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On March 4, Avalonia Trixie Smith delighted us with 8 beautiful puppies sired by our exquisite Cdn Ch Avalonia Bondi at Touchstone. There is a rainbow of colours in this litter - black brindles, lemon brindles, watermarked fawns and dark fawns, some of them are particolours and others have very flashy white markings.
The second litter, sired by the gorgeous blue fawn brindle and white particolour, Cdn Ch Avalonia Trick or Treat out of the beautiful blue fawn brindle and white, Cdn Ch Avalonia Blueberry Lemonade arrived on March 21 containing 5 gorgeous puppies, all blue brindles and blue fawn brindles. Please see our "Puppies" page for more information on these litters and feel free to contact us if you are interested in a puppy from either one of these litters as some of the puppies will be available to show and companion homes. In April, at the Champlain Kennel Club shows, we plan on bringing out our keeper pup from our 2008 litter out of Cdn Ch Avalonia Blueberry Lemonade, Touchstone A Summer Breeze. 'Brie' has decided that she wants to try her paw in the show ring and see what her mom loves so much about it. |
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We thought we would start our 2009 show season this year at Petawawa, at the Champlain Dog Club shows over the Easter weekend - and what a start it was!
This was the first show for our keeper puppy from our 2008 litter, (by Cdn Ch Frontrunner's Full Monty out of our foundation bitch Cdn Ch Avalonia Blueberry Lemonade) Touchstone A Summer Breeze and a refresher show for Cdn Ch Avalonia Bondi at Touchstone. Brie wanted to see what Mom loves so much about the show ring and Brody thought he would go along to show her how things were done. Saturday, April 11, under Judge Gerona MacCuaig, Brie was Winners Bitch, Best of Opposite Sex and Best Puppy in Breed and Brody was Best of Breed. Nice start to the show season. But, Cdn Ch Avalonia Bondi at Touchstone decided he needed to add to the thrills he has already given us and went on to a Hound Group 3rd. So of course, our petite and full of heart, Touchstone A Summer Breeze was not going to be outdone by a mere male and moved her way right into Best Puppy In Group. Certainly, a day of thrills for Touchstone and what a start for the show season. |
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Sunday, April 12, was a shock and a thrill for Touchstone, as placements in the breed judging turned around. Judge Connie Gutierrez-Otero chose as her Best of Breed (and Best Puppy In Breed) - Touchstone A Summer Breeze and gave Best of Opposite Sex to Cdn Ch Avalonia Bondi At Touchstone. Brie then went on to Group judging and thrilled us beyond belief by being chosen Hound Group 3rd. All this and her first points at only 10 months of age. (As Brie came out of the group ring, we swear we saw her stick her tongue out at Brody)
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What a start to the show season - two Hound Group 3rd and a Best Puppy in Hound Group - and all this at the first show that was to be a practice show. Thank you to all who have supported us and thank you to judges Gerona MacCuaig and Connie Gutierrez-Otero. A special thank you to Carol Froats for taking Brie into Breed judging both days.
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May 2009
We decided to enter a couple of shows in May in preparation for the summer shows. The first was Arnprior Canine Association to give our Touchstone A Summer Breeze, a little more ring experience. Brie, taking full advantage of everything handed to her, was Best of Breed, two out of the three days and Best Puppy In Breed, all three days.
The second was the Ottawa Kennel Club shows and we decided at that time to bring our 'reluctant show girl' Riley back out in search of her Canadian championship (we told her those puppies weren't going to help her). Of course, her best friend Brody had to go along to hold her paw. Friday, Riley was Winners Bitch, Brie was Reserve Winners and Brody was Best of Breed. To show Riley that shows really aren't that bad, Brody went into Group judging and was awarded Hound Group 4 under Judge Edgar Bajona. (Thanks to our good friend Carol Froats for handling Brie for winners judging and Brody for Breed judging, as I stayed with the 'reluctant show girl'.) Riley was Winners Bitch Saturday under judge Donald Duncan to bring her point total to 8. Sunday, because Brie was first in Bred By Exhibitor, I handed Brie to friend Keith Garland while I showed Riley in the Open class. As I have Riley set up in the show ring, I hear a collective gasp from ring side and then those dreaded words 'loose dog'. Without even looking, I just knew "WHO" that loose dog was, and sure enough, in seconds I had a very happy Brie in my lap telling me that she escaped from 'that man' who was trying to steal her. Winners Bitch went to Touchstone A Summer Breeze and Keith tells everyone that he just wanted to make sure that Brie got that 'second' look. (Thanks to judge Cheryl Meyers-Egerton, who saw the humour in the situation, and thanks to Keith who was 'brave' enough to handle Brie - we don't know if he will ever offer again though) |
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June 2009
June is a slow month as far as shows go for Touchstone but we did attend the Kingston and District Kennel club shows in mid June. Avalonia Trixie Smith was Winners Bitch and Best of Opposite Sex under judge Heather Glendinning and is now at 9 points towards her Canadian championship.
Her son, Touchstone Surprise Surprise went along to this show for some practice and was entered in the Sanction match. He thoroughly enjoyed himself and was Best Male, Best of Opposite Sex (to an adult female), Best Puppy in Breed and Best Puppy In Group. Look for him in the future. |
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On the last day of the Valley Kennel Club shows, Brie decided (as only BB can do) that she had enough of taking a back seat to Riley. Under judge Margaret Jones, our BB, 'moved' her way to Winners Bitch, Best of Winners and Best of Breed (over specials). We were thrilled. |
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Cdn Ch Avalonia Bondi At Touchstone and Cdn Ch Touchtone A Summer Breeze attended the SD&G Shows the weekend of Aug 29 - 31. And a good weekend it was. Brody was Best of Breed all 3 days and Brie was Best Opposite Sex to him on 2 of those days. But it didn't stop there. On August 29 under judge James White, Brody went on to Hound Group 3rd and then repeated the win (Hound Group 3rd) on August 31 under Judge Tim Doxtater. Both of these wins were in a very strong Hound Group. We would like to thank handler Carol Froats who all 3 days showed Brody for breed judging and who on August 31 showed Brody to his Group 3rd.
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Touchstone Surprise Surprise (Ryker) by Cdn Ch Avalonia Bondi At Touchstone ex Cdn Ch Avalonia Trixie Smith, made his show debut at the Cornwall show on the day he turned 6 months old. Just to show us that he was going to be able to keep up to 'dad', Ryker was chosen Best Puppy In Group by judge Neil Graves. House mate Cdn Ch Touchstone A Summer Breeze was Best of Breed.
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October is one of those months that you think 'well most of the shows for the season are over, what do we do now?' So we decided to go to the Nipissing Kennel Club shows over the Thanksgiving weekend with Cdn Ch Avalonia Bondi At Touchstone, and the babies, Touchstone A Splash of Blue and Touchstone Rhythm N'Blues.
What a weekend it was!!! In her very first show at just over 6 months, Gracie, Touchstone A Splash of Blue, was chosen Winners Bitch, Best of Breed and Best Puppy In Breed under judge Carmen Haller. But Gracie wasn't done there. She went into Group judging and (for once) behaved herself and was chosen Group 2nd and Best Puppy In Group for 3 points. Thank you to judge Carmen Haller for this unforgettable win for this very promising young girl (and thank you also for your lovely comments about this young girl). Brody, Cdn Ch Avalonia Bondi At Touchstone, also had a good weekend and was chosen Group 4th under judge Victoria Thomas, Group 4th under judge Ole Nielsen, and Group 3rd under judge Patricia Lanctot. Thank you to the judges for these wins and a very special 'Thank You' to Carol Froats who showed Brody to all of these wins. Tye, Touchstone Rhythm N'Blues decided that shows were a very fun place to be, thoroughly enjoyed himself, and was Winners Dog and Best Puppy in Breed under judges Victoria Thomas and Ole Nielsen. |
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Because the 2 babies, Touchstone A Splash Of Blue and Touchstone Rhythm N'Blues, had soooo much fun at the Nipissing shows, we decided to enter them in Belleville - never even realizing what an unforgettable weekend it would turn out to be.
Judge Patricia Nemirovsky was very impressed by these two babies and had nothing but good comments about them. She was so impressed that she awarded Touchstone A Splash Of Blue, Winners Bitch, Best Of Winners, Best of Breed and Best Puppy In Breed and awarded Touchstone Rhythm N'Blues, Winners Male and Best Opposite Sex (over a special), both for points. What a great day! |
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The next day, under judge Michael Gelinas, Grace was Winners Bitch, Best of Winners and Best Puppy in Breed for 2 more points and Tye was Winners Dog. |
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As it turns out, Ms Gracie was still not done showing everyone that the little ones are forces to be reckoned with! The Best Puppy In Show ring contained 7 very beautiful puppies and judge Thomas Touzel awarded Touchstone A Splash of Blue, Best Puppy In Show. This is a thrill that will NEVER be topped! Thank you judge Thomas Touzel. |
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Touchstone Surprise Surprise, 'Ryker', has been feeling left out of the show scene - he had only been to one show so we entered him at Ottawa Kennel Club shows. He did not disappoint us - he was Winners dog and Best of Opposite Sex all three days, in addition to Best Puppy In Breed on Sat, for his first points. We would like to thank judges Butch MacDonald, Leslie Rogers and Cec Ringstrom for these wins, and for seeing the promise in this young and very immature boy.
Pictured below, is Ryker's win (at 8 months) under judge Butch MacDonald. |
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The year 2009 is drawing to a close and the show season for Touchstone has ended. Now we look forward to a relaxing winter with our Whippets - planning, hoping and dreaming for 2010 (and Kevin can focus on his hobby of snowmobiling).
2009 has been a memorable year for Touchstone. We started off in March, with 2 beautiful litters of puppies - the 'Surprise' litter, by Cdn Ch Avalonia Bondi At Touchstone ex Cdn Ch Avalonia Trixie Smith and the 'Blues' litter, by Cdn Ch Avalonia Trick or Treat ex Cdn Ch Avalonia Blueberry Lemonade. Thirteen puppies were a lot of work but even more fun. It is so rewarding to watch your hopes and dreams grow up, maturing with the qualities that you had planned for and see these puppies make their show debuts with fantastic results. It is also rewarding to watch some of these puppies move on to their new forever homes with people of their own, knowing how happy (and crazy) they are going to make 'their' people. When the show season began in April we had no idea what a good year it would be. In limited showing, usually owner-handled, Touchstone finished three Canadian Champions (two of them homebred) (and pointed the two baby boys) - with numerous Best of Breeds and Best Puppy In Breeds, four Best Puppy In Group, eleven Group placements and a Best Puppy In Show. These were all extremely memorable, but what is even more unforgettable is the lovely comments we have received about the quality and temperment of our whippets - from judges, fellow exhibitors, professional handlers and ringside spectators - "Thank you all". We would like to thank 'Auntie' Carol Froats who is always there to encourage us, cheer for us and always there to take someone into the ring for us (planned or not). Most of all, we would like to thank our wonderful whippets - they are a 'dream come true'. Touchstone Whippets would like to wish everyone the best of the Holiday Season and all the best in the the New Year. Debbie & Kevin Summer - Cdn Ch Avalonia Blueberry Lemonade Riley - Cdn Ch Avalonia Trixie Smith Brody - Cdn Ch Avalonia Bondi At Touchstone Brie - Cdn Ch Touchstone A Summer Breeze Gracie - Cdn Ch Touchstone A Splash Of Blue Ryker - Touchstone Surprise Surprise (pts) Tye - Touchstone Rhythm N'Blues (pts) Sassy - the mini Schnauzer (the true 'ruler' of Touchstone) Trouble - the Siamese cat (aka 'the bunny' when the whippets are bored) |
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