NORWEGIAN BUHUNDS
On Wednesday morning 16th I was sitting half watching the TV and half wondering what I was going to write for my breed notes, thinking I had several days to find something, when suddenly a message from Millie Lambert flashed up saying she was completely speechless for once, as her home breed Sturtmoor’s Gon’n Dun It JW (Gunna), had been shortlisted to the last 11 out of an entry of 82 with about 50 actually present, in the JW heat held at Thame & Oxfordshire County Canie Society Premier Show. Millie continued saying that out of a ring full of superb dogs Gunna was then awarded one of the Top Five places to go forward to the JW Semifinals in October at Stoneleigh! (These used to be held at Discover Dogs). She said she was beyond thrilled as it was their very first attempt to qualify. Millie also said all the dogs were in the ring at the same time, so it was not easy to be seen, as they had dogs around the ring and two rows up the middle, and the class took approx. 1 hour 40mins to judge. Gunna is out of Millie’s Ch Sturtmoor’s Free’N’Eezee (Sheira) who is out of Millie’s Sturtmoor’s Eezee Luvva (Evee) by Ch Koromandel Best Served Cold At Knytsahll (Jamie). He is by Draccus Diamond Day O’ Buhcafrey (Dayo) who is out of Ch Leggatts Dancing Queen At Draccus (Eris) by Ch Rikarlo Gable JW (Time).
The judge was Darren Clarke who gives CCs in 31 breeds with 26 in Pastoral breeds including Buhunds, which he last judged on 9th December 2023 at LKA. Qualifying for the semifinals cannot be underestimated in any breed especially in a numerically small one like ours. The last time was Jenny Shorer-Wheeler’s Ch Maidofcopper For Koromandel (Imp Fin) JW (Piika) in 2016 and before that Jenny’s Ch Arnscroft Di NA Mo Farah of Koromandel JW ShCM(Mo) in 2013.Firstly the dog must gain the JW no mean feat, several having missed out by a point or two. The award is for dogs aged between 6 and 18 months, 25 points must be gained during this period with 7points being gained at open shows or Ch shows with no CCs and 3 points where CCs are on offer .What makes it so difficult in numerically small breeds is that open shows the dog must beat at least one other dog for 1 point and only 1point can be won at a show and for Ch show wins there must be three in the class or beat 3 other dogs, so it does depend on how many puppies/junior dogs are out at the time. It has been widened recently to include puppy group wins, but when I came into showing the dog only had to win a class to gain a point! The JW does also give the dog a stud book number but to be honest most dogs that gain a JW have already gained a SB number. Gunna was only just out of puppy when he gained his JW, I think the youngest to do so being born on 2nd April 2024 and he gained his JW on 12th April 2025 at the club Ch show. There are 13 heats running from May to August hosted by general canine societies over the UK. The JW must have been gained between 1st June 2024 & 31st May 2025.Once you have qualified you cannot enter another heat. Thame show was held at Bury Farm Equestrian Village, a very large and smart equestrian centre in Slapton Buckinghamshire. The show had 712 classes as well as the JW heat and Gunna was Reserve Best AVNSC under Angie Fieldsend and then they headed home, as Bucks is a long way from Wales where Millie lives and she left home at 4.30am.Once home Millie posted a video of the judging of the 11 short listed dogs with Gunna then making the final five, a great watch.
The same day but a completely different activity Sarah Stonton took her young Pixie aka Wheatshade Snow Dreamer, to an evening Foundation National Nosework Trial at Thetford Rugby Club in Norfolk, where Pixie gained two badges and came third. She now only needs two more badges to progress to Pre Entry Level. Three must be gained in each search area, she needs one more in two areas. (Badges are awarded if the dog finds all the hides in the designated area).
Addrienne Frost -Treadwell tells me that across the Irish sea in Eire the Frostisens Int/Ire Ch Trelowen Aviator at Frostisen(Maggit) was awarded his third group 1-win last weekend at the Irish Ladies Kennel Assoc Ch show. In the last 5 shows he has had 4 BOBs, 3 x Group 1,1xGroup3 and a RBIS all at Championship shows. He is by Ch Trelowen Conar Tun x Trelowen Lola. He has only been beaten by two dogs in Ireland, twice by Int /Ir Ch Frostisen Yo Samity Sam and once by Ir Ch Trelowen Gumpy.He is not often shown so a great record.
I finish with the news just received from Millie that Gunna has had a clear eye test.
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