Big Sky Scottish Deerhounds
Love, Strength, Beauty
Big Sky Hounds
Ch. Highlander's Zoe Cameron D'lux
(Ch. Beaufort's Black Tie n Tails X Ch. Springbank D'lux O'Fairyfort)
Everything started with this girl, Ch. Highlander's Zoe Cameron D'lux. She was our first Scottish Deerhound, and her wonderful temperament, sense of humor, intelligence, and spirit made us realize that this was definitely the breed for us. Zoe's dam, Spring, is one of the top champion producing Deerhound dams, and Zoe, finished her AKC championship with three majors over some group winning specials, with some of her championship points being put on while being handled by our then 6 year old daughter, Madolyn.
Zoe is the mother of our first litter of Deerhounds, which are now 2 years old and have had some lovely wins. She is 8 1/2 now, and she and Madolyn had a great showing at the Scottish Deerhound Club of America National, where Madolyn won Best Junior Handler. She is also still happy (and able) to catch the bunny when given the opportunity.
Zoe has been a wonderful example of the breed, and a great ambassador, as she is always happy to greet new faces, and loves to go to shows, festivals, and wherever else you may take her. Her temperament, beauty, and health can be attributed to her thoughtful breeders, Clay and Erica Finney of Highlander Deerhounds, with whom we are ever so greatful for allowing us to have this special bitch.
Zoe is the mother of our first litter of Deerhounds, which are now 2 years old and have had some lovely wins. She is 8 1/2 now, and she and Madolyn had a great showing at the Scottish Deerhound Club of America National, where Madolyn won Best Junior Handler. She is also still happy (and able) to catch the bunny when given the opportunity.
Zoe has been a wonderful example of the breed, and a great ambassador, as she is always happy to greet new faces, and loves to go to shows, festivals, and wherever else you may take her. Her temperament, beauty, and health can be attributed to her thoughtful breeders, Clay and Erica Finney of Highlander Deerhounds, with whom we are ever so greatful for allowing us to have this special bitch.
Maddy (age 6) puts a point on Zoe by going Best Opposite over a special
Zoe finishes with three majors
(Ch. Fernhill's Azure JC X Ch. Highlander's Zoe Cameron D'lux)
Big Sky's Artemis (Audrey) is the girl we kept from our first litter. She was born 12 hours after what we thought was the last puppy, and has been special ever since. She made her debut at the 2006 SDCA National in Frankenmuth, Michigan with Madolyn as her handler. They did well in the ring, and were happy to see her two littermates place in the class---Fernhill's Anica of Big Sky and Highlander's Ada of Big Sky. Audrey was right behind them. Audrey has since gotten back to back 4 pt majors, won the Bred-by Hound Group at the Faith City Kennel Club show, won the Non-Terrier Group at the All Scottish Breed Dog show, placed 2nd in the group at the Denton Kennel Club AKC match, and finished her championship. She also loves to run like her mother and father, and will start lure coursing soon.
Maddy and Audrey at the 2006 SDCA National
Big Sky's Beckett (Bean)
(Fernhill's Valor of Big Sky x Ch. Big Sky's Artemis)
Bean is from our latest Valor/Audrey litter. He is a beautiful brindle boy with a lovely shape and lots of bone. This guy is one of the sweetest puppies around, and when we started housetraining him, he learned in a flash, and never even had one accident!!!! (Good boy!!)
He notices all of the butterflies, spider webs floating through the air, and tiny stones that get kicked around when we go for walks, so we are hoping that he will love coursing as much as his grandpa Azure! We look forward to bringing this guy out in the show ring too!!!
Bean at three weeks
Zoe, Arikara, and Nootka
Ch. Fernhill's Azure JC at 4 months and Madolyn at age 5 years
Ch. Fernhill's Mersey as a pup
Ch. Fernhill's Azure JC
(Can Ch. Fernhill's Turbulent Indigo X Fernhill's Dulcinea)
Azure is one of those dogs you wish you had a dozen of. He was bred by Barbara Heidenreich and Richard Hawkins (Fernhill), and we can't thank them enough for allowing us to bring him home. Azure's sire, Indy, was Winners Dog at the 2001 SDCA National specialty, and Azure, started his show career by placing in his class at the 2003 SDCA National Specialty among very tough competition. He went on to finish his championship by the time he was a year and a half with two five point majors and all wins being Best of Breed wins, including wins over top specials. That year, he ended up finishing as the #4 Scottish Deerhound dog in the country, and received an invitation to the AKC/Eukanuba championship. Shown sparingly as a young special the following year, he again was honored with an invitation to the AKC/Eukanuba show. Azure is also a Group placer.
In 2006, Azure took a break from the conformation ring to start lure coursing. He received his ASFA certification a week before the 2006 SDCA National Specialty, and at the National (his first real event), he ended up placing fourth in the ASFA coursing. He finished 2006 in the top ten in the country for ASFA coursing, and also received his JC for AKC coursing. At the 2007 SDCA National, Azure ran beautifully again, and came in second in the Open Stake for the AKC coursing. He also placed third in the Field Trial Dog class. Azure has a magnificent temperament, and is a perfect gentleman. He loves to show, and loves to run even more.
Azure is the sire of our first litter. We have been extremely pleased with his offspring thus far, and hope that they will carry on all his wonderful characteristics.
Azure wins Best of Breed for a 5 pt major from the 12-18 month dog class
Azure coursing at the 2007 SDCA National
Ch. Fernhill's Mersey
(Ch. Lehigh Yuill X Fernhill's Reiba)
Mersey came to us from Susan Trow (Caretta). Mersey's sire, Yuill, was Best Opposite Sex at the 2004 SDCA National specialty, and Mersey, is a gorgeous girl and a real spitfire. She decided at a very early age that she was queen of the pack, and never lets anyone push her around. With her people, she is truly a sweetheart, but with her pack, she lets them know who is boss! Mersey finished her championship very quickly with three majors (one 5 pt, one 4 pt. and one 3 pt.) by the time she was 15 months. She is a multiple group placer and has started lure coursing as well.
Mersey gets a Group 3 under judge Charles Trotter on her third birthday
Fernhill's Valor of Big Sky
(Aust. Ch. Thistleglen Neville x Am/Can. Ch. Fernhill's Roslyn)
We are very excited about this young male bred by Barbara Heidenreich and Richard Hawkins. He is a cousin to our Mersey, as his dam, Roslyn, is a litter sister to Mersey's dam, Reiba. His sire, Aust. Ch. Thistleglen Neville, is a brother to Ch. Thistleglen Margot, who won the Hound Group at Westminster in 2006, and is one of the top winning Scottish Deerhounds in the U.S.
Valor started his show career by winning Best in Match at the All Scottish Breeds dog show at the Texas Scottish Festival while being handled by Madolyn. At his second all breed show, he took a Group 3 placement from the 9-12 month puppy dog class, and then was pulled again in the group the next day. At the 2007 SDCA National, Valor won the 12-18 month dog class, and we were thrilled. We look forward to seeing how this boy matures, and plan to start lure coursing soon.
Valor won the 12-18 month dog class at the 2007 SDCA National
Valor at 16 weeks
Valor at 7 months