Tessa

Born: 30th June 2001
Colour: Black
Sex: Bitch
Breeder: Michelle Powell

Deceased: 19th February 2010

HEALTH:
Patella Luxation: clear
Hip Score: 4/6
Eyes: Clear

Pedigree

Layla

Born: 9th February 1996
Colour: Black
Sex: Bitch
Breeder: Myrna Shiboleth (Israel)

Deceased: 23rd April 2009

HEALTH:
Eyes: Clear
Hip Score: 5/2
Patella Luxation: Clear

Layla has been described by others who knew her as a Special Lady, and that is oh so true!

Coming to us from Israel, Layla Me Shaar Hagai (Hebrew for (best translation) Dark of Midnight at the Gates of the Valley) arrived at the quarantine kennels in 1997. We were so excited, but nervous too, as we had never met her, so we didn't know what she was going to be like! I will always remember the day she arrived. We were like cats on hot bricks waiting for the phone call from the quarantine kennels. When they rang they simply said "I think you are going to like her very much". We had to wait a further two days before we were allowed to visit her - and they weren't wrong, She was gorgeous. We were lucky that the kennels were only 10 minutes away from us so we could go visit her every day. When we collected her 6 months later, we took Evie with us. I fetched Layla and when she saw Evie in the car park it was "WOW! another Canaan Dog!" and she literally pulled me over to Evie.

Three days later there was a rare breed match. We hadn't entered her but took her along to see how she coped with everything. She was doing well and we were persuaded to put her in to challenge for the "Best of Reserves" and she won it!

Her first show was BUBA Championship show, and she won BOB! Coming out of the main ring we were told that people around the ring were all saying the judge had put up a mismarked Canaan Dog!! Very few people knew what breed she was, they didn't know Canaan Dogs could be black, and it was fun hearing what everybody suggested!

Layla was a fantastic mother. She loved everything from being mated, to whelping to looking after the puppies. Matings were as they should be -- unaided! I remember her when she was tied to Norby (Dezi's dad), and she got bored so just started walking with him around the yard - tied!

Layla loved doing Discover Dogs, especially the ones we did outside (at Malvern and also Essex). She and her daughter, Sandy, had a classic act to get people to feed them a treat out of a bowl we had hanging on the panel. They had everybody well trained!

Her movement was superb. I remember at one show Pam with Tzel (her son) and me with Layla, we started to move them in the car park. They both gradually got faster and faster, trotting with great ease and flow of movement. In the end we had to stop because we couldn't keep up with them!

Those were good days, which I miss -- the fun and the laughter, gone forever.

Layla was a true lady, so gentle, so loving, so special with a lovely smile. I know you shouldn't have favourites, but....

Pedigree

Beth

Born: 29th July 1998
Colour: Black & White
Sex: Bitch

Deceased: 15th January 2009

HEALTH:
Eyes: PRA clear; dry eye
Hip score: 5/5
Patella Luxation tested clear

Pedigree

Stella

Born: 26th January 2001
Colour: Black
Sex: Bitch

Deceased: 28th September 2008

HEALTH:
Patella Luxation: Tested clear
Hip score: 5/6
Eyes: Clear

Pedigree

Evie

Born: 9th June 1996
Colour: Red and White
Sex: Bitch

Deceased: 13th September 2007

HEALTH
Hip Score: 9/10
Eyes: PRA Clear; dry eye
Patella Luxation: Clear

Although we had been exhibiting and breeding dogs since 1986, Evie was our first Canaan Dog. Whilst she was not show quality, when put to a stud dog of excellent type she produced a couple of nice Canaan Dogs. She had the sweetest temperament and character, and today we still miss her.

Pedigree