GSWC Independent Specialty Show

Savi and me, getting ready to gait around the ring.

Sunday was the annual Garden State Weimaraner Club Independent Specialty Show at North Branch Park.  A month and a half ago, thanks to Hurricane Irene, this park was under water.  Well, time to dry out and we had a gorgeous lawn to show our dogs on and it was a sparkling, hot fall day.  The club put on our usual outstanding show and everyone had a great time showing dogs, eating the delicious hot and cold buffet supplied by club members and winning raffle prizes.  This was not our regular show, as the club hosted the Weimaraner Club of America Eastern Futurity and Maturity the day before and this drew dogs and handlers from all over the country as well as Canada and Weim friends from Australia. As trophy chair, I was in charge of buying and organizing all the trophies and sponsors for them and was pleased with how they looked set up outside the ring and the winners seemed to enjoy them.

 Savi, Grayhart's Shear Genius,JH,CGC, (Clay x Trixie) showed well in a large BBE (Bred-By-Exhibitor) class and the judge awarded us 3rd place.

 Savi on the last go around.  Trudy, on owner Rich's lap, waited patiently for her turn and of course, the princess wore a pink cool coat to stay comfortable on this hot day.

Trudy, Grayhart's Special Reserve, (Zeke x Trixie) was handled beautifully in the Open bitch class by Pat O'Brien, owner/breeder of her daddy Zeke.

 Above and below, Trudy strutting her stuff - lovely reach and drive.

 Trudy won the large Open bitch class!  We were on the edge of our seats when she went in for the Winner's Class.  All the class winner's go in and the judge picks the Winner's Bitch and that is who gets the points.

 Trudy looked great and the judge had her in first place for the first two go arounds.

 At the last go around, when I was hoping the judge would pick Trudy, he moved another bitch in front of her and that is who he awarded Winner's bitch.  Oh well, so close as this win would have finished her.  Her littermate Mason, won the dog major at our show last year and it would have been beyond exciting for Trudy to get the Specialty win.  On to the next set of shows in search of those last three points.

Trudy and Pat

 Jam was along for the ride and was happy to meet new friends and prospective puppy people.  Our supermodel was thirsty and made no qualms about telling me that she wanted to drink out of a water bottle.

 Mason, CH Grayhart's Daily Special, (Zeke x Trixie) was bumped up to Best of Breed.  Pat handled him and we were happy that our newest champion made the first cut, not too shabby at a big specialty. Just one year ago, Mason won the 4-pt major and Best of Winners at this show.

 A fun and noteworthy event put on by the club on Saturday, was the Rescue Parade.  The rescue dogs and their owners had a chance to parade around the show rings while a short bio was read.  They even received rosettes and prizes.

 Our good friend, Kellyann and her 9-year old rescue, June, tracked around the show ring.

The Rescue Parade participants

 A lovely, handmade rosette for the rescue dogs made by Kellyann.

Bumming in Bridgehampton

Well not exactly bumming.  Jam was called at the last minute for a modeling job in Bridgehampton, part of the famous New York Hamptons, home of the rich and famous.  The day was glorious and after a 2 1/2 hour drive, we arrived at a fabulous beach house for the location of the shoot.  Jam posed on the beach, in the house and even in front of a Maserati, for this clients upscale product line.  I'm not sure when the ad campaign will be out but I will sure look for it and post when available.

 The house had incredible views out every window and the 2nd floor deck area had this amazing infinity pool with ocean views.  The man from the management company for the house told me that this special house has been used on episodes of Royal Pains, a USA Network show and many other commercials and movies.  Jam's career takes us to the coolest places!

Bravo's Beach and Pumpkin Field Visit

Enjoy these fabulous pics from Bravo's Blog, our California beach boy.

Let's have some fun today!

Bravo, GCH Grayhart Crescent's Bravo, is owned by Jay Logan and Ron Goularte.

DUMBO Dogs

 The view of Manhattan from the lovely Brooklyn Bridge Park in the DUMBO section of Brooklyn.  DUMBO is the acronym for Down Under the Manhatten Bridge Overpass, a neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY, which has undergone gentrification and become one of New York's premier arts districts.  We were there last week for a photoshoot/commercial for Jam and had to bring Savi and Mason along on the second day, straight from a dog show on Long Island, where Mason, now Champion Grayhart's Daily Special, finished his show championship.

Savi, Mason and Jam, relaxing in the park.

 Beautiful views

 Although these dogs all live in the suburbs, they had no problem acclimating to the city.

Weimaraner Wednesday

 Fall is definitely here and we had a perfect day for field training - cool, crisp and sunny!  I forgot my camera but snapped off a few shots of the dogs running in the field before we began training.  No, I didn't get a German Shorthair Pointer.  This energetic girl belongs to my friend and training partner Jeff and I took her for some obedience and socialization training with Jam, Savi and Trixie.

 Becky, the GSP, is a friendly 9 month old pup but needs to learn some manners with other dogs.  Jam took on the role of teacher and gave Becky a number of appropriate corrections until Becky learned how to behave.  All dogs need to learn dog language and if they don't it can be dangerous.  Becky runs in hunt tests and needs to know when another dog doesn't want to play or not to get in their face.

 Once Becky was comfortable with my grey girls, she had a blast running and playing with them in this huge field.  It also helped get burn some of her endless supply of energy off.

 Training was very satisfying.  Jam ran with Becky's housemate, Beau, who received his 1st Senior Hunter leg last weekend.  The two ran well together and we were able to steady them and shoot for retrieves.  Jam broke before the shot and I was able to correct her before she grabbed the bird.  I then made her stand and then released her for the retrieve, which she did well with.  Unless a dog makes a mistake in training, it is difficult to fix problems encountered during the actual test.

 Even though Becky is a green dog and working on her Junior Hunter, she is extremely birdy and the perfect running mate for Savi.  Savi had a gorgeous point, sorry no photo, and we shot over her for the first time.  I did attach a check cord before we flushed and released the Chukkar in case she broke.  Well, so proud of my girl who stood through the shot and waited until I released her for the retrieve.  She had to search for the bird as she didn't mark the fall but when she found it, had an impressive retrieve to hand.  We are also training her to honor and she's starting to understand that not every bird is hers.  I'm very excited at the progress she is making and hope to have her ready to run in Senior Hunter in the Spring.

Trudy's Winning Weekend

Unofficial win photo, taken while we were setting her up for the real thing.

 Our Long Island princess did us proud at this past weekend's shows on her home turf.  Trudy, Grayhart's Special Reserve, (Zeke x Trixie) began the weekend with a bang on Friday going Winner's Bitch, Best of Winners and Best of Opposite for two points, alongside her littermate, Mason, now CH Grayhart's Daily Special, who was Winner's Dog and finished his bench championship.

On Sunday, Savi, Grayhart's Shear Genius, JH, won the Bred-by-Exhibitor class, and then I quickly switched dogs and showed Trudy to win the Open class.  In Winners, Trudy strutted her stuff and won her 2nd 3-point major going Winner's Bitch and Best of Opposite.  She now only needs three single points to finish her AKC show championship.

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.