Blue roan bitch
Whelped May 7, 1999
(Quarterback John vom Ehrhornsgrund, German Junior Champion x Woodwyn’s Foreign Wind)
OFA “Good”, BAER normal, Optigen “A”
At just over 14” and all of 20lbs, Mia was a small bitch with great heart.
I was the breeder of her dam, a daughter of my old Toga (Ch. Touchwood Toga of Woodwyn, CD, SH, WDX) and Belinda vom Turkiskamp, who was on an extended “visit”. Her dam was then sent back to Germany with her mother to live with the Hobergs (vom Ehrhornsgrund). On a visit to Germany I made a couple years later we agreed on a breeding to one of their stud dogs.
Mia joined us at about 4 months old in mid-September of 1999 with her breeder who came to the US for a visit.
Her first foray into a ring was a couple weeks later at the St. Hubert KC’s annual Fall Match. After charming the 5 month old Great Dane behind her in the lineup, and apparently the judge as well, she won Best Puppy in Match!
Showing in our house is something that I always felt could wait, and with Mia it was no different. After that first little match we only participated in the occasional “just because” point show and instead put our efforts into field work. My first impression of Mia was that this bitch would be a washout. Perfectly composed and self-assured always, she was polite, clean, non-destructive, quiet and compliant. Much too calm and well-haved to be the hunting fool I had hoped for. Ah, did I learn a lesson about that!
Shortly after the match I took her to a trainer and put her on her first pigeon. She came alive at the sight of the bird, promptly ran it down and brought it back with a little unnecessary coaxing from me. A very quick study, talented and with loads of heart, we were able to start steadying her at 9 months of age.
By September 2000 Mia had earned a total of 17 High Point Puppy points, making her #2 Puppy for that year! She took first place in the Puppy Stake at both the 9/21 and 9/22 trials held by the English Springer Spaniel Assoc. of Western New York in addition to her 3rd and 1st place wins earlier in the month at the American Spaniel Club and Maine Spaniel Field Trial Club trials, respectively. She was the only show-bred in competition.
In Spring of 2004, Mia completed her SHOW CHAMPIONSHIP with Best of Breed wins over Specials.
On October 23, 2004 she completed the last leg of her MASTER HUNTER, tying with another champion bitch who completed her own MH at the same event on the same day, making them the first Ch. bitches to earn the MH title.
She completed the last legs of her novice agility titles at the 2012 breed national just shy of her 13th birthday.
Many of Mia’s puppies went to hunting homes but a few were achievers in the ring, enough to earn her the status of English Cocker of Merit.
