News | Lyzahro Schnauzers

News from Lyzahro

CRUFTS 2022

Crufts 2022 is probably been the most awaited show of the last two years. 2020 was the last time the Worlds Greatest Dog Show graced the NEC, and a week later the world was in the midst of the Covid 19 pandemic. So many of us had our hopes for our next generation of show dogs dashed by the cancellation of shows through 2020 and early 2021, so it was a real joy to be back competing with these young dogs.

The whole team, bar Nia, had qualified and it was a fantastic day out.Working Day was first this year, and Lydia and Kaegen were representing the kennel in Veteran bitch. A very strong class faced breed specialist Gill Ogburn, and the pair were delghted to bring home a third. Judging was halted for a while as the Giant Schnauzer ring had the privilege of a visit from HRH Prince Michael of Kent. Kae proved a hit with the Royal visitors, as they spent several minutes talking to Lydia and making a fuss of Kaegen. Lydia then took the lead of Kendra's daughter Kaos in limit bitch. It proved to be a very yellow day, as they also brought home a third.

Utility Day was Saturday, and first up in Veteran Dog were both Huzzah and Madog. It has been 5 years since they last competed head to head in the same class, so the stakes were high Bragging rights were definitely at stake as Anne and Lydia took to the ring. The judge was breed specialist Kevin Durso, who last judged the boys in 2019. In a highly competitive class, including an international Multi champion, there were celebrations around the ring when Huzzah and Madog were placed third and fifth.

Gatland was up next and this was probably the most anticipated class for Lydia. She has waited a long time for this, and the excitement levels here high. He was entered in Post Graduate Dog, which happened to be the largest class of the day, with an entry of 13. To the delight of the Lyzahro supporters and Lydia, Gatland was pulled out into the final five cut, and was eventually placed second.

Hope closed up the day with a fourth in a very strong Veteran Bitch class.

National Working and Pastoral Breeds Association of Wales

The first Championship show post pandemic in Wales welcomed us back to the Royal Welsh Showground with blazing sunshine, and a beautiful backdrop. Lydia and Kaegen travelled to Builth to meet up with Jo George and Kaos for a head to head in the Giant Schnauzer classes. Kaos was up first, winning her class, before ydia and Kae took to the ring in Open, under respected senior judge Robin Searle. The two put in a foot perfect performance to bring home the win, and set up the final head to head in the Bitch Challenge. Kaegen and Lydia showed that the two were in perfect sync, and it took Robin only a fe seconds to choose the pair for Best of Breed, and Best Veteran.

They settled in for the long wait for the groups, enjoying the Welsh spring sunshine and catching up with old and new friends. Under respected judge Debbie Stansbury they did not get a place in either group, but Lydia was delighted to showcase the Indoor Pony on the big stage yet again, and to show that Kae just keeps improving with age!

Kaos (Dasval Stands With A Fist)

Kaegen (Debutante Vom Schloss Erhenberg Mit Daserbe ShCM VW)

Summer update 2022

It's July, and the sun is shining. Clearly it's time to update you all on our show season so far. Due to the rising cost of living and diesel we haven't been showing as much as we would have normally, plus the Welsh open show scene is slow to get off the ground post Covid, so we have been heading over the border regularly to attend Championship shows in England and Scotland.

Kaegen has been maintaining her run of fantastic form, bringing home multiple Best Veteran in Breed placings under both domestic and foreign judges across the country. She has also brought home Best Working Veteran in the two open shows she has entered as well, showing that her age is merely a number! The Indoor Pony has had some superb critques as a result, which reflect on her youthful behaviour.

Huzzah and Hope have continued their fun in the Veteran classes as well, with Huzzah going to great lengths to amuse and delight people with his antics in the ring at Windsor Championship show. To our delight, Huzzah and Hope did the double at Three Counties Championship Show, bringing home Best Veteran Dog, and Best Veteran Bitch respectively.

Gatland has cemented his place in the Post Graduate dog class with a successive string of class wins in quality competition, under both breed specialists and all rounders from the UK and Europe. He has also been consistently placed second at other shows, which gives us great hope for his future. He is maturing into a lovely, outgoing showman, and has been a delight to show.

Nia has come back into the ring after a 6 month break, and put in a stellar performance under breed specialist judge Hannah Houchin to bring home a fourth.

We have also decided to miss a few shows due to the extreme heat, as the health and wellbeing of our dogs is paramount.

Autumn Update

The show season is three quarters of the way through now, and the Lyzahro Team are steadily racking up the wins. Hope has not seen the inside of a ring very often, purely because she is not in the mood! She has had a few outings at Championship Show level, and has come home with Best Veteran Bitch several times. Huzzah has maintained his winning ways and is bringing home more rosettes as a veteran than he ever did as a young dog. His many critiques praise his youthful energy and zest for life, which show that, even at his venerable age, his greatest enjoyment is still to show off in the ring. He has even had a head to head with Hope in the Best Veteran Challenge at Welsh Kennel Club, and came out on top!

Gatland has also shown that his winning streak was not a fluke, and has totalled six straight class wins in Post Graduate Dog, and is now having to move up a class to join the big boys in Limit. We are ever hopeful that his stud book number will not be far away.

Small Title

Happy Retirement Kaegen!

Today (October 23rd 2022) Kaegen officially hung up her show lead fr the last time. She has been a phenomenal showdog for the last ten years, and it has always been a pleasure to step into the ring with her. From her very first show at 6 months old, she has given her absolute all, and we could not have asked for more. She has been the best road trip partner, hotel bed hogger and sausage snaffler that we have ever known. She will spend her weekends passed out on the sofa with Zeeva and enjoying her very well earned retirement.

The Indoor Pony crosses Rainbow Bridge.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our precious Indoor Pony Kaegen, just a few short weeks after her retirement from the show ring. Following a short illness, it was our honour to help her cross Raibow Bridge and to run free. She has left a huge hole in our lives, in part due to her size, but mostly due to the giant personality that she was.

It has been a privilege to live, love and partner Kae for the last ten years, and we will mess her eternally. There will never be another quite as special as she was.

A huge thank you must go to her co-owner, for allowing her to be a part of our family for so long.

And to you, all the messages and calls we have received over the week since her passing, they have been a real comfort. Thank you.

Kaegen (Debutante Vom Schloss Erhenberg Mit Das Erbe ShCM VW. 1/6/12 - 1/11/22)

If the kindest souls lived the longest, you would have been immortal.