Final decisions have been made and our Popeye x Shirley babies are traveling to their new forever homes.  We are very sorry to say that we did not have enough puppies this time for all of our wonderful future families waiting.

We will be making a breeding announcement soon for those waiting and we have some beautiful matches planned for 2016.  Breeding and being “care takers” of our beloved Breed is an enormous responsibility, pressure, privilege (not a right).  Many things out of our control have to line up and we want to do everything right.  We know that you all trust this about us and we thank you.  It can be difficult to be patient but we promise we won’t disappoint you and it will be worth the wait.

Enormous thank you and congratulations to our new families.  You have been carefully screened and vetted.  Your voices and stories spoke to our hearts and we have the peace of mind that our babies will be spoiled, blissfully happy and never want for anything.  Thank you for this and enjoy your new babies!

Happy Thanksgiving!  We kicked the Holidays off attending Kaiser’s parade this past Sunday!!!  Kaiser was voted Grand Marshal of his town’s Christmas festivities and he and his family led that parade in style; he and his family looking so beautiful and regal in their decorated convertible.

The theme was “Christmas Around the World.”  How fitting that Kaiser would be voted Grand Marshal – receiving over 1,100 votes from all over the globe.  When the contest opened, it practically went viral – Kaiser and his family so known, loved and respected.  “Australia has voted and we vote for Kaiser”  “Scotland votes!”  “Voted and best wishes from the UK”  “Germany is here and sends our love and vote”  “Go Kaiser and best wishes from Japan!”  “We voted, good luck from Spain.”

Following the parade Kaiser’s family invited us back to their home for a cozy gathering where a number of current, brand new, and future Heartstrings family members sipped hot cider and shared stories about our beloved Dogues.  Many, many thanks to them for hosting us – it was just lovely and such a special, special day!

Greetings Heartstrings Family – we have details for our big Grand Marshal Kaiser’s parade and the kick-off of his holiday season and celebrity functions.

The parade is in Delaware OH on Sunday 11/22 and begins at 3:00.  We will be meeting up for the best view in front of  Amato’s Pizza, 6 S Sandusky St., Delaware OH 43015.  Lauren (Kaiser’s Mom) suggests arriving and gathering no later than 2:00 – 2:15 so we are sure to make our way to the front of the crowd for cheers and photos.  She suggests parking on a side street, West side if possible.  We will all just have to be patient and wait until after the parade to hug and kiss Kaiser and his family.  He has important duties prior to the parade then, of course, in true Grand Marshal style will be whisked in last-minute to take his place in front of the lined-up marching bands and floats just prior to step off.

Lauren, Michael and Kaiser have graciously opened their home and invited us all back for a hot chocolate and cookie gathering following the parade (how nice is this, thank you so much Lauren and Michael).  I will have the address and we will disburse from there.  Just please RSVP to me so we have a count.

This is going to be such a great time and special day.  Current, new, and waiting list families are all invited and welcome.  Some of you haven’t met me in person and I will be easy to find – I will be the woman with the wagon-full of beautiful puppies (new images below – photo credit Linda Rusinko, Raney Days Photography).

It is going to be such a wonderful day.  Can’t wait to see many of you there!

Busy and exciting weekend in the show ring across the US, those results to follow.  But for now some pics of the Bubbas, 6 weeks.  Their first set of vaccinations – at last out meeting and greeting the world.  Today a big, 9-hour tour, all kinds of new experiences and stimulation towards the goal of making them bomb-proof adults.  The kind of DDB and temperament that we, as breeders states away can send into a high-pressure show ring on a 9, 10, 11 year-old Junior Handler with complete confidence is no accident.  It takes careful planning in the breeding program.  Careful evaluation of the temperament in the lines.  And then just plain hard work.

Today meeting at least 40 strangers as we work towards the socialization goal of meeting “100 strangers” off campus before going to new homes.  It’s just great to finally have the doors sprung open, out and about meeting the world.  Please enjoy these beautiful babies as much as we are!

Black Boy

Gold Boy

Light Blue Boy

Orange Boy

Pink Girl

Royal Blue Boy

Tater Tot

We will be home with puppies this weekend but 3 of our Dogues will be exhibiting in Columbus, OH.  Many friends in the area have asked so we are passing along the ring times and schedule.

Sat, Nov 14 – DDB’s step off at 9:30, Ring 5

Sun, Nov 15 – DDB’s at 12:45, Ring 8

Show location:  Ohio Exposition Center, Bricker Building, Ohio State Fairgrounds.  I-71 & 17th Street,  Columbus OH 43211

Go out and enjoy the fun if you can make it!  A very nice entry of DDB’s (15 each day) not to mention great vendors and shopping for the furry family members.  Good luck Jazzy, Luther and Bardos Junior!

Our Popeye x Shirley babies – 5 weeks now!

Black Boy

Gold Boy

Light Blue Boy

Orange Boy

Pink Girl

Royal Blue Boy

Tater Tot

Greetings Friends – some announcements and wonderful news to share!

TN – Our homebred girl Heartstrings When Will it Reign at Woodland Park becomes new CHIC certified DDB!!!  We are over the moon for her owners Jim and Viola at Woodland Park.  A CHIC is a DDB that has passed all 4 health screens recommended by the DDBSA:  Clear heart on echocardiogram by a board certified cardiologist, OFA Elbows, OFA Shoulders, and her Penn Hip scores ranking in the 80th percentile.  In the past 10 years, less than 30 DDB’s in the US have obtained CHIC numbers.  Reign becomes the 8th Heartstrings-Bred CHIC!

Far more than numbers, rankings, stats…this is deeply satisfying.  Starting out 15 years ago in the breed, and while we loved our Dogues, we made some bad decisions when purchasing our then “just pet” Dogues.  Through these experiences, combined with our deep commitment and love for rescue, we saw far too many avoidable and inexcusable health problems in our breed.  This ultimately setting us on the course to do our best to improve the breed.  We know far too well and first-hand the suffering a family endures when a Dogue isn’t well.  The waiting for the shoe to drop feeling, will today be a good day or a bad day, holding our breath and waiting for the calls: “how do our levels look Doc?”  It’s safe to say sheer frustration and utter disappointment were the impetus to start breeding.  Then,  years of research, searching the world to get to the lines, health, longevity that we felt were the best choices.  So to say that we are overjoyed, ecstatic to see these results is an understatement.

WI – In Wisconsin this past week Vauquois earns a 95%, 1st place and a qualifying Rally Run!  Out of this beautiful litter of 10 – nearly 1 year old now – 6 Dogues are actively competing in Working and/or Conformation.  In the Conformation ring several are already “pointed” and 2 with Major Wins at this tender age.  Congratulations and thank you to all of our owners.  Not just a feather in our caps as breeders but rather, knowing our Dogues, our lines, that they were bred to work and perform, hard-wired like this and the knowledge that this makes our puppies very happy.

OH – Lastly, US Breed Rankings have been updated and Jazzy remains #1 female in the US; #2 DDB overall!!!  Recall that Ms. Jazz finished 2014 #1 female in the US.  Just a few short weeks to end 2015 and we are crossing fingers and toes that she pulls out the unprecedented finish of back-to-back #1 ranked US female 2 years in a row.