What a way to finish!

I am very happy to report that Bravo is now a champion. He finished in fine style at the Comox Valley Kennel Club show taking the breed over specials(dogs who are already champions), and went on to take a third in the adult working group. He also picked up two best puppy in group wins and a best puppy in show! I was thrilled to say the least! He is now going to stay home to do some growing up and will come back out as a special once he has matured some more. I couldn't have been more happy with his attitude and how very well he behaved. I just love this boy, and am so proud to be his breeder, owner and handler. His great big best puppy in show ribbon is now hanging on my office wall. :)

It's now time for Bravo's brother Remy to get out into the show ring, and we will be starting him right away at the Nanaimo Kennel Club dog show this weekend. He is only entered two days of the show, a nice way to transition him in and see how much he remembers about being a show dog. He hasn't been stacked since he left here at three months of age! He is maturing into a very beautiful dog and I am excited to get in the ring with him.

While I was at the CVKC show this past weekend with Bravo I got a chance to see Thakoon(Braebrook's Thakoon Holmrun) and he has matured into a very fine dog. He is a littermate to Coco who is Bravo's dam, and he is now three years old. I am excited to see what this boy can do in the show ring. I think he will finish very quickly.

Hurry up and wait!

After a very busy few weeks I am happy to report that both Safi and Coco have been bred. If everything goes according to plan than puppies will be due at the end of July.

I decided to go with the new ICSB(International Canine Semen Bank) veterinary clinic in Courtenay for Safi's breeding: http://www.icsbvancouverisland.com. I honestly can't say enough good things about this clinic. Monica, who is the go to girl for all things semen was outstanding. This was the first time I have imported semen from the USA and the first time I had done a surgical implant when breeding one of my bitches. Needless to say I had a lot of questions! Monica was there to answer every one, and responded to my many e-mails and phone calls with lightning speed. The clinic was absolutely beautiful, and the front end staff were very friendly. I have never had such a good veterinary experience.

After many progesterone tests to pin point ovulation, and only one small hiccup in getting the semen(fedex missed getting the semen on the flight over to the Island, but we hired a private courier to get the job done) the implant was performed successfully(I hope!) by Dr Renooy. Safi recovered quickly from the procedure and while not yet allowed to run in the yard with the other dogs she is ready to take on the world again.

Coco was bred to BISS Ch Holmrun's Play for Keeps "Mick", a lovely dog who I saw win the BC Specialty this past April. I had seen him one weekend previously as a very young puppy, and even then it was obvious that this dogs forte was his outstanding movement. He never puts a foot wrong, beautifully balanced, nothing sloppy, and he holds his topline like a rock. These are qualities that are very hard to find in many dogs these days so I'm very excited to be able to use him on Coco.

Looking forward to getting Bravo back into the showring to finish his championship. While out running he managed to put a big gash in his side, and so had to miss the Victoria dog show this past weekend. I am hoping he will be ok for the Black Creek show but time will tell. He is finding it very hard to stay quiet and really misses his outdoor runs but for the time being that is how it has to be.

I hope to be reporting some puppy news soon. I'll keep you posted! :)

Now the Island shows begin!

Now that May has arrived the shows on the Island will start. The first show weekend will be the Tyee Kennel Club show on May 13th to 15th. I will be going two of the days with two different dogs and so I am looking forward to it. The best perk of this show?? It's only five minutes from my house and I can easily go back and forth during the day. My favourite and most convenient show of the year.

Following the Tyee show there is VIDFA in Victoria a couple of weeks later, and then Nanaimo and Comox in June. Lots of shows to keep me busy while I wait for Coco and Safi to come into season. They will of course be ready to breed on one of these show weekends, as that is just Murphy's Law. ;) We'll see...

Had a wonderful weekend in Sayward visiting family and took some of the dogs along. My parents have a fabulous 40 acre property and the dogs(and kids!) love going. They just run all day long, and sleep well at night. I posted a photo of the dogs running to the Braebrook Dobermans Facebook page so be sure to check it out.

Spring has really spring here in Cobble Hill. The trees are all growing leaves, there are flowers everywhere and the birds singing and frogs croaking is nearly deafening. I love it!

Speaking of the outdoors I best get off the computer and enjoy some of that fresh air. Be sure to say hello if you see me at a show, I love to talk about the dogs. :)

Recent wins

First off, for those of you who have e-mailed me recently I apologize for taking a bit of time to get back to you, things have been very busy here. I think I am caught up now so if I have missed you please just drop me a reminder e-mail.

Bravo made his show ring debut in Chilliwack BC and walked away with a huge five point best of winners win as well as a best puppy in group. He showed very well, and I could not have been more happy and proud of my eight month old boy. It shouldn't take him long to finish his championship, and starting out with a win that brought him half way there sure made it easier. I also got a chance to see Bravo's two brothers, Cooper and Remy while I was at the show and am so pleased with how they are coming along. I'm excited for them to hit the show ring! The litter may have been small with just three boys but the quality was deep.

London and I ventured into the obedience ring as well. I haven't been to a trial since I competed to get Lexi's CD and it was fun. I always forget how laid back the trials are compared to conformation showing, and you don't have to wear a suit. :)

London did fairly well at the first trial, getting the first leg(passing score) towards her CD(companion dog) title(you need three "legs" or passing scores to earn your title). The second trial was going along about the same until she decided to stand up from her long sit when I came back to her. This was an automatic fail unfortunately. The building was very cold and I think she was just tired of sitting on the cold cement. I wasn't able to attend the next two trials on the following day as a fuel truck had overturned on the Malahat highway which shut it down for nearly 24 hours. It was disappointing but we will continue to train and trial for our next two legs. Not sure yet what trial I will enter, but I will make sure she gets her CD.

I have finally decided on a stud dog for Coco. I am just working out the details now, and as soon as I do I will be posting the information to my website so stay tuned!

Breeding plans

Nothing takes more time, effort and serious studying than trying to find the right stud dog. Sometimes it can be down right exhausting!

I have finally made a decision on who Safi(Am/Can Ch United First Edition) will be bred to. Drumroll please....... Am Ch Cambria's Commander in Chief "Rogan"! I have loved this dog since I first saw a video of him at the 2006 US National. He is a short backed, strong dog with a great topline and very nice bone. He moves very well, his pedigree fits in nicely with Safis and he is fully health tested. He is what is called a "stallion" dog, a dog that has a great presence and really owns the ground he stands on. Safi is exactly the same so I think I will get some lovely show dogs from this breeding. Safi is due in season in June and if all goes well than puppies should arrive sometime in August.

Still looking for the right stud dog for Coco(Ch Braebrooks Coco Chanel Holmrun), but I have a few dogs in mind and am continuing to research. She is due in season in May, so not long now!

I have posted a breeding announcement and a photo of Rogan on the litters page on the website. Click here to have a look: http://www.braebrook.com/Litters.htm

Safi is a new Canadian champion!

I'm very happy to report that in only two weekends of showing Safi is a now a Canadian champion! This makes her Am/Can Ch United's First Edition. She was shown by my friend Heidi Gervais who did a lovely job with her and in her words "she showed like a rock star!". I love hearing that. :) Safi is a very "up" dog, and is always on alert. To me she embodies the Doberman temperament laid out in the official breed standard: " Energetic, watchful, determined, alert, fearless, loyal and obedient". That is Safi to a T! I love this bitch(let's face it, I love them all. ;) ) and now that she has her dual championships I will continue on with her in performance.

Hope everyone had a great weekend. The weather was beautiful and sunny here, and looks to be continuing in that vein today. The sun is coming up over the hills right now and the sky is clear. It's cold out there, but I'm not complaining, makes for less muddy feet to clean up after. ;)

Showing, training and making plans!

Well, both my little ones came down with an awful cold/flu and after caring for them for two long weeks I ended up with a nasty sinus infection myself. Needless to say there was no dog show for us! I did end up sending Safi over to the Ladies Kennel Club show with a handler though and she did very well, winning all the points on both Friday and Saturday, putting her at a total of five(halfway to her championship) her first weekend out. Everything worked out so well with her handler that I am going to send her to the next show with the same handler and concentrate on getting things caught up here.

London and I have been attending obedience class as we work to get ready for an obedience trial in April in Victoria. After a lay off of the last few months she was a little rusty to begin with but is coming along very well. I train multiple times during the week, and really look forward to our Thursday class as it gives me a chance to see how she can perform with all the distractions being in a group of other dogs can bring. She is doing very well. :)

I have been playing with the idea of getting Lexi ready for some rally obedience trials as she really loves to work and rally is very fun for the dogs. You are able to talk to them during the trial itself, and it offers a real change of pace from structured obedience(which is also fun, just different). With Lexi already having her CD(Companion Dog) title in obedience, a RN(Rally Novice) title should be pretty easy for her. For more information about rally you can go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rally_obedience

Still on the continual search for a stud dog. This can be downright exhausting as there are just so many variables to consider. Not only do a need a pretty dog who is capable of winning in the show ring, but I also need a good temperament that is easy to live with, and train(no skittish dogs allowed at Braebrook!), and I need a dog who has passed all his health clearances, and comes from generations of dogs who have done the same. As if all that isn't enough I also have to find a pedigree that is compatible with my bitch's pedigree. I'll let you know when I come to a decision! :) I have found a few front runners that I am very excited about so it is just a matter of going over the details listed above.

The very best part of dogs is the day to day living with them. They are your companions, and all have their own special personalities. If you want to see a fun video of Phoebe that I posted to You Tube you can check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvDX4yXtToQ

Hope everyones year is going well and that you managed to stick to your resolutions! I have managed to stick to mine, although rousing myself out of bed at six in the morning can still be tough on some occasions. ;)