Smoke Get's In Your Eyes by The Platters
ALOAZABOU du Noble Nid
When nights are coldand stars are few,
I close my eyesand think of you.
A silent hope,a silent tear,
a silent wishthat you were here.
Austrian Junior Champion
HD 0/0, CSNB clear (by parentage) * BGH-A * full breeding confirmation
Aug. 30, 2001 - July 19, 2009, 8:58 a.m.
Sire: Sél. Champ. OSFERATU FAUVE de la Chaume du Bois Dieu (France * HD clear, CSNB/ERG clear * Champion Luxemburg, Selected France and Belgium, Cot. 6, Elite B Belgium, Elite A France)
Mutter: Rec. REVUE du Bois d'Howis (Belgium * HD clear, CSNB/PRA/ERG clear * recommended in Belgium, Elite B France)
In October 2001 I imported Zabou from Belgium. Her breeder, my dear friend Pascale came to Vienna by plane and stayed here for some days. With Zabou the first own fawn Briard came to the house.
She is descended from an excellent Belgium-French line and so I was very hopeful that I could go on from the breeding success with Yazoo with this new girl. Unfortunately the calculation got wrong: At the bacteria check prior the second mating, it was testified that Zabou had a major attack of mycroplasma bacteria. Therewith, it was plain why at the first try - when she was documented clear from bacteria - she remained empty: She had been infected with these bacteria by the stud at her first mating. The bad thing with these bacteria is: they have a spectrum like the herpes virus and come and go; they cannot be eliminated definitively. Mycroplasma kills the sperms and of course also infect the stud when breeding. Zabou got antibiotics treatment immediately, but as she has to be mated on the fifth day of her season, also this trip to the stud was in vain, as the treatment can only be successful if it is made for 10 to 14 days. The question was if I should have some other tries for puppies or if I should refrain from breeding this beautiful girl full of character. I decided not to give up immediately.
Zabou & Talis
Lots of examinations and tries of treatment followed (I am infinitely grateful to the responsible veterinary in the Vet. University of Vienna). Zabou had to be check one or two months before her season to have her treated successfully with antibiotics for the forthcoming mating, so that she would be clear of these bacteria at the point of breeding. The third breeding try in May 2006 worked and therewith, I had my first and long time desired litter after Zabou, the K litter. The next try unfortunately did not work likewise: Zabou postponed her season rhythm after the litter, and so it was too late for a treatment against the once again present bacteria. I wanted to have a last try in 2008 and Zabou was at the time of examination clear of mycroplasma ...... but the stud chosen by me was not available for the point of mating, neither was the second one I had taken into consideration. As it goes against my grain to use any stud, just to have puppies, I gave up and now hope that I am going to have more luck with my breeding plans with Zabou's daughter Courage.
Zabou was very vivacious and impetuous as a puppy and young dog. I nearly could not slow her down. The more I was astounded when at the age of nine months she was the best and most careful playmate for Oh-Lala's puppies. When she was grown up, she matured to a self confident, safe, good to handle and very social girl. She was an exemplary mother for her puppies, which makes it even more regrettable that I could only have one single litter after this girl. Zabou got along perfectly with all my dogs - with the Briards as well as with the tiny breeds. She was an excellent playmate for puppies and grown up dogs, especially for my tiny breeds. Never ever she took advantage of her size and/or her strength towards the small ones, constantly she let walk all over her and never set the younger ones limits. She was just too tolerant, of which the small ones made the most of, if I didn't step in and part the little rascals from Zabou, so that she could have her phases of rest.
Zabou has been shown some times and then always came out of the ring with excellent results. When the shows with my Chinese Crested started and when they were shown frequently in foreign countries, I stopped "show business" with Zabou.
Even though my breeding plans with Zabou could not be put into action and my dreams did not turn true, I was grateful for each and every day with her and I did not want to miss this girl. I thank Pascale that she chose exactly this girl for me (I had only seen the puppies in the Internet and relied fully on Pascale, as she knew what I wanted and what I had in mind).
When Zabou was torn out of my life without any sign of a disease on July 19, 2009, at the age of not even 8 years, another part of my heart broke, a wound which will never completely heal, even though I have her daughter Courage here. This great girl went much too young over the Rainbow Bridge, and a small comfort can only be the fact that one day I'll meet her again with all the others. And also one of my Chinese Crested has suffered for a long time that his very best friend was not longer here: Voodoo - for him Zabou was everything on each day he could join her.
Zabou & Voodoo
A tribute to Zabou - her portrait - is hanging in the living room and reminds me daily on this unforgotten girl
Zabou's special success:
- 07/12/2006 - Zabou whelps the K litter of our kennel de la Maison du Garde-Barrière
- 04/04/2005 - Zabou is fully confirmed for breeding
- 02.01.2003 - Zabou is HD 0/0
- 08.12.2002 - Zabou is Austrian Junior Champion (Diploma)