Our Swissys
Frank and Brigitte acquired their first Swissy in 1987 in Switzerland. Gerry v. Burg Schwaertzenberg "Bello" accompanied them to their final foreign service overseas assignment in Morocco prior to Frank's retirement in 1989. Bello died in a car accident on Christmas eve 1989 when he wandered through an unfinished part of the fence onto Highway C.
This first Swissy was followed in 1990 by another Swiss import, Ch. Prinz von Vorderbirch who was also named Bello in honor of his predecessor who introduced the Rhineharts to this wonderful breed. Bello was followed by many other Swiss and American Swissys. However, he is truly the dog who laid the foundation for the Brush Creek Swissys. Without him, Brigitte might not have gotten involved in the breed as much as she is today. In early 1993, this handsome dog caught the eye of Cathy Cooper of Shadetree Kennels, a well-known Swissy breeder in Virginia who encouraged Brigitte to let her show Bello (this fine dog died in 1999 of hemangiosarcoma).
One thing led to another. A trip of Swissy enthusiasts to Switzerland in 1994 was followed by another excursion to Sweden in 1996 and another Swiss trip in 1998. From 1996 to 2002, Brigitte was a board member of the "Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club of America" GSMDCA and after a 6 year hiatus, joined the GSMDCA board again for the current '09-10 term. Since 1996, Brigitte has also been a member of other Swissy regional clubs such as the Ozarks GSMDC, the Lake Shore GSMDC and the Southbound GSMD as well as AGSBA, the "American Greater Swiss Breeders Association", she is also the treasurer for Ozarks and AGSBA.
Brigitte currently co-owns a variable number of Swissys with other Swissy breeder friends. Her principal co-owners are:
Kathleen Borgmeyer of Landhof Swissys, her husband Henry owns and operates a 400 acre crop and cattle farm in Martinsburg MO
The Ney family, Robin, Randy, Shelby and Summer of Rivendell GSMD in Bonner Springs KS
Teri May and husband Pete of Platte River Swissies in Smithville MO
Erin McWilliams and husband John of TwinPeaks GSMD in Randolph NJ. The McWilliams own and operate the canine training facility "Paws-itive Experience Pet Services LLC"
The Everman family, Sheila, Mike, Elizabeth, Collin and Jenna of Hans Haven in Smithville MO
Brigitte and Kathleen also co-own several Swissys with owners of Brush Creek/Landhof puppies, some of these dogs that are actively shown in AKC conformation are listed in the male and female section below.
The goal of Brush Creek Farm is to breed and raise healthy and temperamentally sound Swissys as family companions, as active working dogs for activities such as obedience, tracking, herding, weight pulling, draft and pack dog and other events, as therapy dogs and for conformation shows and breeding. Our breeding approach follows, to the extent possible in this country, the Swiss breeding regulations, which are quite strict with regard to health and temperament of the breeding stock.
Thanks to our unique location in a very rural area, we can raise and keep our Swissys very close to how these dogs were and often still are kept in Switzerland. We do not need to confine or kennel our dogs (exceptions are bitches in season, "lovesick" males, brood bitches and their pups), they have access at all times to the approx. 6 acres of fenced in area around the house and the farm outbuildings.
Note: Register of Merit ROM: Males must have 10 and females 5 AKC champion offspring to qualify for this title
(Top of Page)
Click to jump: Males | Females | Register of Merit | The Rainbow Bridge
This first Swissy was followed in 1990 by another Swiss import, Ch. Prinz von Vorderbirch who was also named Bello in honor of his predecessor who introduced the Rhineharts to this wonderful breed. Bello was followed by many other Swiss and American Swissys. However, he is truly the dog who laid the foundation for the Brush Creek Swissys. Without him, Brigitte might not have gotten involved in the breed as much as she is today. In early 1993, this handsome dog caught the eye of Cathy Cooper of Shadetree Kennels, a well-known Swissy breeder in Virginia who encouraged Brigitte to let her show Bello (this fine dog died in 1999 of hemangiosarcoma).
One thing led to another. A trip of Swissy enthusiasts to Switzerland in 1994 was followed by another excursion to Sweden in 1996 and another Swiss trip in 1998. From 1996 to 2002, Brigitte was a board member of the "Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club of America" GSMDCA and after a 6 year hiatus, joined the GSMDCA board again for the current '09-10 term. Since 1996, Brigitte has also been a member of other Swissy regional clubs such as the Ozarks GSMDC, the Lake Shore GSMDC and the Southbound GSMD as well as AGSBA, the "American Greater Swiss Breeders Association", she is also the treasurer for Ozarks and AGSBA.
Brigitte currently co-owns a variable number of Swissys with other Swissy breeder friends. Her principal co-owners are:
Kathleen Borgmeyer of Landhof Swissys, her husband Henry owns and operates a 400 acre crop and cattle farm in Martinsburg MO
The Ney family, Robin, Randy, Shelby and Summer of Rivendell GSMD in Bonner Springs KS
Teri May and husband Pete of Platte River Swissies in Smithville MO
Erin McWilliams and husband John of TwinPeaks GSMD in Randolph NJ. The McWilliams own and operate the canine training facility "Paws-itive Experience Pet Services LLC"
The Everman family, Sheila, Mike, Elizabeth, Collin and Jenna of Hans Haven in Smithville MO
Brigitte and Kathleen also co-own several Swissys with owners of Brush Creek/Landhof puppies, some of these dogs that are actively shown in AKC conformation are listed in the male and female section below.
The goal of Brush Creek Farm is to breed and raise healthy and temperamentally sound Swissys as family companions, as active working dogs for activities such as obedience, tracking, herding, weight pulling, draft and pack dog and other events, as therapy dogs and for conformation shows and breeding. Our breeding approach follows, to the extent possible in this country, the Swiss breeding regulations, which are quite strict with regard to health and temperament of the breeding stock.
Thanks to our unique location in a very rural area, we can raise and keep our Swissys very close to how these dogs were and often still are kept in Switzerland. We do not need to confine or kennel our dogs (exceptions are bitches in season, "lovesick" males, brood bitches and their pups), they have access at all times to the approx. 6 acres of fenced in area around the house and the farm outbuildings.
Note: Register of Merit ROM: Males must have 10 and females 5 AKC champion offspring to qualify for this title
(Top of Page)
Click to jump: Males | Females | Register of Merit | The Rainbow Bridge
Males
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| AKC & Int'l. Ch. Karhunkierros Elmo TT ROM, 'Elmo' | |
| Whelped: 6/28/05, imported from Holland Health clearances: PennHip, OFA shoulders, elbows & hips, CERF Breeders: Maurice & Ruud Blezer, Holland Owners: Brigitte Rhinehart & Kathleen Borgmeyer Elmo currently lives with the Rhineharts on Brush Creek Farm 12 litters with 91 puppies as of 11/09 Click HERE for pedigree |
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| Ch. Arni von den Mandelwand 'Arni' | |
| Whelped: 6/30/05, imported from Austria Health clearances: PennHIP, OFA shoulders, hips & elbows, CERF Breeder: Fritz Rettensteiner, Austria Owners: Teri May and Brigitte Rhinehart Arni lives with Teri & Pete May in Smithville MO 8 litters with 61 puppies as of 9/09. Click HERE for pedigree |
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| Ch. Brush Creek's Ilanz of Blossom Hill 'Ilanz' | |
| Whelped: 6/3/08 Health clearances: OFA shoulders, hips & elbows preliminaries, PennHIP & CERF pending Breeders: Karen Brown & Brigitte Rhinehart Owners: Brigitte Rhinehart, Sheila & Elizabeth Everman Ilanz lives with the Everman family in Smithville MO Note: Handler in this show picture: Elizabeth Everman Click HERE for pedigree |
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| Ch. Brush Creek's Viggo of Landhof 'Viggo' | |
| Whelped: 3/24/04 Health clearances: PennHIP, OFA shoulders, elbows & hips, CERF Breeders: Brigitte Rhinehart & Kathleen Borgmeyer Owner: Amy Medack & Kathleen Borgmeyer Viggo lives with Amy and Ember Medack in Evanston IL, kborgmeyer@windstream.net 1 litter with 8 puppies as of 12/07 Click HERE for pedigree |
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| Ch. Stone Lea Mars Traveler CGC TT 'Porky' | |
| Whelped: 3/18/06 Health clearances: OFA hips, shoulders & elbows, CERF Breeder: Kathy LaRue Owner: Ann Hansen Porky lives with the Hansen family in Wheaton IL, hansen567@yahoo.com 4 litters with 25 puppies as of 8/08 Click HERE for pedigree |
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| Ch. Landhof's Einziger Louie of Brush Creek 'Louie' | |
| Whelped: 1/3/07 Health clearances: OFA hips, shoulders and elbows, CERF Breeders: Kathleen Borgmeyer & Brigitte Rhinehart Owners: Brian & Kathy Stacey & Kathleen Borgmeyer Louie lives with the Stacey family in Holland MI, kbstacey@sbcglobal.net Click HERE for pedigree |
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| Brush Creek's Gabriel of Twinpeaks 'Gabe' | |
| Whelped: 9/12/08 Health clearances: pending Breeders: Brigitte Rhinehart & Erin McWilliams Owners: Melissa Rucker & Brigitte Rhinehart Gabe lives with the Rucker family in Geff IL, mruckus11@wabash.net Click HERE for pedigree |
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| Ch. Alki's Robert Redwood for Landhof 'Robert' | |
| Whelped: 6/21/08 Health clearances: PennHIP, OFA shoulders, OFA hips & elbows preliminaries, CERF Breeder: Nancy Sturgis Owners: Kathleen & Henry Borgmeyer Robert lives with the Borgmeyers in Martinsburg MO, kborgmeyer@windstream.net Click HERE for pedigree |
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| Ch.007 Night At The Museum 'Gigantor' | |
| Whelped: 4/24/07 Health clearances: OFA hips, shoulders and elbows, CERF Breeders: Robin, Randy, Shelby & Summer Ney Owners: Robin, Randy, Shelby & Summer Ney Gigantor lives with the Ney family in Bonner Springs, riven-dell@kc.rr.com Note: Handler in this show picture: Shelby Ney Click HERE for pedigree |
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Females
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| Ch. Landhof's Arlette Brush Creek TT 'Arlette' | |
| Whelped: 3/29/04 Health clearances: PennHIP, OFA shoulders, elbows & hip, CERF Breeders: Kathleen Borgmeyer & Brigitte Rhinehart Owners: Kathleen Borgmeyer & Brigitte Rhinehart Arlette lives with the Borgmeyers in Martinsburg MO 4 litters with 38 puppies as of 1/09 Note: Handler in this show picture: Shelby Ney Click HERE for pedigree |
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| Ch. Brush Creek's Vixen Landhof 'Vixen' | |
| Whelped: 3/24/04 Health clearances: PennHIP, OFA shoulders, elbows & hips, CERF Breeders: Brigitte Rhinehart & Kathleen Borgmeyer Owners: Robin Ney & Brigitte Rhinehart Vixen lives with the Ney family in bonner springs KS 4 litters of 24 puppies as of 11/08 Click HERE for pedigree |
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| Ch. Brush Creek's Cleo Landhof GL 'Cleo' | |
| Whelped: 12/28/05 Health clearances: PennHIP, OFA shoulders, elbows & hips, CERF Breeders: Brigitte Rhinehart, Kathleen Borgmeyer, Gerald Neher Owners: Kathleen Borgmeyer and Brigitte Rhinehart Cleo currently lives with the Rhineharts on Brush Creek Farm 2 litters with 15 puppies as of 10/09 Click HERE for pedigree |
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| AKC & Int'l. Ch. Landhof's Delphine of Brush Creek 'Delphine' | |
| Whelped: 7/15/06 Health Clearances: PennHIP, POFA shoulders, elbows & hips, CERF Breeders: Kathleen Borgmeyer & Brigitte Rhinehart Owners: Kathleen Borgmeyer & Brigitte Rhinehart Delphine lives with the Borgmeyers in Martinsburg MO 1 litter with 12 puppies as of 9/08 Click HERE for pedigree |
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| Ch. Landhof's Frankie of Brush Creek 'Frankie' | |
| Whelped: 4/30/07 Health clearances: PennhHIP, OFA shoulders, elbows & hips, CERF Breeders: Kathleen Borgmeyer & Brigitte Rhinehart Owners: Kathleen Borgmeyer & Brigitte Rhinehart Frankie currently lives with the Rhineharts on Brush Creek Farm Note: Handler in this show picture: Shelby Ney 1 litter with 1 puppy as of 9/09 Click HERE for pedigree |
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| Ch. Landhof's Holly of Brush Creek 'Holly' | |
| Whelped: 12/23/07 Health clearances: PennHIP, PFA shoulders, elbows & hips, CERF Breeders: Kathleen Borgmeyer & Brigitte Rhinehart Owners: Kathleen Borgmeyer & Brigitte Rhinehart Holly currently lives with the Rhineharts on Brush Creek Farm Note: Handler in this picture: Summer Ney Click HERE for pedigree |
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| Brush Creek's Edelweiss of Twinpeaks 'Edel' | |
| Whelped: 7/16/07 Health clearances: PennHIP, OFA shoulders, elbows & hips, CERF Breeders: Brigitte Rhinehart & Erin McWilliams Owners: Sheila & Elizabeth Everman, Brigitte Rhinehart Edel lives with the Everman family in Smithville MO Click HERE for pedigree |
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| Landhof's Elsi III of Brush Creek 'Elsi' | |
| Whelped: 1/3/07 Show record: Elsi has 9 points towards her AKC championship Health clearances: PennHIP, OFA shoulders, elbows & hip, CERF pending Breeders: Kathleen Borgmeyer & Brigitte Rhinehart Owners: Kathleen Borgmeyer & Brigitte Rhinehart Elsi lives Jim McBride and his family in Webster Groves MO Click HERE for pedigree |
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| Ch. Landhof's Fairlaine of Brush Creek 'Fairlaine | |
| Whelped: 4/30/07 Health clearances: PennHIP, OFA shoulders, elbows & hips, CERF Breeders: Kathleen Borgmeyer & Brigitte Rhinehart Owners: Kelly Beebe & Kathleen Borgmeyer Fairlaine lives with the Beebe family in Lathrop MO, ellykbb@hotmail.com Note: the Beebe family was present when Kathleen handled Fairlaine to her chamionship Click HERE for pedigree |
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| Ch. Landhof's Jenna of Brush Creek 'Jenna' | |
| Whelped: 09/09/08 Health clearances: pending Breeders: Kathleen Borgmeyer & Brigitte Rhinehart Owners: Bill Irvine & Kathleen Borgmeyer Jenna lives with Bill and Shirley Irvine in Geff IL, wirvine@wabash.net Click HERE for pedigree |
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| Leia's Boba of Brush Creek 'Boba' | |
| Whelped: 12/18/07 Health clearances: pending Breeders: Judith Southard & Brigitte Rhinehart Owners: Judith Southard & Brigitte Rhinehart Boba lives with Judith Southard and George Codillo, her mother Leia and her half brother Wedge in St. Louis MO, judithsouthard@gmail.com Click HERE for pedigree |
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Register Of Merit
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| Ch. Arbaz v. Schloss Landestrost TT ROM 'Arbaz' | |
| Arbaz was born in Germany on 3/14/99 and died 5/7/08 on Brush Creek Farm. He arrived at Brush Creek Farm a few months after Bello's passing and remained with us all his life. Of his 135 offspring from 16 litters, most went on to live the life of cherished family companions. But the owners of 10 Arbaz babies also got involved in AKC conformation. Those pups became champions, thus putting Arbaz into the GSMDCA Register of Merit. Arbaz was a great Swissy and we still miss him very much. Click HERE for pedigree |
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| Ch. BC Von Thrall's Zandra V Ge-Lo ROM 'Zandra' | |
| Zandra was born 2/6/1997 and died 9/15/08 She lived with Gerald and Lois Neher in Anna IL except when she came to Brush Creek Farm to have her babies. Of her 43 offspring from 5 litters, 7 became AKC champions thus inducting her into the GSMDCA Register of Merit. But first and foremost, Zandra was the Nehers beloved canine family companion until she succumbed to the rigours of old age at almost 11 1/2 years. Click HERE for pedigree |
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| Ch. Sudbach's Guinness Xtra Stout TT ROM 'Patrick' | |
| Patrick was born 9/17/1992 and died on 3/3/2004 As most of his offspring were placed in show homes, he has numerous AKC champions. Click HERE for pedigree |
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The Rainbow Bridge
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| Ch. Prinz v. Vorderbirch 'Bello' | |
| Bello was born 3/27/90 in Switzerland and died on Brush Creek Farm 1/3/99. He was the Brush Creek Farm Swissy foundation male but above all, he was a much loved family companion and the reason why Brigitte got involved in Swissys and eventually became a breeder. Bello came to this country before the breed was recognized by the AKC and achieved his AKC championship shortly after AKC recognition in July 1995. |
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