Savi's Swiffer Ad

As seen in the October 2010 issue of Self magazine

Savi did her first modeling job at only four months of age for Swiffer and we are thrilled to see the final product in print.  A friend reported seeing the ad in Self magazine but we are sure that it will appear in many other publications nationwide.  What a fabulous start to her modeling career!

Tuesdays = Agility

Savi sticking her stay at the start line

 Tuesdays are one of our favorite days of the week as all three girls have agility class.  I do three classes in a row and it is an awesome workout for me and the dogs...no need to go to the gym after that work out!  Trixie is in a Competition/Excellent Level class, Jam in an Intermediate class and Savi is in Advanced Beginner.

We were able to get videos of Jam's and Savi's run and have them posted on their blogs or click their names to see them do their thing.

Savi over the first jump.  Only 12 inches high at this young age.

Jam jumps 24 inches

The Aframe is Savi's favorite thing

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!

AKC RDO Day: Match Shows and New CGC titles!

What a fun day at the AKC Responsible Dog Owner's Day with a morning Specialty Match Show by the Garden State Weimaraner Club and an All Breed AKC Sanctioned "B" Match by the Plainfield Kennel Club.  Savi won her class in the Specialty Match and in the afternoon, although wilting in the heat, she got a Puppy Sporting Group Two!  Monty and Mia competed for Best Adult Weim and Monty won that title twice today.  I am extremely proud of both Savi and Monty for passing their Canine Good Citizen tests and did it like competition obedience dogs.  I still can't believe that Savi is only 8 months old and had no problems with a 3 minute out of sight stay and did all the exercises perfectly...what a good girl! It was a wonderful day spent with friends and our pups.  Thanks to Kel for being our official photographer and helping with the dogs.

Mia, handled by my friend, Esther and Monty on the right with his breeder.  Mia, giving us the raspberry, not to thrilled to be in the ring.

Monty on the move

Savi getting some stacking practice outside the ring

Savi going around the ring

Savi in the Puppy Sporting Group and our friend, Esther with her Vizsla pup won!

Dora vying for Best Pup in Show

Savi getting ready for her AKC CGC test.  No food or pinch collars are allowed during the test and the dog must pass a 10 different exercises that test basic obedience commands, socialization and reactions to distractions.

Savi's Sunset Swim

 After a late afternoon hike on our favorite trails at Harriman State Park with all three girls, we took Savi for a quick swim to cool off at one of the lovely lakes. 

 Even though it's been a few weeks since she last swam, Savi didn't hesitate for a second and went right in to retrieve the bumper.

We won't divulge exactly where we go as we know that people who read the blog are inspired by our outings and try go to the cool places we go, but we don't want to spoil the uncrowded trails and lake areas which are our little secret...I guess imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!

AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day, September 25th

We are excited to be part of this fun event and will be showing pups in the match shows, helping at the Garden State Weimaraner Club table and the NAIA table. There will be RDO days around the country so check the AKC site to find the one closest to you.

Hope you can stop by and visit!

Responsible Dog Owner Day is Saturday- there will be great events near you

 http://www.examiner.com/pet-life-in-national/responsible-dog-owner-day-is-saturday-there-will-be-great-events-near-you

• September 19th, 2010 10:52 pm ET

Time to make  your plans for Responsible Dog Owner Day, which is Saturday, September 25. Wherever in the country you live, there is something planned in a city near you.

In northern New Jersey, Linda Deutch is the planner-in-charge of a wonderful day of events called CANINE DAY IN THE PARK, taking place at North Branch Park, 355 Milltown Rd., Bridgewater, N.J.
Some of the information from the flyer about the day:

DON’T MISS A DOG-GONE GOOD TIME!

AKC RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERSHIP DAY

***

Meet many of the Most Popular and Rare AKC Breeds

Find Out if Your Dog is a “Canine Good Citizen”

Demonstrations, Entertainment for Kids and

Educational Booths

WHO: Plainfield Kennel Club & the Central N.J. Hound Association join the AKC in sponsoring & celebrating AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day, educating owners about how to be a good pal to your pooch.
Additional supporting clubs: Borzoi Club of Greater New York,  Garden State Weimaraner Club, Garden State Great Pyrenees Club, Pekingese Club of New Jersey, Shih Tzu Club of Northern New Jersey,  Cocker Spaniel Club of New Jersey, Garden State Bearded Collie Clan & 13 more Breed Booths.
WHAT: Free:  • Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) testing – how well mannered is your dog? Take a 10-step test for AKC CGC certification sponsored by “Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dogs”
   • Learn about new medical advances & initiatives from the “Canine Health Foundation”
     • Visit the Somerset Co. “4-H Dog Clubs” booth for child focused activities, games, & literature.
     *  Visit the A.K.C. booth for information on Responsible Dog Ownership and more.
• Talk about your rights & responsibilities as a pet owner with the representative at the “National Animal Interest Alliance” boot
• “AKC Meet the Breeds”- Meet many popular and many rare AKC-registered breeds:
• PLUS -- Exciting and Informative FREE Demonstrations, Lectures, & Booths
Start the day at 10:00 with exhibition of breeds in the hound group and 6 additional breed exhibitions. Finish the day w/ the All Breed Competition kicking off at 1:00 P.M. In between visit the many “Meet the Breed Booths” and Public Service Booths.
Learn more about “Man’s Best Friend”.
Talk to knowledgeable people about the breeds, find out what is new in canine health research, and the current health care protocols.
Meet the NAIA  which  works tirelessly to protect your rights as a pet owner and the best interests of our animals.
Learn about animal assisted therapy. Certify your dog as a “Canine Good Citizen”. Learn about the health benefits of Pet Ownership

Specialty Breed  Matches /Exhibitions  -  10:00 A.M.

Featuring Breeds in the HOUND Group & Specialties for Cocker Spaniels, Weimaraners, Borzoi, Great Pyrenees, Pekingese, Shih Tzu
& Bearded Collies
INFORMATIONAL BOOTHS  ( 10:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.)** National Animal Interest Alliance **

** American Kennel Club on Responsible Dog Ownership **

** A.K.C. Canine Health Foundation **

** New Jersey Federation of Dog Clubs **

** Somerset Co. (MultiClub Booth) 4-H Dog Clubs **

** Bright & Beautiful Pet Therapy & CGC Testing**

(FMI on CGC testing & certification – www.AKC.org   or  husky04rescue@yahoo.com )

Paws & Effect: The Healing Power of Dogs: top-selling book by author Sharon Sakson

- “MEET THE BREED”  BOOTHS –

Weimaraners, Cocker Spaniels, Basset Hounds, Borzoi, Cirneco dell’Etna, Dachshunds, Irish Wolfhounds, P.B.G.V. , Salukis, Great Pyrenees, Neapolitan Mastiffs, Samoyed,  Yorkshire Terriers, Pekingese, Shih Tzu, Bergamasco, Cardigan Welsh Corgi, Shetland Sheepdogs, Australian Shepherds

All Breed Conformation Match  -  1:00 P.M.

   FMI :  908-996-4009  or  taadeutsch@yahoo.com  or  www.infodog.com

WHERE: North Branch Park, 355 Milltown Rd., Bridgewater, N.J.
WHEN:  Saturday September 25, 2010

MEDIA CONTACTS - Linda Deutsch Chairperson Plainfield K.C., & event co-coordinator 908-996-4009 taadeutsch@yahoo.com day of event 908-492-0078.

More information on the Responsible Dog Ownership Day Initiative: www.akc.org

There are similar events in every city -- look for one in yours.

Stylin' in those cool shades

 

Sunglasses by Betsy Johnson

Attitude by Trixie, the original Princess

Savi the savant

 Savi, turned on scent 20 feet from the bird and held point!

We've always known Savi was special and we're not just talking about her lovely conformation or sweet disposition. Between seeing her develop from birth (lucky me to be her breeder), the incredible performance during the temperament test at 8 weeks and now, at 8 months of age, she keeps impressing everyone with her boldness, birdiness, amazing focus and high level of trainability. Yesterday's field training session, which we are now calling Weimaraner Wednesdays, had our trainer Mike, not one to give false compliments, showing off Savi's hunting skills to those in the gallery.  He says he's never seen a Weim with such an amazing nose and holding steady at such a young age.  She then showed off her retrieving skills, bringing back a thrown chukkar to hand. A very exciting thing to watch and nice to see just days before we run her in her first hunt test.

The field is not her only area of talent.  She's already in an Advanced Beginner agility class and at our second class of the new session on Tuesday, just after we introduced Savi to all full size contact equipment, this puppy ran a 10 obstacle Novice course off lead and did it beautifully!  The instructor and I spotted her on the teeter and dogwalk and the weave poles were gated to form a chute.  Wish I had someone there to video Savi running her first full course.

 What has helped make this puppy so successful?  I attribute much of it to who she is, a confident pup with a great temperament (which is hereditary), and then starting her training while in the puppy pen with fun toys, games and lots of socialization.  She started obedience classes at 8 weeks and learning attention, impulse control and play skills, like tugging, gave her the foundation to do well in any venue.  It also helps to have an experienced owner/trainer, who has learned from past mistakes and prioritizing/setting goals for training the new pup.  In the field, she has had early and consistent exposure to birds.  For agility, attention, impulse control, making work seem like play and a solid stay, which I can't stress enough.  Obedience is just part of everyday activities and recalls and stays are reinforced constantly.

Wonderful Weimaraner Wednesday

It seems that Wednesdays have become Weimaraner Wednesdays at the preserve where we go for field training.  Yesterday did not disappoint as we had a crew of four Weims, three Grayhart dogs, (Jam, Monty & Savi), and Jim's girl, Breeze.  The weather was terrific and there was a slight breeze making for decent scenting conditions for the dogs.  Before we started training, we let all the dogs run together for some fun and exercise.  No matter how many times we let all the dogs run together, I can't get over what a beautiful sight to see them all in their glory racing across the fields.

Monty, who hasn't been at training for over a month, is training for Senior, learning how to back, had awesome points and we shot over him for the first time.  He held to not just the shot, but release, which is amazing for a green dog.  We sent him for the retrieve and out he ran....to go and....he pointed the bird!  We encouraged him to pick it up but he was a bit confused.  Here we've been telling him to hold point for every bird and now he's supposed to pick it up? .What a smart boy and now we will work on his retrieving skills.

Jam and Savi, yes, they are playing!

For Jam, we ran a mock hunt test with a Vizsla, and she did everything she was supposed to do.  This would have been a passing run in a real test.  Now, to get that type of performance on a consistent basis and we'll be good to go.

Savi was nothing less than savvy!  I'll report her progress in a separate post...

Logan our newest AKC Star Puppy!

A huge congratulations to Logan, Grayhart's Watch What Happens, (Clay x Trixie) and owner Tammy Fair, for earning their AKC STAR Puppy Certificate.  Not only is Logan the first one from his litter to do this, but completed the requirements back in July when he was only 5 months old!  He truly is a star!

Flying over the A-frame

Logan and Tammy have been training in obedience and agility and from these pictures taken last month when Logan was 7 months, both are now agility addicts and show great potential.  I can't wait to start meeting Tammy and Logan at agility trials with our Grayhart dogs!  And if they aren't doing enough, this versatile pup is also being trained for hunting.

Learning to weave

Tire time

Tunnel and exiting with attention!

Dogwalk

"I wanna be on TV!"

Beach'in with Bravo

Bravo, Grayhart Crescent's Bravo, having a blast at the beach...with we could join in the fun!

Run baby run!

This 8 month old pup sure knows how to have fun.

Digging to China!

How To Choose A Weimaraner Breeder

Now that summer is over and school is back in session, I've been receiving a number of inquiries for puppies.  Although we do not have any litters planned until the end of 2011 or early 2012, I still feel it is important to help prospective owners find the right puppy for them from the right breeder.  First, people need to be honest as to whether a Weimaraner is the right breed for them, as from experience, this is not a breed that the average pet owner can handle as they are high maintenance, requiring mental stimulation, proper exercise, socialization and quality training; a commitment to do all of these things for 10-12 years. Second, finding the right breeder is as important as finding the right puppy.  This is someone you will have a relationship with for the life of the dog and they will be there to give you support and answer any and all questions.


The following article from the WCA website is excellent and should be read by prospective puppy buyers.

How To Choose A Weimaraner Breeder 

From the Weimaraner Club of America website


How do you, as a prospective Weimaraner owner, go about finding a Responsible Breeder? The best answer is, ask a lot of questions, do your homework and take your time! Don’t buy on impulse. Becoming an informed shopper increases the likelihood of a successful dog/owner relationship.
Responsible Breeders want what is best for the Weimaraner breed and they associate themselves with organizations that seek to promote, protect and improve the Weimaraner, such as the Weimaraner Club of America and other local Weimaraner Clubs. Many reputable breeders are also associated with All-Breed Kennel Clubs in their area.

When you decide the time is right for a puppy, spend at least as much time looking for one as you would when shopping for a new car. A puppy is a long-term commitment; hopefully he’ll be with you for ten or twelve years or more. The effort you put into finding a quality breeder will reward you many times over. You will have continued access to a knowledgeable resource - your breeder. You will not get this type of support from a pet store or from a casual breeder.

You will need to decide for yourself whether or not a particular breeder is right for you. Finding a breeder you can trust is very important. When you buy a puppy, you are making a commitment for the life of the dog. While no breeder can guarantee that you will be getting the "perfect" puppy, you should feel that the puppy you have chosen was bred to be what you are looking for in a Weimaraner. You may have to wait. Responsible breeders do not always have puppies available. A couple of litters per year is typical, and many good breeders only have a litter every few years.

Responsible breeders answer buyers’ questions, keep puppies they cannot place, allow bitches to recover sufficiently from one breeding before doing another, and take back any puppy that does not work out. They breed dogs because they admire their breed and want to contribute to its betterment. They guarantee their pups free of genetic diseases common in their breed and in a written contract of sale will guarantee they will assist the new owner in the future should something unexpected occur. They consider the puppies they produce to be their responsibility for the life of that puppy, so they follow-up frequently to see what’s going on.

The Responsible breeder will require a signed contract. This contract is for the benefit of the buyer, the seller and the puppy! Contracts are encouraged by the WCA Code of Ethics, because they define the terms of the sale. It should clearly state the expectations of each party so that there are no undisclosed assumptions by either the buyer or the seller. Responsible breeders evaluate their puppies as show and breeding quality or pet quality and sell pet puppies with an AKC Limited Registration and/or spay-neuter clause.
Expect caring breeders to be nosy! They will ask many questions about your lifestyle, your other pets and your intentions with the new pup. They personally screen and select homes, will mentor and advise new owners, will sell only to approved homes especially when they guarantee to take the dog back if it does not work out.

Questions To Ask As You Look For A Breeder:
1. Ask what clubs and or organizations they belong to? Are they members of the Weimaraner Club of America? Do they abide by the Code of Ethics? Are they members of a local Weimaraner Club? An All-Breed Club? A responsible breeder will be involved in show and performance events to help ensure that their dogs display the desired physical and behavioral traits desired for the breed.
2. Ask to see Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) Health Certifications or Penn Hip evaluations. The WCA recommends OFA certification for hips, thyroid and eyes to be CHIC (Canine Health Information Center) certified.
3. Do both the sire and dam have the recommended health clearances of the WCA? The more relatives in the pedigree that have the recommended clearances the better. A responsible breeder will keep track of these statistics and honestly discuss any problems that have occurred and what steps they are doing to prevent them from occurring.
4. What guarantees do you give on hips or other health problems that may arise? What is your policy on money refunded or help with medical bills? Will you take the dog back at any time for any reason? This is the hallmark of responsible breeding!
5. What kind of congenital defects are present in the breed? Avoid anyone who says “none” - there are genetic problems that are present in all breeds.
6. Ask if the puppies have been checked by a veterinarian? Had their first shots? (Please see the WCA recommendation on vaccinations). Are the tails docked and dewclaws removed? Important records should be in writing.
7. Check pedigrees. How many champions and/or titled dogs are represented? Are there a majority of titled dogs in the first two generations? The term “champion lines” means nothing if those titles are back more than three generations or if there are only a few in the whole pedigree.
8. Ask how long they have been in the breed? Are they involved in other breeds as well? How many litters have you had? You probably want to avoid anyone who has switched breeds every couple of years – look for someone that has experience with the breed and only breeds one or two different breeds.
If they are new in the breed, do they have a mentor?
The more experience the better.
9. Ask to see the Dam. It is important to at least see the mother dog. It would be ideal to see both parents but many times the sire doesn’t live nearby. Check out the general health and temperament of the female dog.
10. What are your overall feelings about the environment where the pups are raised? The puppies should be well cared for. They should have a clean and comfortable area. They should be properly socialized with people. Look at the condition of the other dogs on the premises. Trust your instincts!
11. Is the breeder knowledgeable about raising puppies, critical neonatal periods, proper socialization techniques? Puppies that are raised without high exposure to gentle handling, human contact and a wide variety of noises and experiences or are removed from their dam or littermates before seven weeks of age may exhibit a wide variety of behavioral problems. Temperament, a genetic trait carried over from the parents still needs development from the early beginnings of a puppy’s life. The breeder should provide extensive socialization and human interaction to the puppies in the litter.
12. Have the puppies’ temperaments been evaluated and can the breeder guide you to the puppy that will best suit your lifestyle? A caring breeder will know the puppies and be able to show you how to test them so that good matches can be made.
13. Ask for a copy of the contract before you see the puppy so you can thoroughly review it. Do you understand the terms of the contract? Can you comply with all the terms? Does the breeder require a co-ownership? If so, then thoroughly review all that is expected of both the buyer and the seller. What environmental requirements are placed on you, such as mandating a fenced yard?

Take the time to read everything you can find about Weimaraners. Speak with other Weimaraner owners and learn as much as you can about the breed. Visit the Weimaraner Club of America website www.weimclubamerica.org Consumer education is the most important tool available.

A Word on Blue and Long Hair Weimaraners – Although the Long Hair Weimaraner is accepted in every country besides the USA, the long hair variety of coat will be disqualified from the show ring. It may, however, compete in all other American Kennel Club and WCA activities with a DQ (spay/neuter) Certificate from the WCA National Office. Since a DNA test is available to determine if your dog is a Long Hair carrier, breeders can choose to test prior to breeding.

There are no countries that recognize the Blue Weimaraner variety. Blue Weimaraners are not rare. They are deliberately produced. The purebred heritage of the Blue is a matter of dispute. They will be disqualified from the show ring. Like the Long Hair they can be registered with the American Kennel Club and can compete in WCA activities with a DQ (spay/neuter) Certificate from the WCA National Office.

Weimaraner Club of America Breeder Referral, Billie Thompson, wcareferral@fuse.net
Written by the Weimaraner Club of America Breeders’ Education Committee – 8/2010

Bliss at 8 months

Bliss, Grayhart's Launch My Line, (Clay x Trixie), our Alaskan pup with owner Mike.

Growing up to be quite a beauty!

Elle Magazine Shoot for Jam!

Jam's calendar was open when we received a last minute call to go into New York City for a fashion shoot for Elle Magazine.  The shoot focused on accessories and the models had the most fabulous shoes, jewelry and handbags.  Jam was no slouch in the gorgeous Bottega Veneta collar and leash set that the stylist had her wear.  We took a quick shot of Jam with her model friend, Amy, between wardrobe changes.  Too bad that the lighting made Jam's eyes look zombie-like.  The spread may be in the December 2010 issue and we can't wait to see the final product.

Jam has graced the pages of Vogue and Vanity Fair as well as modeled for Ralph Lauren so this high fashion shoot was right up her alley...who knows what's next, maybe Harpers Bazaar or Gucci?

Wonderful Wednesday

Jam, Mason & Savi

What could be better than spending a beautiful September day out in the field?  Jam, Mason and Savi all did really well and we had a great time training.

Savi is doing so well that we've entered her in her first hunt test!

 

Mason, pictured above and below, on his second time out, really impressed us with his intensity and drive.  He was hunting the fields and used his nose to find the scent.  I wish that he could spend more time with us as it is exciting to see him develop in the field, plus he is such a love to have in our house and fun to train.

Another grey dog?  Well, the girl on the left is Breeze, bred by a breeder friend in Ohio and her owner in NJ is training her with Jam for Senior Hunter.  Breeze is learning how to back and the ins and outs of Senior Hunter.  She had a blast playing with Savi and Mason and running in a mock hunt test with Jam.

Jam below, at a full run, loving be out at the preserve.

Jam on point and then retrieving.  She's coming along but not quite steady enough to enter the Senior test.

Family portrait: Mason, Jam, Trixie and Savi, all showing off their sit stays...what good dogs!

Pacific time...

Bravo, Grayhart Crescent's Bravo, enjoying a beach run this weekend  on the California coast.