Happy Holidays from Bravo!

Happy Holidays 2010 from Bravo, Jay and Ron!

They also get the award for the being the first ones to get their holiday picture posted!

Death of the monkeyman

An innocent nooking session took a turn for the worse...

 Death grip on the neck...

 Locate squeaky

 Trixie is in a trance-like state...

 Notice the hole in the chest, the beginning of the de-stuffing procedure...the rest of the scene was too gruesome to show...

No remorse...annoyed that her eviscerated toy was taken away...

New Champion Jam!

We are pleased to announce our newest champion.....Jam is now...drum roll please...

CH Grayhart's Purple Haze, JH,NSD,CGC!!!

Jam won her second  3-point major today at the Northeastern Maryland Kennel Club show, handled by Daddy Parker's owner/breeder, Steve Lane, which was all she needed to finish her AKC show championship.  It was a wonderful team effort to earn Jam's championship, me as breeder/owner, able to put seven singles on her and Steve with two singles and those very important two majors.  We are very grateful to Steve and Bonnie Lane of Hibourne, for their handling, mentorship and friendship.

Also at the show, Parker, CH Hibourne's It's All About Me, went Best of Opposite and completed his Grand Championship title.

Jam is the 2nd out of our Parker x Trixie litter to earn a championship, is Trixie's 2nd  and Parker's 3rd champion get.

Win photo to be posted some time in the future.

Flashback Friday - Black Friday 2009

 Trixie for Banana Republic, Black Friday 2009

Oldie but Goody - the Pyramid toy

 Jam, formally the purple girl, now with the Pyramid toy and below, at 23 days old...still a favorite!

 Savi sneaks in hoping to steal the toy away from Jam...

 A game of tug-of-war ensues...

 The winner, Savi, cherishes her victory.

Savi, showing off her prize and hoping to play a game of keep-away.

 Jam isn't interested and has moved on to a new toy.

Success in Mahwah New Jersey!

Great news - the Mahwah Town Council did the right thing, admitted they had made a mistake and voted unanimously to reject the proposed amended ordinance.

 11/22/2010 - ORDINANCE #1679 UNANIMOUSLY DISMISSED BY COUNCIL!!   

A huge thanks to you all!  

Here is the report from yesterday's Mahwah Town Council meeting where we were in attendance to speak out and oppose the ordinance to ban dogs from all town parks and recreational facilities:

This afternoon before we arrived for the meeting, we learned that council had already amended the ordinance. They have a new synthetic field they wanted to protect, so focused only on that property. But most people in the audience weren't aware until they arrived that the amendment had been offered. Packed house
with lots of speakers. Mahwah doesn't have a limit law, so there are some serious "dog people" there.

The amended version was rejected in a unanimous vote, with the intent to go back to the drawing board. We're not sure if it will go back to the ordinance committee or if there will first be an advisory board set up to
thrash out the details before it goes to the ordinance committee. There were lots of educated dog owners that stepped up and offered their help.

Kudos to everyone who showed up at the Mahwah Town Council meeting.  My husband counted over 100 people in attendance who opposed this ordinance to ban dogs from the town parks.  Approximately 20 people spoke, a mix of town residents, many of whom are dog trainers, breeders, involved with AKC, service & therapy dog programs and representatives from NAIA, NJ Federation of Dog Clubs and Legislative Liaisons from a number of breed clubs (including me).  The council had never seen such attendance for any issue and were overwhelmed by the numbers as well as the thoughtful comments made, suggestions and offers for help in devising future dog programs in town.

It was a town resident, who happened to see this in the local town paper, who posted a need for help on the NJ Agility list that alerted us to this, otherwise, it may have passed unnoticed.  A legislative group from across the state was formed, a website was created, flyers passed out, news in the local papers, etc,  The AKC responded with a letter to the council, that seemed to make an impact and offered concrete suggestions and a willingness to help. NAIA offered to donate poop bag dispensers for the town parks as well as share their model for a pet friendly community.

The dog community came together and the town council listened!

Just an aside, although this blog is dedicated to postings on my dogs, and I tend to keep my Legislative posts separate on a different forum, it is imperative that every animal owner be aware of the local ordinances as well as read their local town paper where by law, public announcements of changes/introductions of new ordinances must be posted.  Animal owners must come together and support each other to protect our rights to own and use animals whether it be for companionship, food, hunting, or life saving medical research.

Sunday Fave

This a favorite photo of Trixie that I took a few years back on Cape Cod with my cellphone and is the wallpaper on my phone...a beautiful place with my beautiful girl...

New Jersey Alert: Stop Mahwah #1679

Stop Mahwah #1679

Mahwah NJ Ordinance #1679

LIKE DOGS? BE THERE MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22!
8 p.m. at the Municipal Bldg., 475 Corporate Drive, Mahwah.

• Dogs and recreation areas are NOT incompatible, although Mahwah Township Council has introduced an ordinance that would have you believe they are.
• Ordinance #1679 would prohibit dogs (leashed or unleashed) from all parks, recreational areas, and school property, including parking lots, whether school is in session or not.
• Ordinance #1679 will be voted on at the Monday, Nov. 22 Township Council Meeting.

Among the pleasures of life in the suburbs are its open spaces and the freedom to walk around and enjoy these spaces. We pay for these pleasures with our tax dollars. When we were asked to support new parks containing “passive recreation areas” did you imagine you would be prohibited from walking your dog on a leash in those areas?

COME TO THE MEETING TO DEMONSTRATE YOUR CONCERN
and SIGN THE PETITION!

 

What can you do?

- READ the letter from the American Kennel Club to Mahwah's Mayor Richard J. Martel and the Mahwah Township Council.
- Sign the Petition!
- Attend the township council meeting at 8PM on Monday, 11/22/2010. 475 Corporate Drive, Mahwah, NJ, and make your voice heard!
Map and driving directions
- Spread the word - share this page!

Share

It is critical that animal owners/lovers join together to help protect our rights.  many towns in Bergen County already restrict dogs from using local parks that your tax dollars fund so it is important to help save the places where you and your dogs can enjoy the outdoors.  Your community could be next.

Monty, starring at a Target near you!

Monty, Grayhart's Stone Free, JH, (Parker x Trixie) is rocking displays at Target stores across the nation in their newest shoe department point of sale posters.  Monty is following in the Grayhart legacy of modeling and not the first of our dogs to appear in ads for Target.  He does it with style and we love the tag line..."Gotta have it!"

Encore Performance

 Jessica and Miabelle, Grayhart"s Special Request, RA, (Zeke x Trixie) had a repeat performance of yesterday's awesome obedience run.  They qualified for a 2nd CD leg with a 1st place and score of 193.5! Congratulations on a successful debut in the obedience ring!

Miabelle and Jessica at Sam's Knob

After the obedience trial, they met up with Debbie and Sky, Grayhart Lightfoot Early Morning Rain,JH,TD,RN, (Parker x Trixie) for an afternoon hike in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina.

My Grayhart Southern Belles, Miabelle and Sky

Super Saturday with a Major Win plus more news!

Jessica and Miabelle

What a gray-t way to start a Super Saturday with exciting news on pups from each of Trixie's litters and all over the country.  The first call came from Jessica at an obedience trial in Asheville, NC.  Jessica and Miabelle, Grayhart's Special Request, RA, (Zeke x Trixie) ventured into the obedience ring for the first time and well, you guessed it from the picture - 1st place in the Novice A class!  They had a terrific score of 193 and lots of cheers from the crowd for their first CD leg.  Well done Jess and Mia!  They will be back in the obedience ring tomorrow for another run and hopefully their 2nd leg.

 Mid-afternoon the phone rang and it was our good friend Bonnie Lane, of Hibourne Weimaraners, calling from the Washington DC Weimaraner Club's Supported Entry at the Salisbury, MD show.  Jam won the major!  Friends at the show reported that Steve Lane did a fantastic job and Jam, Grayhart's Purple Haze, JH,NSD,CGC, showed beautifully.  She then went on to win Best of Winners for the 3-pt major.  Jam now only needs one more major to finish her AKC show championship.  Jam's sire Parker, CH Hibourne's It's All About Me, was awarded Judges Select. Congratulations and huge thanks to Steve and Bonnie for all their support and handling of Jam!

Jam & Steve at the October GSWC Specialty

I was just waiting for one more call from the West Coast.  Bravo, Grayhart's Crescent Bravo, (Clay x Trixie), won the points at his show in Napa Valley!  Unfortunately, the major broke so he only received two points for the win.  Amazing that this 10 month old boy already has 9 show points and is singled out.  He just needs his two major wins to finish his championship.  Congrats to Jay and Ron, and handler, Keith Pautz!

Bravo and Keith warming up at a show in October

We are very proud of our pups and grateful for having such wonderful owners and all they do. 

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.

More weekend news: Bliss

Stacked and waiting for the judge - a beautful pup!

 While we were busy in the field, Bliss, Grayhart's Launch My Line, (Clay x Trixie) strutted her stuff in the show ring at the Cook Inlet Show in Alaska with owner Jen Boyd. Too bad she was the only Weimaraner entered, therefore, no points, but it was a great experience and Jen was thrilled with how well Bliss showed and received compliments from the group judge.

Bliss free stacking in the Group ring

Baby it's cold outside!

Maybe it's not officially winter but it sure feels like it.  Mr. Mason is prepared, looking handsome in his new ChillyDogs coat.  

We love ChillyDogs and owner, Julie, couldn't be nicer.  Our dogs have worn them for many years and I call them the Northface of dog coats.

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!

Halloween's Special Reserve

 A custom vintage made just for Howl-a-ween, Trudy in Grapes...aka Grayhart's Special Reserve

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.