SHEA
NBISS GCHG Breezy Ridge Maximus ROM
May 17, 2008 - July 11, 2017
2014 GSMDCA National Specialty
Best In Specialty Show
Best In Specialty Show
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AKC# WS26583808
DOB: May 17, 2008 SIRE: CH Dufenhof North to Alaska CD DAM: CH Cold Spring's Blush ROM Owner: Tom Conway & Kristin Krumpe Breeder: Holly Witzgall Fit Weight: 140 lbs Height: 28" |
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ACHIEVEMENTS
2009
2014
- AKC Championship at 13 months
- Award of Merit, Blue Ridge Specialty
- Best In Sweepstakes, GSMDCA Blue Ridge Specialty
- Best in Sweepstakes, Blue Ridge Supported Entry
- Best in Sweepstakes, Blue Ridge Supported Entry
- Select Dog/Award of Merit, GSMDCA Midwest Regional Specialty
- AKC Grand Championship (5/29/10) -- a Swissy first!
- Award of Merit, GSMDCA Eastern Regional Specialty
- America's #1 Swissy (AKC Breed Points)!
- GSMDCA "Top 20" Winner at the National Specialty -- not only the Judges' Choice but the People's Choice too!!!!!
- #11 Ranked Swissy in very limited showing
- GSMDCA National Specialty -- Select Dog
- Best in Specialty at the C&P GSMDC Specialty, Millwood VA
- Working Group 3 at Back Mountain KC (Nov 2)
- Working Group 2 at Back Mountain KC (Nov 3)
- #7 Ranked Swissy in very limited showing
2014
- Westminster KC -- Select Dog
- Working Group 4 at Ladies Kennel Association in Long Island
- Working Group 2 at Riverhead Kennel Club in Long Island
- Working Group 3 at Brookhaven Kennel Club in Long Island
- GSMDCA NATIONAL SPECIALTY -- Best of Breed
- GSMDCA Top 20 -- People's Choice Winner
- Working Group 4 at Suffolk County KC
- OH Group 1 at Suffolk County KC
- Working Group 3 at Gloucester KC
- Working Group 3 at South Windsor KC
- OH Working Group 1 at South Windsor KC
- #2 Ranked Swissy in very limited showing
- September 2015 -- C&P Supported Entry in VA, Best of Breed and Group 4 at seven years of age
- December 2015 -- BOS at the Mid Atlantic Greater Swiss Specialty...to his daughter who was BOB.
- Shea finished the year in the Top 20 again, in only 5 weekends of showing, all as a Veteran.
Thank you to Holly Witzgall, Shea's breeder, for sharing this amazing dog with Tom Conway and me. |
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A ROAD TRAVELED WITH SHEA
Shea was a confident, happy and smart boy out of Holly Witzgall's "Ushi ROM." Shea was a powerful, massive dog, at a rock hard 140 pounds (6 years of age) and 28" at the shoulder. He had absolutely gorgeous structure from top to bottom, stem to stern. Shea had a dead level topline, and was blessed with lovely angles with an effortless, powerful side gait, which looked as great at his veteran age as it did as a two year old. His rear and front were both dead true. His breed type was equally outstanding, with terrific bone and substance, lovely depth of body and chest, and a strong neck supporting a very pretty, correct Swissy head. As for things I would change -- Shea could have used a better coat. His pigment was beautiful, but his coat was quite short with very minimal undercoat. And I would have loved a little thicker, heavier tail for a dog his size. Overall, Shea was a incredibly handsome, powerful dog who is built to go all day long.
Shea finished his championship with ease at 13 months, ably competing with much older dogs, with 14 of his points and three major wins from the puppy classes. At just 16 months of age, he swept the Sweepstakes at the Blue Ridge Specialty weekend (back-to-back-to-back Best in Sweeps, his litter sister was Best of Opposite the two days she was there), and followed that up by taking an Award of Merit at the specialty, defeating a ring full of much older dogs. At just 21 months of age, Shea began dabbling as a special, and really coming into his own by summer 2010. Although not showing as much as some of his toughest competition, and as an exclusively owner-handled dog, finished 2010 as the #1 GSMD in the country. In October 2011, Shea thrilled us all with his Top 20 win at the National, where he was also vote the "People's Choice." At the National Specialty in September 2013, Shea came out of retirement to take Select Dog, and two weeks later took Best in Specialty at the C&P GSMD Club Specialty.
The highlight of Shea's career took place in September 2014, when at almost 6 1/2 years of age, he took Best in Specialty at the GSMDCA National Specialty. To make the day even sweeter, I showed Shea's half-uncle Bowie as a Veteran and was chosen Select Dog at the National, right behind Shea. Thank you so much to Jaime Scott for handling Shea for me at the National. It was a very difficult decision to put someone else on Shea, as I have shown him throughout his career...but as my heart dog, and the dog who lives with me in day in and day out, I had to stay on Bowie. Needless to say, I think BOTH boys looked their best and truly shined in the Bethlehem PA sunshine that day!
Shea was happy in the ring, of course, because he was Shea. He was such a bombproof, unflappable dog...and an easy dog to have around and travel with. Although he was truly a born show-man, he loved nothing more than hanging with his family, the Conways, on Long Island. Shea especially enjoyed going fishing with his "dad" Tom and making rounds about town.
Shea has sired 3 litters of puppies, with 10 finishing their championships thus far. He has really put the stamp of his type and structure on so many of his offspring, and we are seeing some of these youngsters growing into those big shoes Shea has left to fill. None more than his daughter, Eden.
In November 2016, Shea suffered an "event" which was most likely a stroke or FCE. A fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE) is a blockage in a blood vessel of the spinal cord, typically caused by a piece of cartilage. When such a blockage occurs, an area of the spinal cord dies and can cause permanent damage. Recovery in an older dog, especially a big heavy boy like Shea, is especially challenging. Shea suffered complete rear end immobility for several hours, but eventually could stand and walk again, although his mobility was seriously compromised. He was treated with steroid therapy and the Conways also sought the help of a holistic vet. Unfortunately, nothing gave Shea any meaningful chance of recovery, and he was only at about 40% mobility on one side of his rear, about 75% on the other side. The ravages of age and the steroids eventually compounded his issues, as his muscles continued to waste. Due to the nerve damage he also became completely incontinent 8 months later. At that time, as he continued to decline and could barely hold himself up, the decision was made to peacefully help him cross the Rainbow Bridge.
Shea finished his championship with ease at 13 months, ably competing with much older dogs, with 14 of his points and three major wins from the puppy classes. At just 16 months of age, he swept the Sweepstakes at the Blue Ridge Specialty weekend (back-to-back-to-back Best in Sweeps, his litter sister was Best of Opposite the two days she was there), and followed that up by taking an Award of Merit at the specialty, defeating a ring full of much older dogs. At just 21 months of age, Shea began dabbling as a special, and really coming into his own by summer 2010. Although not showing as much as some of his toughest competition, and as an exclusively owner-handled dog, finished 2010 as the #1 GSMD in the country. In October 2011, Shea thrilled us all with his Top 20 win at the National, where he was also vote the "People's Choice." At the National Specialty in September 2013, Shea came out of retirement to take Select Dog, and two weeks later took Best in Specialty at the C&P GSMD Club Specialty.
The highlight of Shea's career took place in September 2014, when at almost 6 1/2 years of age, he took Best in Specialty at the GSMDCA National Specialty. To make the day even sweeter, I showed Shea's half-uncle Bowie as a Veteran and was chosen Select Dog at the National, right behind Shea. Thank you so much to Jaime Scott for handling Shea for me at the National. It was a very difficult decision to put someone else on Shea, as I have shown him throughout his career...but as my heart dog, and the dog who lives with me in day in and day out, I had to stay on Bowie. Needless to say, I think BOTH boys looked their best and truly shined in the Bethlehem PA sunshine that day!
Shea was happy in the ring, of course, because he was Shea. He was such a bombproof, unflappable dog...and an easy dog to have around and travel with. Although he was truly a born show-man, he loved nothing more than hanging with his family, the Conways, on Long Island. Shea especially enjoyed going fishing with his "dad" Tom and making rounds about town.
Shea has sired 3 litters of puppies, with 10 finishing their championships thus far. He has really put the stamp of his type and structure on so many of his offspring, and we are seeing some of these youngsters growing into those big shoes Shea has left to fill. None more than his daughter, Eden.
In November 2016, Shea suffered an "event" which was most likely a stroke or FCE. A fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE) is a blockage in a blood vessel of the spinal cord, typically caused by a piece of cartilage. When such a blockage occurs, an area of the spinal cord dies and can cause permanent damage. Recovery in an older dog, especially a big heavy boy like Shea, is especially challenging. Shea suffered complete rear end immobility for several hours, but eventually could stand and walk again, although his mobility was seriously compromised. He was treated with steroid therapy and the Conways also sought the help of a holistic vet. Unfortunately, nothing gave Shea any meaningful chance of recovery, and he was only at about 40% mobility on one side of his rear, about 75% on the other side. The ravages of age and the steroids eventually compounded his issues, as his muscles continued to waste. Due to the nerve damage he also became completely incontinent 8 months later. At that time, as he continued to decline and could barely hold himself up, the decision was made to peacefully help him cross the Rainbow Bridge.
SIRED LITTERS
TITLED OFFSPRING
- "Eden" MBISS OHBIS GCHS Aegis Say No More
- "Knox" MBISS GCHB Aegis Captain Chunk
- "Summit" GCH Aegis Moving Mountains
- "Doobie" CH Aegis Home Grown ROM
- "Boss" Polish & Lithuanian CH Aegis Mighty Bosstone Best J-Ja
- "Dutch" CH Aegis Spuyten Duyvil
- "Bronx" CH Aegis Bronx Bomber
- "Ellie" CH Aegis Ellis Island Special
- "Tonka" CH Aegis Coney Island Baby
- "Francie" GCH Breezy Ridge To Catch A Thief
- "Hitch" CH Breezy Ridge Notorious CGC HSAd
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