Friday, December 12, 2014

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Storm of the Decade? Uh oh...

Mother Nature has a funny sense of humor -- Lyra's progesterone showing she is ready to breed AND Northern CA is having the "Storm of the Decade"!  Thankfully our 7 hour drive to Los Gatos (staying with a friend) was dry, but low and behold the morning we woke to a torrential downpour!  

Los Gatos Hills - you probably can't tell but it was raining buckets, and sideways.

Lyra was a trooper and donned her cutest raincoat to meet up with Baci.  Thank you to Susan Sibley (HRQ Vizslas) for making the dangerous drive back and forth to Baci's house for the breeding(s).  We certainly earned that yummy pizza lunch! 

Beautiful Lyra waiting to meet up with her beau, Baci.

Friday, December 5, 2014

Lyra is in season . . . today is Day 7

Woohoo!  Lyra has come into season!  Progesterone testing will start around Day 9 or 10 of her heat cycle.  Then, next week I will coordinate with the owners/breeders of Baci to drive to Northern CA for a love-bird rendezvous.

What the heck is progesterone testing, you ask?

Basically, progesterone is a hormone produced by the ovaries that rises as the heat cycle progresses. Early in the canine heat cycle the progesterone values will usually read less than 1.0 ng/ml.  The first significant, sustained rise in progesterone usually coincides with the "LH Surge".  The LH stands for luteinizing hormone and is released by the pituitary gland in the brain.  This is important because ovulation occurs about 48 hours after the LH surge.  The progesterone value at the time of the LH surge is usually about 2-3 ng/ml. The progesterone will rise to about 5-8 ng/ml at the time of ovulation. Canine eggs are not ready to be fertilized at the time of ovulation and take about 2 days to mature. Once mature, the eggs remain fertile for 2 to 3 days and then begin to deteriorate. Of note: progesterone stays elevated for about 2 months whether the bitch is pregnant or not.  We like to know when the "surge" is so that we have an idea of ovulation, when to breed, and to estimate the whelping day.

And now you know!  ;)
----

Post Update:  Lyra at Yorba Regional Animal Hospital getting her Progesterone done, good girl! 



What is the Easy Rider Litter?

So, what is the Easy Rider Litter?  All my litters have themes and the Baci x Lyra litter is no different.

The term "easy rider" has taken on various meanings over the years, but most notable was the 1969 movie Easy Rider which showcased wandering motorcycle riders as it's main characters.  Due to the popularity of the movie -- the term "easy rider" eventually referred to a good (and typically -- a Harley-Davidson) motorcycle.

The Baci x Lyra pups will have puppy/litter names of vintage/modern motorcycle brands, i.e. Harley, Opel, Triumph, etc.  When we move onto the time to select their AKC Registered Name, the common theme will be the word "Easy".  Below are some examples, but I am always looking for other creative options -- feel free to share!

Sounds easy, doesn't it?! ;)

Moonlight's Making it Look Easy
Moonlight's Easy Like Sunday Morning
Moonlight's Let Me Down Easy
Moonlight's It's So Easy
Moonlight's Easy Rider
Moonlight's Easy as ABC
Moonlight's Easy as Pie
Moonlight's Easy to Come By
Moonlight's Free and Easy
Moonlight's On Easy Street
Moonlight's Take It Easy
Moonlight's Getting Off Easy
Moonlight's Easy to Remember
Moonlight's Easy to Love
Moonlight's Life is Easy 
Moonlight's Easy to Believe
Moonlight's Easy Money 
Moonlight's Easy Livin'
Moonlight's Easy Peasy 
Moonlight's Easy Come, Easy Go
Moonlight's Easy to Dance With
Moonlight's It’s Not Easy Bein' Green
Moonlight's Easy Peaceful Feelin'

Monday, December 1, 2014

Meet "Lyra" -- Mommy to the Easy Riders


GCH CH Moonlight ‘n Tamaron When Stars Align, CGC “Lyra”

DOB: 9/10/2012
Sire: CH Tivoliz Colosseum Contender “Jack”
Dam: CH Tamaron Okos Piros Csillag, CD RN JH CGC ROM “Csilla”
Owner: Karen Lake, Co-Owner: Tami Westerbeck
Breeder: Karen Lake, Co-Breeder(s): T & L Westerbeck
AKC #: SR75953801
DNA Profile #: V692026

CHIC #: TBD
OFA Hips: VZ-13785G24F-PI (Good)
OFA Elbow: VZ-EL1999F24-PI (Normal)
OFA Thyroid: Preliminary Normal
OFA Eyes: VZ-383334 (Normal)

Accomplishments
Finished GCH with 5 Majors in 3 Weekends
2x Specialty Show Award of Merit Winner/Owner Handled
Finished Championship with 4 Majors from the Bred By Exhibitor Class
Specialty Show/Supported Entry Winners Bitch
Best of Opposite Puppy in Sweepstakes
Grand Sweepstakes Winner – SoCal Sporting Dog Fanciers
Multiple Bred By Exhibitor Group Placements
Canine Good Citizen

Baby “Lyra” (lie-rah) is Csilla’s last daughter and it seems she was meant to stay with me, her mom and half sister, Zene. Lyra keeps me entertained every day and she is one of the most charismatic and lovable Vizslas I've ever met.

She was a very fun girl to show once she matured and she finished her Championship title in short order with FOUR Majors, including a Specialty Win from the Bred By Class in only a handful of shows. Along the way she was awarded a Grand Sweepstakes Winner, Best of Opposite in Sweepstakes and earned multiple Bred By Exhibitor Group Placements (five in total). As a finished Champion, she went onto complete her Grand Championship title with FIVE Majors in only three weekends. Thank you Adrienne Owen (New Point Kennels) for handling Lovely Lyra!

With minimal bird exposure she picked up a Junior Hunter Pass and I have plans to finish her title after motherhood. She easily completed her Canine Good Citizen award -- but I think given her drive, energy level and working ability, she will be my first Agility dog and I can't wait to see what kind of fun we'll have together. 

Lyra's Sire: "Jack"

Her Sire "Jack" (CH Tivoliz Colosseum Contender) is a handsome and substantial Vizsla with a beautiful front assembly, nice deep chest, strong top-line and clean movement. A true testament to his conformational qualities, he completed his Championship title on one Specialty weekend, earning three consecutive 5 POINT MAJORS . . . at 14-months of age from the Bred-By-Exhibitor class. Way to go Jack! Once a finished Champion, he retired from the show ring as a companion for his Owners. His pedigree holds a proven strength in conformation, agility and field ability and his pedigree reflects several renown Vizslas, including the VCA Hall of Fame (HOF) “Danny” (BISS DC AFC Riverbend Deacon’s Dandy CD VC ROM HOF) and “ET” (DC Rebel Rouser ET ROM HOF); as well as, “Eve” (BIS BISS Am/Can/Intl CH Kizmar Caveat Spellbound JH NA NAJ OJP ROM), and “Cowboy” (BISS CH Russet Leather Caveat Kiowa JH ROM).

Lyra's Dam: "Csilla"

Her Dam "Csilla" (CH Tamaron Okos Piros Csillag, CD RN JH CGC ROM) is a proven producer earning her VCA Registry of Merit (ROM) in May 2014. Her progeny include a Best in Specialty Show Winner (BISS), five (5) Champions, three (3) Grand Champions (2 others are Major Pointed), seven (7) Junior Hunters, two (2) Rally Novice (RN) titleholders; along with Multiple Best of Breed, Group Placing, Specialty Award of Merits, and Multiple BBE Group Placements. Csilla has consistently passed her faultless temperament and good looks to her offspring. She hails from a successful litter with siblings earning (Multiple) Best in Specialty Show Wins, and a Best in Show.

Meet "Baci" -- Daddy to the Easy Riders


Int'l CH BIS/Am MBISS Gold GCH CH Jen's Penny Matra Baci's Boogie Fever "Baci"

DOB: 11/23/2007
Sire: BIS MBISS NBISS GCH Renaissance Lord Of 
Th’ Dance SH VC ROM “Konner”
Dam: CH Jen’s Penny Madison’s Uptown Girl “Madison”
AKC #: SR47293403
DNA Profile #: V536008


Accomplishments
Gold Grand Champion
Multiple Sporting Group Winning
Multiple Specialty Show Wins
2011 Eukanuba Best of Breed Winner
Top Five Vizsla (All Systems) in 2011

"Baci" is a handsome and moderately sized, yet robust Vizsla who is recognized by his far reaching side gait and clean movement.  A true testament to his conformational qualities, Baci was a Top Five Vizsla (All Systems) in 2011. He's since gone onto earn a prestigious Gold Grand Championship, amassing almost 500 Breed Points (read more: http://www.akc.org/press_center/article.cfm?article_id=4392). During his show career, he was awarded Multiple Best in Specialty Show Wins (Lone Cypress Specialty in Carmel and Woofstock/Vizsla Club of Northern CA in Vallejo) as well as being a Multiple Sporting Group Winner, and he also won Best of Breed at Eukanuba in 2011, defeating nearly 50 other Vizslas. 

Bred sparingly, he has consistently produced nice front assemblies/shoulders and offspring with good substance and bone. He has Multiple Champions and Grand Champions to his credit, including Ranked Specials, Group Winners and a Best in Specialty Show Winner. 

Personality-wise, Baci has an infectious energy and is a sweetheart around the house. You'd never know he was seven years old -- as he still greets visitors with a bouncy and puppy-like enthusiasm.

Baci being Baci ;)

One of Baci's ads

Baci's Sire: "Konner"

His Sire "Konner" (MBIS VBIS NBISS MBISS Am/Can/Mex/Int'l/World CH/GCH Renaissance Lord Of Th’ Dance SH VC ROM) is the Top Winning Vizsla of all time with 16 Best in Show Wins. Konner has been a formidable producer earning his VCA Registry of Merit (ROM) and has also been recognized as the #1 Top Producing Sire in 2011, and a Top Producer again in 2012.  Konner's progeny include multiple Best in Specialty Winners, Grand Champions, Champions, Ranked Specials and Group Winners.

We're planning a Spring 2015 Litter!

Planning a litter beings months, sometimes years ahead of time. No, really! Health and temperament are of the utmost of importance to my breeding program and I am very selective when choosing a stud dog. 

"Baci" (INT'L CH BIS/Am MBISS Gold GCH CH Jen's Penny Matra Baci's Boogie Fever) has been on my radar for a while after seeing several of his "kids" competing (and winning) in the show ring. I was fortunate enough to spend some time showing one of his boys, "Kibo", who is out of BISS GCH CH Tivoliz Now Pay Attention CD RN MH AX AXJ VC TDI ROM “Q” and I fell in love with his sweet and easy going temperament and lovely breed type. 

Knowing that it's best to consider the Sire when you find a dog you like -- the decision to breed "Lyra" to Baci seemed a natural fit.  FYI - Lyra is a niece to lovely Q (who is out of "Siren" CH Szizlin’s Ain’t She Inspir’n JH ROM*).   

Lyra should be coming into season in a few weeks, so for now we wait.