Mercedes & Bentley
Meet my first home-bred Welsh Terrier dual American & Canadian Champions (as well as my first Welsh Terrier Club of America National Specialty winner)!
Dam of JOE - Am GCh & Can Ch. Darwyn's I'm Not Arguing That!
Littermates - Mercedes and Bentley...born in 2002...both finished and were awarded Canadian & American Championships and Mercedes was awarded Winners Bitch and an Award of Merit (from the classes) at Montgomery 2004!
Mercedes: Am & Can Ch Darwyn Class at a Glance
Bentley: Am & Can Ch Darwyn Pure Inspiration
Sire: Am Ch Kirkwood Top Brass
Dam: Am/Can Ch Saredon Mistress Nora
Click here for Mercedes Pedigree and Bentley's Pedigree
For my foundation bitch's second litter (Honey), I thought that I
would try something a bit different ... perhaps import some frozen semen
from the US. Sounds simple, doesn't it?I had now been to the Welsh Terrier Club of America National Specialty, at Montgomery County in Pennsylvania, a few times by this time and had watched many of the dogs and puppies shown and talked with a number of people. For this second litter, I wanted to go to a quality, older, dog (conformation, health and temperament). I was torn between 2 of the top producers in the breed - Billy and Ben ... both seemed like quality choices. For this litter I chose to go to a dog named Ben, Ch. Kirkwood Top Brass. Ben was still alive, but older and on the East Coast of the US and his co-owner had frozen semen available from when he was younger. I discovered a reproduction vet in my general area that was highly recommended, Dr. van der Ende, and I worked with her to do the required testing that was needed to be done. Four healthy puppies were born!
Two of these puppies went on to finish both their American and Canadian Championships, be Group Winners and had the honor of winning at Welsh Terrier Specialties in the US! Mercedes was only specialed in Canada for one show weekend, and was awarded a few group placements, and Bentley finished his Canadian Championship with a Group 1 win (owner handled!). Not only were they well received in the show ring, but I was also happy about their wonderful temperaments - game and showy, but settled and really enjoyable to live with.
Mercedes - Am & Can Ch Darwyn Class at a Glance
(Winners Bitch at WTCA, Montgomery County Kennel Club, 2004)
Bentley - Am & Can Ch Darwyn's Pure Inspiration
Group Winner (from the classes), 2004
While I did much of my own handling and show conditioning for most of the points for both of these Welsh Terriers, I do need to thank a few people for their support and assistance. I am very pleased that Wood Wornall of California was very positive about Mercedes and he and his team, Jenny Wornall and Andrew Peel, took her into their care for a few months, conditioned and presented her for the Montgomery 2004 shows. A bit closer to home, I also want to thank David and Pat Gignac for presenting Bentley at a few shows, both Canadian and American, including the 2005 Washington State Welsh Terrier Specialty, where he went winners for the points available, while at that show I handled my specials bitch, K-See - Am/Can Ch. Saredon Chasing Secrets.
So - that was my second litter AND my first attempt at using frozen semen, AND my first home-bred dual American and Canadian Champions!
As with my first litter, I continued to learn that there was still much
more to learn! And, years later, I am still learning and
discovering new things! This litter also gave me a false level of
confidence about how easy (NOT!) breeding using frozen semen
is. Over the next few years I discovered the
costly, and frustrating, truth that in fact it is very easy to
not get any puppies at all, even after much testing
and science applied! I also learned just how critical
timing is and just as people say ... not every girl is the same! Bentley retired at the end of 2005 to a terrific young and active couple.
Mercedes (now just Sadie) was going to stay with us, but after my new mother and father fell in love with her (and Haley specifically), we decided that she would retire at the end of 2008 after Joe was born. Sadie went to live on the other side of Canada, in Nova Scotia. She lives on lakefront acreage property, has 2 wonderful people doting on her ... and friends that are more than happy to take care of her when they go away. You really can't ask for a better life! She clearly is the centre of attention in their household. Every time we are on the phone with them, she is in one of their laps, and there are plenty of stories ... about walks, explorations and discoveries about new critters (squirrels, learning that porcupines have quills, and even that once in a while live lobsters are brought home for dinner!). My family have also discovered that while she enjoys running around and exploring, in the summertime she is very happy to take over the passenger seat in their property golf cart and guard it until the garden errands are done! But, her favorite place of all, just as it was at our home, is in a lap getting belly rubs! :-)
Click here to see Sadie in her retirement home!