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| Savi's 7 pups born 5-9-2013 |
Although we haven't updated Savi's blog in what seems like forever, she is regularly featured on our main blog, Grayhart Weimaraners and was super busy in 2013 and continues to compete, keep us amused and will be getting ready to be bred in the Spring of 2014.
Here are the highlights of Savi's 2013!
January 2013: Savi is now a Pet Partners Therapy Dog!
Last Sunday,Savi, CH Grayhart's Shear Genius, SH, NSD, NRD,V, and I underwent and passed with flying colors, the evaluation for the Pet Partners, formerly Delta Society, Therapy Dog Program. The test was given in New York City by Anita Sacks, a certified Pet Partner Evaluator.
What is unique about this program is that both the dog and handler are tested on their skills and aptitude as relating to what it takes to being a successful and safe team able to visit various environments. I was so proud of Savi, who did an awesome job, and received wonderful feedback from our evaluator on her terrific, outgoing temperament.
From the Pet Partners Website:
Pet Partners® program trains volunteers and screens volunteers and their pets for visiting animal programs in hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, schools and other facilities.
The Pet Partners program was established in 1990 to ensure that "both ends of the leash," people as well as animals, were well-prepared to participate in animal-assisted activity and animal-assisted therapy programs. Pet Partners is the only national registry that requires volunteer training and screening of animal-handler teams.
Pet Partners national network links volunteers with facilities in their own communities that request visiting pets and helps Pet Partners contact facilities to begin visits in new locations.
The evaluation consists of two parts, Skills and Aptitude. Above shows the dog at the beginning of an overall exam and then the tester will move on to clumsy petting and a restraining hug. Savi gave Anita lots of kisses whenever she could and was allowed.
The dog must have basic obedience skills and do these with distractions, ranging from yelling, staggering individuals, getting bumped from behind and being crowded and petted by a group of people. Above, shows a stay. The dog is kept on a long lead for safety purposes.
The last exercise was accepting a treat. The dog must do this in a polite manner and the evaluator must not feel teeth. It is also important that the handler show or tell the person how they are to give the dog a treat.
And we have a new Therapy Team!!!
Thanks to my good friend, Kellyann for the terrific photos and our puppy people, Aimee, Michael Rosalie and Danielle for helping make the entire test day a success!
March 2013: Dual Weimaraner Award for Savi!
Hot off the presses, in the March issue of The Weimaraner Magazine, is Savi's Dual Weimaraner Award page. To earn this award, a dog must have both a show championship and a Senior Hunter title.
Thanks to the Dual Weimaraner Program for this award sponsored by Debbie Moody & photo design by KellyAnn Kwiatek.
We cannot thank Denny Keeton enough for his expert training, handling and care of Savi to earn her Senior Hunter title! Savi was owner/breeder handled to her Junior Hunter title in 4 straight tests, along with her NSD and NRD. In the show ring, Savi finished her championship easily with a 5-pt major from the Bred-By-Exhibitor class earned during the Southern Futurity/Maturity weekend.
Savi is CH Grayhart's Shear Genius, SH, NSD, NRD, V CGC
She has two legs towards her CD (Companion Dog) title and one Novice Agility leg and one Novice Jumpers with Weaves leg. We hope to complete these titles after Savi takes time off for motherhood.
April 2013: Exciting litter due: Savi and Parker
Confirmed via ultrasound, Savi is expecting puppies in May!
Savi,CH Grayhart's Shear Genius, SH, NSD, NRD, V, PetPartners Therapy Dog was bred to
Parker, BISS GCH HiBourne's It's All About Me, BROM.
Parker is a gorgeous male, with elegant type, correct movement and a stable, friendly temperament. In addition to being a top winning show dog, Parker is a proven producer of multiple champions and versatile excellent offspring, with correct conformation and good health and temperaments. Our Trixie x Parker breeding produced champions, performance dogs and therapy dogs.
Parker attained 3 majors from the puppy classes and finished his Championship at 15 months of age with a 5-pt major Specialty win at the Yankee Weimaraner Club in conjunction with the WCA National Specialty where he also won an Award of Merit. Parker was Top Ten for two years, a Specialty and multiple Breed and Group winner.
This breeding should produce exceptional show and performance prospects and will be futurity/maturity nominated.
May 2013: Announcing the Fast Times Litter!
What a fabulous birthday present - Savi whelped 7 beautiful healthy pups, 4 girls and 3 boys! Savi was amazing, especially for a first time mother, whelping all seven in three hours and remained calm and relaxed throughout the entire process. The litter theme is based on Cameron Crowe movies and Fast Times at Ridgemont High is a classic.
The proud papa is Parker, Multiple Group Winning, Best in Specialty Show, GCH HiBourne's It's All About Me, BROM and the mother, Savi is officially known as CH Grayhart's Shear Genius, SH, NSD, NRD, CGC, V.
The proud papa is Parker, Multiple Group Winning, Best in Specialty Show, GCH HiBourne's It's All About Me, BROM and the mother, Savi is officially known as CH Grayhart's Shear Genius, SH, NSD, NRD, CGC, V.
July 2013: Savi's Puppies at 8 weeks!
August 2013: Savi rocks the Rally-O ring
Thirteen weeks after whelping a litter of seven pups, Savi was back in action, making her debut in the Rally ring. Honestly, we have never trained for rally and even though I winged it over 5 years ago and put a Rally Novice title on Trixie, in a weekend with 3 2nd placements, Rally is alien to me and a lot has changed since we last did it. I've been practicing obedience with Savi, hoping to finish her CD title and thought the since we were going to the Harrisburg cluster of shows, entering her in rally would be a fun way to get her back into a show ring. The other competitors and the judge were terrific and very helpful in explaining the meaning of some of the signs that I had questions about. I knew she would qualify as she has the skills to do well in Rally Novice (the lowest level) but what a pleasant surprise to hear that she was in 2nd place with a terrific score of 98 (out of 100). Very proud of my girl! She just needs two more qualifying legs to earn her Rally Novice (RN) title.
Savi spent the fall training in obedience and agility to get ready for competitions in 2014.
