Sunday, July 31, 2016

Planning, progesterone and dog sex (oh my!)

Zene is fairly predictable as far as her heat cycles go -- she came in season around July 19th which is six months after her last heat.  We waited a week or so and then began the trek North to rendezvous with Beckett up in Northern CA. Step #1 is progesterone testing. Good breeders do progesterone when organizing each breeding ("live cover" or AI - artificial insemination).

What the heck is progesterone testing, you ask?

Basically, progesterone is a hormone produced by the ovaries that rises as the heat cycle progresses. Early in the canine heat cycle the progesterone values will usually read less than 1.0 ng/ml. The first significant, sustained rise in progesterone usually coincides with the "LH Surge". The LH stands for luteinizing hormone and is released by the pituitary gland in the brain. This is important because ovulation occurs about 48 hours after the LH surge. The progesterone value at the time of the LH surge is usually about 2-3 ng/ml. The progesterone will rise to about 5-8 ng/ml at the time of ovulation. Canine eggs are not ready to be fertilized at the time of ovulation and take about 2 days to mature. Once mature, the eggs remain fertile for 2 to 3 days and then begin to deteriorate. Of note: progesterone stays elevated for about 2 months whether the bitch is pregnant or not. We like to know when the "surge" is so that we have an idea of ovulation, when to breed, and to estimate the whelping day.

Zene in the waiting room at the vet

Zene's progesterone testing came back as 1.7 on Saturday, July 30th. We're looking for the LH Surge of 5+. She met up with Beckett this weekend but there was no connection (yet) between the "lovebirds" (she is too early to be bred).

More details to follow . . . (and likely more progesterone testing!).  After we have a successful breeding (or two) will we plan to do an ultrasound in four weeks to verify a pregnancy.  So please check  back . . . 

Thursday, July 28, 2016

"Zene" . . . Mommie to the Seeing Double Litter


GCH Moonlight's Rock'N Ow'T, RN JH CGC "Zene"

Sire: GCH/Can CH Captivatin' Ain't He A Knockow't ROM "Rocky"
Dam: CH Tamaron Okos Piros Csillag, CD RN JH CGC ROM "Csilla"

Owner/Breeder: Karen Lake, Co-Breeder: T Westerbeck
AKC #: SR65041506 (Pedigree) - DNA Profile #: V625573

CHIC #: 86671
OFA Hips: VZ-12914G25F-VPI (Good)
OFA Elbow: VZ-EL618F25-VPI (Normal)
OFA Thyroid: VZ-TH729/25F-VPI (Normal)
OFA CERF (Eyes): VZ-EYE12/25F-VPI (Normal)
OFA Cardiac: VZ-CA406/31F/P-VPI (Normal)

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 Multiple Best of Breeds 
Finished Grand Championship with FIVE Majors 
Junior Hunter at 10 1/2 months – Owner Handled/Trained
2x's Best Puppy in Sweepstakes Winner 
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Zene completed her AKC Conformation Championship with a 4 Point Major; earning the majority of her points from the Bred-By-Exhibitor class. The day after finishing her title, she took back-to-back Best of Breed wins for two 5 Point Grand Champion Majors - and she made the cut both days in the Sporting Group.  In short order she finished her Grand Championship with FIVE majors! 

As a baby puppy, she won back-to-back Best Puppy in Sweepstakes from the 6-9 month puppy class. Zene has also dabbled in Obedience and she has one Beginner Novice (BN) Leg, and earned her Novice Rally Obedience with little effort. Prior to those she easily earned Canine Good Citizen title. Her passion, though, is BIRDS!  She is birdy can be and has a tremendous prey drive (loves rabbits and lizards when birds aren't around).   At 10.5 months old and owner/handled and trained she earned her Junior Hunter title, and she could easily get advanced Hunt Titles given the time and training to do so.

Besides her good looks and biddability, Zene has a wonderful temperament, with an up for anything attitude.  She is a joy to live with and loves sitting upright  in my lap (on her back) and being held. She is my first home grown girl and I could not be happier with her.

As a Dam, she has produced multiple AKC Champions with several others Major pointed. She's successfully passed on her good looks and temperament to her progeny (and her good health). She is a natural brood bitch and an amazing mother.  I am so proud of her! 

Zene's pedigree reflects holds a proven strength in conformation and versatility:

Her Sire "Rocky" (GCH Can CH Captivatin' Ain't He A Knockow't ROM) finished his AKC Championship at 7 1/2 months old with 5 Majors in only 8 shows. Before age 18 months, Rocky was awarded several Best of Breed wins and earned multiple Sporting Group Placements — all owner handled! With relative ease, Rocky finished his AKC Grand Championship (owner handled) in August 2010. He has also been a formidable producer earning his Registry of Merit (ROM) from the VCA - with only four litters. He has seven (7) Champions and other titled progeny across multiple venues. In both 2011 and 2012, Zene's Grand-Sire, “Owe’n” (MBISS GCH Tivoliz CC Joint Venture, JH ROM), earned recognition as the #1 Top Producing Sire, and as of 6/2013, he has nineteen (19) AKC Champion offspring.

Her Dam "Csilla" (CH Tamaron Okos Piros Csillag, CD RN JH CGC ROM) is a proven producer earning a Registry of Merit (ROM) from the VCA in 2014. Her progeny include a Specialty Show Winner (BISS), (5) Champions and two (2) Grand Champions (two more are Major Pointed), seven (7) Junior Hunters, and (2) Rally Novice (RN) titleholders; along with Multiple Best of Breed, Group Placing, Award of Merit, and Multiple BBE Group Placements. Csilla has consistently passed her faultless temperament and good looks to her offspring. She hails from a successful litter with siblings earning Multiple Best in Specialty Show wins, and a Best in Show.

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Introducing Zene's baby daddy "Beckett"


CH HRQ Ask the Expert JH "Beckett"

Sire: GCH Tivoliz Expert Witness ROM* “Skoda”
Dam: BISS GCH CH Tivoliz Now Pay Attention CD RN MH AX AXJ VC TDI ROM “Q”

AKC #: SR67406304 (Pedigree) - DNA Profile #: V675865

CHIC #:  102157
OFA Hips: VZ-13096G24M-VPI (Good)
OFA Elbow: VZ-EL1703M24-VPI (Normal)
OFA Thyroid: VZ-TH788/24M-VPI (Normal)
OFA Eyes: VZ-EYE263/43M-VPI (Normal) 

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Finished AKC Championship with THREE Majors
Junior Hunter  (four straight passes/one weekend)

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"Beckett" is a moderate Vizsla with nice rib spring and front fill, a handsome head, and beautiful effortless movement -- and a fabulous temperament.  He finished his AKC Championship in a handful of shows from the Bred By Exhibitor Class, earning a 5 Point Major at his show debut (6 mos. old) and 4 Point Major in his second ring appearance (the same month). He later won Best in Sweepstakes at the 2012 VCSC Specialty in Pasadena. Once a finished Champion, he took the next year off to mature and pursue hunt training. He easily became a Junior Hunter, earning four passes and his title - in one weekend!  He loves his birdwork and is green broke and working on his advanced Hunt Titles. 

As a Sire, he has produced multiple AKC Champions and passed on his faultless temperament and good looks to his progeny.  I adore my "Cordie" from the 2013 Litter, I finished her brother "Oliver" in a handful of show from the Bred By Exhibitor class and later won a Best in Specialty Win (BISS) and Group Placement. W-O-W! Owners of pups from my 2013 Beckett x Zene litter adore their dogs and several are looking forward to another Moonlight puppy. 


4 year old Beckett practicing his show stack

“Beckett's” pedigree holds a proven strength in conformation, agility and field ability:





"Q" (Beckett's mother) - Photo by Pam Lambros



Beckett's Dam “Q” (BISS GCH CH Tivoliz Now Pay Attention CD RN MH AX AXJ VC TDI ROM) can do anything she sets her mind to! She is a Best in Specialty Show Winner, Group Winner, Multiple Group Placer, Multiple Award of Merit recipient, and most recently won Best Veteran in Sweepstakes and Select Bitch at the prestigious 2013 Vizsla Club of Northern CA Specialty. Not just a "pretty face", she also loves her birds and earned her Master Hunt Title and the Hunters Gun Dog trophy; in April 2013 (at age 7) she received a Judges Award of Merit in the Amateur Gun Dog stake with 26 dogs (a 5 Point Major). She is also titled in Rally, Obedience, Agility and Therapy. No wonder her nickname is "alphabet soup!"

Beckett's Grand-Dam is “Siren” who has passed tremendous quality on to her offspring. Collectively, they’ve earned 8 Championships, 3 Best in Specialty Show Wins (BISS), 3 Best in Sweepstakes Winners, 7 Winners/Best of Winners at Specialties, 1 Master Hunter, 2 Senior Hunters and 1 Master Agility Champion (MACH). Siren is also the “poster girl” for the OFA Champions of Health. I have spent time with Siren on several occasions and in-person she certainly lives up to her “heart-dog” reputation.

"Skoda" (Beckett's father)

Beckett's Sire "Skoda" (CH Tivoliz Expert Witness ROM*), is a Top Producer for 2012, and has twelve (12) AKC Champions (from four litters) including a Best in Specialty Show Winner (BISS), along with several Winners/Best of Winners and Best Puppy in Sweepstakes at Specialties. I have met Skoda in person and besides good looks he has a faultless temperament, both of which he passes onto his progeny. He qualified for his Registry of Merit (see vcaweb.org) in August 2013 (pending submission).

Beckett's pedigree has several other renown Top Producers, including two VCA Stud Dog Class Winners; 2009 - CH Kizmar Justice for All ROM* "Justice", 2013 and 2007 - MBISS CH Kizmar Fabulous Friday ROM "Cupid". Both these Sires have been formidable producers including siring the 2009 VCA Nationals Winners Dog/Best of Winners (out of "Justice"), Multiple Best in Show (BIS) and Best in Specialty Show Winners (BISS) and Sporting Group Winners. “Cupid” is the sire of Platinum Grand Champion MBIS 2xNBISS MBISS GCH Regal Point Pinnacle of Kilauea JH "Mason" who is a two-time VCA National Specialty Winner (2011 & 2013) and recently broke the record for number of BISS (Best In Specialty Show) Wins, with twenty-two (22).


We are so excited to be able to repeat this breeding -- we're "Seeing Double" in 2016!