We’re back up and running!
We still have some work to do to migrate everything to our new improved site, but we’re getting close! Click here if you just have to go back to the old site.
Well, the vet confirmed it yesterday.  Phil (Ch Benayr Wild-Eyed Philosopher) came through again and all that frolicking with Polly (Ch Benayr Norwegian Blue) early this month is going to result in at least four puppies with four beating hearts (per the ultrasound). We’re very excited and can’t wait to see how these puppies develop. They’re due the last week of April. Phil and Polly both come from great lines and you all know what Phil has done if you read our blog. Polly’s full brother from the same litter is none other than Pamela Levy’s Alfie (Int, Am, Mex, World Ch Benayr I Believe In Love Alfie).
Edgewood, NM - We’ve just been crazy busy relocating to the Albuquerque area, showing dogs and fitting in some fun. We bought a house in March, sold our Houston house in November (finally) and moved somewhere in between. We live on the highest ridge of a mountain valley in the East Mountains area near Albuquerque on two acres with the dogs, kids and Karen’s mom…spectacular views - 5 miles across the valley, the “backside or green side” of the Sandia Mountains and South Mountain…skiing, hiking and mountain sports 15 minutes away. Enough about us, I’m sure you want to hear about the dogs…
Phil (Ch Benayr Wild-Eyed Philosopher) finished 2007 as Dog News’ #1 All-Breed Australian Terrier with the following 27 group wins and placements. Many thanks to the judges that found him worthy and to Betty Bossio, our handler and one of our dearest friends! We’re giving Phil much of 2008 off to be a dog and hope to campaign him again in 2009.
01/07 - Nolan River Kennel Club - Mr. Ronald R. Krohne - Group 4
01/20 - Fort Bend Kennel Club - Mr. William Bergum - Group 3
01/21 - Fort Bend Kennel Club - Mrs. Judith V. Daniels - Group 3
03/18 - Galveston County Kennel Club - Dr. David G. Doane M.D. - Group 2
03/24 - Fort Worth Kennel Club - Mrs. Annemarie Moore - Group 3
04/01 - Brazos Valley Kennel Club - Mr. James J. Ham - Group 1
04/14 - Stephenville Kennel Club - Mrs. Mildred K. Bryant - Group 4
04/21 - Bee-Tex Kennel Club - Mrs. Keke Kahn - Group 4
04/22 - Bee-Tex Kennel Club - Mrs. Loraine Boutwell - Group 4
05/17 - Riverside West Kennel Club - Mrs. Roberta L. Campbell - Group 3
05/18 - Metairie Kennel Club - Mr. Paul (Pogo) A. Thomann - Group 3
05/19 - Slidell Dog Fanciers Association - Mrs. Alice M. Watkins - Group 3
05/20 - Northlake Kennel Club - Mrs. Keke Kahn - Group 2
06/16 - Sangre de Cristo Kennel Club - Col. Joe B. Purkhiser - Group 3
06/17 - Sangre de Cristo Kennel Club - Mr. Raymond D. Bay - Group 1
07/06 - Trinity Valley Kennel Club - Mrs. Karen C. Wilson - Group 3
07/07 - Greater Collin Kennel Club - Miss Virginia L. Lyne - Group 4
07/22 - Galveston County Kennel Club - Mrs. Michele L. Billings - Group 4
08/11 - Corpus Christi Kennel Club - Mr. Guy Jeavons - Group 4
08/12 - Corpus Christi Kennel Club - Mrs. Annemarie Moore - Group 2
08/19 - Greeley Kennel Club - Mrs. JoAnn K. Dutton - Group 2
10/05 - Chaparral Kennel Club - Mrs. Margaret P Mickelson - Group 3
10/06 - Chaparral Kennel Club - Mrs. Judith V. Daniels - Group 4
10/13 - Tyler Texas Kennel Club - Mr. Robert J. Shreve - Group 4
10/14 - Tyler Texas Kennel Club - Mr. Adriano Bosa - Group 2
10/27 - Travis County Kennel Club - Mrs. Lydia Coleman Hutchinson - Group 4
12/15 - Mississippi State Kennel Club – Mrs. Dawn Hansen - Group 4
Lily (Ch Benayr Tiger Lily) went on to pick up two more group placements before she went into semi-retirement. We’ll probably breed her to Phil sometime in mid-2008 and in 2009 work on her earthdog titles.
01/28 - Abilene Kennel Club - Dr. Sam F. Burke Jr. - Group 2
02/17 - Guadalupe Valley Dog Fanciers - John P. Wade - Group 3
Shelly (Ch Benayr In A Nutshell) is fully retired now, has been spayed and we are looking for the perfect forever home for her retirement. She had her last litter of two (we lost one) with Phil and we have high hopes for Valle (TexAun’s My Funny Valentine) to continue her line.
Polly (Ch Benayr Norwegian Blue) finished her championship as noted earlier this year. She is in semi-retirement and we plan to breed her to Phil early in 2008 and then start working on her agility titles.
Bo (TexAun Mr Bojangles Is Really A Girl), Valle (TexAun’s My Funny Valentine) and Swick (TexAun’s Blind Man’s Bluff) all picked up points toward their championship.
Regarding departures and tough decisions, we made a lot this year, placing puppies and more mature dogs. We love all of our dogs dearly but occasionally need to make tough decisions on show prospects. Patty (Akiba’s Miracle Worker) went to the home of a retired couple near Austin where she gets constant love and attention. Swick (TexAun Blind Man’s Bluff) went to a family of four in the Los Angeles area and they plan to quickly get him through basic obedience and may train him as a therapy dog. Lucy (TexAun The Doctor Is In) has been spayed and we are looking for her perfect forever home too.
Albuquerque, NM - That’s right! Polly (Ch Benayr Norwegian Blue) finished her championship at the Plum Creek Kennel Club Show in Denver yesterday! Thank you Judge Mrs. Lenora M Riddle and Gabriel Rangel for your expert handling!
We’ve also completed placing all of Patty and Phil’s puppies! Dakota, Liberty, Maggie and Zach (TexAun Dakota, TexAun Lady Liberty Belle, TexAun Maggie Sue Bendel and TexAun Zach Morris Adams respectively) are being spoiled as we speak. Swick, Lucy and Bo (TexAun Blind Man’s Bluff, TexAun The Doctor Is In and TexAun Mr Bojangles Is Really A Girl respectively) are spoiled too, but they are going to be spending a little more time on the grooming table.
See above…yep…we’re headed to Albuquerque over the next few months. Me first, then the rest of the gang after school gets out. Chances are we’re going to be pretty busy with other things than blogging.
Humble, TX - As we approach the holidays, we get to reflect on a year where we were blessed in many ways! Healthy family and puppies and more awards for our dogs in November & December.
Many thanks to Betty Bossio (not just our handler…our best friend in the dog show world) and all our mentors for helping us “get up the curve” so quickly!
Lily (Ch Benayr Tiger Lily)
11/19 - Fort Bend Kennel Club - Ms. Sandra Goose Allen - Group 4 - Lily’s First Group Placement!
11/29 - Kennel Club of Beverly Hills - Mrs. Anne Katona - Best Opposite Sex
11/30 - Los Encinos Kennel Club, Inc. - Miss Mike Macbeth - Best Opposite Sex
Not too shabby! - Best Aussie Bitch two of four days during the Eukanuba National Championship weekend!
Polly (Benayr Norwegian Blue)
11/26 - Sahuaro State Kennel Club - Mr. Robert S. Forsyth - Best of Winners - Polly’s First Major!
