Astra Lauga - Hovawart kennel

Visits

Over the weekend we found the time to visit the owners of two of our litter A dogs. Aimi did not forget and recognized us after a year and was very happy to see us. She grew up to be a really pretty young lady. She gets regular obedience training with her master.

It was already dark when we got to Arion's home. These short days make it impossible to take pictures late in the afternoon. Arion has a nice mighty head and is in an athletic condition – he often gets exercise running in the woods making company to his master.

BH Trial

Today Sima has successfully passed the BH/VT Test (Begleithund/Verhaltenstest – Companion Dog and Behavior/Temperament Test), judged by Mr. Viliam Ružička (SK). Thanks goes to Zuzana and Alojz Pristach for organizing the trials.

AD Trial

Sima has successfully passed the Endurance Test (AD - Ausdauerprüfung) in Grygov (CZ) on Sunday. Judged by Mr. Miloslav Auterský.

The cold weather was great for the dogs to run in, whilst the dog handlers on bikes had to endure :) We would like to thank Mr. Lysák and others of the Olomouc Boxer club and KK Velká Bystřice for organizing the event!

Youth Presentation in Kroměříž

We went to take a look at Youth Presentation in Kroměříž (CZ) last Sunday where owners of Arca came to show her. She let the judge see her teeth exemplarily but she didn't like the measuring stick that much. So she's actually taller than measured :)

Overall, Arca is very calm. She was completely ignoring the shooting and other noises of bonitation. Nevertheless, according to her masters, she doesn't put up with everything.

Youth Presentation

Admin's owners came to the Youth Presentation in Podskalie last Sunday. The judge Mrs. Gargušová did not find any flaws in his beauty and counted up all his teeth in their right place. The only shortcoming of Admin was his height – he will have to grow up three more centimeters before Bonitation in order to be breedable.

It's been over a year since Admin last saw his mom. They probably recognized each other, too, as they were whining and growling quite a bit at one another :)

Special Show and Camp

On Sunday we showed Asima at the SHK Special Show in Podskalie. The judge, Mrs. Svobodová, did not spare lowered grades for all kinds of flaws, so we were very happy to receive an Excellent. We placed fourth as usual :).

We are staying at the training camp for the whole week and we're really looking forward to the Youth Presentation next Sunday where owners with dogs from our kennel should show up.

Pictures of Anakin

In June we have received a lot of pictures of Anakin from his owners in Hungary. A small selection from among them:

Visited Augustus, Shows in Nitra

We went to a show in Nitra two weekends ago. Twice. Sima got two r.CAC titles. However, it seems showing two days in a row wasn't the best idea... it was quite exhausting for everyone and it showed up on the second review, too :)

Some time ago we went to visit Augustus. He's grown so much that the white stripe he had on his chest is pretty much gone now. We also received a lot of pictures of Anakin from Hungary. We will post some of them, soon – stay tuned.

1st Birthday of Litter A

We wish a happy first birthday to our litter A dogs. May they have good health and always make their owners happy!

Visits, Club Show

The weekend before the last one we got to visit Alyssia with her family, and also Admin with family. Alyssia is just as much frisky as she used to be as a puppy, and Admin loves balls and also chewing on logs he gets to steal by the house. They are both beautifully fluffy after the winter – unlike Sima who had spent half of the winter time lying inside.

Last weekend there was a club show of the SHK near Bojnice. Besides Asima, Arion was signed up, too. Unfortunately his family could not make it and come with him this time. Mr. Langheim, the judge from Germany, noticed Sima's extra kilograms right away but still reviewed her as excellent. She placed fourth, which has now become a tradition, as it seems.

Shows, New pages of litter A

We've shown Sima on a show in Trenčín in January. She was liked by the judge as Excellent, with an r.CAC title. In February she was Excellent in Košice and placed 3^rd.

After quite a while we've managed to put together some pictures of our litter A puppies. They were either sent by the owners or made at visits. Actually, the puppies have already grown into quite some dogs. You can find them along with other info on their individual pages:

• Adora
• Arca
• Alyssia
• Admin
• Arion
• Anakin
• Augustus
• Aimi

Visiting the puppies

Last weekend during a trip to Bratislava some of us went to take a look at how Arion, Adora, and Admin have grown and how they obey their new masters. All three of them are doing really great in their new homes, they have lots of toys and loving owners, and make everyone at home happy.

Augustus has a new family

Augustus has left for his new home today. Also Aimi whom we were keeping for her new owners should be leaving this weekend. We have all noticed including Asima that the yard is somehow emptier now...

Last puppy ready to go

Most of the puppies are happily at their new homes. We are still looking for a good family for Augustus. He is playful and very friendly. A family with children would be good for him, too. He is ready to go now, please see contact for enquiries.

Litter inspection

On Sunday the puppies were officially reviewed by Mr. Pavel Kuska of the Slovak Hovawart Club. After struggles with the SKJ we finally got tattoo numbers. The puppies are now tattooed and will start going to their new homes tomorrow.

6 weeks old

Last weekend Mr. and Mrs. Celý with Arogant paid us a visit and took pictures of our puppies. You may find the photos on their page.

Over this weekend we managed to take pictures of all the puppies again. They had their tongues lolled out nicely in the heat. That is when we managed to stop them even for a second. No matter the temperature, they always try to chew on everything and everyone :)

30 days old

The puppies have grown a little more and started to eat moistened dry dog food. If Sima happens not to eat all of hers, they are quick to get into that, too. Besides fighting each other they are now also interested in biting stuff around them, such as their first toy ropes.

20 days old – pictures

The puppies started growing their little teeth so we've began feeding mash instead of milk. Yesterday we found a while in between the rains to go out and take individual pictures of the puppies. Sima was trying to be of great help with that:

9 days old

The puppies have grown a lot over the week. Some of them already gained pigment. Yesterday they first tried to walk instead of crawling, and today they made attempts to open their little eyes.

This morning Sima wanted to play hide and seek — when the morning sun hit the curtains, she started to carry the puppies away. She put two of them on the couch and tried to hide another one in the closet. It was crying too loudly though so we got up and they all had to go back to their place.

A few pictures from the past days:

They're here!

It seems they are all here. Took long 10 hours since the first one 'til the last one. Altogether 8 puppies. 4 bitches (2 blond, 2 b&g) and 4 dogs (1 blond, 3 b&g).

They're coming!

Sima has been running around nervously all night and morning. Just minutes ago she smoothly gave birth to the first puppy, a blond bitch. She still pays more attention to her plush toy dog. We will see...

So far we have 3 bitches (2 blond, 1 b&g) and 2 dogs (1 blond, 1 b&g)...

...and another b&g dog. Sima is now taking care of all of them, they are whining with satisfaction and sucking milk.

Together, we so far have 4 bitches (2 blond, 2 b&g) and 4 dogs (1 blond, 3 b&g).

Awaiting puppies!

Sima is pregnant as confirmed by ultrasound. Veterinarian Dr. Branislav Klein has counted five little balls which should come to this world about the end of May :)

Club Show Bojnice-Hlboké

Went to show Asima at the Club Show of SHK, probably the last time for long if there are going to be any puppies. She was reviewed as excellent and even claimed the 4th place.

ZOP Trial

Sima has successfully passed the ZOP test (obedience test) in Častolovice. Judged by Mrs. Jana Svobodová.

Trials in Holešov where we had planned to go were cancelled at the last moment due to not enough participants. Thanks to the hospitality of Mr.&Mrs. Vanžura of ZKO Častolovice we could take the trials there. Even though Asima is very lazy lately and does all the drills slowly we obtained a nice score of 87 points (very good).

Litter planned!

On Sunday the 28th of March 2010 Sima was bred to Ari (Arogant Arivalo Asso).

It was pretty smooth and Sima stood easily, she got Ari quite tired. Pregnancy should get confirmed end of April. If successful, puppies should be ready to go by the end of July. We are all looking forward to the puppies!