Welcome to the home of the Kalkasi Pyrenean Mountain Dogs. (pronounced CAL- CASS-E).
The name is made up of the pet names of our first 2 Pyrenean Mountain Dogs, Kaspa & Kalli, 'KAL'
is taken from Kalli, 'KAS' is taken from Kaspa and finally the 'I' from Kalli.
Kalkasi was Established in 1987 when we purchased our first Pyrenean, 'Kaspa', (Shanlimore Galaxy).
'Kaspa' introduced us to this beautiful breed. A true gentle giant.
From then on we were hooked. We began showing, moderately at first but by the time we had purchased
our second Pyrenean in 1989, 'Kalli', (Shanlimore Island Dream of Kalkasi) we could not turn back.
'Kalli' was mated to Lubenn Mr Macho in 1993 and produced 'Kara', (Kalkasi Summer Breeze) and 'Belle',
(Ch Kalkasi Summer Jade of Labellamonty).
Our 'Summer' litter.
Kalkasi was born.
'Kara', aged 13 years (in July 2006) passed away peacefully on 11th September 2006.
Sadly 'Belle' passed away aged 9 and a half years.
'Kalli', (Shanlimore Island Dream of Kalkasi) had a second litter in July 1996 by Pyrhaven Manuela,
our 'Island' litter.
We kept a brother and sister, (Kalkasi Island Wizard) , 'Kasey' & (Kalkasi Island Spirit), 'Kia'.
In 2000, another bitch from this litter came back to us when her owner died suddenly, this bitch was
(Kalkasi Island Magic),'Kashta'. We lost 'Kasey' aged 9 and a half just after Christmas 2005. 'Kia' was sadly
put to sleep in October 2008. 'Kashta' passed away in her sleep on 11th September 2009 aged 13 years and 2 months.
In March 1997 we mated 'Kara', (Kalkasi Summer Breeze) to Ch Benacia Alexander of Lukeanna.
This was our 'Breeze' litter. From this litter, 'Kasmi', (Kalkasi Enchanted Breeze) stayed with us.
In 2000, 'Kasmi's' sister, 'Ashia', (Kalkasi Whispering Breeze of Labellamony) came back to live with us. She lived
to 12 years of age, we lost her on 02nd April 2009.
Kasmi has had 2 litters, the first in August 2000 produced our 'Enchanted' litter, sired by
Ch Shiresoak Wizards Harvest and we kept another brother and sister, 'Kimba' & 'sKooby',
(Kalkasi Enchanted Willow & Kalkasi Enchanted Illusion).
Her second litter in July 2003 sired by Gillandant Kieren, produced a single bitch puppy, 'Keela',
(Kalkasi Free Spirit). 'Kasmi' had to be put to sleep in December 2006, just 3 months after we lost her mother, 'Kara'.
We had another bitch in our kennel, brought in from the Shiresoak kennels in September 2001, 'K'tana',
(Ch Shiresoak Magical Star At Kalkasi JW), 'K'tana' was mated in July 2006 to 'Kody'and a litter was born on
18th September 2006. (see below).
A litter from 'Kimba' (Kalkasi Enchanted Willow) arrived on 05th December 2004 by Ch Laudley Dream
Supreme ('Rufus'). 5 girls and 3 boys arrived safely and 'Kimba' was a model mum, taking it all in her stride.
We had been hoping for a special blaireau dog and 'Kody' (Ch Kalkasi Willows Surprise JW ShCM) was
that dog.
However, there was a lightly coloured blaireau bitch who we nicknamed Holly and who won our hearts
through her cheeky character. Holly became known as 'Kayli' (Ch Kalkasi Misty Willow JW), both have been
successfully shown since June 2005, accompanied by their mum once she regained her coat and
condition.
Pictures of all the puppies can be seen on the various Litters page. The progress of 'Kayli', 'Kody', 'Portia' (now
owned by Janet Srodzinski - 'Rufus' owner) & 'Belle' (owned by Ian & Julia Laverty) can be followed.
We decided to repeat this mating later in early 2007 - see our 'Litters' page.
This repeat litter (our 'Dream' litter) arrived on 01st June 2007, 3 girls and 2 boys arrived safely, all blaireau
colouring.
This time we kept 'Kelsey' (Kalkasi Wishing On A Dream).
Her brother, 'Kenzo' (Kalkasi Mamiroufs Dream Boy) was exported to Sweden to join the Mamiroufs kennel
with Camilla Lundgren.
On 18th September 2006 'K'tana' (Ch Shiresoak Magical Star At Kalkasi JW) produced a litter of 10 puppies by
'Kody' (Ch Kalkasi Willows Surprise JW ShCM). From this litter we have ourselves kept a dog puppy 'Konnor'
(Kalkasi Magical Masquerade JW) and a bitch puppy 'Kismet' (Kalkasi Magical Moondancer). These 2
made their debut in the showring along with 'Maddie' (Kalkasi Magical Beauty At Desalazara JW),
'Ella' (Kalkasi Magical Flare At Penellcy) in March 2007.
Sadly, we lost 'K'tana' at the young age of 6 and a half years in February 2008.
We decided to mate 'Keela' (Kalkasi Free Spirit) in 2007 to 'Kody' (Ch Kalkasi Willows Surprise JW ShCM).
'Keela' produced a healthy litter of 7 by caesarian section on 03rd October 2007.
4 boys and 3 girls, all with blaireau markings. This is our 'Free' litter' We hope to have 'Kamara'
(Kalkasi Running Free), 'George' (Kalkasi Care Free), 'Digby' (Kalkasi Proud and Free) and 'Kacey'
(Kalkasi Free Fall) shown in the UK with 'Tessie' (Kalkasi Mamiroufs Born Free) going to Sweden to join 'Kenzo'.
October 11th 2008 was a sad time in our home when we had to make the decision to have 'Kia' (Kalkasi Island Spirit)
put to sleep to save her from further suffering. She was aged 12 years and almost 3 months.
On 13th January 2009, 'Keela' produced her second litter, sired by 'Star' Ricaduffal Shooting Star. She had 3 boys
and 3 girls. More news of this litter can be followed on 'Keela's ' 2009 litter page. From this litter we now have at
Kalkasi, 'Kwincey' (Ch Kalkasi In High Spirits JW) and 'Kenna' (Kalkasi Eternal Spirit). They hit the show ring in July 2009.
'Kayli' has had her first litter on 26th September 2009, 3 boys and 5 girls arrived sired by 'Star' Ricaduffal Shooting Star. We kept 'Katya' (Kalkasi Misty Heights).
We regret having to announce the loss of 'Keela', Kalkasi Free Spirit, Keela had only started to grow up and act her age, when she was taken so suddenly, We
believe she had an arterial bleed in her chest which took her life so quickly, without reason and has left a devasting gap in ours, Kamara, Kwincey and Kenna's lives.
We hope she is now a free spirit, just as her name suggested.
'Kismet' had her first litter sired by our own 'Kwincey' on 23rd May 2010. Kismet had a caesarian due to the number of puppies she was carrying - 12. All were born
safely but we soon realised that they were premature by about 4 days and sadly we lost 2 boys and 1 girl within the first week, our first ever such loss of live puppies
which was quite difficult to accept. Once again, we can only praise our vet for his efforts and help and for getting out of his bed at 2am despite not being on duty.
We can be pleased that we ended up with 9 healthy strong puppies, 6 boys and 3 girls and these all have wonderful new homes to go to. Our girl we have kept was
initially called 'Bijou' , all of the puppies had French names. 'Bijou' will be known as 'K'sena' - (Kalkasi Danz In The Moonlite) and her own webpage is up & running.
'Kismet' was a superb mum, loving and caring for her brood as if she had done it before. 'Kwincey' watched over his kids from a distance, more with intrigue than
anything else. We now have a total of 12 Pyreneans, but i'm not convinced we will stop there !
At the age of 6, 'Kayli' produced her 2nd and final litter sired by 'Kwincey'. We were expecting 8 puppies but 2 and 1/2 hours after all the 8 pups were born
and 'Kayli' thought that was it - along came 'Keva' (Kalkasi High Expectations) ! Once again 'Kayli' showed what a great mum she was and soon settled
into motherhood. 'Keva' is number 13 - we hope not unlucky for us - but 13 has always been a favourite number of mine !
On 18/05/2011 following a very sudden infection, we lost 'Kenna'. Aged 2 it was a terrible shock to lose such a beautiful, fun loving, special lady.
We will never know what caused her to take ill so suddenly after a superb day at the PMDC of GB Open show on 15/05/2011 where she was awarded Reserve Best
Bitch behind her kennelmate K'sena. No words can express how we feel at such a loss. We know she had a great future before her and it was very hard to go to
a show the following weekend without her - but we went to win for 'Kenna' and win we did. 'K'sena' her niece won the Bitch Challenge Certificate from the
puppy class. We tribute this CC to 'Kenna' as we are sure she would have won it on the day.
On a brighter note, 'Kelsey' Kalkasi Wishing On A Dream is expecting her first litter sired by 'Kwincey' Ch Kalkasi In High Spirits JW mid June 2011. This litter produces a
repeat of the pedigree of 'Keva' Kalkasi High Expectations. We are looking forward to and now planning the arrival of this litter. Kelseys puppies arrived late on
19th June 2011. 8 boys and 1 girl with the last puppy 'Hathaway' making a dramatic arrival some 3 and half hours after Kelsey had had number 8. All puppies
were strong and healthy and even the late arrival didn't take long in attaching to a teat as he had some catching up to do ! Kelsey has settled in to caring
for her puppies well and we have noticed a remarkable relaxed attitude in Kelsey.
On 27th October 2011, after almost a 2 year wait - our new arrival came to the UK from Estonia, Echo De'Chien A Touch Of Magic At Kalkasi known to
us as 'Kwattro'. Chosen carefully again for temperament and looks and to compliment our future breeding plans, we thank Marion-Silvia Diener for allowing us to
own her shadow. We know how difficult it was for her at 10 months of age to let him leave her and we hope that 'Kwattro' continues to do her proud in
the UK showring. 'Kwattro' is bred from the first litter born in Estonia this litter ended up being a multi national litter with litter brothers and sisters going to
Finland, Russia, UK and a couple staying in Estonia. His parents being a Finnish bred Dam and a Canadian bred Sire living in Finland.
Today, 22nd January 2012, we had to make that ever difficult decision to allow 'Skooby' to leave us. Aged 11 and 1/2 years, over the past few days he had lost total use of his
back legs and it was no longer fair for him to lose his dignity and comfort. Strong and a little stubborn to the end, we know he is now at peace running with the others in the
big field in the sky and watching over us as he always did. Sleep in peace and without pain and we are sure your legs will be running as fast as they can wherever you are now.
We breed always with the best interests of the breed at heart and for health and importantly temperament.
We choose our stud dogs carefully to compliment our bitches and are known for not following trends of using dogs just because they are winning in the showring.
Our Pyreneans are with us for life. A puppy we have bred is taken back here
without question at any time of its life.
Ian & Yvonne are always on hand to offer any advice, guidance or help on anything
Pyrenean, or to any Pyrenean owner or to those simply wishing to learn
more about our beautiful breed.
Visitors are most welcome by prior arrangement. Our dogs are our life.