Presley earns her Junior Hunter title and CeCe get her 1st JH leg!

Presley, with Qualifying Ribbon #4 for her JH title!

 We are thrilled to announce that Presley has earned her AKC Junior Hunter (JH) title and is now, Grayhart's Another Star, JH.  Presley completed her JH, handled by her breeder/co-owner,  by qualifying in four straight tests with terrific scores and at only one year of age!

Presley earned her first two legs at the Nutmeg Weimaraner Club Hunt Test in Simsbury, CT at the beginning of November under very difficult conditions.  The first day brought torrential rain but that did not deter Presley as she made her hunt test debut in style by finding and retrieving four birds to hand!

Extreme conditions call for the right attire & it worked for Presley's 1st JH leg

The next day, the weather was cold with swirling winds, which can be very challenging especially for novice dogs.  Presley hunted well and found her first bird, although did not point it and after the bird flushed, searched in thick cover and retrieved the bird to hand.  There is a rule that the dog must point 50% of the birds they encounter so we needed to find another bird and have a solid point.  She did not disappoint and with only minutes left, she made game, then a solid point before she went in on the bird.  She also caught that bird and retrieved it back. Chasing and busting the bird is allowed in the Junior level but not in Senior and Master so we will have to work on her training. Two tests, two qualifications on her debut weekend.

CeCe and Presley

I also ran CeCe, Grayhart's Almost Famous, co-owned with KellyAnn, in the Sunday test and this birdy girl qualified for her 1st Junior Hunter leg.  Tough conditions with few qualifiers but our girls made us proud by bringing home those orange ribbons. Guess we could call it a double Q!

After the test was over on Saturday, we took Savi, and her daughter, CeCe, out for a run and some training on the leftover birds in the fields.  What a beautiful sight to see CeCe back her momma!  Savi has her Senior Hunter and hunting is her favorite thing in the world.

CeCe honoring her mother, Savi

Savi on point

Presley with JH ribbon #2

The weekend after Thanksgiving brought the final hunt test of the season in the Northeast with the Nutmeg German Shorthaired Pointer Club Hunt Test at Flaherty Field Trial Grounds in CT.  Things did not look promising as we had a major snowstorm on Thanksgiving eve and the ground was covered with snow and ice.  Arriving at the test, those coming off the Junior course reported poor scenting conditions and the birds, Quail, were not staying planted.  Challenging conditions to say the least.  Plus it was cold!  

We met Presley's bracemate, a handsome, 22 month old male GSP, who turned out to be a hunting machine.  They took off from the start and after playing a few minutes started to hunt.  The GSP found a bird right away and hearing the shot of the blank gun, Presley upped her game and was trying really hard tracking and hunting to find a bird.  She found a quail under a log and pointed before flushing the bird.  She did not catch it.  She continued to hunt until the judges told us time was up and leash the dogs.  Presley qualified for JH leg #3.

On Sunday, we returned to Flaherty and fortunately, warmer weather.  Presley immediately knew why we were there and once we entered the bird field, boom, went on a gorgeous point.  The bird flushed and flew away.  Presley continued to hunt and the judge complimented her on how methodically she hunted.  We then saw her make game, showing the signs she was on a bird and boom, another beautiful, staunch point and to my surprise, she was pointing a walking bird!  Presley was easily 20 yards away so I couldn't get to her in time before she broke her point to flush the bird.  Very impressive for an untrained dog to point a walking bird and hold for a good 10 seconds!  It was exciting to see her perform so well and this was reflected in her scores of 9, 10, 10, 9,

Presley will now begin training for Senior Hunter and will return to the show ring in 2015. Her owners, Bob, Meridith and I are thrilled with how well she is doing and just adore this girl.

Hunt Test weekend

Savi, CH Grayhart's Shear Genius,JH,NSD,NRD,CGC,V, during her Senior Hunter test this past weekend, run by the Eastern German Shorthair Pointer Club  Although she didn't pass, I was pleased with how well she ran and held to the shot.  More photos and the full report to come...

Thursday Thoughts...

Puppy Savi at the 2010 WCA Nationals with her bird

 As I begin my Spring Break, yes, I'm one of the lucky ones that gets to enjoy a week off in April, there is much to do (house projects, family activities and dog stuff) and other stuff I'd love to do but just can't fit in.  It is a challenge juggling a full-time job and trying to keep up a training schedule for the girls.  At the begiining of the year, I set goals for each of the dogs and then attempt to set a training schedule to help achieve these goals.  Happily, I already accomplished two on my list and that would be finishing Trudy and Savi's show championships!

Now we move on to obedience, agility and hunt tests.  The hardest is field training so I have scheduled sessions for Jam and Savi during vacation.  There are upcoming hunt tests that Jam is entered in Senior Hunter and she needs a tune up.  Savi, who has amazing drive and natural ability, needs more training before she'll be ready for the Senior Hunter tests.  My goal is to have Savi ready for the fall hunt tests.

Jam at the 2010 WCA Nationals in the obedience ring

 Obedience is easy.  I have the tools and resources close by to practice and train.  The girls typically go to obedience class once a week and I can practice with them in multiple locations.  I plan on getting Savi ready to compete in Novice Obedience this summer and she is well on her way to being ready.  Jam has begun training for Open but I'm not sure when she will be ready to compete.

Trixie at the 2011 WCA Nationals

Agility, my favorite of all the dog sports, has been on hold since the local training school is still shut down from last year's hurricane damage.  I've taken some seminars and private lessons and am working on an alternate place to train.  With the Spring trials coming up, Trixie and Jam need practice and coursework.  I'll setup the weaves and jumps in the backyard and try to get them ready.  Savi would benefit from a weekly class to work on foundation skills.  So much to do, so little time!

We are also working with some of our other Grayhart dogs to get them ready for the show ring this year.  And if that isn't enough, we are planning on breeding Jam this summer and hope for a fall litter.  A very full plate but we wouldn't have it any other way.

Jam gets her WCA Versatile Excellent Title!!!

Jam's 2011 Blue Ribbon ad for the Weimaraner Magazine, showing off her versatility.

We are pleased to announce that Jam has qualified for one of the Weimaraner Club of America's prestigious titles, Versatile Excellent or VX.  The WCA recognizes Weimaraners who excel in a number of areas of competition and based on a point system, dogs can quality 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 Jam, who did this before her 3rd birthday, but for our breeding program as Jam is our first VX and completed this title during the 2011 WCA Nationals week when she completed both her Open Agility (OA) and Companion Dog (CD) titles.

Jam is now CH Grayhart's Purple Haze, CD,JH,OA,NAJ,NSD,CGC,VX

Jam's Versatile Excellent points came from the following areas: conformation (Bench Champion), obedience (CD), field (JH) and agility (OA).

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

GSWC Hunt Test Weekend

Hanging out with Junior test judges, Frank Luksa & Lou Manipelli.  Savi was along for the ride.

We were away this past weekend for hunt tests at Freeland Kennels in Weatherly, PA.  These are terrific grounds with wooded pine areas which open onto large fields.  Lots of great cover for bird planting and excellent grounds for the dogs to run and hunt on.  One of my favorite things about these grounds is that the clubhouse sits on a hill overlooking the Senior and Master birdfield and is the perfect vantage point for viewing all the action.

Saturday's test was hosted by the Pointer Club of Central New Jersey and Sunday's test was hosted by my club, the Garden State Weimaraner Club (GSWC). The Pointer Club hosted a delicious judges dinner on Saturday night.  As the Hunt Test Chair for the GSWC and that means that I was in charge of everything related to the test which started many months ago: from hiring the judges and gunners, securing the grounds, applying to the AKC to get approval for the test, preparing the premium, buying the birds, managing the helpers and hospitality....plus a zillion other small details.  My hubby was the Hunt Test Secretary and all the entries went to him and he took care of all the paperwork the AKC requires for the test.  All in all, a very big job and I'm happy to say, we had a successful event, with forty entries, lots of qualifiers and everyone had a great time.  I was lucky to have wonderful club members who came out and helped plant birds (Peter, Mary & Peter), got handlers to the line (Michelle and Lilly) and sold a delicious breakfast and lunch (Jack, Marilyn, Lilly, Joline) plus our talented club photographer Michelle who photographed all the qualifiers. We also had a special treat for everyone who entered - a one pound bag of Natural Balance dog treats - thanks to Natural Balance and Kellyann for this greatly appreciated donation.  A heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped!

At the GSWC test, we had a good number of Weims entered in the Junior Hunter level and Jam was in Senior.  People commented how nice it was to see more Weims getting back to field work and I agree.  Lots of talented dogs from many of the pointing breeds were represented and our gray ghosts held their own.  It was a jovial crowd and very welcoming for all the novices, who felt comfortable asking questions and learning from more experienced folks. 

Jam was entered in Senior Hunter both days but did not qualify.  Her and her bracemates had great honors in the back course and made it to the birdfield.  Unfortunately, those darn Chukkar just wouldn't stay put and challenged us.  Jam received high scores of 9 out of 10 in hunting and trainability and compliments from the judges so I was pleased with her runs.  She is soooo close to qualifying and we just hope it all comes together at the next hunt tests.  

An exhausting weekend of travel, working and running dogs but well worth it.  It's also important to note that without the help of active volunteers, none of the dog clubs could put on successful events like this.  Yes, it's hard work but it is important to give back, especially when we enjoy and enter tests/shows/trials put on by other clubs.  If you haven't volunteered or stepped up, it's time to pay it forward...

Who's that girl?

 Shhh, it's a secret....two Weims pointing at the covey of Quail in the thick cover at Freeland Kennel Club...who are they?

 Look closely at that gorgeous face, yes, it's Trixie showing that princesses/models can hunt and hold solid intense points.  But, the big but, only in private...you see, she will not perform this way in training or a hunt test so we leave it up to her kids to rack up those hunting titles and go on hunting trips with their owners.  Trixie shows off her talent in more sophisticated venues like obedience, agility and on the set of photo shoots or commercials!

 Hurry up, there are more birds here....

After the hunt test was over, we took the opportunity to run Trixie and daughter Savi in the fields.  It was a spectacular fall day and the girls loved hunting for the birds and enjoying the grounds.  Savi even backed her mother at one point but I wasn't quick enough with the phone/camera.

New Junior Hunter Savi!

We are so proud of nine month old Savi, Grayhart's Shear Genius,NSD,CGC, for earning her AKC Junior Hunter (JH) title this past Saturday at the Nutmeg Weimaraner Club Hunt Test in Simsbury, CT.  Savi finished in style earning awesome scores of a 10 in Bird Finding and a 9 in hunting.  She had a blast running the course and found five birds, even retrieving one of them to hand, and I literally had to drag her off the course when the judges called time.  She just loves hunting for those birds.  Since she was already entered in the Sunday test, we ran her for fun and she received her 5th JH leg, a bumper leg as we call it, and then was asked to run as the bye dog in the last Junior brace, where right after the breakaway, she pointed a walking chukkar.

Savi completed her JH in four straight tests.  Now, we will concentrate on training her for Senior and Master hunter, while she continues to train for the show and agility rings.

Always fun to travel and trial with friends, along for the ride was my friend, Lilly and her girl, Missy, CH Hibourne's Ain't Misbehavin,CD,NSD, who qualified in Junior Hunter both days for her 2nd and 3rd JH legs. We celebrated the girls successes with a lovely dinner Saturday night and then were quite surprised when the hotel upgraded us to a three room suite!  The dogs thought that was just fabulous and had a party running around and then finally settled down when I gave them yummy knuckle bones to chew on.

Jam, quite comfortable on the King size bed

Jam was entered in the Senior tests however, was not steady on her birds in the back course and therefore did not qualify.  She hunted well  but just could not contain that high drive and hold point while I flushed the birds.  Train, train, and train until the Spring tests...

Four-bird Jam: the story of our first Senior Hunter Leg

Check out Jam's blog to see the full story our her first Senior hunter leg, not your typical Weim nor your typical Senior hunter run!

A month of firsts and a celebration of versatility

ver·sa·tile  = JAM

adj
\ˈvər-sə-t^əl, especially British -ˌtī(-ə)l\

Definition of VERSATILE

1: changing or fluctuating readily : variable versatile disposition>

2: embracing a variety of subjects, fields, or skills; also : turning with ease from one thing to another

Savi & Jam with their qualifying hunt test ribbons at last week's DVGWP test

A month of firsts and a celebration of versatility...quite a mouthful.  Well, that month was October and what an incredible month it was, especially for Jam with her breeder/owner/handler, along for the ride.  Weimaraner owners and breeders value this thing called versatility but witnessing it is an amazing sight, especially when the dog does well in each venue.  

Jam competed in FOUR different venues in October with the following results:

• Earned her first Novice Standard (NA) agility leg with a 1st place!

• Earned her first Novice Obedience CD (Companion Dog) leg

• Earned her first Senior Hunter leg with scores of 9's in bird finding and trainability
• ...and in the show ring (conformation) with Steve Lane, won first place in the Open Bitch class at the GSWC Independent Specialty and her first Reserve Winners Bitch to a Specialty major
• back to the agility ring, Jam earned her 2nd Novice Jumpers with Weaves (JWW) leg with a 2nd place...not too shabby!

Although Trixie already has her WCA Versatility title, she continues to work on the VX or Versatile Excellent title, and does it in style, finishing her Open Agility Standard title with a first place. And puppy Savi, is another shining star, earning three Junior Hunter legs within a month's time and we hope to finish that title this coming weekend.  She will be the first in her litter to earn a JH title. 

Of course, none of this happens in a bubble and I have been fortunate to have wonderful people to help guide me and train with as well as well bred dogs that as puppies had stable and confident temperaments, showed great potential and were biddable.  I'm a firm believer that temperament is hereditary, however, once the pups go to their new homes, or the ones who stay and live with me, that environment then becomes the driving force and shapes who the dog grows up to be.  It is a huge responsibility for the owner to bring out the dog's potential and lay the foundation of training to build a successful competition dog or great companion. Here is the secret...it requires a well trained dog, good handling and no excuses.  Just do it!

We did it! Jam's 1st Senior Hunter leg!!!

We finally did it - Jam, Grayhart's Purple Haze, (Parker x Trixie) earned her 1st Senior Hunter leg!!!  We attended the Delaware Valley German Wirehaired Pointer AKC Hunt Test weekend held at the beautiful Freeland Kennel Club in Weatherly, PA.  On Sunday, Jam had terrific scores of 9's in trainablility and bird finding.  Qualifying for a Senior Hunter leg is not easy and we had a particularly challenging run.  After making it through the back course with numerous coveys of Quail, once in the bird field, Jam had to stand thru FOUR chukkars being flushed - gunners missed 2, one self released and the other flew towards the club house so couldn't be shot.  We really worked for this leg and I am mighty proud of my girl.   Jam isn't even 2 1/2 years old and is considered young to be competing at this high a level of the hunt test program.

 We were lucky to have our friend, Tom Davis, who owns Trixie's littermate, Ellie, hang out with us at the test and generously took pictures of my girls....you know us, we always have our personal pup-a-razzi along.  I'll post all of those pictures with a full report of the runs later this week.

 Jam in the bird field, holding an intense point, while I go to flush the Chukkar.

 And not to be stood up by her sister, Savi, Grayhart's Shear Genius, (Clay x Trixie), qualified both days to earn two more Junior Hunter legs.  The conditions on the Junior course were also not ideal as there were too many birds, not a good thing for a young, green dog.  More on that later....Now, she only needs one more qualifying leg to finish her title.

 Savi on point during her Junior Hunter run on Sunday.

The Grayhart girls rocked it in the field this weekend!

And if all this wasn't enough excitement...in California, Bravo, Grayhart Crescent's Bravo, Savi's littermate won two more show points this weekend.  He now has a total of seven points towards his show championship and all from the puppy classes!

In South Carolina, Miabelle, Grayhart's Special Request, RA, spent time in the field at the Charleston Weimaraner Club's learn to hunt day, training on quail and working on her point. Also in South Carolina, Logan, Grayhart's Watch What Happens, is enjoying vacationing on the beach, swimming in the surf and riding along in the boat.

Junior Hunter leg #1 for Savi!

Savi, Grayhart's Shear Genius, at only 8 months old, qualified for her first Junior Hunter leg at today's Westminster Kennel Club Hunt Test in beautiful Millbrook, NY.  I was so proud of how well she ran and the judges were impressed, giving her scores of 9 in both hunting and trainability.  The judges were very nice and it was great seeing old friends.  The Westminster Kennel Club runs a very hospitable test and served a terrific lunch to everyone attending.  A terrific way to celebrate the qualifiers!

Junior Hunter leg for Monty!

Monty, Grayhart's Stone Free, handled by his breeder, earned his first Junior Hunter leg this past Saturday, at the Pointer Club of Central New Jersey's hunt test. The test was held at the beautiful grounds of the Freeland Kennel Club in Weatherly, PA.

Sunday's test, hosted by the Garden State Weimaraner club was chaired by me and secretaried by my husband with his able assistant, our daughter, was a success. We had gorgeous weather, a nice size entry and terrific food catered by club members. A good time was had by all and we hope to make this an annual event. It was a long, exhausting weekend and a lot of work and I'm still catching up...

Monty ran well again on Sunday but did not pass. He found three birds and only had a solid point on one of them and we ran out of time to find another bird for a point. The AKC rules state that Junior dogs must point 50% of the birds so the numbers were not in our favor.

and if you're wondering what happened to Jam on her debut in Senior, well she didn't qualify either day but made us proud with a good effort on Sunday. She was very close to passing and then broke two seconds before the shot. She performed well in all the other categories and the judges and spectators were all impressed with this young bitches ability in the field. We'll just keep training and try again next weekend.