NORWEGIAN BUHUNDS
Midland Counties Ch show has scheduled Buhunds without CCs since 2006; I was the first person to judge them and had an entry of 16. It has however been rather a roller coaster of a ride, as to start it was always the same week or weekend as our club Ch show. Midland Counties moves its dates for groups, the club show was always a Saturday so sometimes they clashed. Sometimes Pastoral day was a Sunday so the shows were back to back, but that was not popular either. It was therefore decided to move the date of our Ch show. Of course you can’t win, as that now clashes with Discover Dogs at Excel, which had to move from Earls Court when it was pulled down to make way for houses. We always appreciate shows that schedule the breed without CCs, because, as I have said before the show scene would be very sparse without them. Midland Counties though at the end of October with dark mornings and evenings and having to navigate the M6, especially if Pastoral day falls on weekdays, has meant that the entry is usually left to the dedicated few. This year the entry was also beset by other problems, one exhibitor who had several entered had problems at work and another was called in as a relief judge when another judge was taken ill. It was there for left to some quality bitches to carry the flag. We were second in the ring after Border Collies and went in on time at 12.30pm, our judge was Raye Parry who has attended and passed our Breed Seminar and gives CCs in Lancashire Heelers and 11 in the Toy Group. She found her BOB & BB in Sue and Laura Cale and Millie Lambert’s Ch/Ir Ch Arnscroft Kiss and Tell For Sturtmoor she was Top Buhund of the Year in 2014 and has 15CCs &10 RCCs. She is by Nor/Int Ch Kimura Didrik x Ch Kimura Frieda. She was later shortlisted in the group under Derek Smith. Millie Lambert’s Eezee Luvva was RBB she has a 1RCC and although now out of puppy, she cannot be beaten for top puppy in the breed this year. She is by Ch Arnscroft Di Na Mo Farrah of Koromandel x Sturtmoor Dream Maker at Gazenorth. Millie had made the long journey from Wales but as well as showing Eezee she also had her eye tested and I am very pleased to say she passed. The show always gets into the Halloween season with carved pumpkins on the judges tables. It is of course a totally inside show and there are numerous stands on the balcony, and a very good restaurant.
I went to the show as I had the honour of being invited to judge Norwegian Elkhounds also on the Thursday, I was thrilled that my BOB, like the Buhund, was shortlisted in the Group This is the only show where Pastoral & Hound Groups are on the same day. Elkhounds were in the ring at 9am so I went up the evening before as I did not think I could cope rush hour traffic on the M1 & M6. It also gave me time the next morning to sort out the half hour diversion, which was in place due to the road to the showground being closed for road works. Happily for committee the road was opened in time for the weekend. I met a lovely family in judges reception that as well as showing, breeding and judging dogs they breed and show rabbits and hares, I used to breed rabbits in my youth so I thought might go back to that when I am older!
A few days ago I received a letter from the KC asking me to thank everyone involved with Discover Dogs this year. Apparently visitor numbers were up 28% which is fantastic, let us hope that more people are realising the importance of finding out whether the breed of dog they fancy would actually suit their life style. Alysha Branchflower who helped out on the breed booth at DD recently took Knytshall Moon of Josephine who she co-owns with Jacqui Cobb to their first Rally competition, where they not only gained a qualifying score but were also 5th in the class, which is great news to have another Buhund doing Rally.
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