Posts tagged ‘Belatarr’
Alfi’s first birthday.
The past year has flown by, and our Belatarr Amalfi and her siblings are all celebrating their first birthday and moving into adulthood.
Alfi has grown into a beautiful girl and is maturing into all that we had hoped she would be. A real firecracker with a big personality, she adores absolutely everyone, both human and canine, and is, without question, the most outgoing and playful HWV we’ve ever had. Like her mother, Aja, before her, she is also quite the athlete, flying, zooming, (digging!) and swimming around the valley here each day. In the occasional moments of downtime, she is also hugely affectionate, loving her cuddles, in typical HWV fashion:
We were delighted to receive some photos of her sisters, Mango and Wilma, celebrating their first birthday too:
Summer Show Results Roundup.
When we last updated, Show Champion Belatarr Kodiak had just collected his 14th Challenge Certificate. As it turns out, he was just getting warmed up, and the subsequent round of Championship shows have seen him collect another 5 CC’s in 5 months. This brings him to the current, and frankly, extraordinary total of 19 – already the fourth highest in breed history, and he’s still only 3 years old!!
His recent CC wins and judges were as follows:
26th April – WELKS – Shaun Layton
9th May – The National Championship – Ashley Reid (Australia)
21st June – Blackpool Championship – Keeley Newman-Jones
6th July – Boston Championship – Blake Crocker
3rd August – National Gundog Championship – Jean Byrne
Kodi also won Best Dog at the HWVGCB Open Show on 6th July under judge Alice Turnbull and even picked up Reserve (along with £10 prize money) in the Champion Stakes at National Gundog.
“A well-built, proportionate dog with excellent bone and substance. Attractive masculine head, eye colour matching his russet harsh jacket with a good undercoat. Well muscled shoulders and correct straight front, well developed in chest and firm level topline. He has moderate rear angulation strong loin and correct tailset. One of the best movers today with a steady ground covering gait and powerful rear driving action. Shows great teamwork with his handler and was a deserving CC winner and my BOB. Well done.”
Jean Byrne – National Gundog Championship
Meanwhile, his uncle, Luka, Belatarr Jupiter, has also had a good season, including taking another Reserve CC at the Boston Championship and Best Veteran in Breed at the Paignton Championship, under judge Jill Peak. Luka also picked up a lovely Best Veteran in Show under Alice Turnbull at the HWVCGB Open.
As always, huge congratulations go to David & Jenny for their continued tremendous success and for making us so proud with their Belatarr show boys!
Kodi – HWVA Best in Show.
A super day for Sh Ch Belatarr Kodiak at this year’s Hungarian Wirehaired Vizlsa Association Open show, winning Best Dog and then going Best in Show under judge Deborah Hamlyn.
“This masculine chap has an outline that screams HWV! He has correct head proportions with his kind inquisitive eye and nose pigment complimenting his coat colour. He has brows, beard and facial furninshings giving an almost square appearance to a nice big nose. Strong muscular neck and pleasing forechest that drops nicely to hand. Good depth of chest to just below close fitting elbows. He is ribbed well back, short coupled with level top line to well developed thighs. He has a moderate sweep of stifle with strong hocks over tight feet. Powered with ease around the ring. BD, BIS “
Deborah Hamlyn
Puppies at 8 weeks.
With the first puppies ready to start their exciting new lives in their new homes, this is the final week for all 6 to be together.
Now registered and microchipped, we can (re)introduce our Italian litter, with their assigned Kennel Club names:
Puppies at 6 weeks old.
The weather has continued to be a frustration, either rainy or chilly. The growing pups are increasingly keen to explore and learn more about the world, but they have had to be patient—not easy when you’re only six weeks old.
Finally, though, the rain stopped and the sun came out this afternoon, and everybody was able to enjoy a full afternoon of romping and exploration outdoors:
and this week’s headshots, taken indoors before the weather cleared-up:
Puppies at 4 weeks old.
It’s been a huge week for the pups, as all their senses (and all of their limbs) come fully online, and the world suddenly becomes a huge playground.
Their nails have been cut and filed for a second time, teeth are now beginning to erupt and, when they are awake, the pups will be chewing, romping or chasing, often all at the same time.
The pups have also now moved into their extended indoor run (attached to their whelping box and bed, from which they are busting out, above) and, when weather permits, will also be able to use their outdoor run (tomorrow, for the first time, hopefully!)
With big physical changes underway, too, we have done a double set of headshots for the gang this week:
Puppies at 3 weeks old.
Big changes for the gang over the last week as they start to look more like puppies and less like little wrinkled guinea pigs. Their eyes are fully open now, but they still have quite limited and very blurry visibility so are only just beginning to explore their world and its boundaries and possibilities – mainly chewing one another ears and toes and trying to figure out if Mum has come back to feed them.
Their legs are also beginning to get stronger and they are fully in what we like to call their “wobbly spider” phase, meaning that they take 3 or 4 steps and then fall over or sometimes do full body-rolls!
Little bursts of activity are still very short, though, and, at this age, 90% of their time is spent asleep – digesting and growing.
Puppies on the way!
We’re thrilled and very excited to announce the imminent arrival of Belatarr’s 7th generation, with Aja – Belatarr Aja – confirmed in pup to Benő – Áldozóvölgyi-Drótos Nyertes at Starshot (IMP HUN):
With the litter due to arrive in mid-Sept, Aja is now looking pretty heavy, but she’s certainly not letting that slow her down:
Watch this space!
Championship Show Roundup.
The busy round of Summer Championship shows has seen more amazing success for Jenny & David’s Belatarr Boys.
The Three Counties Championship was judged by Becky Johnson and saw a memorable 1-2 with Kodi (Sh Ch Belatarr Kodiak) winning his 4th CC of the year (his 7th in total):
“Excellent overall balance. Head of good dimensions with good breadth of skull and moderate stop. Well-muscled neck leading seamlessly into well-laid shoulders. Chest of good depth with elbows well placed. Level topline. Ribs carried well back. Well-muscled hindquarters with stifles moderately angulated. Coat of excellent texture. Ground covering movement with good drive from the rear. CC”
just ahead of Luka (Belatarr Jupiter) who was awarded the Reserve CC:
“I like this dog very much indeed and he was so close up for top honours today. Well balanced all through. Scores in his head and forehand construction. Deep in chest and long in ribcage. Strong, well-muscled hindquarters with moderately bent stifles. Excellent coat texture. Moved out really well covering the ground on a good length of stride. I just wish he was half a size smaller which was the deciding factor. RCC”
Becky Johnson
Just 7 days later Kodi picked up his 8th CC at the Border Union Championship under breed expect Terry Pearson:
“What a stallion of a dog this is, everything about him shouts HWV male from his size, coat and conformation. He has the most masculine of heads, broad over skull, correct skull to muzzle ratio, broad nose, the most kind expression. Arched muscular neck, enough layback of shoulder. Body well proportioned, topline level. Chest deep, hindquarters muscular with decent bend of stifle. Tight oval feet. Has the most glorious double coat, just enough facial furnishing to complete the picture. His movement is without doubt, ground covering. “
Terry Pearson
His 9th CC was not long in following, being awarded by Pam Blay at the Paignton Championship on 3rd August:
“No wonder he appealed, I have admired this affix for years & always done it well! He is a nice type who moved well to cover the ground with ease yet determination on well-boned legs & feet, he is balanced & quality with enough coat which has the correct texture & well presented, good strong topline with a well set & carried tail, well-muscled hindquarters, he is masculine with a good head & expression with a correct skull & ear set, lovely neck & shoulders, showed to advantage to take the CC.”
Pam Blay
…and Luka then scored another Reserve CC on 17th August under Pat Butler-Holley.
Kodi sets breed record!
Young Belatarr Kodiak continues to amaze and thrill us with his wins, and the Hungarian Wirehared Vizsla Association Championship took things to an even higher plane this year.
The 2023 Championship show was one of the greatest highlights of our entire show career, with Kodi winning Best of Breed and his mother, our Belatarr Asia, awarded Reserve Best of Breed.
Kodi, therefore, came to this year’s show both as the reigning Champion and the current winner of the HWV Club Championship too, but he surpassed all of our hopes to collect his 6th CC and then go on to be awarded Best in Show AGAIN!
The only HWV ever to be twice awarded Best in Show at the HWVA Champ show was Kodi’s own Great-Aunt, Show Champion Belatarr Mahalia Jackson ShCM, but no dog has ever previously retained their title with back-to-back Best in Show wins in this way.
Our great thanks go to breed specialist judge Karen Richardson who allowed Kodi to make breed history, and our tremendous congratulations and gratitude to David & Jenny for taking Kodi to such great heights.
“Such an eyecatching young man with an impressive outline. He has such a balanced, proportionate & strong body. Good depth throughout with well sprung ribs, level back, firm loin, moderate rear angulation with good width of thigh. A masculine head with an intelligent eye & a great beard. Quite the showman on the move, he powered around the ring with reach & rear propulsion from his clearly visible muscular hindquarters. Dog CC & BEST IN SHOW.”
Karen Richardson
Belatarr Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla. 