Norwegian Buhunds
SINCE I wrote my last Blog a number of Buhunds and their owners have taken part in several activities. I said last week that I was at the International Agility Festival in charge of the Rosette and Trophies. At breed shows the prizes are handed out in the ring, this would not be practical at Agility as often there are well over 100 dogs in the class with sometimes as many as 250.The prizes are therefore handed out as soon as possible after the class has finished at the presentation area, and at the festival we have a podium to make it extra special. On the Thursday, Sarah Stonton came along with Trelowen Andrea (Loxy) to compete in the British Open for Grade 6 &7 dogs. This is run in 2 sections Agility & Jumping (this class does not have the contact equipment seesaw etc).The top 15 dogs after the two rounds go forward to the final and the top 8 dogs then qualify for Crufts,so it is a hard fought class. This year there were 233 dogs taking part and that is just for medium dogs the small and large dogs having their own class, which is why someone described the festival this year as ‘an insanely big event’. Last year Loxy was 22nd overall, unfortunately this year she was not quite so successful but did have a clear round in grade6 agility, Sarah then came and helped in the presentation area which she also did on the Saturday and Sunday which was most welcome .On the Saturday Loxy was 5th in G 6 agility out of 61, and on the Sunday she had a clear round in Grade 6/7 jumping.
Saturday was a great day for Anne Smith and Arnscroft Never Say Di (Oskar), they had been BIS at the club’s Anniversary Fun Dog show, Debbie sent Anne a schedule for the Companion Dog show held every year at the Festival. It is run by the Heart of England Dog Shows and is very popular as it has 6 qualifiers for the Scruffs classes at Discover Dogs at the Excel, as well of course Pedigree classes. Anne was not sure she would make it as her car was in the garage for urgent repairs but she has an old motor home which she was about to advertise for sale, so it was in that she and the dogs made the journey to Rockingham. She arrived in plenty of time coming to say hello to Debbie, Sarah and myself and then went off to enter the show .The next time we saw her she was grinning from ear to ear and supporting not just a first place rosette but a BIS one as well, the prize also consisted of a Crystal Rose Bowl and dog food. Oskar had won a Pastoral/Working class from 17 other dogs before taking the top award. The judge for the pedigree classes was Robin Newhouse who gives CCs in 30 breeds over the Pastoral Working and Utility groups.
Much further south on the Sunday Bournemouth Ch show had scheduled Buhund classes for the first time judged by our own Neil Hood who was judging for the first time at a Ch show. It was a beautiful sunny day if a little hot for the dogs, with perfect ground conditions, no mud in sight, Neil told me “It was so enjoyable, loved it – chuffed that several judges were watching the group, loved the BOB and the atmosphere was lovely” .BB & BOB Sue Crocker’s Knytshall Noor Ul Ain she was top puppy last year and has a RCC she is by Knytshall Diamond Ted x Ch Trollheimen Elske to Knytshall. BD Brenda and Tony Bethell’s Zodiac’s Featuring Fredrik At Taevas Of Minforst(Imp US)(Freddy) by Am Ch Hundehaven’ Captain Voyager x Am Ch Zodiac’s Gracious Gretchen.RBB Brenda & Tony’s Minforst Galadriel she has RCC and is by Freddy x Lux /Int Ch Arnscroft Glad Di Ola. RBD Jacqui Walmsley’s Blakk Extacy Van Koekie’s Ranch (Imp Ned) he also has a RCC and is by Ned Ch Med Hjartas Assar x Ned Ch Yrsa-Jitze Fra Den Norske Garden.Neil pleased all the exhibitors by posting his detailed critique within 24hrs.
The same day Millie Pentland took Ch Svartkonge Av Sturtmoor (Imp Nor)King to his first UKA agility show, Millie said King’s first run was awesome (for him)only 2 faults both refusals on tunnels but he finished 6th place out of 14.He was even within the time even though he wasted time with the refusals but the best thing was he did the weaves ,getting the correct entry and did not come out.(weaves are one of the hardest things to teach a dog and the speed they go through them can make all the difference in being in the class time or not ,so well done King )
The following Wednesday Jacqui swopped the role of exhibitor to that of show secretary for the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Open Dog show. It is part of the one of the largest one day agricultural shows in the south, held on their own Turnpike showground in North Dorset. It is always held on the third Wednesday in August and regularly attracts an attendance of over 24,000 visitors. Jacqui said “The weather was perfect for a dog show; we have 121 classes plus 4 handling classes. We had an entry of 393dogs, giving a total entry of nearly 500. We also had 23 dogs entered in the Junior Warrant Qualifier. We schedule 44 breeds, plus AVNSC. We have 2 big money stakes, kindly sponsored by local traders, Reynolds Pet Shop Gillingham, Utopia Hair Design (owned by one of my committee) and North Dorset Ringcraft. My vets,Blackmore Vale sponsor the 3 veteran classes. The society gives £50 for BIS and £25 for BPIS. Arden Grange also sponsor us with vouchers for BIS & BPIS. I see it is one of the few old fashioned Open Shows left on the circuit that are run alongside an Agricultural show.” Thanks Jacqui.
Di Butler was the breed judge, she owns a Buhund but is best known for owning and judging Dobermans at CC level, having judged them on several continents.BOB was Neil Hood Sophie Wildig and Paul Glaholm’s Sturmoor Eeza Geeza who is just out of puppy, he is by Ch Arnscroft Di Na Mo Farrah of Kormandel x Sturtmoor Dream Maker At Gazenorth, and has had a very successful puppy career.
We have another change of judge at Driffield, originally it was Peter Radly but he is unwell so Steve Hall was appointed, he is also scheduled to judge City of Birmingham next year which it was pointed out is not 12months after Driffield, so now Gail Hussey will be holding centre stage.
I finish with the sad news that Kathy Hay’s husband Peter has died. I am sure you will all join me in sending condolences to the family. I have known Kathy for 25years as I had my first Buhund from her ‘Okie’ who was Ch/Ir Ch Wolfen Just in Time and who started it all for me. Over the years Kathy and her husband concentrated on breeding and showing Leonbergers, but we would always chat if we saw each other at shows and in recent years they had come back into Buhunds and in 2016 at the National their puppy Wolfen Class Act was BPIB, but sadly around that time Peter was taken ill and Kathy gave up showing to look after him. I am sure you will all join me in sending condolences to the family.
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