Lindsay

Lindsay aka Lindsay Party aka Party Girl

Lindsay Party aka Party Girl

Lindsay is the one who started us onto the path of Greyhound ownership.  She was our First...  She was the original Dyno-Mutt....  She was and still is our inspiration.

Lindsay was a retired racing greyhound that we adopted from Recycled Racers in Denver, Colorado.  She was a brindle and the color of buttermilk with burnt toast stripes.  A beauty, she was born on St. Patrick's Day in 1991, a great-granddaughter of the incredible Downing, who is in the NGA Hall of Fame.  Her sire was the noted race dog, Killer Diller, whose littermates include: Uncle Albert, Aggie Mae, and Paperback Rider.  They were all top winning dogs.  Lindsay ran on the Southern Colorado circuit.  All the tracks where she ran have been closed - Pueblo and Colorado Springs.  She raced for the Robert Feathers kennel and she ran, placing consistently in the money, until her retirement in 1995, which is when we got her.

Lindsay was a dog that needed a job.  She wasn't happy as a retiree and she'd beat up on the other dogs.  So, we gave her a job, lure coursing.  Lindsay carried on the tradition of being a great running dog in lure coursing.  And, in short order, she achieved her field championships in both American Kennel Club (AKC) & American Sighthound Field Asso. (ASFA) events.  One of the funniest things I ever saw that involved Lindsay was when the judge decided to sit directly behind her at the start of her first Junior Courser (JC) run.  I no longer remember his name.

The judge decided to judge the JC runs by plopping a lawn chair directly behind the dogs at the start. When Lindsay came to the line, several people advised him, including me, that he really didn't want to sit there behind a greyhound.  But, he told us in no uncertain terms, "I know what I'm doing."  OK....

Lindsay at the 1997 ASFA I.I. in Pescadero, CA

When the hunt-master cried "Tally Ho!", as the slip lead fell away from her neck, Lindsay dug in with those powerful hind legs and sprinted off the line.  With that very powerful first thrust of the hind legs, she dug in and kicked up a rooster tail of rocks, dirt, cactus....  all of which flew back into the judge's face.  All I could hear at the line were thuds followed by, "Ow!  Ouch!  Damn!"  I still laugh and smirk.  Somehow, I think the judge learned something new that day - never sit behind a greyhound at the start.

Lindsay loved to run.  She loved to compete. We took her to a lure course held in Phoenix at the Estrella Mountain Park by the Desert Fun Bunch.  The day was December 7th.... Pearl Harbor Day.  

Lindsay won the Open Stakes and got to run for Best of Breed with a large, brindle dog named Cabo.  In the Best of Breed runoff against Cabo, Lindsay broke a metatarsal bone in her hind leg.  She never stopped running.  She hiked her leg up and finished the run, winning BOB.  We didn't even realize that there was a problem.  That night, she ate her dinner, we walked her and she never gimped.  At least, not until the next morning, which is when she developed a bit of a hitch in her git-along.  We pulled her from the competition and drove home to Albuquerque.  Two days later, she had surgery to fix the break.  The vet said she had to be kept quiet for at least 6 weeks, to allow the bone to properly knit. So, even tho' it wasn't allowed, I snuck her into my office at work for the next 4 weeks and she slept the day under my desk.  My co-workers absolutely loved her and she got a bit pudgy while working there.

Lindsay Flying in Estrella Mtn Park

After Pop died in 1999, my mom came to live with Rob & I.  On the saddest weekend in my life, November 6-8, 2003, we lost Lindsay the evening of Nov 6 and my mom the night of Nov 7.  We like to think that Lindsay died before mom so she could show her the way to heaven.  Mom died late the night of Nov 7th.  On Nov 8th, there was a local lure course and I went, not to run dogs, but to be among friends in my time of sorrow. I needed to be around people and their dogs.  I needed to be among the living.  It had been a rough, preceding 10 days during my mom's short, but deadly, illness.  During the lunch break, I looked up and I swear I saw Lindsay running around the far corner and down the backstretch.  As she stretched out, she disappeared from view.   I think she was telling me that she's OK and that she helped mom across the Rainbow Bridge.

In truth, a year or two later, Lindsay came to me in a dream.  In it, she was running in front of a big, black dog.  Soon, as they went around the near turn, the two of them ran across a bridge and disappeared into the mists.  The name "Cal" was stuck in my mind and the next day, I called an acquaintance of mine in Tulsa.  I asked her, "Teddi...  do you know a big, black dog named "Cal"?  If so, I think he just died."  Teddi lost it and broke down in tears.  Little did I know that a short time prior to this, she had adopted a retired stud dogs, Iruska Excalibur, a big black dog that she called "Cal".  He had died the day of my dream.  I told her of the dream and she was comforted.

Lindsay had found herself a job even after crossing over.  Her job is to escort people and dogs across the Rainbow Bridge, into heaven's fields.  That's our Party Girl. 

Feather Too

So, how did Feather come to be a Dyno-Mutt hound?

Laurel asked Rob & I if we would get Feather "into condition" for the upcoming lure coursing season. Sure...  why not...  So she came here to live with us for a bit of time...  a month or two or three, as needed.  Then, back to Laurel's home.  Some people from Texas came to visit Laurel after the Valencia Valley shows in October and they saw Feather. She was so lovely that day...  Laurel offered to sell her to them. The man was smitten, but his wife wasn't. They offered Laurel some ridiculously low sum of money. I mumbled something to the effect that it was a ridiculous offer, which Laurel heard. She refused and so, back out to the Dyno-Mutt homestead to live with us for the coursing season.  One day, after coming out here to the eastern side of the Sandia mountains to visit Feather, Laurel decided that she was much happier with us and she put us on her papers.  Feather never left.

Ch El-Aur Summer Breeze FCh (Feather) - 1997 Pescadero International Invitational, Photo by Rick Dodd

Oh Feather could run.  She was fast and agile, but silly.  We tried running her on the training track at Abilene Greyhound Park one year.  She ran about 50' and then laid down on the wet sand.  That was bad enough, but then, she started rolling in it.  Oh my....

Feather may not have run on the track, but she was a good coursing bitch.  She never quite finished her AKC field championship, but she did finish one in ASFA, which many people consider the tougher of the two.  She ran in two International Invitationals and a Region 3 Regional.  She would also run rabbits and, given the opportunity, she'd try and take a squirrel out in a heartbeat.  In fact, while she was waiting to be bred, in 2002, she stayed with friends in Michigan.  They had a large maple tree in their back yard and a squirrel would come down to the lowest branches and taunt the hounds.  One day, Feather positioned herself under that branch, judged the distance between her & the squirrel and launched herself straight up!  She got tail feathers and the squirrel ran up the tree, and never again ventured that close to the ground.  Feather, however, was absolutely DISGUSTED that she missed.  That's OK... her daughter, Jib, and her granddaughter, Chispa, are carrying on the tradition of trying to get squirrels in trees.

Sailing Litter: (L-R) Javelin, Dash, Bugsy, Slate, Jib, Jetty

In March 2002, Feather was bred to DC Can Ch Lakilanni Scatpak Barracuda (Cuda) and produced six healthy strong puppies - our Sailing Litter. This breeding was in the planning stages for three years and it combined two super performance lines of show greyhounds. The pups were whelped on May 26, 2002 and they became the Sailing Litter: Javelin, Jib, Dash, Bugsy, Jetty, and Slate. They fulfilled all of our wildest dreams, winning in the breed ring and on the field. Jib & Dash had group placements; Bugsy went Winners Dog at the Greyhound Club of America's National Specialty and also at Morris & Essex to finish his championship.  Jib & Javelin were dual champions. ALL OF THEM were outstanding companions.

Feather was a great mom and our foundation bitch.  I see her in her children and grand children.  Our Feather girl is still with us today.
 

Feather

Ch El-Aur Summer Breeze FCh

Feather had several nicknames but the two by which she was called the most were Featherlette & Featherkins.  Feather, by any other name, was still our Feather...  a sweet, sweet dog.  She was our "White Witch."  We dearly loved our Feather girl.  Feather stole our hearts.

How we acquired Feather is a story in itself. Laurel Drew, her breeder, sent her to our home to be conditioned for the upcoming lure coursing season.  When she came to us, she was soft & in "show weight".  "Show weight" is not conducive to outstanding coursing and it needed to be converted to hard muscle. We got her into shape and planned to make her coming out party the ASFA Region 3 up in Colorado Springs.

Ch El-Aur Summer Breeze SC FCh

Feather had never been on a road trip with us. She was used to travelling, but she always went with Laurel. On the drive up to the Springs, we stopped at the Ft. Union rest area to potty the dogs.  We had 2 of ours, Lindsay & Jato, and Feather.  Lindsay voided...  Jato voided...  Feather didn't.  Well, maybe she doesn't have to go.  Back into the pickup truck and back onto the road.  Next stop...  the Springs!

We get there and met up with Lisa Thompson and her Irish Wolfhound, MacGregor. We were staying at the same hotel. As we were walking all the dogs, we found a lovely little cafe with sidewalk seating. They were enthralled by the dogs, especially MacGregor, and invited us to bring the dogs back for dinner at a sidewalk table. It was a date!

During our walk, Feather still hadn't gone.  Hmmm...  No cause for panic - yet.  She just doesn't have to go...

We met up and ate dinner and, again, took the dogs for a long walk in the area.  Feather still had not produced.  Maybe she has a special word?  We're walking her...  "C'mon Feather...  go pee!  Feather...  take a dump....  Feather, go ka ka...  Feather...."  I'm sure you get the picture.  By now, it's going on 10 pm and it's time for a call to Laurel.

One ringy dingy...  Two ringy dingies...

A sleepy Laurel answers, "Hello"?

"Hey Laurel?  How do you get Feather to go to the bathroom?  We've been walking her & walking her & walking her.  We've said, "go pee...  go ka ka...  go poo" and NOTHING!"

Laurel laughed and said, "Tell her to 'Hurry up!'".

Back outside and at the first dogwalk area...  "Feather!  HURRY UP!"  She immediately squatted and had this total look of relief on her face.  Then, she looked at us as if to say, "What took you so long????"

Argh......  That was our Feather.  She was so blonde that she was white.

At the lure course, Feather had a most successful coming out party.  She ran away with a placement and points towards her ASFA field championship. It was a joyous ride home.

Jiblet

Jiblet was my joy!  Jiblet was the apple of my eye!  Oh how I loved my Jiblet!  Oh how I cried for months, stretching into years, after she died in an accident in the back yard. Rob & I were absolutely devastated and we were within a hare's breath of getting out of dogs.

DCh DM Flying Jib FCh - "Jiblet"

Jib was very typical of the dogs that are bred here at DM Greyhounds - athletic, healthy, graceful and beautiful to behold.  However...

 "JIBLET!!!!"

If I only had a penny for each time...  if only....

Jib was drop dead gorgeous and had  personality galore. She was my "girly girl", a silly goose and very much a busy body.  She was always into something and when she was, it usually surrounded looking for something to 'collect' as she was a great collector of objects: my favorite shoes, my toothbrush, me...  Well, I'm sure you get the picture.  Lordy that girl was a trip!

Greyhounds are an ancient hunting breed and, as a baby, Jib made her first 'kill' when she caught and killed a mouse!  She was 6 weeks old at that time.  She turned into a superior mouser and didn't hesitate to snap up flies, spiders, and other bugs in an instant.  This made her a great favorite here as I don't do bugs.  Ugh!

Mr. Jackrabbit, Javelin (yellow), Hadley (pink), Jib (blue)

Jib loved to hunt.  She was deadly on hares and over a span of 4 years, she was working on an open field coursing title.  Jib was good and she showed a great deal of endurance, running long, long courses after the wily black tailed jack rabbit.  Some of her courses were well over two minutes and some approached four minutes in length.  She had all of her placements and credits towards a NOFCA open field title, lacking only enough points to finish that championship.

Jib Chasing a Jackrabbit (right) in Tall Grass

Her open field credits included a win over two of the top greyhounds in the country: Point Breeze Lionheart and Lady MacBeth.  With all that running, she held up exceptionally well, sustaining only one minor injury, a toe, in her last year of open field, in the run that earned her a berth in NOFCA's version of the International Invitational, the Grand Course.  That was the run with Lionheart & Lady MacBeth.

Jib was prepping for another season of open field when she suffered a career ending injury while lure coursing.  It was sustained in a collision with a larger greyhound. She was tee-boned on a turn right in the loin, which left her with some neurological issues in her rear legs.  Her rear just never worked right after that.

In the breed ring, Jib's first points came when she was still in the 9-12 month puppy class.  She went Best of Breed on Saturday and Best of Opposite Sex on Sunday, both days over older bitches, to get the points.  That was just a precursor of what was to come.

Jib - BOW Under Noted Greyhound Judge, Richard Bauer

 At the huge San Antonio cluster on July 10, 2003 at age 14 months, Jib took her first major worth 4 points from the Bred By Exhibitor class.  The judge was the noted Miss Dorothy M. MacDonald.  The next day, under judge Bettie Krause, she went Reserve Winners Bitch.  On the 3rd day, she was in the ribbons with a 2nd place in BBX.  However, on day 4, which was July 13, she again went Winners Bitch under judge Richard Bauer.  Unfortunately, the major broke and the win was only worth 2 points.  Hey!  Points are points!

Jib finished her championship easily, before 2 years of age, with additional majors from Mr. Nelson Huber in February 2004 and Mike (Michele) Billings in March 2004 at the supported entry for the Fort Worth Kennel Club show.  And, in September 2004, judge George Heitzman awarded her a Group 4 at the Sangre de Cristo Kennel Club shows.

Mar 2005 - Jib Getting an Award of Merit under George S. Bell

In March 2005, she earned an Award of Merit from noted greyhound breeder judge, Mr. George S. Bell, at the Greyhound Club of America's Southern Specialty.  And, due to finishing the year as one of the Top Twenty greyhounds in the country, she received an invite to the 2006 Eukanuba National Championship show held in Long Beach, CA.

 Only recently, Jib has started with a behavior that her dam, Feather, used to do. If she doesn't want to do something, she'll roll over on her back, showing her belly in a rather submissive gesture.  It is most embarrassing and she only does it if there are other people around!  She doesn't do it when it is only us.  Danged bitch!  She's a pistol!  She's good and she knows it.

 In addition to a very good show career, Jiblet has two lure coursing field championships.  Like B.J., she showed her versatility by winning Best of Breed in the conformation ring at the Shawnee, OK shows and then winning Best of Breed at the concurrent lure course.  We got our exercise that day...  running from the ring to the lure course...  running from the lure course to the group ring....  running from the group ring to the lure course....  Should have seen us in the group ring...  she had grass stains on her hocks!  They were green!  She did get a pull in the group, but not a placement.  After the group ring and running back to the coursing field, Jib went Best In Field (BIF). Other than Jib & B.J., I really do not know of any other greyhounds with this kind of versatility and ability!  In addition to her many lure coursing Best of Breed wins, she won Greyhound Breed and the Fantasy Trophy at the 2006 ASFA International Invitational held in Colorado Springs.  What a thrill!

Sailing Litter - Left to Right:  Javelin, Dash, Bugsy, Slate, Jib, Jetty

Jib truly showed that beauty and function go together. Jib was an outstanding greyhound and she was everything for which I hoped.  She was one of our Sailing Litter.

A joy with which to live with tons of personality, one couldn't have asked for a better bitch.  She is a tough act to follow.

Jib had been health screened for hip dysplasia, thyroid conditions and cardiac abnormalities, passing all her clearances with flying colors!  (Hmmm....  puppy name?  Flying Colors?) Her health clearances can be found on the OFA website.

We bred Jib in 2009, but puppies were not in the cards and she died before a repeat breeding could happen.

I so miss my lovely Jiblet.  May she be resting and tormenting her sister up there in heaven.

Javelin

DCh DM Summer Squall at Scatpak FCh aka Javelin aka Jav aka Javvy...

Javelin was a hoot!  Beginning as a puppy, she was ALWAYS into something and it usually meant trouble!  One day, Laurie Soutar mentioned to me that as a 6 month old puppy, Javelin attempted to take over the position of alpha bitch.  Oops...  bad move!  Another time, Laurie told me that Javelin was climbing up shelving units to get to the "cookies" on the top.  Oh my...  Oops!  Another bad move....  That's the problem with a very smart animal, especially a greyhound bitch...  they use that brain and not always in ways we appreciate!

Mom and Javelin

Javelin was the first of Feather's pups to be born.  Feather had been in labor about 30 minutes or so and no pup was forthcoming.  I inserted a finger into the birth canal and felt around.  The only thing that either I or Laurel Drew felt was the bottom pads of one hind foot.  Javelin had gotten tangled up in there and Feather needed veterinary assistance.  We went off to the Emergency Vet on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend to get Feather the help she needed.  The attending vet in her infinite wisdom & knowledge (not) gave Feather a muscle relaxer so she could get Javelin out, which she did.  However, there was one big problem with giving an in labor bitch a muscle relaxer....  it STOPPED the contractions!  With an unknown number of pups still inside her, Feather needed an emergency C-section.  (Yes, the vet took an x-ray to determine how many pups were in there, but it was so underexposed that you couldn't tell anything!  It was useless!)  We lost three of Feather's pups.  What should have been a litter of 9, wound up being a litter of 6.  Thankfully, both bitch pups survived!

Since the sire & dam were named, Barracuda & Summer Breeze, we decided to name the litter after sailing terms. Prior to their birth, Rob & I wanted to name any red or red brindle bitch pup, DM Wake of the Red Witch.  That was a favorite, John Wayne movie of mine.  However, she earned her name, Summer Squall, the day she was born. When the vet finally got her out, she came out squallin'!  I remember holding up this small, 10 ounce puppy who was a hollerin' and I declared, "This one is Summer Squall."  She's been like a whirlwind or squall line, quickly moving through ever since.

In living up to her name, Javelin was known for sprinting off of the line like a rifle shot at lure coursing events.  Lure coursing out here in the Western US is highly competitive and Javelin was one that run with the best of them!

This little red dynamo was proudly co-owned by us, DM Greyhounds, with Windrock Greyhounds (Kim & Colin Fritzler).  She spent time at both homes, coming home to New Mexico for a bit after the 2007 Grand National.  Kim and Colin sadly bid her good-bye to allow us to campaign her in some other venues.

In June 2009, I took Jav to the Colorado Springs Kennel Club shows to try for that elusive second major and also for the Fritzlers to see.  Javelin, after seeing Kim and Colin kept looking for them.  She really wanted to go back home to Grand Junction with them, so, after the shows, I hugged her tightly and quickly  handed Colin the leash, saying, "Take her, she knows where she wants to live"  . . .   I miss her dearly but I couldn't keep her here, knowing how much she loves Kim & Colin. The next day, Kim called me when they got home and told me that Javelin moved right back in and it was like she was never gone.

Javelin at the GCA 2004 Western Specialty

Jav's a little busybody, like her sister.  I've been told that she tells the calves to eat all their food and keeps the pups in line and out of the irrigation ditch. Javelin keeps an eye on things for the Fritzlers and they are glad she's back home!  Kim and I bred Javelin on her next season, after all of her health certifications  (hips, thyroid and eyes) had been performed.  Her results are on the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals site.

Javelin graced us with a lovely, single puppy girl - Windrock DM The One and Only - Nikki, who is owned by Kim & Colin.

Sadly, Javelin passed over the Rainbow Bridge not too long after Nikki's birth. I pray that she's up there in heaven getting into mischief with my mom, both of them causing St. Peter a smidgeon of grief.  Mom also loved her dearly.  I miss both of them more than words can say - my mom & my lovely little red witch, Javelin. I wish all the best for her only daughter, Nikki.

Welcome to Dyno-Mutt Systems, a Division of Yummy Mutt Feeds...

DCh DM Flying Jib FCh  aka Jiblet

That was the introduction to our original website.  At that time, Dyno-Mutt Greyhounds was a fictional, bio-engineering firm which made bionic improvements to greyhounds.  One of those improvements were enhanced ear scoops for maximum oxygen intake.  Another was "F.A.A.R.T. - Fast Acceleration And Rapid Transit".   "F.A.A.R.T." was an independent system which could be 'hooked up' to your greyhound to provide natural gas propulsion to vehicles.  In an emergency situation, a "F.A.A.R.T." equipped greyhound could be hooked up to one's natural gas heating system.  It is said that the City of Albuquerque, in its efforts to go "green", are utilizing many "F.A.A.R.T." equipped greyhounds in their power plants.  Unfortunately, most all of our "Press Releases" have been lost over time.  However, we still have a copy of "Ear Aerodynamics - Update!" and "F.A.A.R.T." 

 Now, the name "Dyno-Mutt" has come to exemplify the best in show and performance greyhounds.  We are  AKC Breeders of Merit and we strive to breed greyhounds which successfully compete in all venues: lure coursing, hunting, and the breed ring.   To that end, we have had several dual champions and many field champions.  We have had a major winner at a Greyhound Club of America specialty show and two, nationally ranked greyhounds.  In addition, four of our greyhounds have been or are invitees to the Eukanuba National Championship.

About Us

My husband, Rob, is retired Navy, who served aboard destroyers for his entire career.  One of the places he served was Vietnam, Southeast Asia, during the "Conflict".  He was there in 1969-1970.  Other ports of call were Newport, Charleston, Long Beach, and San Diego.  There were others, but this is a good representation. Rob's last rate in the Navy was that of a Chief, Gunners Mate (GMGC). Some of the ships on which he served were the USS Joseph Hewes, the USS Hewitt, and the USS Stump.  Rob is now working as an engineer in a completely different field of endeavor, medical electronics. To be specific, he installs, maintains, and calibrates nuclear imaging equipment.  He went from Nuke weapons to Nuke med.  

As for me, I am a former steelworker from Baltimore, Maryland.  I met Rob in 1987 at the now defunct E & B Marine Supply store in Glen Burnie, MD.  At that time, I was laid-off from "The Point" and working there.  The day I met him, I sold him some bottom paint and offered to paint his bottom.  He still isn't sure which bottom I was referring to!  

It wasn't long before Rob turned into one of my regular customers.  One day, he told me how he didin't have time to replace the water pump on his boat.  I offered to do the job for him for $100, if he bought the parts.  He bit and told me where to find his boat and arrangments were made.  I found the boat and pulled the old water pump.  When I went to put on the new one, there wasn't a gasket.  Joy.  What water pump kit doesn't include a gasket?  It's a no brainer, right?  Anyway, using a ball peen hammer, I cut a gasket out of the thin cardboard backing of the bubble pack in which the pump came.  I slathered it with Never-Seez, put it all together, tested the engine for leaks, buttoned her up and left.  Rob came in a day or two later to pay me for the work and he kept saying, "You know how to cut a gasket with a ball peen hammer..."  He sounded amazed.  Doesn't everyone know how to cut one?  Rob was hooked.  He has since told me that any woman who knows how to cut a gasket with a ball peen hammer is a woman worth marrying!  Whatever.

Tyche on the Patapsco River near Baltimore

When I met him, I lived aboard a 28' Morgan sailboat, the good boat Tyche.  Working at the store had at least one other, really good benefit - it ensured that my boat (and floating home) was kept in good repair.  Yes, I was a boat bum.  I lived aboard a 28' Morgan sailboat, the good boat Tyche. 

Tyche is the Greek goddess of Fortune, Chance & Fate.  She was associated with good fortune, luck & prosperity.  Tyche was represented with different attributes. When holding a rudder, she was conceived as the divinity guiding and conducting the affairs of the world, and in this respect she was called one of the Moirai (Fates); with a ball she represented the varying unsteadiness of fortune--unsteady and capable of rolling in any direction; with Ploutos or the horn of Amalthea, she was the symbol of the plentiful gifts of fortune.  For a sailing vessel, the name is most appropriate.  The good vessel Tyche took care of her passengers and crew.  She bestowed good fortune on all who sailed aboard her.

Anyway, when I wasn't working at the store, I was out on the Chesapeake Bay - sailing on Tyche!  I'd take her out by myself (sailing solo) or with others, if they wanted.  Many times, I took out weekend and overnight charters and served as a skipper for two sailing clubs, the Chesapeake Sailing Association and Singles On Sailboats.   Now, my wandering ways are gone, as are Rob's, except for wandering off to the occasional dog event.  We are a long ways from the Chesapeake and we now call New Mexico home.  

We have other interests, which include photography, British cars, and shooting sports.  I also am an adoption rep for A Place for Us Greyhound Rescue, a group which has been around since 1997.  I cannot say enough about these creatures called greyhounds. They are intelligent, sweet tempered, well mannered and a joy to be around.

Well, that's all for now. Come again soon and please don't hesitate to contact us at jato791@yahoo.com.