Posts filed under ‘Puppies’
Lyra steps out + Django scores historic win!
A really fantastic weekend of shows for us – on Saturday 6 month old Belatarr Lyra got her show career off to a super start at the Plymouth Premier Show where she was placed 2nd in HWV Open, and picked up Best Puppy in Breed & Reserve Best of Breed, beaten only by her big sister Billie (Belatarr Mahalia Jackson) who was BOB.
The following day Lyra scored another Best Puppy in Breed at Central Cornwall, but the big news was made by her big brother, Django, who took Best of Breed and then went on to beat the other 16 Gundog Best of Breed’s to score another superb Gundog Group 1 win, picking up a silver goblet for Best Gundog in Show. The biggest prize of all, though, is that Django has now qualified for his Show Certificate of Merit just like his father, Mingus, and brother, Gryphon (Belatarr Dizzy Gillespie) before him. Django is only the 6th male HWV to win the ShCM and the 2 year old Gryphon & Django become only the second pair of siblings, and the first ever pair of brothers in the breed to have achieved the award!
The weekend wins.
Belatarr Dizzy Gillespie – Best Dog at Manchester Championship.
In another super Championship outing for the Big Belatarr Babies, Belatarr Dizzy Gillespie (Gryphon) took 1st Post Graduate Dog, with his brother Charlie Parker 2nd, before going on to be awarded Best Dog under judge Editha Newton.
Her critique for him was:
“I liked his balance of angles both fore & aft which helped him to stand foursquare with correct topline. Lovely neck & shoulder with good depth of chest. Lovely straight hock.”
Following wins at LKA and Boston this makes three Champ Shows in a row where Belatarr babies have taken Best Dog or Best Bitch, with a different sibling winning each time, which is particularly pleasing.
Not wishing to be left behind, a little later on Belatarr Mahalia Jackson (Billie) stepped out into what was only her second Champ Show Open Bitch class and was awarded 2nd from a classy entry of 10 Open Bitches. Many congratulations to all, once again!
Beltarr Lyra at 5 months.
Lyra, stacked at 5 months.
Our cheeky little monkey is coming along very nicely, brimming with personality and confidence she also seems to combine the flashiness and movement of her brother Django with her father Mingus’ full-body covering harsh red coat, exactly what we were hoping for!
Now 5 months old Lyra is stacked here at the exact location that we photographed Dad and big brother when they too were 5 months old. She feels very much the baby still, so it’s hard to believe that she’ll be stepping out into the ring for the first time in only a few more weeks…
Belatarr Mahalia Jackson Best Bitch at LKA
Ending what has been a terrific year in suitably terrific style Billie, Belatarr Mahalia Jackson, took 1st in Post Graduate Bitch at the LKA Championship, and then went on to be awarded Best Bitch and Reserve Best of Breed under judge Mick Howes.
His super critique for her read:
“A real showgirl with class & style. She did not put a foot wrong. With overall soundness & balance, this bitch has an eye catching outline. Shown in good coat & presented in lovely condition. She has a very pretty head with good earset & correct eye, strong neck & lay back of shoulder, plenty of fore chest with straight front good pastern. Plenty of depth with spring to rib, excellent tailset. She has good muscle tone which showed in her movement which was steady with drive & extension keeping her topline & using her tail. Well deserving of Best Bitch”
Billie on the move.
Lyra at 12 weeks.
Lyra glowing in some rare sun and suddenly looking terribly grown-up too, but still very tiny beside her parents and big brother.
Introducing Lyra!
The Belatarr pack expands once again as we officially welcome Belatarr Lyra to the household.
Belatarr Lyra.
The pick of Phoenix & Mingus’ recent litter Lyra (formerly Miss Lime, for our puppy watchers!) is an absolutely gorgeous girl with her fathers deep red wire coat and a completely unflappable confidence in everything that she does.
Lyra was named after the heroine of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy and also, in line with all of her litter-mates, after the Lyra constellation.
Riding in the sling, just like her parents and big brother before her…
…and wiggling to get down to hurtle around in the grass, just like her parents and big brother did before her…
The famous “butter-wouldn’t melt” expression.
Looking eager, as usual!
Lyra almost does her first point.
The determined explorer.
Trying cow parsley for size.
Lyra at nearly 7 weeks.
and at 6 weeks.
So Lyra carries the hopes and plans for Belatarr into the future and it’s a future that we are now extremely excited about!
Saying ‘hello’ back at 5 weeks old.
Puppy Portraits: Week 7
The final week that the babies will all be together – where did all that time go!? Most of the pups will be heading off to their new lives at the end of the week, so, now that everyone has been allocated, we can finally reveal their Kennel names & destinations.
Our previous Jazz litter were named after their father, Mingus’, so for this litter we wanted to continue Phoenix’ name theme. As a result all the pups have all been named after constellations, following on from the Phoenix Constallation.
THE BOYS
Belatarr Sculptor (Kofi)
Kofi, Mr Black, will be heading off to join Vivien, Lox & senior GWP Freddie in Berkshire. Always a very strikingly handsome boy right from birth, Kofi will be gundog trained and, along with some of his brothers and sisters, will also be heading to the show ring next year – can’t wait!
Belatarr Cepheus (Rusty)
Rusty, Mr Blue, was the first boy to leave the nest & this very sweet boy joins a thoroughly smitten Ian & Anita in Chichester where many cuddles and adventures undoubtedly await them all.
Belatarr Perseus (Percy)
Percy, Mr Bronze, is another very striking boy, picked out by many visitors and blog-watchers, particularly for his intensely dark red coat. He joins a very excited Copper the HWV along with Jan & family in Chichester and we hope to see him out in the ring next year too!
Belatarr Hercules (Herc)
Herc, Mr Green’s, specialty is soaking up as many cuddles as he can secure. His melting expression and super-huge ears mean that cuddles tend to come thick and fast! He joins big brother Belatarr Charlie Parker, along with David, Jenny & Oz the Lab in Northants and will also be joining Charlie in the showring from next year – very exciting!
Belatarr Indus (Fergus)
Fergus (Mr Red) is a big boy with a big heart and from a very young age looked like the spitting image of Finley, Belatarr Art Tatum, so it only seemed fitting that he now joins big brother Finley along with Carole, Chelsea & Emma. They are just 3 miles away from us here at Belatarr HQ, so we will be delighted to be able to watch this handsome chap growing up at close hand.
THE GIRLS
Belatarr Andromeda (Ava)
Ava, Miss Fawn, was pretty much always destined for the show ring, and now joins Liz, Barry, Scooby the HWV and Dodd the Leonberger in Telford where this elegant young lady will live right beside sister Halle. We can’t wait to see these two sisters growing up.
Belatarr Musca (Gertie)
Gertie, Miss Orange, heads even further West to Cornwall where she instantly became the centre of all attention for Sarah, Paul & a very excited young Jack. We hope that this confident, outgoing and beautiful girl will fulfill all of their long-held HWV dreams.
Belatarr Libra (Twiglet)
Twiglet, Miss Pink, is definitely the sweetest and most polite of the litter, and this pretty and gentle girl seemed like the perfect pup for Kathy, Paul & a thoroughly besotted young Millie in Surrey.
Belatarr Cassiopeia (Halle)
Halle, Miss Purple, very nearly stayed here with us, but was finally destined to live with Tom, Gail and their two Border Collies where she will undoubtedly share many adventures with her sister, Ava, who lives just a few houses away in Telford. Tom & Gail are very keen to learn to show and we are sure that Halle will make the most wonderful and rewarding girl for them to learn with.
Belatarr Noctua (Kaia)
Kaia, Miss White, is quite the adventurer and was the perfect match for experienced HWV owners Tim, Laura & family on the Kent/Sussex border where she will have a lovely outdoor life and may also be trained to track when she’s a little older.
Belatarr Corona (Cooroo)
Cooroo, Miss Yellow, is the only one of the pups who will be flying to their new home. A true adventure awaits her in a few days when she jets off to join Will, Jess & young Arlo for a life of endless beaches and woodlands on St Mary’s in the Isles of Scilly.
Belatarr Andromeda
Proud Dad.
Puppy Portraits: Week 6
The Boys
Mr Black.
Mr Blue
Mr Bronze.
Mr Green.
Mr Red.
The Girls
Miss Fawn.
Miss Lime.
Miss Orange.
Miss Pink
Miss Purple
Miss White.
Miss Yellow.
Puppy Portraits: Week 5 (a bumper crop!)
THE BOYS
Mr Black 1.
Mr Black 2.
Mr Black 3.
Mr Blue 1.
Mr Blue 2.
Mr Blue 3.
Mr Bronze 1.
Mr Bronze 2.
Mr Bronze 3.
Mr Green 1.
Mr Green 2.
Mr Green 3.
Mr Red 1.
Mr Red 2.
Mr Red 3.
THE GIRLS
Miss Fawn 1.
Miss Fawn 2.
Miss Fawn 3.
Miss Lime 1.
Miss Lime 2.
Miss Lime 3.
Miss Orange 1.
Miss Orange 2.
Miss Orange 3.
Miss Pink 1.
Miss Pink 2.
Miss Pink 3.
Miss Purple 1.
Miss Purple 2.
Miss Purple 3.
Miss White 1.
Miss White 2.
Miss White 3.
Miss Yellow 1.
Miss Yellow 2.
Miss Yellow 3.
Puppy Portraits: Week 4
The Boys
Mr Black.
Mr Blue.
Mr Bronze.
Mr Green.
Mr Red.
The Girls
Miss Fawn.
Miss Lime.
Miss Orange.
Miss Pink.
Miss Purple.
Miss White.
Miss Yellow.
A month old already and huge changes in the pups this week. Nearly fully weaned they’ve learned how to polish off pretty much every morsel of their raw food diet and now manage to eat in a very orderly fashion:
Team 2 tuck in.
They also started to come out of the whelping box into their indoor run about a week ago, and now merrily hurtle up and down squeaking and yipping as they go. They have also taken to their cozy mini-dens (aka cat carriers) with the same enthusiasm as did their older brothers and sisters and can regularly be found in randomly piled arrangements within in or more often spilling out of the dens:
Meanwhile… an unusual new puppy joins the litter.
Belatarr Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla. 