(clicking on the underlined name of the dog will take you to a page where you can see or access their pedigree)
My name is Rachel Irvin and I have been involved in dogs for many years. I obtained my first Afghan Hound in 1967 while I was in grade school. My family always had dogs. My grandfather raised Welsh Terriers and my mother had Dobes that she showed in obedience.
My Mom and Mike in 1952 Jhobes Monkey Puss
My first Afghan Hound was named Jhobe's Monkey Puss and she was a grandaughter of the famous Ch. Shirkhan of Grandeur. Her bloodlines were half Akaba/Grandeur and half Tajmir/Crown Crest, all very influential kennels of that era. Monkey was 3 years old when she came to us and although she was not going to be a great show dog she was quite beautiful with exquisite breed type and an amazing pedigree.
I wanted a show puppy and was fortunate to get Akaba’s Funny Girl (Ch. Akaba’s Brass Cinderfella X Ch. Akaba’s Royal Treasure) who was a full littermate to the top winning Ch. Akaba’s Blue Bonnet of Sandina. Lois Boardman and her famous Akaba Kennel had recently been devastated by a fire and despite losing many of her beloved hounds had somehow managed to save a litter of babies. “Barbra” was the puppy bitch she had kept for breeding from the “Fire” litter and I was fortunate to get her. She was only bred once to Ch. Dynasty's Wild Goose Chase producing Akaba's Funny Lady who went on to become an all time top producing Canadian dam.
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Elan Electra Glide in Blue Mom with Barbra puppy
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A couple of the other dogs I started with were Dynasty’s Blackmail and Akaba’s Blue Bijou.
Akaba's Blue Bijou "Bijou"
Dynasty's Blackmail "Dyja"
After graduating college and starting a family I took a hiatus from the show ring only to return again after meeting my friends and partners, Jerry Klein and Ken Tippie of Sebring Afghans. My foundation bitch is Ch. Sebring Elan who was number 1 Brood Bitch for 2001. Ella is tightly linebred on the famous Pepsi and Cody. Ella has produced 8 champion offspring including group winners, specialty winners and is the double grandmother of the 2002 Afghan Hound Club of America National Specialty Sweepstakes winner, Ch. Elan Sebring Legally Blonde "Reese".
Ch. Sebring Elan "Ella" Ch. Xandali Red Sun "Sunny
Showing and raising the Afghans has been a rewarding and enjoyable part of my life and that of my children Steven and Leah. Below is a young Leah with new puppy Boomer and Steven with his beloved Petie. On the right is Reese, Petie and me.
Ch. Elan Sebring The Matrix
We are the proud breeder, owner, handlers of Multiple BIS, Multiple National
Specialty BIS, Multiple SBIS American, Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian
Ch. Elan Sebring The Matrix. Neo's mother
Winnie was the last living
daughter of Jerry and Ken's great Cody
whom I had been unsuccessful in breeding Ella to. The plan was to
breed her to Louie.
Jerry had to perform a C-Section for the last puppy after a very difficult
delivery of the first 2 puppies I raised this highly
anticipated litter in my home in Chicago. Lex took
Hero who
finished exclusively at specialties with a BIS from the classes. I kept
Neo who finished easily
as a young dog and we put him away
until he grew up. Pictured above is a young Neo at his first show as a
special. Neo came out with a bang winning the group
his first time out and the rest is
history. Always breeder, owner, handled he was the Eukanuba breed winner
2005, #1 Afghan USA 2006, Westminster breed winner 2008, awarded back to back
Afghan Hound Club of America National Specialty Best In Show 2005 and 2006 and
has won many specialty BIS's and multiple all breed BIS's. At 6 years of
age Neo spent 2008
in the most capable hands of BFF Camilla Tell-Collinge in Sweden where shown
sparingly he finished
the year #1 Afghan 2008 and Norwegian winner 2008. He is proving himself as
important sire both in the US and internationally, has sired multiple champion
group placing
offspring, specialty pointed and specialty BIS
winning puppies., and is the sire of top ranked Norwegian Ch. Elsto Khariz Amazing Amanda
- #1 Afghan Norway 2008. Along with
his new friend from Sweden Player, Neo arrived home in
the USA immediately before Westminster 2009 winning a SBIS at AHALI at his first
outing in 2009 and AOM at Westminster. Neo is semi retired enjoying life on the
couch but may be seen at
select shows.
Camilla, Neo, Pete and Rachel, Westminster 2008 Rachel and Pzazz the Arabian
Sunny and Neo checking their email in the motorhome
My husband Pete and I reside in Georgia with our Afghans, cresteds and horses and own East Coast Crates. Above is Sunny and Neo checking their email on the J-lounge of the motorhome. We can frequently be found manning our booth at the dog shows so feel free to stop by the booth and say hi. We have a grown daughter Leah, who just completed her masters degree in film and is a freelance videographer and editor. We have puppies occasionally and are happy to consider potential loving homes for our waiting list. Please browse through the website and enjoy your visit to Elan Afghans!