NORWEGIAN BUHUNDS
I said last week that I would talk more about Discover Dogs in these notes. It is such an important part of getting the breed better known, I did DD for many years when it was held at Earls Court and after that at the Excel, until the RKC stopped holding it as it became not financially viable. During that time, I could not tell you how many people said they had never heard of the breed, then occasionally someone would come who knew about the breed and had come to see them. One of those was Lisa Strong who did have a Buhund and who is now on the committee and looks after everything necessary for decorating the DD booth. Over the years we have also had new owners who have come from DD. It is so important not only for getting the breed known and also making sure prospective owners also understand the breed ,and what they were originally breed for, and if they have not had a dog before how important early training , socialisations and that mental stimulation is as important as physical exercise .They were originally bred as guard and herding dogs (general farm dogs),so yes they do bark but this can be controlled and they do shed but the positives out way the negatives. They make fantastic companions and love doing things with their owners from just going for walks to taking part in some of the many activities that dogs can do nowadays. When I first came into the breed people said they were difficult to train which was not true as at that time there were a number of Buhunds who were used as Hearing Dogs for the deaf ,and this continued until the society started to breed their own dogs, often spaniels, labradors ,poodles and crosses. Buhunds are independent by nature again this goes back to my comment about knowing what they originally bred for, for as well as guarding they worked on their own in the mountains in Norway herding the goats and sheep who grazed there in the summer .To train them you just have to convince them that what you want them to do was their idea in the first place then you are fine! There are a number doing mantrailing, agility, rally and now there a number doing scent work which the dogs really enjoy. Prospective owners must also realise they cannot have a puppy just when they want one as can happen in so many of the big breeds, they need to realise a ‘Buhund puppy is worth waiting for.’
Lisa had a personal problem this year so could not set up the breed booth, but Debbie went and picked up the display and took it to Crufts on the Wednesday where Jenny and Kirsty set it up, so a combined effort. Many thanks to all those who manned the breed booth over the 4 days, with a special mention to Michael Cobb who manned the booth with Knythall Love In The Mist(Misty) & her mum Knytshall Eloise while we were all showing on the Thursday, with others helping before and after showing who included Jacque Cobb with Knytshall Beau Bramble and Lisa Strong with Ch Leggatts Dancing Queen At Draccus (Eris ),Draccus I Have A Dream AI(Raven) and the Buhund that started it all for her Loki. On the Friday Penny & Tom Glibbery had Rikarlo Grant (Indy) & Tapui Haldis (Daisy)and Kirsty Irvine had Ch Blackcombe Bodil at Tapui (Imp Aus) (Bodi), sharing the day were Marie Corin and Adam Camm with Ch Kligenthal Almuric (SHCEX)Bergen and Mazads Nom De Plume. Saturday saw Sue Crocker and Jasmine Freeborn make the trip back to Crufts with Leggatts Vous Vouz (Tissy)and Mary Dosson twith Kimura’s Ola Norman (Imp Nor)(Ola), Sue and Paul Martin were also there with Wolfen Dances with Wolves (Ulfie) and Wheatstone Crystals of Ice (Freya) and their Alaskan Klee Kai not a breed recognised in the UK , she is House of Diamonds Friendly Spirit reg USA (Amka) and was an honorary Buhund for Saturday. Jacque Cobb and Nancy Kent were there on the Sunday with Ch Koromandel Best Served Cold At Knytshall (Jamie) Knytshall Ragged Robin (Rowdy,) Misty and Eloise and the Guillod -Rees family popped .in for a while with Draccus Obsidian At Bucamereru(Ruby). Many thanks again to you all.
Other Buhund owners helping at Crufts were Jacqui Walmsley who was a Group Ring Steward and club secretary Jenny Shorer-Wheeler who introduced 4 of the seven groups and was announcer for the Hound Group.
Margaret Deuchar margaretdeuchar@gmail.com
Any 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