Happy 6 Months!!

Here's our happy face Flynn, celebrating her 6 month birthday today! Flynn has had a great summer swimming, diving, and playing with her friends. She even won at a dog show! Now it's time to get busy and prepare for the bigger fall shows. 

Training Your Barbet

Here is a really useful article about understanding our dogs thought process when training. Dogs are simple creatures without agendas. Please have a look!

And so, the bottom line is this: if your dog is not doing what you want, it’s because you have failed to teach the behavior effectively, or because you have not made it worth his while to do so.  That’s it.  Dogs are fundamentally honest creatures – this is one of the things I love most about them.

Back to the Whippet Ring!

I was thrilled to return to the Whippet ring after an absence of several years to win Best of Winners Thursday with Bo-Bett Lainies Surprise under judge Dr Steve Keating in Canfield, OH. Lainie Jane is, of course, bred by my great friend Carol Harris and owned by my sister Dr Jan McMaster and me.

Whippets will always be my true love in the dog world.

Catching Up With the Weekend

Before we leave for the UKC Premier, I have some posts to catch up on.

Our little brown boy went off to New York City where he will live with Judy and Fran. They also have a place on Long Island where he will have lots of access to the beach. This little guy is named Gavroche.

Hickory Tavern Epilogue Esprit

This beautiful girl is our pick pup from this litter. She has gone to Cincinnati where she lives with Jeff and a Golden Retriever. We hope to see this girl out at the dog shows next year!

Hickory Tavern Epilogue Eclair

Finally, while we are home enjoying our puppies, it's a thrill for our dogs to be out winning at the dog shows with their owners.  Huge congratulations to Leslie Woodward and Lynn Vogt-Kinsey for winning Best in Open Show Sunday at the Longshore-Southport Kennel Club in Connecticut. Under judge Pam Lambie,  Hickory Tavern Finally Friday, 'Alainn,' won both the FSS Group and then Best in Show over a big Miscellaneous entry. Alainn is a one year old female out of our Neigenuveaux's Ermagarde (Claire) by Quaciendas Thunus Georgi (George). We are very proud of Alainn and Leslie!

Hickory Tavern Finally Friday

  

 Claire's pretty pink pup went to New Jersey to live with her half sister Blueberry. Pink Cotton Candy, now known as CC, will be spoiled by the Barones.

Hickory Tavern Epilogue Eden

Claire's little green girl now lives in Cleveland with a Havanese and the large Hurst Family to love her.

Hickory Tavern Epilogue Eva

Claire's Pups Start to Depart

Today the first pup of Claire's last litter left for his new home. Hickory Tavern Epilogue Edwin - Rush - has gone to live with Mallie, one of our Nessa/Murdoch pups from last year, in the Allegheny National Forest of Northern Pennsylvania. We are so happy that the Steber Family has chosen to add another one of our Barbet puppies to their family and we wish them all the best. 

Claire and Pascal Pups at 8 Weeks

Today the pups went to the veterinarian for their first shot and microchips. They all were very brave and were great for the ride in the car. I cannot believe these guys are already 8 weeks old and will be starting to leave this weekend. This litter has been such a pleasure!

Extra Special Visitors!

This morning we had some extra special guests for our puppies - Dad Pascal and his owners Josh and Maria stopped by en route to Arlington. Claire and Pascal are the proud parents of these beautiful 8 puppies who will soon be headed off to their new homes. It was a thrill to get them all together! We are grateful to Stephanie Dixon of Northrock Barbet for making this breeding possible.

Super Shout Out

I am so lucky to have the Tena Family included in our Hickory Tavern family. Today they came and took almost every puppy out on their own for a pleasant outing to a local park. The puppies loved their travels with the Tenas! Last year this family took home Barbet Fia as a baby puppy and now she is a very well trained and adored pet with titles/certification in Rally, Therapy, CGC, and soon to be Lure Coursing. As a breeder, they are the kind of family that we dream of for our puppies. Shout out to the Tenas!

AKC Breeder of Merit

We have received the designation of 'Breeder of Merit' from the American Kennel Club!

We are proud of the dogs we breed and are happy to be recognized for our efforts. The Breeder of Merit program selects from breeders who “demonstrate a commitment to the AKC Community, dedication to their breeds, and actively promote the sport of purebred dogs. The AKC is proud to recognize AKC Breeders who are dedicated to breeding beautiful purebred dogs whose appearance, temperament, and ability are true to their breed. These breeders are the heart of AKC.”

The following must be met in order to be accepted into the program:

• Has a history of at least 5 years involvement with AKC events
• Earned AKC Conformation, Performance, or Companion* event titles on a minimum of 4 dogs from AKC liters they bred/co-bred
• Member of an AKC Club
• Certifies that applicable health screens are performed on breeding stock as recommended by the Parent Club.
• Demonstrates a commitment to ensuring 100% of the puppies produced are AKC registered

*CGC (Canine Good Citizen) title does not meet the event requirements

Lucky Seven

Today our first girl of the litter headed to her new home.  Hickory Tavern Wishful Thinking is staying  nearby in Pittsburgh. The seventh puppy in a litter of seven, our purple girl is keeping her lucky name of 'Seven.' Her family has waited a very long time for a Barbet and Seven made a lovely anniversary present!

Our second new resident of Boston departed today for his new home on a beautiful lake. Hickory Tavern Wish List - Penn - is a very lucky puppy!

Goodbye Mr Red

Today we said farewell to our pick male from Solene's litter. Hickory Tavern Wishes Come True (Aquilla) has moved to Maryland with Krissy & Family, including two Cardigan Welsh Corgis. We will really miss this delightful and beautiful boy and wish him well in his new life along the river.

Busy Weekend

We had a busy weekend around the farm and some of our dogs were out competing with great results!

 Fia (Hickory Tavern Final Grade RN CGC) earned two legs toward her AKC Coursing Aptitude title at her first events! Fia is so naturally keen to the lure. What fun to see her enjoying the chase! Thanks to the Tena Family for always giving Fia such great opportunities.

Hickory Tavern Secret Garden, Meg, went to Canada and won a Group 3 from the classes over Specials with Leslie Woodward. 

Our first puppy went home yesterday. Hickory Tavern Wishbone, Almonzo, has gone to Boston where he will assume the role of Top Dog. 

Finally, my son Sam made me this fantastic sign for my birthday. His machining skills are pretty amazing!

Our puppies continue to grow and thrive. The older litter of Solene's will be going to the vet this week for their first vaccination and microchip. Saturday they will be 8 weeks old and the first will begin to leave for their new homes. It is unimaginable how fast the time goes when we have puppies here with us.

We had a special houseguest over the past weekend. Stephanie Dixon of Northrock Barbet came from Toronto to meet the Claire & Pascal puppies. Stephanie is the breeder/co-owner of Pascal and she wanted to see his beautiful first litter for herself! We are very pleased with how this litter is turning out. 

Judy Descutner & Stephanie Dixon

New Barbet Champion

Congratulations to Leslie Vogt Woodward and Ren (Hickory Tavern Fools Rush In) for finishing Ren's Canadian championship this weekend in Quebec with a Group 2 under judge Mike Macbeth. We are so proud of you!! Ren is 13 months old, and is by GrChEx Flacon d'Paris of Neigenuveaux out of our UKC BIS Nuphar's Gift-Wrapped. Ren is owned by Leslie Vogt Woodward, Lynn Vogt-Kinsey, Michele DeTour and Mary McEneany. Bred by us, Ren is a beautiful girl who is given the best of care by Leslie.

Can Ch Hickory Tavern Fools Rush In

Happy Friday!

Solene's Pink Girl, our keeper :)

Claire's Pups Go Outside

We've had a rainy week but this morning we took the younger puppies outside for a short visit. Claire and Solene supervised the puppies while they explored a bit. These little guys were 4 weeks old yesterday. The time flies!

Chilly weather, but enjoying the outdoors!

The Whole Crowd

Mom Provides Security

Quick Puppy Video :)

https://www.facebook.com/HickoryTavernFarm/videos/1162557540442766/

Claire's Brown Boy

What a cute little guy he is!

Morning Feeding

The puppies are growing so quickly and they enjoy their food. Their meals are hand-fed to help with socialization and reinforcing that people bring them good things!

Solene's Pups at 4 Weeks

Time is flying by! I'm really proud of how these pups are growing. They are so brave when we go outside for a few minutes. They are eating 3 meals a day in addition to nursing from mom. They still sleep most of the time, but when they're up, they are fun!

A Few Claire Pups

Yesterday we snuck a few of Claire's babies outside as they turned two weeks old. The litter is very similar in appearance. They are doing great!

Solene's Pups Get Outside

Today was a fun day. Solene's pups got to go outside for the first time. They only spent a short time but were very brave in their new environment. They are now eating solid food twice a day in addition to nursing from mom. 

Pretty Pup!

This girl of Solene's, at only 2.5 weeks of age, looks like a wise young lady.

Claire - Pascal Puppies at One Week

These aren't my greatest pictures. I really miss having Isabel here to help me with puppy photos! At least she will be home from college in three weeks to help with the pups when they are more time consuming. At any rate, here are each of Claire's babies...

Blue Collar Boy

Green Collar Girl

Orange Collar Boy

Pink Collar Girl

Purple Collar Boy

Red Collar Boy

White Collar Girl

Yellow Collar Girl