NORWEGIAN BUHUNDS
Before I finish with Birmingham National, it was one of the shows that had a “Have a go Dog show” seminar for those new to showing. Lisa Strong had booked herself into the seminar on the Sunday and below is an article she has kindly written about her day.
“This year the KC have introduced ‘Have a go Dog shows’ which are training courses that last a couple of hours, and are being held at various Ch shows throughout the year. As I am new to the show world, I signed Eris and myself up for the one at Birmingham National. Prior to your arrival you are sent a letter telling you where to go on the day and a booklet called The Kennel Club’s Beginners guide to Dog Showing ,more information and the booklet can be found on the KC website under events ,where there is a section ‘Have a go Dog showing’. They ask you to check in an hour in advance so your dog can get used to the sights, sounds and smells of the show (this also gave you time to collect your dog’s removal pass).When you go to the ring you are divided into small dogs (table dogs) and larger dogs, the instructors included some junior handlers. They talk a bit about getting your dog and yourself (pale coloured clothes if your dog is dark, dark coloured clothes if your dog is light, and hair should be off the face with long hair ideally tied back), ready for a show. It was then about presenting your dog in front of the judge, and how you might be asked to move your dog (triangle, straight-line, up and down , round the ring), and then you are put through the scenario of standing before the judge. The judge then examined your dog, and asked you to move up and down and then go around the ring in a circle. .Once everyone had had a go, different moving speeds in the ring for different dogs was discussed and everyone had another go. Whilst waiting in line the different types of shows and different classes were explained. Finally both groups were put back and we had a ‘show’, where we were all in the same class. After the Judge had seen all the dogs, a shortlist was made of 10dogs and then it was explained that these dogs would usually be asked to move again, and a 1st 2nd and 3rd would be chosen with potentially a Reserve and Very Highly Commended. Rosettes, certificates and goodie bags (magazines plus some samples of dog food) were handed out and the course was finished. Due to all the show announcements and the noise in the background at the show, it was difficult at times to hear what was being said, so try and stand near the instructor if you attend one of these. Eris was fairly relaxed about being examined and her confidence regarding children improved. (One ran up to Eris and pulled her tail a couple of months ago making her scream with pain, and she is now a little unsure of them.)We also worked on moving better together, it also gave Eris the experience of being in the ring with a lot of other dogs which she had never met before. If you have never done a show or only done 1 or possible 2 shows then the course is worth it.”Thanks Lisa very interesting, of course Lisa had booked the course before she had such a great Birmingham where Eris was 4th in the SBG4.
The Scottish KC show is the weekend after Birmingham and also has CCs for the breed. It is one of the few Ch shows to have KC agility and Obedience shows running alongside the breed show. For a number of years we used to go and do all three disciplines, the last time we went the showground was flooded the day before the breed show, and everything was moved into the exhibition halls, it was rather chaotic but the show went on and has stayed inside every since .Our judge this year Mrs Jill Peak who gives 86 CCs across all seven groups with 14 in the Pastoral Group. Nancy Kent has very kindly sent me her report on the show:-
“SKC is held on the Royal Highland Show ground just outside Edinburgh, it seems a long way to go for a show
being about3.5hours from Manchester, but it is shorter than Richmond or Windsor .The route is all motorway and goes through some beautiful countryside. On the way back we had no traffic whatever, we thought maybe everyone was inside watching Eurovision! The show is held inside in the Exhibition Halls which was a good thing as the day was damp, just that drizzle that soaks the coat and muddies the feet, so once inside there was some tidying up to do, once we had found our benches. The halls themselves are large with high metal ceilings, the rings were large which was good for moving the dogs and there was plenty of space around them, but the noise was terrific which made conversation a challenge and the PA announcements were unintelligible. There were Working, Pastoral and Terrier groups on the day; it was lovely to see all the different terrier breeds that aren’t usually with us. The Buhunds did not have a big entry, I entered Jamie and he took the DCC. Margaret Garvie brought Psyche who took the BCC and Lucina who was RBCC and Jinx who was NFC. Jacqui Cobb brought Angel and baby Eloise and Maddie Norman Lottie and Lesley Butterworth Hildy. The dogs all got along really well and I think enjoyed their day out and social as much as the humans did. Jamie was awarded BOB and then the wait for the group began. There was a nice cafe on the premises which served a lovely fish and chip supper. It is always an honour to represent the breed in the Group ring, the Terrier Group was first, and then it was the Pastoral Group our judge had been changed to K Nathan. Jamie made me proud and behaved himself really well and was his happy self and even tried to kiss the judge! It was an enjoyable day from start to finish. We arrived back in Manchester about 9pm, it was still light and gave us time to unpack the important things, then we settled down for the rest of the evening with pot noodle and wine ,my goodness we know how to live” Thanks Nancy I felt I had been there .Jamie is Ch Koromandel Best Served Cold At Knytshall this was his 4th CC having gained his crown at Crufts he is by Uk/Can Ch Kyon’s Bold Norseman x Ch Maidofcopper for Koromandel (Imp Fin).BCC her 16th was Ch Rhialis Psyche ShCM she is by Ch /Am Ch Visions Dino of Trollheimen(Imp USA)(Casper)xCh Ailort Just Jinks. RBCC her 5th she also has a CC, Margaret’s Rhialis Lucina who is the younger sister of Psyche.
The Buhund flag was flying much further south at the Dorset Canine Society Summer Open Show held at Canford Magna Garden Centre. Sophie Wildig judged the breed for the first time, she is a previous junior handler of the year and has had a connection with the breed for some time, she had a nice entry finding her BOB in Neil Hood’s Ch Arnscroft Di Nah Sawr U s Rex Sh CM(Dino),RBOB Jacqui and Michael Cobb and Nancy Kent’s Ch Trelowen Veryan To Knytshall RL2 Ex, she then won the RBOB group and was 2nd in the Veteran Stakes, she was expertly handled by Alysha Branchflower. Winning PG Jacqui Walmsley’s Trelowen Amelia at Frostisen who she co owns with the Frostisen Kennel. Later in the day Dino was Best AV Veteran Pastoral under Karen Kennedy and BVIS under Krystan Greenland.
Margaret Deuchar margaretdeuchar@gmail.com
The views expressed in Margaret’s Breed Notes are hers and hers alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Norwegian Buhund Club of the UK