Cusidh Cantrips Scottish Deerhounds

Well I have recently been embedded with the Clan Cusidh puppies on their ongoing Craigend missions. Here's their progress so far.

Week 8 - An attempt was made to capture the whole family together. This required reinforcements in the name of Peter Grant (next to Claire) and Stephen Patrick. Stephen with his wife Lesley (nee McQueen) owned the lovely Fearnwood Scottish Deerhounds. It was their dog Fearnwood Sound of Ryan who was mated to the foundation Cusidh bitch Ardkinglas Pattie bred by Miss Noble. Stephen is holding the father Cusidh Homecoming (Ronan)  and mother Cusidh Perchance to Dream (Rashie) whilst Peter and Claire face an uphill struggle to keep hold of their four puppies. Needless to say the capture plan ended in failure!

Please click on the read more below for additional data.

Here's an update photo of Ruairidh (Ruairidh MacRatha of Cusidh)  enjoying the snow at Craigend.

We thought this was such a lovely photo that it merited a front page slot. The photo is of Ronan (Cusidh Homecoming) who is currently enjoying fatherhood without any of the hard work! Thank you Tricia Macpherson for this great shot.

Cusidh hopeful Ruairidh has been accepted by the Kennel Club as a registered Deerhound under the Kennel Club's pilot scheme for registering dogs of unverified parentage. Ruairidh was born on 28/04/2010 and is the 5th generation from a Deerhound * Greyhound litter. So congratuations Ruairidh MacRatha of Cusidh you've made it.

Here is Ruairidh's story. It all started with a Deerhound * Greyhound mating which produced Oidhche Mhath (2nd generation) a strong and workmanlike bitch. This bitch was owned by Claire and she was mated to Beardswood Lewis le Cusidh. A daughter from that mating (Caol Ila - 3rd generation) was then mated with Cusidh Coille Hallaig. Mr and Mrs Bromfield owned Caol Ila and they successfully raised 13 lovely pups. Hallaig is best known as Dog World's Top Deerhound Stud dog in 2009 as he was also the father of Ch Drawing Down the Moon to Cusidh and Ch Greyfiars Gille of Beardswood (owned by Sarah and Heather Helps) from his two matings with Deerhound Misty Lee. A daughter from the litter of 13 was kept by Sheena Reid (Caileag Bheag - 4th generation) and Caileag Bheag was mated to Leoch Fiddich owned and bred by Wattie Milne and Carole Andrews. Ruairidh MacRatha of Cusidh is from this mating. He is therefore the half brother of Cusidh Homecoming (Stud Book No. 2884CX) from an additional mating of Leoch Fiddich with Riding the Wind with Cusidh (Stud Book No. 1770CS). Please see Ruairidh's pedigree here.

Ruairidh has been assessed in 2012 by two Championship Show Judges appointed by the Kennel Club who have confirmed that Ruairidh is representative of his breed. Ruairidh has undergone DNA profiling and has been tested for all the relevant health tests recommended by the Kennel Club and is Factor VII clear. He is  76.2 cm (30 inches) and 39 kg (86 lbs). He has now been admitted to the Kennel Club with three asterisks next to his name. Ruairidh is a much loved dog with a super nature. We hope that his careful breeding for over 10 years can bring new genetic diversity into the breed.

Thank you to everyone who has helped, with what we think, is a very worthwhile project.

Update 01/12/12 - We've added some more photos now.