9 year old Megan sisters still doing well!

Following my calendar communication with the darwyn pet owners, I heard back from 2 couples that have 9 year old litter sisters (2 separate couples) - both of these girls are called Megan!

The dam of these girls was born in my first litter and she (Tessa) was my first home-bred champion.

The Megan sisters live in Victoria, go to almost every Victoria and Nanaimo area welshie walk, and are well known in their communities.  Their owners have become very good friends and the dogs now are affectionally referred to as "the sisters".  I actually have always gotten a number of updates from these folks throughout the year, along with a few other people that have my dogs in that area,  that have all become good friends with each other.  And me too.  :)
This photo of "the sisters" was taken last month at a get-together of 6 couples that have dogs from me.
When I think of the Megan sisters, and the others that are part of this close knit group (Lily, Haley, Becky, Mandi), and the families that love them, it makes me realise that as a breeder, we can do so much more than simply breed beautiful, healthy, well socialized dogs ... here is proof that we can also help bring other people together, in some cases, where strong and lasting friendshps are built and made.  All it takes is to do the introductions of people that have similar interests and close proximity.  The friendships that I have made, and have helped to create, mean a lot to me.

Thank you to everyone for your kindness, support and love of the dogs that I have placed in your care.

TJ is a star!

TJ at the groomers (click here)

After doing my 2013 custom Darwyn Calendar, I sent out an email to every Darwyn pet owner, since my first litter was born in early 2001 - about 100!  A tedious exercise as I did individual emails, but very worthwhile.  In response, I have received some truly wonderful stories and updates from these awesome pet owners.  I will try to post a few of them here.
To start, this boy TJ (a Parker & Paisa son) lives in Burnaby and has just finished an advanced obedience class.  His claim to fame is that he is featured on the front page of his groomers website! (click here)

The photo to the right is when he first went to his new home.  The groomer is right - TJ is a beautiful welshie!  And, by the sounds of it, a smart one too in a great home.

Dylan goes to the National Agility Championship Trials!

Dylan
U-CDX Darwyn Hotspur CDX, RX, AgX, AgXJ, MADC,MJDC, AGDC, ISDs, RL3, CRN, MCL, JE, CGN
Photo by Emma Kesler

Peggy and 9 year old Dylan were invited (and attended) the 2012 Canadian National Agility Trials and came in 15th! 
Just to be invited is pretty darn awesome.  To get qualifying scores is even better (especially on a super hot weekend).  And, to finish in the top 20  -- WOW! 
A lot of hard work went into this team getting there. 

To be Dylan's breeder is very humbling when I see them working together.  They have top scores in many types of events whether it is in Rally-O, Obedience, Earthdog, or Agility.  If she had any interest in conformation there is no doubt in my mind he would have easily been a conformation champion as well.  I bow to Peggy's determination, efforts and successes.  The fact that Dylan is the most titled Welsh Terrier in Canadian history leaves me speechless.

Emma Kesler, a local welshie owner, friend, and very talented artist, photographer and writer, attended this event.  She took this photo and wrote a wonderful blog post.

Click here to go to Emma's blog post.

Click here to go to Peggy and Dylan's web page on my Darwyn Website.

I am not sure what is next for this team, perhaps it is more earthdog, or to finish the Utility Level obedience that they have already started, or further Rally-O trials, or more agility (or all of the above!).  I do know that they bring joy to each others lives, and as his breeder, this is my ultimate reward.

Here is a photo that I took of Dylan performing at a Masters Level Agility trial during 2010 - he was so happy doing this!

Gracie plays with 3 mth old puppy!

video link here!

Michael and I decided to spend an afternoon with Gracie (Ch. Darwyn's Say Goodnight Gracie) and her owner Sheryl (who of course is loved by many for her radio show - North by Northwest!).  I love the trails alongside the Coquitlam River!  Of course we had to bring someone along so we decided to bring one of our 3 month old (Dora and Joe) puppies.  We weren't exactly sure how 2 year old Gracie would behave (her first time playing with a young puppy) -- nor the puppy as this was his first playtime with an adult welsh that wasn't his dam!
As you can see in this video (click here) - fun was had by all!

If YouTube doesn't let you watch the video because of the music, click here for the boring version without.

I can't wait until we eventually breed Gracie!  She will make an awesome mom !!!

Enjoy the playtime video!

Victoria Area Welshie Walk photos (May 8, 2011)

On May 8, 2011, a number of Welsh Terrier owners (including some that I bred) gathered.  One of these owners came out from Alberta and took over 100 photos to remember the day by.  If you click here, then go to Travel and then click on Victoria Welshie Walk, you can see them.

Click here if you want to participate in future events.  Wendy (contact on that page), can add you to the contact list.

A great day for a get-together!

On Sunday, a few Darwyn Welsh Terrier owners got together for a walk and a nice meal.  I had hoped to join this Vancouver Island get-together, but with 6.5 week old puppies, and construction starting first thing Monday morning, I had to pass.
I didn't organize this, but was so happy that one of the participants did - it was an awesome day by all accounts!  There was a 12 year old dog of mine there (Becky went to her retirement home 6 years ago), Parker's dam who went to her retirement home when she was 5, a year and a half ago, Tessa who was from my very first litter (and went to her retirement home 6 years ago), an 8 year old girl that went to her new home when she was 6 months old (one of those welsh that I 'grew up' to be a possible show dog, but then decided to place in a great pet home), a 10 month old girl that went to her new home a couple of months ago, and a puppy dog that was born last September!  There was also one that had attended that got a rescue Welsh Terrier from someone else (that I helped to place for the US breeder), since I didn't have any older ones to place at this time .... and he was welcomed into the group just as if his boy came from me!
What an awesome day -- and experience!  Thank you Kate for organizing this day!
As a breeder, we clearly have an ability to help bring joy into peoples lives by providing happy, healthy, well-adjusted and confident dogs (and clearly, older, retired dogs of mine adjust easily and have become wonderful additions to families).  But, we can also provide the framework for new friendships, some that become close and long lasting. However, we need a way for introducing people that have one of our dogs, to others that have one.  This has worked well for me over the years and there are some close friendships that have developed -including with me!  These puppies that we produce are more than just puppies, but a way to also develop friendships. 
I'm glad that I have been able to help.  This also happens with show dogs (albeit there is that competitive aspect that sometimes gets in the way!) ;-)  Hey - they are all wonderful dogs - and great parts of our lives.  Enjoy your time with them!

The boys are in synch - both got Group 2nds today - woo hoo!

Both Joe and Parker got Group 3s yesterday (Joe in California with Wood Wornall - above, and Parker in Nanaimo with Aaron Andriash) ... today both got GROUP 2nds!  And, I heard that Joe looked FABULOUS - and I know he does ... just look at the photo above from yesterday ... it says it all!

Being so busy at home, I wasn't able to make it over to the Nanaimo shows - but I got some great personal messages about just how beautiful Parker looked!  Aaron also told me that while they were eating dinner last night, they happended to see a Welsh Terrier walking to a wharf and then got into a kayak with her owner and started kayaking away ... it turns out that this was BECKY - a girl I retired and placed just over 5 years ago (now 11). 
What a small world :-)

OH - I also spent some time talking with Jerry in OK about Charlies puppies (sired by Parker) ... a couple of them are being tube fed (Jerry now knows how and has the confidence to do it) and all are doing well ... gaining healthy, Charlie is doing well, and by the sounds of it, a little bit of sleep is finally happening in their household!  They survived some tremendous flooding (10 inches of rain over night) and now are dealing with very high heat (110F day / 78F night) .... and with all of that recent water - HIGH humidity!  Thank goodness their A/C got fixed!  Big hugs and kisses to the puppies!

Happy upcoming 11th birthday Sonney!

I received a wonderful message about Sonney tonight!  He was my 2nd Welsh Terrier.  I imported him from Wales in 2000, from the well known Felstead Kennels.  He sure was a sweetheart!  A few years later the perfect person came along - Irene had just given her family welshie to a close family member and really wanted one to replace him - Sonney fit her needs perfectly!  It sounds like they are both doing very well ... here is her message:

"He is the best and most affectionate dog in the world. My biggest problem with him is everyone is trying to kidnap him because he is so adorable. He helped raise a kitten and treated it like his baby -- that was so cute! He was really upset when we gave the kitten to my nephew (I was just caring for it for awhile). And, Sonney really gets along really well with with Sparkey, another Welsh Terrier I had adopted from Barb of Snowtaire kennels. I'll send more pictures soon!"

Doesn't that just want to make you smile?  Happy 11th birthday Sonney, and take good care of Irene!

Let's not make it 6+ years until we meet again ... ok?

Parker (Am. Ch. Darwyn's Webslinger) came home -- woo hoo! ... but, tonight's blog isn't about that ... I'll do one about that (and the dog show) a bit later, ok?  Tonight I wanted to just say how wonderful it was to see Peggy and Dylan again!

Parker came home late last Tuesday night, and since he was in *perfect coat condition* (thank you Wood & Jenny Wornall and Andrew Peel!) and there was a dog show in Red Deer, Alberta a few days later, I decided to drive there and show him for the 2nd time in his life in Canada (1st time he was just barely 6 months old).  I took both Parker and a 6 month old puppy (Monty) with me.  Six and a half years ago I placed a puppy with an Airedale owner who had recently parted with her previous Welsh Terrier.  This boy - Dylan (U-CDX Darwyn Hotspur CDX, RX, AgX, AgXJ, MADC, RL3) has gone on to do some pretty amazing things.  He is at the top levels in Agility, has done very well in Obedience and recently started (and done well in) Rally-O ... it sounds like he is going to be doing some Earthdog trials too!  I haven't seen him since he was a young puppy, but I have to say that by his (conformation) looks, I could have EASILY finished his Canadian and American Championship -- he has a beautiful structure (front and rear), perfect size at 15" tall at the shoulder, beautiful welshie expression, and definetely "welsh terrier" by looking at him -- not overdone and certainly not slight ... a really beautiful boy, who also has the attitude that he "owns" everywhere that he walks into!  I must admit, I was *very* happy to see how he was looking!  So, while he is neutered and not in my 'breeding program', he is certainly representing the breed well when he goes out to the dog shows to do his obedience - Rally-O - Agility, and whatever this team decides to do!

Peggy and I went for a walk with Monty and Dylan ... and then Parker and Dylan ... and then Monty and Reggie (her Airedale) and later had Parker and Reggie play together.  What fun!  We were at a ~500 dog/day dog show (that also likely had another couple of hundred, at least, dogs competing in Obedience and Rally-O) ... well, when Peggy took Dylan's leash off and started to do some of her training exercises with him .... I stopped what I was doing and just stared!  What a team these two make!  Now, I know that this didn't just happen overnight - there was a lot of hard work that went into this, but by the looks of it, they are both having fun and clearly (by the rock hard condition that Dylan is in) it is great exercise also!

I had a great time visiting with them this weekend - really loved seeing Dylan and Peggy again ... enjoyed meeting her Lakeland Terrier breeder friend and I know that Monty and Parker also enjoyed the experience of playing with new friends (especially Reggie the Airedale ... the boys clearly like their girls, no matter what their size! :-)  I only wish that I had brought my camera.  DARN!

If you want to see more of Dylan - check him out on my website:
http://www.hotchin.net/welshterrier/photos-and-stories/peggy-and-dylan.html

After having so much fun this weekend, I have decided that I am NOT going to let it go 6+ years again before meeting up with Peggy and her terrier gang! 

Now, I'm off to bed as we have an exciting day tomorrow .... Paisa's sister is coming with her owner all the way from Oklahoma!  I'll try to recount in our next post Parker "debut" weekend in Canada! By all of the comments from everyone - he looked EXCELLENT!  :-)

Now ... go and play with and hug your doggies - that's what Michael and I did this evening! :-)

Superb weekend of education, friends and reuniting with Darwyn Welshies!

I have just come home from a FANTASTIC weekend away on Vancouver Island!  Michael stayed home to 'hold the fort' (and I'm sure to enjoy some quiet reading time hanging out with Paisa and puppies :-).  I went primarily to attend a 2 day seminar by Patricia Craig Trotter (click here for the seminar details).  You'll see from the pictures below (and in the attached link), that much more happened!

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PICTURES FROM OUR SUNDAY GATHERING

I was very excited about attending this seminar, as Pat Trotter has been breeding top quality dogs for many decades, consistently produced Best in Show winners, won the Hound Group at Westminster Kennel Club (breeder-owner-handled!) many times, was a Professional Handler, was on the AKC Judges Education Curriculum when that was still being done and is now an AKC Judge.  One of those "must meet" people in the history of dogs!  I have owned her book for some time now.  It is a must have, but the opportuntiy to hear her speak in person was definetely worth the money, time and distance to go.  I was thrilled to find out that the Tyee Kennel Club was hosting this seminar - what a great group of people they are!

The seminar didn't disappoint - it was excellent!  Great information, good discussions and a number of good bits of insight that I have picked up (or shall we say ... the 'penny dropped for me' :-) and things that I know will help me in the future as a breeder, a handler, as a judge of my puppies and if I ever venture into the world of judging in years to come ... I know that things that I picked up this weekend will be with me years from now. 

Bottom line - this weekend was a great INVESTMENT in myself and my breeding program!

I decided to bring one of my 5.5 month old puppies that I am currently 'growing up' (I currently have 2 from KSee and 2 from Paisa ... Dora & Donny; Cosmo & Monty).  Kate, who has 11 year old Becky (a girl I imported from Wales years ago) lives in the (relative) area and when she found out that I was coming over,  organized a small gathering of people that have one of my dogs that I have bred (they usually get together, as friends now, every once in a while.  So, a mini Darwyn Welshie walk and dinner happened right after the seminar was over - thank you Kate!  Since everyone that was expecting to come had a female, I decided to bring a boy (just to be different :-).  And, since Donny is only 1/2 trimmed, it was an easy decision to bring Monty who I fully stripped out a few weeks ago.  Monty and I hung out all weekend, going for walks, and spending time with a few of my 'doggie' friends that also attended the seminar.  He took it all in stride ... never stopped waggin his tail, always interested in what was going on and didn't bark once!  The hotel was very close to a beautiful walkway beside a salmon river, which made the evening walks very enjoyable.

Well, the seminar finished on time at 4:30 and as I came out the hotel I saw a whole 'gaggle' of welshies, and the people that I love so dearly that own them!  It has been a few years since I had seen some of them, and only a few months, like Haley's new owners that also joined.  I felt like crying I was so happy!  6 adult welshie girls, a cairn terrier and my 5.5 month old puppy boy Monty - all getting along great, all happy, all healthy.  What a wonderful sight!

Here's a picture that a friend took of us all (I'm in the purple top 4th from the left, and John is holding Monty's leash) as we gathered in the parking lot ... sorting out the upcoming walk and where to go for dinner :-)  FOR MORE PICTURES CLICK HERE!

Dogs from left to right (click on the photo to see the full thing):
  *Becky (11 years old)
  *Haley (5.5 years old) ... who is very patriotic with her home-made Maple Leaf sweater on :-)
  *Monty (5.5 months old)
  *Megan M (7 years old)
  *Mandi; a Becky daughter, (5.5 years old)
  *Lily; a Becky daughter, (7 years old)
  *Cairn (not one of mine - but still wonderful!)
  *Megan T; Megan M.'s sister (7 years old)

Here's a photo of my puppy Monty having a great time with all of these older welshie women!

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PICTURES FROM OUR SUNDAY GATHERING

Well, we had a very nice walk.  It was wonderful to catch up with people that have become my friends, and to get to spend some time with dogs that I had bred (or in Becky's case, owned and loved).  The choice for dinner was great - good food and a nice relaxed atmosphere at a local brew pub/restaurant.  I took the last ferry home and arrived home just after midnight to greet my wonderful husband who was hanging out with Paisa (Monty's mom).

What a truly wonderful weekend!  I still cannot believe just how much got packed into the weekend - it was productive, informative, educational, I met new friends, I caught up with other friends, great one-on-one puppy time, seeing dogs that I had bred 6 - 7 years ago and seeing again the wonderful people, who have been good friends of mine for some time now, again after a long absence.

Thank you all for the great weekend!