Marahootay

June

We went off to Blackpool this month and enjoyed the most wonderful of days with the most beautiful of weathers.

Ghost was entered and shown by Bryony and did us proud by placing 3rd in the Junior class, a Crufts qualifying position.

Then just for a change as Mr Micheal Craig was still recovering from celebrating his success at the world dog show, I showed Hades. Despite the fact that Hades wanted to move a lot more than I want or could run we finished a very good 4th against some excellent competition.

The following week saw us at Windsor dog show in blistering heat, with paddling pools underneath the water taps for the dogs!!

Ghost once more did us proud winning the Junior bitch class and finally showing that she is growing into a very nice young lady!

Hades was handled by Micheal and finished a very good 3rd.

John and I had a lovely afternoon enjoying the beer tent and staying to watch the group which was very hotly contested.

We also this month had a return visitor, Tikkanni came back from his owners in Kent due to family problems and had to be rehomed.

Despite the fact that he hadn't seen his older brother Lucifer since he left at 8 weeks and now he was nearly 18 months old, they both became best friends with lots of face washing and tail wagging.

Khan has now been rehomed with a lovely family Chris his wife Sadie and baby Ellie. Chris is in the army and a PT Instructor so Khan is going for long daily runs and by all accounts loving his new family life.

May

Well we started May off with a bang, collecting our new American Champion Hades from Holland as Andrea Sautbine had very kindly flown him back for us.

Our first show of the month was the Dutch Specialty. Andrea showed Hades for us and the winning team continued in style taking Reserve best Dog from a very strong field.

Andrea then continued in style showing Effie and taking 4th in the Open bitch class from 21 other bitches in her first show, we were absolutely thrilled with Effie's first attempt at showing.

On the Sunday we were once again up early and travelled to Antwerp for a Belgium show. Hades managed to take the Reserve Best Dog ticket again and Effie surpassed our expectations taking the Best Bitch Ticket and a Belgium CAC and a CACIB to boot!! Way to go Effie.

The next show we attended was The Birmingham National Dog Show. Hades was handled for the first time by Micheal Craig and finished a very good 4th judged by Sue Smith. Effie made the cut but was unplaced and Lucifer at his first big show handled by Francine finished 5th which given that he was more interested in playing with Francine, the boxers in the next ring and giving Sue a cuddle and a kiss was amazing.

For our last show of the month we travelled to Edinburgh, which for us is an opportunity to catch up with friends Claire and Gavin and their dogs Raiden and Leia.

Unfortunately for us and Micheal who was handling Hades we didn't make the cut in the open dog class.

However all was not in vain, the puppies did us proud.

Raiden finished a very good 5th in PGD at his first ever dog show handled by Bryony.

Bryony then took in Ghost into Junior bitch and I took in Leia, well you could have knocked me over with a feather when Leia finished second and Ghost took 3rd and both qualified for Crufts.

There were huge grins all round, and Daddy Gavin took lots of pictures just so none of us would forget the moment!

April

The dogs and John joined the intrepid AMWA people on a weekend of weight pull and 13 mile trek down at Bewl Water organised by Mark Squires.

Unfortunately the weather was against them as it rained heavily before the weekend and continued intermittently to do so over the weekend. Bewl water is beautiful, and although the going was tough John said he would be happy to go there again as the trail was excellent.

Saturday night was Karoke. Now John denies that the beer bottles on the table were his and said they were all Paul Pateman's! However...I didn't realise we had such a talented crowed with everyone joining in even John sang New York New York and I understand Paul Keen shook a leg or too! By all accounts a good time was had by all.

The biggest news is that Hades has achieved his American Title.

We are absolutely thrilled and thank Rita and Tonny for breeding such a wonderful boy and Andrea Sautbine for taking the time and effort to show our beautiful Hades.

March

End of Season rally: We followed Crufts with a visit to Thetford and Mr Paul Pateman's end of season AMWA rally which as usual when organised by Paul was not only very professionally run but excellent fun, oh and I must make a special mention of the cake supplied by Carol Atherton which was superb and John hasn't stopped talking about yet!

Crufts: We started off the month at Crufts where Francine showed Meeko in the Special yearling class which proved to be a very difficult class.

Meeko and Francine did exceptionally well finishing a very good 3rd and we were absolutely thrilled with their performance. Meeko is featured in this video - look out for Francine in the cerise jacket!

Crufts if you have never been is a wonderful doggy day out. There is flyball, agility and dogs oh and did I mention the shopping?!!!! For us it is also an opportunity to catch up with friends.

February

We returned from Aviemore having had a thoroughly good time, and set about trying to settle our newest bitch from America into our household.

We are very lucky that Bonnie allowed us the priviledge of having Effie, who's kennel name is Kasaan's Forever Fortune.

Effie is out of our GRANITE and WICCAH. As Bonnie states "Effie has gorgeous breed type, angles and has the most loving temperament. She has incredible side gait, huge feet and bone with awesome dark almond shaped eyes."

Effie has already had a litter whilst with Bonnie where she was bred to Jagger: Ch. SnoShire Polaron's Excalibur and produced Zivah who at the remarkable age of 15 months became an American Champion.

Later this year we are planning on breeding Effie to Hades. Pictures of Effie to follow!

January

After a very hectic Christmas we decided to continue in a busy vein.

Hades went to Belgium to compete and was very skillfully handled by Senay finishing as Reserve Best Dog.

We then kept our fingers crossed that the snow would remain up in Scotland for the annual pilgrimage to Aviemore and we weren't disappointed!

John competed for the first time on a sled running Feline with Meeko and Lucifer in the E2 class and finishing a remarkable 4th.

The event is an opportunity to try working the dogs under testing conditions, and an excellent excuse for the rest of us to meet up most nights for some delicious food and of course the odd drink or two. .