NORWEGIAN BUHUNDS
The weekend the 23rd/24th November was such a busy one for Buhunds and their owners that I could not fit in all their activities in my notes last week, so I continue here. The same day as the Nordic, Jacque Cobb who lives in Someset got up at 5am and drove 90miles through wind and rain as storm Bert arrived, to the Grange Equestrian Centre in Okehampton Devon for a Rally competition, run by the ‘Make A Splash Dog Agility and Obedience Training Club’. She said as she got out of the car her orthopaedic cushion fell into a muddy puddle followed by her woolly hat which blew into another puddle, she wondered if had all been worth it. Well yes it certainly was. Every competitor starts with a perfect score of 200 and then points are lost as the handler and dog do various exercises on the course. 6 month old homebred Knytshall Love In The Mist(Misty) took part in her first rally Level 1 competition and gained a qualifying score, she lost 3 points doing the round but gained 3 bonus points by completing a special exercise and so end up with a score of 200 and a 5th place. Her mum Knytshall Eloise who is in Level 3 (there are 6 Levels and Veteran) lost 12 points doing her round but gained 9 Bonus points, and had a qualify score of 197. In Levels 1-4,175 is a qualifying score, and at all levels a score of 190 or above is an excellent score. Three Ex scores are needed to move up to the next level or 5 qualifying scores, so it was very definitely worth the trip and a fantastic start to her Rally career for young Misty, as in the end both mother and daughter ended up with not just a qualifying score but an Excellent one.
The next day Sunday 24th also in the West Country, Jacqui Walmsley took her Bunny aka Trelowen Amelia at Frostisen to the Dorset County Canine Society Members Limited show, held at The D’Urberville Centre in Wareham Dorset. Being a limited show no dog with a CC,CAC, CACIB or Green Star were eligible to enter but those with Reserves were allowed. The show was judged on the group system and Bunny was Best AVNSC Pastoral and G3, 2nd in a large Veteran stakes and 3rd in the Barnhill Donkeys Retreat Charity Stakes, winning prize money which Jacqui gave back to the Charity.
Also, on the 24th and much further north but still having to drive through heavy rain, Jenny Shorer -Wheeler and son Ollie headed off to the Sedgley & Gornal Canine Association Premier Show, held in the Prestwood, Argyle & Sandylands Centres on the Stafford County showground, they took with them 6 month old Inky aka Knytshall Thistle Ink It Up Koromandel, where under Matthew Oddie who gives CCs in 8 breeds across 3 groups she was BOB & BPIB winning a valuable JW point, and was later Puppy G4 under Lorraine Ratter who gives CCs in 10 Breeds over 3 groups. Being a Premier Show the Group placing would have qualified Inky for Crufts if she had not already qualified. Inky and Misty are litter siters and are both Black so more people and judges in the two disciplines now know that Buhunds come in Black!
I must apologise to Jo Gr who organised the last Bu Bumble in Peterborough as I had originally stated that it was organised by Lisa Strong, it is great to have different members organising the Bumbles.
I finish with the sad news of the passing of Sheila Body who lived in Dorset, many of you who have been in the breed for some years will remember her, she had Buhunds in the early 90’s through to late 2000s.I first met her with my first Buhund Okie aka as Ch Wolfen Just In Time at shows held in Wooton Bassett in Wiltshire, which is of course now Royal Wootton Bassett. Her affix was Dancingledge, in 1995 she bred her Gavallyns Gretel At Dancingledge who was born in 1992 to Celia Vines Ch Trelowen Jaudyn this mating produced 4 puppies, Shelia kept Dancingledge Chesil who she showed with her mum Gretel and Princess Droveway at Dancingledge who was born in 1998. Although Sheila did enter Ch shows, she preferred open shows and in those days there were more with breed classes.
Sheila very kindly left the club a small legacy in her will. The committee will decide how this can be used to remember Sheila.
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