Shadowhills Border Terriers

29/08/2024

Border Terrier Ring times are up for Roseburg:
Thurs Ring 3 2:00 pm
Fri Long Day
Sweeps Ring 4 8:00 AM
S OR Terr Ring 4 9:30 AM
Umpqua KC Ring 3 12:45 PM
Sat Ring 3 9:00AM
Sun Ring 3 2:00PM

29/08/2024

Not many dogs hit this milestone and even fewer look this great!
FYI, Karen Fitzpatrick and Debbie Pomeroy.
Happy 18th Birthday to “Devlin”, aka Otley’s Devil May Care, ME,RE,CGC, aka “Devil Dog”! What a wonderful life you are having! Many more years to you!
And a huge THANK YOU, THANK YOU, Tom and Sheila, for the care and love you have given Devlin over the years! You cannot imagine how much your care for Devlin has meant to us! You came looking for a puppy and left with one of the best young adults we have ever had! He lives in one of the best homes we have ever had!
Devlin is by CH Meadowlake Devil’s Brew, “Killian”, out of Otley’s English Maiden. Bred by Debby Pomeroy from her “tiny little b**ch” as Karen called her! That “little b**ch” was a sister to “Dagon”, CH Otley’s English Gent, likely the top BT in the early 2000s. Devlin was my second BT and he taught me so much. If I had known then what I know now, he would have easily been a CH. Always a wonderful partner in anything from Rally to ED to chasing a ball around the yard.
Happy, Happy Birthday, “Devil Dog”!

True story. Kyle and I were en route driving to the 2011 BTCOA National Specialty in Arizona when we saw the sign up ahead.
Devil Dog Road
We already called Devlin “Devil Dog”, so we knew it was a good omen!

29/08/2024

The handsome “Trace”, formerly “Merlin”, CH Shadowhills Magic Unleashed, a Gizmo x Charly son, one of 3 CH out of that litter of four. He manages / supervises/ controls vermin/ loves his people at the farm in Los Altos!
The esteemed BT breeder and judge, Michael Shoreman, put him up for Best Puppy / BOW in a show the day after the 2015 National. That win, the pedigree of Rosemary and Michael’s girl going back to a Glen Mara girl, and the chat Michael and I had in CO at the 2018 National, led to me getting Stevie which led via RIO, another Charly son, to producing Lark and Demi. Crazy little things, a trail you cannot foresee, all a part of dog breeding!
10 years old next month and looking fabulous! Happy early Birthday, Trace!
Charly sure put her stamp on you, my man! ❤️🐾

27/08/2024

The beautiful “Stevie”, CH Roschel’s Rhiannon of Foxrun, about 80% way through a long overdue grooming! Stevie is having a great life with Tina and Roger, and her BT “boys”, Murphy and Monkey! Hoping to get her into ED soon as she killed a rat in the yard a few weeks ago!
Stevie is a Whiskey ( #1 BT in US) littermate sister, bred by Michael and Rosemary Shoreman and Jen Holder, and is the mom of a very nice 2 yo Shadowhills litter including Lark and Demi.

26/08/2024

2025 BTCOA National Specialty RV parking reservations info and ordering are up and available on the Specialty website!

26/08/2024

Great idea from Anna and “Douglas”!
Anna took him to Home Depot over the weekend. He rode in the cart WITH HIS KIDS! Great idea! Reduces the stress load a lot! He was fabulous, not nervous at all, she said.
A Cav x Lark puppy. 12 weeks old.

26/08/2024

It’s National Dog Day!

Celebrate with your best friend(s)!

20/08/2024

A good Border Terrier (and all terriers) judge has passed. I always enjoyed showing to him knowing he would find the best dog on the day. He ran a good ring, was always pleasant and fun to show to.
In fact, a long time ago now, the day Kyle and I went to the Golden Gate KC shows in SF to look at BTs, he was the judge!

ShowSight is sad to share the passing of esteemed AKC Judge Mr. Jim Reynolds-

One of his very favorite assignments, the Montgomery County Kennel Club shows-

Read more:
https://showsightmagazine.com/montgomery-best-in-show-judge-through-history/

16/08/2024

The last pup has left! “Douglas” with his forever family in Salem. They have been fabulous over three litters waiting for a boy. Coming up to help socialize puppies etc. Dougie will be one spoiled pup! ❤️

16/08/2024

After four days, they are becoming “best buds” enough to sleep on the same couch!😂
“Geno”, 12 weeks today, and older housemate “Gemma”.
A grand home! ❤️❤️❤️🐶🐶🐶🐶

15/08/2024

“Douglas” having the zoomies while out with his dad and half sister! They are just shaking their heads!😂😂😂

15/08/2024

“Douglas” about leave us for his forever home on Friday after being spoiled by Tim and the dogs here. Cav x Lark.

14/08/2024

More from Canine Construction and Conformation:

Wise Words

Interpreting Breed Standards

with William Given

I do not believe that I have ever attended a specialty club meeting, or engaged in a serious conversation with a group of similarly- minded breeders without someone, sooner or later, saying something about the breed standard. In some cases, the thought is that something should be added. In other instances, how the standard should be changed.

The belief that something needs to be done with a lot of breed standards is nothing new to many breeders and exhibitors. Established breeders and exhibitors of every breed have a mental picture of an ideal dog of their breed and to them this fits their breed standard, or the breed standard fits the ideal dog, put it whichever way you like.

If there is anything that will confuse someone trying to gain a good understanding of the correct type in a dog breed, it is to hear about all the “different types” there are in the breed, for example, the bench type, the field type, or the working type.

When we look to the breed standard, we find not a word about any of these “types.” It is what the breed standard says that makes a good individual dog of the breed and the things that make a not-so-good dog of the breed.

The ideal dog is one of correct breed type. Canine perfection, if you would call it that.

I cannot possibly tell you how many times my mentor has assured me that the perfect dog (in any breed) does not exist. All will be either a bit course or fine, or maybe weaker fore or aft. Therefore, some degree of flexibility in interpreting the standard is certainly justifiable.

This is not meant to support the premise that any person’s picture of the perfect dog as described by the breed standard can range as far as they need it to in order to fit their dogs. There can be measurable differences within dogs of the same breed without straying too far from the original blueprint of the breed (the breed standard).

Dogs may very well be of different styles and still remain within the parameters of correct breed type.

Logic suggests that every fancier who reads a breed standard will have a slightly different interpretation of it.

The original purpose for the development of a particular breed remains the same, so it is important to remember that all of these different interpretations cannot be allowed to alter the breed standard.

The facts remain constant, no matter who reads the breed standard, studies the breed’s history, or becomes a breeder. These facts stand resolute regardless of how well or how poorly the standard is understood.

If we allow interpretations to create correct breed type, the variations could and eventually would spell the end of correct breed type. Correct breed type is what deters this from happening.

13/08/2024

“Gino, aka Shadowhills Moon Shadow, having his first day at the beach! What a great home for him! He is blossoming already! He always has his tail up and wagging!
Cav x Lark

13/08/2024

From the FB page “Canine Construction and Conformation”:

Wise Words

with Narelle Hammond

It takes a truly foolish individual to claim that their dog is flawless. Despite living in a modern age filled with advanced technology, this mindset persists and shows no signs of disappearing soon. Kennel blindness is a significant issue, affecting approximately 80% of breeding kennels, causing breeders to turn a blind eye to any faults present in their own dogs.

Breeders who suffer from kennel blindness often manipulate the breed standard to suit their own dogs, rather than ensuring that their dogs meet the standard requirements. This approach is flawed, as the correct method involves breeding dogs that conform to the established breed standard, not the other way around. Failure to adhere to this principle can cause the perpetuation of serious faults within a few generations.

The inability to recognize and appreciate the positive attributes of other breeders’ dogs is a common symptom of kennel blindness. To combat this condition, breeders must familiarize themselves with their breed’s standard, continuously revisiting and understanding its contents. While breed standards outline the essential characteristics of a breed, breeders have the flexibility to interpret and emphasize non-essential traits, allowing for diversity within the breed while maintaining adherence to the standard. Remember, there is no such thing as a perfect dog, and there is always room for improvement in every breeding program.

It’s important to understand that the idea of a “perfect” dog can be subjective and may change. As a breeder gains more experience with a particular breed, their priorities and preferences may develop. For example, someone who initially focused on the correct head shape of a dog may come to realize the importance of angulation and movement in the breed as well.

People who are overly attached to their own breeding kennel may make excuses for why their dogs are not winning in competitions. While some of their reasons may be valid, consistently losing under different judges could show that the dog does not fully meet the breed standard in some important aspects. Blaming the lack of success on external factors like biased judging or politics is not productive. It’s important to consider the possibility that there may be areas for improvement in your own breeding program.

If your dog is not achieving the desired results at dog shows, it's helpful to seek feedback from knowledgeable individuals who are familiar with the breed. These individuals do not have to be from the same breed, but they should be experienced and honest in their evaluations. Being open to constructive criticism and willing to adjust based on feedback can ultimately lead to improvements in your breeding program.

There are some breeders who may not have a natural talent for assessing a dog’s qualities. Even after studying the breed standard, they may have difficulty accurately evaluating a dog’s structure and movement. This can be a challenge for them for breeding and selecting the best dogs for their program.

Even more concerning are the breeders who have never taken the time to read their breed’s standard, or those who are new to breeding and are heavily influenced by a dog’s temperament and personality. These breeders may lack the skills to assess a dog’s conformation accurately and may make breeding decisions based on factors other than the breed standard.

Some breeders may also lack the ability to evaluate a dog’s qualities objectively. They may be so attached to their own dogs that they believe all puppies from their program are of show quality, even before the litter is born. This can lead to breeding decisions that are not based on the best interests of the breed, but on personal attachment to the dogs.

There are several types of breeders in the dog breeding world. Some breeders have a history of producing top-quality animals but are currently facing challenges in maintaining their reputation. There are successful breeders who have previously bred superstars and are now in search of their next big winner. These breeders might be more inclined to overlook flaws in their own dogs because of their past successes.

Another category of breeders includes those who work with a limited gene pool, because they are unwilling to explore outside their own kennels, or because they choose to breed with the dogs closest to them geographically. These breeders often resist acknowledging any issues within their breeding program. There are breeders whose entire lives revolve around dogs, turning their passion into an all-consuming obsession. This intense focus on dogs can sometimes cloud their judgment and objectivity.

Conversely, there are breeders who maintain objectivity and are not “kennel blind.” They are critical of their own dogs, often more so than others would be. These breeders possess a deep understanding of their breed standard and can evaluate their dogs’ strengths and weaknesses objectively. They will make tough decisions, such as removing dogs from their breeding program if they do not meet expectations. By recognizing and addressing any signs of kennel blindness early on, breeders can prevent any negative effects on their breeding program and strive for continuous improvement.

It’s important to gauge how well you know your own dogs by seeking an unbiased opinion from someone you trust. This person should be able to provide an objective evaluation of your dogs with no bias or preconceived notions. By doing so, you can get a better understanding of your kennel blindness level and identify any areas where you may overlook certain aspects of your dogs’ behaviour or health.

When asking for someone’s opinion on your dogs, choose someone who is knowledgeable about dogs and can provide constructive feedback. This individual should have experience with dogs and be able to offer valuable insights into your dogs’ behaviour, temperament, and overall well-being. Their feedback can help you see your dogs from a different perspective and potentially uncover any blind spots you may have for caring for your furry companions.

By seeking an outside opinion on your dogs, you can gain a fresh perspective on how well you know and understand them. This feedback can be invaluable in helping you improve your relationship with your dogs and ensure that you are providing them with the best care possible. Remember to keep an open mind and be receptive to any feedback you receive, as it can help you become a more informed and responsible dog owner in the long run.

12/08/2024

Good Morning!
From “Geno”, aka Shadowhills Moon Shadow, in the campsite on the Oregon coast with his new family. Looking more relaxed. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Cav x Lark

11/08/2024

“Mav” has found another benefit to his new, bigger sister! What a soft, warm pillow she makes! 😂

11/08/2024

And then there was just one….until next Friday!
“Desi” , formerly Mr. Red, and ‘“Geno”, formerly Mr. Green, left over the weekend!
“Douglas”, formerly Mr Brown, leaves Friday.
Cav x Lark

10/08/2024

It’s simple folks! Girls use those boys’ locker rooms occasionally. All you women know what it’s like to need a tampon. In some small gyms there are no lockers by s*x. They are used by both boys and girls at different times. They have urinals. They have toilets. In my high school, the visiting boys team always used the girls locker room. The visiting girls team used the boys locker room. I don’t think I saw a guy or a girl become confused about their s*xual identity in my years of high school. The Republican right wing idiots don’t care about women’s needs. They only care about some suedo-Christian agenda that worries that tampons in a locker room could pervert their sons. How stupid can you get?

We love Tampon Tim.

10/08/2024

And even a Top Gun like “Maverick” has to take a time out to rest! Next to one of his new house mates!

10/08/2024

It’s been a long first day for “Charlie”! Met his two girls and now, time to nap!

10/08/2024

First two pups went to their forever homes today!
“Charlie”, aka Shadowhills Neon Moon, went to love his two young girls in Sherwood, OR.
“Maverick”, aka Shadowhills Blue Moon, went eight miles from us to Mulino to join a BT housemate!
One more leaves tomorrow, one on Sunday and the last one next Friday!
This is the happiest and the most emotional day you will have as a breeder! Your babies are leaving for the betterment of themselves, their new families, and the breed!

03/08/2024

Puppies went to the Farmers’ Market and to the nearby park this morning. Then had a nice afternoon meeting one of their soon to be families and some other people.
This is Mr Red at the kiddie part of the park walking on wood chip area. Our tenth surface and they were ten weeks old on Thursday. He was great! Kids screaming and workers making loud banging noises didn’t faze him at all! Most will leave next weekend!
Very pleased with the temperaments of these puppies!

03/08/2024

This applies equally well to the dog breeding and dog showing communities!

Dear horse industry,

there is a lot we can be learning from Simone Biles.

As most of the world knows, at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Simone Biles decided to pull herself from the competition and received backlash of all sorts from all kinds of kinds for being a "quitter," "letting her country down," and so much hate from people who really didn't give a rats a** about women's gymnastics before she stepped down.

Simone Biles has come back 4 years later and has absolutely dominated. Simone (and her team) secured an Olympic gold medal this week in Paris, France.

What can we as equestrians learn from a small woman who flips in the air with such tremendous power?

1. Put yourself first

Simone pulled herself from competition because of a condition called "the twisties" which causes a gymnast to lose track of where they are in the air while performing maneuvers. It was a huge safety risk to compete with this. She had to prioritize her health before any other goals for herself or her team.

As horsemen, we need to acknowledge when we are not at our best and know when to step away from the barn, the ride, or even a competition.

2. People talk

Simone is one of the most decorated gymnasts of all time. She has a laundry list of world championships, skills named after her, national titles, and now two Olympic all-around titles.

You can be the kindest, most talented, most beautiful, most helpful individual and you will still have folks talking about all of your shortcomings. People will create reasons to not like you, and as an athlete you need to acknowledge that and not dwell on it.

There are so many strangers on the internet that will spit on Simone's name at any given opportunity and their only achievements in life are an average office job and professional couch jockeying.

The horse community is known for this kind of behavior and it can wear a person down fast.

3. Perfect hair doesn't equal a perfect score

So many trainers/coaches/parents get so wrapped up in having the perfect hair/bun/shirt etc. Simone had several flyaways while competing this week and still came out with stellar scores. The judges are not judging your hairstyle folks, just make sure it's not in the way of your back number and we really will not be looking twice.

4. Slowing down doesn't mean quitting

I am certain there was a lot of work put in to get Simone past "the twisties" and back to performing her stunning skills. When I have a horse struggling with a maneuver we go back to the basics to fix the issue before we ask the horse to perform at their full potential again.

This can be frustrating when your trainer tells you "I had to back off of your horse some" or "Hey, we're going to work on boring beginner exercise #3 today." All of this is part of the process and it doesn't mean you or your horse will be stuck their forever. Set backs are a normal part of an athlete's journey.

5. Build others up

Simone has encouraged many women gymnasts such as Jordan Chiles who competed alongside her at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Jordan was invited by Simone to join her at her gym.

The equine industry is terrible about putting others down and being downright rude. Every single youth, amateur, and trainer is human. No one knows everything, everyone can teach you something.

The more we collectively work to create a community of competition AND encouragement, the better the horse industry will be for everyone.

01/08/2024

Very true! The breeder should know the quality, correct type and fit to function of what they bred. Conformation judges see the dog for two minutes. Even great judges can only judge what they can see and what is presented to them. But the breeder lives with the dog, knows its strengths and weaknesses. And while the breeder should be honest in describing his dog to others, especially to other breeders, he must first and foremost be honest with him/her self.

Le club, c’est le club, l’élevage, c’est l’élevage ! Ce n’est pas le club qui fait l’élevage, mais c’est l’inverse qui fait la grandeur d’un club. L’éleveur vérifie la qualité de travail de son élevage avec les épreuves du club, mais le premier juge, c’est lui. L’éleveur travaille obligatoirement avec un standard de race, il ne peut pas le changer à sa guise et à sa convenance. Il se doit de vérifier son travail en exposition sous l’appréciation des juges, mais c’est lui le premier juge. Les juges d’utilisation ou de conformité ne jugent que ce qu’ils voient à l’instantané. Si le juge d’utilisation juge du concret, le juge de conformité donne souvent son avis sur du subjectif, mais c’est vous le seul juge de votre élevage. Un troisième prix, un échec ou un premier prix dans une épreuve d’utilisation, n’est pas obligatoirement sa vraie valeur, c’est l’éleveur qui le sait. Le prix d’un concours de beauté n’est pas toujours sa vraie valeur, seul l’éleveur connaît ce que mérite son chien. Ne demandez pas au Club de faire votre élevage. Le club, c’est une auberge espagnole, on n’y trouve que ce qu’on y apporte.

01/08/2024

Normally the dogs get these AKC medallions when they complete their AKC CH entirely from the Bred By Exhibitor class.
I was very surprised to receive one myself for having finished five AKC CH entirely from the BBE class. I only found out about this a few years ago and ever since have been making an effort to enter BBE at every show. Previously I entered my younger pups in the age related classes first (6-9 month, etc).

01/08/2024

Puppies went to Ace Hardware today.Then I had to fix the battery in the car that died. Fortunately, it was at home! In the shade!
Here’s “Charlie”, aka Shadowhills Neon Moon, aka Mr Orange, eating dinner in his crate. Sorry it’s long. I didn’t know how fast they would eat!

30/07/2024

Puppies went to the pet store today! Here’s Mr Green, aka “Geno”, checking out some of the food bags! Everybody enjoyed themselves!
We are travelling in the car nicely. No motion sickness in awhile. But these are 20 minute each way trips.