Oxota Charlbury Keeneland v Avalon, CGC

“Keen” was co-owned with Joan Garth (Charlbury)

CERF Normal / OFA Cardiac Normal / DM Clear (by parentage) ~ Pedigree

3/8/10 - 12/28/10

Keen was from our racetracks litter and an absolute delight. He earned his CGC at 21 weeks of age, and his first CH point at 9 months of age. His training for Rally and Agility was going so very well... And to see him run was joy in motion.

Keen’s litter nickname was “Yaso”, short for payaso (Spanish for clown). From the moment he was born into my hands, until the instant he left this world the same way, Keen was permanently happy. Friendly, bomb-proof, adventurous, biddable... an old soul in a puppy’s disguise. His loss at 9-1/2 months of age is a irretrievable sorrow.

Despite a full necropsy and toxicology analysis, the cause of death could not be determined.

We’d only just begun...

Keen picked up his first CH point by going WD from the BBE class at 9 months. Handled by co-breeder/co-owner Joan - well done!

At 8 months old he got another practice run on plastic - go Keen, go!

I’m gonna get you... gaining on it...

...hey, it turned... and I gotcha!

photo credit: Bill Green

Keen at 7 months: substance, coordination, balance, and fun!

Endless thanks to Karen Wilken (Blackmoor) for handling the trindle (self-black&brindle) beast.

At his first fun-run, Keen was hot for the plastic bunny. Unfortunately, no running pictures were taken.

photo credit: Shot on Site

Keen’s second fun-run was as a blast - and this time we got pictures!

photo credit: Misty Taylor

At 6 months old, Keen was 25-1/4” tall and weighed 54#. He’s exactly what we hoped for from this breeding: his dam’s size and substance combined with his sire’s square outline and topline. Full dentition, friendly, insane prey drive, and can turn on a dime.  

Gaiting at 21 weeks (thanks to Susan Van de Water Del Sol for handling.)

Aug 8 - CGC in NM - Keen earned his CGC on his first attempt!

The evaluators were stunned to learn he was just 21 weeks of age.

Keen is the youngest borzoi to ever earn a CGC.

CGC Keen

At 4-1/2 months of age Keen was invited to join his sire at a community relations event for kids with disabilities. He love all the activity and demonstrated skills indicating he would have made a wonderful therapy dog:

A soft mouth taking a treat; wonderful space awareness and easy comfort around novel sights and smells.

On the move at 14-1/2 weeks (taken with a very old, low-res camera):

Keen has his dam’s lovely head. Scissor bite, great underjaw, high tiny ears, black eyes and haws, full pigmentation. (A bit blurry due to the extreme zoom.)

(age 12 wks.)

Not the most dignified of positions, we’ll agree, but Keen

certainly looks comfortable during a siesta.

(age 14 wks.)

His free movement was well evident at 11-1/2 weeks.

Shown with much older Deerhound puppy Midas.

photo credit: Steve Garth

So was his kamikaze nature. Here inviting Midas (DH) and

Cach (GE) to a mad game of chase.

photo credit: Steve Garth

Baby pictures:

  Keen lives up to his name, being the most prey-driven puppy in the litter. Not even gravity can stop him!

Thanks to Joan for capturing this sequence!!

We are fortunate that our puppies have opportunities to meet a wide variety of stable adults:

A pug’s version of playing is a little different than what

the puppies are used to... we don’t play “bunny” sez Pandora

(age 11 wks.)

Wist tells Keen the secrets of plastic games (with Joan).

(age 11 wks.)

Unfulfilled Plans

Keen spent 2010 growing out with his brother Tanforan, learning about clicker training, life on a ranch, traveling, a bit about the ring, and went to a couple of fun-runs. He was the youngest borzoi to earn a CGC. His incredible promise as an all-around competition partner was cut short by his unexpected death.

Keen had a tiny back, long loin, beautiful angles, gorgeous front, insane prey drive, scissor bite, full dentition, and the most outrageous sense of humor. He was OFA Cardiac Normal, CERF Normal, and DM Clear (by parentage). Keen’s death left a huge hole in our heart and home.

~ Back to Hounds ~ Littermates ~