OUR GOS D´ATURA CATALÀ

A warm afternoon of the month of August of the summer of 1995, enjoying ours deserved vacations at home in the garden, I observed Victoria and Marta whom they firmly looked for between multitude of canine magazines, I do not know what. Suddenly, Marta exclaims: Mum I found them! And the two were rushed on me with a magazine in which the chronicle of the Monographic of 1994 of the Gos d´Atura Català was done.

The reason was not another one, that to show me the dog, which more ahead I knew, they wanted to have at home.

Victoria had been in its childhood a lover of this Breed and she had always dreamed about having a Gos d´Atura. Why a Gos d´Atura? Because Victoria has been always a lover of all the Catalan, its people, its architecture, its landscapes and mainly the Pyrenean zone, where she always knew that our dog lived there.

The moment arrived.

They began to show photos to me, they read me the Standard and everything what in the magazine it published and four hours later they convinced me so that to the following morning, we undertook trip to the Province of Girona, cradles of the Gos d´Atura Català.

We knew that there were two of the most important Breeders of the Breed, Jordi Carulla i Gratacós and Agustí Tonietti i Ferreró, with which we had contacted that same night and both had puppies available. We had put ourselves in contact also with Elena Colls i Labayen, but at that moment she did not have litters.

Jordi Carulla even had the amiability to reserve a room to us in a small hotel of Banyoles and thus with all our illusion put in the trip, we started off with the intention to be engaged in a couple of Gos d´Atura Català.

We had been with Mr. Carulla. We made the trip from Madrid in the morning and passed all the afternoon with Jordi. He explained to us, with details, the history of his dogs, since he began recuperator of the Breed. We visited where he had his dogs and we knew the parents our Gos and other very pretty dogs. Then, with the litter that he had available Victoria fell in love with which was our first Gos d´Atura, Puf de Canprat to which always we have called "Gos".

Late on the afternoon we come back to the hotel without our puppy, since Jordi wanted to give him a bath in the morning for the trip to come back home.

That same morning, already with Gos in the car, we went to the home of Agustí Tonietti in Espinavessa, and there, we met all his dogs. We were pledged with the highest quality of all his dogs, that neophytes as we could watch. But, peculiarly we remained for always recorded in our mind, three males: Flip and Gip and a young dog that soon would be for us the best Gos d´Atura which never we have seen: Cadí d´Espinavessa. Then, we wanted a bitch and Agustí at that moment did not have any for us. Despite this, Victoria insisted that she wanted a puppy of Flip and Pastora, extraordinary female who soon we knew that she gave extraordinary dogs, and only of these two dogs.

Also we liked other females like Piula (mother of Hereu and Fita), Cuca and Fina. Agustí offered to us the dog that in the future would be our Hereu d´Espinavessa that in that moment was two months old, but already we had a male and Victoria wanted a female. Without knowing, she chose the father and the mother of the same dog that we will have forever in our mind: Cadí d’Espinavessa.

And thus we come back home with our Gos and dreaming about the future puppy that we had reserved.

Gos (Puf) was growing at home between our Great Pyrenees. He had an excellent character, and from little he already had all the characteristics of a Gos d´Atura: always kind to his family, guardian of his territory and cheers and likeable.

Every month we called to Agustí to see if he had made the crossing of Flip and Pastora and always his answer were negative.

In May 1996 Victoria says to me that it has registered Gos (Puf) in Young Class in the Spring Dog Show of Madrid. The Judge was Mr. Angel Torres Río and we made Excellent 2, behind which soon would be our Hereu. This classification was a big surprise for us and give us a big pleasure.

In that Show we saw again Cadí d´Espinavessa, we knew Claca d´Espinavessa, Plom d´Espinavessa, Cantir d´Espinavessa, Fada d´Espinavessa, Elia de Maeloc and Princess Mina. All of them would be later, great Champions. That was one of the Shows that more pleasing memory we have by the highest quality of almost all the dogs which were in the ring.

One day of the month of July of 1996, Agustí calls to me and says that he has for us an extraordinary puppy. I answered to him that lamentably we could not go to gather her, since Victoria was in the hospital, for a big operation and that, therefore, at least in fifteen days she could not travel. Then, Agustí says to me that he cannot wait and that he will given our Puppy to another person who, as us, wanted that crossing. After almost a year of delay, I say Agustí that please he has to wait for a few days, and that I will already call to him. I do not say anything to Victoria until she was at home. 3 days after her operation, we arrived home at 9 in the night and to the following morning, when the doctor had ordered her absolute rest, she wake up at 6 in the morning and says to me that we are going away to gather to our Diva. I insist with her who leaves her idea and she gets upset with me and says: if I do not go with her she goes alone.

What to do in that this situation? Nothing, we started our travel and just operated, with a tremendous heat, we went to by our puppy, to which at home we called Tura (Diva). The car spoiled to us three times, crane etc... and finally after 14 hours of trip we arrived to the kennel of Agustí.

Of that same litter, in addition to Diva, of that indeed she was the wonderful puppy with that we dreamed, was a magnificent male, Dab d´Espinavessa and soon would be the father of the extraordinary Blat d´Espinavessa. Dab lives now in Finland and he is Finnish Champion.

Due to the fact that we were enchanted to see so magnificent Gos d´Atura Català in the Show of Spring of Madrid, we registered to our two Gossos in the Monographic of Campllong that was celebrated the 14th of December of 1996, with the only aim to participate and to see more Gossos.

Then, which was our surprise when our Diva won other 9 puppies and in addition she won the male who had won in his class. We remained truly surprised, and we thought then that really we had a typical and pretty Gos d´Atura Català. I remember that all the specialists who had there congratulated us for our Puppy, Ms. Josefina Gómez Toldrá who judged the males in open and champions, Ms. Elena Colls, Ms. María del Carmen Bartra, Ms. Julia Penelas and Mr. Vicente Aleixandre, Mr. Gaspar Bartra, Mr. Miguel Angel Edo and the one that later would be great friend D. Luis Trinquete, another one of great the Breeders of the Breed with his affix Babylu´s. And of course Mr. Agustí Tonietti and the Judge Mr. Xavier Andreu, culprit of which today we are great fans to the World of the Dog Shows. Today Diva is European Champion 2000, International Champion, twice Champion of the Bundesieger, Champion of France, Champion of Portugal, Champion of Poland, Champion of Gibraltar and Champion of Andalucía 98. Puf obtained the qualification of Excellent in a Ring in which there were magnificent males.

And thus our history began.

Being into account that in our first visit to the Kennel of Agustí he offered us Hereu d´Espinavessa (Gip x Piula) we followed with thoroughness his race in Ring. He was a dog with which one falls in love very easily, not only by his wonderful physical characteristics, but by his serious but very affectionate character. But Hereu was first of Agustí and after of Miguel Angel Edo, for that reason since we could not have him, we decided to order to Agustí another bitch, daughter of Gip and Piula, and thus in June of 1997 we went to his Kennel and chose our Fita d´Espinavessa. Fita is doing a great race in the Rings and that being completely different from Diva is for us another extraordinary and typical Gos d´Atura Català. Fita up to day is Champion of Spain, International Champion, Champion of France, Champion of Portugal, Champion of Mexico, Champion of the American Continent and Champion of Andalucía 99.

What happened the 19th of April 1999?

The 18th of April 1999 we participated in the Dog Show, that is organized annually by the R.A.C.P. (Reunión des Amateurs des Chiens Pyrénéens) which corresponds with the Monographic of the Great Pyrenees, of the Petit Berger des Pyrénées, of the Mastín del Pirineo and of the Gos d´Atura Català. That year was in Tarbes and, Agustí and Basi were here with their extraordinary Gos d´Atura Blat, which by the way he was Best of Breed and Reserve of Best in Show.

We had a very nice day with Basi and Agustí. At the end of the afternoon, Agustí said to me that he has recuperate from Miguel Angel Edo, Hereu and because he has many males at home and he knows that always we have liked too much Hereu he wants to offers him to us. Nobody can imagined the illusion that I had in that moment, just thinking that Hereu could come home, but I said to Agustí that Victoria has the last decision. She was with Basi looking at the finals of the Show. When they come back it was practically the hour to gather and each one to take its route home, we by the West of France and Agustí and Basi by the opposite side of the Pyrenees. Then, Victoria says to me: Alberto we go immediately pick up Hereu, and thus we made the trip to the home of Agustí and Basi, very tired but with one of the major illusions of our life.

This dog marked us forever.

He was in our humble opinion one of the best Gos d´Atura of the History of the Breed, with an extraordinary character, conjugates type with rusticity and beauty.

He had one of the best movements than we have never seen, an extraordinary head, magnificent seriousness, an incredible expression... For us along with Cadí, Blat and of course Drap he was one of the 4^th best Gos d´Atura Català. Hereu was European Champion 2000, International Champion, twice Champion of the Bundesieger, Champion of France, Champion of Portugal, Champion of Poland, Champion of Gibraltar, Champion of Luxembourg and Vice Worldwide Champion 2001. In Spain, no too much dogs, for not say any, could present the following results like our Hereu: 4 times second (RCAC) in the Madrid Dog Show (2 times with Agustí, 1 with Miguel Angel and 1 with us) and 1 Excellent second in open class in the Monographic. We have yet hopes to see Hereu Spanish Champion because despite he is now 6 years old he is in perfect conditions.

Hereu lives with Victoria the 24 hours of the day, he sleeps in our room, privilege that he shares with Diva and the little that we give to him he gives back to us with his watched and affection.

The 22nd of July of 1999 we made our first litter of Gos d´Atura Català between Hereu and Diva and, thus, the 24th of September was born our Pastora de Valdegoscan. Pastora has the best lines of blood of Espinavessa because she has as grandparents Flip and Pastora and Gip and Piula. Pastora is proving the great hopes that we have put in her because until now and with 3 litters she has the following curriculum: World Promise 2000, European Young Champion 2000, Poland Young Champion, International Champion, Spain Champion, Portugal Champion, France Champion, Europasieger Champion and Monaco Champion.

The 2nd of September 2000 coming back home from the Dog Show of Nevers in France, we stopped in the Kennel of Agustí, just with the intention to say hello to him and to his family. Of course we make around to his kennel and we found a puppy, just old of 45 days, that we fall in love just when we saw him. Immediately we said to Agustí, this dog is for us and we go home with him. He is sun of Blat and Cana. This dog whose name is Drap d´Espinavessa now is our Standard and is beating in the Rings all the records of the Breed.

The past 11 of March 2001 was born fruit of the crossing of Pastora de Valdegoscan and Blat d’Espinavessa Ginebra de Valdegoscan. Until know she won in 43 Dog Shows. She is Gibraltar Champion, Yourg Vice-Worldwide Champion 2002, Young Europasieger Champion, Bundesieger Champion, Andalucía Champion and Portugal Champion.

Fruit of the crossing of Drap with Kali d'Espinavessa, whose owner is our very good friend Salvador Boix, we remained with Duna a wonderful black bitch that has begun with very good foot its race in the rings having be in World-Wide Dog Show of Ámsterdam World-Wide Promise 2002, and in the European Dog Show of Paris 2002 Young European Champion 2002. Duna was born with the year, the 1st of January 2002.

The 20^th of April 2002 from the litter of Drap and Gala de Valdegoscan was born another extraordinary dog: Iker de Valdegoscan. He finished his Puppy Campaing in the rings with the following results: 4 Best in Show (2 in Spain and 2 in Portugal) and 1 Rerserve of Best in Show in Alicante 2002. None any dog of any Breed has done this in Spain.

On the 17^th of May 2002 was born from Drap and Pastora, a puppy that has astonished us. Her name is Jarcha and being in mind that she was at the same time in show with Iker because the difference of age is only one month their major success until now are: in Zaragoza 2003 3rd Best in Show Puppies and in Granada 2003 Reserve in Best in Show Puppies, in Pombal 2003 Reserve of Best In Show Junior Bitches and in Lisboa 2003 Best In Show Junior Bitches. We hope to collect many big things with this extraordinary bitch.

From the last time that we wrote in this page, we have had many enjoys like have been the births of the litters of Fita, and Pastora , or the arrival of Duna to our house, or innumerable e-mails that we received from the owners of our puppies that tell to us their adventures and experiences with their dogs, or the prizes that receive each weekend our dogs, or the 20th of October 2002 when Drap, not only was Bundesieger Champion and Best of Breed but also he was the winner of the group 1 with 47 extraordinary dogs in Ring, or when the 14th of december 2002, day that we never forget, in the same dog Show of Alicante, Drap was Best in Show Absolut and his son Iker de Valdegoscan was Best in Show Puppies, or when the past 17^th of May 2003, when Drap was Best In Show of the Spanish Breeds in the Madrid International Dog Show, or when the 1^st of June 2003 Drap was World Wide Champion and Best of Breed in the World Dog Show of Dortmund, or when the 13^th of July 2003, 2 Gos d’Atura Català: Drap and Jarcha in one of the two big dog show of Porutgal: Lisboa 2003, they were 1^st in Group 1 and Best In Show Junior Bitches, and nevertheless still today 24^th of July 2003 we followed very sad by the loss of our Hereu. Indeed Hereu, arrived in silence at home the 19th of April 1999, and, until the past 25th of January 2002 that was us for always, he gave to us with their tenderness almost 3 years of their extraordinary affection.

This dog has marked to us for always and it has taught really to love to this wonderful Breed: the Gos d'Atura Català. He lived with Mavi the 24 hours on the day and was always pending of us. 32 Judges of great international prestige knew to see in him the big who was (in the Rings and still more outside them). In hardly the 3 years that were with us he obtained, always very humbly, to be Vice World-Wide Champion 2001, European Champion 2000, International Champion, twice Bundesieger Champion, France Champion, Portugal Champion, Luxemburg Champion, Poland Champion and Gibraltar Champion. In Spain, our Hereu was 4 times RCAC in the Madrid Dog Show and 1 Excellent 2nd in open class in the Monographic of 2001. Still we had hopes of which he was Champion of Spain since we had inscribed him in the Granada 2002 Dog Show, since one was, in spite of its 6 years, at a splendid moment of form. Hereu slept in our room, and still we are seeing him in his bed. Little that we gave him he gave back with his glance and his affection. But a damn 25th of January 2002 our Love, just as arrived in silence, were to us abruptly for always.

We will never have a friend like him.

He is irreplaceable.

An enormous piece of us has gone away with him.

Hereu was our Love.

He was our life.

He taught everything to us on this wonderful Breed.

And God took Hereu with him. Why? Hereu we will never forget you.

Still today it seems to us incredible that their wonderful eyes have been closed for always and that he is not with us. We never said no to him and he was never fought with no other dog.

We would like to leave everything, but we knew that Hereu never would pardon us and we continue because we are sure that therefore he would want it, although when ever of our Gos obtains a prize we offer it to him where in the Sky he is.

Hereu always you will be for us the BEST ONE, and you will always be in our heart. Now you are in the Sky and we down, because therefore he has wanted the destiny to it, but someday we will see you again. Only we say to you: see you later and wait us in the sky and know that always we will be been thankful to you by everything what you have given us.

Your friends who never will forget you.

Drap is having all the records of the breed. He has won in 99 Dog Shows and his more important success are: 1 Best in Show Puppies, 1 Reserve of Best in Show Puppies, 1 Reserve of Best in Show Junior Males, 1 Best in Show, 1 Reserve of Best in Show, 2 3rd in Best in Show, 1 Super Best in Show of Spanish Breeds, Young World Wide Champion 2001, Bundesieger Young Champion, Europasieger Champion, Spain Champion, Gibraltar Champion, France Champion, Bundesieger Champion, International Champion, Andalucía Champion, Best Andalucía Champion of Group 1, Luxembourg Champion, Monaco Champion, World Wide 2003 Champion, Portugal Champion, 17 times winner of the group 1, 13 times 2nd in Group 1, 8 times 3^rd in Group 1, 10 Best in Show of Spanish Breeds and 21 Reserve of Best in Show in Spanish Breeds. And today he has just 3 years (he was born the 19 of July 2000). For that reason when he obtains in the Monographic of the R.A.C.P. (France) the Award of Best Gos d´Atura of the Show, between which were several Excellent Champions of Spain and the very well known Judge Mr. Rafael Malo, in the magazine number 63 of the R.A.C.P., said that Drap reunites everything what there is to have in a Gos d'Atura Català he said the truth. We transcribed what was published in the magazine:

“The Spanish Breeds (males)

The Spanish Breeds was also well represented in the great annual meeting of the RACP. In Gos d'Atura not too much dogs, but they were excellent quality. I loved the two male champions too much (this is added by the translator: he referred to Multi CH Blat d' Espinavessa and our Multi CH Hereu d' Espinavessa) and even more the winner of the female open class that my colleague Mr. Cassaghi indicated as better female (this is added by the translator: he referred to our Multi CH Fita d' Espinavessa). But it is an extraordinary puppy male which made me capsize the heart and which, only 9 months old made the Best of Breed. If he remains within reasonable limits of size, only doubt which will be raised soon, we can affirm that a star was born in the firmament of the Gos d’Atura because DRAP D’ESPINAVESSA has practically all that it is necessary for strong amount: type, masculinity, good structure, excellent movement and... charms, class, personality, all qualities which one always does not find in our dear Catalan Breed what regularly penalizes it in the finales of Dog Shows.

Drap is a subject that we cannot stop looking at and with which I predict a brilliant future.

Indeed Drap is demonstrating that he is really the Star that had been born in the firmament of our wonderful Breed (you can see his curriculum in his page) and that with as much success the Judge Mr. Rafael Malo had predicted.

Drap already had six litters 2 with Fita, 1 with Kali, 1 with Gala and 2 with Pastora and really is a dog that transmits its extraordinary qualities magnificently. For it, we recommend you that you read the comments of the owners of his puppies in our Guest Book. The last 12th of June 2003 from Drap and Fita were born 7 puppies: 4 males and 3 bitches and from Drap and Pastora the 6^th of July 2003 3 Males and 5 bitches were also born. We expect from those puppy to have various champions.

Valdemorillo 24th July 2003

Mavi and Alberto