NEWS 2006

December 24, 2006:

Christmas never has been really celebrated here in this house, and since a year not at all. But there is a reason to celebrate on December 24: the birthday of the F litter. Eight wonderful Briards which are six years of age this year. A very Happy Birthday to Ferre (Ferre Fuego Noir), Fendi (Flic Fendi Noir), Miro (Figaro Miro Noir), Falco (Fetiche Falco Nero), Fleury (Fleury d'Aude Noire), Ferri (Foudre Ferrari Noir), Saskia (Femme Fatale Grise) and to our Frizzy (Frizzante Furioso Gris). All these gorgeous furry bears are for sure very much spoilt today!

Here a candle will be burning all day long .......... for all the beloved ones which are not longer here, but especially for the mother of this gorgeous litter .......... for a unique girl .......... for the unforgotten, still unchanged missed and loved Yazoo ......... It is 16 months and a day ago that this personality went over the Rainbow Bridge, and since then no day has passed, on which she was not mourned over, on which every evening some words were addressed to her, on which tears have flown ..........

To all who celebrate Christmas, once again the best wishes for the coming festivities.

December 17, 2006:

For the upcoming holidays we wish all our puppy buyers, friends and acquaintance a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

May the year 2007 only bring healthiness, joy, luck and success to all of you!

December 7, 2006:

With the next litter from this kennel a new epoch will begin, because then the puppies will have another kennel name. Why?

Since the year 2005 in Austria there is also a letter limitation for the names. I had not known anything about that (my last litter had been 2002), because the Austrian Briard Club (OeKV)is not responsible for breeding matters and the OeKV being the responsible place for me concerning breeding matters, had not acknowledged me about that. The bad surprise came when the OeKV refused to register the K-litter with the requested names, as the maximum amount of letters - including the kennel name - was now 35, therewith a maximum of 20 letters (without spaces) for the kennel name. My kennel name has (without spaces) 26 letters (which is irrelevant, as this name has been internationally registered many years before the prevailing regulation. Still the 6 more letters are valid for the naming of the call names, with which there are only 9 remaining letters. An fact of impossibility with the way of naming that I practice since the B litter.

No exemption would be done! Even the argument that the OeKV being my responsible place for breeding matters would have had to inform me about changed registration rules, was not accepted! The OeKV was not aware of the fact that I don't receive the yearly stud book automatically, where the prevailing rules are printed, and it did not even matter the OeKV, although it is entered in their data base that I had the last litter in 2002, and therewith could not know anything about the changed regulations. Breeders only receive the yearly stud book automatically for the year in which they had a litter..

My suggestion to minimize the characters for the names was also refused, as the data base of the OeKV intends only 35 letters in the field for the name. But they made a suggestion to me: the OeKV would try to make FCI change my kennel name in the way, that the words "de la" and "du" would be deleted, and therewith I would have 6 letters more. That this name has a meaning and has also been translated correctly into French was not interesting for OeKV.

Together with the puppy buyers the names had to be changed, even though all the puppies had of course already bee registered to the International Microchip Data Base, as one has to chip the puppies before requesting the pedigrees and at the occasion of chipping the names are entered to the form by the vet. Likewise of course all the vaccination documents had been filled out with the planned names. (These two facts were also not interesting for OeKV!).

The prevailing rules naturally brought up the problem for me, that never ever again I could use such names as I did in the past years. Finally I found a paragraph in the registration rules that one can transfer a kennel name to another person with the approval of the OeKV. I wanted to do that and after some time have a new kennel name with less letters registered for my name. My application for transferring my kennel name to a family member was denied by the Austrian Kennel Club with the argument that it does not work this way. I turned the tables and then I was told that of course it would be accepted that the same family member to whom I would have transferred the old kennel name, with the same address and the same breed could register a kennel name, although for everyone it would be plain that the breeder would still be the same. ???

Oh well, if the OeKV wants it that way, they can have it - I can live with that! Certainly this means that I have to change many things in this homepage and also in the web sites of the other hairy family members, but this will work - step by step, but still.

So from now on there is the kennel name Caipirinha's and this name will be the one all the puppies from here will have in the future. The rating "exemplary kennel" will be put back by me, because it is only valid for the previous kennel name, and besides that I actually since a longer time don't attach importance for that because since quite a time the OeKV grants this rating also to any backyard breeder. Incidentally, the OeKV charges an amount of 83 Euro yearly for a plastic badge and stickers for the pedigrees (no matter if you have a litter or not) and this is for sure a bit exaggerated for a "seal of quality" which one would not even be willing to hang on the WC because of the practiced awarding habit of the OeKV.

So then, if from next year on one can read somewhere, that there are Caipirinha's Briards, then you already know that these are dogs from here, which have for many years attained degree of familiarity and fame world wide with the name "de la Maison du Garde-Barrière".

November 29, 2006:

There are new photos in the slide shows of the K litter: Heart, Grisu & Kiara

November 26, 2006:

Dreadful shocking news from America:
Today at noon Lana called me and had to tell me that Romeo (Ch. Ecstasy Noir de la Maison du Garde-Barrière, CGC) and his daughter Jasmine (Sagi's A Rose By Any Other Name) and a mixed breed died on 11/24/2006, killed in a fire while their mum was only away for a short time. The fire brigade called by the neigbours, could not do anything, the house burned completely down within a short time.

I sincerely hope that Romeo, his daughter and the mixed breed did not have to suffer too much, that it was fast for the three.......... what a terrible and tragic death. I cry as if Romeo had still been my dog, but acually all the ones that were born here, will always remain to be my dogs ..........

Eunice lost her husband last year. These three dogs were her life .......... now she has lost everything .......... Lana was the owner of Romeo, and also her world just caved in after the death of this gorgeous son of Samson and Yazoo.

There are nearly no words found with which one could console Eunice or Lana. But if someone would still like to leave something for them, please do it in the Note Pad. I will forward any message as soon as possible. Thank you very much! My dear friend Inger, who has Chaos, a brother of Romeo, has already placed her words there right after I had called her. Thank you Inger, your words really mean very much to me!

Actually today I had intended to put up some new photos of Heart and Grisu here in their slide shows, but for the moment I am really not able to do that. I ask Lynda and family Herdt for patience and I am sure, they show some understanding for putting up the pictures a bit later.

November 18, 2006:

Irene has sent photos of Alysha and Chili. Thank you very much!!!

Alysha is now 12 years and 9 months of age. I would say that she really looks great! And as one can see on the pictures with Chili, she is a dear playmate for the little rascal.

There are also some new photos of Courage in her photo album.

November 11, 2006:

During the week some photos of Chica have been taken, which can be now seen in her photo album.

October 26, 2006:

Today Courage had another exciting day: she met her sister Kiara and has been on the dog training place in the puppy playing group. Both the sibling tolled around immediately when they met, and they both were in agreement with their playing being the fulfillment. And also on the training place this continued, only for a very short time they played with the other dogs.

Some photos turned out quite nice and have been put to the slide show of the K litter.

From now on it's meant for Courage to be on the dog training place every Friday and that in the breaks between playing with the others, things that she needs to learn are imparted to her by help of clicker. Kiara will even be there twice a week, but for us this is timely impossible because of the office working hours. Anyway, this will be very good for Courage, since here in her own region she feels big because all the others are so very tolerant with her ...... outside in the big world things look different, and that is what she has to learn.

October 26, 2006:

Yesterday evening Grisu's Mom called and asked if I had time today because she would like to come over with her husband and Grisu. GREAT, what a nice surprise! Courage would for sure also like it, as it is something different to toll around with a sibling than with one of the big ones here.

It turned to be a wonderful afternoon. Saying hello was intense: Grisu was thrilled to see us again. Courage was besides herself, Grisu in the beginning zunächst eher abwartend, cautious, but then there was full action in the garden. Of course there were taken many pictures, but since both of them were so fast, lots of the photos turned to be fuzzy. Still some of these blurred pictures came into the slide show, as there war nice scenes and partly worth seeing facial play. With playing young dogs one does not need any TV ..........

There is also a small video with the playing of Grisu and Courage. Thank you very much to family Herdt, that they sent it to me!

And on coming Saturday there might be some other new photos: when nothing unexpected happens, Courage will visit her sister Kiara in the puppy playing group.

October 25, 2006:

Today we celerate birthday again. The sweetest gnome of the dog family here is 8 years of age today: Gizmo, THE personality.

Happy Birthday, little lady! Thank you for bringing so much sunshine to this family. You are the greatest Yorkie that exists. All the ones who know Gizmo, will agree to this.

October 22, 2006:

On Friday I have received the first photos of Heart in California. These pictures are of course now in Heart's photo album, and I hope that many more will follow. Grisu, too, has some new pictures in his album.
THANK YOU Lynda!!! And thanks to family Herdt for frequently sending me information and photos of Grisu, wo is making lots of great walks in the beautiful "Waldviertel"!

October 20, 2006:

Today once again a dearly loved Briard is thought of with a burning candle: Arwa B. would celebrate her 14th birthday today. The thoughts are with her on the Rainbow Bridge.

October 10, 2006:

I have been rather seldom out of my bed fastly in the mornings as I was today. Fully nervous I exceptionally switched on my PC to get my e-mails down. And then .......... not only a laod fell off my mind, but a rock: Ray had written to me immediately after Lynda had called him from the airport in San Francisco: Lynda and Heart have arrived safely and would now start their continuing trip home (five or more hours, because there was rush hour in San Francisco when they started). Hopefully the last part of this long trip was not too hard for both of them and they have reached their home safely. As soon as I have further information I will of course put them in here.

And since my mind is a bit clearer now, I have put the photos of the butterfly house in Vienna and of the castle visits on Sunday up to the homepage.

October 9, 2006:

Today time had come: Lynda and Heart have left. At 6:45 a.m. we started our trip to be at the airport in time while having morning rush hour. Contrary to all expectation we got it within a bit more than an hour (I had calculated 2 hours). But it was good that we were that early, so Lynda could check in her luggage very calmly and could get information when Heart should be "handed over ". We could go a bit outside of the airport with Heart so that she had some loud noise, and then we got to the airport restaurant for a while. Way too fast it was 9:45 a.m. and now we had to check in Heart.

I would not have thought that would come into some kind of panic, but it happened. The moment we were at the counter for large luggage I felt absolutely uneasy and tears came. It wasn't only because of the farewell of Heart, but all of a sudden all the thoughts about the horror trip with Yazoo came up, as also Heart had no direct flight and I panicked that she would have to go through what Yazoo had to the other time. Heart is the first puppy since that time which is going by airplane to her new home. Unbelievable how intense I had to think about each and everything six years ago and how I had these things right in front of my eyes. When Heart had to get into her vari kennel I felt incredibly sorry for her .......... and when she disappeared in the elevator I felt so infinite empty.

Saying good-bye to Lynda was also very hard, since the days with her had been wonderful and I wish that some time in the next couple of years we will meet again. Lynda also went immediately to check in, since we had thought about the possibility that maybe she could see how Heart got on the plane. I had intended to wait and take a last photo from the take off but the gate where Lynda had her departure was not to be seen from the restaurant. So I went back home to be with the dogs and especially with Courage soon, since she had bitterly cried when we had brought Heart to the car.

During all the time driving tears came and I thought, that this little girl really has to be on the same PLANE as Lynda, and both of them had to have a good and sound flight to San Francisco. ..........

All the very best, little Heart, and get safe to your new home. My thoughts join you and I can't wait that Ray sends me an email to let me know that everything is ok and that you are on your way to Sanger. I wish you healthiness all life long and lots of luck and fun for your further path of life, and may you bring as much joy to Lynda and Ray as you brought to us within the few weeks of your life.

The promised photos of the visit in the Vienna butterfly house and of the castles we visited yesterday will come in the next few days; I am not in the mood to do that today.

October 7, 2006:

Since yesterday evening Lynda is here, to fly back home on Monday with her Heart. How great to meet her again after so many years! Nearly 24 hours Lynda was on tour to get the second Briard from here, since 2001 she has been waiting for that moment. Actually incredible .......... and I am infinitely grateful for her confidence.

This late morning was belonging to Heart and Courage, who first played vehemently with Mom Zabou and afterwards with Oh-Lala. In the afternoon we went to Vienna to show some of our beautiful architecture in the centre of Vienna to Lynda, and then we went to a location which I had not known, of which I had not even an idea until beginning of this week that it is existing in the centre of Vienna: a butterfly house. Indescribably beautiful, in the middle of great tropical plants - even bananas are growing there - and water falls gorgeous butterflies are flattering around and even land on the visitors. Some of these butterflies even increase regularely and every now and then you see butterfly eggs and grubs. In two glass closets one can see the different phases how a butterfly develops, even small young butterflies are in there until they are big enough to fly outside. Something very wonderful. .......... Lynda took pictures but we totally forgot to look at them tonight. Tomorrow we must do that and for sure I will put some photos to the homepage then.

Tomorrow we are going to visit some small castles which are in my close surroundings and then, unfortunately, the weekend is over and it's meant to say good-bye to the last Zabou kid which is leaving this house, to Heart. My heart is already heavy and Courage will also get to be used that there is no more sister with whom she can make nonsense. For sure all the grown up family members will focus their attention to her.

October 4, 2006:

World Animal Care Day! A great day to celebrate birthday. Today the first grey, born black Briard out of Austrian breeding is 9 years of age: Batida de Coco, the B litter of this kennel.

A happy, happy birthday to you, dear Batida. I wish you an infinite number of years with Sylvia, Rudi and the family! And some time in the next couple of weeks I am going to come and visit you.

September 30, 2006:

The two Zabou daughters Heart and Courage had guests yesterday: Kiara came with Elvira and Chili with Irene. The four tolled around in the garden and had lots of fun. Every now and then Zabou also joined the playing. It was really not easy to get the little rascals in front of the lense, as they were always on the run. Still some photos were made and are now in the slide show of the litter

Tomorrow, on October 1, Sándor would celebrate his birthday. In memory of him once again a candle will be burning here and the thoughts will be with this "Gentleman", whom I owe that my life belongs to the Briards.

September 27, 2006:

Today the first photos of Kiara came. Elvira had already had computer problems before she picked up Kiara, but now these problems are solved. Of course the photos have been put to Kiara's album gegeben. THANKS Elvira!
And today's weight of Kiara has been added to the weight table.

September 24, 2006:

The weather is still very nice and therefore Heart and Courage can spend most of the time in the garden, and they enjoy that very much.

Reason enough to fill the photo album of both the girls and the puppy slide show with new photos. And because it was interesting for me how much weight both of them have gained, the weight table has also been completed.

September 20, 2006:

Yesterday and today I received photos of Chica, Chili and Grisu. The slide shows of these "kids" have been updated immediately.

Many, many thanks to the owners and my friends, who love to have Chica with them from time to time! Please continue this way.

16. September 2006:

Once again it turned to be a bit more quiet here, again a part of me has gone with a puppy: today little "Grisu" (Kalahari) has been picked up. He was kind of a stabilizing element in this litter, a very big cuddler, very affectionate and always intent on having bodily contact with human ...........

Before he went home with his owners we had him and his two sisters "Heart" and "Courage" running around in the living room, which they found quite funny, as there are things on which they can't chew and tug daily. Unfortunately it was raining and so there was no tolling around in the garden for the little rascals. But they compensated that quite good - together with their mom Zabou - in the living room.

In the evening I received the first photo of "Grisu" and the information that on the trip home everything was ok. Thank you very much for the picture, and I look forward to any other ones I receive!

All the best for "Grisu" and his new family!

September 15, 2006:

Finally there was some time to update the puppy slide show with the pictures since beginning of September. And Irene has sent the first photos of Chili with Alysha. THANKS Irene!

September 14, 2006:

From now on each puppy of the K litter will have an own slide show. At this point there is only one photo in each slide show, but I hope that the owners will soon send me actual pictures.

Just click in the puppy slide show on one of the small pics and the album of the particular puppy will open.

September 10, 2006:

On Friday evening Pascale and Ronni arrived here after a trip from Belgium of a bit more than 13 hours. An then the very big surprise when the car was opened: Talis, the gorgeous dad of the K litter was also here!!! That was something we had not expected and the bigger they joy was to meet him again. That was a real successful surprise, not only for me, but especially for Irene and Elvira, who picked up their dogs. Never ever the two would have reckoned with meeting the sire of their Zabou kids life .......... they were thrilled and absolutely taken. THANKS Pascale and Ronni, this meant very much to me.

On Friday it had rained here till noon, but then suddenly the sun was shining and after the arrival of Pascale and Ronni we could enjoy some hours on the veranda. As was to be expected we chatted till late in the night. Topic no 1 was of course the litter, and Pascale could support fully that this was a real great breeding .........

Yesterday we were nearly all the time in the garden as we had wonderful weather, just like ordered for the last day on which all the puppies could once again toll around together. Of course there were also taken pictures, which will be seen in the puppy slide show in the next couple of days.

I want to thank Elvira, who until yesterday did not know which of the girls will be the one joining her, because together with Pascale we decided on Friday which one would go to America and which Zabou daughter would stay here. It was because of Elvira that I always had changed the colored ribbons on the girls, so that she never knew which girl it really was that she had in her arms when she was visiting us. THANKS Elvira - for all your patience, for the many visits here and also that you gave me a breeding right for your girl! As turned out yesterday when Elvira chose her small girl, it was one of the two she had in her mind from beginning on.

The time with Pascale, Ronni and Talis of course flew way too fast and also the hours while Irene with her mother and Elvira were here. As nice as the past two days were, finally tears came up when yesterday a boy and a girl and today a girl left the house. As always when time has come, a piece of myself leaves with them and I thrive on the memories of the past weeks.

• Kandis "Chili", the boy about which we were so much in worry during the first days of his life because he was the weakest, is now living with Irene, her mother, Christian and Alysha, the fawn girl out of the A litter from here (by the way: Chili is the heaviest of the litter since weeks; and like Alysha 12 years ago he was the first one of the litter to be picked up)
  
• Kaipirinha "Kiara" lives in Vienna with Elvira, her son Philipp and the fawn 8 year old Briard boy Leon
  
• K'Quieres "Chica" is owned by us, but will also spend time in Belgium with a fantastic animal loving family.

It is just incredible how fast the eight weeks since birth of the puppies have been flying and how fast the moment for saying good-bye was here.

Next Saturday the next one will go, Kalahari "Grisu" will be picked up from his family. He will be living in lower Austria and be the successor of a Briard boy who died only some time ago. Beginning of October KeyToMyHeart "Heart" will finally be leaving for her new home. She has the longest trip and will be the one that I probably will never again meet: the small mouse will fly to America and will there be living with a Yazoo-Samson daughter as well as some other Briards. Luckily it is some more weeks till her farewell and therewith, she can join Kahlua "Courage". For sure there will be some funny things going on with the two and some more updates of the puppy slide show are certain.

I thank all the puppy buyers of the K litter for their trust in this kennel and some of them I thank for their patience that they have been waiting for a long time (even for years) for the long desired puppy from here respectively a Zabou puppy. My wishes for the K's: Healthiness as well as all the best, joy and success for all their lives long ..........! And for their human I wish that they will always be happy with these sweet little rascals ..........

September 7, 2006:

I was shocked to learn yesterday evening that a Yazoo/Samson son has passed: Einstein, only seven years of age, had to go over the Rainbow Bridge after a short, bad illness. I still can't understand it .......... My deepest sympathy goes to Sylvia and Rudi, who have given this boy a most wonderful home, although at that time it was not at all planned to have a third Briard. I thank both of them for anything they gave to this boy!

I still have the picture clearly in front of me today: in October 1999 Einstein was still here, together with his sister Whoopy. Sylvia and Rudi came over for a visit with Arwa and her daughter Batida de Coco, just for fun. When Rudi walked through the garden, Einstein followed him and did not anymore move from his side .......... and therewith it was sure for Sylvia and Rudi, that Einstein had decided to go with them. On the same day Einstein moved to his new home, where he could live a wonderful life with Arwa (who at the age of 5 years had also decided to move to Sylvia and Rudi) and Batida.

I know too good, how much "Little Bear" - that was how he was lovingly called - is missed now, now that he is over the Rainbow Bridge together with his mom Yazoo, his dad Samson, his brothers Chivas Regal and Clochard as well as all the other ones from here, and what an unbelieveable emptiness he left behind at his human, because he went that way much too young ..........

I think I can say that all the ones who have brothers and sister of Einstein, send their sympathy to Sylvia and Rudi, and know quite well, how painful this bereavement is. If someone wants to send some words to Sylvia and Rudi, please do it via the Notepad here in this page, and I will forward everything to the both.

Here a candle is burning for Einstein .......... in my thoughts I hug him tightly and I whisper to him, that we will all meet again when time has come ..........

September 6, 2006:

Eight weeks old Zabou's children are today, and once again they had a very eventful day: It was time for the second vaccination, the micro chips had to be set and the litter control took place. So all the gang and Zabou were put into the car and off we went to the Veterinary University Vienna. Our professor of confidence did not want to believe that this coming weekend the first ones will leave the house and the little rascals are already eight weeks of age, as there were "just born" and had been in his medical treatment during the first days.

All of them were examined thoroughly, the eyes, the bites and the dew claws were checked, their temperature was taken and then they had the vaccinations and the micro chips. Non of them said a word and after the procedure they were as funny and bright as before. Teeth and bites are perfect, same with the double dew claws, all tails are of correct length and all of them have totally dark eyes.

Zabou is already nearly at home in the university after all the plenty treatments since July 2005 against the Mycroplasma she caught at her first mating, and she greeted all as she always does, looked out for her pats and strokes, cuddled around a lot, but still watched the "happenings" around her children.

The small gnomes found the car ride totally interesting today. They were all together in a big grating transport box out of which they had sight to any direction and could observe things going around. Non of them slept at the way there and back .......... everything was way too interesting and had to be looked at exactly. They also liked the way they were brought into the clinic and back: the transport box has wheels and so they were easily driven around and therewith could also see lots of things. Back home the little rascals did not even think about sleeping, but decided to toll around and about in the puppy drain.

Of course there is the weekly update of the weight table. No photos have been taken today - there was no time. Probably tomorrow or after tomorrow I can do that. Since my father is in hospital since three weeks now and my mother is only back home since a short time after the surgery for her second new knee, besides the puppies there is lots to do.

Slowly my heart is getting heavy because it is only three more days and then two girls and a boy leave the house. With each of them a piece of myself will go and it will be a tearful weekend, even though I have found very great families for all of them. All are coming to Briards and one is the successor of a Briard boy who died only some time ago (that boy is going to leave a week later as his family is right now visiting their daughter in America). And it will again be unusual quiet here in the house and garden .......... as the rascals are really not silent ..........

September 5, 2006:

As we have just heard, the gorgeous sire of the K litter, Sél. Champ. TALISMANIK de la Chaume du Bois Dieu, has been selected in Spain last weekend. BIG CONGRATULATION to Pascale and Corinne for this further outstandig success of Talis. This does not only make his owners mighty proud, but also us here. A further great title which will be entered to the pedigrees of Zabou's children.

This unbelievable beautiful and concerning character real great Briard stud is Youth Champion of Luxembourg, Champion of Luxembourg and France, selected in France and Spain, multiple CAC, CACIB, BOB and BIS as well as twice subsequently Winner of the Championat de France .......... and all that at the age of not even four years! I am proud that I have chosen this wonderful stud being the sire of the K litter!

And then another great surprise: Coming Friday, which is only one day before the first puppies are going to leave, Pascale and Ronni are coming over from Belgium to take a look at the puppies of Zabou (their breeding) and Talis! 2800 kilometres tour retour just to see offspring of their line .......... all this just one week after they have had a trip of 5000 kilometres to Spain and back and only one week before they are going to the French Selection. .......... Shall one really spend just one single thought on someone who wanted to have a puppy from here, but was during two years not willing to make a trip of about 200 kilometres looking at the Briards here ???

We joyfully look forward to your visit, Pascale and Ronni. Who would have thought that only a few months after my visit in your home we will meet again?

August 30, 2006:

Today there is another reason to celebrate: Zabou, the great mother of the K litter, has her 5th birthday today. The very, very best for you, dear Zabou, and thank you very much for the sweet and beautiful puppies which you have whelped exactly seven weeks ago. You have done things great and I am mighty proud of you. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, my dear girl!

Of course there is also the weekly puppy update: new photos in the slide show and the up to date weight table.

Time flies too fast. I cannot believe that in a bit more than a week the first puppies are leaving the house and that latest beginning of October all of them are with their new people, partly very, very far away from here. I don't even want to think about that. ..........

August 25, 2006:

On August 17, there was the "Story" about the experience concerning a puppy interest. Here is something now, which makes a breeder's heart beat faster:

Four days ago I received an e-mail from a couple in Germany who had lost their Briard girl last year and who would be able to take off on Thursday or Friday to come here and look at the dogs, mainly at Zabou, because for next year there would be interest in a Zabou puppy. Since at the moment there are puppies of Talis and Zabou in the house this would be a great opportunity.

Today in the morning the couple came .......... from Bavaria .......... 500 kilometres one direction just to see the dogs and place a reservation for a puppy of Zabou's next litter. 1000 kilometres for a three hours visit, a nice chat, a folder full of papers of Talis and Zabou as well as their children and the invitation that I shall come for a visit when I am in Bavaria next time ..........

YES, I will love to have a girl from the next Zabou litter move to Bavaria!!!

August 23, 2006:

The puppies of Zabou are six weeks old today, and they had their first trip with the car consciously registered: we were off to the veterinary Universty for the first vaccination, but before they had a routine check-up. Everything was ok, so they had their first protection agains Parvovirosis. When we were back home again, Zabou of course hat to count up if really all of them were back, and then they had a heavy gulp at the milk bar. As exhausted the puppies were, they had no more thoughts about playing went to sleep immediately. Today they even slept away their lunch, which then was served to them in the early afternoon in the garden. But then playing, tolling and scuffling was on the agenda - with each other and with the Yorkies as well as with Voodoo and Ula. Indeed an exhausting day for the little K gang. .......... The life webcam was on and we could see some visitors watching this joy.

The weight table has also been revised today and some new photos can be seen in the slide show.

Tomorrow there is another worming, this time not in liquid form, but with tablets. Let's see what we will "go through".

August 23, 2006:

Today one year ago, at about 00:45 a.m., I have said good-bye to Yazoo, after I had brought her to the Veterinary University on August 22, at about 11 p.m. Had I known that I would never again see her again living, I would have stayed. ...... In spite of her high fever (41,2°) she went with the keeper with a wagging tail to have an antipyretic infusion and different examinations. Never ever I will forget this picture, this picture of my Yazoo, who in full trust did what I had asked her for: to be good and go along ......

Did she not show in which bad way she was because SHE knew that we would never meet again? Did she wag with her tail to leave behind a last nice picture from her as one of a memento of her?

Questions over questions, unchanged even after one year. The pain is still the same, each and every night plenty of tears because she is missed so much, exceedingly missed by me, because I cannot believe it. ...... It's said the pain gets less and disappears, but that's not true, absolutely not true!

Her place on my bed is empty. Non of the others which are with me during the nights ever lay down on that place ...... as if they knew this was exclusively Yazoo's sleeping place ......

YAZOO, in my thoughts I hug you very much! All day long a candle will be burning for you ...... you are unforgotten, every evening you are in my thoughts and this will be so for all my life, until one day you and all the others from here will meet me at the other end of the Rainbow Bridge ......

August 21, 2006:

Some time ago already I received some photos from Ferri from his holidays in June and yesterday pics from Chaos from Sweden. Finally I found the time to work on the long saved photos to put them into the homepage. Sorry Ruth and Hanspeter that you had to wait for such a long time, and thank you very much for the many beautiful photos!

Chaos was and is with Inger a great, totally disciplined and professional show dog. One year ago I was presenting him at the Swedish National Specialty. It is a real joy to handle this dog in the ring. On August 19, 2006, Chaos had his opening as a Junior Handling dog and although he is usually only presented by Inger, he behaved as if he was never doing anything else, really a feast for the eyes ...... and once again I see his sire Samson in front of me when I look at these pictures. Thank you very much Inger that you sent me these photos immediately.

Through the links above you come to the slide shows of these two Yazoo children.

August 17, 2006:

A wonderful summer day is behind us and Zabou's puppies have spent nearly all day in the garden, together with Zabou, Gizmo's kids and Voodoo and Ula. The new photos will be in the puppy slide show some time tomorrow afternoon, at the moment I am preparing them for the homepage.

The webcam has also plaid along and therefore the puppy outlet was online for some hours. If the weather is fine tomorrow again, there will be "transmitted" life again. Then the cam will be online again on Monday because this weekend Voodoo und Ula will be at the two days show in Bratislava.

The end of this beautiful day proceeded rather "interesting", I have learnt something new:
There was an interest who called about 2 years ago with interest for a puppy. First Zabou was twice empty and then it also did not work with Oh-Lala. (As he once told me, he was meticulously keeping the records about when he phoned and at each phone call he told me the exact day and time of his last call here.)
With this litter he called after the first ultrasounds and I asked him to call again from July 15 on, because by then the puppies should for sure be born.
On August 8 or 9 he called again (I have unfortunately not written down, on which day it was) and I told him, that it would be a bit "narrow" with girls, as two had unfortunately died and probably one Zabou daughter would stay here. Eventually he could look for a boy..
Today he called and said "We have arranged that I call you when I am near your home." I told this guy that at the moment only my husband would be there and that I was on my way back home from my mother. Furthermore, I told him that I had decided to keep a Zabou daughter, as I could not be sure if another breeding with Zabou would work and I would then have no more girl with which I could eventually continue breeding. This time I had to think about the future of this kennel. I could not say more as he meant: "This is inexcusable. I am standing in front of your door . ..... But I am too well educated to be angry now. You know exactly how long I am now waiting for a puppy." I had to reply that there is a woman for a girl out of this litter who is already waiting till 2001. To explain him that the waiting time does not necessarily matter if someone is going to have a puppy from here or not, would have had no use.

In retro prospect I think who knows what for it was good, as he never had any interest to see the dogs here, to look at everything, to get to know the mother of the puppies more closely. .......... I had told him several times that he should come over even when there are no puppies in the house (he lives max. two hours from here, absolutely not the World). My dogs are no items which one can order like in a mail-order company and then maybe once inspect them before delivery.
In some way I am of course honored that he was waiting for quite a time for a puppy from here, but still, somehow subconsciously it went against the grain that he never wanted to come, that I did not know anything about him except his name. And with the last phone call I had expressly drawn his attention to the fact, that it could be possible that I keep a girl for myself and that in such case there would not be any girl available; and he should call before coming here. Nevertheless he stood in front of my door. He could of course have looked at the puppies and think if he would maybe take a boy - absolutely no problem, anyone is welcome here at any time - but his final words were: "If it's that way, I don't come inside, then the puppies are of no interest for me! ....." And off he was .......... Well, what shall one think about this?

August 16, 2006:

Zabou's puppies are five weeks old today and they had an important day: their first excursion to the garden. The new surrounding was only for a short time impressive for them, then they behaved as if they had done that already for some time.

Ula & Voodoo kept them company and later on Gizmo too. Oh-Lala and Frizzy had been standing at the puppy outlet all the time and did not let them out of their sight at any time. Every now and then Oh-Lala managed to kiss the one or other puppy through the bars. She was absolutely delighted ..........

Of course some pictures have been made from this first garden visit and they are in the slide show now, and as every week, the weight table has been updated.

Now we hope for some beautiful, warm and sunny days, so that the small ones can be much outside in the garden and explore the adventure outlet.

When the objective of the webcam allows, it will be fixed in the puppy outlet and transmit from there, as it is getting harder and harder in the puppy room, because the puppies don't spend much time in the whelping box and the camera "loses sight" of them rather fast.

August 11, 2006:

The weekly update this time comes a bit later:
Today Zabou's puppies are four weeks and two days old. It is wonderful to watch their playing and wrangling in their lively manner.
Since some days they have meat and kibble food and they like it very much. They aren't too thrilled about the semolina pudding anymore.
Unfortunately the weather is too bad, and they had not yet had their first visit in the garden. Now we hope for the weekend or for next week so that the small gang finally can toll around in the garden and go for a voyage of discovery.

The slide show has new photos and the weight table is again up to date.

As I changed my internet provider the Life Webcam has been off for a week, but from tomorrow on it will be online again.

August 7, 2006:

Eleven years she would be today, the most gorgeous girl that ever lived here, the greatest gift of Heaven: YAZOO.

In memory of her birthday a candle is burning for this wonderful girl, which will always remain unforgotten and is unchanged painfully missed here.

August 2/4, 2006:

Three weeks old they turned on August 2, the puppies of Zabou, and on August 1 was a rather big day for all the six because the started with lots of things at a time: they saw, they heard, they wagged their tails, they started to sit and to walk, they climbed out of the whelping box, they growled, they barked and they started to play with each other. So much in just one single day .......... Now it is not far till the first outing to the garden. Since July 30, the have semolina pudding (prepared with puppy and goat milk) once a day.

The puppy slide show has new photos and the weight table is again up to date. For some time in the evening the life webcam will be online.

July 26, 2006:

Today the puppies are two weeks old. All of themstart to open their eyes and they turn to be more active every day. Luckily they don't realize anything from the extreme hear - the puppy room in the basement has a perfect temperature and Zabou also enjoys this temperature. Still she started to leave the whelping box every now and then to relax and sleep a bit in front of it .......... until she hears the first sound of a puppy, then she is back to her kids quickly and cares for them perfectly, as if she never did anything else. She has confirmed what she showed already with Gizmo's kids and also with Voodoo: she is an absolute great mother!

There are new photos in the slide show, and the weight table has also been brought up to date. The life webcam is online every evening for several hours, this week even sometimes till past midnight.

July 24, 2006:

New photos of the puppies in their slideshow.

July 21, 2006:

The Pedigree of the K-litter is now available.

July 19, 2006:

One week with lots of trouble and by a supreme effort lies behind us: The fight for the surviving of some of Zabou's puppies. Unfortunately on July 14 and 15 the two smallest and tiniest girls went over the Rainbow Bridge and have left major shock here. Never ever a born puppy died in this kennel, and I wish that this was a single case.

The smallest and most light puppy, a boy, is an extreme fighter and has caught up everything, he even left one sister trailing. About him we were most worried since birth.

It seems we got over the worst. Therefore, there are finally some photos of the puppies and the Life Webcam is daily online for several times (just check it out every now and then). The weight table is also online.

July 13, 2006:

It's done ...... the longed-for puppies of Zabou are in the World: yesterday 2 males and 6 females were born.

When it is calmer and everything again moving along the same old track, the gallery with the first photos of the puppies of the K-litter will go online and probably by then the link to the Life Webcam will also be available.

9. Juli 2006:

On July 6, Zabou decided to move to the whelping box which has been built new for her. Most of the time in the days she spends there, except when she just takes a look what else is going on in the house or when she wants to go for a short walk.

It's great how she immediately accepted this new "furniture" and reserved it for herself. Now there is nothing to stop the birth of the longed-for puppies.

July 4, 2006:

Today we had the last vet check with Zabou before her puppies are expected within the next day. Everything is fine with the girl and her small ones!

click each picture to enlarge

And here in the house everything is prepared and ready to welcome the puppies. The next days and nights will for sure be exciting, Zabou is not let out of my sight.

July 1, 2006:

Grief and joy seem to counterbalance here:

At 5:15 p.m. Apollo has started his trip to the Rainbow Bridge to his parents and friends, in my arms. With a heavy heart we had to let go this endearing boy. Yesterday he was still walking around in the garden leisurely, today his legs did not want to carry him anymore and completely gave way.

Apollo, I hope that during these 14 months that you had been back to your birthplace we had been the substitute you deserved: the substitute for your beloved people, of who you had been the focal point of their lives for 11 years, and of who you had to go so suddenly.

You leave a big empty place here and sorrow over a beloved friend and companion, even though you had not been here for so many years. You remain unforgotten and you have your place in all the hearts here.

Fare well, Apollo ......... the glow of a candle escorts you .......... till we meet again.

June 26, 2006:

It is day of Zabou's pregnancy (counted from the last mating day). Today was the next to last check and ultrasounds control, everything is well: the hearts of the small ones are beating regularly, the amniotic fluid is fine.

For Zabou it is already a bit hard because of the extreme heat with high humidity. During the day she is preferable in the cool basement, in the whelping room, and so much more in the comfortable temperatures in the late evening when we are for a walk and when she lies on the veranda. Well, it does not last too long for Zabou, anymore.

click each picture to enlarge

June 24, 2006:

When the expected puppies of Zabou are born, here in the kennel something completely new and in the Briard scene for sure not seen every day, will be available: Life Video from the whelping box .......... daily .......... for several hours ..........

The corresponding link will then be added to the index page, to Zabou's own homepage and also here in the news.

June 15, 2006:

Today there was ultrasounds check with Zabou. Everything is ok and there could be taken some nice pics. Next check is on June 26, 2006.

click each picture to enlarge

June 7, 2006:

Nine months of testing ...... nine months of checks ...... nine months of continuous intense treatment of Zabou against the Mycroplasma bacteria she caught from the stud when she had been mated the first time ...... for the second time within nine months a long trip to the stud with partly mixed feelings (2800 kilometers tour retour) .......
The lane was very stony, but it was worth it: the ultrasounds on June 7, 2006, were positive, as can be seen here.

click each picture to enlarge

But the checks and treatments must be continued in the future if Zabou is intended to be bred with, otherwise we won't again have any chance for another litter, as being once infected by Mycroplasma they will never again disappear.

My warm thanks goes to the team of the obstetrics clinic in the Veterinary University of Vienna, and I want to place some special and heartful thanks in this place to Dr. Schäfer, who has through all these months never spared any effort to treat and check Zabou, so that she had the greatest possible chances for finally having puppies. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DR. SCHÄFER!!!

But for the moment it only means to have fingers crossed that everything is ok and that on about July 10, 2006, there will be healthy fawn puppies out of Champ. Sél. TALISMANIK de la Chaume du Bois Dieu and Zabou.

May 18, 2006:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Einstein Noir "Bärli", Ecstasy Noir "Romeo", Excuse-moi Whoopy, Ecoute-moi "Cou", Escada Noire "Raven", Elysée Noire "Echo", Esprit Noir and El Ninjo Noir "Shadow"! These great children of Samson and Yazoo celebrate their 7th birthday today!

The very best wishes for a long and healthy continuing life from all of us here ...... and see to be spoilt as much as possible today!

May 15, 2006:

Voodoo has got company and we a new family member: Today Ula, a delightful girl out of the same kennel as Voodoo, came to the house.

By the way, there is a great litter available in the kennel "Family Song's" (hairless and powderpuff puppies, born Apr. 29, 2006), whereof some puppies still are available. The ones who are interested, please contact the breeder via the homepage of "Family Song's" or me through the contact form.

May 13, 2006:

We have been on tour from May 7 to May 12, 2006. Zabou, Gizmo and Voodoo have been visiting Pascale in Belgium. It was a wonderful time and we really enjoyed some nice days in Belgium. There are new photos of Zabou in her galleries "Zabou is grown up" and "Zabou & Friends". Thank you very much to Pascale and her family for their great hospitality!

During this stay in Belgium Zabou has been bred. More information in the litter page.

April 14, 2006:

To all "kids" from here and their owners as well as to all friends and companions a Happy Easter from the Austrian-French-Connection, the Kir Royal Yorkies and from Voodoo.

April 10, 2006:

Since April 8, 2006, we are proud owner of the domain briard4u.eu:

April 8, 2006:

Today the G-litter (out of Sél. Jolly Jumper Gris des Monts d'en Crauzille x Sél. Oh-Lala des Monts d'en Crauzille) is four years of age.

A very Happy Birthday to Gus Gillespie "Lt. Gustl", Gucci's Surprise "Lara", G'Aysha Blonde "Aysha", Gros Bisou, Graffiti Snap and Gaultier's Galaxie "Lexi". For your new year of life I wish you only the best and especially healthiness, but of course also lots of fun. I am proud of all of you, because your humans tell me every now and then how much pleasure they have with you. All the very very best!

April 5, 2006:

A tribute to Samson:

This most beautiful drawing of Michaela Liegle/Tierportrait.at
is now hanging besides the portrait of Yazoo
- also drawn by Michaela Liegle

March 21, 2006:

In the new Encyclopedia of Dogs Breeds (published 2005 by Barrons) a daughter of Yazoo and Samson, namely CH. Ecoute-moi "Cou" chez Bailywick de la Maison du Garde-Barrière, CGC, US Rass-Exe (at the age of 16 months) is the title photo at the breed Briard (page 312).

It fills Lana, the owner of Cou, and me with big pride that a photo of "our" beautiful and successful girl has been chosen for the breed description in this encyclopedia.

Cou was already in the year 2002 on the cover and in the article on " Briards in Dog World" (September 2002).

March 15, 2006:

Samson, a year ago today early in the morning - like always - you were tolling through the garden, full of joie de vivre, full of energy, with your high spirits which were nearly not to bring under control. Each and every day it was a pleasure to watch you.

A bit later you refused your food. This made me think, because you were only behaving like this when one of "your" girls was in high season. Then you turned to be apathetic, laid down. Only shortly you were to get up again, but immediately you went back into your bed. I called the vet. university to tell them that we were coming. When everything was prepared for leaving you could not get up any more, you had to be carried. Lying in the car only your eyes and ears were responding. I felt that this would be a good-bye forever, I kissed you and said thanks. My tears fell into your face. Deep inside I still hoped ..........

Not even 20 minutes the phone call: on the way you had started whining, it was stopped immediately and looked for you. A sigh from you, a blink and then the stroke set an end to your short life. You went - only having been 9 years and 15 days old, you did not even get it to the vet ..........

It is cold comfort that you had a fulfilled, funny and as I think nice life. It is cold comfort that you now are together with Yazoo and some of your kids, and with all the others who have been your companions and friends here. There is one only consolation, that with your going over the Rainbow Bridge a place for Apollo has become vacant, with whom fate was really not gentle, so that he can now spend the even of his life here - were he was born.

Samson, why? I wished so much that things would have turned out in another way .......... You are missing here, missing as you did on the day of your good-bye. I hug you, and the candle which is burning here shall tell you with its light that you are unforgotten ..........

March 3, 2006:

Today there is again a Birthday celebration. They are eight years of age, the first kids of Yazoo (Sél. AYCH. LOULOU des Cèdres de la Montagne Noire, CGC) and Samson (UGO de la Morne Plaine), the C's from here.

All the very best to Chaos (with Inger in Sweden), Celine (with Lynda in California/USA), Champagne (Australia) und Chloé (Ontario/Canada). Spend a great day and be spoilt as much as possible, but mainly: stay healthy for many more years. I hug you tightly in my thoughts.

Two of this litter have unfortunately already gone over the Rainbow Bridge: Chivas Regal at the age of not even 6 months and Clochard, also much too early. For both of them a candle is burning all day long today, just as it is for their parents ..........

Special warm thanks is going to Yazoo and Samson over the Rainbow Bridge for that they brought such wonderful kids. The memories about the birth of that litter are as if it just happened today. Never ever I will forget how Yazoo whelped her very first children with the greatest of ease, just as if she was already an experienced brood bitch, in only one and a half hour. I can't believe that it's already eight years ago.
And never I will forget how Samson played with his kids in the garden and how much pleasure they gave him. THANKS to both of you ...........

February 28, 2006:

Ten years old he would be today: Samson (UGO de la Morne Plaine), the sire of the C- and E-kids from here. He is unforgotten, he is still missed so very much. His temperament, his joie de vivre, his funny games, his authority .......... everything is missed so much, since all of a sudden, unexpected and unforeseen he went over the Rainbow Bridge on March 15, 2005.

The light of a candle shall show him, that especially today he is dearly thought of and that the wonderful years with him are unforgotten, that he lives in my heart - for evermore.

February 23, 2006:

It's six months ago that the star of my life went over the Rainbow Bridge .......... and nothing has changed: the pain and the grief as well as the emptiness are still the same, as if it had just happened .......... I can't get over this loss. For sure, all the others help me to find comfort, help me to feel my life bearable, and that during the day I don't think too much about it - and I am really grateful for that - but during the nights .......... my World caves in again and again.

This hole can never be closed again, the emptiness remains forever .......... in her uniqueness this girl was something very special ..........

January 31, 2006:

And once again a reason for celebrating: Today the A-litter is 12 years of age. Warmest congratulation to Aramis at family Fuehrer, to Alysha at Irene, to Akira at Ewald and Evi and to Apollo, who is back here now since nearly one year, as destiny had been really hard to him. Stay healthy and with us for a long continuing time, you four!

click to enlarge

The light of a candle with thoughts of wonderful memories is sent over to those of the A-litter who unfortunately have gone much too early over the Rainbow Bridge: Atos and Aron. To the wonderful parents of this first litter from here I also sond greetings over the Rainbow Bridge: Rec. Ch. Sándor von Anitzberg and Arwa Zevar, SchH1. You will live forever in my heart and soul.

Nobody knows about Aristide, if we can send congratulation or if thoughts should be sent to him over the Rainbow Bridge.

A big thank you to the owners of all these dogs, who have enabled them a wonderful life and joys of living.

January 23, 2006:

Oh-Lala (Sél. OH-LALA des Monts d'en Crauzille) today celebrates her eighth birthday.

The very best congratulation, dear Oh-Lala. Stay as healthy, lively and enterprising as you are since you arrived in this house, for many, many more years.

Thank you very much to Pascale, that she has entrusted me with this wonderful girl at the age of nearly three years. My thank also goes to Jacky Passebosc for having bred such a gorgeous girl.

January 13, 2006:

It is five years ago that the founder of this kennel, the first Briard in this house, a very special "gentleman", .......... started his way over the Rainbow Bridge: Rec. CH. SÁNDOR von Anitzberg. Since the past night especially for him, but also for the others from here who followed him, a candle is burning.

Sándor, you are and will forever remain unforgotten. Thank you very much for the beautiful years which I was allowed to spend with you.

January 1, 2006:

Briards & Family "de la Maison du Garde-Barrière" wish a good New Year.