Many people think that the Grasilva story began in 1995, when Bryony Gray added Troyka (Barbelka Ambrosja) to her family of dogs. However, the story really began many years earlier, with an elkhound bitch (Speygrounds Kaatje, born in 1957) belonging to Bryony's family, who was both a childhood friend and guardian. This bitch set the seed for a lifetime's love of the Norwegian elkhound.
Tragically, Troyka died at a young age and soon after, Acer (Eskamere Gaupa) came to live with Bryony, later to be joined by a nephew of Troyka, Brodie (Barbelka Dziarski). Brodie was Bryony's first big winner in the show ring and a devoted friend and companion. Like all of Bryony's earlier elkhounds, he was also a performance dog, competing in obedience. Fellow breeders appreciated his qualities and he was to become the sire of five litters, with offspring including a champion bitch and other CC winners. His dual CC-winning daughter, Silva (Bowerhinton Better Behave) joined the Grasilva family in 2005 and so a dynasty was founded, which currently extends through another two generations.
Silva's daughter, Gee (Ch. Grasilva Gwendoline Mary) is the kennel's first homebred champion. She was the top-winning Norwegian elkhound bitch and joint top-winning Norwegian elkhound in the UK in 2011, winning Best in Show at two Club shows and Best Opposite Sex at a third during the same year. Gee's best friend, Ren (Strom Footloose For Grasilva), was imported from the USA in 2011 and soon settled in to life in the UK. Together, Gee and Ren are the parents of the second homebred champion, Nyx (Ch. Grasilva Gee's Quest), who gained her title in 2017. Younger half-siblings, Culli (Grasilva Culderry), Mya (Grasilva Cruggleton With Laakso) and Jura (Grasilva Garlieston at Thordell) made their debut in late 2016.
Also resident at Grasilva was the lovable Quest (Barbelka Huragan), a nephew to Brodie.
On a trip to the USA in 2014, Bryony fell in love with a beautiful bitch named Siri (Am. Ch. Kamgaard Kiamesha), and through the kindness of her breeder/owners, was given the opportunity to own her in partnership with Vanessa McHugh of the Conrick Norwegian elkhounds. It is Bryony's hope that Siri will leave a legacy here in the UK of true breed type and soundness, to match the home-grown Grasilva pack, who share the same qualities. From Siri's first litter (sired by Am. Ch. Horizon Rock Solid) came the sensational young male, Grasilva Little Rock Avec Gilkaro JW (owned by Helen and Alan Tress and Kath Gilluley) and Bryony's own Tia (Grasilva Silver Vine), who is coming up on the rails on her brother. Two others from the litter also make occasional appearances in the ring.
Bryony has been a member of the Norwegian Elkhound Club of Great Britain since 2006.
The elkhounds of Grasilva have beauty in abundance, but they also enjoy activities such as obedience and agility. Please follow the link to the Activiies page for details.
Tragically, Troyka died at a young age and soon after, Acer (Eskamere Gaupa) came to live with Bryony, later to be joined by a nephew of Troyka, Brodie (Barbelka Dziarski). Brodie was Bryony's first big winner in the show ring and a devoted friend and companion. Like all of Bryony's earlier elkhounds, he was also a performance dog, competing in obedience. Fellow breeders appreciated his qualities and he was to become the sire of five litters, with offspring including a champion bitch and other CC winners. His dual CC-winning daughter, Silva (Bowerhinton Better Behave) joined the Grasilva family in 2005 and so a dynasty was founded, which currently extends through another two generations.
Silva's daughter, Gee (Ch. Grasilva Gwendoline Mary) is the kennel's first homebred champion. She was the top-winning Norwegian elkhound bitch and joint top-winning Norwegian elkhound in the UK in 2011, winning Best in Show at two Club shows and Best Opposite Sex at a third during the same year. Gee's best friend, Ren (Strom Footloose For Grasilva), was imported from the USA in 2011 and soon settled in to life in the UK. Together, Gee and Ren are the parents of the second homebred champion, Nyx (Ch. Grasilva Gee's Quest), who gained her title in 2017. Younger half-siblings, Culli (Grasilva Culderry), Mya (Grasilva Cruggleton With Laakso) and Jura (Grasilva Garlieston at Thordell) made their debut in late 2016.
Also resident at Grasilva was the lovable Quest (Barbelka Huragan), a nephew to Brodie.
On a trip to the USA in 2014, Bryony fell in love with a beautiful bitch named Siri (Am. Ch. Kamgaard Kiamesha), and through the kindness of her breeder/owners, was given the opportunity to own her in partnership with Vanessa McHugh of the Conrick Norwegian elkhounds. It is Bryony's hope that Siri will leave a legacy here in the UK of true breed type and soundness, to match the home-grown Grasilva pack, who share the same qualities. From Siri's first litter (sired by Am. Ch. Horizon Rock Solid) came the sensational young male, Grasilva Little Rock Avec Gilkaro JW (owned by Helen and Alan Tress and Kath Gilluley) and Bryony's own Tia (Grasilva Silver Vine), who is coming up on the rails on her brother. Two others from the litter also make occasional appearances in the ring.
Bryony has been a member of the Norwegian Elkhound Club of Great Britain since 2006.
The elkhounds of Grasilva have beauty in abundance, but they also enjoy activities such as obedience and agility. Please follow the link to the Activiies page for details.