Here's a run-down on our personal dogs, and you can check out a 100 or so more photos of them here: PHOTO DUMP!
GROOVY
McElyea's Groovy Kind of Love RA FDC CA BCAT SCN SBN RATS CGCA TKP ATT FTI is the newest standard schnauzer to join our crew. Groovy is the first puppy from our own breeding that we've kept, and while we didn't plan to make her ours, we certainly couldn't imagine our lives without her. At just a year old, she is already far more accomplished than any other dogs we've owned, and she's just getting started. Groovy is one of the most balanced dogs we own; she is just as willing to cuddle as she is to chase a soccer ball. She's incredibly smart, incredibly loving, and incredibly fast--having jumped to #3 fastest Fast CAT SS for the year after just her first weekend running. She's currently half-way to her AKC championship, and we will continue to work with her and explore new or more advanced titling opportunities as we discover the depths of her talents.
RIGBY
McElyea's Rigby O'Reilly McSchnauzer THDX CGCU CGCA TKP was our first standard schnauzer after over 11 years of owning miniature schnauzers. Our family got Rigby in Arkansas shortly after losing our oldest mini, Angus, to unexpected health issues. In the interest of honesty, we'll admit we got him at a time when we didn't understand how to properly spot a responsible breeder, so while the home we got him from was clean and organized and the woman we purchased him from was very knowledgeable about the breed, we learned later that she did not properly health-test her breeding animals with the OFA, as ethical and responsible breeders should. Lucky for us, though, Rigby is in top-notch health despite this and proven physically strong and of sound temperament. He is what most people think of when they want a family dog...He loves to play fetch, get his belly rubbed and this back scratched, and to bark at the mailman. He also loves go for walks, catch and chase his soccer ball, jump on the trampoline, play with the kids or other dogs, and most of all, he loves to watch television...no joke! Rigby was the first standard schnauzer in AKC history to earn the TKP Trick Dog Performer title, the highest level offered for this title at the time he'd earned it. He is also a certified therapy dog through Love On A Leash (http://www.loveonaleash.org/ ) and has his AKC Therapy Dog Excellent title after having completed over 200 therapy dog visits.
SELAH
McElyea's Selah O'Shea McSchnauzer RI THDX CGCU CGCA TKP is our first black SS. We got her shortly after losing yet another miniature schnauzer, Piper, to poor health. Selah is our "calm one," which comes in handy when she's surrounded by 20-30 handsy pre-schoolers. Besides being our most easygoing dog, Selah is also our "goofy girl." She is often found running in circles, trying to catch her back foot, or wallowing on her back in the middle of the carpet and making ridiculous noises. However, her favorite activity is swimming. This girl LOVES the water! Whether at the beach, on the river, or in a pool, she is usually the first one to jump in. Selah was the first SS in AKC history to earn the AKC Trick Dog Advance title, and 3rd to earn the TKP title in this field. She too is certified as a therapy dog through Love On A Leash. As the foundation dam to our black line, Selah gave us 5 litters of beautiful, healthy SS, including both Darcie and ILY, our black girls who will carry on our MMSS lines. She has recently been spayed and will live out the rest of her life with us, being the alpha bitty of the household.
NOVA
CH McElyea's Nova O'Neill McSchnauzer RI THDA CGCA TKP BCAT (a.k.a Jools Alarm Beskyd) is our import puppy. She came to us from the Czech Republic from Lenka Fajkusova at Alarm Beskyd Kennel. Suffice to say Nova is our princess. If there is one thing she loves it is to be held, cuddled, and petted. And it doesn't end there. Nova is also a big fan of being carried around as if she were still a pup and even being rocked to sleep! She is also hands down the most laid-back SS we've had to date. While she loves to run and play like any other dog, she is content to just chill out and relax in your lap or in her dog bed most of the time. She is from a long line of international show champions and a prestigious line of European show dogs. She is a registered therapy dog through Love On A Leash and a registered R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dog) dog for kids with anxiety or social issues. Nova is the foundation dam for our pepper-salt lines and the mother of our own Groovy-girl, as well as Kaiser, Teddy, Leia, and Nori, who will carry on our pepper-salt lines in the next generation now that Nova has been retired from breeding.
HARLEY
McElyea's Harley O'Hara McSchnauzer CGCA TKP TDA BCAT is Selah's full-blood little sister. Harley is what we call our "surprise puppy." We weren't planning to get another puppy after we got Nova in Sept. 2017, but a few short weeks later certain circumstances arose, and we couldn't turn Harley down. Harley is our spice-of-life pup. Think Harley Davidson meets Harley Quinn...and that's our Harley! She is bouncy, vocal, independent, mischievous, and always moving! She is so active that we often joke that you only see Harley in a blur, because she just cant sit still. She simply loves to play 24/7. In fact, she loves to play so much that she'll forgo treats while training and prefers to fetch a rope or ball as her reward. She is the first to grab a toy in the morning, the first to initiate a wrestling match with the other dogs, and usually the last to wind down for the night. Only when she's worn herself out is she ready to sit long enough to be loved on, and she definitely milks every second of her backrubs and belly scratches. Harley is also a registered therapy dog with Love On A Leash, and the mother to our 2nd black SS line.
McElyea's McSchnauzers is a standard schnauzer breeder in upstate South Carolina.