Actually one week and one day 🙂 Pictured below in birth order…
Rock Band Litter – One week old
Bing x Cleo litter!
We welcomed nine puppies on 6/26/21! We have seven mantles (3 boys/4 girls) and two mantle merles (both girls). At this time, I believe all puppies already have homes, but I am always happy to chat with folks, either on the slim chance a puppy becomes available, or to assist with other breeder referrals. Email is my preferred contact method and please include some information about yourself.
New Titles!
This past weekend was fun (and hot) in Grinnell. Bing earned is DCAT (Fast CAT – the dogs earn points based on their MPH, and Bing has now accumulated 500 points to earn this title), even though he decided he was only into chasing the bag if I was catching him at the finish. He did get faster throughout the weekend, though. Still not his best times but not bad for the heat and other distractions.
Nash earned his first Barn Hunt title, RATN. To earn that, we had to find a rat hidden (safely) in a tube among hay bales, do a climb onto the hay and a tunnel, all under two minutes. He did it it in 44 seconds. We have to qualify in this manner three times to earn the title. We earned our first two Q’s a few months ago. At this event, we were the fastest novice team, so he got a first place award as well.
Bing at 3 years old
Breeding Announcement
We are thrilled to announce our upcoming litter, due the end of June, 2021!
I do have a very full waiting list, but I’m happy to chat with folks on the slim chance I might have something available. Please email me with some information about yourself, including your location, the type of home you can offer a puppy, etc.
Canine Hero
Nash, our Golden, saved another dog’s life!
There was a lost dog in our area and Nash found her yesterday, trapped in a large hole in a field next to our property. She had been missing for three days.
Late Sunday afternoon, I was on a walk on our acreage with Bing and Nash, when Nash indicated something just off our property, in the adjoining field. I asked him to “show me” and he took me over to the area. As I got closer, I heard barking, but could not find the dog at first. In the long grass, this giant hole was completely hidden from view. She had tried and tried to get out, as indicated by the claw marks at the top of the hole, but she couldn’t pull herself out. The owners had searched on/near our property and had actually driven their 4-wheeler within 6′ of the hole, without knowing she was there!
She was super scared, so I opted to wait for her owners to get her out. They live semi-near us, so I called, and they rushed right over. The gentleman was able to pull her out easily. It was a very happy reunion, with some tears.
Very thankful for the good outcome! Good boy, Nash!
Fast CAT Pictures
Had great fun with the dogs a few weekends ago doing Fast CAT (Coursing Ability Test) and Barn Hunt with Nash. FCAT is a timed 100 yard straight run, where the dogs chase a “bunny” (plastic bag, tied to a line that zips along the ground). The dogs absolutely love it and it’s thrilling to watch them run so fast.
Bing’s times were in the 24 MPH range, so not his best effort, but still good times. Nash was in the 23 MPH range.
Breeding Plans 2021
Excited to announce that we will be doing two litters in 2021. Details coming soon. Because I have been slow to formalize plans, I have not been keeping a strict waiting list and have been referring people along to other breeders. Assuming both litters take, I potentially have room on my waiting list. If you are interested, please send me an email with some information about yourself, including your location.
Bing earns his Rally Novice title
Super pleased with this biddable dog. He is just such an easy dog to work!
From AKC’s site about Rally:
You and your dog navigate a course, side-by-side, as you steer him through a course of 10-20 different signs. Each of these signs provides instructions regarding the next skill that is to be performed. The dog and handler move continuously throughout the course with the dog under control at the handler’s left side. There is a clear sense of teamwork between the dog and handler both during and between the numbered signs. Although each performance is timed, having a good race time is not the goal; it’s all about working as a team while performing the skills, with the dog under control.
Want to learn more about AKC’s Rally obedience program? Click here
Merle Gene Presentation
Dr. Neil O’Sullivan recently gave a presentation to the Midland & West of England Great Dane Club about the merle gene, titled “Merle, the gene we needed but did not know it.”
Click here for the accompanying slide show presentation