Himmelstor Kennels
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The year of 95 was a turning point in our lives. After 15 years with three wonderful much loved laboradors, our home was made barren when, at yearly intervals we lost them to the ravages of advanced aging. We were without the companionship of man's best friend for over two years. Their demise had left a giant hole in our hearts.

While in Washington D.C. killing time on the mall before an appointment, I chanced to wander into a rare breed dog show. It was there I met a Swissy named Reo and his proud owner, mistress, Lori Price. My life was changed forever. Reo sat on my foot leaning into my side begging for more contact and petting for over one half hour before I had to say goodbye. I couldn't get Reo out of my mind. Now, years later I realize even more how wonderfully special he is. A Swissy was just the element our incomplete home so sadly missed. With Lori Price's assistance I made contact with some Swissy owners who had new litters. Of course, finding an available puppy was another matter! Only after many contacts all over the country did I speak to the Cebuhars in Alaska. They had a puppy and could deliver him to Hobey airport in Houston. Mr Cebuhar works with an airline. The puppy named Heavensgate Andrew's Once was promplty dubbed Max. As a condition for purchase, we had to sign a contract agreeing to show the puppy and attempt to finish him in the ring. We joined the small cadre of owners carting their Swissys off to shows in quest of those illusive ribbons. After a year with Max, membership in the national GSMD club and participation in our local kennel club, we were hooked. We jumped at the opportunity when Lori Price told us a very good show quality puppy, Waterford's Beuatiful Liesl, had been returned to the breeder because of health problems in her first adoptive home. We just call her Liesl. She is incredible in so many ways and this past year honored us by finishing number one in points nationally for Swissy bitches and in the top ten for breed at number seven, all breed ninth. Thank you Lori Price!

Kim and Andy Busch steered us to our next puppy, Brigitta von Wumelsdorf who would be born of a breeding between their CH SOLSBURY'S BURGI OF GFM, Burgi at home and Johnathan Bastians much loved CH ELSA VON WUMELSDORF, affectionately known as Elsa. Our Brigitta looks so very much like her mother.

Both Liesl and Brigitta have had failed attempts at pregnancy, mostly our fault for not scheduling sufficient time each attempt. Recently, having learned from our shortsightedness, we planned more carefully and Brighitta has been touched with the magic of new life delivered by her mate Blaze or CH RISE & SHINE'S BLAZING RIOT. Blaze was national champion in 1998. Brigitta's expected date of delivery is April 18. Ultrasound exam has revealed at least seven pups.

When an attempted breeding of Liesl failed this year, perhaps in frustration we asked to purchase a puppy from a breeding between the well known Conner, first place dog for 1999 and a Norwegian import, Zita who finished her championship in just three weekends! We call him Axel, and actually he's the first new spirit in this house in twenty years because there's something incredible about our first three Swissys. Each arrived in chronological order matching in size, shape, sex, temperment and special quirks, the three laboradors we had loved for so many years.

Brighitta's puppys will lay claim to some of the most desireable lineages in the Swissy world. Our other lady, Liesl has a phenomenal number of littermates and close relatives that have taken major titles and awards. Axel brings Conner's bloodline and a new Norwegian bloodline to our kennel. The kennel will be called Himmelstor, german for our Max's origins, Heavensgate. We think we're positioned well to bring good and proven genes into the Swissy breed in America. Although we love him perhaps most of all, Max because of too low a tail set, has been altered and won't be contributing in this lifetime.

We hope you enjoy the pictures on this our website. We'll attempt to share the development of our puppys through progressive pictures and anecdotes. As our kennel grows we hope to grow this website both for our enjoyment and yours. Visit us often or contact us through our e-mail, himmelstor@laol.net.

Owners:
Larry A. Hauskins, M.D.
Robert J. Kiar
Lake Charles, Louisiana


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