New Puppies

We don't have litters often, but this is a litter that I wanted to share.  I hope you enjoy seeing them.  All girls, which doesn't happen often.  These puppies are sired by Poker (CH Bellatak Cupids Arrow), a great stud at Bellatak, who has produced many awesome, winning Havanese.  In fact, he is the sire of the Top Winningest Havanese EVER!!!  1 week old.

This digital slideshow made with Smilebox

Long Beach 2014 - Photo by Toyomi - Thank you!

It always amazes how fast time flies.  I notice it most of the time, by how old my friends children have suddenly become, cause I have not aged!  LOL

This year started off with what has become our annual trip to Palm Springs.  Tom and I both enjoy this mini vacation so much, mostly because it is our time to do what we both love and be together at the same time.  This year was no exception.  We had a great time, just wish that a special someone had not become ill while we were all there together!

Shortly after our wonderful trip, we had some personal tragedies that we had to endure.  Sometimes it takes these life events to make us stronger and more determined, but boy are they challenging while one is going through them.  

Max, (GCH Bellatak Vallee's Maximum Dream) made his "specials" debut last year at the 2013 HCA National Specialty, in Chicago, IL.  Max looked great!  It was good experience and a fun time for him.  This was the first time he had been in the ring since he finished his championship and he had just turned 1 year old!  

Max showed on a very limited basis the rest of 2013 and began 2014 as the Bellatak Special.  He went to NYC for the 2014 Westminster and was Best Of Opposite sex, following in his mother & father's footsteps!  

Max has continued consistently moving up the Top 20 Breed and All Breed charts in 2014 and as of this writing he is the #5 Breed and All Breed Havanese!  This is impressive given he has been shown with a limited budget and very little advertising.  It shows what a great example of the breed he really is.  

In June 2014 Max was shown at the Vallejo dog show which has come to be known as Woofstock.  This was a milestone for me as it was at this show exactly a year ago that he finished his AKC Championship and then this year was awarded a Toy Group 1.  Thank you to all the judges that have admired Max and awarded him ribbons for BOB and all the Group placements.  

Special thanks to Don & Rebecca, Carole & EJ, Judy & Stephen, & David Murray for your continued support of Bellatak Havanese!!!  

New Beginnings!

As one chapter is closed, another begins.  2013 brings new dogs, new people and new beginnings.   

Dreamer (GCH Bellatak McDreamy) retired from the show ring in December 2012 as the Top Winning Havanese in history.  Now it is time for his son to "strut his stuff" in the ring.  

Bellatak introduces GCH Bellatak Casablanca (Bogie).  Bogie is bred and owned by myself.  He is out of (CH Bellatak Kisses From The Heart) Mandy and sired by (GCH Bellatak McDreamy) Dreamer.   The new "Bellatak Famiglia" are excited about what the future will bring.  David Murray remains as the exclusive handler for Bellatak Havanese!  

Thank you Rebecca & Don, Carole & EJ and Judy & Stephen.......the new "Bellatak Family" 

2012 - Another Great Year!

2012 brought some stressful moments, but the year also brought love and joy!

I feel so blessed to have a wonderful family and fabulous friends, that really are family to me. Our youngest child graduated from High School with honors, got a job, and joined his older brother in college.  It is a joy to watch your children grow up and become adults you are proud of.  

There were times in 2012, that I don't know what I would have done without the special friends I have in my life.  You all know who you are!  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being there, always!  

The dog show ring provided an exciting adventure once again as Dreamer, GCH CH Bellatak McDreamy, continued to rein in the ring.  

Dreamer retires from active competition in December 2012, as the Top Winning Havanese in Breed History!!  That is accomplished due to the fact that he holds the record for the most All-Breed Best In Show (BIS) wins.  Dreamer was the 1st Havanese to earn the Platinum Grand Champion status and held that honor alone for many months.  He was the nation's #1 All Breed Havanese for 2010, 2011, and 2012.  Bellatak Havanese holds the record for the most Specialty wins for any Havanese and also holds the record for the most Toy Group wins by a Havanese.  Dreamer retired with 41 Group 1 wins, and his half sister Vallee is 2nd in the breed history with 34 Group 1 wins in just 2 1/2 years.  Bellatak Havanese holds the record for the most BIS wins by a Havanese and by a Breeder.  Could I be more proud and honored?  Possibly, but those records are yet to come, as now I am enjoying the accomplishments of these 2 AWESOME Havanese and the Bellatak Team!!!

Thank you so much John Oakes, Carole Shea, Jane Samson & David Murray for your steadfast support and friendship.  We have enjoyed one heck-of-a-ride together.  Vallee (CH Bellatak My Funny Valentine) was first, then Dreamer and between these two GREAT examples of the breed, as a team, we have broken and/or made Havanese records!!!  It is something I am very proud of.  

Spring is done.....

I can't believe how fast time flies by these days! As I get older, the time just is not slowing down, but rather going by faster it seems.

Since I last posted a lot has happened both in the dog family and in the human family, but I won't bore you with all of the happenings, just some highlights.

Dreamer continues to be shown this year, but a little more selectively. He is still the #1 All Breed Havanese. Dreamer went to Colorado in April and came home with back to back Best In Shows and about 3000 dog defeated points! Thank you to Judges Mrs Claire Kitty K. Steidel and Dr Anthony D DiNardo for awarding these prestigious wins to our Dreamer. This makes 5 BIS's for Dreamer and a total of 7 BIS's for Bellatak Havanese, which makes this the breed record.

Last year, when Dreamer won the 2011 Havanese Club of America Specialty, that meant that I as one of his owners also won and retired the HCSC (Havanese Club of Southern California) Perpetual Trophy for being the first Havanese owner in the history of the breed to have owned 3 National Specialty winners. Vallee won twice and Dreamer won last year, both of which I bred. I was so honored winning that trophy! In April, I decided to re-donate it back to the HCSC in honor of MBIS & MBISS CH Bellatak My Funny Valentine (Vallee) and MBIS & MBISS GCH CH Bellatak McDreamy (Dreamer) to continue to be offered again for the owner of 3 National Specialty winners.

In May, our youngest child graduated from High School. He along with his 19 year old brother will both be attending college in the fall. Tom and I are very proud of all of children!

June begins with the "Favorite Movies" litter turning 6 months old. Brisa, Bellatak Gone With The Wind, made her debut in the conformation ring and had a great time! She almost shows herself, but don't tell her mom, Amanda that! I foresee Amanda and Brisa accomplishing great things in the future in the conformation ring, at home and in performance events!

2012 Begins

I can not hardly believe that 2012 is here! Where did 2011 go?

2011 proved to be a very successful year in the dog show world. A couple of Bellatak puppies finished their championship (Keely and her brothers Robbie and Maverick and Angel, all CH Bellatak My Funny Valentine kids). Dreamer showed beautifully anytime he entered the ring.

Dreamer won the 2011 Havanese Club of America National Specialty, in North Carolina in July of 2011.

He continued to have another great year.

The 2011 Eukanuba was held in Florida this year. David and Dreamer were there along with John Oakes and his wife Carole Shea. Jane Samson and Tom and myself stayed home in California for this show. Of course now we wish we had gone too as Dreamer, GCH Bellatak McDreamy, won 2011 Eukanuba Best Of Breed! What a spectacular way to finish his 2011 show year!

Dreamer finished 2011 as the #1 Breed dog and the #1 All Breed dog and also finished as the #14 Toy Dog in the USA. Needless to say, we are all thrilled and look forward to what 2012 will bring for the Bellatak Team!

The end of summer is near....

This past weekend, I drove down to Santa Barbara, CA with Maggie (Vallee's daughter). Tom decided at the last minute to not go as he felt his football team needed their head coach. I understood and so Maggie and I made the trip together. She is a good traveler and was good company too, as she does not talk back when I am talking to her nor does she interrupt me. We were going to Santa Barbara for the dog show as well as to be able to spend some time with John, who was flying in from CT and Jane, David, Sherry, Hal, Brian, Joanne, and Susan.

Unfortunately hurricane Irene decided she needed to head north from the south east part of the U.S.A. and be in a direct line with CT where Jo

hn and Carole live. Therefore, John had to cancel coming to the Santa Barbara show at the last minute. While we all missed seeing him, we all felt he made the best decision too.

The Santa Barbara Kennel Club started a Breeders Showcase 3 years ago. Bellatak has been represented since the inception of this event. It is a wonderful event. Good food is served to all under the lights of the arena. Wine and cocktails are available. Watching the best of the best compete in the Breeders Showcase while dining under the stars is awesome! To enter, two dogs from the same breeder must be entered and shown. For the past two years, we entered Vallee and Dreamer. This year, we entered Dreamer and Vallee's daughter, Keely. To see my dogs move together in unison around the ring is breath taking for me. As I did last year, I shed a tear of joy to witness them together and seeing how beautiful they look. It is confirmation for me that I am doing something right as a breeder!

Once again this year, Bellatak was awarded a group placement. This year though, instead of getting a Group 4 like the last two years, Dreamer and Keely got a Group 3 from Judge Janet Allen.

Maggie and I had a wonderful time seeing everyone and being able to talk to our hearts content!

Dreamer won Best of Breed and Group 2 three out of the 4 days of the show with a beautiful final lineup in the Toy Group each day. We are all thankful to all the judges that see Dreamer as the exceptional Havanese we know he is.

I look forward to next year at the Santa Barbara show, as it has quickly become one our favorites to attend.