NORWEGIAN BUHUNDS
You know that I love writing about Buhunds and their owners taking part in various activities, so I was very pleased to receive an article from Sarah Stonton about how she enjoys training her dogs, and the fun and success she has with them.
Quality time with our dogs builds a progressively stronger partnership and relationship. I have been lucky over the years to enjoy a large variety of disciplines with my Buhunds, with some great success too. That is beyond the friendship bond of walking and spending British holidays with them and of course just living with them. Many will remember my late Loxy (Trelowen Andrea AW(S)-competed in the showing (her highest award was a CC aged 10yrs), Rally team Obreedience, Scent and of course Agility where she reached Grade 6 which was my biggest fun with her. Jack (Ch Arnscroft In Di Ana Jack RL2) did not take to agility but became my first Champion and since has exceled in scent trials both Scentwork UK and National Nosework Association as well as doing some Rally. When I had the option of a puppy from Jack and Darcy (Kata Sundattir Av Fjeldvidda At Wheatshade), I knew what I was looking for -pretty bitch, outgoing and up for a challenge, as well as having that connection with me. I had no plan to breed from her and was not sure if I would show again but wanted to do activity type things. Having the pick of 5 girls was going to be a challenge but I almost made it for “silly” reasons -the first to explore outside the whelping box, the first to open her eyes plus she was pretty with a beautiful black mask. When I met the litter at 4 weeks for cuddles and play, well she was the one for me. Ever since she had been an absolute joy busy and into everything. Pixie (Wheatshade Snow Dreamer) debuted in the breed ring at the club show Champ show at 7months, winning puppy and junior classes, then started her SWUK sniffing trials at 9months where she has progressed well into Level 3 already at just 14months. On Monday 9th June she had her NNA scent debut. Many more complex areas to search with lots of environmental distractions. We headed to a small farm in Oxfordshire to see if she was up to this new challenge. The first search area was in the yard, an area with two trailers, numerus wheelbarrows and various stacks of bricks and miscellaneous items. Two minutes was the time allowed to find one hide scented with gun oil. She was happily exploring, got into the odour pool and found the source but did not stay indicating. I knew she had found it but was not happy with her indication so I did not ‘call it’ thinking she would go back to it. She didn’t as she was too busy checking out other interesting sniffs. The second search was a row of 6 bricks with 3 holes in each, on grass with one gun oil hide to fund, she could not wait to start and found I, indicated to me in a mere 4 seconds. The third search was a static caravan, again two minutes to find the one hide by sniffing the entire inside of the caravan. I tried her off the lead for the first time at a trial- she was in her element this time and found the hide in the base of a door partially opened. Her best indication of the day. One happy dog plus one proud handler. It was only a numerically small trial but to my astonishment she won. Which was fantastic but so much to work on, particularly her commitment to work and indicate the finds in places she has never previously visit-fun times ahead, I hope.
Jacqui Cobb has also had success in a different activity ‘Rally’, she recently she went to Bratton Clovelly in Okehampton Devon with Knytshall Beau Bramble and his sister Knytshall Love in the Mist and their dam Knytshall Eloise. Beau won Level 1 with an Excellent score of 208, with Misty coming 5th also with an Excellent score of 202, a great result as they are both only just over 13 months. Mum Eloise was not going to be left out so took 5th place in Level 3.
On 19th April 2022 Lucy Beatrice Gilbert joined the Buhund Forum saying she wanted to learn more about the breed. Well, she has certainly done that with the help of Knytshall Fly Like An Angel (Zuki).Together on June 18th Zuki gained her first two clear rounds in agility and won 1st place for a Bu at Watercombe Dogs Summer Steeplechase, a day earlier she had her first clear round at her Razgility Training club so there will be no stopping them now, but they don’t just do agility Zuki has just been awarded her Intermediate Trick Dog Title with a very smart Congratulatory Certificate, now onwards and upwards towards the Advanced title. Zuki is the only Buhund competing in Trick Dog Competitions.
Of course, the Activity all Buhunds take part in is being a wonderful pet dog, next to that is Showing. Taunton & District Canie Association held a two-day show at Wellsprings Leisure Centre in Taunton Somerset, Pastoral day was Sunday June 15th where under the KC chairman Tony Allcock OBE Ann-Marie, David & Mary Taylor and Addrienne Frost-Treadwell’s Frostisen Blakk Zitter (Penny) won the open class and then went BOB. Mr Allcock judged all the breeds in the Pastoral Group except for the Swedish Vallhunds, the Pastroal Group and BIS, so had a very busy day.
The first Blackpool show was held in 1921 with the first Ch show in 1934, the show has had several homes but has now settled at Redwood Park Inskip Nr Preston Blackpool. The show is unbenched with no chairs, the rings are on the inside of the showground with the trade stands round them and then the marquees with the wet weather rings on the outside. The show is held over 3days and does not change its days, so Pastoral is always Sunday along with the Working & Terrier Groups. Buhunds were the last breed in Ring 1 with our Judge Geoff Duffield judging all the breeds, 85 Border Collies 13 Catalan Sheepdogs and 4 Estrela Mountain Dogs. Geoff is a Level 2 judge for Buhunds and gives CCs in 4 Working and 15 Pastoral breeds. He found his BD & BOB in Jenny Shorer-Wheeler’s Ch Koromandel Tusen Takk JW (ai) ShCEx OSW (Muchly). RBD & BJ Millie Lambert’s Sturtmoor’s Gon’s Dun It (Gunna). BB Ollie Wheeler’s Knytshall Thistle Ink It Up Koromandel(Inky). RBB Lesley & Liz Butterworth’s Koromandel Gild The Lily (Hildy) she was also BV. Gunna was also VHC in the Junior Working /Terrier /Pastoral Stakes under Stephen Goodwin. It was a very good day for Jenny’s Koromandel Kennel because as well as winning 3 green cards, the icing on the cake was Muchly going PG3 under Derek Smith who also judged BIS and all the BIS Groups.
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