It has been a painful journey through time as I revisit pedigrees and pictures of so many dogs, now long gone, but after 20 years with the same web server and host, it was time to enter the 21st century with a brand new look! I especially appreciate the mobile device capability.
I am still using the hellfiregundogs.com domain, but it will soon be forwarded to the new one >> MTHELLFIRE.COM.
It's been awhile since we've had any available dogs but we are downsizing our springer pack to balance out the Sussex dog show obsession (not an easy thing to do), and will have a few dogs available, ages 19 months to 6 years old. A couple youngsters can be placed in gun dog homes, we only place the adults in quiet pet homes. ALL of our dogs are well bred, sound (most will have OFA certifications), field champion sired. Some are for sale, some are adoptable for the price of a spay.
Beryl, below is available, and she is from our FC AFC CFC Toby MH RE VCD1 OJP OAP X Tina frozen semen breeding. She is a bold, tenacious female. Retrieves well, fearless, but haven't done much with her...if she is still available in the spring I will officially get some birds shot for her. I've been showing my Sussex for six years and the springers have definitely taken a back seat. Hoping to remedy that in 2019.
Maverick, Marv GG and I took a road trip to the Pacific Northwest Sussex Spaniel Club regional specialty in September, and hit the jackpot when Marv went Best in Show (BISS) for both specialties, and Best of Breed for the supported entry! But wait, there is more! Maverick went Best of Opposite Sex (BOSS) to his daughter, and Marv's daughter won all three majors, and Best of Winners (BOW). As a breeder/owner/handler all I can say is, what a day to remember!
GG is the second of the GCH Frank X GCHB Marv puppies to become a champion, Dee Duffy's Skye finished first with 3 large majors in VA. Sister Gwynnie is almost there, with just 3 points to go. Super proud of my Marvy girls.
The Storm puppies are getting ready to fly the coop to various places, although a couple are staying in Montana. Zephy is due around the 30th, but is expecting a very small litter with Blanco and it is entirely booked. The Cate X Sully puppies are now 4 weeks old and I will be posting some new pictures shortly. A handful of them will be coming back to Montana, and there are a few available! Our weather continues to be unusually cold and snowy but the puppies are starting to get outside more and toughen up.
Some new pictures by Phyllis Ensley - There and back from the Sussex Spaniel Club of America shows in Raleigh, North Carolina. Marv came home with the BOSS - National Specialty Best of Opposite ribbon, under Breeder/Judge Doug Johnson, which is a nice win for a breeder/owner-handler! He said, "She is gorgeous..." so I have to believe it. :D
We bred her to BIS BISS Bertram Three D Captain Crunch, while we were in NC and it will be a couple more weeks before we know if we are expecting...or not.
Happy Birthday to Marv's litter of 9 with Frank! I kept two lovely daughters from that breeding, and am looking forward to bringing them out this summer.
Team Hellfire had a great week in Raleigh, North Carolina at the Sussex Spaniel National show. Marv won Best Opposite Sex (BOS) ribbons 3 of the 5 days she was entered. The National BOS ribbon was great, but the highlight of our trip was winning the Owner Handler spot over 2016 SSCA National winner BIS BISS Bertram, and going on to a
2! Squeeee!
Two of the 2017 Marv X Frank daughters showed promise by winning a huge 9-12 month class and Best of Sweepstakes. Frank (who finished as #4 Sussex) was honored with the SSCA Top Dog Award, albeit because the top 3 aren't members, but hey, we'll take it.
It was an okay year for the Hellfire pack.
Our Sussex Spaniel Synopsis: Three new Breeder/Owner Champions, one Bred by Exhibitor Medallion, a Grand Champion GCH, a Bronze GCHB, three Barn Hunt Instinct Q's, a Trick Dog Advanced title, and two Top Five boys.
For the Springers: Three of our puppies had field trial and puppy trial wins, one new Field Champion, 4 or 5 earned new Hunt Test titles and another 4 had success in various AKC companion events like agility, obedience, rally and tracking. Oh, and one of our Search and Rescue Springers in Oregon (an Ice X Haley daughter) found an 88 year old woman lost in the forest.
Next year we are sitting out of the show ring (except for Bill, the pekingese) and have a long list of fun events to prepare for!
Some new Zephyr and Speck pictures!
We will probably be rebreeding Zephyr to Blanco again, We will also be breeding Storm, if and when she decides to come into heat again.
A CH/GCH Sussex litter is planned for Spring.
The drought is over. Over a foot of new snow fell yesterday, blasting away the toxic, forest fire smoke we have been breathing since July. The sun came out today, turning the snow into a soft doggy pillow and giving us our first bluebird sky since June!
The Zephyr X Blanco puppies arrived yesterday! Small litter of 2 girls, 3 boys, the perfect size for a first time mommy. Beautiful puppies, very excited about this great match up. (Note: All spoken for)
And Maverick's Best in Show picture from Wyoming arrived today. He's on the late cycle for maturity, still has many years ahead of him!