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January 2012
We are now a little more than halfway through the first month of the new year. So far, weather-wise, it has been a strange winter, one day plus 5, next day minus 28. Sunshine, freezing rain, sleet and blizzards and extremely high winds. What do the Whippets and I have to say about it - the nicest word (at least one that I can put in print) is "YUCKKY". I really think the Whippets have the best idea, get under the blankets and stay there, (their thought is "no thanks, I can hold 'till spring"). Kevin (and his snowmobile) on the other hand, love this weather. He has a few snowmobiling trips planned and is thoroughly enjoying himself.
The good news is, we have bred our "Bug", RBIS BPIS Cdn Ch Touchstone A Splash Of Blue to Ammardan Dumond Avalonia, "Andrew", and it is now looking as if near the end of February we are going to have 'Buggy Babies' and our first litter of blacks. We are very excited about this litter and will be looking for a black to further our breeding program. Stayed tuned for updates.
We are also planning (late winter/early spring) on breeding our group winning Cdn Ch Touchstone A Summer Breeze, "Brie" to Andrew, with hopes of getting another black to go on with.
Pedigrees for both of these litters can be found on our "Puppy Page".
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December 2011
It's hard to believe, another year is now drawing to a close. We all have many happy memories, and a few sad ones, but we now have another year to look forward to with all our hopes and dreams.
We have not updated our news page in a few months so now is the time to so. Touchstone had another very good year in the show ring even though we did not attend as many shows as we usually do. Our RBIS BPIS Cdn Ch Touchstone A Splash Of Blue, 'Gracie' or "Bug" as she is fondly known as at home, finished the year as per the unofficial results of Canuck Dogs, as Number 10 Whippet in Canada, and Number 5 Whippet in Ontario. The high point of "Bug's" show season, in addition to her many group wins and placements, was being chosen Reserve Best In Show by judge Donald Wallace. 'Gracie' is now going to take time out of the show ring for (hopefully) maternal duties.
Three Touchstone whippets finished their Canadian Championships this year, all from the "Memory" litter, sired by multiple group placing Cdn Ch Avalonia Bondi At Touchstone out of Cdn Ch Avalonia Blueberry Lemonade. All three finished as puppies and all with Puppy Group wins. Two of these puppies are owned by Touchstone - Touchstone Remember When, "AJ", finished his Canadian Championship at 9 months of age with multiple Puppy Group wins and multiple Best Bred By Exhibitor In Group wins. "AJ" was also Winners Dog, Best of Winners and Best Puppy In Breed at the CASA specialty show. In addition to these wins, he attended the Purina Puppy Classic and was chosen Hound Group 4th. Touchstone Making Memories, "Lila", finished her Canadian Championship at 10 months of age with multiple Puppy Group wins and a Best Bred By Exhibitor in Group win. "Lila" was also Winners Bitch at the CASA specialty show. The third puppy to finish from this litter was Touchstone Just A Memory, "Alora", owned by novice D. Kells. "Alora" finished her Canadian Championship at 11 months of age with a Puppy Group win, shown excusively by her owner. These three puppies also helped their sire, Cdn Ch Avalonia Bondi At Touchstone win Best Stud Dog at the CASA specialty show, and their dam, Cdn Ch Avalonia Blueberry Lemonade win Best Brood Bitch at both CASA specialty shows. Cdn Ch Avalonia Blueberry Lemonade and Cdn Ch Touchstone Making Memories also won Best Brace at both CASA specialty shows.
Cdn Ch Avalonia Bondi At Touchstone, 'Brody' is the sire of 4 Canadian Champions and Cdn Ch Avalonia Blueberry Lemonade, 'Summer' is the dam of 6 Canadian Champions.
Through the generosity of his owners, Mick and Lanny Morry (Avalonia Whippets) and Jalynn Almond (Dumond Whippets), Ammardan Dumond Avalonia, 'Andrew', will be residing at Touchstone for the time being. 'Andrew' is a moderately sized, good boned, black and white, with an exceptional temperament, from the reknowned Sporting Fields black bloodline. We are looking forward to a couple of exciting litters sired by Andrew, who will provide us with an outcross and a new colour for our tightly linebred girls.
We, at Touchstone, would like to wish everyone a very happy and prosperous New Year, may all your hopes and dreams come true. To those who are 'owned by' Touchstone Whippets - thank you for giving our babes loving homes and making them part of your family.
See you all in 2012!
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September 2011
We are proud to announce that the third member of the 'Memory' litter has completed the requirements for her Canadian Championship. Congratulations to novice owner Debbi Kells and Touchstone Just A Memory, who completed her Championship (as a puppy) at Cornwall and District Kennel Club shows. 'Alora' is the 4th Champion for her sire, Cdn Ch Avalonia Bondi At Touchstone and the 6th Champion for her dam, Cdn Ch Avalonia Blueberry Lemonade. This really is turning out to be the litter that 'Memories' are made of. These 3 puppies - Cdn Ch Touchstone Remember When, Cdn Ch Touchstone Making Memories and Cdn Ch Touchstone Just A Memory, not only all finished their Canadian Championships as puppies, they all had Puppy Group wins.
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We realize that many of our individual 'Ladies' and Gentlemen' pages are sadly out of date and plan, over the next few months, on updating them. Please bear with us as these changes are (slowly) made. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
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July was a 'very good' month for Touchstone Whippets. We started off at the Kars shows - under judges Thomas Burke and Richard Lopaschuk, Touchstone Remember When (AJ) was Winners Dog and Best Puppy in Breed (over a puppy Special) to finish the requirements for his Canadian Championship. At the Capital Area Sighthound Specialty show on Saturday under judge Rita Walker, Touchstone Making Memories (Lila) was Reserve Winners Bitch. Brood Bitch Class was won by Cdn Ch Avalonia Blueberry Lemonade with her offspring Cdn Ch Touchstone A Splash of Blue, Cdn Ch Touchstone Remember When, Touchstone Making Memories (pts) and Touchstone Just A Memory (pts -owned by D. Kells). Best Brace was won by Cdn Ch Avalonia Blueberry Lemonade and Touchstone Making Memories. We thought that was a good day, but Sunday at the Capital Area Sighthound Association show under judge Sandra Anderson proved to be even better. It started off with Touchstone Remember When (AJ) being chosen Winners Dog, then Touchstone Making Memories (Lila) was chosen Winners Bitch. Touchstone Remember When was then chosen Best of Winners and Best Puppy In Breed (over a puppy Special). Cdn Ch Avalonia Bondi At Touchstone (Brody) was then chosen Best Stud Dog with his get - Cdn Ch Touchstone Remember When, Touchstone Making Memories (pts) and Touchstone Just A Memory (pts - owned by D. Kells) {out of Cdn Ch Avalonia Blueberry Lemonade} and to top off the day, Best Brood Bitch was Cdn Ch Avalonia Blueberry Lemonade with her offspring - Cdn Ch Touchstone A Splash Of Blue (sired by Cdn Ch Avalonia Trick or Treat), Cdn Ch Touchstone Remember When, Touchstone Making Memories (pts) and Touchstone Just A Memory (pts - owned by D. Kells) [sired by Cdn Ch Avalonia Bondi At Touchstone}. What a day to remember and we would like to thank judge Sandra Anderson for all her lovely comments about Touchstone Whippets. We also must thank all those who helped hold dogs and handle dogs - first to Taylor King who beautifully handled Summer in the Specials ring and then in the Brood Bitch class and Brody in the Stud Dog Class - Taylor you are one of the best, thank you. Also, thanks to Kevin, who is always there to step in and take a dog into the ring (even though he hates it), Tina King for taking puppies into the Brood Bitch and Stud Dog classes and Keith Garland, who is always there for us. Carol, you have no idea how much we missed you.
Touchstone Making Memories then moved on to Valley Kennel Club shows where on Monday under judge Charles Bett, she was Winners Bitch and Best Puppy In Breed (over a puppy Special). On Wednesday, under judge Joan Beech, both Touchstone Making Memories (Lila) and Cdn Ch Touchstone A Splash Of Blue attended the show. Cdn Ch Touchstone A Splash Of Blue was Best of Breed and Touchstone Making Memories was Winners Bitch and Best Puppy In Breed. Lila then went on and was chosen Best Puppy In Group.
At the Limestone Kennel Club shows under judge Mark Houston-McMillan, Touchstone Remember When was Winners Dog, Touchstone Making Memories was Winners Bitch, Best Of Winners and Best Puppy In Breed (over a puppy Special). Cdn Ch Touchstone A Splash Of Blue was Best Of Breed. Cdn Ch Touchstone A Splash Of Blue was then awarded a Hound Group 2nd and Touchstone Making Memories was awarded Best Puppy In Group. We would like to thank the judge for all his wonderful comments about our dogs. On Saturday, under judge Peter Machan, Touchstone Making Memories was chosen Winners Bitch, Best Of Winners and Best Puppy In Breed (over a puppy Special) to finish the requirements for her Canadian Championship. Sunday saw judge Linda Millman awarding Touchstone Remember When - Winners Dog and Touchstone Making Memories Winners Bitch, Best Of Winners, Best Puppy In Breed (over a puppy Special) and Best Bred By Exhibitor In Breed. Our 'Lila' then went on and was chosen Best Bred By Exhibitor In Group.
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Below are the photos from the CASA Specialty show. Under judge Sandra Anderson, Touchstone Remember When (AJ) is pictured winning Winners Dog, Best of Winners and Best Puppy In Breed and Lila is pictured winning Winners Bitch.
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The Kingston and District Kennel Club shows is the only show that Touchstone Whippets attend during the month of June. It is a show that we will never forget.
Under judge Phylis Wolfish, Touchstone Remember When (AJ) was Reserve Winners Dog and Best Puppy In Breed, while housemate Cdn Ch Touchstone A Splash Of Blue was Best of Breed. AJ, then moved his way to another Best Puppy In Group in his very short (to this point) career.
Under judge Michelle Scott, Touchstone Remember When was Winners Dog for another point towards his Canadian Championship, and litter sister Touchstone Just A Memory (owned by D. Kells) was Reserve Winners Bitch. AJ was also chosen Best Bred By Exhibitor In Breed and Cdn Ch Touchstone A Splash Of Blue was Best of Breed. "The Bug" then moved her way to a Hound Group 3rd and to top off the day, AJ was chosen Best Bred By Exhibitor In Group.
So far, it seemed, the weekend just couldn't get ANY better but Sunday, under judge Donald Wallace, proved that things could always get better. In the classes, Touchstone Just A Memory (owned by D. Kells) was chosen Winners Bitch for her first two points towards her Canadian Championship and our "Lila", Touchstone Making Memories was Reserve Winners Bitch. In Breed judging, Cdn Ch Touchstone A Splash Of Blue was Best Of Breed and Touchstone Just A Memory was Best Of Winners and Best Puppy In Breed. We then moved on to Group judging and the day became fantastic - Cdn Ch Touchstone A Splash Of Blue showed her heart out and was chosen Hound Group 1st. In Puppy Group judging, Touchstone Just A Memory went back in the ring against the Hound Group 3rd pick and was chosen Best Puppy In Group to thrill us and her owner - this is what memories are made of!
Cdn Ch Touchstone A Splash Of Blue, then went on to Best In Show judging. Our beautiful "Bug" doing what she has always done from her first show at 6.5 months of age - proving she is the stuff that dreams are made of - 'wowed' the judge and moved her way to RESERVE BEST IN SHOW!!!! Thank you judge DONALD WALLACE for this thrill of a lifetime - and thank you "Bug", with you, the dreams just keep getting better.
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The youngsters went to the Ottawa Kennels Clubs shows and came home with some nice results. Touchstone Making Memories (Lila) showed judge Joy Hodgkinson her lovely movement and was chosen Winners Bitch and Best of Opposite sex (over a Special) to put her at 4 points towards her Canadian Championship. Touchstone Remember When (AJ) was Winners Dog under judge Richard Lake. Under judge Ray Smith, AJ was chosen Winners Dog, Best Of Opposite Sex, Best Puppy In Breed and Best Bred By In Breed. He then went on and was chosen Best Bred By In Group. These wins increased his total to 7 points towards his Canadian Championship. Cdn Ch Touchstone A Splash Of Blue decided that she would go into the ring with Auntie Carol Froats and was chosen Best of Breed and then moved her way to a Hound Group 4 under judge Ray Smith.
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The Touchstone gang went to the Arnprior Canine Association shows and came home with some nice results. Cdn Ch Touchstone A Splash Of Blue was Best of Breed at all four shows. Under judges Glenys Alexander and Fred Heal, Gracie (The Bug) moved her way to Hound Group 2nd. Touchstone Making Memories was entered in two shows. Under judges Glenys Alexander and Ed Wild, 'Lila' placed Winners Bitch and Best Puppy In Breed for her first points. Touchstone Remember When was also entered in two shows. Under judge Fred Heal, 'AJ' placed Winners Male, Best Of Winners and Best Puppy In Breed. Under judge Nancy Popovich he placed Winners Male, Best of Winners, Best Of Opposite Sex and Best Puppy In Breed. Her comments were " He is a lovely puppy and when he matures he is going to be absolutely stunning".
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Cdn Ch Avalonia Bondi At Touchstone and Cdn Ch Touchstone A Summer Breeze would like to announce the birth of their litter of 3 puppies, the first all fawn litter for Touchstone, on April 26, 2011. They are proud to introduce the "Coffee Time" litter at 4 days of age.
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Touchstone started the show season at the Champlain Dog Club shows the weekend of April 8, 9 & 10. Friday, in her debut shows, Touchstone Making Memories was Best Puppy In Breed at both shows and she had a blast. 'Lila' was steady, happy and showed that she has full intentions of following in her Mom's and 2 half sisters' footprints. Saturday and Sunday, Touchstone Remember When made his debut with wonderful results. 'AJ' was Winner's Dog and Best Puppy In Breed both days for his first points towards his Canadian Championship and on Sunday went on to Best Puppy In Group!
These 2 keeper pups from our 'Memory' litter sired by Cdn Ch Avalonia Bondi At Touchstone out of Cdn Ch Avalonia Blueberry Lemonade are fulfilling all the promise they showed as young babies. At 7 months, not only are they a beautiful ammalgamation physically of their parents, their personalities are also. We are going to have a lot of fun with these two at the summer shows.
Below, in a candid ringside shot by Dean Dennis Photography, is a photo of 'AJ' moving to his Best Puppy In Group.
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March 2011
The calendar says spring is here, but a look at the thermometer says different. We are starting to suffer from cabin fever, so therefore are looking to upcoming shows (and sunshine and heat).
We are looking forward to a new litter the end of April. Group winning and placing Cdn Ch Touchstone A Summer Breeze (pictured at the top of this page) is in whelp to multiple group placing Cdn Ch Avalonia Bondi At Touchstone. These puppies should excel in personality and movement.
Our two keeper pups from the 'Memory' litter, sired by Cdn Ch Avalonia Bondi At Touchstone out of Cdn Ch Avalonia Blueberry Lemonade are now six months old and looking very good. Watch for Touchstone Remember When and Touchstone Making Memories at some of the upcoming shows.
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January 2011
A new year, another new beginning. A time to enjoy old friends and a time to meet new friends!
We did not update our site at the end of 2010 because of computer problems (we now have solved that problem - new computer!) so we would like to take this opportunity to do that now.
Our pretty, petite Gracie finished out the year (as per the unoffical results of Canuck Dogs) as Number 8 whippet in Canada. And this at only a year and half old with limited showing, always breeder/owner handled. We are so proud of our 'Bug'. 'Gracie' finished the show season with multiple Best of Breed wins, 3 Group 1st, 1 Group 2nd, 3 Group 3rd, 3 Group 4th, Best Of Breed at the Capital Area Sighthound Specialty, Best In All Breed Sweepstakes and Group 2nd at the Purina Puppy Classic.
We also finished 2 new Champions: first, Cdn Ch Touchstone Rhythm N'Blues, 'Tye", sired by and the second Champion for Cdn Ch Avalonia Trick or Treat and out of Cdn Ch Avalonia Blueberry Lemonade, our foundation brood bitch and her third Champion; second, Cdn Ch Touchstone Surprise Surprise, 'Ryker', sired by Cdn Ch Avalonia Bondi At Touchstone out of Cdn Ch Avalonia Trixie Smith. Ryker is the first champion for both his sire and dam out of the first litter for both.
Our 'Memory' litter, whelped September 7/10, sired by multiple group placing Cdn Ch Avalonia Bondi At Touchstone ex Cdn Ch Avalonia Blueberry Lemonade is growing up and moving on. We 'had' to keep a male, Touchstone Remember When and a female, Touchstone Making Memories, look for them this summer in the show ring. They are pictured on our Show Prospects Page and hopefully will soon have their own pages.
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