dog (NSD) at 9 months of age!

 We had a perfect weather day for the combined Delaware Valley & Garden State Weimaraner Club's Shooting & Retrieving Ratings tests at Collier's Mills Wildlife Management Area in New Egypt, NJ.  The Ratings tests are Weimaraner Club of America hunting tests that have their own set of standards, similar but different than the AKC hunt tests, and at the lower levels, test a dogs natural ability in the field.  Since there are no AKC retrieving tests for Weimaraners, the WCA has its own retrieving ratings, as they are called, to test retrieving skills on both land and water.  All of the tests are judged against specific criteria that the dog must meet and done on a pass/fail basis.

We had a large entry for both the morning and afternoon tests and had to put people on a waiting list as we reached the maximum number of dogs that could be run in the available daylight.  We arrived first thing in morning, 6:45 a.m., since not only were we there to help run the test, but Jam was entered in the first brace at 7:30 a.m.  This is what it looked like when we arrived...dawn with the full moon watching over us.

There was much excitement in the air as each van or truck pulled up with Weims and their owners, club members and those entered or helping, looking forward to a fun day of running the dogs.  There was great camaraderie as everyone gathered to cheer each dog on and then we all enjoyed a terrific pot luck lunch. 

Jam and Savi were entered in the morning tests and I had the pleasure of judging the afternoon tests.  It was a wonderful experience to be in the field with fellow judge, Brian Hess, seeing all these Weims first hand.  There were many talented dogs and some that it was there first time in the field with novice handlers, both of which needed more training and exposure to birds.  Not only did we do our best to judge fairly, but also felt a great responsibility to make sure that the dogs and handlers were safe and also to make it a positive experience for all. 

Savi, nine months old, was entered in both the Novice Shooting Dog (NSD) and Novice Retrieving Dog (NRD) tests and we are pleased that she passed the NSD test to get her first WCA title.  She passed the land portion of the NRD but would not retrieve the duck from the water.  Her performance throughout both tests was impressive and I couldn't be prouder of her.  As for the water retrieve, more on that later...

Jam was entered in the Shooting Dog test and started out well, finding two birds and pointing them in the back course.  She showed boldness, independence and hunted with style. The conditions were difficult as the grass cover was very high and you couldn't see the dogs.  Unfortunately, she got too far ahead of me and took out the Chukkar the other dog was pointing, not a good thing, and retrieved it to me...back to the trainer we go!

 Savi, pointing a loose quail, as we waited at the start line for our NSD test.  She hunted well, had nice points and found a number of birds on course, even retrieved it to me.

 A very excited Savi, during the land portion of the retrieving ratings.  The handler must remain in the circle made out of hose and the dog has to bring the bird back in to the circle to the handler.

 Savi went out like a shot and brought the bird right back to me!

 One of our fellow club members commented that "Savi makes it look so easy!"

 Did someone say duck?  That was the bird they used for the water retrieves and unfortunately, Savi had never been exposed to ducks and even though she had a great swim out to it, refused to bring it back.  After the test, we had an opportunity to practice with the duck and within minutes, our little retrieving machine was bringing them back from the water as if she was an old pro at this....we'll have to wait until next year to get that NRD.

Savi - did someone see that quail?

And this is what the grounds looked like just as we were leaving...a beautiful sunset.  It was a very long day, from dawn to dusk, but well worth it.  Everyone chipped in to help make the event a success and our gunners, none of whom own Weims, actually English Setters, were amazing, not only in their shooting skills, but helped us run both the shooting and retrieving portions of the test. We couldn't have done it without them.

A special thanks to my friend, Kellyann, who took all these amazing pictures plus photographed all the dogs during the day.