NORWEGIAN BUHUNDS
I told you in last week’s notes about the BAD the club held, so it was very pleasing to receive this from one of the candidates. ‘I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone involved in organising such a wonderful Norwegian Buhund BAD. It was an incredibly informative and enjoyable experience, and I am truly grateful for the opportunity to learn more about this remarkable breed. My appreciation goes to Lorraine Bolton for delivering such an engaging and knowledge presentation, which provided valuable insight and deepened my understanding. Thank you also to Jenny Shorer-Wheeler, Secretary and Organiser, for coordinating the day so smoothly, and to Chairperson Kirsty Ann Irvine for your support throughout.’
I am still playing catch up with all the activities you have been doing with your dogs, this time it is about scent. Tuesday 10th March Sarah Stonton with Pixie (aka Wheatshade Snow Dreamer) headed off to Pitlands Farm in Clifton Upon Teme Worcestershire, set in 25acres it overlooks the Teme Valley. It was previously a working farm but now runs farm holidays lets and is a very popular venue for National Nosework Scent Trials, which of course was the reason for Sarah’s trip. Pixie having won out of Pre Entry, is now in Entry and this was her first trial at this level. Of course, as you go up the levels the hides are more difficult to find. For Entry there are 4 searches of 5 mins each for 3 of them with 3 hides to find, inside, exterior, vehicle and the selection test of 10 items 2 hides to find in 1.5 mins. Sarah said it was a long journey as she lives in Peterborough, with many different environmental distractions including chickens, pigs and wildlife. The interior was a large busy barn, and with the exception of the section test, all the searches Sarah said had some good bits and some less good bits, after the third search she said Pixie was quite tired but was not sure how much that was due to the big step up from Pre Entry or a totally different environment or both. She found seven of the eleven hides overall and finished fifth out of eight teams. Whenever Dad Jack came out of the car, he told Pixie he could have done better but then he is in Excellent! The next Entry Trial was on 14th March, was very successful, with Pixie being able to cope much better with this level the second time around, winning the trial and gaining a badge in 3 out of the 4 search areas, the selection the vehicle and the Interior which was a huge commercial greenhouse. She only found 1 hide in the exterior search but the judge Stacey Robinson was so impressed with the search,that she awarded Pixie a much-coveted synergy badge for an outstanding search.
I was thrilled to hear that Chris Maynard has started doing scentwork with her Leggatts Dakota at Knytshall (Toby), he is a Time son, so I hope he will follow in the father’s paw steps.
Another dog who is enjoying her scentwork journey is another of Jack’s daughter’s Lillian Rumsey’s Wheatshade Iridium Sky (Hallie), who recently had a joint win with Rosie and Anubus in a competition called ‘Strictly Glitterball’ where they had to search clothing, the floor and a room. Lillian said it was great fun with a great group of people and dogs. On another occasion she searched an office and a fire engine.
Since retiring Ch Arnscroft In Di Ana Jack L9 Ex R2 from showing Sarah has concentrated on doing scentwork with him, particularly Scentwork UK where he has worked up to almost the top level that is available at the moment. On 21st March the pair headed off to a Level 11 at Elton in Peterborough, Sarah said her aim was to keep Jack super happy so called clear on interiors when he had found a few before frustration stepped in (you call an area clear when you think there are no more hides in that area for the dog to find, and obviously at that level the hides are not that easy to find!) The last interior she called clear with 2mins left but there were 2 more to find. Jack found all the hides outside and ended up finding 11 hides of the 15 relatively easily, so Sarah said she was very proud of him.
I finish with some very sad news from Neil Hood that on 23rd March he had to say goodbye to his much-loved Geeza (Sturtmoor Eeza Geeza A Buhcafrey) far too early in his life, he was bred by Millie Lambert born on the 6th of August 2016, by Ch Arnscroft Di Na Mo Farrah Of Koromandel (JW) (SHCM)x Sturtmoor Dream Maker At Gazenorth. Neil said Geeza never really liked showing but picked up a RCC under Kerry Frost at Crufts in 2020 and had a couple of BOBs at Ch shows, but preferred life on the sofa, he was a pleasure to live with, and his temperament and natural happy outlook will be truly missed. So very sorry Neil they are never with us long enough.
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