Also during these years I married and had two kids, Blake and Jenny.
(pictured right) I continued showing on a limited basis at local shows
when the kids were young and traveled to a few specialties. I fondly
recall the days in the ring showing my Gordons, my kids standing
outside the ring rooting me on. When I would come out between classes
Jenny would handle the brushing to make sure every hair was in place
on whichever dog I was showing. Blake was more interested in searching for discarded rubber bands he could use to
shoot paper wads.
During these years both Blake and Jenny were involved in ice skating and both were quite accomplished skaters.
Majority of our spare time was spent in the ice rink or traveling to skating competitions. Several years go by
and Jenny was old enough to compete in Junior Showmanship. I told her to pick which Gordon she wanted to be her
Juniors dog and I would teach her how to groom and show it. Her response – I’m not going to show one of those
things! – I want my own breed.
A few weeks later we were attending a show and I told her to look around and see what breed interest her and we
would see about getting her one. Within an hour she came running up stating she found the breed she wanted. I just
knew it would be something cute and fluffy – OH NO! she wanted a Greyhound. Fortunately I was able to
convince her a Greyhound was too large and something a bit smaller would be best. By lunch time she had
another suggestion – a WHIPPET!! My response was YUK – you must be kidding – a Whippet – they are icky. There
was no changing her mind, after all she was told to pick the breed and it was smaller than a
Greyhound.
By the next spring we had located a breeder, Connie
Alexander – Kachina Whippets. She and
fellow breeder, Ann Taylor – Anndra Whippets had
an older female puppy available that would fit
our needs. So Jenny got her own show dog,
a Whippet – Anndra’s Princess Bride Kachina, SC –
“Cindy”, I learned not to say a word about
how skinny they looked. Jenny and Cindy soon
became a fine tuned team and together quickly earned the necessary wins in Juniors, however Cindy did not
really like the show ring and Jenny tired of Juniors, she wanted to show in the “real” ring. Soon a second Whippet
followed, a beautiful fawn brindle and white puppy bitch, Kachina Times Square V Anndra, SC – “Rachel”.
Rachel proved more competitive in the conformation ring and finished with most of her wins with Jenny handling
her. Breedings from these two Whippet girls we got our first home bred Dual Champion – Bert, out of Cindy, and our
first Top 20 competitor – Emily, out of Rachel.
As in my early days of breeding Gordon Setters, our goal is to breed healthy, beautiful, and well socialized family
pets. Majority of our dogs are sold solely as family companions, we have been fortunate and allowed to show some of
the ones sold close to our home to their championships. While I must admit my first thoughts of getting a Whippet
were not favorable, within a few weeks of having our first one I discovered what a wonderful breed they are. Within
two years of the first Whippet moving into my house my Gordon Setters days were all but over. While I still love the
breed and believe there is not a more beautiful sight than a well bred and correctly groomed Gordon, I’ve learned to
admire them from afar.

Now with both kids grown our home is filled with wonderful Whippets and a couple French
Bulldogs. My husband, Chuck, loves the days spent on the lure coursing field. Jenny and I
continue traveling to shows – she, the one showing, me standing outside the ring rooting her on –
and even though my son could care less about the showing part he has his own special Whippet as
well.
To end this introduction I must add a funny twist – somehow along the way I ended up with one of those labor intensive Cocker Spaniels, a Parti Colored one at that! While it was suppose to be Jenny’s dog she somehow stole my heart. Thank goodness she grew up with Whippets and truly thinks she is just a cute and fluffy variety.
Jenny’s first Whippet, Cindy passed away in October of 2009 and Bert we lost unexpectedly on January 13, 2010.
Rachel and Emily grace our couch and bring joy to us every day. We plan to remain active in this breed for many
years to come.
Pictured from first to last photos…
Jenny & “Emily” – Ch. Ableaim Dixie Chick SC
Blake & “Kitty” – DC Ableaim Kit Kat SC
Jenny & “Cindy” – Anndra’s Princess Bride Kachina SC (passed
away in October 2009)
Jenny & “Rachel” – Ch. Kachina Times Square V Anndra SC, ROM
Jenny & “Hannah” – Ch. Ableaim Heart Breaker