Had big plans for yesterday and today. I have 10 dogs who I wanted to get a run into over the weekend, 5 yesterday and 5 today but my best laid plans hit the rocks whenever I realised that a stage of the Irish Rally championship was passing the end of the lane on both days. The roads where to be closed from 9am to 5pm so the trials will have to be done midweek or next weekend.
I got the pups out hunting at dawn this morning, it was a beautiful sunrise and it was one of those occasions that you feel glad to be alive. The humour soon changed when one of the pups had a nasty collision with another pup and took a very heavy tumble. She is very sore of herself and is putting no weight on a rear leg. It appears to be around her stiffle area, I held it under the tap for 15 minutes to keep any swelling down and left her into a small pen on her own. If she is still sore in the morning then it will be off to see Brian Jones. The two dogs who ran on Friday night came out of their races pretty well but I will get them checked to be on the safe side.
I didn't get to Lifford last night and for once had a very relaxing evening in the house. A litter comrade of Blue Vixen won the first race and there appears to have been a few nice types uncovered in the A3 stake. The one that catches the eye is Black Ajax.
http://www.bng.ie/greyhounds.aspx?id=BLACK%20AJAX
Very little raced and one who looks to be going the right way.
Sunday, 27 May 2007
Friday, 25 May 2007
A Learning Experience
As predicted previously neither of tonight's two runners troubled the judge. However, both showed enough in their running to please me.
Snake Barn came out with the pack and was a clear third going into the bend about 3.5 lengths behind the leader. He adjusted his stride as he met the corner and lost his action completely, this cost him a good couple of lengths. He turned for home around 7/8 lengths off the pace and was eventually beaten 5 lengths in 19.20, leaving him doing an estimated 19.53. He chased home very hard which was encouraging and he will definitely stay 4 bends.
Blue Vixen got a very harsh introduction to the world of racing in his race tonight. He was very slowly away and was getting a peach of a run up the rail going into the first bend. He went for an opening up the inside of the dog in second and the door was very firmly closed in his face! This caused a domino effect with the rest of the pack and gave the winner a solo. Just after he had righted himself and went into the second bend he had to check again. What impressed me then was the way he came home to only be beaten 5.5lengths, he could very easily have knocked off and coasted around. He will definitely stay and if he had got any sort of run tonight he might have sneaked a debut victory.
To be on the safe side a trip to Declan McCambridge on Monday for a quick check over will probably do these two no harm. I'm not sure why Snake Barn lost his action, it may have been greenness and Blue Vixen took quite a battering.
Snake Barn came out with the pack and was a clear third going into the bend about 3.5 lengths behind the leader. He adjusted his stride as he met the corner and lost his action completely, this cost him a good couple of lengths. He turned for home around 7/8 lengths off the pace and was eventually beaten 5 lengths in 19.20, leaving him doing an estimated 19.53. He chased home very hard which was encouraging and he will definitely stay 4 bends.
Blue Vixen got a very harsh introduction to the world of racing in his race tonight. He was very slowly away and was getting a peach of a run up the rail going into the first bend. He went for an opening up the inside of the dog in second and the door was very firmly closed in his face! This caused a domino effect with the rest of the pack and gave the winner a solo. Just after he had righted himself and went into the second bend he had to check again. What impressed me then was the way he came home to only be beaten 5.5lengths, he could very easily have knocked off and coasted around. He will definitely stay and if he had got any sort of run tonight he might have sneaked a debut victory.
To be on the safe side a trip to Declan McCambridge on Monday for a quick check over will probably do these two no harm. I'm not sure why Snake Barn lost his action, it may have been greenness and Blue Vixen took quite a battering.
Strange Names
As I mentioned in an earlier post, over the years the names of some of our dogs have left some people scratching their heads. They have ranged from the obscure to some that have a little "joke with a Jibe" behind them. I suppose the best known of them would have been the 95 English Derby winner Moaning Lad, he had the distinction of being named after yours truly! I have to admit that in my younger days I was a bit of a moaner when I was asked to do certain things, but the odd moan was justified in my opinion. Not many teenagers wanted to get up at 5.00am every morning or to be sent into the bitterly cold Atlantic Ocean on St Stephens Day to swim dogs in nothing but my swimming togs.
Looking through the litter mates and half brothers and sisters of Moaning Lad there was some real crackers of names. Some are listed beneath and even typing them here brings a smile to my face as I remember some of the stories behind the names, some couldnt be retold for fear of legal action!
Sign Here
Weeping Wife
Moan a Plenty
Always at Work
Crockalot
Friday Practise
Wont Get Up - another one named after me!
Skivver- I wasnt work shy, really!
Must Be Class
Dosser
Pest Control
Mals Away
Mothers Baby
For Free
Holding Back
Looking through the litter mates and half brothers and sisters of Moaning Lad there was some real crackers of names. Some are listed beneath and even typing them here brings a smile to my face as I remember some of the stories behind the names, some couldnt be retold for fear of legal action!
Sign Here
Weeping Wife
Moan a Plenty
Always at Work
Crockalot
Friday Practise
Wont Get Up - another one named after me!
Skivver- I wasnt work shy, really!
Must Be Class
Dosser
Pest Control
Mals Away
Mothers Baby
For Free
Holding Back
Lifford Tonight
Its off to Lifford tonight with two runners on an all graded race night.
Snake Barn takes his chance in the second race, an S9 350 yds. He is favourably drawn in T3 but tonight is really all about getting some race experience for this lad. He tips the scales at around the 77lb mark and his future is over 4 bends or possibly even 6 but if the race is won in the grade time he wont be too far away.
http://www.bng.ie/greyhounds.aspx?id=417F5663-B5B2-4094-81A0-801B6CF9CE9F
The second runner is Blue Vixen who takes his chance in the third race, an S7/S8. It will be very tough for this lad as he is making his debut and is in with some dogs who have 5/6 races under their belt, all be it with poor enough form. Poorly drawn in T1 it would be a big surprise if he figures. For some reason the dogs in T1 and T6 seem to be at a big disadvantage over this trip in Lifford, this may not be borne out by the stats but from being there at least two nights a week its an observation that I have made. "Vixen" tops the scales at around the 76lb mark and will make into a decent 4 bend dog in time. For those of you looking in wondering why a dog ended up being called "Vixen" its a strange one! The names of some of our dogs over the years are worthy of a post all of their own!
http://www.bng.ie/greyhounds.aspx?id=DF6FCB29-F60F-481A-B49F-12378CDE4447
These two dogs both have a future over 4 bends and I have been asked in the past why all our young dogs start of by running in sprints. My feeling on it is that 350 in Lifford is a good fair trip to judge a dog on. It doesn't take to much out of young dogs learning their game and there is plenty of time down the line to step them up in distance. The splits between the 325 and 350 line tell me all I need to know about weather a dog will stay or not. Lifford is a great place for a young dog to start its racing career. It has a perfectly prepared surface anytime I'm there and it really is a good fair gallop, if you stay 525yds there you will anywhere as it has a decieving uphill finish. By that I mean there is room for dogs to gallop. A pup may be beaten a good distance in a race but he will have ample opportunity to show a turn of pace in company to see if he is worth persevering with.
Snake Barn takes his chance in the second race, an S9 350 yds. He is favourably drawn in T3 but tonight is really all about getting some race experience for this lad. He tips the scales at around the 77lb mark and his future is over 4 bends or possibly even 6 but if the race is won in the grade time he wont be too far away.
http://www.bng.ie/greyhounds.aspx?id=417F5663-B5B2-4094-81A0-801B6CF9CE9F
The second runner is Blue Vixen who takes his chance in the third race, an S7/S8. It will be very tough for this lad as he is making his debut and is in with some dogs who have 5/6 races under their belt, all be it with poor enough form. Poorly drawn in T1 it would be a big surprise if he figures. For some reason the dogs in T1 and T6 seem to be at a big disadvantage over this trip in Lifford, this may not be borne out by the stats but from being there at least two nights a week its an observation that I have made. "Vixen" tops the scales at around the 76lb mark and will make into a decent 4 bend dog in time. For those of you looking in wondering why a dog ended up being called "Vixen" its a strange one! The names of some of our dogs over the years are worthy of a post all of their own!
http://www.bng.ie/greyhounds.aspx?id=DF6FCB29-F60F-481A-B49F-12378CDE4447
These two dogs both have a future over 4 bends and I have been asked in the past why all our young dogs start of by running in sprints. My feeling on it is that 350 in Lifford is a good fair trip to judge a dog on. It doesn't take to much out of young dogs learning their game and there is plenty of time down the line to step them up in distance. The splits between the 325 and 350 line tell me all I need to know about weather a dog will stay or not. Lifford is a great place for a young dog to start its racing career. It has a perfectly prepared surface anytime I'm there and it really is a good fair gallop, if you stay 525yds there you will anywhere as it has a decieving uphill finish. By that I mean there is room for dogs to gallop. A pup may be beaten a good distance in a race but he will have ample opportunity to show a turn of pace in company to see if he is worth persevering with.
Thursday, 24 May 2007
Hard Ground
As a result of the recent dry spell, the driest April I can recall, the fields on the farm where rock hard. This combined with very little grass cover left me with little choice but to keep the dogs on the lead away from the track. As I'm in the middle of schooling nearly a dozen pups its hardly an ideal situation. Finally after a bit of rain the last couple of weeks I bit the bullet and let them off to sport themselves tonight, no straight galloping just off in pairs to stretch the legs. The picture above shows how much they enjoyed it!
The building in the background is the kennel block that's very nearly finished, I have been saying that for the last month!
The white bitch is one of the Premier Fantasy pups, she is a real nice mover and exceptionally quick into her stride. The black dog is the Honcho Classic pup, I wouldn't be overly keen on him but I'm hoping he will surprise me when he gets to the track.
Wednesday, 23 May 2007
Rearing
This has to be the thorniest issue that seems to crop up on discussion forums time after time. Some people swear by one method and another by a completly different method. My view on the subject is that whatever works for you and has given you success cant be far wrong. The only very strong opinions I hold are the following:
1. Time
Dont thing for one second that a pup can be reared by being put into a field at 12 weeks and taken out at 12 months and be expected to be a champion. Pups need to be taught social skills but most importantly they need out to hunt and have a bit of variety to their enviorment. If you are going to rear a litter of pups be prepared to forget about weekends away and a social life because its a 24/7 job.
2. Facilities
They dont have to be flashy, they dont have to be high tech but they need to be suitable. Having large numbers of pups in the same pen is asking for bother. Dry ground, shelter and a bit of heat are essential for the developement of pups.
3. Grub
People seem quite content to spend over a grand on a well bred pup and will gladly pay 40 quid a week to train it but complain like mad about being asked for 20 quid a week to rear them. Pups eat far far more than racing dogs and require far more time than a racing dog ever will. The quality of food given to pups is vital to their growth, skimp here and you may as well skip their racing career and rehome them straightaway.
People often comment on how the likes of Dessie Loughrey,Shelbourne Stud, the Dunphy's and Ian Greaves consistently turn out open class dogs year after year. The obvious answer is the outstanding bloodlines they breed from but its not as simple as that. All of the above have one thing in common, they are outstanding rearers of dogs. Sure their pups have the pedigree in place but there are plenty of people down the years who have bought well bred pups and then placed them with the cheapest rearer they could find. The end result? I think you know the answer already.
1. Time
Dont thing for one second that a pup can be reared by being put into a field at 12 weeks and taken out at 12 months and be expected to be a champion. Pups need to be taught social skills but most importantly they need out to hunt and have a bit of variety to their enviorment. If you are going to rear a litter of pups be prepared to forget about weekends away and a social life because its a 24/7 job.
2. Facilities
They dont have to be flashy, they dont have to be high tech but they need to be suitable. Having large numbers of pups in the same pen is asking for bother. Dry ground, shelter and a bit of heat are essential for the developement of pups.
3. Grub
People seem quite content to spend over a grand on a well bred pup and will gladly pay 40 quid a week to train it but complain like mad about being asked for 20 quid a week to rear them. Pups eat far far more than racing dogs and require far more time than a racing dog ever will. The quality of food given to pups is vital to their growth, skimp here and you may as well skip their racing career and rehome them straightaway.
People often comment on how the likes of Dessie Loughrey,Shelbourne Stud, the Dunphy's and Ian Greaves consistently turn out open class dogs year after year. The obvious answer is the outstanding bloodlines they breed from but its not as simple as that. All of the above have one thing in common, they are outstanding rearers of dogs. Sure their pups have the pedigree in place but there are plenty of people down the years who have bought well bred pups and then placed them with the cheapest rearer they could find. The end result? I think you know the answer already.
Current Stock
Having listed the broods that I intend to use I thought that I would list the pups that I have at present. At the minute I only have dogs for myself and my family. All that will have to change shortly when work is complete on the new rearing facility that I'm building. It will have the capacity to rear up to 50 dogs and whelp down 3 litters at any one time. The block for the schoolers and racing dogs is very near completion. It consists of 8 single kennels and 4 doubles with two larger kennels to the rear of this building which will be used for whelping bitches until all the other works are complete.
Pups
Fawn Bitch Elite State x This is Mine
Black Bitch Bond x Droopys Kidman
Black Bitch Brett Lee x Winetavern Mini
Black Dog Honcho Classic x Droopys Surprise
Schooling Dogs
2 Dogs + 2 Bitches Premier Fantasy x Maureens Angel
3 Dogs + 3 Bitches Droopys Kewell x Pablos Jewell
1 Bitch Droopys Kewell x Orpheus
2 Dogs Droppys Kewell x Notty Ivy
Of the dogs that are schooling I have to say that I really like the Premier Fantasy's. They are completly switched off at home but if they see anything in the fields whilst being walked they would pull you through the hedge, they chased like demons first time round and gave absolutely no problems from the day they where born. Of the Droopys Kewells, there is at least one open class dog in the Pablos Jewell litter but finding him is a different matter!
The bitch pups listed above where bought from other respected breeders with one eye on future brood potential. The Droopys Kidman bitch in particular has great appeal for this purpose. The crossing of Skipping Chick blood with Kyle Jack produced two Derby winners in the space of 4 years. It is a big regret that we were not able to sustain that line in the manner that the Dunphy's have, but that's a story for another day.
Pups
Fawn Bitch Elite State x This is Mine
Black Bitch Bond x Droopys Kidman
Black Bitch Brett Lee x Winetavern Mini
Black Dog Honcho Classic x Droopys Surprise
Schooling Dogs
2 Dogs + 2 Bitches Premier Fantasy x Maureens Angel
3 Dogs + 3 Bitches Droopys Kewell x Pablos Jewell
1 Bitch Droopys Kewell x Orpheus
2 Dogs Droppys Kewell x Notty Ivy
Of the dogs that are schooling I have to say that I really like the Premier Fantasy's. They are completly switched off at home but if they see anything in the fields whilst being walked they would pull you through the hedge, they chased like demons first time round and gave absolutely no problems from the day they where born. Of the Droopys Kewells, there is at least one open class dog in the Pablos Jewell litter but finding him is a different matter!
The bitch pups listed above where bought from other respected breeders with one eye on future brood potential. The Droopys Kidman bitch in particular has great appeal for this purpose. The crossing of Skipping Chick blood with Kyle Jack produced two Derby winners in the space of 4 years. It is a big regret that we were not able to sustain that line in the manner that the Dunphy's have, but that's a story for another day.
Pablos Jewel
This is the oldest brood that I have, Jan 2000. I'm in two minds whether to mate her again or not as she missed on her last season to Brett Lee. That said she is still a very fresh bitch and could easily pass for 4/5 years old. She is a bitch that my grandfather was very fond of so that will probably sway me towards another litter.
She has had 5 litters to date and barring a three dog litter to Toolibuk, and a litter of Droopys Kewell's still learning their trade, she has thrown open class in every litter and I wouldn't hold the Toolibuk litter against her!
To date she has thrown 194 winners which I think is quite an achievement. Some of there best times include 35.45 at Romford, 29.40 and 16.90 at Coventry, 28.47 at Monmore, 24.15 at Romford and 28.97 at Dundalk. The litter of Droppys Kewells where slow to catch on but they are starting to show a lot more now and will hopefully fulfill their potential.
http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?i=611563
I think what is working so well in her pedigree is the 4x4 of Ballinderry Moth. If I take another litter from her it will be something to linebreed this cross and hopefully produce a future brood to preserve the line.
She has had 5 litters to date and barring a three dog litter to Toolibuk, and a litter of Droopys Kewell's still learning their trade, she has thrown open class in every litter and I wouldn't hold the Toolibuk litter against her!
To date she has thrown 194 winners which I think is quite an achievement. Some of there best times include 35.45 at Romford, 29.40 and 16.90 at Coventry, 28.47 at Monmore, 24.15 at Romford and 28.97 at Dundalk. The litter of Droppys Kewells where slow to catch on but they are starting to show a lot more now and will hopefully fulfill their potential.
http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?i=611563
I think what is working so well in her pedigree is the 4x4 of Ballinderry Moth. If I take another litter from her it will be something to linebreed this cross and hopefully produce a future brood to preserve the line.
Mottos Friend
A beautiful 56lb bitch who I have leased from Ger O'Reilly. Mottos descends from Ger's own line that he has successfully bred for years. She was mated to Go Wild Teddy and has a litter of 6 pups on the way in 4 weeks time.
http://www.greyhound-data.com/dbtestmating.php?&sireid=92089&damid=479323
The main reason I took this bitch for breeding is she has something that very few Spiral Nikita bitches that I seen ever had, that's great early pace. The sire selection was based on this trait and also on the success of Head Honcho stud crossed with Spiral Nikita bitches.
Motto was no slouch herself, she ran up in two good stake finals being caught on the line on both occasions. Her run of 29.54 on the old Galway track wasn't hanging about and she had a great chasing instinct. She has two litters on the ground to Ger's own stud dog Bucks Honcho, the second litter are still being reared and the first was a bit of a mixed bag. Hopefully with a proven stud dog this bitch can throw a good litter.
http://www.greyhound-data.com/dbtestmating.php?&sireid=92089&damid=479323
The main reason I took this bitch for breeding is she has something that very few Spiral Nikita bitches that I seen ever had, that's great early pace. The sire selection was based on this trait and also on the success of Head Honcho stud crossed with Spiral Nikita bitches.
Motto was no slouch herself, she ran up in two good stake finals being caught on the line on both occasions. Her run of 29.54 on the old Galway track wasn't hanging about and she had a great chasing instinct. She has two litters on the ground to Ger's own stud dog Bucks Honcho, the second litter are still being reared and the first was a bit of a mixed bag. Hopefully with a proven stud dog this bitch can throw a good litter.
Maureens Angel
Put quite simply this was the fastest away bitch I have ever seen. Her sire Roanokee is renowned for this trait and it was never more evident than this lady. She ran up the 2003 NW Oaks in Lifford just getting beat on the line by another great bitch Kincraig Brindle after leading for 524 yards! Interestingly her 28.46 is still the second fasted run for the 525 in Lifford and the fastest by a bitch. Her sectional of 2.59 is the second fastest ever recorded, watching her that night it looked as if she has been launched out of the traps with a catapult. She just couldn't quite see out the very tough 525 in Lifford, I would have loved to have seen what she would have done around Cork or Limerick. This lady ran against and beat the quality of the following bitches; Kincraig Brindle, Greenlough Slip, Axle Grease and Shalome.
http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?i=569029
She had a litter to Velvet Commander before she came to me. It was only a 2 dog litter, one is an open class sprinter at Hove and the other is a graded sprinter at Lifford. She has a litter to Premier Fantasy schooling at the moment and they have done everything right so far. P.F. was selected to double up on Im Slippy and to try and reinforce the early pace of the dam but to date P.F. has been throwing dogs that lacked a little early and stayed on, hopefully these pups can change the trend. She hasn't had a season since the Premier Fantasy pups some 14 months ago which is a little concerning as she was a nine month bitch but I'm sure nature will take its course. I have no decision made on a stud dog for this lady yet.
http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?i=569029
She had a litter to Velvet Commander before she came to me. It was only a 2 dog litter, one is an open class sprinter at Hove and the other is a graded sprinter at Lifford. She has a litter to Premier Fantasy schooling at the moment and they have done everything right so far. P.F. was selected to double up on Im Slippy and to try and reinforce the early pace of the dam but to date P.F. has been throwing dogs that lacked a little early and stayed on, hopefully these pups can change the trend. She hasn't had a season since the Premier Fantasy pups some 14 months ago which is a little concerning as she was a nine month bitch but I'm sure nature will take its course. I have no decision made on a stud dog for this lady yet.
The picture above is of one of the dogs in the Premier Fantasy litter. Im really keen on him and his schooling has been exceptional to date.
Bower Venus
Venus is a bitch that came to me from the kennels of Graham Ashford in April. She is a great looking bitch, well proportioned and weighs around the 30.5kg/67lb mark. This bitch falls into the proven category. She has two litters on the ground, one to Knockeevan Star and the second to Kiowa Sweet Trey. The litter to KST has been slightly disappointing, they have won races but haven't lived up to expectations with the best of them winning an A3. The Knockeevan Star litter where much more useful. They are mainly top grade dogs and have competed in opens with two in particular who caught the eye. Wenlock Mars won an A1 at Perry Barr in 28.51 for the 525yds and Ekbalco won in open class and in A1 class in a very useful 29.45 at Sheffield for the 500m.
http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?d=bower+venus
Her season is due again in June and I have considered a few studs for her. I like the look of Droopys Maldini to double up on the great dam Minnies Nikita or another alternative would be Digital. Both are unproven at this stage so I'm keeping my option open.
http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?d=bower+venus
Her season is due again in June and I have considered a few studs for her. I like the look of Droopys Maldini to double up on the great dam Minnies Nikita or another alternative would be Digital. Both are unproven at this stage so I'm keeping my option open.
Blue Amarillo
Belle joined my in January from Dave Yanez and Neil Duggan. She had come in season and the owners decided that her future career lay ahead in the breeding kennels. Belle is a six monthly bitch and was having problems with niggly injuries which meant she wasn't getting the chance to fulfill her undoubted potential. She still managed to dip under the 29.00 at Monmore and would have made top grade but for her problems.She was mated to Hondo Black but sadly she missed.
This lady is such a lively bitch that I had to move her out from the broods and in with the schooling and racing dogs. I found a long standing back injury on her when my muscleman was checking over the dogs which could explain the niggles that curtailed her racing career. If you could draw a picture of what a perfect bitch should look like it would be a striking resemblance for her, a beautiful 30kg/66lb bitch who I look forward to breeding from.
http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?d=blue+amarillo
Belle is impeccably breed,out of super sire Top Honcho and being a litter sister to Handy Princess and Line of Fire. Also a half sister to many open racers including derby finalist Cleenas Lady. Going by Greyhound-data a staggering 61% of the offspring of Mind the Way have run in major/feature races.
This lady is such a lively bitch that I had to move her out from the broods and in with the schooling and racing dogs. I found a long standing back injury on her when my muscleman was checking over the dogs which could explain the niggles that curtailed her racing career. If you could draw a picture of what a perfect bitch should look like it would be a striking resemblance for her, a beautiful 30kg/66lb bitch who I look forward to breeding from.
http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?d=blue+amarillo
Belle is impeccably breed,out of super sire Top Honcho and being a litter sister to Handy Princess and Line of Fire. Also a half sister to many open racers including derby finalist Cleenas Lady. Going by Greyhound-data a staggering 61% of the offspring of Mind the Way have run in major/feature races.
Broods
I have spent a lot of time thinking about my breeding lines, what dog man doesn't, and have decided to breed using the following bitches. Some fulfill all the obvious criteria and others are a bit more "left of centre". Some are proven whilst some are maiden bitches but I'm putting my faith in them to help establish the kennels, they better or else me and Colette could go hungry!
I will post a small piece about each of them in due course, all coments are welcome, but for your information they are listed below
Blue Amarillo
http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?z=zYv8-y&d=Blue+amrillo
Bower Venus
http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?d=Bower+Venus
Maureens Angel
http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?i=569029
Mottos Friend
http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?d=mottos+friend
Pablos Jewel
http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?d=Pablos+Jewel
I will post a small piece about each of them in due course, all coments are welcome, but for your information they are listed below
Blue Amarillo
http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?z=zYv8-y&d=Blue+amrillo
Bower Venus
http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?d=Bower+Venus
Maureens Angel
http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?i=569029
Mottos Friend
http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?d=mottos+friend
Pablos Jewel
http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?d=Pablos+Jewel
About Me
I have decided to compose this blog to record the day to day events of my recently established breeding and rearing kennels. I think it is important in the ever changing world that my business has a presence on the internet, hopefully my rambling here will develop into a web-site in due course but one step at a time I suppose.
For those of you looking in that don't know me let me introduce myself. Im Paul McCusker, happily married to Colette and recently moved to Drumscraw. Its a beautiful townland set amongst the rolling hills outside the village of Drumquin in County Tyrone, a hard thing for a Derry man to admit! I moved here after getting married last July, a great occasion, and since then have been setting up my kennels. It was initially to be a hobby, like the majority of doggie men, but since the death of my grandfather I have decided to built up the kennel strength and aim to run a successful commercial breeding and rearing facility.
For those of you looking in that don't know me let me introduce myself. Im Paul McCusker, happily married to Colette and recently moved to Drumscraw. Its a beautiful townland set amongst the rolling hills outside the village of Drumquin in County Tyrone, a hard thing for a Derry man to admit! I moved here after getting married last July, a great occasion, and since then have been setting up my kennels. It was initially to be a hobby, like the majority of doggie men, but since the death of my grandfather I have decided to built up the kennel strength and aim to run a successful commercial breeding and rearing facility.
I have been involved with the dogs since I was able to walk. My family on my mothers side have kept dogs for generations and the saying that its in the blood rings true with me. Mornings before school where spent galloping dogs on the beach at 6.00am and evening trials where far more important than schoolwork ever was!
My late grandfather, Jack Creelman, was the man responsible for my interest. He kept 40 dogs himself, rearing 3/4 litters of pups every year. He was a gambling man and when his money was down 9/10 he collected. He had a great knowledge of breeding and could rhyme of back pedigrees for stud dogs long before the advent of greyhound-data. I hope to use some of the broods and experience that he left behind to try and establish my kennels.
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