Harper

AKC GRCH Keelypso's Footloose 'N Fancy Free

Harper is our pick bitch out of the repeat breeding between Tia, Am/Can Ch Keelypso's Tea Biscuit, and Gibson, Can Ch Thistledees Braveheart Keehold, CHOF. She is a very well put together bitch with excellent movement, coming and going, as short backed as we prefer for a female Keeshond, a pretty, feminine head and face with very nice, striking markings and a fabulous ear set and tail set. Harper turned out to be exactly what we had been looking for in our breeding program.

Harper had her debut showing at a special competition put on during the Denver dog shows called the Rocky Mountain Cluster Puppy Competition. This was a new competition open only to puppies between the ages of 4 and 6 months and was an exhibition that did not garner any points towards a championship, geared toward exposing puppies to the show atmosphere. Having not been to anything more than a few matches, Harper was her usual feisty, uncooperative self and fought the Judge's exam, tooth and nail. Despite her naughtiness, the Judge gave her Best Of Breed over her brother, Frisco, and then went on to give her a Group 1 placement in the Non-Sporting group. By the time she was in the Best In Show ring, she was behaving better and not galloping or bouncing as much, so it was definitely a good experience for her. She did not win BIS, but she did get a good look from the Judge, as she stood and baited.

Harper is a real handful in the ring, with tons of attitude. She did quite well at her first show in Garden City, on the first day. Although she did not win Winners Bitch, she did take the Bred-By Exhibitor class over two older bitches. Of course, in keeping with her attitude and stubborness, she misbehaved quite a bit the following day and was bumped back to third place.

Her second weekend of shows was at the Terry-All Kennel Club shows in Brighton, CO. She was her usual mischievious self and Cindy fully expected to be dumped, but she won the Bred-By class and totally shocked Cindy by taking Winners Bitch for a 3 point major with an entry of 8 bitches. The following day, she misbehaved even more and refused to behave for the Judge's exam, entirely. The Judge chastised her and told her this was"serious business" and she should learn to behave. The Judge took a long look at her before giving her 2nd in the Bred-By class.

Her third weekend was at a four day show in Albuquerque, NM. She took WB and BOW three of the four days to pick up three more points. One Judge called her a brat, but still gave her the win, commenting that she is a "very nice" puppy bitch. There's no doubt this girl needs lots of work and has loads of potential! We have our fingers crossed, along with our eyes!

Harper's next shows were the Roaring Fork KC shows in Eagle, CO. She took WB each of those days and was sitting on a total of 8 points with 1 major win. The weekend of the Rocky Mountain Keeshond Club regional Specialty came around in September, just as she turned one year old. Harper took a third place at both Specialties in the Bred-By class on Friday, then went on to take Winners Bitch at the All-Breed show on Saturday for a 5 point major win with an entry of 16 bitches! She came close the second day of the All-Breed show, originally placed in the first place position in the Bred- By class, but was dropped back to second in the final moments of judging.

A few shows and a few Reserve Winners Bitch placings later, Harper travelled to Dallas, TX for a three day show and took WB the first day to earn the final point she needed to complete her AKC Championship. Her Mom forgot to move her up for the next day's show, so she was not able to compete for Grand Champion points for that day, but received the Select Bitch award on the third day for her first points toward her Grand Championship. Harper completed her Grand Championship requirements at the Cheyenne Kennel Club shows in September 2013 and is almost half way to the requirements for the Bronze level of the Grand Championship awards.

Harper was bred in June of 2013 and produced her first litter of 5 puppies in August of 2013, which produced our most recent show girl, Pepper, who completed her AKC Championship at the tender age of 13 months with four Majors, including three 5 point Majors and her AKC Grand Championship in December of 2015.

Harper has tons of promise, along with her attitude. One Judge suggested she would make an excellent circus dog. Perhaps agility is in her future!

Harper's OFA Certification numbers:
Thyroid - KE-TH331/25F-VPI
Cardiac - KE-CA228/24F/C-VPI
Patellae - KE-PA848/25F/S-VPI
Hips - KE-4574G26F-VPI
Elbows - KE-EL833F26-VPI
CERF - KE-374780
PHPT - Negative by descent
CHIC# - 86244