Barbet Solene OFA Prelim Results: Good!

Yesterday I received very good news in the mail from OFA. Solene's OFA Prelim xrays received a rating of Good. Even though she won't receive her permanent rating until she is 2, it is good to know that her hips look great as we make her future breeding plans.

Solene's OFA Prelims

Today I took Solene to my vet for her OFA Preliminary xrays. Although OFA does not give permanent hip scores until after a dog's second birthday, prelim xrays on a dog over one year of age are quite reliable in determining permanent scoring. Solene's xrays looks great to me and my vet. Soon we will have the official result from OFA.

Champion Claire

I received this lovely certificate in the mail this weekend for Claire's International Championship that she won last year, just three months after her puppies were born. Claire is always such a joy in the show ring where her happy and confident personality shines through! I will always be grateful to Florence Erwin for letting me have Claire. She gave me the best possible start in the Barbet world. Claire is the first Barbet to win a UKC Championship, first to win a UKC Best In Show, she is a triple titled Canadian/United/International Champion, she is recognized by the AKC's CHIC program (one of only two American bitches to do so), and she is the only Barbet in North America to have given birth via imported European frozen semen. Most importantly, Claire is a complete and total pleasure to live with. She is super smart, brave, fuzzy and snuggly. I couldn't ask for more.

Barbet Dogs Featured in Best In Show Daily Online

Last month, Christi McDonald of Best In Show Daily featured the Barbet in a well done article about the history and status of the breed in North America. To read the article online, go to Best In Show Daily 

Finally...Claire's OFA Results are in!

Over a month after Claire's xrays were taken by Dr Gardner, we finally have excellent news from OFA. Claire's elbows are Normal and her hips are Good. In FCI scoring, her hips would be A-2. Thankfully, we can continue to pursue a breeding program based on winning show records, great temperaments, proper conformation, and healthy dogs.

OFA	FCI (European)	BVA (UK/Australia)	SV (Germany)
Excellent	A-1	0-4 (no > 3/hip)	Normal
Good	A-2	5-10 (no > 6/hip)	Normal
Fair	B-1	11-18	Normal
Borderline	B-2	19-25	Fast Normal
Mild	C	26-35	Noch Zugelassen
Moderate	D	36-50	Mittlere
Severe	E	51-106	Schwere

Claire is now 2 years old

Can/UKC Ch. Neigenuveaux's Ermagarde, Claire, has just turned two years old.  As we continue to evaluate her as a breeding prospect, her hips will be xrayed for OFA radiologists tomorrow.  Both of her parents are OFA Good and we hope that Claire will fare as well.  Fingers crossed!