Darwyn gets top Terrier awards for both 2010 and 2011

BC All Terrier Club Perpetual Trophies (dating back to the '60s)
Top Terrier of the Year
Top Terrier shown in BC
Top Owner-Bred Terrier
Larisa Hotchin of 'Darwyn' was awarded these 3 top trophies for both 2010 and 2011

I have not written about the various awards that "Darwyn" has recieved over the years, and I will start compiling that list (specifically club awards from the Welsh Terrier Club of America and the BC All Terrier Club).
For now I will just reference the above 3 perpetual trophies for Top Terrier of the Year, Top Terrier shown in BC and Top Owner-Bred.  They are from the BC All Terrier Club, and have dogs dating back to the '60s. Click here to see all of the 2011 award recipients.

I am honoured that one of my dogs, Joe, (MBIS, MBISS, GCh Am & Can Ch Darwyn's I'm Not Arguing That) received 3 of the top awards for 2011 -- Top Terrier of the Year, Top Terrier shown in BC and Top Owner-Bred!

It is also thrilling that last year, another one of my dogs, Parker, (BIS, BISS, Am & Can Ch. Darwyn's Webslinger) was awarded these same 3 top awards for 2010 results! 

Joe continued his show career during 2012, and is currently the #1 Terrier for all of Canada and the #4 dog amongst all breeds!  Parker recently went to Australia, and he is expected to make his show debut sometime this fall.

I am one that believes that our history is important - I have compiled the historical Top Terrier of the Year recipients for our club for the inception of the "big trophy" - click here to see history and check out what breed used to be in the terrier group - you'll have to look at the award winner from 1969!  I will compile other trophy winners when I get a chance.

Happy 1st birthday to Joe and Paisa's kids!

Griffin
1 year old today and enjoying a wonderful life with his family!

I do not ship puppies very often -- unless it is to extra special people -- Griffin (above & right) is with one of those families. 
Griffin and his siblings turn 1 year old today and it makes me so happy to see how integral he is with his family.
He has 2 littermates that are in process of getting ready to make an appearance in the show ring, and when they do, I am positive that they will make their sire (Joe) and their dam (Paisa) very proud.  They aren't in top show coat yet, but the nice (unsolicited) comments are already coming!

Happy Birthday Griffin & Jason & Trooper & Tina!

Record Breaker - Record Maker - Joe!

Joe!
Multi Best in Show & Specialty Winning
American Grand Champion & Canadian Champion
Darwyn's I'm Not Arguing That

Joe is the top winning Welsh Terrier in Canadian history!

He surpassed the previous record holder for the number of Best in Shows a few months ago - he now has received 21 BIS awards!  The previous record holder is a beautiful dog from back east that received 13 Bests quite a number of years ago.  Joe has also surpassed the other record holder for the total number of dogs defeated, with Joe's record currently standing around 10,000 (and the year is only half over).

The bar has definitely been raised (and still rising) for sure!  One day I will try to have another one defeat his records, but for now, we are just enjoying the ride.  Below are 2 of Joe's recent BIS wins - conditioned and presented with perfection by Milton Lopes (who, of course, has been Joe's main handler since Jan 2010).  I think you will agree with me that he and his partner Ash have Joe in top condition, and presented beautifully!  As always.

Currently Joe, with his 21 BISs and 117 career Group 1st wins, is Canada's #4 dog among all breeds for 2012 to date, which follows him being the #10 dog among all breeds in 2011.



Best in Show #21 - Ms. Mary White (US)



Best in Show #20 - Mr. Tim Doxtater (Canada)



The boys of Darwyn!

I tend to joke about the "Boys of Darwyn" (BTW, I love my girls here as well !! :) ... I have finally put together a summary page for significant boys bred here.  Given that I only have 1 or 2 litters a year, I am still shocked at how many significant dogs are on this page - and their significant wins in Groups, BISs and US breed specialties.  I am very fortunate.

I also have a couple of new puppy boys that I am pretty keen on, but, as always ... time will tell if they will make it onto the page or not!  :)

For now - click here to go to the summary (picture, achievements, pedigree - all in one place!)

Zorro has his own web page now!

Click here for Zorro's new web page!

As usual, it has all of the typical "Darwyn" details - pedigree, DNA tests, OFA tests, baby pictures, fun pictures, show pictures and a little bit of insight into his wonderful, loving and fun personality!

Ch Darwyn Don Diego de la Vega

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!

Zorro -- Darwyn's newest champion!

Zorro!

Champion Darwyn Don Diego de la Vega
Multiple Group Winner!

WOW!  WOW!  WOW!

Those of you on Facebook already know Zorro - but for others, this blog will just introduce him ... someday I will do up his own webpage.  He certainly deserves it!
For now - here's the coles notes on this young boy...
Zorro is Darwyn's 24th Champion & 11th Group Winner!  WOW! ...
- 14 months old (just starting to be put into coat and furnishings)

- Sire is MONTY (Am Grand Ch & Can Ch Darwyn Bruhil's Flying Circus), who doesn't yet have his own web page (but will - I promise!) ... Monty was Select Dog at the Welsh Terrier Club of America National Specialty at Montgomery 2011 (handled by Wood Wornall), multiple group placements in the US, and his last show was at the AKC National (Eukanuba) where I (Larisa) handled him to an Award of Excellence and Best Bred by.  Before going to Woody, Monty got a number of Group Wins in Canada (owner-breeder handled) - but he's best known for finishing his Championship at Canada's largest show (Lower Mainland Dog Fanciers) by winning the Terrier Group (twice!) and a Reserve Best in Show!!!!

- Dam is DORA.  Dora was also shown at Montgomery 2011 where she got two Winners Bitch 5-point majors, including the day of the National Specialty!

Zorro finished his Canadian Championship with his 2nd Group Win over 2 weekends!  Aaron Andriash showed Zorro to these wins - I just wish that I had been able to watch!  One Group Win was awarded by Mr. Leslie Rogers a few weeks ago.  Zorro's new champion Group Win was just a few days ago at the Vancouver Island Dog Fanciers Association (VIDFA).  The judge was Dr. Richard Meen.  Both are very well known and respected judges.  Dr. Meen is notably seen at Montgomery County every year.

Michael and I are very honoured by these awards.  Thank you!

To see Zorro in action, below is a video that Michael and I took earlier this month when we were looking closer at him (really done for our own evaluation :).  I'm glad that we decided to see if he liked the inside of a dog show ring -- apparantely Zorro is very happy to be there with Aaron!
Click here for the video with music (not viewable in some countries)

Click here for the video without music (boring, but viewable everywhere including mobile devices!)

Zorro will only be shown sparingly - as, of course, our main focus this year is JOE!  And, sice Joe is one of Canada's top 10 dogs amongst all breeds (again for 2012 just as he was for 2011!!!) and the #1 Terrier in Canada (!!!!!), it doesn't make sense for us to special multiple boys against each other.  So - Zorro will be back - not sure when, but he will be!

Setting the Right Pace in Stressful Moments

I regularly read Emma's blog - she has Welsh Terrier Miles (a male) and does a lot with him!  I think the link below is an interesting read with some great tips on working with your new puppy or dog!
Click here to read the blog article by Emma!

Lighthouse Park Adventure with 9 week old puppies!

Michael and I had an adventure today at one of my favorite places in Vancouver - Lighthouse Park!  We decided to take a couple of our 9.5 week old puppies with us.  Click here to read more about this and see a few pictures!

Gracie gets to play with an Airedale!

Gracie (Ch Darwyn's Say Goodnight Gracie), who is co-owned with my friend Sheryl MacKay (host of the CBC radio program North by Northwest) went to see her groomer the other day (Elaine Hu).  Before any serious grooming started - fun was had by all!  And by all, we mean Gracie, Airedale Jaffa and everyone that gets to watch this video!
Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-0UUFV3Zs0&feature=youtu.be

Gracie is a "Parker" daughter that was born in Oklahoma!  Parker got out of quarantine a few days ago and has settled in very well with his new family in Sydney Australia.  Parker will be selectively shown in Australia by Sonya Cornick.  We wish them a lot of fun and hope the Aussie's like them!