Both of us had a lifelong love of GSD and decided we wanted to get involved in showing. From this, in 1999, following a lot of research, came the eventual aquisition of our affix 'CONBHAIREAN' pronounced 'Conavaren' , which is a Mountain (pictured above) in the north west of Scotland, the translation of which is 'Keeper of the hounds' which we thought very appropriate and as once keen hillwalkers, this name was perfect for us.
This all began in 1997, with our first joint purchase of a lovely lad from Jan Freer (Zenjal). Yago was from the first litter sired in the UK from the German import Lasso v Fidelius. Unfortunately, after some time it was apparant that Yago was not going to make the grade. However, we loved him dearly and he bacame a much loved part of the family, known by everyone who visited. Sadly, we lost Yago too old age in April 2009, when things just got too much for him, but to this day he remains in our hearts as our very special and very vocal boy. He is sorely missed by all who knew him and has left a huge hole in our lives.
After Yago, we spent more time attending shows and training classes and discussed in detail the type of animal we wanted to base our foundations. We listened and hopefully learnt and with this in mind, we bought our first female from Shirley Hutchinson - Mascani Holly at Conbhairean (Now Retired). Holly won extremely well at all levels in the show ring, where she excelled in forehand angulation, firmness and movement. She was always one that caught the eye of visiting German judges, who loved her. Holly was very much the type and with the character we wanted to build upon so, mated to the oustanding young male Fanto, from the top producing Gayville kennel, we produced our first 'Conbhairean' litter. We were extremely fortunate that from the litter came the very well known Champion Conbhairean Alexis Sch H1, KKL1 Lbz (Now Retired). Alexis had an outstanding show career, rarely beaten and without doubt one of the top females of her time.
We then decided we would like to compete in Germany, as well as the UK, and after more research we realised if this was what we wanted to do, we would have to adhere to the very strict and compulsory European breeding system. So, to comply with this, Alexis was the first of many of our dogs to attain her working titles and koerung, which she now has for life (lbz). From Holly, we also have Connie Sch H1, KKL1 sired by the World Sieger Urus v Batu, one of the most prolific German sires.
From Alexis, we have Happy, Sch H1 (Uno v Trompetersprung) Louis Sch 1, KKL 1, Champion Leska and Linzi both with Sch H1 & KKL1 (VA Nando v Gollerweiher) and of course the lovely longcoat Lauser BH(aka Doogie)
From Happy we have the top winning Champion Nadia Sch 1, along with her show winning sister Nikki, (Idol v Holtkamper Hof).
From Linzi, we have the lovely Conbhairean Usi & Uno, sired by the stunning Carlos v d Sudheimer Linde. Usi is already making her mark in the show ring, winning now on several occasions at Champ shows. Her brother Uno, doing likewise, having already won a CC and several Best Dogs from Puppy. The other sibling Ursus, owned by Terry Kessel and Mary Brimacombe has also won several Championship shows with Best Puppys, making a trio of champ show winners from this first litter from Linzi and Carlos.
And from Champion Leska, we now have the lovery and very promsing Wotan and Waro, sired by the stunning Floro degli Achie, brother to VA Furbo, whilst the stunning Winona is resident in Wales, owned by Lararth GSD's & Brian Wadlow. We look forward to the future with all these babies.
Back in 2003 we decided along with our own line that we were establishing, we wanted to introduce a second bloodline into our kennel, that of the top producing Saber Steffen Haus Sch H3, KKL1. Again, this line has been very successful for us with our imported female Ginger von der Maleiche Sch H1, KKL1 Lbz, (now Retired)attaining the outstanding place of V12 at the 2003 BSZS and being continued in her daughters Erin Sch H1, KKL1 Lbz (Karat's Yoker) and Kiara Sch H2, KKL1 (Bravos Steffen Haus) and of course also from this line we have the lovely and very successfull Champion Starhope's Qualli (Saber grandaughter). We now hope to continue this line with Kiara's babies from her first litter to the now VA Kwantum vom Klostermoor (Zamp v Theromodos). We retained Quantum Sch H2, KKLQ & Quella Sch H1, KKL1, from a litter of only 3. Both have shown themselves extremely well culminating in the top positions they both achieved at the 2009 BSZS in Ulm, Germany. Quantum SG27 JHKL & Quella SG18 JHKL. In Kiara's second litter born in Germany this time, from only 2 puppies, sired by Tyson v Koettersbusch, she has produced the gorgeous Hexi v d Valendarer Hoehe who now at 11 months is looking very promising indeed.
Our breeding plans have proven very successful so far, with our most recent show results more than reward for us. For the future we hope to continue in the manner we have done by only having carefully planned and researched quality litters,where we use only top quality animals of excellent character, health and breed type, both here and in Germany.
