The old adage “time flies when you’re having fun” certainly applies to our lives since entering the dog show world.  Randy Weaver’s interest in Great Danes and particularly harlequins began in 1976 and eventually resulted in a relationship with Gina Jaeblon, of GMJ fame.  Gina introduced Randy to the sport of dogs, and Randy was “hooked”!  Gina was a great mentor, readily sharing her knowledge and care for Great Danes. 

Randy began his ownership of Danes with harlequins but eventually developed an interest in fawns and brindles.  By the mid 1980’s Randy began exhibiting Danes from the Honey Lane breeding program out of Chicago.  In 1989, CH. Honey Lane’s Cheers became Randy’s first dog to achieve the coveted “Top Twenty” status and so began Randy’s career as a Great Dane breeder, owner and handler.  Another outstanding dog acquired from the Honey Lane program was a brindle dog CH. Honey Lane’s Highlight.  Although “Marker” was never shown as a “Special” in the Best of Breed ring, he became an outstanding stud dog and even today can still be found in the top pedigrees in the country.  Marker was not only a producer of champions but his sons are also prolific champion producers (this is the charactistic of a truly great stud dog).  Thanks to canine reproduction science, Marker frozen semen is still available and to this day, he continues to make a contribution to the breed – watch a show ring near you for Marker sons and daughters!

Kathy began Great Danes with a brindle bitch that although bought to show in the conformation ring did not have the quality to earn a conformation title.  After retiring from the conformation ring and still wanting to compete in some capacity, Kathy worked towards an obedience title.  After training seriously for a year, “Timber” completed her CD obedience title in one weekend in three straight shows.  After careful consideration, the next dog purchased was from the Dagon breeding program in Chicago.  CH. Dagon’s Great Expectations finished his championship before he was a year old.  “Dickens” was the introduction of Kathy and Randy as Randy handled Dickens to several of his championship points and in his “specials” career.

It was the breeding of Dickens to a bitch owned by Randy (Honey Lane’s Vanna) that produced the winner of the 1992 Great Dane Club of America’s National Futurity “NCR’s The Artful Dodger”.  Since that first collaboration, many champions have been produced, including “BISS CH. Avant’s bon chance v. Weaver”, a six-time Best in Specialty show winner, two-time Great Dane Club of America National Specialty Award of Merit winner, and the only Great Dane ever to be ranked in the Top Twenty Great Danes nationally that was shown with uncropped ears.  In 1998 “Rufus” was ranked as the number two male Great Dane in the United States – quite an accomplishment – all owner handled by Randy! 

Along the way, Randy has piloted numerous clients’ dogs in their career, many to their AKC Championships and others to achieving ranking in the Top Twenty.  Through the years, as our interests and insights have expanded we have exhibited, owned and loved Petite Basset Griffon Vendeens and Clumber Spaniels.  Several of these have achieved top rankings in their breeds as well.  This has led to life-long friendships throughout the United States and countries abroad. 

We are thankful for the experiences our dogs have afforded us over the past 30 years and look forward to our future “in dogs”.  We are dedicated to the health and welfare of all the dogs we own and exhibit.  In our breeding programs, we are committed to producing sound, healthy dogs of good temperament exemplifying true breed type.  We are members and support the Great Dane Club of America, the Great Dane Club of Kentuckiana, the Petite Basset Griffon Vendeen Club of America, and the Lexington Kennel Club.

We welcome you to look around our website, please feel free to contact us if we can be of service.

Welcome to our new home on the world wide web, www.avant-weaver.com,
where we are blending the past with the present, forming a promising future.

Sincerely,

Kathy & Randy