Just back from the 139th annual Westminster Kennel Club show in New York.  Had a marvelous time with many great friends in the breed and lots of great news to pass along, starting with Silver Grand Champion Heartstrings Jasmine being used as Select Bitch!  Wonderful feeling to bring a home a ribbon from this prestigious show.

Grand Champion Claire was a media darling once again this year; featured front and center of the USA TODAY newspaper Wednesday February 18.  She was also shown on MSN.Com sports and her fun “celebrity likeness” photo with Gordon Ramsey is practically going viral.  The media seems very drawn to Claire, also making the New York Times last year.

Finalizing details, getting ready to head to New York for the 139th annual Westminster Kennel Club show.  The WKC show is the 2nd longest consecutively running sporting event in the US, 2nd only to the Kentucky Derby.  New York rolls out the red carpet and celebrity treatment for the dogs and show, even lighting the Empire State Building purple and gold (the colors of a Best of Breed ribbon).  Proud to have 3 of our Grand Champion Dogues exhibiting this year:  Jasmine, Claire and Kronos.   

A few photos of our babies settling in with their new families.  Socialization begins here before they leave on their life journeys, meeting “100 strangers” before they go and exposing them to everything we can think of.  We are at “eye level” with them the first weeks of their lives, Joy sleeping on an air mattress next to them on the floor and bottle feed to increase the human bond.  Nails buzzed several times to get them used to this and they start house breaking and crate training prior to leaving, rotating each puppy away from littemates and Mom to help with the anxiety of the transition.  Listening to fireworks and thunderstorm cd’s, car rides, walking on touch-activated sound mats, running through agility tunnels and play time with the big dogs are activities on the short list our routine to ensure those first few nights go as well as possible for everyone.

Heartstrings Sherpa with his family in New Jersey.  Not only does Sherpa have points in the conformation show ring, but the amazing temperament that we also consider a vital part of the package in the breeding and lines.  From the Standard:  “Temperament…he is calm and balanced with a very high stimulus threshold.”

Good times at the Erie, PA show.  5 of our Dogues living across Ohio and PA all together for a little reunion;  just wonderful seeing them all and their owners.  Extra special, a baby from each of Urszula’s litters:  3 Grand Champions, 2 10 month-old puppies with points.  Jazzy Best of Breed both days,  Kronos Select Dog, and a Major win for Mambo – his first Major at 10 months towards his AKC Championship.  I love these smiles and would say they are some pretty happy pups.