NORWEGIAN BUHUNDS
I write these notes, but they are your notes I could not write them if I did not know what all you lovely people do with your dogs, obviously the Ch shows are easy to delve into but there are many other shows and activities you do, I often only find out about them by a posting on FB, so please when you post on FB, message me as well. We advertise the breed at Discover Dogs and with Bu Bumbles, but this is also a way to advertise the breed you never know who might read them! I was therefore very pleased to receive an article for the notes from Sarah Stonton. “Many of you who read this will be in the show world so know how much the miles add up competing, judging, stewarding etc. If you do more than one discipline, then it is worse especially when factoring in miles to regular training. Since 1997 I have competed in showing until 3years ago when I retired my only Champion Jack (Ch Arnscroft In Di Ana Jack). During many of those years I competed very successfully with my Loxy (Trelowen Andrea) in Agility with her reaching Grade 6 which is pretty good for a Buhund and a Novice Handler! Loxy also took me to Obreedience competitions when the sport first began, which led to Rally trials, then we had the Covid lockdown, I tried to do a bit of online scent training but was too busy working. When things started up a bit I started scent trials with her, then later with Jack. Since then Jack has reached Scentwork UK Levels 10/11 (you can compete at 2 levels at the same time) and is in National Nosework Association Excellent Level so a good, albeit steady worker who pulls me into searches, has fun then smiles at me on a loose lead coming out knowing he has done well. Some studies show that a cat’s general character/behaviour is more down to that of the father as opposed to the mother, irrespective of the nurture and environment after birth. My youngster Pixie (Wheatshade Snow Dreamer who is now 2years 1 month is lucky to have both parents successful in scent activities, her dam Darcy (Kata Syndattir Av Fjeldvidda At Wheatshade (Imp Nld) who is super and happy mantrailing and her sire to my Jack. We have racked up some miles in the last 8 days doing scent with some wonderful results, now she will have some time off. First was her first Level 7 which was on Sunday 19th at the Scout Hut, Sandridge near St Albans – literally on the edge of Heartwood Forest. She worked well in the 2 interior areas, narrowly missing 1 find by literally 1 second; the outside was trailers /wheelbarrows/old iron work on non-mowed grass where she preferred to picnic on the fresh salad, so needed rather too much nagging but came home with a lovely 3rd place. Friday 24th we went to a venue in Bedfordshire for what turned out to be her last Level 6. I have been there many times before with Jack but only once with Pixie. There are disused stables, with an open sided barn with a concrete floor, then various items in a menage. Outside and one interior were amazing, but the handler (me) let her down on the other inside by persuading her there was a find where there wasn’t! Another 3rd place and the coveted L6 Excellence rosette meaning she can no longer compete at this level. Sunday 26th saw us back again in Bedfordsshire in Sutton Village Hall, close to the RSPB headquarters at Sandy.This was for another Level 7, Pixie was pretty good but again I persuaded her to indicate on something without the appropriate scent, then called another wrong indication elsewhere. Learning to ‘read’ your dog’s behaviour and trusting whether the odour is real, or if your dog is indicating on a blank carrier with no scent on it is ongoing learning. End result another 3rd place, so Pixie is now halfway through her Level 7 journey – lots to train on and work on as a team but so much fun in the process. Regardless, Pixie is catching up with Jack as the high-level trials are also fewer and far between. Car booked in for its next MOT and service, if I tried to add up all the money spent on training, competing and fuel (especially at the moment) my computer would say “No!”
Thank you Sarah. No, you never want to add up the money. We would all probably be much richer if we didn’t do all the dog activities, but we would not have the joy of our dogs.
I finish with apologies to Jacque& Michael Cobb & Nancy Kent as I missed out in last week’s notes the fact that their Ch Koromandel Best Served Cold At Knytshall (Jamie) was short listed in the Veteran Group under Evan Ryan. Also, to Anne Marie Taylor who won the Adult Handling Association Classes (Working/Pastoral )46-59 years with Penny. The judge was Elise O’Connor.
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