3rd weekend in a row -- BIS for Joe!

As of today, Joe (GCh and Can Ch Darwyn's I'm Not Arguing That) is Canada's #6 dog all breeds!

2 weekends ago, Joe was awarded his 2nd Best in Show in a line-up that included both the #1 and #2 dogs of all-breeds.  Truly a thrilling experience for us! 

Last weekend Joe won a Terrier Specialty, an all-breed BIS and an all-breed RBIS!  It was the Terrier Breeders Association National Specialty, and NACA, a well known, and well-attended, all-breed show in Canada.

This weekend Joe and Milton flew up to the Yukon to go GOLD prospecting!  You see, it is a tradition for the Yukon Kennel Club (which surprisingly, even though it is far away, sees some of Canada's top dogs in their line-up each year!) gives a Gold Nugget for their BIS and BPIS wins! 

The gold nugget Joe won yesterday isn't enough to retire on, but it could be made into a beautiful piece of jewelry that can be worn with a lot of pride!

Thank you Mr. Rick Fehler for this wonderful award!

Another Best in Show and a Best in Specialty -- Joe is now #7 Dog ALL-BREED!

June 6, 2011
Best in Show
JOE! BISS/MBIS GCh Am and Can Ch Darwyn's I'm Not Arguing That
Judges: Mr. Ralph (Skip) Scoggins (BIS); Mr. James Ham, USA (Group 1)
Handled by Milton Lopes and Tracy Tuff
CLICK HERE FOR RESULTS!

Today was Joe's 31's time in the ring in Canada this year - and every single time he has gone into the ring (except once) he has either won the terrier group or placed!  I am just so darn proud that he has been received so well. Click here for Joe's page

I loved this dog right from when he was 5 weeks old!  Granted, he took a while to mature (so didn't always win or place), but to those with an eye, he showed great promise.  His second time out he got a Best Puppy in Show, his 3rd time out, with me handling him at Northern California Terrier Association at 7 months old he was awarded a Group 2 in Bred-By Exhibitor (adult) Group!  And, shortly after that he was awarded 2 AKC majors (breeder-owner handled :-)

His (short) US career last year was truly amazing, and now back in Canada he certainly has matured into the promissing puppy I had hoped for.

This past weekend in Edmonton Alberta, at NACA, was a very competitive weekend with the Terrier Breeders Assocation of Canada National Specialty, and 4 All- Breed shows.  Joe (GCh and Can Ch Darwyn's I'm Not Arguing That) WON the Terrier Specialty plus Group 1st at 3 out of the 4 all-breed shows, one Reserve Best in Show and Best in Show!  He placed in the other group, while it was won by a beautiful Bull Terrier (one who also won a US National Breed Specialty) ... like I said, a very competitive terrier group (and the largest one in Canada so far this year!).

We are very thankful to the judges that found the quality in Joe to give him these awards this weekend - and so far in his career.  We are very happy.
Our appreciation from this past weekends awards are to:
Elaine Mathis (Florida, USA) for Group 1st and Reserve Best in Show
James Ham (MI, USA) for Group 1st
Fred Dewsbury (Ontario) for Group 1st
Ralph "Skip" Scoggins (Texas) for Group 1st, Best in Specialty and Best in Show!

Joe rocks! G1 and RBIS at the largest terrier entry in Canada so far this year!

June 3, 2011
Group 1 and Reserve Best in Show
JOE!  BISS/MBIS GCh Am and Can Ch Darwyn's I'm Not Arguing That
Judge:  Mrs. Elaine Mathis (Florida, USA)
Handled by Milton Lopes and Tracy Tuff
CLICK HERE FOR RESULTS!

I am bursting with pride today! 
First off, a beautiful 11 week old puppy bitch went to her new home (a very knowledgeable Welsh Terrier breeder who has been involved for over 25 years).  She's on the other side of the continent from me and I have a lot of trust with my new co-owner (and am very excited about this).  Jessie's safe, happy and her new co-owner is thrilled!  Stay tuned on this one, more will be said about Jessie in future posts...
The other reason that I am so proud tonight is that my boy Joe (MBIS/BISS GCh and Can Ch Darwyn's I'm Not Arguing That) won the Group and was awarded Reserve Best in Show today at NACA!  Click here for results.  I believe this weekend has the largest terrier entry in the country so far this year, and it was a very competitive line-up in both the group and BIS level!
Today's Group and BIS judge is the well known, and respected Mrs. Elaine Mathis from Florida USA.  From the personal notes I have received tonight, Joe showed his heart out and looked amazing even though the weather could have been a tad bit warmer!

As you can see by the photos above, Milton Lopes and Tracy Tuff have Joe looking AWESOME!  Thank you to everyone for your support of this wonderful team!

Kennel Club Health Survey Results!

The results of a recent health survery for the Welsh Terrier breed by The Kennel Club in the UK is now available.  I don't know how the UK Breed Clubs distributed the survey, when it was done, or how the questions were asked (yes, that is my background in Market Research of 17 years in banking coming out!!!  :-)  You see, I was a Vice President for a number of years for one of the largest banks in the world, in the Analytics and Market Research departments - so I know a bit about what I am talking about ;-)  So, while I know that there are factors that can play into numbers, even if you don't mean to do it (just in how you word the questions), all we have are the facts that are provided. 

With the 66 returned surveys in hand, it looks pretty good overall for the health of our breed!

Click here for the link with the results.

Remember - any dog, of any breed, can get any condition ... nothing is 100% in life when you are dealing with living things!

AKC ACE Award Nominee!

Charley has just been nominated for an AKC ACE award (read about it here) - WOW!

ACE recognizes extraordinary things demonstrating the strong human-canine bond.  Charley, and Jerry Nickell (of Oklahoma), definitely deserve this recognition!
I wrote about who she is on a blog post in June 2010 (click here).  Charley has been featured on radio, TV (click here for the TV link), newsapers and recognized with awards from a number of hospitals and libraries (click here for the organization H.A.L.O she is involved in).  She is officially - Am Ch. Sanherpinc Nora Charles, and is Paisa's litter sister (MBIS Am/Can Ch Sanherpinc Paisa).  Charley is also the dam of 5 wonderful puppies sired by my boy Parker - BISS/BIS Am/Can Ch Darwyn's Webslinger.  One boy was kept by the breeder, and he might try his hand at owner-handling at some point with him in the show ring (I wish I lived closer to help!), and one girl lives near me and is named Gracie. She will make her debut in the show ring, unfortunately, I am not sure if the 'top honours' will be awarded to her - you see, her tail was docked really short and it detracts from the over all look.

I co-own her with a really nice owner, and we'll see.  In a worst case scenario, she will continue to be the awesome pet that she has been so far!  The short tail isn't an issue for the owner, and hopefully some judges will be able to see past it and see the beautiful structure and very "welshie" look and temperament she has.

Jerry, Ann, Charley - I am SO proud of you!  Keep up the great work - you are awesome ambassadors for the Welsh Terrier breed, terriers and dogs in general!  Thank you!

I finally updated Joe's web page with his Canadian show wins!

I finally updated Joe's web page with some "fast facts" for Joe's career to date, his Canadian show wins, and a link to the 2 videos I did of him at dog shows - one in the US on Montgomery weekend and one in Canada (first weekend out with Milton and Tracy).  It was neat to re-live these 2 days.  I enjoyed it - if you watch them, I hope you do also.

Click here to go to Joe's updated web page.

Click here for the video of Joe and Woody on Montgomery 2010 weekend.

Click here for the video of Joe on the first weekend out with Milton Lopes and Tracy Tuff.

A few facts:

* 6 Group WINS in the US! (California and Montgomery weekend)

* 39 Group Placements in the US!
* Many BOB wins in the US with other top Welsh Terriers in competition
* 2 BIS (in top competition)!
* 27 times in the ring in Canada in '11 - 26 Group Placements
* 12 Group WINS in Canada

I still have more to update.  I haven't put in any (except one) of his US photos - and they are good!

Congratulations to Fred & Patty for 6 healthy puppies sired by Monty!

One of my specials boys, Monty (Ch Darwyn Bruhil's Flying Circus) sired a second, healthy litter.  Olivia, the dam, is owned by WTCA members Fred and Patty Adams in Florida.  The puppies are now 3 weeks old (boy does time fly!) and all doing well.  Congratulations and good luck!  We'll be following your progress closely!

Click here for the web page that I put together for this litter (which includes the details for Fred and Patty's litter).  Monty's own web page has not yet been done (but it will be - I promise!).

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 little bit of lead training for a 9 week old puppy

I have started to get our 9 week old (Monty x Dora) puppies used to being on a lead.  So far they all seem fairly comfortable (I'm sure the cheese helps :-).  I am very happy with how freely they are moving - and happy they are!  Michael grabbed our flip yesterday and took a short video to share with a friend who might co-own her with me. This was so cute I thought that I would share it with you here!

Click here to watch Jessie!  Darwyn ..... to be announced soon.  If you want to watch the longer version (hope you are an Abba fan!), then click here to watch Jessie and then at the end with her sister on our deck.

Today Jessie and her brother went to my local friends home for a few days to play with kids, cats, dogs and, well, each other.  I clippered one and left one with puppy coat for the kids.  What child can resist cute, playful and happy puppies!  FUN!

Best in Show! Joe! WOW!

Joe - BISS/MBIS Darwyn's I'm Not Arguing That
Handled by: Milton Lopes; Tracy Tuff
Judge: Mr. Walter Pinsker
Show: Regina Kenn Club, May 20 2011 (Best in Show!) - click here for results

When I looked at my iPhone as Michael and I were out doing errands today, I was not expecting to see a text message, let alone a message telling us that JOE went BEST IN SHOW today!

A number of people who were at the show told me that Joe was looking really great (perhaps the best that he has looked since he has been with Milton and Tracy ... while that is hard to believe!). 
Tracy also told me last night that he was in excellent spirits, focused, eating well (as always) and happy!  He should be - he got the chance to breed a really beautiful Welsh Terrier bitch (MBIS bitch!) over the last 3 days!  ;-)

This weekends show was relatively small in numbers, but a LOT of the top dogs from across Canada are all there and very competitive!  As you'll see from the link below, in the Best in Show line-up, Joe competed with other Group Winners that are multi Best in Show dogs, the #1 dog all breeds, the #2 dog all breeds and another one that is in the top 10 dog all breeds.  Click here for the results.

I am very honoured that the judge, Mr. Walter Pinsker, chose Joe for his Best in Show!  Walter and his wife Monika have been in "dogs" for many decades, are known all over the world for not only judging, their very prestigious and well run dog shows, but their absolutely wonderful (and respected world-wide) Mephisto Boxers.  From what I have learned, they have been involved since 1968, bred well over 100 champions, 150 best in shows and produced the dog that was the #1 dog (all-breeds) in 1975.  They have also been terrier breeders.

I am so darn proud that Mr. Pinsker found the quality in my boy Joe to give him the top honours at this show, in such strong competition.  Thank you.