NORWEGIAN BUHUNDS
Following up on the sad news that Celia Vines Ch Ailort Highlander at Parvodene JW ShCM GGC VW had joined his friends over the Rainbow Bridge, Celia has been in touch to say that she and her daughter Jenny came into Buhunds in 1981, winning a CC under Joe Braddon, and also had some success in Obedience. Celia then went onto own 4 Buhunds with husband Mike, making them all up to Champions. The first one they co owned Ch Trelowen Jaudyn(Miko) by Rikarlo Wolfric at Trelowen x Ch Trelowen Lowarn went on to work Obedience for their area team at Crufts, Celia said they really enjoyed that year in the breed as well. They have wonderful memories of the dogs missing them all for different reason, saying never forget you always take the best dog home whatever they do. Happily, Celia says she and Mike will stay in touch with the breed and the breed notes.
It is now over 12 months since the pandemic was declared, I have managed to keep these notes going, more often than not with your help, sending me in articles. This week I been looking back over some old Bu News, and found an article in the Autumn 1985 edition which is as relevant today as it was back then, as it talks about walking dogs being good for you. It is entitled ‘Dog Keeping Helps Your Health’: – ‘There have been many articles recently in magazines, on TV and Radio recommending the keeping of dogs to improve your health. Walking is considered especially good for you, but the writer said she had a different story to tell. As a novice handler she was ready to take advice from anyone, especially from her dog’s breeder. Having qualified him for Crufts, the advice came, ‘plenty of exercise-the judge likes them fit!’ On Friday 13th January, the writer set off confidently, a few minutes later her foot went down a hole and she found herself lying in agony on the grass verge. She shouted to three passers- by but no good Samaritan came. The sight of her with two dancing dogs seemed to put people off. She had broken her ankle and was put in Plaster of Paris and Crufts was only a month away! After the first week the Plaster of Paris was taken off and replaced with a cast of one of the lightweight substances and the exercise began again. (Nowadays she would have had a boot). Crufts was at Olympia in those days, one fit dog and one unfit handler arrived in London. The dog was handled for her getting a second in Junior Dog and to crown the day a first in Post Graduate Dog. She arrived home unbelievably happy from her first Crufts with her beautiful dog, two cards two rosettes and the most swollen leg that you could imagine.
The following summer exercise and showing was again taking place side by side, it was a beautiful sunny evening, and a walk was started across the fields. Half a mile away from her car a horse and rider were spotted and as her dog was not horse proof he was put on the lead. A man with a huge German Shepherd misunderstood the reason for the lead and shouted, ‘my dog is very friendly’ Never a truer word! The dog went rushing up smashing into her leg, knocking her down and licking her face. The next hour was spent getting her back to her car. The owner of the German Shepherd was slightly built and was not in his prime so found it quite difficult to support and carry her, as she said she was not that lightly built, the dogs barked their encouragement from where they had been tied to the fence. Back in the hospital her knee joint was found to be full of blood. This was treated immediately, and the leg splinted. The crutches came out again and the same orthopaedic surgeon saw her, and recommended rest followed by increased exercise. She wondered if he meant dog walking!
Previously I have mentioned how online shows are keeping people going while waiting hopefully for face to face shows to start again. In the latest one the ‘Our Dogs St Patrick’s International Free Online Dog Show’ Debbie and my Time (Rikarlo Gable JW L1ex) was BOB he is by Jamie(Ch Koromandel Best Served Cold at Knytshall) ex Betty(Kimura’s Vera with Tapui) (Imp Nor) RBOB was Brenda and Tony Bethell’s Sid (Minforst Eomer) by their Freddy (Ir Ch/Int Ch Zodiac’s Featuring Fredrik At Taevas Ir Jun Ch CW19) (Imp US) ex their Freya (Ir Ch/Lux/Int Ch Arnscroft Glad Di Ola) who was BV she is by Buddy(Ch Trelowen Conar Tun) x Ice(Ch Arnscroft Kiss and Tell Di for Sturtmoor).
Last year I wrote about how long it was taking to for hip scores to come back, happily now the situation is much improved and all the 6 hip scores we were waiting for are back. Although the most recent one to be done has been sent to Australia to just make sure. Now we just need the end of lockdown so that the eye testing sessions that have been organised can take place.
Stay safe everyone.
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.