The Ultrasound was WRONG!

IT'S A BOY!

Details: Yup, an army of one.

BORN: Feb. 23, 2009. (Co-breeder Jocelyne's birthday.)

WEIGHT: 2 lbs.

SIRE: Limerick Blake at Gryffindor, CGC. Blake is from the famed Limerick tennis litter. View his pedigree on his brother Cash's web page here.

DAM: BISS CH Glenamadda Starkeeper Verity (Ginny). View her pedigree here.

COLOR and MARKINGS: Red brindle like dam. White toes exactly like his sire's. Chest mark identical to his sire's: A five-point star.

CALL NAME: Hunter, in honor of Ginny co-breeder Susan Prokopenko's late husband, Geoff Hunter.

Happy Birthday!

My Funny Valentine

Happy birthday on Feb. 16 to all the V litter: our beloved Verity, and her littermates Victoria (with her breeders in Canada), Veronica (in Australia), Victory (in the U.S.),  Venus (in the U.S.), and Canadians Vegas and Velvet!

Wow, it's already been three years, gang!

Here they are, only several hours old on that amazing day three years ago, photo courtesy of the hard-working co-breeder Dr. Susan Prokopenko (Glenamadda).

At the time she ONLY had litters U, V, AND W!

Verity (co-owned and loved by Pat Murkland and Verity's co-breeder Jocelyne Gagne) is the one in the middle with the red yarn collar. 

Her puppy litter name was Valentine, or Red.

She remains our wonderful Valentine, our love.

Many happy returns, to all Vs!

Glenamadda Starkeeper Liberty

Photo by Vicki Holloway

Glenamadda Starkeeper Liberty winning a 3-point major and going Best of Breed over three champions at the age of 6 months.

Shown by Erin Hines.

Thank you again to judge Mr. Elliott B. Weiss.

Forever gratitude goes to breeders Dr. Susan Prokopenko (Glenamadda) and Jocelyne Gagne (Starkeeper) for entrusting me with sweet, diva Liberty from the fabulous Z litter.

Click here to view Liberty's pedigree.

Liberty's win

Here is the online catalog.

Liberty's first dog shows

Liberty is now six months old and so, we went to our first dog shows for a fun outing, for socializing, and practice. So far, she thinks dog shows are all about being inside buildings. She loves the treats, gaiting around the ring, and shopping for toys.

At our second weekend out, at Orange Empire Dog Club, Liberty won her first points toward her AKC championship title!

She won Winner's Bitch, Best of Winners, and then BEST OF BREED over three champion specials. A THREE-POINT MAJOR at six months old. 

Best of all, she had a fabulous time! 

We're still in shock. Wow!

Many thanks to Judge Elliott Weiss, to handler Erin Hines (and of course to Bill Buell), and congratulations to Liberty's breeders, Dr. Susan Prokopenko, Jocelyne Gagne, and her father's breeders, the Souzas of Limerick. 

Blake matures

Blake continues to amaze at age 2.5 years, as he matures into a gorgeous young man. Not that we're biased or anything. (Grin) He is still very puppylike, as right before these photos were taken, he was enjoying a good roll in the grass.  He has a very happy personality! Here he is gaiting with his co-breeder Jamie Souza Bartlett:

Here he is going away:

All Photos by Pat Murkland copyright 2009

Thank you to Limerick (Janet Souza, Linda Souza, and Jamie Souza Bartlett) for my beloved Blake! 

Thank you Karen Malone

Thank you for being so kind to me and to Merlin's daughter, Verity. Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm for wolfhounds with me. Thank you for your support and for your pride as Merlin's daughter succeeded beyond my dreams in the show ring in 2008. We hope you are with Merlin now, together ... as you will be in our memories.

This video was posted by Karen's friends on YouTube: