Holly passed away on March 26, 2021, at 12 years and 8 months.  It was hard to lose her, because I thought we would have her much longer.  She ran out of time to do the things that I know should could have done.  She had earned two legs for the Rally Intermediate title, passed the Barn Hunt Instinct Test (twice), and had two legs of three needed for the Barn Hunt Novice title.



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Holly is the puppy we kept from Mika's third and final litter.  She's clever and quick to learn, albeit with a mind of her own.  Her puppy kindergarten teacher said you could just see her thinking about whether she wanted to do what was asked of her.  She was our younger daughter's puppy from the beginning, and together they went through several levels of obedience and agility classes.  Holly loved agility, especially jumping, but high school got in the way, and I'm not fast enough to keep up with her.

We took turns showing Holly in conformation, with our daughter putting 5 points, including a major, on her.  Judges frequently commented on how much they liked her, but Holly didn't think much of the experience.  With only one point to go, I had a professional handler show her in September 2012, and with a 2-point win, she got to retire from the ring.  In March 2013 I showed her in Best of Breed at the New England Sporting Group Association shows, in order to support the entry, and she took Select Bitch for 5 points, but I promised her she didn't have to go back in the conformation ring again.

I started Rally Obedience classes with Holly in 2012 and she earned qualifying scores in her first two trials.  After a break for motherhood, she earned her last leg for the Rally Novice title in April 2013.

Holly proved to be a superb mother, very devoted and attentive to her puppies.  She wouldn't let them play too roughly and intervened whenever one was at a disadvantage.  She self-weaned the puppies and voluntarily slept with them until the last one left at 10 weeks. 

We love Holly's rectangular outline, smooth shoulders, movement, and type.  Holly loves chasing birds, swimming, and snuggling in our laps.  She's a real scamp...a smart, silly girl.  She finally has the other dogs trained to do what she wants.

 

There's always something to find in the back yard
Summer 2012

 Holly enjoys the new jump
August 2009



Photos above Anthony W. Lee 

 

The first major for both

New England Sporting Group, March 20, 2011

Health Information:

CHIC # 67688

Hips: OFA Excellent
Elbows: OFA Normal
Thyroid: OFA Normal
Eyes: OFA Normal

Click here for Holly's OFA page