The story so far......

Hi My name is Helen Hayden, my kennel prefix is Vicoridge based in NSW Australia, we are well known around the world for our Group Winning and *Best in Show* and *Runner up Best In Show* winning Pharaoh hounds. I breed and exhibit and my eldest son Wayne often assists with handling as well.

Whilst at school I was talking with my good friend Lisa and we planned a sleep over, not realising it was the weekend her mum had to head to Dubbo to show the Newfoundlands, well that was in 1977, my first introduction to dog shows in the pouring rain...LOL, the first time in the ring as a child handler with this HUGE Landseer Newfoundland Named Teddie, well it hooked me, I have a huge soft spot for Newfies and to this day still chat with Teddies breeder Fran of Planhaven Newfies, who 31 years later has another Landseer Newfie called Teddie....

The rest is kind of history.... I had some years off, having kids of course, showing horses etc, but for some reason its just my biggest enjoyment in life, I bred some hugely successful winners in the following breeds: Labrador Retrievers, Hungarian Vizslas and currently my Pharaoh Hounds. I have also owned and shown several other breeds such as, Miniature Pinschers, Jack Russell Terriers, Australian Kelpies, Cattle Dogs, Great Danes, Pointers, Dalmatians, Doberman's, Tibetan Terriers, Boxers, Greyhounds, Ibizan Hounds and Rhodesian Ridgebacks. I have also handled for other prominent kennels another 56 different breeds, seems dogs are in my blood, coming from a farming family that have huge vested interest in Racing Greyhounds [both family sides] from the 40's to this current day, with my cousin as one of NSW's top Race Trainers, and one Grandfather who exhibited and bred German Shepherds from 1936, while the other bred Staghounds and hunted large and small game, and not forgetting my cousins who also breed and exhibit [jointly] some of Australia's top Irish Wolfhounds under the Wulfgar prefix.

I'm convinced now its Genetic....lol..

I became interested in the Pharaoh Hound breed many years ago whilst at school, I enjoyed Egyptian studies and these dogs featured quite a bit. In 1997 I met a fantastic Pharaoh Hound named INCA, Aust Grand CH Skiska Rock Till You Drop, owned by Alan and Val Salter of Kennel Pretorium, I was lucky enough to have known the Salters through our joint interest in the Hungarian Vizsla breed, I  often assisted in exhibiting INCA and she was a true show dog and great breed ambassador, through her I met my close friend Leanne Lewis who bred Inca and well now, the rest is kind of history, we have a great bond and friendship and bounce info off each other. I purchased Calibur of Leanne in 2002 and my foundation bitch Hush off her as well in 2003 and now this is where I am today.

I have imported a male out of the UK who was bred in Norway, and you can read all about him on my import pages. I have another bitch due to Australia, from Czech Republic around July - August 2009 in whelp to an exciting stud, and I have a Bitch puppy due into Australia sometime in 2009 from Tonispada Kennel in Belgium. These dogs, as well as the imported semen coming out in 2009 will herald a fantastic future for the Pharaoh Hound breed in Australia.

As an older [40's] person I am so Happy to have some of the top Pharaoh Hounds in Australia, and there is huge interest for my bloodlines from O/S, this is always a learning experience and a continuity of improvement, we have reached some milestones with the Pharaoh breed in Australia, BEST IN SHOW with a 14mth old bitch and RUNNER UP BEST IN SHOW with an 8.5 mth old bitch  in 2008......The youngest in Australia to date..

Lets hope we can set some more records in the coming years..............

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