Beretta aka DM She's A Pistol

Last June, our Glory Girl whelped a single puppy - Beretta.  I've not really been writing anything since then, as Ms. Beretta is keeping me hopping! I did lose 20 lbs and I swear it's because I'm constantly on the move after her.

Beretta - 6 months of age

As of today, it looks like Beretta's first dog show, our little debutante's coming out party, will be here in Albuquerque on Mother's Day weekend. The judges that weekend should be good with puppies: Russ McFadden, Barbara Rupert, Molly Martin, and Howard Yost.  Not sure how many days I'm going to enter the little twerp.  Much depends upon how she continues to mature and how strong she is by then. Right now, I'd probably enter her all 4 days.  LOL...  She is a pistol!

As much as I love all my dogs, Beretta is probably the finest one that I have bred, at least with regards to conformation.  Running a close 2nd is her Uncle Banner.  Glory, her dam, most definitely produced better than herself.  It is right & proper to mention the other half of Beretta's genetics, her sire: Lux, Fr & US Ch Denetorn des Legendes du Moyen Age.

Much has been made by some about this breeding because I used a foreign import and some have said using him is a departure from what I would usually use.  I contend they are incorrect and have assumed that he is different than what I'd use. My breeding method is pretty much phenotype to phenotype. I pay attention to pedigree, but that is not the overall driving force.  I pay more attention to the physical attributes of the dogs and whether those attributes are complimentary to each other.

Aged 4 months

What really drew me to using Denetorn was not only his physical attributes (great shoulders, great return of upper arm, etc) but also that his pedigree ties in with Glory's several generations back. This is, in reality, a loose line breeding on Ch Shalfleet Sea Dancer, Ch Aroi Talk of the Blues, and Ch Ekohils Wizard of Oz.  Yes, they are back further in the pedigree, but I'm a believer in Enrico Tesio's methods of a balanced pedigree and in emphasizing dam lines over sire lines. In thoroughbreds, it's called the X-Factor.  For more on the X-Factor in greyhounds, please check out this article: The X-Factor in Greyhounds.

Other reasons for using Denetorn included, in no particular order, his availability to be bred to Glory, a bitch without a "fashionable" pedigree in show circles.  Many, many stud owners were contacted prior to Rachel Martin (Denetorn's owner) and I reaching an agreement. Most rejected my advances on no basis other than her pedigree, which is 1/2 racing blood.  She was rejected sight unseen, for the most part and some of those rejections were just downright nasty. One such example from a noted breeder who was most admired at one time,

"I've never seen a 1/2 & 1/2 bitch worthy to be shown, let alone bred." 

Three Generations: Abbey, Beretta & Glory

I find that very sad as Beretta is based upon her lines and her old dogs, excepting the racing blood.  We are proud of her racing heritage. She comes from some of the finest lines in the racing world, combining the blood of the Hall of Fame stayer, Dutch Bahama; the great staying bitch Malka; the incredible sprinter & Hall of Famer, Downing; the outstanding producer Buzz Off, and many others. There is a long history behind her of outstanding stayers, long distance runners, starting with her granddam, Abbey Lou.

Of the great Malka, Dennis McKeon related this story of Downing's 1978 American Derby win. The story is reprinted here with permission from the Grey2K Lies blog.

"These are my personal recollections of Downing's Amercian Derby win.....

And guys...I remember Downing's American Derby .....he was a prohibitive favorite....after making the switch to the other side, he had literally run away and hid from the best dogs that the country's elite kennels might offer up as competition---or as sacrifice----it hadn't really mattered..........

He was a sharp breaker, and an astonishing turn runner-----and though nearly 80 lbs, and as long as the Kansas horizon is wide----he could literally run "under the rails"....and accelerate into, through and off the turns----and if, by some stroke of serendipity, you found yourself ahead of him, on the rail and in his way----he would put you over the rail to take his line.

So the ONLY way he could lose, was if he broke down, or if he missed his break.....and you know what?...... he missed his break----missed it by a mile....and he came out with his nose in the dirt, stumbling---nearly falling----and the entire field easily out-trapped the fast-trapper. There was a collective gasp from the incredulous crowd. Luckily, the 2 lane had not quite closed up on him. Gifted athlete that he was---in the blink of an eye---he somehow, miraculously, managed to right himself----and exploded through the hole which had remained open to him.

He had seized the lead before they even hit the turn, and drew off to a commanding advantage as he poured it on---like a soundwave.... through the stretch, around the curtain turn, and past the toteboard-----his speed was enthralling, unlike anything I had ever witnessed----it thumped right through your chest, and took your breath away... like the music of a runaway locmotive......yet due to his early miscalculations and exertions, he was pretty much spent at the top of the lane....all alone.......and all done.....

He had lost his action, and his stride was shortening with each diminutive leap forward...and at precisely that most desperate of moments----that sobering, split-second before the shattering of every illusion---- the great stayer---Malka---had begun to uncork her prodigious run.....which was as deep as the Pacific...and at once, as powerful and unfathomable.

The insurmountable lead was shrinking fast now, to about 6 lengths entering the final straight---- and Malka appeared to have caught the jetstream itself, as she zeroed in on him----with Downing laboring mightily, just to keep a straight line----the deafening roar of the 12,000 or so spectators, who had come to see a legend ...in his own and their own time... lent an air of unreality to the whole, desperate spectacle...

And time itself had become glacial, as it passed...as they played out that age-old struggle.....and... with the one, impossible, outrageous, colossal surge ---Downing lunged for the wire....the ghosts of Real Huntsman, Oklahoman and On the Line were awakened from their eternal reveries by the sheer genius of it.....to rightly bear witness to this galvanizing moment, for once and for all time ... as Malka, a burgeoning, bursting tidal wave now ----bore down on him, cresting, from mid-track to his flank.... closer and closer she rolled.....

That he managed, somehow, to hold on---by a dissipating 3/4 of a length or so---was the true measure of his faultless courage and his supernatural greatness....Malka was past him a couple of jumps after the wire, and clear by 3 as they ran up to the curtain.

It was the only moment in his life---the very instant when he had actually grasped his immortality----- that he had ever appeared to be mortal ."

Beretta is Denetorn's first American offspring and we think she's a good one.  We are looking forward to her exploits in the breed ring and on the coursing fields.  We think she'll improve, like a fine wine, with age.

Glory and Stuff...

Well, Glory's season has come and gone.  I so wanted to breed her but Chance stepped in and changed our plans.

For one, she acquired fly parasites, which according to our vet, were probably due to the conditions at our neighbor's place, i.e., too many donkeys on too small acreage; manure; etc.  There's no denying that manure & livestock draw in flies, especially if the manure isn't picked up religiously.  I know I'm out there on a daily basis picking up our dogs' waste to keep the flies at a minimum.  Those fly parasites live under the skin and they are gross & disgusting and she was put on a 2 wk course of cephalexan to prevent secondary infections from the parasites.

For another, the dog we were going to use came up with poor semen and it was doubtful that she could be impregnated.  Sigh....

Ya know, everything happens for a reason and it is always for the best, even if it is disappointing & hard to believe.  So, the search for a new beau for Glory has started.  She's next in season in either February or March 2014.

Glory - Nov 2010 ASFA Greyhound Specialty "Singles Stake" Win

On the positive side, Glory finished her Grand Championship under Mexican judge, Ricardo Forastieri Gonzalez at the Valencia Valley Kennel Club shows held in Los Lunas, NM on Saturday, Oct 12.  There was a good, overall entry of 6 greyhounds.  We are absolutely delighted!  Pictures were taken and they'll be posted when I get them.

Not to be outdone by his littermate, on Thursday, Nampa, took a 5 point major towards his Grand Championship, beating a champion of record, and a couple of points on Friday, when he finished as Select dog.

Ellie went Winners Bitch on three days, picking up another three points.  She needs majors and it looks like we're going to have to travel to get them.  Not looking forward to that.

Overall, it was a very good weekend.

More later....

Windmills of One's Mind

Haven't updated in a while and for that I'm sorry.  Life is taking me on a roller coaster, right now, and half the time I don't know if I'm coming or going or coming or going....  Reminds me of a song, The Windmills of Your Mind, which is the theme from the Thomas Crowne Affair (1968).

Round like a circle in a spiral like a wheel within a wheel,
Never ending or beginning on an ever spinning reel
Like a snowball down a mountain or a carnival balloon
Like a carousel that's turning, running rings around the moon
Like a clock whose hands are sweeping past the minutes of it's face
And the world is like an apple whirling silently in space
Like the circles that you find in the windmills of your mind.

My mind is just going around & around & around....  You see, I've had little in the way of response with regard to people wanting Glory puppies.  I don't understand why, unless it is the economy.  She's a beautiful dog with a beautiful temperament as are all her siblings & her parents.  Go figure...  People would rather spend $1000+ on a "Labradoodle"....  a mutt....  than a well bred greyhound.  I just don't get it.

Glory On Her Retirement Sofa

Anyway, we've been working on finishing Glory's Grand Championship and she's almost there.  She only needs ONE MORE POINT!

She's been out 6 times as a champion, in fact, I took her off her retirement sofa after 2 years to exhibit her one day, and one day only, to Dr. Edna K. Martin (Midge Martin). That was in May 2012.  Since then, she's only been out at 6 local shows held in Albuquerque & Los Lunas.  In that very limited showing, she's taken 6 majors under 6 different judges:  Midge Martin, James Fredricksen, Sari Brewster-Tietjen, Houston Clark, Anthony DiNardo, and Russ McFadden.

Thank you!

So, right now, it's one day I want Glory puppies and the next day, I don't.  You may be wondering why?  It's not because of her, it's because I'm getting older.  I'm 58 & hubby is going to be 62.  Greyhounds average a 12 year lifespan, so I'm asking myself, do I really want a dog (any dog), when I'm 65 years old and hubby is 69?   More & more, I'm thinking....  no.

So...  the windmills of my mind are going & going & going....

Glory Puppies?

I'm thinking about breeding our lovely Glory.  However, it won't happen unless I have some solid buyers (more than 1) lined up.

Glory Gaiting at Fun Match

Glory is not your typical AKC greyhound.  She's moderate in angulation, very balanced, and she has a strong topline.  She's not a small girl, as she's tall & leggy and weighs in at around 70 pounds.

We hope to breed her to a dog owned & bred by Carol Curlee - Ch Chaparral Tour de France aka Lance.  The breeding is based upon the dog's pedigree, carrying several crosses of the much admired dog, Ch Solstrand Fine N' Dandy.  The hope is that this will give her pups a better shoulder than she has, as her shoulder is a bit straight and it limits her reach while running which makes her a bit slower than her brothers.

Why were we looking for lines back to Ch Solstrand Fine N' Dandy?  Well, back in 2000, I approached  his breeder, Dagmar Kenis-Pordham, about breeding Glory's granddam, Feather, to him as Feather's damline was directly related to his damline.  Feather's great-granddam (4th dam) was a littermate to his maternal granddam. It was lovely on paper.

(Feather's test mating to Frankie - http://greyhound-data.com/dbtestmating.php?&sireid=329719&damid=322839)

Sadly, I was informed that she did not believe in breeding by way of artificial insemination and there was no way that Feather would be shipped to England to sit in quarantine for 6 months to allow her to be bred.  So...

Ch Chaparral Tour de France (Lance)

Now it's Glory's turn to be bred and I still want to collect (for want of a better term) that Frankie blood.  Lance has it...  Carol is agreeable to the breeding.  However, I really don't want to be raising 7 puppies here after one or two go to their homes.  I'm not set up for it and it also goes against local animal control ordinances.

Here's the proposed pedigree....

http://greyhound-data.com/dbtestmating.php?&sireid=1781820&damid=1384365

Glory is next expected to cycle in either August or September.  So, if you're looking for a well bred greyhound puppy....

Call me....  don't be afraid to just call me....

Glory.... DCh DM Jolie Noir

Glory is one of the Flag Day Litter and she was the last puppy born on 14 June 2007.  We tried to keep all the names flag related and hers is, sorta...  well....  not really.

Because of her color, black, actual flag names were somewhat limited to those on a Pirate Flag theme.  (I must say that I wanted to call her "Old Glory".)  Anyway, some of the known pirate flags were Jolly Roger....  Not good because she's definitely not a "Roger".  Jolly Rogue - Nope...  no "rogues" in this litter and, besides, who ever heard of calling a girl a "rogue"?  There were red pirate flags as well as black pirate flags (who knew?) and Betsey, her co-owner, suggested "Jolie Rouge" because that's what the French called the red pirate flag...  uhm...  she's black, not red.  And, come to find out, Jolie Rouge is the root for Jolly Roger.  Back there again....  Sheesh!  Talk about frustrating!  So, we came up with "Jolie Noire".  Ya know, naming puppies shouldn't be this hard!

Glory was never claimed by her co-owner, so she permanently resides here in New Mexico with her two brothers.  She regularly beats up on them here at the house.  She rules the boys and shows her dam, Abbey, proper respect. Like her Aunties Jib & Javelin, she's another busy body who is always into something!

Best Opposite Photo, Coronado KC

We think Glory is stunning!  She is an AKC dual champion. She finished her breed ring title by going Best of Opposite Sex over finished champions!  That win took place at the Coronado Kennel Club shows in Rio Rancho, NM under noted judge Dr. Edna K. "Midge" Martin.  Dr. Martin gave Glory's sire a major win in Lubbock, TX several years back so I was hoping that she's like her as she resembles Dash.  Dr. Martin's comment on handing me the ribbon, "Finally! A bitch with the proper topline."  I thanked her and she told me, "Don't thank me.  Thank the bitch."  Yes ma'am!

Prior to finishing her lure coursing title, Glory was major pointed in AKC lure coursing and has 8 points, including a 5 point major by going Best of Breed over the field champions.  Hmmm...  I'm sensing a pattern here.  She beats up on her brothers & she beats up on champions?   The girl is an Amazon, an Amazon that is very fleet of foot.  One of her lure coursing wins was at age 14 months when she finished first in the Open stakes at the GCA Western Specialty lure course in 2008.  She tired, however, and did not win breed.  If she had, she would have retired the GCA Western's lure coursing trophy as she would have been my 3rd winner as an owner. Our other two winners with legs on that trophy were BJ and Jiblet.

In Glory's first attempt at ASFA lure coursing, she got points when she finished 2nd to her littermate, Banner, on Saturday.  In that effort, she qualified for the Region 3 Regional and garnered 18 points towards her field championship.  She has since finished her ASFA FCh title.  We also tried oval (NOTRA) racing and she did get a JOR.  However, that toe is keeping her from competing further in NOTRA and in any other running events. So sad...

Glory has been open field coursing and she's pointed with AK's.  She showed great promise as a hunting bitch but that toe injury has, as of now, effectively ended her running days. At least, until after she finishes her AKC Grand Championship. 

In May 2012, Glory was entered one day & one day only in the Rio Grande Cluster.  We pulled her out of retirement to show to Dr. Edna K. Martin.  Dr. Martin awarded her Best of Breed over other champions of record for a 5 point major towards her Grand Championship.  To get a GCh, a dog needs to have 3 major wins (3 points or more) over champions of record and a total of 25 points.  Well, since Glory took that major win, we've brought her out of retirement to show.  In October 2012, we entered her two of the four days of the Los Lunas cluster.  She took two, 3-point majors on the days she was entered.  That gives her the required 3 majors and a total of 11 points towards that GCh.  Not too shabby...  Three majors in Three Days under Three judges....  The hard work is done, now she only needs to point out.

AKC Page for DC DM Jolie Noir FCh JOR aka Glory

We are thinking about heading to the Eukanuba National Championship, which is being held this year in mid-December in Orlando, Florida, to see if we can pick up more points and another major towards that Grand.  It would be nice.  Out of a total of 11 puppies, 5 of them have been Eukanuba invitees with several of them being invited more than once.  We are very proud of our record and of our dogs.

Glory in continuing in the footsteps of her predecessors and she's doing it with class & style!  Beauty & function go paw in paw....