Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla | Belatarr Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla.

Puppy Updates.

It seems hard to believe that the Belatarr dozen are approaching 12 months old, but next month will see them celebrate their 1st birthday. Meantime it’s been as busy as ever in the lives of the pups:

Django, with his ever more luxuriant facial furnishings.

After a slightly delayed start in the ring our own Django is finally now becoming quite the showman and has racked up a series of Champ Show 1st places from his handful of appearances so far. His (usually!) superb carriage even won him a Best Puppy and then Best in Show award and the local DHK Pedigree Charity Dog Show where he beat approx 60 other (mostly adult) show dogs to collect his first ever trophy.

Like Phoenix & Mingus before them Django & his brother Finley also successfully completed their Puppy Gurus Advanced training this month, during which time Finley developed an evident love for agility – a whole new string to the Belatarr bow!

Their brother Otis lives with his Hungarian pack over at Nansavallan Vizsla in Cornwall. Much like his father before him he has rapidly developed a superb deep red harsh wire coat and is proving to be a complete natural at gun dog training:

Otis demonstrates his new skills.

Otis at 11 months.

Meanwhile, in a well-earned break from the show-ring, brother Charlie Parker has been enjoying the sights and sounds of rural France along with his big brother Oz the Chocolate Lab:

Charlie learns a new skill.

…and another.

A happy boy.

and a well-earned snooze.

Back on this side of the channel, and following their successes in the show-ring, brother and sister act Gryphon (Belatarr Dizzy Gillespie) and Billie (Belatarr Mahalia Jackson) have also been learning new skills as they try out for both working and obedience tests:

Gryphon, who has clearly learned to read.

Gorgeous head-shot of Gryphon (courtesy of Sharon Newman)

Billie, demonstrating her retrieve from water whilst showing off her perfect top-line. (courtesy of Sharon Newman)

….and the dried-off version.

Gryphon & Billie awaiting their next adventure. (courtesy of Sharon Newman)

Bristol resident Milo (Belatarr Thelonius Monk) has also been over to France this summer, and looks to have picked up a new interest of his own:

Milo waiting to be served at the pub.

Starting with his muzzle Milo now has a super, tight wire coat developing over his whole frame.

Milo on top of the world (well, the cliff, at any rate).

Across town is Digby (Belatarr Oscar Peterson), another Bristolian Belatarr with a super red wire coat:

Digby at the beach, back in summer.

Whilst down near the south coast are two of the Belatarr girls, Ruby (Belatarr Nina Simone):

Ruby says hello.

Ruby, keeping up the family tradition.

and last, but most definitely not least, is our very special little girl Ella (Belatarr Ella Fitzgerald):

Ella, in full bloom amongst the heather.

Ella with hew new big sister Ilka.

Ilka showing Ella the ropes….or is it the other way around?

Much more Puppy action coming to the blog very soon with a report/ photo-montage from the Belatarr litter reunion day…

15/09/2012 at 11:57 Leave a comment

Big Beach day out.

After seemingly endless rain the sun has finally made a return, so what better time to take everyone to the beach for a sandy romp! Little Django is now 9 months old (time certainly flies…) and is looking not so little and all-grown-up all of a sudden….looks can be deceptive, however!

Django in a rare moment of stillness.

This is a more usual pose.

Racing with dad.

…and with mum too.

The family emerges from the surf.

Django leads the charge.

A brief pause to pose with a stick.

…and swiftly back to bounce mode.

Strutting his stuff, showing off that awesome stick, whilst Phoenix looks on and hatches a plot.

In tandem with Mum…who, having hatched her plot, now has ownership of the stick.

So much sand, so little time.

And relax.

24/07/2012 at 17:15 Leave a comment

Mingus hits the big-time!

This last weekend saw Tim & crew set off on the 950-mile round trip to the Scottish Kennel Club Championship Show at the Royal Highland Showground on the outskirts of Edinburgh. Mingus was up against the big boys in his first Champ Show Open class, presided over by breed expert Jonathan Parry. Despite being the youngest in the class Mingus well-and-truly rose to the occasion, driving round the ring in great style, and we were absolutely thrilled when he was awarded 1st Open Dog – beating the Crufts 2012 Best of Breed, along with the only UK male Champion HWV plus the only male currently with 2 CC’s in the process.

Moments later things got even more exciting when Mingus was awarded Best Dog and won his first Challenge Certificate – given to HWV’s at only 8 shows each year, these are the ultimate accolade in showing:

The CC means that Mingus is granted a Kennel Club Stud Book Number and an entry in the revered Stud Book, which in turn means that he is also now qualified for Crufts for life and is one third of the way to becoming a champion, and all at just 2 years of age! We were delighted that his breeder Jacqui could also be at the show (en route to a working test with Mingus’ sister Love) to witness her baby all grown-up and hitting the big time in the show ring! We’re just so very proud of our beautiful boy.

Mingus back on home ground – wet and muddy in the garden.

A little later in the show Phoenix (who had most definitely never looked better – motherhood certainly becomes her!) also put in a great performance and qualified for Crufts 2013 at her first Champ Show for nearly a year, and also her first since her humongous litter of 12.

…and speaking of the Belatarr Twelve, Charlie Parker was the first of the baby boys to take to the ring, and went straight in at the deep end earlier in the month at the National Championship Show, where he thrilled Tim and also attracted a lot of other attention ring-side with his ultra-stylish and ultra-sound movement, not to mention his super-affectionate personality and beautiful head. Owners David & Jenny’s hard work and dedication certainly paid off when Charlie also qualified for Crufts at his (and their) very first show – cue excited squeals all round! Charlie took the whole thing in his stride and proved that he’s definitely made for the ring…his journey is only just beginning!

21/05/2012 at 18:41 4 comments

Belatarr Charlie Parker

Charlie Parker will always be a very special boy to us – he very nearly stayed on as part of our pack, and it was a considerable wrench to part with him, and a very emotional time when he left us for pastures new.

He now has a wonderful life with his new family of David, Jenny and (very importantly!) big brother Oz the Lab, who definitely takes a leading role in teaching young Charlie the ropes. This extremely handsome boy now looks uncannily like his dad, Mingus, and will also be the first of the Belatarr Babies to hit the show ring – very exciting for all concerned! Many thanks to David and Jenny for allowing us to share these fabulous pics of their boys:

Charlie & Oz hit the beach.

Aged 5 months.

The team!

Rewind back to 3 and a half months old, and Charlie meets snow for the first time.

19/04/2012 at 17:45 2 comments

Belatarr Babies update Pt1.

Since the Belatarr dozen will be 6 months old this coming weekend now seems like a good (and extremely overdue!) occasion to post some of the wonderful shots that pup owners have very kindly shared with us over the past few months:

Otis – Belatarr John Coltrane

Otis (in the foreground) out with his new Cornish Vizsla family.

Otto – Belatarr Dave Brubeck

Otto at 6 months.

Digby – Belatarr Oscar Peterson

Billie – Belatarr Mahalia Jackson

Billie at 5 months.

and at 6 months of age.

…and back at 10 weeks.

Gryphon – Belatarr Dizzy Gillespie

Gryphon (left) looking very Mingus-y, with sister Billie

Gryphon at 10 weeks.

Billie and Gryphon aged 5 months.

Brother & sister settled into their new home together.

Milo – Belatarr Thelonius Monk

Milo back at 3 months of age.

19/04/2012 at 16:57 2 comments

Django at 5 Months.

Hard to believe that our little bundle of fluff is now this mature, but Django is now 5 months old and suddenly looking very grown-up. We took the pack to the beach for only the second time since Django’s arrival and a high time was had by all:

A very wet Django concentrating (watching geese, in fact) at the beach....

Completely fearless in water, Django looking slightly bonkers but enjoying a good splash.

Django offers a play-bow to Mingus, who's generally more interested in chasing after gulls in the sea.

...and another...Obviously a new strategy.

Back on dry land and Ears-a-flying in the breeze.

Heading for home.

Stacked on the Tarka Trail, 4 days short of 5 months old.

24/03/2012 at 20:44 Leave a comment

Django update.

It’s been ages since we’ve had a chance to update the blog and a mountain of pup images have accumulated over the last month or so, so this update is definitely long overdue.

At the ripe old age of 4 months Django is now very thoroughly integrated into the pack and into our daily routines. Like his parents he’s incredibly affectionate and, if anything, even smarter and quicker to learn than they were. Ringcraft and Obedience training both started a few weeks back and, as with everything else, he’s taken them in his stride. Confident, calm & ever-curious would probably be his key adjectives right now, as he explores his world and we take him on his little daily adventures in the garden & river and, just occasionally, the beach too:

Django, hunter-of-voles, stalking his prey.

After a few tentative first introductions to water (not helped by him plunging into an icy pool one freezing day at the beach) Django now shares his parents love of water and excitedly heads for (and into) the river on his short morning walks. He also regularly demonstrates his HPR qualities and likes to Hunt, Point & Retrieve whenever the opportunity presents itself:

On point.

...and again - no vole is safe!

At the riverside.

Managing to keep dry-ish at the beach.

A rare trip out into the garden with mum - who's usually too fast for Django's young joints.

Ever attentive!

Retrieving a gull wing at Crow Point.

...and retrieving a stick from the river.

In profile.

Unlike the rest of the UK we've only had a light dusting of snow, but it was still something new for Django to experience.

Django & Mingus absolutely adore one another and when all the fun, games and training are over they often snuggle up together on the sofa.

19/02/2012 at 13:17 1 comment

Introducing Django.

An extremely exciting new chapter opens for Belatarr as young Django joins the pack on a permanent basis!

Django at 10 weeks old.

Following in his father’s paw-steps Django becomes our second Jazz dog, named, as he is, after the legendary jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt – although we understand that Tarantino is soon to release his own Django project too.

Belatarr Django Reinhardt - at 7 weeks.

Django also shares his father’s wonderful coat – deep red & harsh – and has a head so similar to Mingus’ that we can’t tell them apart in their 6, 7 and 8 week pics – see below. He’s also very confident, extremely laid back and easy-going, and is already proving to be very keen to learn and eager to train.

Django immediately gravitates to the prime spot on the dog sofa.

Centre stage, flanked by his brothers Gryphon & Charlie Parker.

Spot the difference - Mingus as he was at 8 weeks.

Django shares a snuggle with Fred.

Django with his brother Charlie Parker.

Asleep with his dad on Christmas day.

Until he’s has his second vaccination Django can’t go on the ground in public areas, so, just like his parents before him, he’s been riding around in the baby sling in order that we can introduce him to the wider world. Needless to say, much attention and many oooh’s and aaaah’s follow from onlookers wherever and whenever he appears in public in this way!

Django out-and-about on the Tarka Trail on New Years Day.

It's very frustrating when you can watch your parents running around but can't join in the fun!

Getting to be quite a handful...

Riding in (or more often attempting to wriggle out of) the baby sling.

...he would really rather be hurtling around with all those other exciting looking dogs down there.

01/01/2012 at 14:39 3 comments

Puppy portraits – 8 weeks.

Most of our boys and girls have now left for their new homes but we are still looking after three pups until their new families are ready for them, so our new, slimmed-down puppy-pack are now out and about with us and their parents throughout the day, and back in their whelping quarters at night. The warmer weather has also allowed them to take regular trips outside, several times a day, as well as individual trips in the car and round and about town in the baby sling, just like their parents before them.

Ella Fitzgerald, super-feminine and most definitely her fathers daughter.

Ella, in profile.

Thelonius Monk (Milo) - bad weather prevented us from getting a 7 week head-shot of this handsome boy, but we've managed to crack it this week.

Milo again - such a wonderful, sweet-natured puppy. He's staying on with us until early Jan - not exactly a chore!

The gorgeous Charlie Parker.

Charlie Parker - melting hearts across the land.

Charlie Parker once again.

Charlie Parker with his rather wet & windswept mum (just back from the beach).

Phoenix & younglings.

Mum makes for an ideal cushion.

...and so does Dad.

...and so does Tim's son Fred (or are they forming a cushion for him?)

The dog sofa, the heart of all action, as ever.

It's a waiting game.

Such a stressful existence.

21/12/2011 at 20:21 Leave a comment

Puppy Portraits – The Final Week!

Where has the time gone?? This is the last week for the Belatarr babies before most head to their new homes and start their lives away from the pack. Sadly the appalling weather (incredibly low-light levels, freezing temps, endless hail sleet & rain) meant that the final week head-shots were very tricky to get, and not very high quality and very washed-out when we did get them, with pups (and us) shivering and looking rather glum in the driving sleet…but at least we have something to represent them as they were at 7 weeks old and before they all change once again into mature young dogs.

So, dozens of refuse bags full of soiled bedding, weeks of missed sleep, much cuddling and hundreds of chicken wings later, these are Phoenix and Mingus’ dozen, all now with their Kennel Names (Jazz themed, to follow on from Mingus) just before they leave us:

THE BOYS (minus one)