We could not have asked for a better start for Sendero Briards than was provided by Gilli. American Canadian Champion Gillian de Bejaune, HIC TT HOF CGC, was our first conformation dog as well as the foundation bitch for Sendero and, oh my, what a start she gave us!

Born in 1991, Gilli, a natural-eared black–born grey Briard, finished her AKC Championship before her second birthday. Shortly thereafter a Canadian Championship was added, earned easily along with a Herding Group 2nd. In 1995 Gilli won an Award of Merit at the Briard Club of America's National Specialty and she was also a Select at the Rassemblement. This was accomplished when natural ears in the AKC ring were still considered very unusual, and with a novice owner as her handler—a great tribute to Gilli's quality.

Although this successful sojourn into the show rings was exciting, Gilli's most lasting accomplishments came from the whelping box. Bred only once, to Champion Dakar Du Chemin Des Rocailles, a beautiful grey imported from France, Gilli produced a litter of seven bouncing babies. These six girls and one boy were Sendero's first litter and oh, what a litter it was!

This outstanding pairing produced three American and three Canadian Champions. Litter sisters Remington and Lilli, from this litter, rank as the most winning black/grey Briard bitches in the history of the breed! These same girls are Rassemblement Selects from the Briard Club of America Rass of 2000. They are both AKC All Breed Best in Show winners and Lilli is also a Best in Specialty Show winner. Remington went Best of Opposite Sex at the Briard Club of America's National Specialty Show in 2000, where Gilli won the brood bitch class—in a year where that class boasted the largest entry in the history of the club. Lilli followed her sisters Best of Opposite sex win at the Briard Club's National Specialty Show in 2001.

Gilli happily ruled our household until she passed on in 2004 at the age of 13. A little glimmer of Gillie continues on in our lives through the looks and antics of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren that share our home.

Thank you, Gilli.

PEDIGREE

Back to Our Dogs Page