Kestrel

Kestrel was my pick puppy from my first litter (the Bird Litter), and with her beautiful smooth fawn body, gorgeous face and expression, smart and sassy personality, and keen athleticism, is everything I was hoping for when I bred my foundation bitch Wren to the handsome and athletic Tigger. I knew she was something special literally from the moment she was born.

In the Ring…

Though Kestrel was spayed before finishing any show titles, I am very proud of her success in extremely limited showing. Some highlights of her show career:

• In her specialty debut in July 2004, she was Reserve Winners Bitch from the junior puppy class at the Western Gazehound Specialty in British Columbia.
• January 2005, Kestrel won Best in Sweeps at the AWC supported Sammamish Kennel Club in Puyallup, WA under breeder-judge Janis Castle (Camelot).
• August 2005, Kestrel went Best of Winners from the BBE class for a 4 point major at the Western Washington Hound Association specialty in Auburn, WA under sighthound specialist Francis Broadway!!
• March 2006, Kestrel went WB for 3 more points towards her Canadian championship at the Lower Mainland Dog Fanciers of BC show in Cloverdale, BC, bringing her to 6 points total. She then went on to WIN the BBE Group!!!
• July 2006, Kestrel went Reserve Winners Bitch from the BBE class at the 2006 Canadian National Specialty in White Rock, BC under breeder judge Tracy Hite (Tivio).

In the Field…

In October 2006, Kestrel made her ASFA re-debut, running in competition for the first time since her first trial in the spring of 2005, where a bad experience and injury badly shook her confidence. Many months of careful retraining paid off, as she ran confidently and enthusiastically, winning the small open stake at the NWRRC ASFA trial in North Bend, WA and going on to win BOB over her housemate Ringer. I have certainly had bigger wins with my dogs but this small victory may well be my most personally meaningful. Kestrel followed up the next month with a strong 3rd place finish in a highly competitive full open stake at the 5th Annual Northwest Versatility Weekend. In April 2008, she finished 3rd in her stake at the 2008 AWC National specialty trial in Eugene, OR. Kestrel earned two more first placements at the SISFA trials in October, 2008 and finished her title with a 4th placement in her nearly full stake in her first trial of 2009, at TPIHC in Auburn, WA!

On the Track…

Held out of racing for several years to address confidence issues, Kestrel made her racing debut at the NCWFA CWA meets in June 2008, running with confidence, focus and intensity. She finished in the top 10 with a grade B score! She has been racing CWA, NAWRA and NOTRA since June 2008 and though she is not fast, she runs enthusiastically and confidently, and tries her hardest in every race. She earned her NOTRA OTR title in September 2009.

Obedience…

In December 2005, Kestrel finished her CGC easily on her first attempt with very little training! Good girl! She is partially trained through the Novice obedience exercises, and is a very enthusiastic and eager worker with a strong work ethic. She is a fanatical rabidly intense natural retriever, whose game of choice is frisbee, though she will happily retrieve any object thrown for her.