|
Written by Joan Garth
|
|
Tuesday, 26 May 2009 14:41 |
|
Wist's full name is Witsend Wistful SC. She is 18 months old and was bred in Canada by Judith Bowman out of Ch. Glenhaven's Palladin X Ch Windshift Waverly at Witsend. She was one of 5 girls in that litter, I picked her because I thought she was the prettiest and she was also the smallest with a really outgoing temperament. I hope that all my Deerhounds will at least Lure Course and up until now I have been very lucky in that respect with all my previous Deerhounds being Multi Best in Field winners. Wist has only been to a handful of trials as they cannot compete until they are at least one year of age and have passed their tests to run, proving that they run with interest and don't interfere with other dogs but she is at this time unbeaten by any other Deerhound in both Lure Coursing and Track Running needing just a few points to finish both Field Championships.
The SDCA National this year was at Purina Farms in St Louis, Missouri a beautiful venue but very hot and humid for my Deerhounds who are used to living at 700 feet with virtually no humidity, I thought that might affect their performances. Wist went to run the best I have ever seen her and much to my surprise on the first day at The ASFA Trial she took Best in Field, beating some wonderful competition. Day two was the AKC Lure Trial, it was even hotter and more humid than day one but Wist was on her toes and ready to run again. In her first course she collided on a corner with another Deerhound which tumbled but somehow she disentangled herself and managed to stay on her feet much to my relief.
She won her way through to Best in Field which incrediblyshe won AGAIN making her only the SECOND Deerhound in history (the first bitch) to have won BOTH Trials in the same year at The SDCA National.
Not only is she a spectacular coursing girl she has the sweetest most outgoing temperament you could ever wish for and she has yet to meet a stranger. She has been to a handful of shows and won a Hound Group 2 last October under a well known Deerhound judge and at The National she placed second in her Conformation Class with litter sisters "Welles" winning Best Young Adult in Futurity and "Winnie" Winners Bitch. Not to be outdone their Mother won Best Veteran in Show and an Award of Merit so it was very much a family affair.
Joan Garth, Edgewood, New Mexico, USA.
Photos used with kind permission from Steve Garth - http://www.thefineartoflife.com and Dan Gaus Shot on Site (sighthound photography).
ASFA Trial - Wist is in Yellow
AKC Trial - Wist is in Blue
|
Discuss (10 posts)
|
Re:Deerhound Bitch Makes History
Jul 30 2009 23:06:41
Well, she must have something going for her as she just won 2 more Lure Coursing Trials in Lompoc, California!!. So, she is now an AKC Field Champion finishing with all Majors, UNDEFEATED. I think her small, compact size combined with really good muscling just gives her the edge and the one thing I have noticed is that she can take any corner and get around it with apparently not a lot of effort...what a girl.
Joan.
|
#13787 |
|
Deerhound Bitch Makes History
Jul 30 2009 22:42:25
we always thought our smaller dog (brother littermates) was the fastest, as the effort he puts in is enormous and he's very well muscled becasue he is playful and always wants to chase the tennis ball (and his brother). but as they've matured it is obvious big brother has just been teasing little brother. for when he wants to (which are the operative words here) he stretches out gracefully and seemingly effortlessly with his long legs and leaves his brother in his wake. the smaller dog is elemental in his power. the larger is like an arrow shot from a bow. the smaller dog ducks, dashes and weaves and turns on a sixpence. the larger dog literally jump-turns, stopping his front and letting his back carry on so that he ends up facing in the other direction and then starts off again. the smaller dog is all power. the larger is more momentum. they'd both have no problems whatsoever chasing a stag and bringing it down. in fact they've brought us down quite a few times!
|
#13786 |
|
Re:Deerhound Bitch Makes History
Jun 11 2009 10:42:37
Hahahahaha! Not offended at all thought the same thing, most of the girlies would agree! Gx
|
#11888 |
|
Re:Deerhound Bitch Makes History
Jun 11 2009 02:33:33
Ok...just having a little over tired fun....sorry if anyone is offended...but..really...
|
#11876 |
|
Re:Deerhound Bitch Makes History
Jun 11 2009 02:32:38
Ah, Richard..you have no idea how women agree with your statement...boy, I must be really tired...(at the end of your post..that is)
|
#11875 |
|
Re:Deerhound Bitch Makes History
Jun 09 2009 22:58:24
I'll bite too.
Probably Wist's greatest advantage is that she is in a home that cares for function and working sighthounds. That's a great start in life. Then, partly thanks to the previous, she's immensely enthusiastic. The famous element of 'inbetween the ears' or 'heart'. And finally, yes she's the size of the the true working, or deer coursing, Deerhound. They were that size for a very good reason.
Since the appearance of sighthounds, there has always been this discussion if dogs were better than bitches, or vice versa. Generally speaking, in long, very long straights it pays to be large and have a long stride, that advantage diminishes when agility and stamina are required. In live coursing: English(viz."Irish")Greyhounds, the Waterloo Cup was dominated by dogs. Long run ups. In Spanish live coursing with Galgos, El Copo del Rey - The King's Cup, bitches dominate. Longer runs, with a minimum course duration of 55", otherwise a no-course!
It pays to have a beautiful body, and know how to use it.
Richard
It was a pleasure to meet you both, see some good lure coursing, and of course the Museum of the Dog!
|
#11841 |
|
Re:Deerhound Bitch Makes History
May 27 2009 19:16:19
Hi i will bite as well our deerhound dog blue is just over 30" to the shoulder and slimly built he to can turn quickly and cover great distance with speed and (IF) i were to run him on game i (KNOW) he would be able to take down a deer. You are right it is all about having the guts to go in and hold it. As far as i am aware it is illegal to run dogs on game in Britian so people now have to be careful about there choices of words as hares and deer are game.
|
#11519 |
|
Re:Deerhound Bitch Makes History
May 27 2009 19:05:01
I agree with Sid. Our Callie (who is Dileas' sister) is also 29" at the shoulder and built very much the same. But when she runs she really does fly and can turn quite quickly. Fergal on the other hand is very much like Tavish (no relation)is chunker, not as fast and about 32". When they are running together or play fighting, Callie will let Fergal get just close enough, then drop a gear and leave him standing, Fergal is not impressed!
Spring
|
#11518 |
|
Re:Deerhound Bitch Makes History
May 27 2009 18:27:13
OK, I'll bite. My Dileas is about 29" at the shoulder and fairly lightly built, so she's probably of comparable size to Wist. She goes like the clappers and can turn on a sixpence, much to her brother's annoyance. This gives her a distinct advantage in lure coursing, play-fighting with Tavish and on ground game like rabbits and hares, but I'm not sure it's of any use where bringing down red deer is involved: you have to remember what Deerhounds are actually for. Tav, on the other hand, is more robust and has the extra weight and strength that would make him a better prospect on the hill, even though he's considered small here. I do keep boring on about it, I know, but I believe that Deerhounds don't have to be enormous to do the job they were developed for - it's a matter of hitting prey in the right place to knock it over, and then having the gumption to go in and hold it.
|
#11516 |
|
Re:Deerhound Bitch Makes History.
May 27 2009 16:12:40
So, did Wist's smaller size give her an advantage over the bigger hounds?. She weighs in at 69 pounds and stands 28 inches at the shoulder,much smaller than some of her competition. Do the bigger Deerhounds have longer strides giving them an advantage or do the smaller ones turn easier ths giving them the advantage?. Let's have a discussion on performance and function, after all they should all be functional as well as able to win in the showring!.
Regards..Joan.
|
#11513 |
You need to login or register to post comments.
Discuss this item on the forums. (10 posts)
|
|
|
