Posts tagged ‘Phoenix’
Belatarr wins: *TOP HWV KENNEL*TOP STUD DOG*TOP BROOD BITCH*
The incredible ending to the 2018 show year secured us sufficient points to be awarded the OurDogs UK’s Top Breeder/Kennel for 2018.
This is the THIRD time that we have been privileged to win this incredibly prestigious award, having also achieved the win for 2014 and 2016. In so doing Belatarr becomes the first HWV kennel ever to be named Top UK Breeder for a third time.
At the same time our boy, Mingus, (Morehay Lars of Belatarr ShCM) was awarded Top HWV Stud Dog (OurDogs), this being the third time that Mingus has achieved this award, following similar wins in 2014 and 2016. Given that he has only ever sired two litters, this is a truly astonishing achievement and one unmatched by any other HWV dog.
Last, but most definitely not least, our Tarndair Phoenix of Belatarr was awarded Top HWV Brood Bitch, also for the third time, and again, this is a record unmatched by another HWV.
Having tragically lost Phoenix earlier in 2018 this last award was particularly poignant and emotional and serves as an incredible tribute to our beautiful girl and the legacy that she left us all.
None of these wins would have been even remotely possible without the hard work, dedication and enthusiasm of Irene and Jenny whose combined total of 8 Challenge Certificates for 2018 secured Belatarr the necessary points for all of the awards. A heartfelt thank you to you both 🙂
Phoenix, in her watery element.
Phoenix
With great sadness, I have to report that we have lost our beloved Phoenix (Tarndair Phoenix of Belatarr). She was our first HWV, the foundation of the Belatarr Kennel and she completely revolutionised our lives.
Phoenix was the HWVA’s top show puppy for 2010 and the UK’s top HWV brood bitch for 2014 and 2016. The mother of many beautiful Belatarr pups, including Show Champions Belatarr Mahalia Jackson & Belatarr Hercules, as well as a record five Show Certificate of Merits.
She was also a massive character, eternally loving and a true eccentric who never failed to bring a smile to the faces of everyone who met her, along with being the most devoted mother and grandmother imaginable – she continually mothered us and rest of her family every day!
We did not think to lose her so soon and her loss has left a massive hole in our hearts and in our household. We laid her to rest under the trees beside our river that she loved so very much. It was a beautiful warm Spring evening, the air was filled with birdsong, the scent of witch-hazel and the sound of the river. As we watched the sunset across our valley our thoughts were filled with the immense joy that she brought into our lives and those of all the families of her puppies…
Belatarr Reunion.
This last weekend saw the gathering of the clan as we hosted our 3rd Belatarr reunion. After weeks of daily rain we were incredibly lucky and blessed with unbroken summer sunshine for the entire afternoon. Â 20 Belatarr Wires were present, together with special guests Oz and Bertie the Labs, Molly the Golden and teeny-tiny Frankie the “Shorkie”. Needless to say much wiry romping in and out of the river and around the garden ensued and it was wonderful, as ever, to see our babies all grown-up and very much enjoying life to the full!
Many many thanks to everyone who came to the day and who braved the holiday traffic travelling back and forth to us in Devon – we couldn’t do it without you all – and particular thanks to Sarah for fulfilling the role of official photographer for the day and for supplying all of these great pics. 🙂
Mama Phoenix in full flight!
North – Top Puppy of the year.
Young Belatarr North by Northwest had a tremendously successful first year in the show ring, the highlight of which was undoubtedly his Puppy Group 2 placing at the South Wales Kennel Association Championship.
We were absolutely delighted to hear this week that North is the HWVA top scoring Dog Puppy of 2015, winning the Leiborschy Tankard, and, like his mother Phoenix before him, he was also awarded Top Show Puppy of the year for 2015, wining him the Leiborschy Flask at the HWVA Annual Awards.
North and Billie’s annual awards together with North’s two trophies.
Billie was also 2nd highest scoring show bitch of 2015, with her brother Charlie 3rd highest scoring show dog of the year – great acknowledgment for everyone’s hard work and top results through the year!
Puppy Portraits – The Final Week!
A very big, exciting and emotional time this week as the pups leave us to begin their new lives in their new homes. All ten have already grown into very confident and outgoing youngsters – definitely no shrinking violets amongst them! – and we cannot wait to watch them grow and develop into beautiful adult dogs and bring much pleasure and delight to their new families. So, without further ado, and in alphabetical order…
THE BOYS
Belatarr North by Northwest – ‘North’Â (Mr Red)
Belatarr Notorious – ‘Harvey’ (Mr Blue)
Belatarr Secret Agent – ‘Nevis’Â (Mr Black)
Belatarr Vertigo – ‘Sabi‘ (Mr Bronze)
THE GIRLS
Belatarr Jamaica Inn – ‘Alba’ (Miss Yellow)
Belatarr Marnie – ‘Mouse’ (Miss Purple)
Belatarr Rebecca – ‘Luna’ (Miss Pink)
Belatarr Thirtynine Steps – ‘Matilda’ (Miss Mint)
Belatarr To Catch a Thief – ‘Ethel’ (Miss Green)
Belatarr Topaz – ‘Amber’ (Miss Orange)
Puppy Portraits: Week 6.
Last week’s drab and damp weather has given way to a wonderful week of Spring sunshine and the pups have been enjoying being outside every single day this week, where they have experienced tractors and low-flying aircraft and watched pigeons and numerous other birds (and cats) come and go about their Springtime routines.
The gang sunbathing in their outdoor run.
Monday saw their first attempt at tackling raw chicken wings – an essential step towards the chewing and chomping or raw bones that will mark their adult lives.
Mr Bronze gets stuck into some serious chicken-wing chomping.
The pups (and their now needle-sharp teeth) took to them with huge enthusiasm and quite a bit of curiosity, excited at the prospect, yet unskilled at how to tackle such a large prey item. Approx. 60 mins later they had figured out what to do and all meat had been stripped and consumed and all bones had been cracked and (mostly) swallowed. Time, then, for a long and satisfied snooze for all of the babies. By the end of the week, though, they had all grown considerably more savvy at tackling their new foodstuff, and today’s wings were dispatched within about 15 mins or so.
After many, many hours of watching, stacking and photographing these babies we can also now reveal their new, Kennel Club identities and formally introduce the Belatarr Hitchcock litter:
THE BOYS
Mr Black – Belatarr Secret Agent.
Mr Blue – Belatarr Notorious.
Mr Bronze – Belatarr Vertigo.
Mr Red – Belatarr North By Northwest.
THE GIRLS
Miss Green – Belatarr To Catch a Thief.
Miss Mint – Belatarr Thirtynine Steps.
Miss Orange – Belatarr Topaz
Miss Pink – Belatarr Rebecca.
Miss Purple – Belatarr Marnie.
Miss Yellow – Belatarr Jamaica Inn.
It’s tiring work being 6 weeks old.
Brother and sister – Belatarr Notorious & Belatarr Thirtynine Steps
Puppy Portraits – week 5.
After being spoiled by last weekend’s Spring sunshine and unseasonal warmth we’ve been plunged back into the more typical near-freezing wet and overcast English weather this week. We still wanted to take the pup portraits outdoors, but the poor mites were pretty chilly and less than impressed, and the resulting images certainly don’t have the sunny glow or depth/accuracy of colour that we captured last week. Still, the boys are girls are all coming on very nicely and have enjoyed a lovely week indoors near the fire whilst a succession of daily visitors arrive for those all important cuddles and snuggles socialization exercises. 🙂
THE BOYS
Mr Black – looking cold 😦
Mr Black – much happier!
Mr Blue
Mr Blue snuggles (more colour accurate too)
Mr Bronze.
Mr Red.
THE GIRLS
Miss Green
Miss Mint.
Miss Orange.
Miss Pink.
Miss Purple.
Miss Yellow.
Pupalanche!
Puppy Portraits – week 3
Huge changes in the pups this last week – they can now see, hear and bark/growl/chirrup (in a comically squeaky way) and have started playing and interacting with one another and with their environment. Nails have been filed twice more and they have quadrupled their birth weight in just 21 days. Phoenix has been producing vast quantities of milk so weaning has not been started as yet, but the little’un’s will get their first taste of solid food this weekend – much mess and mayhem is sure to ensue!
THE BOYS
Mr Black
Mr Blue (ears up)
Mr Blue (ears down)
Mr Bronze
Mr Red
THE GIRLS
Miss Green
Miss Mint
Miss Orange
Miss Pink
Miss Purple
Miss Yellow
Puppy Portraits – week 2.
The pups continue to thrive and gain weight very nicely and evenly. Day 14 saw Miss Green and then Miss Yellow open their eyes, by the following day, which is when these head-shots were taken, all of their other siblings were starting to open their eyes too.
THE BOYS
Mr Black
Mr Blue
Mr Bronze
Mr Red
THE GIRLS
Miss Green
Miss Mint
Miss Orange
Miss Pink
Miss Purple
Miss Yellow.
Group A
Group B
A snoozing Mr Red uses mum as a pillow.
Miss Green as her eyes opened for the first time.
Mr Blue’s bat-ears in cuteness overload.
The Gang’s All Here!
We’re absolutely delighted to announce the safe arrival of Phoenix’ final litter:
Yesterday was a very long and exhausting all-night-and-most-of-the-next-day whelping, but all 10 pups eventually arrived vigorous and squeaking and all suckled strongly immediately, so now, 24hrs later, we are very proud to be able to introduce Belatarr 3.0 to the world: 6 new Belatarr girls – Miss Yellow, Miss Orange, Miss Pink, Miss Green, Miss Purple and Miss Mint, and 4 new Belatarr boys – Mr Red, Mr Black, Mr Blue and Mr. Bronze.
As with Phoenix’ previous litters we have split the puppies into two groups and are hand-attaching them to feed around the clock to ensure that everyone gets their share of milk, so whilst one group feeds the others wait their turn, gently snoozing under the heat lamp. Phoenix is recovering well and sleeping a lot today, but is proving again to be the most wonderful, careful, conscientious and attentive mother. So now the fun begins!
