NORWEGIAN BUHUNDS
Discover Dogs started in a very small way a number of years ago at Crufts. It had been found that many people went to Crufts to see a particular breed, only to find they were not there that day. It was therefore thought to be a good idea to have every breed on show every day, so Discover Dogs was born. It soon became very popular and eventually a standalone Discover Dogs came to London. It was not only as a show case for the breeds but also to help prospective owners, find the breed most suitable for them and their life style. There are now many stands selling everything canine, various competitions both for pedigree and non pedigree dogs and displays. It is also a great way to meet people. Last year I met Lisa Strong who said she had a Buhund called Loki Snowflake. She is now club member and has been in our Obreedience Team all year. This year with her husband Alex she helped on the breed booth on the Sunday, they were rather thrown in at the deep end as I was also meant to be there as well, but unfortunately early on the Saturday morning my husband had breathing problems, so we spent 9 hrs in A & E before he was admitted for 24hrs.
The breed both on the Saturday was very ably looked after by Jacqui Cobb helped by Alysha Branchflower and Megan Johnston who together ran the Rally Course at our 50th Anniversary show. Alysha made a wonderful wooden Buhund for the breed booth which was much admired. She shows Knytshall Angel Delight R1Ex who with Ch Knytshall Ferdig were the canine helpers on the booth. We had a fantastic position for the booth at the end of a row so it had plenty of visitors but was very near the main so rather noisy at times, when music was playing.
Discover Dogs will go down in breed history this year because apart from many visitors to the booth, on the Saturday as I told you in my notes last week, Jenny Shorer-Wheeler & Lorraine Bolton’s, Ch Maidofcopper for Kormandel(Pikka)(Imp Fin))had qualified for the Junior Warrant semi final . Only the second Buhund to do this and the first Buhund bitch. The first Buhund Ch Arnscroft Di Na Mo Farrah of Koromandel also belongs to Jenny so a massive achievement for her. Although Pikka did not make the final at Crufts, she showed beautifully and was one of only 64 dogs to qualify out of the 12 heats.
Then it was Sunday and the secret that a number of Buhund owners had kept for some weeks came to light. The fact that Liz Cartledge and Marina Scott had chosen Buhunds to be the swop dogs for the UK Junior Handler of the Year final. Thanks go to Jenny for arranging the dogs and handlers and of course to the owners, many having travelled many miles to be there and last but not least the dogs themselves, for showcasing the breed so well. The winner of this competition goes on to represent the UK at Crufts for the title of World Junior Handler of the Year. The junior handlers are in two age groups 6-11 & 12-16 they qualify by winning their age group at their Group show, so there were 14 young handlers. They are first judged with their own dogs or dogs that they know. A shortlist of 6, then handle a dog of a breed that has been kept secret and that they have only met that morning. The handlers had 1hr to get to know the dogs, some spent the hr with the dog some just handled them for a short time. The dogs used were Dawne Deeley’s Am Gr /Can Gr Ch Kyon’s Bold Norseman (Idar). Neil Hood & Julian Collins Ch Arnscroft Di Nah Sawr Us Rex ShCM(Dino).Jenny & Isaac Shorer Wheeler and Kirsty Irvine’s Ch Arnscroft Di Na Mo Farrah of Koromandel JW ShCM(Mo). Anne Smith’s Arnscroft Never Say Di (Oskar). Jacqui Walmsley’s Blakk Extacy Van Koekie’s Ranch (Imp Ned) (Mole) representing Black Buhunds and my and daughter Debbie’s Ch/Bel Ch Tonylynn’s Charles Lafitte AW (G) R1EX (Fizz). Piika & Loki were reserves as were Neil’s Sturtmoor Eeza Geeza At Buhcafrey & Sue Crocker’s Knytshall Noor Ul Ai. They all behaved really well and it was a great advertisement for the breed. After the swop dog round the handlers then went back to their original dogs, the winner was Robyn Arnall handling an Australian Shepherd. She had won the competition before, this is only the second time the same handler has won the competition, Oskar was her swop dog. The judge was Lisa Moir who has been involved in training Junior Handlers over the last 10 years, with many she has trained having success not only in handling competitors but also in the breed ring. Last year the winner was Sophie Wildig who with her mother have recently become club members. She now also co owns Geeza with Neil & Paul Glaholm. Sophie originally started her junior handling at Neil’s ring craft club.
The handling competition over Dino Geeza Moley Noor & Fizz hot pawed it with their owners to the Buhund Breed booth to help Lisa Alex and Loki. The booth was very busy and soon all the dogs were enjoying lots of cuddles, which next to agility Fizz enjoys the most.
There have been some great photos and videos on the forum taken by many members and our new member Sam Croker who had driven Jacqui and Sue to the Excel.
I was very sorry to have missed it all; however with modern technology I was able to receive regular texts, photos and videos.
Further north on the Sunday, Kirsty Irvine took son Callum and Jenny’s Kimura’s Vera with Tapui (Imp Nor)
to Fylde Open Show at the YMCA Fleetwood where under Penny Roberts she was BOB AVNSC and PG2, well done, lovely to have the Buhund Flag being flown in several places on the same day.
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