Torch X Rowan - Puppies 6 Weeks Video

Puppies are doing GREAT!  Sleeping thru the night, eating 3 meals a day, playing outside as often as possible.  They are finding that pottying outside is good and fussing when they cannot get there to do so.

Here is the latest video!

Money's First Handling Class

Last night Ms. Money had her first show handling class. 

Show handling class is about teaching a dog how to work in the conformation show ring.  They must be stacked (have their feet and legs and body manipulated into the correct position), examined (have the judge go over them thoroughly, including teeth and testicles (if they have them), gait around the ring at a trot (this gait is chosen as it best shows the dogs' structure on the move) and bait (this means looking extremely appealing for the judge so he or she will be completely charmed and forget anything he or she saw that might not be perfect).  OK, OK, baiting is REALLY so that the judge can evaluate the dogs expression, the shape of his or her ears and eyes and get a feel for his temperament and willingness to interact with strangers.  Money however will likely be using her baiting skills for the former, as she is so disgustingly cute...

The MOST important part of taking a baby puppy to handling class is letting them become comfortable around as many people and dogs as you can. Socialization in new situations goes a long way to a well-adjusted, confident puppy that you can take anywhere without worry that he or she will be uncomfortable. Don't wait! The sooner you start, the better!

Anyhow, naturally I did not expect Money, at 3 months of age, to learn all of these skills in one night.  What I wanted was for her to go and see the class, hopefully interact positively with some of the people there, and learn a little bit about being stacked on the floor (thus far we've only stacked her on tables) and be gaited a few times. 

All of that went fairly well,  She was not intimidated by any of the other dogs (not even the two Komondorak, the Dane, the Chow or the Australian Shepherd).  She permitted me to stack her several times and even stood still for the instructor to pet her and play with her face a bit as a preface to checking her bite when she's gone to a few more classes.   She did gait for me on the lead, altho she had some objections to the show lead, which is not quite as loose or comfortable as her buckle collar. 

What she learned best, however, was the handling class involves SNACKS.  Lots of YUMMY, SMELLY, EXCELLENT SNACKS.  She had cheese, chicken, liver, dried lamb, dried fish, biscuits and some kind of liverwurst that I thought was quite gross.  She informed me later that all of it was lovely and we should go back inside and get some more.  

Teaching a puppy to learn to stand still and to bait is a bit of a challenge.  Especially when said puppy is apparently a CHOW HOUND and still has her pirhana-like puppy teeth.  However, we perservered.  I worked on having her WAIT for her snacks by hiding them in my hand.  Nudging her back whenever she grabbed at my fingers soon had her looking expectantly at my hand, which is the end goal of baiting.  When she is fully trained, the idea is for her to walk towards me (and the judge) and stack HERSELF in perfect position with her MOST charming and appealing expression waiting for her treat.  So, learning to stand and wait is a good start towards this.

By the way, there is absolutely NO REASON not to have your show puppy also in other classes for obedience, agility or other training.  Any dog who can learn both sit and down can also learn to STAND in show handling class.  Any dog who has shown that he or she knows it is DINNERTIME just be your behavior can understand the difference between showing in conformation and showing in obedience or rally or agility.  Don't give up that valuable time to get obedience training done just because you want to show your dog.  EVERY single one of my dogs has had training in show handling AND obedience AND field from infancy and they are NOT confused.  

That said, Money heads tomorrow for her first obedience class.  Will keep you posted....

Duncan X Rowan - 5 1/2 Weeks

The pups are 6 weeks tomorrow!

Everyone is doing great. They are really enjoying their outside time and coming along nicely with their baby housebreaking routine - they are already mostly pottying outside so long as I can get them out as soon as I hear them waking up from their many naps. Tonight they came in after their supper and were up again whining at 10PM - they wanted to go OUT!


We have also managed to get them to start following us indoors and outdoors, so less carrying than this past week! Much easier on my back and quicker, too!


Puppies will get their first shots soon and will be wormed one more time. They are eating regular food three times a day and now nursing only once or twice a day, when Rowan is feeling uncomfortable. I suspect puppies having teeth is a major contributing factor to Rowan wanting to wean them!


We are trying to expose the pups to as many new things as we can. This week I took a bucket into the puppy yard to water some flowers and they all were fairly sure the bucket was WAY TOO SCARY. Once it was empty I tossed it into their yard and left it for them to investigate. You can see how they did with it in this photo of Banks and in their latest video:

Duncan X Rowan - 4 1/2 Week Video

New Video!

Four Weeks - Rainy Day Update

Puppies have been doing very well outdoors. Now that they are getting around better, they are beginnning to enjoy the grass and learning about toys and new smells and how to play together.

They have also started on regular food which we try to feed outdoors so they can potty afterwards OUTDOORS! Yesterday was so nice they spent most of the day outside and there was no pooping indoors at all!

However, this morning was drizzly but still fairly warm. I put the pups outdoors under the eaves of the porch so they could attempt to potty outside before their breakfast. A few brave souls ventured out into the wet grass and drizzle to potty. Soon, of course, they were all huddled under the protective eave and I opened their gate to let them onto the covered porch to eat. One by one they followed me onto the porch and discovered their meal. Soon the bowl was empty and the pups were exploring the porch.

There were many new things to see: a few toys, furniture (ooh! wicker!), a broom, rugs of different textures, a bucket full of scrub brushes and garden tools, the grill... One puppy managed to knock over the broom but nobody seemed to mind. Soon they were all examining the handle and attacking the bristles... Someone found a plastic piece of who-knows-what and proudly carried it off to show the others.

The pups are very curious and every day is a new adventure. However, at this age their stamina is limited and after about 15 minutes they were all huddled under a table, looking cold and sleepy.

One by one, I called them into the laundry room. Each puppy managed to brave the BIG 5" doorjamb into the house. Keeping in mind the pups are only about 6" at the shoulder right now, it was quite the climb! The pups each are learning to respond to my voice and follow my fingers. As each pup made the big climb he or she was scooped up, given a smoosh and put into the box. This apparently was NOT part of their plan! Soon they were all at the front of the box, yelling for their lawyers and wanting BACK OUT!

All is peaceful now. They are piled up under their heat lamp, sleeping off their breakfast and getting warm and dry again.

PUppy Video #3

I cannot promise a video every few days, but I have another for your enjoyment.

First an update. Pups are all doing well, continuing to grow and learning new things every day. They have been outdoors twice now and were somewhat braver on the second trip out. As they are still only awake for 10-15 minutes at a stretch, all adventures dissolve into naptime...

Pups have been wormed once so far, due again next week. It is pretty funny to see them standing and sitting about the box, all coughing and gagging on this new taste. Even the adults seem to gag on the wormer (which apparently tastes like butterscotch). It must be the slightly sticky texture.

As a treat, in preparation for their introduction to real food, I placed a plate in the box today which was smeared with yogurt (just vanilla). I dipped each little nose into the plate, and soon they were all sitting around, licking their lips humming with pleasure. I went to answer the phone, and when I came back 5 minutes later, the plate was licked clean and the pups were working on each other. I let Rowan back in and she finished up the cleaning.

Since I caught several of them standing elbow deep in Rowan's food bowl the yesterday, I think they will be quite pleased when it's time for food. Rowan was a bit annoyed that three little heads and six little feet were taking up most of her bowl, (altho she just growled and pushed in between them to eat) so I've gone back to feeding her OUTSIDE the box. They have also had a few sips from the water bucket clipped inside teh box - so they are learning that not all good things come from Mom. I'm not, however, in a hurry to start them on food so long as they are still gaining steadily and Rowan is maintaining her weight (albeit with about 12+ cups of food per day plus goat's milk and eggs). Once they begin on real food, often the dam is less willing to help keep the box clean and my job gets quite a bit more arduous.

Here they are, after their nap, wide awake and full of vinegar:

Puppies First Outside Adventure...

This is a video of the pups' first time outside. They are 2 1/2 weeks old. They were a bit sleepy as they had just eaten. Keep watch for Grammy Scarlett, who pretty much hogged the limelight...

Dogshow ABC's Part II

So! You've entered a show and are eager to go and see how you will do! You have butterflies in your stomach but the dog is enjoying this game of running and baiting and you're pretty excited.

One thing not covered so far is the various classes which you might enter at a show. All dogs are divided by sex - in the classes all dogs compete against only dogs of their own sex - dogs against dogs and bitches against bitches.


Dog Show Classes:

1) Puppy classes. These are divided by age: 6-9 months, 9-12 months, and some clubs offer a 12-18 months class.

2) Novice class - this is a class for dogs who have never earned a first place ribbon. Normally this class is for dogs who are too old for puppy classes but perhaps not mature enough for the Open class.

3) American bred - this class is for dogs who were born in the United States. Again, normally this class is only used for dogs who are too old for puppy or not ready for Open. It's also a class used sometimes at Specialty shows when folks wish to enter more than one dog from a litter, but can't show them both in the same class.

4) Bred-By Exhibitor - this is a class for dogs bred and owned by the person showing them. It's a class breeders use to showcase their stock by showing the dog themselves.

5) Open - a class for dogs of all ages. Usually this class is for adults who have not yet finished their show championships.

6) Best of Breed - this class is for dogs who already have their AKC Championship. No points are awarded for this class, but the Best of Breed dog will go on to compete in the Group against dogs from other breeds.

If your dog qualifies for the puppy classes, it's useful to put them into the puppy classes. Judges will expect a fair amount of silliness from puppies and forgive it in those classes more readily than in classes which also have adults entered. Also, if your puppy is somewhat immature (as puppies often are!) this will help the judge to know why.


Getting ready for the show:

1. Naturally you will want to make sure your puppy is trained to stack (stand squarely to be examined), to be examined and to move cleanly on the lead.


2. Your puppy should have a bath and have his nails trimmed. Many people remove the whiskers from the face of their showdogs. We do not personally do this as we feel they use their whiskers in the field. Also we like them! We've never had a judge tell us that if only we had removed the whiskers they would have chosen our dog. However, it is your choice.


3. You want to bring a few things along with you to the show:

• Food for baiting the dog (whatever your dog likes - many people used cooked liver)
• Your show lead
• A chair - many shows do not provide chairs ringside so if you plan to sit and watch, you will need to bring one
• A rag and something to clean your dog should she become dirty
• A crate for your dog - you might want to leave the dog to eat lunch or watch another ring
• Water & Ice - many summer shows can be very hot and it's a good idea to bring along water and some ice so the dog doesn't become overheated. Always have a crate in your car so that you can leave the dog in the car with the windows wide open and the dog will not become overheated. Never leave your dog in the car on a hot day without everything open to the air. Be sure to check on your dog frequently to make sure she is not too hot and that she has plenty of water.
• You may wish to bring lunch with you - some of the shows have limited vendors and you might only be able to get a hot dog or rather nasty foods at some shows. Others have great vendors with wonderful snacs and meals. You just never know!
• Your judging schedule and entry that were sent from the Show Superintendent.

Arriving at the Show:
Once you've arrive, you want to be sure you have all your equipment, and possibly your lunch. You've taken a look at the judging schedule and brought along your paperwork in case it's needed.

You want to park with the exhibitor parking (if it's summer try to find a shady spot, even if you have a ways to walk). Many clubs will charge a few dollars for parking. Show venues are hard to find and often the parking fees are what makes the difference between a club being able to afford the site or not.

Check which ring you are in and take a look at the schedule. A typical ring schedule might look like this:

Ring 2

8:00 Am

Setters (English) 4-5(1-2)

Setters (Gordon) 3-1(1-3)

Pointers - 3-5 (1-1)

What this means is that there are 4 males, 5 females, then 1 male champion (in the parentheses) and 2 female champions (parentheses) for English Setters - for a total of 12 English Setters to be judged, then another 8 Gordon Setters before Pointers will be judged. If you figure about 2 minutes per dog for judging, it's likely Pointers will not be judged before 8:30 or 8:45. Because some dogs might be absent, it's a good idea not to wait too long before heading to the ring, but this is a rule of thumb to help you figure out when you will be showing.

Getting back to Pointers, you can see from the entry that there will be 3 males, then 5 females judged in the classes. The dogs numbered in the parentheses are the champion dogs competing for Best of Breed. These dogs do not compete for Championship points because they already have the necessary number and are already AKC Champions.

Arriving at Ringside:

When you arrive ringside, you will see two people in the ring; the judge and the ring steward. The steward gives out the numbers, helps the judge to keep the records and calls each class into the ring when it's time for them to be judged. You will want to get your number from the Steward. The number is listed on your entry return which came with your judging program in the mail, but it will also be listed in the show catalog, which the steward will also have ringside.

The steward might be busy giving out ribbons to the judge or recording the results of a previous class, so you might have to wait a few minutes to get your number. It's important that the result be recorded accurately, so be patient! Once you have your number, you can attach it to your arm using the rubber bands provided. It's customary to put the number on your left arm.

Competing In the Ring:

Now you will wait until the steward calls your class into the ring. Watching beforehand can help you see where the judge would like you to stack your dog, and how he or she is moving the dogs. When you are called into the ring, normally you will be placed in "catalog order" according to the numbers you have been assigned. Leave space if there is to be a dog in front of you, then stack your dog, taking your time. Rushing and acting particularly nervous will make your dog worry and she's less likely to stand quietly and more likely to fidget. Normally, the judge will take a moment to look at all the dogs stacked together as a group, then send everyone around the ring together. The first dog in line will then be examined. If your dog is fidgeting, and you are not first, it might be helpful to practice stacking the dog until it is your turn. When it is your turn to have your dog examined, stack her, taking your time. Try to move out of the judge's way as he is examining your dog, but also try to keep your dog still. If she moves, calmly put her back as she belongs. Next the judge will move your dog by herself, usually expecting the dog to free-stack (stand on her own) using bait or a toy so he can see how she looks on her own, and evaluate her expression. Then the judge will send you around the ring to the end of the line.

Once all the dogs have been examined, the judge will assign the placements. There are up to 4 placements for any given class. Whichever dog is first in her class will need to be ready to go back into the ring again.

Winning a class gains you a blue ribbon. No points are assigned for class wins. Once all the different classes are judged for a particular sex (dogs or bitches) the first place dogs from those classes will go back into the ring for what is called the Winners Class. From these first place dogs, the judge will choose his Winner for the day (Winners Dog and Winners Bitch). The "Winners" will be given championship points. How many points are given depends on how many dogs are entered. A win of 3, 4 or 5 points is considered a "Major."

In order to attain an AKC Championship, you need to earn 15 championship points, including two "Major" wins of 3, 4 or 5 points. You must earn these points under 3 different judges.

Once the Winners are chosen, that dog will leave the ring. The second place dog from the class that the Winner was in will enter the ring. From those dogs left (the other first place dogs and the second place dog from the class in which the Winner was entered) the judge will choose a Reserve Winner. No points are awarded for Reserve Winner, but in case the Winner is disqualified for any reason (entered in the wrong class, a paperwork issue, etc.) the Reserve dog will be awarded the points instead. This happens only rarely.



If you are lucky enough to be chosen as Winners Dog or Winners Bitch, you will be heading into the ring AGAIN for the Best of Breed Class. Only the "winners" will be eligible to compete in Best of Breed against the Champion dogs.


Best of Breed:

The Best of Breed class is used to determine the best pointer entered on that day. Usually this title is given to one of the dogs entered that is already a Champion, however, both the Winners Dog and the Winners Bitch are eligible for this award. No points are given for Best of Breed. In this class, the judge will also assign a Best of Opposite Sex award. This is for the dog who is best of his sex that was NOT chosen as the Best of Breed. For example, if Champion Pointer X is chosen as Best of Breed and she is female, Best of Opposite sex will be a male.

Also chosen is an award for Best of Winners. This title is awarded EITHER to Winners Dog or Winners Bitch. The purpose of this award is to give points to an outstanding animal in the case that there is a discrepancy between the points. For example, if there were a large number of bitches entered, there might be say, 3 points available to the Winners Bitch. If only 1 or 2 dogs were entered, there might only be 1 point available to Winners Dog. If the judge feels that the Winners Dog is superior to the Winners Bitch (and he may not!) he can assign Best of Winners to the dog, who then will also be awarded 3 points. The Winners Bitch does not lose her points. She will still have 3 points.


Calculating points can be confusing, and knowing when to head back into the ring can be confusing. Listen for your number and hopefully some of the other exhibitors will help you.

If you like, you can have a photograph taken with the judge at the show. Most people only get photos taken if they have won points on that day, but it is your choice. Normally you will need to wait for a break in judging and ask for the judge to pose for photos with you. A photographer will be called and you can have the photo taken at that time. You can check with the steward to see when the judge will be taking a break.

Now what?

If you've won - congratulations! Go home, tell all your friends and your breeder and have a celebratory dinner!

If not, don't despair. Learning the ropes can take time. Judge's opinions of what makes a correct pointer vary. Some judges will not choose puppies for championship points. Some judges prefer one color over another (even tho they are not supposed to!). Sometimes your dog misbehaves - they are not robots. There is always another show.

If you find that you are losing consistently, it might be helpful to talk with your breeder or other show folks to see what they think. You might need some more training. Your dog might need to put on or take off some weight. Or, your dog may have a fault that is preventing him from winning. It's a good idea to get a second opinion or two if you feel you aren't winning when you should. You might get some good advice and be able to improve your results.

Most important is that you enjoy the time with your dog. An AKC Championship is a nice title to earn and your breeder will be grateful for the help this gives their record as a breeder. However, in the end, it is still only dogshow. What matters most is that you enjoy living with your dog and spending time with her.

Dogshow ABC's - Part I

Quite a few of our puppy people have expressed interest in dog showing, but some confusion about what is involved. We thought it might be good to give a VERY basic introduction to dogshows and what is involved.

What is a dogshow?

A dog show is an event which you enter with your dog, to be judged (by a licensed AKC Judge) regarding how well your dog meets the AKC standard compared to the other dogs entered on that day. The AKC breed standard is a description of the breed and its traits, written by the national breed parent club (For example, the Pointer Standard was written by the American Pointer Club) and approved by AKC.

What is the purpose of a dogshow?

Dog shows are intended to evaluate breeding stock. Having an AKC championship means that you have acquired 15 AKC Championship points (more on this) and have been evaluate by at least 3 AKC licensed judges and deemed to be better than a number of other dogs of your same breed. A championship doesn't necessarily mean you should run out and breed your dog, but it does go a long way to proving your dog has the qualities asked for by the breed standard and that your dog has something to contribute in a positive way towards the gene pool of your particular breed.

Dogshow is also a fun activity for you and your dog, can be a nice social outing, and a good experience for your children. It can also be political, frustrating and time-consuming. But mostly it's fun!

How do I find out about Dogshows in my area?

It's a good idea to contact a local all-breed club in your area to learn more about shows around you. An all-breed club is a dog club that has members from many different breeds. These people work together in their community to educate people about dogs, often host training classes in both conformation (showing) and obedience and host and run dog shows.

Another source for shows in your area is the various Show Superintendents. These are organizations that supply equipment for shows (tents, rings, tables, ribbons, etc.) and manage the paperwork involved (keeping records and providing them to the AKC to keep track of the results at a given show.) Getting in contact with show superintendents can help you be put on their mailing list for upcoming shows.

What does my dog have to do during a show?

For conformation (the "beauty pageant" part that you see often on TV such as Westminster Kennel Club's annual show) your dog must stand squarely for the judge to look at him. He must stand quietly while he is examined all over - head, ears, body, tail, testicles for males, sometimes even his feet and legs are touched. Also the judge will need to pull back his lips and look at his teeth, so he must tolerate this. Next the judge will ask you to move your dog around the ring so he can evaluate how he moves and uses his body. Moving the dog is done at a trotting pace - this gives the judge the best view of how the dog is using himself. The judge will want to see your dog moving away from him, towards him and from the side. He might send you in various directions to be able to see this: normally away and back in a diagonal line across the ring, and then around the perimeter of the ring so he can watch the dog move from the side. Often after the dog has moved away and back to the judge, your dog will need to stop and stand squarely on his own (you can use food to teach him how to do this - it's called "baiting") so the judge can see how he stands on his own without you placing his legs and also so the judge can see his face and expression.

Your dog will need to be accustomed to moving thru a crowd, being around other dogs, hearing and seeing strange noises and sights, and being touched.

How does my dog learn all this?

Much of this can be practiced at home. YOu can teach your dog to stand, to have his mouth and head and body examined, and to move on the leash in your own house and yard. However, it's helpful to attend a "show handling" class (many all-breed clubs hold these classes) and to get out and about in general to become socialized to new people and places.

I'm interested! My dog and I know what to do, now what?

If you've trained your dog and taken some classes and have a good idea of what you will need to do in the ring, you will want to enter some "match shows." These are practice shows, run very much like a regular dogshow, except that there are no points awarded (as they are not "official AKC" shows) and the judges are often learning just like you and your dog. They help you see how your dog is doing with his show education, and help you to get some experience working with your dog in a "show" environment. Ribbons are awarded and it can be fun to see how your dog stacks up against his competition, even if it is practice!

Once you've entered a few matches, you might be ready for a show! First, your dog must be 6 months of age to enter a show. (Often matches allow puppies as young as 3 months to enter.) He should have a bath and have his nails trimmed and in general be in good condition and tidy all over. (Pointers don't require a lot of grooming so you're off the hook for a lot of the work required by other breeds like Poodles, shih tzus and other coated breeds). Since the judge will be looking at the dog, you will want a slightly lightweight show lead so as not to distract the judge from your dog. Most people dress up a bit for dogshows - business casual or slightly nicer is the rule of thumb - but it's ok to wear comfortable, safe shoes so you don't fall in the ring!

So? How do you enter? Once you've contacted some all-breed clubs or show superintendents, you should be able to get your hands on what is called a "Show Premium." This is a pamphlet that lists an upcoming show, the date, location, and who the judges will be for each breed. At the back of this pamphlet will be an entry form. You must fill out ALL of the information to enter the show, and send this form with the fee (listed on that page) to the show superintendent in charge of teh show BEFORE THE CLOSING date of the show. THis closing date is usually 2-3 weeks before the actual date of the show. The entries are needed well in advance so that the judging scheduled can be planned based on how many dogs of each breed are entered.

Usually the week before the show, you will receive in the mail a Judging Schedule which will tell you in what Ring you will be showing, what time, how many dogs are entered for each breed, and what your Show number is. The judge is not permitted to know the names of the dogs entered, so you will be given a number to put on your arm while showing your dog. You will want to be sure you have the correct number so when the results are recorded, you get credit for whatever your dog has done at the show that day.

Coming up: Part II - Attending the Show and What are all those Ribbons For???

Our First Showdog

So, we wanted a pointer. We found a nice breeder in Massachusetts (Taunton Bay Pointers) and they casually mention that she is show quality.

We really have no idea what this means. We just know that Morgan's pretty, we love her, and Tammy wants to spend as much time with her dog as possible.

So, we do what all new people should do:

• We register her with AKC
• We contact our local all-breed club (there are lists of these on the AKC website)
• We sign up for show handling classes

This goes pretty well, except we don't really understand what "socializing" means. Our dog loves us and our family, and is really not happy with people she DOESN'T know. Fortunately, our handling instructor is a genius. She encourages us. She sends us to obedience classes to build confidence. Our dog begins to learn about the world and about showing. She becomes outgoing and learns how to work on the lead, and how to stand for examination. She learns to let people touch her, hold her head and look at her teeth. She learns to free-stack. She is VERY good at this. She will move all her feet to the right places and put up her cute little ears and look perfect.

By now she is about 18 months old. So, we go to a match. A practice show. She is the only pointer, so she gets a first place and a "Best of Breed" ribbon. Then she wins the sporting group! She beats all the other sporting dogs there. We are on our way, we think!

So we enter some shows. Some of the people are friendly and helpful (Thanks, Pam & John Mohr, for being kind to a newbie!) Some are reserved, and some are just rude. We ignore the rude people and have fun with our dog. We get a lot of reserve wins. We're still awkward and learning.

But finally, at a small show in New Jersey, we win! A whole two points! That's it, we are now officially hooked!

Waiting for Puppies

One of the reasons we started this blog is to help folks who are waiting for puppies. Waiting is so hard, particularly when you've DECIDED you want a puppy and from whom you'd like to get one. So, we thought this might help pass the time and keep in touch. It might also help folks by sparking questions and ideas about your upcoming addition to the family!

We will be posting updates on Rowan & Duncan and also what is going on with the other Corwyn Pointer kids. We will send out photos during pregnancy and OF COURSE puppy photos when those come!

This one is of Scarlett pregnant with Rowan's litter.

Planning for Puppies

We are planning for a litter of puppies this spring. There is quite a bit that goes into planning a litter and getting ready to have the pups.

First, you want to choose the parents. For this litter, we've chosen to breed our dam to one of our own stud dogs. Ch Corwyn's Mystic JH CD VA (these titles means she's got her AKC Show championship, her Junior Hunter title, and her Companion Dog in obedience, plus the Versatility Award title from the American Pointer club) who call call Rowan (or "The Devil!") is to be bred to Ch Corwyn's Charisma JH CDX VA "Duncan". The dogs should be chosen to complement one another in the various doggy aspects:

• Type - they should look like a pointer and hopefully contribute positively to one another in areas where one is better - example: Duncan has more bone than Rowan - we're hoping to get some of that in the pups. Rowan has a beautiful head and dark eye and we're hoping to get that.


• Temperament - They should be solid tempered, outgoing, friendly and easy to train. We at Corwyn do not breed dogs who are shy, aggressive, extremely stubborn or difficult to train.
• Health - both dogs are over 2 years old and have had the appropriate health checks that apply to our breed. Pointers are pretty healthy, but we do use OFA to check their hips - both of these dogs are OFA Good. They do not have any seizure disorders, nor do any of their relatives, and have shown no skin problems.
• Field Ability - No dog at Corwyn is bred without demonstrating field ability. After all, a pointer should be able to do his job! Both these dogs have a basic hunting title (Junior Hunter) and have been hunted over in the field by us. Rowan is a natural retriever and Duncan has been trained to retrieve as well. Rowan has a particularly good nose and both have good range but are manageable when working at a distance. We think the pups will be very birdy and not hard to train.

Now that we've made a decision about the parents, it's just a waiting game for Rowan to come into season so we can breed her... She loves puppies (that's her in the photo with her 1/2 brothers & sisters) and we hope she will be a great mom!