Few are lucky enough to own such a beautiful dog as Smudge, named for a beauty spot n the right side of her muzzle.  Her dark colouring was not to all judges liking, but we are proud to boast that she won seven limit classes at CH shows, a feat not often achieved, and went on to gain her title.

She was a true Queen, enjoying her showing immensely, her head was always carried high, and she was a dream to watch on the move.

Photographed below with a selection of her trophies.

Photo as a youngster

and in maturity

Sadly Smudge was taken from us by a very aggressive form of bone cancer, when she was only six years old.

Breeding

Sire: ICARUS LEGACY TO DORDAVIAN
Dam: Ch DORDAVIAN MINERVA

BOB Crufts 1987

Scott was much admired by my parents as a young pup, and they tried to buy him, but he was not for sale. 

A reluctant stud, so only a few litters were produced from him, including one of our own, to Quean's daughter (see below).

He was handled by his breeder to his title, and then when nearly a veteran his owners asked my parents if we still wanted him. 

On arrival at Elbereth, he was somewhat out of condition, and soon after arriving developed a torsion, and underwent emergency surgery.  The vets successfully saved his life, and he went to the Leicester Ch show, where he was awarded the dog CC. 

In 1987, after only having been with us for a short time, Scott went to Crufts, and we were over the moon when he was awarded Dog CC and BOB.

He was a truly impressive yet elegant dog, with a fabulous head, and eye shape.

Sadly, Scott had a second torsion shortly after his Crufts win, and whilst our Vet tried disparately to save him, we lost him at only eight years of age.

He was a truly remarkable dog, he had had some bad times, but his temperament was impeccable, and he lived on at Elbereth in his daughter, Blot.

Breeding

Sire: DORDAVIAN ICARUS
Dam: DORDAVIAN DOTTYPIXME

With Smudge being the result of careful line breeding, when a sire was chosen for her one and only litter, care was taken to select a suitable outcross, and the Breeds breed record holder, (at the time), Ch Briannor Amarillo, owned by Angela Smith was our selection.

From the resulting litter we selected a pale blaireau bitch, Twiggy to stay at Elbereth.

Breeding - Born 7/6/83

Sire: BRIANNOR AMARILLO
Dam: DORDAVIAN QUEAN

She won the Res CC at Crufts in 1988, under Eric Ecklesby.

At times a difficult dog to live with (she loved the sound of her own voice!), unusually for a Pyrenean she could be reliably let off the led, and enjoyed games with all other dogs.  She lived a long and happy life into her thirteenth year.

We chose to return to line breeding when planning a litter from Twiggy, and we were fortunate to be able to obtain a successful mating from Ch Dordavian Mardonius (before he came to join us at Elbereth)

Breeding Dob 7/7/85 - hips 8/2

Sire DORDAVIAN MARDONIUS
Dam ELBERETH STAR QUEEN

Living in a home with Border collies, Blot dabbled at obedience, and certainly knew many exercise, but whether she would do them to order was another matter!

One of few Pyreneans taught to do a formal retrieve with a wooden dumbbell, she would only ever do the exercise once, if asked to 'fetch gain' she would just look at me and say you threw it you get it!

The down stay was definitely her favourite exercise!

Sadly Blot developed bone cancer of the jaw, and she left us at only eight years of age.

Shane was the product of yet more careful line breeding, by Dorothy Spencer, who was one of the original partners breeding originally under the affix Dordavian, Dorothy having bought an Elbereth bred bitch from us (litter sister to Blot), to mate back to Queans brother Quota.

Another rather ugly ducking as a puppy, partly due to his rather clown like markings around his eyes, he grew into a very handsome young dog.

Very successfully shown as a puppy, we were disappointed when the Kennel Club announced that puppies could no longer qualify for Crufts (Unless they had been awarded a stud book number). 

So you can image our delight when Sue Garner (Awton/Aivlys) awarded him the Res CC from puppy at LKA.

The changed rules for Crufts meant that as had qualified as a puppy he had to be entered in the Graduate Class, rather than the more suited special junior/yearling classes.  Never the less we decided to enter him, and were thrilled to win the Res CC under Mrs B Judson (Carabrae), when Shane was only 11 months old.

His third res CC came in August 90 under Ian Spencer-Brown.   The fourth, at Kelso under Brenda Banbury.

Sadly we were unable to see Shane develop into a fully mature adult, he left whilst still young. A great loss to the breed.

Breeding - DOB 24/3/88

Sire DORDAVIAN QUEST
Dam ELBERETH QUI M'AIME

Cindy was our first Pyrenean, purchased from the Valcarlos Kennel of Capt & Mrs Ashby, in 1968.  She was an all white bitch, who had a very successful puppy show career.

Cindy, went on to be top PMD puppy for 1969, I think she would have been awarded a Junior warrant, but we were then only Novices and did not realise that such awards existed.

She was not the biggest of bitches, and in the early 70's the breed was going through a phase of 'big is beautiful' so she did not quite have the successful show career that we maybe had expected from her.

Santa, was one of two puppies born on Xmas Day - hence the name!  Whilst his dam (Cindy) was small, he certainly was not, being a very tall and heavy boned, all white dog. 

In my opinion he was not of the correct type for the breed, being far to heavy in head and stop, but he was a perfect gentle giant.

Sadly Santa developed Pancreas Deficiency, and could not be stabilised on enzyme supplements, so he sadly did not live to full maturity.

Boz, suffered an injury as a pup, which meant he never moved reliably enough to fulfill his potential as a show dog, however he was a super pet to have.  His temperament was outstanding, I only recall hearing him growl once, and that was when a young male pyry jumped up at me, rather enthusiastically.

A fabulous uncle to all the pups that came to Elbereth during his ten and half years, whether they be Pyrys or Border collies.

Pictured here, giving a tired yorkie a ride after a long sponsored walk for charity.