NOT EXACTLY RETIRED

Mark Twain is alleged to have said, “The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated”, and we have learned that announcing the retirement of the Scottish Deerhound, CH Jaraluv Ouija, the top deerhound in history, requires some amendment.

CH Jaraluv Ouija & Breeder/Owner Ray Brinlee

Ouija is at home with breeder/owners Ray & Jana Brinlee in Walla Walla WA, taking a much needed breather before Westminster. However, Ray Brinlee tells us that Ouija, who is not yet four years old, will be at selected shows in the future, most notably, the Scottish Deerhound National Specialty in May at Purina Farms, in Gray Summit MO. Hopefully, Ray will give us a heads up when she is out and about, so we can let you know where you can see this beautiful example of the breed.

Jaraluv, which stands for Jana’s & Ray’s Love, was established in 1980 with their foundation bitch, CH Shanid Guinevere (Gigi). Since then there have been 72 more Jaraluv deerhounds, averaging one litter every three years. With just one Norwegian import, 71 were bred by Ray & Jana (including eight stud fee puppies) and an impressive group they have been, 54 champions, 24 Group winners and ten different BIS winners.

Five members of the Jaraluv "K" Litter At 2002 SDCA National Specialty, L to R-

CH Jaraluv Keep The Faith with Ray Brinlee (BOB)
CH Jaraluv Kempthorne with Mike Stone (BOS)
CH Jaraluv Kinetic Energy with Mary Dukes (AOM)
CH Jaraluv Kobe with Jana Brinlee (AOM)
CH Jaraluv Kassandra with Steve Gibbs (AOM)

Ray and Jana have especially fond memories of one litter of twelve, the “K” litter, all of whom became Champions. One was shipped off to Norway, but the remaining eleven went on to win Hound Group placements, ten won Hound Group firsts, and three became BIS winners. Eight members of the litter had a family reunion at the 2002 National Specialty of the Scottish Deerhound Club of America. Seven made Swedish judge Ray Lindholm’s final cut before he gave five of them awards, BOB, BOS, and three AOM. One of the the litter, CH Jaraluv Keep The Faith, Ouija's dam, is the only Deerhound to have won the SDCA National Specialty three consecutive years. Another, CH Jaraluv Kobe, is the sire of CH Jaraluv Michael, Ouija's father. Michael is the top male Deerhound in history with ten BIS.

The Brinlees have kept a tight focus on consistency and uniformity of type and believe large numbers are not necessary to success. Today, the Brinlees keep between four and six adults, all in their home. There are no kennels, just a puppy paddock and a big back yard. It is a model that works in an environment of restrictive zoning and a community sensitive to animal rights activists. The Brinlees tell us their goal was to leave the Scottish Deerhound breed better off than we they began. We think they have been a shining example of how to do it right.