Kennel Gazette March 2018

March 2018 £5.00

The Old English Sheepdog is this month’s judges’ choice

Peter Purves on his 40th Crufts show The official publication of the Kennel Club Mar_cvr.indd 1

06/02/2018 11:51

Luisa Scammell/The Kennel Club ©

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Contents Opinion From a member of the Board

4

Crufts-the greatest dog show in the world; counting down to the highlight of the canine calendar

6 Viewpoint

Simon Parsons recalls how Crufts, for him, has never lost its excitement

7 Letters and news

Including the latest on the banning of electric shock collars in Scotland

Special features Celebrating Crufts

8

Peter Purves looks back at four decades of commentating at Crufts

14

The magic of Mary Ray

The doyenne of heelwork to music prepares for her performance in the lead up to Crufts Best in Show

17 Remember when...

18 From Chelsea to Crufts

Contents

March 2018

20 Oodles of Poodles

The Harwood family reveal the stories behind their top winning kennel

Health matters Breeding for health the Swedish way

22

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Peter P e Purves

How the Swedish Kennel Club has prioritised the physical and mental health of dogs

Judges’ choice The Old English Sheepdog

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14 Mary Ray

The breed standard, breed news, plus breed experts pick their three favourite show dogs

Art & culture The Old English Sheepdog

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How this prolific winner is showcased in the Kennel Club Art Gallery

Crufts was cancelled

How the ‘Gentleman in Scarlet’ are an integral part of the crowds at the world’s greatest dog show

The Kennel Club, Clarges Street, London W1J 8AB www.thekennelclub.org.uk Chairman: Simon Luxmoore Vice Chairman: Steve Croxford Chief Executive: Rosemary Smart Secretary: Caroline Kisko Customer services: 01296 318540 Petlog Main Number: 01296 336579 Petlog Lost & Found: 01296 737600 Library/Gallery: 020 7518 1009 Insurance Enquiries: 0800 369 9445 Editor: Carrie Thomas Editorial Manager: Sara Wilde Editorial Panel: Bill Moores (Chairman), Ian Gabriel, Philippa Gilbert, Robert Greaves, Revd. Bill King, Gay Robertson Editorial enquiries: kennel.gazette@thekennelclub.org.uk The Kennel Club, Clarges Street, London W1J 8AB

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Chelsea Pensioners

Subscriptions: 020 7518 1016 subs@kennelgazette.org.uk Kennel Gazette is published monthly on behalf of the Kennel Club by BPG Media www.bpgmedia.co.uk To advertise contact Andrea Walters a.walters@bpgmedia.co.uk Printed by Warners Midlands Plc Kennel Gazette is the monthly publication of the Kennel Club. Views and opinions expressed within the Kennel Gazette are the personal opinions of the original authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Kennel Club.

Cover photo: Ch/Int/Lux/Ned Ch Zottels You Don’t Fool Me, ‘Lionel’, bred and owned by Christina Bailey.

Sired by Ch LamedaZottel Flamboyant and Ch LamedaZottel Only You. Winner of 49 CCs, including three at Crufts with Best of Breed each time, 22 groups (including Crufts), five Best in Show all-breeds

and seven Reserve Best in Show all-breeds.

Lionel is the last son of current breed recordholder and top dog all-breeds in 1991 and 1992 Ch LamedaZottel Flamboyant and grandson of the current female record-holder Ch Zottel’s Miss Marple of Lameda, and all bred

by Christina. Lionel was especially known for his superb calm disposition and temperament.

On a personal level, if Christina could have just one dog back from heaven, he would be the one she would choose.

Photographer: ©Sue Domun was an experienced canine photographer who represented Dog World at shows around the country. She was based in the South East and died sadly young in 2007.

/The KennelClubUK @thekennelclubuk @TheKennelClubUK

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On my mind

Crufts – the greatest dog show in the world

Constantly evolving, Crufts remains the pinnacle of the canine calendar

By Gerald King

Photo: ©Yulia Titovets/The Kennel Club

C

Photo: ©Yulia Titovets/The Kennel Club

International Junior Handling competition

Breeders’ Competition final 2017

rufts is truly a multi-million pound international canine event that delivers a world class show on an annual basis. It welcomes canine competitors and visitors from around the world and, in 2017, attracted a record attendance of over 162,000 visitors.

I have had the privilege of being involved in Crufts for over 25 years, and throughout that time Crufts has followed the ethos of Charles Cruft by always trying to find new ways of enhancing not only the visitor experience but also for those people who watch on television and the world-wide web.

Crufts was first televised on the BBC in 1950 and continues today with Channel 4 as the broadcasting partner, with 14 hours of broadcasting scheduled in 2018 over five days. In 2008, Crufts developed its own Facebook page and, in 2009, Crufts was streamed for the first time and became the most watched channel on YouTube in the UK. In 2017, there were over 357,940 hours of watch-time clocked on the Crufts live internet stream during the show, up 40 per cent on the previous year.

Since the Kennel Club took over Crufts in 1948, it has had three different venues – firstly Olympia, then it moved to Earls Court in 1979, and then to the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in 1991 to celebrate the centenary show. These moves had been caused by the expanding interest of competitors and visitors in all canine activities, and with no suitable venue in the London area or the South East, the NEC Birmingham fitted all Crufts’ requirements.

In its 127-year history, Crufts has evolved from being purely a dog show to celebrating every aspect of the role that dogs play in our society today. This change was demonstrated in 1955 with the Obedience Championship Show seeing the first crossbreeds competing at Crufts. Crossbreeds are now a central part of the show, taking part in a wide range of competitions, including agility which was introduced in 1978 and will be celebrating its 40th anniversary at Crufts this year. Flyball

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On my mind

Photo: ©The Kennel Club

Last year saw the tenth anniversary of the Eukanuba World Challenge come to the UK and Crufts for the first time. This was a fantastic opportunity to have the entire dog world in one place celebrating the most successful and well-known dog show in the world, and at the same time hosting the distinctive Eukanuba World Challenge which placed the spotlight on the magnificence of pedigree dogs in one place and enhanced the partnership the Kennel Club has with Eukanuba, supported by the FCI. Eukanuba has deferred running a World Challenge in 2018 but I am pleased to announce they will be running it in 2019 at Crufts. We will, however, be hosting the finals of the Eukanuba UK Champion Stakes and the Eukanuba Pup of the Year competition at Crufts this year.

As I said at the beginning, we are always looking at different ways to enhance the competitors’ and visitors’ experience at Crufts following the ethos of Charles Cruft, and I can assure you that 2018 will do this too.

Crufts must remain the greatest canine event in the world as well as the biggest and best celebration of healthy, happy dogs, and the wonderful benefits they bring to society. ●

Gerald with Oregonian Snow Queen

GERALD KING

Photo: ©The Kennel Club

was added in 1990, and in 1992 Mary Ray first demonstrated her heelwork to music routine, which has resulted in heelwork to music competitions taking place at Crufts with a strong level of international competition. Over the years, Mary has wowed audiences just before Best in Show with her unique routines, and this year will be Mary’s final performance: surely nothing can replace it.

Over the years Crufts has introduced a number of new initiatives, from canine competitions to Discover Dogs, as part of the Kennel Club’s commitment to encouraging responsible dog ownership.

The popular Friends For Life competition was introduced in 2004 to give recognition to man’s best friend for bravery, support and companionship. In 2013, the final of the Scruffts competition was so popular that it moved from Discover Dogs in London to Crufts. There have been a number of first-time events at Crufts, these include: the Obreedience final in 2014, and the final of the Vulnerable British and Irish Breeds competition in 2016.

The Breeders’ Competition final was re-introduced to Crufts in 2017 after a two-year break and proved popular so will continue.

Photo: ©onEdition/The Kennel Club

The show attracts large crowds

Photo: ©onEdition/The Kennel Club

Photo: ©Yulia Titovets/The Kennel Club

Winners of the Vulnerable British and Irish Breeds competition 2017

Obreedience

Gerald and his wife, Diana, have been involved with dogs all their lives and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi has been their breed for over 50 years, since they bought a puppy while living in Australia and started showing. Both of them award CCs in the breed and are executive committee members of the Welsh Corgi League, for which Gerald has served as chairman.

Experienced in show management and administration since 1983, Gerald became a member of the Kennel Club in 1993 and was elected to the General Committee in 2003. He sits on a number of committees and boards, and is Chairman of the Kennel Club Training Board, Educational Trust and Young Kennel Club. Having been involved with Crufts since 1994 as a Group Steward through to Chief Steward, he was elected as Chairman of Crufts in 2009.

Prior to becoming involved with the Kennel Club, Gerald had spent most of his career at IBM, where he developed skills in people management, sales, marketing, finance, project management and good communication – all important skills both for the Board and, in particular, in running Crufts.

Gerald is Chief Steward for Windsor Dog Show and his interest in continuous personal development and voluntary work has seen him serve as Vice-Chairman of Governors at a primary school, as Advanced Skills Governor for failing schools and a Business Mentor for the Prince’s Trust.

Eukanuba Friends For Life winner 2017

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Viewpoint

Viewpoint

By Simon Parsons

W

hen this issue of the Kennel Gazette appears, we will no doubt all be gearing up for Crufts. I first attended the show, then at Olympia, in 1969, have been every year since 1971, and have missed just half a day in the past 40 years – I’m sure many readers will have been going there for even longer, in all sorts of capacities.

For me, it has become a sort of home from home, and even with the crowds and the various inconveniences of getting to the venue, the show has never lost its excitement. I can never understand those from the show world who are not seduced by its special glamour.

The smell of sawdust is perhaps my earliest memory of the London shows at Olympia and, from 1979, Earls Court. The former, especially, was dark and altogether Victorian but the balcony, home to many of the rings, gave them both a special atmosphere, in particular for those of us who didn’t have a big ring ticket and had to balance precariously to watch the group judging many feet below.

In the evening there was the chance to enjoy the extra-curricular activities of that part of London, and in every way the show had the status that only a capital city can give. But we will draw a veil over the impossible parking and the drive into the metropolis, and merely note that by the end of the 1980s, the overcrowding within the halls was truly scary.

So off we went in 1991 to the National Exhibition Centre, starting with the unforgettable centenary Crufts, still the biggest dog show ever held. The shape and layout of the venue may not be ideal, but nowhere else in the UK comes close to being able to host such a gargantuan affair, even though it’s now stretched to four days.

We all moan about getting around through the crowds of visitors, but, thankfully, most of them stick to the trade stand areas, and around the rings it is usually easier to move about. By now I’ve worked out the quickest way to get from one end to the other, and even if two of my favourite breeds, Bull Terriers and Basenjis, are invariably about as far away from each other as can be within the NEC, I usually manage to see a bit of the judging of each. Word soon gets around when there is a particularly exciting dog present that we haven’t seen before, and all the same faces belonging to those of us with an interest in all breeds can be found round that ring, or watching to see how the top winning dogs of the previous year get on in their breed rings.

For me the show has become immeasurably more fascinating since the

advent of overseas entries, which have also contributed to maintaining the quantity of dogs entered. They certainly make the judges’ task more interesting and serve to broaden the horizon of many British breeders.

This month’s show will see a few innovations, including the hosting of the always exciting Eukanuba Champion Stakes final, whose winner goes on to the World Challenge final, the latter hosted

by Crufts for the first time last year. The same company sponsors the Pup of the Year final which has only once before been held at Crufts, back in the early 1980s. In the Genting Arena, the best of the imported register breeds will no longer feel like a poor relation, confined to a lap of honour, but will compete on equal terms in the group.

During the last couple of years, the organiser’s more generous policy regarding exhibitors’ admission tickets has made it easier for us to bring someone along to look after the dogs while they are benched, a significant improvement at a show where so many of the public, not all of them with a great deal of ‘dog sense’, are insatiably curious to find out more about the breeds.

Anyway, let’s hope for a Crufts where the weather is kind, the roads aren’t too busy, everything goes like clockwork as usual and there are no incidents outside the organisers’ control to detract in any way from the great showcase of our world.

SIMON PARSONS Simon Parsons has owned a variety of breeds but his first loves are the Corgis.

He worked for Dog World newspaper for 39 years and awards Challenge Certificates in 13 breeds.

In 2014 he instigated the revival of the Kennel Gazette

Photo: ©Laura Kolbach/The Kennel Club

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Letters and news

Letters and news

Book corner

On 24th January, the Kennel Club welcomed the announcement by Cabinet Secretary for the Environment Climate Change and Land Reform, Roseanna Cunningham MSP, to ban the use of electric shock collars in Scotland.

The announcement followed a series of consultations, culminating in a meeting hosted by the Kennel Club during which welfare, veterinary and behaviour organisations came together to call on the Scottish Government to follow the example of the Welsh Assembly and ban the use of shock collars in Scotland. Petitions were also tabled by prominent MSPs including Maurice Golden and Ben Macpherson which attracted 25,000 signatures.

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said: “It is a huge relief to know that the Minister has taken on board the advice of leading academics, vets, behaviourists and welfare organisations. This sends the clearest possible message to dog owners that, far from being a harmless quick fix training solution, shock collars cause long

Photo: ©The Kennel Club

Electric shock collars banned in Scotland

term physical and psychological harm to dogs and that training them in this manner is unacceptable.

Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland said: “I’m glad that our campaigning has finally forced the SNP to see sense on this issue; that electric shock collars are harmful, and that the expert advice is clear that electrocuting dogs doesn’t help train them”.

Caroline continued: “Now is the time for the government in Westminster to step up and show their commitment to dog welfare.

Both Wales and Scotland are now committed to a total ban on the use of electric shock collars and it would be an extremely negative message to send about the importance of dog welfare if Westminster did not follow suit.”

LETTER Firstly, may I say how much I am enjoying the Gazette. I am afraid that for me, anything online just doesn’t interest me so much!

I would like to pick up on some comments you made in the Viewpoint column of the January 2018 issue, with regard to the composition of the Board.

I am a Working Trials and Obedience competitor and judge, and have been for very many years. Speaking from the obedience side, we are now fairly used to the fact that we are not represented, but this is not without trying. Mr Roy Page stood for election unsuccessfully on three occasions and three times also, Mrs Sue Garner (obedience) has been proposed and stood for election only to lose in the voting process. I would suggest that she (who would usefully fill the gender remarked on) would

January 2018 £5 00 £5.00

The king of the terriers: the Airedale Terrier is this month’s judges’ choice

never, in reality, stand a chance of being elected, however well qualified she is.

The reason would be as stated in the article, that the membership largely comprises of show people who will never have heard of Mrs Garner and therefore have little interest in her qualities or what she may bring to the table. The question as to whether there should be separate elections for each discipline, I suggest would never gain favour for exactly the same reason.

I have no axe to grind with the show fraternity but I would suggest that they do have a very heavily weighted presence in all things Kennel Club. Yes, I realise that they probably outnumber other disciplines so would earn that extra weight, but from the outside looking in, there is a considerable imbalance.

Jane Wood

Feedback... We would appreciate any feedback you may have on

the Kennel Gazette and we welcome reading your news and views. Please write to Kennel Gazette, Clarges Street, London W1J 8AB or email kennel.gazette@ thekennelclub.org.uk and put ‘Letters page’ in the subject line.

Staying together, the importance of dogs in care homes

The Kennel Club Library is Europe’s largest collection of canine literature and this book is a recent addition to its shelves A Dog’s Life

By Ann M Martin (Usborne Publishing Ltd) Reviewed by Young Kennel Club member Isla Cotton, aged eight

T

his book is about a stray dog called Squirrel. He starts life off with his mother and Bone, his brother.

They enjoy life hidden away from humans, until one day Squirrel becomes separated from his family. Squirrel has to find his own way in the world. He spends his days looking for food; he is good at hunting but in winter months it is a big struggle. Squirrel has lots of adventures; he meets wonderful and horrible people along the way. Will he survive and what will become of his life?

I enjoyed this book because it made me feel sad at times, and at other times it made me feel happy, it also made me feel scared.

It relates to me because I wonder where my cats go when outdoors. Do they travel long distances like Squirrel or not?

I would definitely recommend it to other readers, I would give it four stars because some of the words were very tricky for me and it was a bit scary at times. I am going to pass it on to my friend Alice as she LOVES dogs!

COMPETITION Usborne Children’s Books are kindly providing a free signed copy of Ann M Martin’s ‘How to Look for a Lost Dog’ to a lucky Kennel Gazette reader. If you would like to receive a free copy please send a postcard to Sara Wilde, The Kennel Club, Clarges Street, London W1J 8AB or email sara.wilde@thekennelclub.org.uk Deadline for the competition is Friday 30th March.

The official publication of the Kennel Club

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Personality profile

Celebrating Crufts Peter Purves looks back on four decades of commentating

By Bill Moores

A

s actor, TV presenter and commentator Peter Purves looks forward to being involved in his 40th Crufts show, Bill Moores caught up with him and asked him to share some of his memories.

“Actually I did have quite a lot of involvement with Crufts prior to my first official presentation at the show. On Blue Peter we had always invited the Best in Show into the studio on the Monday following Crufts, together with the two obedience champions. I used to do a sotto voce commentary on what the obedience champions had to do to win their titles.

And we would talk about the breed with the owner of the Best in Show — my first memory of that was Ch Burtonswood Bossy Boots, the St Bernard in 1974.

“In 1976, I was asked to devise an item for the TV show involving some children.

I ended up taking six youngsters to Olympia, and sent them off into the show with a card to find; ‘the tallest dog’, ‘the smallest dog’, ‘the dog with the waggiest tail’, ‘loudest bark’ etc. And the youngsters (two of whom were my own children Matthew and Chéo) brought their choice of dog back to an area in the show to talk about the animals with Stanley Dangerfield and me. It all worked pretty well.

“So, I was thrilled to be asked to join the team presenting Crufts for the BBC in 1978, immediately after I left Blue Peter, and where I introduced agility to the British TV audience. I remember the obstacles were very ‘Heath Robinson’ and unsophisticated, very different to how they have evolved today.

On the morning after the show, (it was not ‘live’ in those days), I visited Miss Howles the owner of the 1978 Best in Show winner, Ch Harrowhill Huntsman, a Wire Fox Terrier, for an interview that went into the recorded transmission a few days later.

I remember being thrilled to be a part of what was becoming an important TV event for the BBC.”

Photo courtesy of Peter Purves

As you look forward to your 40th Crufts what is your memory of your first show?

Peter with his Wire-Haired Dachshund Woody

Have you ever shown a dog at Crufts?

No, never and I have only twice considered doing so.

What breeds of dog do you own at the moment?

My wife, Kathryn, and I keep three Wire-Haired Dachshunds, one Miniature Wire-Haired Dachshund, and two Pekingese.

We have also adopted my mother-in-law’s elderly Cocker Spaniel. We bred two of the Dachshunds (Teddy and Dottie) who are now 10 and a half. We sadly lost their dam (Hattie) a year ago. We keep their sire (Lankelly Woody Valentine) — he is 12 and is one of our dogs that I could have been tempted to show — his Lankelly breeding means he is very handsome. The Miniature Wire-Haired Dachshund Danedacs Bobby Dazzler (Bertie) is fabulous, only about 15 months old, and great fun. The two Pekes, one black (Bea) and one cream/white, (Lillie) are eight and seven respectively.

Do you aspire to own any other pedigree breeds?

We have kept Dachshunds for 13 years now, and Kathryn has always had at least one Pekingese. We also kept wonderful Newfoundlands for 16 years. The Newfies really lived up to their reputation as gentle giants. Sadly we lost our only bitch, Mishka, when she was only five — she had a heart condition for which she had been having medication for three years. Our two boys both lived to 13. They were all wonderful with the Pekes. The last Newfie we kept was Kent, (Karazan Superman) and he was the son of the 1996 Reserve Best in Show Pouch Cove’s Repeat After Me at Karazan, and I would have shown him, but as a youngster, he slipped on a muddy hillside and ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament, and he was forever lame after that. A great shame because he had the most beautiful and typical Newfoundland movement and the locomotion of his back legs was a joy to see.

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Personality profile

“Dogs are fabulous creatures, and many of the breeds are truly beautiful”

Getting back to Crufts — what will be your responsibilities at the show in 2018?

Photo: onEdition/The Kennel Club©

“I never know precisely with which events I’ll be involved with, but primarily I will be commentating on three or more of the group judging, plus a number of other Main Ring events. You may remember when the BBC acrimoniously pulled out of the show in 2008 I was asked by the Kennel Club if I would commentate on the live streaming of the show. That was a daunting task — I was literally ‘on air’ on YouTube from 8.45 in the morning until the close of the show in the evening each day! Great fun, but truly exhausting. Luckily my involvement this year will be less than that. Since the expansion of the coverage by Channel 4 and More 4, my role has shrunk — I no longer cover the agility and flyball events, at least not for the TV show. But there is still a mass of commentating to do on the events that do not reach the TV programme.”

Peter introducing the winner of Friends For Life in the Main Ring at the NEC 2010

Over the years you must have been involved in many different presentations at Crufts. Were some more memorable than others?

Photo: Steven Bradshaw/onEdition/The Kennel Club©

“As I have indicated, my role has changed considerably over the years. In 1979 when the show moved to Earls Court, (I hated that venue), I was involved principally in the coverage of the obedience championships.

Together with the late great Muriel

Peter in the Good Citizen Dog Scheme ring

Pearce, we would sit on a special rostrum overlooking the ring, and watch the championships for two days solid. I did not get involved with the breed judging at that time. The programme was not transmitted ‘live’ and we were still in the pre-digital age of recording on tape, and all editing had to be done in a linear, and time-consuming fashion. The obedience programme was a half-hour special, broadcast a week after the show. Once agility got into its stride, the producers created a special show they called ‘Ag and Ob’. But that was always a memorable time, and it was lovely to do the commentaries of the agility as if it was ‘live’. I still try to see a little of the obedience championships each year, but logistically it gets very difficult.

“The show is now so enormous, and there is so much going on, it has changed out of all recognition. In 1990 I took on some of the responsibility for presenting part of the breed TV programme, as well as the obedience, and I learned such a lot in a very short time about how it all works.

When the show moved to the NEC in 1991, I was engaged, together with Angela Rippon, to be a presenter of the whole show. We were also the roving reporters, and writers. No-one wrote scripts for us, nor had they ever done, but the workload was now dramatically increased. It was the beginning of the most exciting period of my time with the programme. A couple of years later, Angela dropped out, and the fabulous Jessica Holm became my onscreen partner, and we had the best time of our lives. We literally presented the entire show for the next 12 years or so, joined for the group commentaries with, first, the late Mike Stockman, and then Frank Kane. We recorded items together and individually

from early morning until the show closed in the evening. We always found new ways of introducing the show — I can remember us being the voices of two very intelligent dogs exploring the show, (I was a Soft-Coated Wheaten, and I think she was a Poodle) and we made use of the ever-growing trade elements at the NEC. “Each year we had to find new ways of describing how a dog gets to be the Best in Show at Crufts, and one of my favourite items was when Jessica, Frank and I explained the route to the top with my six-month-old puppy, Hattie, a beautiful red Wire-Haired Dachshund. The feedback from Dachshund breeders and owners was mostly along the lines of, where did the puppy come from. Actually she was bred by a friend, whose Dachshund bitch we had looked after when she went on holiday, and Hattie was one of her puppies. No pedigree at all! But she was a lovely looking animal, and Frank was very fond of her. But, in reality, Hattie could never have qualified for Crufts in the first place!

At this time the show occupied five halls at the NEC, before eventually commandeering the Main Ring as well. The growth has been phenomenal, and with the advancement of technology we were eventually able to go ‘live’ with the Best in Show itself — a most exciting innovation at the time. It has never looked back.

“Nowadays, going ‘live’ is no big deal, and in an age when you can begin transmitting something which is still being edited, there seem to be no limits. It’s been great to have lovely Clare Balding taking over the reins and driving the TV show forward, and it is fun to sometimes join her in the special studio for an item where my knowledge, or lack of it can be demonstrated. Over the years

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Personality profile

I have enjoyed the company of some fabulous colleagues whom I consider longstanding friends — Frank Kane, Wayne Cavanaugh and Jessica — right up to the current presenting and commentary team.

Crufts has been a highlight of my career, and it does not seem 40 years since I first demonstrated the agility ‘weave poles’ and obstacles in 1978.”

It’s my experience that most people in the TV and news media have plenty of amusing anecdotes. Can you share any of your ‘Crufts moments’ with our readers?

That is a really tough one to answer. Of course I could heap deserved praise on the Kennel Club itself. The promotion of the show has been excellent over the years, and whoever devised the Discover Dogs area of the show has made a very significant change to the way the show is seen. Such a brilliant concept that has been one of the most popular parts of the show for the casual visitor. I can remember being near the entrance to Hall 3, wearing my Kennel Club badge on my jacket lapel, waiting for my camera crew to arrive, when an elderly woman with her husband in tow, came up to me and said bluntly: “Where are the dogs?”

As we were beside the YKC ring with an event in full swing, I started to point them out and she dismissed that with, “I don’t mean the circus stuff, I mean the dogs, the different ones!” I pointed her in the direction of Discover Dogs and she walked off without an acknowledgement. Her poor husband gave me one of ‘those’ looks as he passed!

“As far as the TV profile goes, the BBC producers of the show since I started; Neil Eccles, Steve Morris and Dave Pickthall, deserve a special mention for advancing the possibilities year after year. They were each absolutely on the ball, and for me it was a sad moment when the BBC pulled the plug. David Pickthall remains an Honorary Life Member of the Kennel Club. But Sunset + Vine, the current, admirable, and most excellent production company really came in and saved the day. There are too many people working behind the scenes to mention by name, but they are a wonderful team to work with, and they care that what is on the screen is the best it can be. With 13 hours of live TV in 2017, not to mention the all-day YouTube streaming, the show has never had more support. Thanks a million to the entire production crew.”

Photo: Steven Bradshaw/onEdition/The Kennel Club©

“There have been a few over the years, but I never kept a diary, and I have forgotten so

Over the years you must have also met some people who have been influential in changing the appeal of Crufts. Can you recall any significant names?

much. I particularly enjoyed the Miniature Poodle that disgraced itself on the green carpet as it approached the weave. I was commentating at the time, and through the chuckles said – “A Dog’s gotta do, what a dog’s gotta do”. The clip went viral on YouTube with more than a couple of million hits in a day. All the dog got for its pains was disqualification! Last year I had the privilege to be commentating on the rescue dog agility when a little Jack Russell, Olly, representing Dogs Trust, raced around the course in every possible direction except the right one. Fabulous stuff! My commentary contained more laughing than actual words and it became another massive YouTube hit — many millions have watched it.

Peter signing his book ‘Here’s One I Wrote Earlier’ - at the Kennel Club in 2009

Crufts has also attracted its fair share of well-known personalities over the years and presumably you have interviewed or worked with a number of these?

“This is one of those embarrassing moments, because, yes, over the years I have met a whole lot of celebrities, but my recall is so poor! For example, there was recently a documentary on Bobby Charlton at 80.

I had recorded the programme and not watched it, and a close friend emailed me to say how jealous he was that I had interviewed the great man. I had no recollection of the

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Photo courtesy of Peter Purves

Personality profile

Exercising the dogs on the beach

event until I watched the show, which is horribly embarrassing, because then I remembered I had played golf with him a couple of times and had talked to him at a dinner.

Over the years I have met, talked to and enjoyed the company of Paul O’Grady, a wonderfully passionate dog person. I also remember interviewing Cilla Black when she brought her bitch and a litter of Briard puppies into the Blue Peter studio — if I am not mistaken these were amongst the very first Briards in the UK. I have recently been working with a number of the stars of Countryfile and I worked at the Game Fair with Adam Henson a few years ago.

I remember when the very talented Matt Baker came to ‘learn’ to be a commentator at Crufts!

In these days of increased and diverse demands on individual and family leisure time why do you think Crufts continues to attract the crowds?

The first thing to say is, what’s not to like!

Dogs are fabulous creatures, and many of the breeds are truly beautiful. There is so much variety and diversity that there is literally a dog that suits everyone. Remember Crufts is unique amongst dog shows. It has almost become a show business event.

The crowds flock into the arena, with long queues waiting for seats, to watch dogs dancing with people, police dogs, gundog demonstrations and a host of other superb events, not to mention the flyball and agility competitions.

The quality of entertainment in the finals of the heelwork to music and freestyle is

arguably as good as many a TV variety show or competition. A total of 160,000 people through the doors at the NEC over the four days is sensational and in 40 years there has never been a dip in the enthusiasm with which people approach the show. It was big enough in its own way back in 1978, but I doubt if anyone could have foreseen the growth that has taken place in 40 years. With great organisation and the power of the magic box in the corner of the living room, I can’t see it failing to maintain its success.

I feel very privileged to have taken part in its evolution.”

Peter, thanks for your time and patience in answering our questions and best wishes on your 40th Crufts and may you continue to be part of the Kennel Club’s prestigious event. ●

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Health matters

Breeding for health the Swedish way The 300,000 members of the Swedish Kennel Club (SKK) include all breeders of registered pedigree dogs, who are not allowed to breed anything other than recognised breeds. A fundamental priority for the club is the improvement of health, both physical and mental of all dogs, administered in partnership with the breed clubs. In this article Pekka Olson, President of the Swedish Kennel Club, DVM, PhD h.c explains how the system works in Sweden.

Photo: © Lotta Bengtsson

Care for the breed may include genetic health programmes regarding both physical and mental health

Photo: © Lotta Bengtsson

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here are approximately 800,000 dogs in Sweden and a large proportion of the Swedish dogs (67 per cent) are pedigree dogs registered with the Swedish Kennel Club (SKK). This is a very fortunate situation when it comes to breeding, as we have extensive information about a large part of the Swedish dog population. There are more than 340 breeds registered with SKK. However, many of the breed populations are very small, sometimes with only a few dogs in the country, which makes an international collaboration essential for sustainable breeding.

Breeding dogs is the foundation of the SKK’s activities, like in any other kennel club. Already in the statute’s first paragraph the importance of breeding is stated through the text, ‘to raise interest in, and promote breeding of mentally and physically healthy, working, hunting pedigree dogs with typical exterior characteristics’. Dog breeding, and hence the development of dog breeds,

The Swedish Kennel Club register 50,000 dogs per year with 15,000 active breeders

is based on breeders’ choice of breeding animals. Genetic variation is a prerequisite for dog breeds and their ability to adapt for future requirements. Therefore, breeding and development of pedigree dogs should be targeted, long-term and sustainable.

Sustainable in this context means that breeding does not lead to shortcomings in health, mentality or function or impairment of the breed’s genetic variation.

All breeders who are members of the SKK have to register all their puppies with the organisation. The SKK register 50,000 dogs per year with 15,000 active breeders. Like in many other countries there are only a few breeders that breed two or more litters per year (1,000), 5,000 breeders breed one litter per year and 7,000 breeders breed one to two litters during a five year period.

Breeding must be done in accordance with the animal welfare legislation and SKK’s rules. Breeding is not allowed with dogs with a serious illness or disability. A mating combination that, from available

information would increase the risk of serious illness or disability in the offspring should be avoided. The SKK is responsible, in co-operation with the breed clubs, for the development of breeds. This includes establishment of new breeds or new populations of breeds already present in other countries and reconstruction of breeds that, as a result of small populations, are in need of this.

Genetic health Breed development must be characterised by a targeted and long-term adaptation of the breed to the requirements that can be made on an conformationally and functionally good dog with good health.

Care for the breed may include genetic health programmes regarding both physical and mental health as well as breeding programmes at the population level.

Combinations of these actions may apply in individual breeds.

To be able to help our breeders to fulfil all

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Health matters

high-quality demands on their breeding, SKK is providing them with the right set of tools.

These tools consist of health programmes, availability of test results, breed specific breeding strategies (RAS) prepared by the breed club and approved by SKK and veterinary data from insurance companies.

Since the first health programmes were decided, the hip dysplasia programme and some of the eye programs in 1979, it was also decided that the dog owner must sign an agreement at the veterinary clinic which stipulates that all results for the individual dog, from health examinations in an SKK health programme can be made public on a dog level regardless of the result. By agreeing to this when the health programmes were initiated the breeders did accept that this is for the good of the breed at large. Almost every breeder also understands that on occasion dogs from their own breeding might come up with a result that indicates that a specific dog cannot be used for breeding. The compliance to the health programmes is close to 100 per cent.

For centrally organised health programmes, the disease or defect must be regarded as inherited. The disease or defect should also have a serious impact on the dog’s quality of life and the diagnostics to be well proven and recognised. Based on screening results, one can state that the dog has, or does not have, the defect or disease. The application for a health programme has been processed and endorsed by the breed club.

There are three levels on the SKK health programmes. The first level is a nonmandatory registration of test results that

can be recorded centrally at the SKK and publicly available. The second and third levels are mandatory levels where the test results must be known before mating. For the third level the test result must also be at a defined level. If breeding dogs from a breed with either a level 2 or level 3 programme that are not in compliance with the rules, the offspring might not be registered, or be blocked from breeding.

The SKK open registries, the Breeding Records service, constitutes a valuable source of information for breed clubs, breeders and dog owners. It includes data for both individual dogs and for each breed as a whole. Breed statistics are available on results from health programmes, behaviour assessments, official competitions, and dog shows, as well as pedigree information.

For each dog, individual records as well as statistics for littermates, full-sibs and offspring are available. Furthermore, the pedigree and coefficient of inbreeding is shown for each dog. More recently, predicted breeding values (EBVs) and genetic test results for some health traits are also included. The service includes an option to calculate the expected inbreeding coefficient for offspring resulting from a planned mating.

The work with the breed specific breeding strategies (RAS) was started in 2001 and in 2003 breeding strategies were available for many breeds. Today all breeds have a RAS. Earlier there was a lot of focus on single diseases, now the breed specific breeding strategies provide a more holistic approach to breeding. The breed clubs create the RAS-documents in collaboration with SKK.

The main topics of RAS are population statistics, history, health, behaviour, function and morphology. The documents include information and statistics, goals and strategies. One goal is to focus more on diseases or problems that are not easily measured or screened. Furthermore, health questionnaires/surveys and registries maintained by the breed clubs themselves provide useful information. The strategies shall prioritise breeding that benefits the offspring’s likelihood of a long life without health problems, as well as favour an exterior characteristic that results in good function and prevents the occurrence of undesirable features of the offspring.

The RAS should also work to reduce the number of breeding restrictions, which are not related to health of the dogs but limits the possibilities for effective utilisation of existing breeding materials; if necessary remove barriers between breed variants or breeds, which are based on differences in individual genes such as colours, coat and size.

The RAS documents are revised every five years. Among the benefits of the RAS documents is the fact that they create an ongoing discussion in the clubs, making it easier to make informed decisions and reduces the risk of hasty decisions.

A large proportion, (90 per cent), of Swedish dogs have health insurance. This also generates data on veterinary care and mortality that can be used for research and breeding decisions. The largest pet insurance company in Sweden (Agria Pet Insurance) provides breed-specific statistics, so called breed profiles, for over 100 breeds comprising incidence rates and risk calculations based on veterinary care events and mortality. In the statistics the rate/risk of each breed is compared with all breeds combined. Agria provides this free to the breed clubs. For more information please visit DogWellNet.com. ●

To be able to help our breeders to fulfil all high quality demands on their breeding the Swedish Kennel Club are providing them with the right set of tools

Pekka worked with companion animals at the faculty of veterinary medicine from 1976 – 1996. He worked in different positions within Agria as; veterinary manager, marketing manager, managing director of Agria’s business in the UK. Most recently Pekka held a position as manager of Agria veterinary strategies.

Pekka has also been the author or co-author of 21 scientific peer reviewed articles

© Måns Engelbrektsson

Photo: ©Måns Engelbrektsson

PEKKA OLSON

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Special feature

The magic of Mary Ray Celebrating 21 years performing to thousands in the lead up to Crufts Best in Show

Family outing, Mary is the little girl holding onto the pram

Mary and Pepsi

Mary and Dave’s first dog Sasha with their new puppy Mr Chips

her mother still wouldn’t let her have a dog, which led Mary the following year to set up a ‘pet club’ in some of the sheds at the bottom of their very long garden. The very enterprising Mary recruited her friends into the club and charged them a membership to cover the feed costs. The ‘zoo’ consisted of rabbits, chickens, guinea pigs and Mary’s very own lamb, the latter which could often be seen walked by her around the village on a dog lead. This was a great hit with all the children of the area, but sadly not with some of the neighbours who complained to the council, and the lamb had to be re-homed.

Holidays for the family were few and far

between, but when money allowed, it was to her parents’ home town of Middlesbrough and the beach at Redcar they headed to.

Never could the young Mary have imagined where her love of dogs would take her in the world in the future.

A surprise turn of events happened when Mary was 10 years old. Her older brother had a litter of Lurchers and at long last her mother relented and Mary had her first dog, ‘Pepsi’. Pepsi became Mary’s best friend and they were only separated when she was at school. The feeling was mutual, as invariably when the home bell rang Pepsi would be there in the school grounds waiting for her.

Photo: ©onEdition/The Kennel Club

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he phenomenon that is Mary Ray, her dogs, and what they have accomplished, is legendary. For 21 years Mary and her faithful companions have taken to the Main Ring to perform a Heelwork To Music (HTM) routine during Best in Show at the biggest dog show in the world, Crufts. However, this year sees it to be her last, and as we marvel at the stunning routines and appreciate the hours of training that goes in to these fabulous productions, have you ever given a thought as to how it all began?

Born in Rugby in the 1950s, Mary has had her roots firmly based there ever since, although her talents have taken her to many exotic places around the world.

One of eleven children, she had an agreeable childhood. Her father Jake worked as a fettler, a job which entailed long hours, dirty and hard work. He was a proud man and never claimed any benefits to aid the maintenance of his family. Mary was named after her mother, an incredible woman whose mission was to bring up the children to be polite and respectful, which she did admirably. Making sure they were all clean, fed and well clothed in what was a very working class family with only one wage, was a formidable task.

As a young girl and even with all her siblings, animals were always Mary’s first love and she longed for a dog of her own, but her parents forbade it. So much did she want a dog in her life that at the age of seven Mary started walking dogs for neighbours.

Even after showing this commitment

Photo courtesy of Mary Ray

Photo courtesy of Mary Ray

Photo courtesy of Mary Ray

By Philippa Gilbert

Mary with Levi and judge Jen Jessop, winner of the Crufts 2013 dog Obedience Championships

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Photo courtesy of Mary Ray

because, (she felt), she came from a large family. Everyone at school knew Mary was animal mad so she was put in charge of the small animal shed with rabbits, gerbils and guinea pigs, and for a while a lamb that came from a farmer friend of hers.

Farmer Jack also introduced Mary to riding, and when she was 12 she started to ride the ponies he had purchased from the Welsh sales. This instilled the desire for her to own a pony, so she started babysitting and found an evening job in a fish and chip shop to accelerate her funds. By 1969 Mary had saved £20 and when 14 years-old she accompanied Jack to the auctions where she purchased her first pony which she named, ‘Frisky’. In the following years she owned a number of horses but they never detracted from the love of her canine companion Pepsi.

Being born in August, Mary actually left school at the tender age of 14. There are very few things in her life she regrets, but not having a better education is definitely one.

After a brief try as a factory worker Mary landed a position as a packer in the food department of a local supermarket. A quick learner, she soon was assisting with fresh food preparations. Impressed with her turn of hand she was offered the opportunity to train and become a qualified fresh food manager. Bishops Food Stores were forward looking and on completion of her tests at the headquarters in London she became the company’s first ever female fresh food expert. Mary still has, and treasures the congratulations letter from the MD on this achievement. The Rugby branch of Bishops Food Stores had a few management problems in the fresh food section, so they sent an expert in to sort it out; his name was Dave Ray and he was the man destined to become Mary’s future husband.

The couple married in 1978 and having

Mary with a new born foal at Jacks farm

Mary in her teens where she owned a number of horses, but they never detracted from the love of her canine companion Pepsi

Photo courtesy of Mary Ray

Mary has helped a huge number of owners onto the correct path

made a conscious decision not to have children, decided to get their first dog, a Lurcher called ‘Sasha’. Needing to instil some discipline Mary found there was a dog training club in the local village hall every Thursday evening and she joined the following week. Since then she has been a very active member and trainer at Rugby Dog Training Club, and has helped a huge number of owners onto the correct path in various disciplines.

Mary’s next step was competitive obedience and just four years after joining Rugby Dog Training Club she won her first Championship Obedience competition.

In 1984 she competed for the first time in the Crufts finals, and, as they say, the rest is history. Forty years later her obedience record is impressive to say the least, and speaks for itself; four times winner of the Crufts Obedience Championships, has owned eight obedience champions, winner of 147 Championship Obedience classes and 111 reserve places.

HTM is now popular throughout the world and we have Mary to thank for that. In 1990 John Gilbert, a good friend of Mary’s, asked her to appear at a seminar he would call, ‘An Evening with Mary Ray’. Back then she was shy and reserved about standing up and talking to a room full of people; not so now though! John was so keen to get the evening off the ground that he did a ‘Michael Parkinson’ and interviewed her about her training methods. To put her at ease he had asked her to devise two competitive four minute routines, to which he accompanied her by playing ‘Eye of The Tiger’ for her Collie, Toddy and ‘Take My Breath Away’ for Roxy the Tervueren Belgian Shepherd Dog. The applause was deafening and everyone went away saying they had seen HTM. The event was repeated in 1992 and on both occasions Bill Hardaway, a senior member of the Kennel Club, was in the audience.

Captivated by what he saw, Bill decided to introduce the spectacle to Crufts within the ‘special events ring’. By now of course Mary had established more moves along with appropriate choreography into the routines.

That is when HTM gripped the heart of the nation and really took off as a sport.

It wasn’t only in the UK either. Since 1992 Mary has travelled to the far corners of the world training in the various disciplines she is famous for. She has trained obedience, HTM and agility in such places as; Holland, South Africa, USA, Singapore Australia and New Zealand to name but a few.

Back in England preparation for the Crufts big day starts in the autumn of the previous year, with Mary finalising the choice of music for the performance. The secret is

Mary in her riding days

Photo courtesy of Mary Ray

So it’s no surprise that it was with Pepsi that Mary started her dog training and he was just brilliant at it.

Secondary school beckoned and with it some bad habits, such as smoking, which sadly halted one of Mary’s ambition of becoming an athlete, as she was a very good runner. This just added to the feeling of being ‘looked down on’ by the teachers

Photo courtesy of Mary Ray

Special feature

Mary and her desire to own ponies

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Photo courtesy of Mary Ray

Photo: ©Yulia Titovets/The Kennel Club

Special feature

Mary performing at 2014 Crufts Best in Show with Richard Curtis

Mary with her 2015 Crufts Best in Show routine

Obedience Championships at Crufts, so do look out for her!

Has she achieved everything she could wish for?

Yes she says, well save perhaps winning the lottery! ●

Mary is always trying to innovate, and this year we will see something a little different again. Accompanied by her top dogs Lyric and Frankie she assures us that this is a performance not be missed.

HTM competitions have become extremely popular at Crufts, and each year Crufts hosts the finals of HTM, Freestyle and International Freestyle. Competitors travel from all over the world to compete on the famous green carpet and in front of an audience of thousands, so standards are very high. We owe Mary a big thank you for what she created and she will definitely be missed in the lead up to deciding who will be the 2018 Crufts Best in Show. This year Mary will also be competing in the dog and bitch

PHILIPPA GILBERT A Tibetan Terrier owner since the 1980s, Philippa is an exhibitor, ABS breeder and Chairman of the Tibetan Terrier Breeder & Owners Club as well as owner of The Wig Store Ltd

Photo: ©Yulia Titovets/The Kennel Club

Photo: ©The Kennel Club

Photo: ©Yulia Titovets/The Kennel Club

to combine a known track with a good theme, enabling the use of props, plus it must be sympathetic to her and the dog’s movement.

January sees the routine being created, incorporating existing and new moves, however it’s the choreography and accuracy that takes the most time to perfect. Hall 5 was the venue of the Main Ring in 1997 where Mary first ‘strutted her stuff ’. Now situated in the Genting Arena she feels that there has been a vast improvement in the lighting, sound system and the best ever non-slip carpet, plus not to mention the atmosphere.

All of which will culminate in the much awaited spectacular performance that is HTM at Crufts 2018.

Mary with Lyric and Frankie during the popular 2017 Best in Show routine

Mary competing in obedience

Mary with her 2016 Best in Show routine

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Remember when...

Remember when

Breaking news: Crufts cancelled!

By Glenway Dymock

Imagine the shockwaves which reverberated throughout the world of dogs when it was announced that Crufts was to be cancelled just four days before the show was due to begin. The year was 1954 and the cause of the Kennel Club’s woes was an electricians’ strike at Olympia.

Crufts had resumed in 1948 once war was over, effectively replacing the Kennel Club’s own show (first held 18 years before the first Crufts) when the Club bought the rights to the show after flamboyant founder Charles Cruft died in 1938. Both shows had been interrupted during the war years.

In the immediate post-war period, the February cover of the Kennel Gazette was traditionally reserved for the winner of BIS at Crufts, but in 1954 that idea had to be abandoned. Photographs of the first four BIS winners after the war, when the Kennel Club took over the running of the show, were featured instead. Pictured are the Cocker Spaniel, Sh Ch Tracey Witch of Ware, winner in 1948 and 1950; Welsh Terrier, Ch Twynstar Dyma-Fi, 1951; Bulldog, Ch Noways Chuckles, 1952; and Great Dane, Ch Elch Elder of Ouborough, 1953. No Crufts was planned for 1949 as the date was due to change from October to February in 1950

Before the Kennel Club show was given a Crufts makeover, it had been held at well-known London landmarks including Olympia and Alexandra Palace, and in fact it was Olympia which came to the ‘rescue’ of the Kennel Club when it was looking for a venue for its show when its home for a number of years, the Crystal Palace, was destroyed by fire in 1936 (see the September 2017 edition).

In 1954, the news of the cancellation of Crufts broke on the BBC at 1pm on the Monday, and the show was due to be held on the Friday and Saturday. Sunday dog shows in Britain were unheard of until a number of years later. There were no computers

or photocopiers in those days, so it speaks volumes about the efficiency of the era that Kennel Club staff managed to send out letters to all exhibitors, judges, stewards and trade stand holders on the day the news broke.

Most of these people received their letter the very next day and it was later reported that just one exhibitor turned up at the show – an Australian Terrier breeder from the Irish Republic who had no doubt started her journey before her letter was delivered.

Crufts Chairman, Roger Boulton, explained in the dog papers that the Grand Hall at Olympia had been occupied by the Bertram Mills circus and fun fair, and the National Hall by the Hotel & Catering exhibition, and that the strike by the electricians made it impossible to move these exhibitions out in time to let Crufts in. Not even a direct appeal to the trade union by the Kennel Club was able to avert this regrettable situation.

Each exhibitor – more than 5,000 of them – received a refund by postal order.

Prior to this, the last all-breeds championship show to be cancelled due to industrial action was that of the Ladies Kennel Association in 1926, when transport and other difficulties compelled the show to be abandoned. Before the Crufts fiasco in 1954, the only large show to be cancelled in the post-war era was Metropolitan and Essex, which voluntarily removed itself from the calendar the year before.

German Shorthaired Pointer and Chihuahua exhibitors entered for Crufts in 1954 were probably the most disappointed of all, as their breeds were due to compete for their first ever set of CCs. There were also overseas visitors from as far away as Australia and Canada who suddenly found themselves in London with more spare time on their hands than they had anticipated.

The cancellation of Crufts in 1954 was a very costly affair for the Kennel Club.

The thousands of catalogues had to be destroyed and the only two copies which remain, one for each day, are housed in the Kennel Club Library and stamped: ‘NOT TO LEAVE 84 Piccadilly, under any circumstances’, the Kennel Club’s address at the time on the corner of Clarges Street

There was no Facebook in those days to alert travellers to the fact that the plans of thousands of dog people had been thrown into chaos.

In the immediate aftermath of the cancellation of Crufts, the Kennel Club did look into the possibility of holding the show later in the year, but it soon became apparent that such an undertaking would involve major changes to the show calendar, which would impact upon other shows. There was also the problem of trying to secure another date with the very busy Olympia venue and so the idea was abandoned.

All the catalogues for Crufts, including the ill-fated 1954 fixture, are available to view on the Kennel Club website, so why not amuse yourself by imagining which dog might have won the coveted Best in Show cup that year?

Visit the Kennel Club website at www.thekennelclub.org.uk/our-resources/ the-library/crufts-catalogues/

In 1954 the cancellation was reported widely by the national press. The Kennel Gazette reproduced a number of banner headlines and cartoons at the time

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Special feature

From Chelsea to Crufts

Photo courtesy of the Royal Hospital Chelsea Group

Identifiable by their famous scarlet uniforms the Chelsea Pensioners enjoy an annual outing to the world’s greatest dog show

Veteran soldiers

New infirmary

King Charles II had the foresight to recognise the need for a home to be built in London where the veteran soldiers of his army could live safely and be cared for in their retirement. A Royal Warrant in 1681 authorised the building of the Royal Hospital on a 66-acre site adjacent to the River Thames in Chelsea — an area of beautiful, unspoilt countryside in those days. Sir Christopher Wren was commissioned to design it. Construction started in 1686 and by adding two additional quadrangles to the east and west of the central court it made a handsome home for 476 veterans when it opened in 1692, an enormous achievement

In the early part of the 19th century, Sir John Soane designed and built a new infirmary on the site of the current National Army Museum. It was destroyed by bombing in the Second World War. Both World Wars sadly caused loss of life and considerable damage to the Royal Hospital generally. Such were the scarcities of materials that repairs to the bombed East Wing in 1940 were made from leftover wood used to repair war damage to the House of Commons. It is noticeable that this wood is of a lighter hue to that previously used by the Royal Hospital.

A replacement infirmary was built to the east of the main Royal Hospital building in

Photo: Martin Hill/The Kennel Club©

in just six years — no JCBs or RSJs in those days! The gardens were magnificently set out and included canals, gazebos and summer houses, amid the beauties of green lawns and vibrant flower borders. Unfortunately, these were demolished when the road forming the Chelsea Embankment, as we know it today, was constructed between 1850 and 1868.

There is a quiet irony in the fact that, since 1913, the Royal Horticultural Society has held its world famous annual Chelsea Flower Show on the very same parcel of land where those original magnificent gardens once flourished.

A party of Chelsea Pensioners at Crufts in 2017

Julia’s children James, age six, and Augusta eight wearing the shakos with Joan Nicholson meeting the Chelsea Pensioners at Crufts in1988

Photo ©Julia Iles-Hebbert

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he 1980s saw the Kennel Club invite the first party of In-Pensioners from the Royal Hospital Chelsea to visit Crufts at Earls Court. This happy tradition has continued year on year and it is always a privilege to be part of the welcoming team.

Easily recognisable and resplendent in their scarlet coats, the Chelsea Pensioners, as they are more fondly called, represent a wealth of history, serving our nation on battlefields across the world and it was for those ‘broken by age or war’ that the Royal Hospital Chelsea came into being.

Photo ©Julia Iles-Hebbert

By Julia Iles-Hebbert

Meeting a contributor to the Discover Dogs stands

1961 but was demolished to provide a state of the art care home in 2008, designed by Sir Quinlan Terry. It was named the Margaret Thatcher Infirmary and is staffed by an excellent medical team of GPs, a matron, nurses, therapists and carers.

Breakfast at the White House The Royal Hospital is governed by a Board of Commissioners under the Letters Patent issued in 1702, requiring Commissioners to be distinguished in their professional fields. The Board’s purpose is ‘to guide the development of the Royal Hospital, ensuring the care and well-being of the Chelsea Pensioners who live there and safeguarding the historic buildings and ground which it owns in trust’. The facilities available are of the highest standard and offers each Chelsea Pensioner every comfort and consideration.

For such a community to thrive and work

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the shakos and medal ribbons and insignia of rank are worn. When ‘at home’ the veterans are encouraged to wear a more relaxing blue uniform.

with dark blue tweed trousers bearing a thin scarlet line running down the outside seam and a black peaked hat known as a shako.

On ceremonial duties, tricornes replace

Founder’s day

Shakos and tricornes Until 2009 only male candidates had been admitted as In- Pensioners. In March that year, 317 years after the founding of the Royal Hospital, the first two women ex-service personnel were welcomed as In-Pensioners, yet, interestingly, the hospital records give the name of another woman, one Mrs Christian Davies, who ‘was admitted to Chelsea Hospital circa 1717 and was awarded a pension for her service in the army and the wounds she received in the service of the King. She died in 1739 and was buried in the Royal Hospital Chelsea with full military honours’. The uniform worn is the same for all veterans. When out on official visits they wear the distinctive long scarlet coats

The ‘Gentlemen in Scarlet’

By Jean Lanning International icons the ‘Gentlemen in Scarlet’ have, for the past 30 years, become colourful and highly respected visitors to Crufts. It is no exaggeration to say the public adore them. I know many visitors attend annually just to meet up with them and exchange stories of long ago with these veteran soldiers. Many bring their young families to have a special photo for the family album.

Now a Crufts tradition, it was the brainchild of Crufts Chairman Sir Dudley Forwood, (1973 –1987). In Sir Dudley’s retiring year, he proposed to the General Committee that an invite should be sent to the Chelsea Pensioners, which was welcomed with great enthusiasm by the committee at the time. With the assistance of Baroness Trumpington, contact was made with the Royal Hospital to make things happen. It was agreed that parties of Chelsea Pensioners (to be restricted to a maximum of 10) travel by minibus from the Royal Hospital Chelsea to Crufts

A watercolour of Chelsea Pensioner Christmas James Williams sitting on a low wall in the piazza at Crufts by artist Stuart Mallard in 1997, owned by Jean Lanning. As a young soldier Christmas James Williams served in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment as a Major Montgomery and later became Field Marshall Montgomery. He passed away at the Royal Hospital Chelsea on the 4th December 2000 just short of his 93rd birthday which was Christmas Day.

and be returned. They were hosted for the day and watched the groups and Best in Show from the president’s box. Sir Dudley made a wise choice in asking Joan Nicholson, a successful breeder of Great Danes and Dachshunds, if she would be the official host, which she accepted and was supported by a small band of helpers.

It was around 1996 when Joan was not in the best of health, and after discussion with Sir Dudley she decided to invite me to take the ‘hot seat’. A formidable task, but a great privilege and one I have continued to enjoy over the past 20 years. There are some excellent photos by David Paton taken in 1997 with my official helper John Bishop, an honorary member of the Kennel Club. However, things were changing fast and within a few short years it was no longer a small party of 10 in a minibus, but a coach and with a much larger contingent of Chelsea Pensioners. It soon became evident to me that we needed a stronger team to host what had now grown into a bigger event. At my suggestion we invited on board Martin and Julia Iles-Hebbert.

Martin being retired military, which was an

The Sovereign’s mace was presented to the Royal Hospital in 2002. It is used on ceremonial occasions, including the annual Founder’s Day Parade, to mark the birthday of King Charles II on or near the 29th May. It is a splendid and colourful occasion.

Two other annual ceremonies take place at Christmas time. The first is the Ceremony of the Christmas Cheeses started in 1692 when local cheesemongers were asked to give sufficient cheese for the In-Pensioners to be sustained over the festive season. This is now organised by the Dairy Council. The other, which began in 1949, is the Christmas Cake Ceremony; the cake is a gift from Australia to the UK and symbolises the enduring friendship between our two countries.

Gratitude Currently, the Royal Hospital is home to around 300 British Army veterans who have served in Korea, the Falklands, Cyprus and the Second World War. Some may not have served in campaigns but all know what it means to be a soldier and the potential sacrifice that it entails. King Charles’ belief that the country owes a debt of gratitude to its old soldiers continues to ‘inform the spirit’ of the Royal Hospital to this day. ● ideal choice and Julia, who has continued to be a very valuable anchor. Now, the Gentlemen in Scarlet are one of the great treasures of Crufts and long may they continue.

I would like to thank Kennel Club Secretary Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Librarian and Collections Manager Ciara Farrell and John Rochester, the Heritage Manager at the Royal Hospital for their valuable assistance in researching the Kennel Club archives. ●

Photo: ©David Paton

in harmony it is understood that certain values, including, those of companionship and selflessness, are respected by the Chelsea Pensioners, the staff and visitors.

Camaraderie and banter reflecting army life play an important part. There is a high quality of care and friendship that ripples through the hospital, with a club, a bar, lounges and a restaurant; there are allotments and lawn bowls too. Stories we hear from those visiting Crufts confirm that most In-Pensioners live very busy lives out and about in the UK and travelling across the world, fundraising for charities as they go — two even mentioned that they had been entertained with breakfast in the White House by President Bill Clinton!

Photo courtesy of Jean Lanning

Photo courtesy of the Royal Hospital Chelsea Group

Special feature

Taken in 1997, the year Jean Lanning took over from Joan Nicholson, with her official helper John Bishop and three of the Chelsea Pensioners at Crufts

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Photo courtesy of the Harwoods

Ch Minarets Dancing Jester pictured winning the Utility Group at Bath Championship Show under Mr Bill Siggers with Carol showing him

Oodles of Poodles

In conversation with Muriel, Carol and Melanie Harwood of the Minarets Poodles Muriel, Carol and Melanie thanks for talking to the Kennel Gazette and congratulations on your recent run of summer show Best in Shows, and, of course, your Crufts 2017 Reserve Best in Show. We see you are still showing Frankie.

Yes, we are still showing Frankie and he has had the most phenomenal year in the ring.

We started 2017 at Manchester taking the breed under specialist Eric Buchan, although we had no CCs on offer, and he went on to take the group under Dave Killilea and from there on it snowballed. Crufts was the most amazing experience and to win Reserve Best in Show to the stunning American Cocker was like a dream come true; it was magical. What followed Crufts by way of appearances and special presentations was like a rollercoaster ride; things happened

so fast we had no time to think what was happening, it was truly wonderful. Since Crufts, Frankie has won 12 CCs, 17 Best of Breeds, as not all shows had CCs on offer for Miniature Poodles, from these wins he has won 10 Utility Groups, six all-breed Best in Shows and a further Reserve Best in Show.

He has finished 2017 as Number 1 Top Dog All-Breeds a remarkable achievement for a young dog and we look forward to showing him in 2018, along with his daughter Minarets Let Me Telu a Secret, our import Am Ch JLC Iniki at Minarets and the new kids waiting to make their debut.

Yours is a top winning kennel in the breed, how did you begin?

Muriel was brought up in a house where there was always a dog, so it was inevitable that when she had a house of her own

Photo courtesy of the Harwoods

By Bill Moores

Ch Minarets Best Kept Secret pictured with his daughter Minarets Let Me Telu a Secret, winning Dog CC, BOB, BIS, Bitch CC, BPIB and BPIS, only two of Frankie’s progeny to hit the rings so far and both doing exceptionally well in the ring!

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Famous Kennels

How did you choose your kennel name?

After much deliberation this was chosen

by Muriel’s late husband, Fred. He thought ‘Minarets’ was appropriate because of the roundness of the poms and coat in the traditional lion trim, which is used for the Poodle, and a Minaret is a rounded type of dome. It was first registered in 1961 and both Carol and Melanie have a separate interest in the name although all the dogs are now in Melanie’s name.

Minarets was registered in the golden days of Poodles where the traditional show clip was the Lion Clip or English Saddle as some refer to it, hence the dome/ pom connection.

Photo courtesy of the Harwoods

After winning Best in Show at Windsor Championship Show in 2004, pictured with (from left to right) Vice Chairman Mrs Liz Cartledge, Best in Show judge Mr Jack Bispham, Chairman Miss O Gore and President Mr Leonard Pagliero OBE

Rodney pictured on the podium after winning the Utility Group at Crufts in 2006

Ch Minarets Secret Assignment JW, ‘Rodney’ Winner of: Seven all-breed championship show Best in Show wins ● Five all-breed championship show Reserve Best in Shows ● Utility Group on 24 occasions including Crufts 2006 under Martin Freeman ● 10 breed club Best in Shows ● Overall runner-up at the Champion Stakes final in 2005 ● Overall winner of the Champion Stakes final in 2007 ● Last ever Pedigree Veteran Stakes final in 2009 at his first attempt which makes him the only Poodle to have won both finals ● Top Poodle 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 ● Top Utility in 2005 ● Number 2 Top Utility 2003, 2004, 2006 ● Number 3 Top Dog of All-Breeds 2005 ● Number 5 Top Dog of All-Breeds 2004 ● Joint tenth Top Dog of All-Breeds 2006 ●

Photo courtesy of the Harwoods

a dog would be on the list of ‘must haves’.

However, due to being out at work all day, it was several years after she married that this became possible.

Our kennel of Poodles started with a black Miniature bitch, Rippstar Wendy Lou, in 1960, which was purchased from Edith and Tommy Harwood (no relation).

The following year we bought our first white Miniature, Bildean Estella, from Bill and Essie Dean. The black was a birthday present for Carol and the white was bought for showing. We showed them at local match meetings and then decided to breed a litter, which led us to registering our kennel name with the Kennel Club. These two bitches are behind all our present day stock.

We are extremely proud of our three generation family, all of whom are involved in dogs. Over a nearly 60-year period we have built up and established for ourselves a great reputation for consistently producing a strong type, which is sound and healthy.

Minarets were one of the first breeders in the UK to Optigen DNA test for the PRCD form of PRA, and along with the DNA test we still continue to test our stock on the BVA/KC scheme, ensuring that our world-famous lines are as healthy as possible while maintaining our distinguished type, balance and soundness.

Photo courtesy of the Harwoods

“We are extremely proud of our three generation family, all of whom are involved in dogs”

Pictured after winning Best in Show at City of Birmingham Championship Dog Show under Sigurd Wilberg

Who were the greatest influences in your life in dogs, and from where did you draw your experience?

Our early mentors were Bill and Essie Dean, from whom we purchased our first white. They were responsible for starting us showing and helped us in choosing our first stud dog. They were sensible, well-grounded people who taught us all about pedigrees and selecting a stud dog that would improve on what we needed for our bitches. They also taught us never to use a dog just because it was winning or because everyone else was using it, and to always be critical of puppies and not look at them through rose-tinted

glasses. As we became more involved in showing Alice Hatton (Texet), Rita Gee (Beritas) and Trudie Edge (Tranchant) gave us valuable guidance, as did Ken and Olga Bullock (Konelga) and Bill Slater (Restal).

We were also fortunate to have Bill Taylor (St Aubrey/Elsdon), Reg Gadsden and several more knowledgeable dog people who helped and encouraged us in the early days.

How many Minarets champions both at home and abroad have you bred?

We have enjoyed considerable success over the years having produced 38 UK champions and 29 overseas’ champions. Minarets have

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Ch Minarets Best Kept Secret pictured after winning Best in Show at the Welsh Kennel Club in 2017

Ch Minarets the Maverick, a beautiful black dog who was winning in a very strong era of top winning dogs. We feel this dog was way ahead of his time. With modern trimming he would fit into the ring today with ease and still win! Maverick was sired by our white Ch Minarets Court Jester out of the black Ch Minarets Martinette.

Our group-winning white male Ch Minarets Dancing Jester, also from the 1970s, is another who I would love to bring back today. Not only would he be an influential sire to a diminishing white gene in the UK, but he could still more than hold his own in today’s competition in the rings.

You have had some famous winners.

Which dogs past or present would you choose and why?

Well I can’t start this question without mentioning Rodney for obvious reasons.

Ch Minarets Secret Assignment JW, was campaigned by Melanie. Rodney is without doubt, along with Frankie, the most famous name in our kennel. He was the most wonderful, natural show dog and achieved endless records, and the wins he achieved were beyond belief. These include him being the UK’s top winning Miniature Poodle of all time and the breed record-holder for all sizes of Poodle with 65 CCs, 22 Reserve CCs and 67 BOBs. Another dog to mention is from the 1970s,

Try to start off with a puppy from a long established and successful kennel. Be prepared to listen to the advice of the breeder of your puppy, not just on feeding and grooming but also exercise and when to start and how much each day. Do not try to run before you can walk. You will have good days and bad days and you must be able to take the rough with the smooth. Don’t give up at the first set-back you get; nothing is ever achieved without effort. You should always be prepared to go the extra mile to get

Poodles of all sizes remain popular in the big ring. Which other poodles do you wish you had bred and why?

Photo courtesy of the Harwoods

We could go on forever mentioning many Poodles, in all three sizes, over the decades but we will keep it short! A champion in numerous countries, English-born

Photo courtesy of the Harwoods

Ch Minarets Dancing Jester

As a very successful breeder and exhibitor, what advice would you give to any youngsters or novice breeders who want to show?

Ch Minarets the Maverick

Photo courtesy of the Harwoods

won nearly 300 CCs and a similar figure of Reserve CCs and from 2003 to 2009 inclusive and 2012 and 2016 to 2017 we have been the top Miniature Poodle breeders in the UK.

Am Ch Maneetas Del Zarzoso Fuego Fatuo, an English-born white standard dog, who was a champion in numerous countries, Top Dog of All-Breeds in Finland, America’s Number 1 Non-Sporting Dog and Number 3 All-Breeds in 1993. I think if you say to any person in Poodles across the world the name ‘Gordon’, they instantly know who you are talking about, which says it all about this dog.

Another white Standard male is Am Ch Lake Cove That’s My Boy, he won the Non-Sporting group three times at Westminster and 169 all-breed Best in Shows.

We never saw him in the flesh but have admired him from photos and video clips. He was a magnificent show dog who just oozed style and importance Very recently we have admired a beautiful black Miniature bitch from America, Grand Champion Danfour Avalon as If, Non-Sporting group winner at Westminster in 2017 and Best in Show at the Specialty Show in 2016. This bitch is utterly captivating. Melanie saw her as a puppy and then again as a mature adult. She is very balanced, has the most beautiful of heads and wows on the move! She does descend from a dog we sent to the Clarion kennel, Ch/Am Ch Minarets Reach to the Stars.

Photo: Martin Hill/The Kennel Club©

Photo courtesy of the Harwoods

Famous Kennels

Ch Minarets Martinette, our first black champion at Minarets

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Photo: Martin Hill/The Kennel Club©

Famous Kennels F

Ch Minarets Best Kept Secret pictured after winning Reserve Best in Show at Crufts in 2017

“You will have good days and bad days and you must be able to take the rough with the smooth.

Don’t give up at the first set-back you get; nothing is ever achieved without effort” the best out of your dog; you only get out of it what you put in. Never train your dog so that it becomes a robot in the ring with no personality; your dog has to enjoy it and so do you. It is a hobby and you should have fun.

Always be gracious not just in the ring but outside as well. Good manners and sportsmanship are very high on our list and we dislike exhibitors who lack these essential qualities. We would advise anybody to keep their own council and if you want to moan do it in the car on the way home, ringside is not the place.

If you could invite anyone to dinner who would be on your guest list and why? Also, which dogs would you like to join the party?

Annie Rogers-Clark and Bobby James, two very respected and knowledgeable people who were always willing to help and educate exhibitors and breeders, Dame Judi Dench, Sean Connery, Princess Diana, my dad for obvious reasons (who is long since gone but missed every day), Frank Sinatra and Leonardo da Vinci because Carol is fascinated by Italian Renaissance art and would love the chance to discuss this with him. We feel this is a distinguished list of fascinating people who would bring lively conversation to the table and we would have

a great evening full of laughter and intelligent conversation.

Carol would have to have Sydney her Standard Poodle who she lost three years ago; he was totally devoted to Carol and she misses him every day. Melanie would choose Rodney and Maria her constant companions for so long and they did so much together.

Muriel would choose Rustler, the first white we bred and did our apprenticeship with in the ring. Mind you, you would have to watch the food, none of them had much in the way of table manners!

Muriel, Carol and Melanie thank you for your time and for your very interesting and educational replies. ●

BILL MOORES Bill Moores is the former Editor of Our Dogs. Since early retirement he runs a media services and photography consultancy, dividing his time between the show scene here and that of continental Europe

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Photo: ©Danuse Horakova

Borzoi Old English breedSheepdog standard breed Judges’standard choice

Old English Sheepdog breed standard Breed standard

T

raditional theory suggests that the Scottish Collie or Bearded Collie played some part in the development of the breed and some breed historians suggest that the sheepdogs of Europe including the Ovtcharka, might have played their part.

The Old English is the most substantial of sheepdogs, and underneath the glamour of a crisp blue and white coat, there should be a dog still fit for working with the flocks. The Old English Sheepdog was until recent years customarily docked,

but since tail docking is no longer allowed the traditional epithet ‘The Bobtail’ is no longer appropriate.

Indeed, the traditional docking of the tail in this breed is debated, one party saying that the Old English was docked for hygienic purposes in the same way that sheep are docked. Another party suggests that the practice was started as a ruse to avoid tax, as at one time drover’s dogs were exempt from tax and a mark of this was the docked tail. Note that it was seen as a drover’s dog for driving cattle, hence calling into question the title of the breed as sheepdogs, which were not docked because they needed their tails to act as rudders and balance in their quick athletic

turns and movement. The slower moving cattle dogs did not require the tail; an interesting debate.

So, too, is the name of the breed – Old English – and theories exist to suggest that Scottish Bearded Collies were crossed with European sheepdogs, including the Ovtcharka, to produce the breed.

So here in the debated history of the name and origins of the Old English Sheepdog is illustrated the fact that very little is certain in the origins and development of any breed, except perhaps in the more recent ones where breeding programmes have been recorded in detail.

There is a lot of supposition and the theories are fascinating.

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Old English Sheepdog Bedlington breed standard Terrier

the rear. When trotting, shows effortless extension and strong driving rear action, with legs moving straight along line of travel. Very elastic at the gallop. At slow speeds, some dogs may tend to pace. When moving, the head carriage may adopt a naturally lower position.

● MOUTH Teeth strong, large, and evenly placed.

Scissor bite — jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite ie. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Pincer tolerated but undesirable.

● COAT

● NECK

Of good harsh texture, not straight, but shaggy and free from curl. Undercoat of waterproof pile. Head and skull well covered with hair, ears moderately coated, neck well coated, forelegs well coated all round, hindquarters more heavily coated than rest of body. Quality, texture, and profusion to be considered above length and profusion.

Fairly long, strong and arched gracefully.

Photo: ©Danuse Horakova

● GENERAL APPEARANCE Strong, square-looking dog with great symmetry and overall soundness.

Absolutely free from legginess; profusely coated all over. A thick-set, muscular, able-bodied dog with a most intelligent expression. The natural outline should not be artificially changed by scissoring or clipping.

● CHARACTERISTICS Of great stamina, exhibiting a gently rising topline, and a pear-shaped body when viewed from above. The gait has a typical roll when ambling or walking. Bark has a distinctive toned quality.

● TEMPERAMENT A biddable dog of even disposition. Bold, faithful and trustworthy, with no suggestion of nervousness or unprovoked aggression.

● HEAD AND SKULL In proportion to the size of the body. Skull capacious, rather square; well arched above eyes; stop well defined. Muzzle strong, square and truncated, measuring approximately half of the total head length.

Nose large and black; nostrils wide.

● EYES Set well apart; dark or wall eyes; two blue eyes acceptable. Light eyes undesirable.

Pigmentation on the eye rim is preferred.

● EARS Small and carried flat to the side of the head.

● COLOUR Any shade of grey, grizzle, or blue. Body and hindquarters of solid colour with or without white socks. White patches in the solid area to be discouraged. Head, neck, forequarters and under belly to be white with or without markings. Any shade of brown undesirable.

● BODY Rather short, and compact, with well sprung ribs, and deep capacious brisket.

● HINDQUARTERS Loin very sturdy, broad and gently arched; quarters well covered, round and muscular; the second thigh is long and well developed, the stifle well-turned but not exaggerated, and the hocks set low. When viewed from behind, the rear pasterns should be parallel, with the feet turning neither in nor out.

● SIZE Height: dogs: 61cms (24in) and upwards; bitches: 56cms (22in) and upwards. Type and symmetry of greatest importance, and on no account to be sacrificed to size alone.

● FAULTS

● FEET Small, round and tight; toes well arched; pads thick and hard.

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.

● TAIL Previously customarily docked or natural bobtail. Docked: Customarily completely docked. Undocked: Natural carriage. Well feathered with abundant, hard-textured coat.

Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

● GAIT/MOVEMENT When walking, exhibits a bear-like roll from

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Basset Griffon Vendeen (Grand) Photo: ©Carol Ann Johnson

Photo: ©Christina Bailey

● FOREQUARTERS Forelegs perfectly straight, with plenty of bone, holding body well from ground; elbows fitting close to brisket. Shoulders should be well laid back, being narrower at the point of withers than at the point of shoulder. Loaded shoulders undesirable.

Dog standing lower at withers than loin.

For advertising opportunities within Judges’ Choice please contact a.walters@bpgmedia.co.uk

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Breed news

A rare disease

epithelial cells

cilia

Primary ciliary dyskinesia in the Old English Sheepdog

By Professor Anne Merveille

O

ld English Sheepdogs have several hereditary conditions, which include hip dysplasia, entropion and cerebellar abiotrophy (CA) plus, primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD).

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), previously called immotile ciliary syndrome (ICS), is a drivers group of inherited structural and functional abnormalities affecting the cilia of the respiratory tract mucosa and other organs, which results mainly in recurrent respiratory tract infections. In dogs, PCD is a rare disease but has been reported in more than 19 breeds including Old English Sheepdogs.

The lack of co-ordination and ineffectiveness of the ciliary function result in a slow clearance of mucus from the airways; this in turn results in chronic mucus plugging and inflammation of the nasal cavities, trachea and lower airways. Therefore, clinical signs will include chronic respiratory abnormalities such as rhinosinusitis, bronchitis, bronchopneumonia and bronchiectasis (ie. dilation of bronchi secondary to chronic inflammation).

The symptoms (sneezing, bilateral sero-mucous nasal discharge, productive cough, exercise intolerance, dyspnoea, and lethargy), commonly appear at a very early age. (ie. weeks to months).

Although the respiratory system signs are usually the most important, several signs related to pathology in other tissues with ciliated epithelia or microtubules can occur, such as otitis media, infertility in males and females, hydrocephalus, and renal fibrosis or dilation of renal tubules.

Some dogs with PCD may present the kartagener’s syndrome which represents a triad of signs including bronchectasis, complete transposition of viscera (situs inversus) and chronic rhinosinusitis.

While PCD may be suspected based on history, clinical signs, diagnostic imaging and endoscopy, final diagnosis requires the observation of ciliary structure abnormalities after ciliogenesis (ie. culture of ciliated cells) of biopsies of ciliated epithelium (ie. the nasal, tracheal or bronchial mucosa) with the use of

transmission electron microscopy.

Even though PCD is not a curable disorder, it can frequently be managed for some years. A key element in this successful management is the adequate monitoring of infecting micro-organisms and judicious use of antibiotics over time. The long-term prognosis is poor, since even in cases of adequate management, the disease generally progresses over time and the response to treatment becomes poorer. It would be very useful to have a genetic test able to identify carriers and exclude them from breeding programmes.

Therefore with the PCD tests available it is now possible to reduce this dreadful disease in the Old English Sheepdog by taking a simple mouth swab. The Old English Sheepdog Club has swabs available if prospective breeders/owners wish to contact them. Once the dog has been swabbed by a veterinary surgeon the swabs can then be forwarded to Antagene for processing. â—? More information can be found on the Old English Sheepdog Club (Parent Club) website www.theoesc.co.uk; for more on PCD, please see the Antagene website www.antagene.com

A. Microscopic view of the respiratory mucosa consisting of ciliated epithelial cells (ie. presence of cilia at their apical surface)

cilium

epithelial cell

B. Focus on the apical surface of the ciliated epithelial cell

ciliary membrane radial spoke

outer dynein arm inner dynein arm

nexin link B peripheral A microtubules

central pair of microtubules

C. Inner structure of the transverse section of a cilium

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Breed news

Photo: ©Tony Steele

Getting together as a breed

By Mel Leggett The Old English Sheepdog Get Together was the brainchild of Val Leggett and Janet Steele, who between them have over 70 years of experience in the breed. They both thought that there was not enough help for general pet owners, or somewhere to go and meet other Old English Sheepdogs.

Finding venues that were dog friendly, close to motorways and reasonably central proved to be a little difficult. However, in the summer of 2014, the first Old English Sheepdog Get Together was held at Kingsbury Water Park. People from dog clubs, exhibitors, judges and pet owners all attended. There was even a communal picnic which was enjoyed by all. It was a fun afternoon and even the weather was kind to us. A raffle was organised and the

proceeds on this occasion went to a rescue centre in Turkey.

With the first event being so successful everyone asked Val and Janet if they could make it a regular event. Since then the Old English Sheepdog Get Together have been held in Ashridge Estate in Hertfordshire (three times), one on a farm near Scunthorpe, one in Scotland, two at Essex Dog Day as well as four at Kingsbury Water Park. All proceeds raised at these events were donated to Old English Sheepdog rescue and welfare, for which Val and I are actively involved.

These get togethers are run freely and passionately by Val and Janet, even Tony Steele (Janet’s husband) and I (Val’s daughter) help out with arranging venues, answering questions and we both enjoy

these events. I am so proud of both of them for taking an idea and making it happen.

After all, who would have thought that this idea of helping like-minded people get together, and above all raising the profile of this wonderful breed, would have been so successful.

Dates for 2018 • • •

Saturday, 23rd June (from 10am) Meadow Field, Ashridge Estate Sunday, 12th August (from 10am) Kingsbury Water Park Sunday, 26th August (from 10am) held in conjunction with Essex Dog Day

Further information is available on our Facebook page: Old English Sheepdog Get-Together

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Old English Sheepdog Judges’ Choice

Angie Allan ■ Allmark

Jenny Joice ■ Raynham

Affectionately known as ‘Jimmy’; such a wonderful showman he commands the ring and the audiences just love ve him. All masculine, he is an upstanding male with excellent reach of neck, built so soundly and balanced throughout. His neat hocks power him around the ring and, has amazing extension.

He has won so many titles in his show career including BOB at Crufts 2012 under yours truly. He followed through by taking the group 1 placement under top all-rounder Albert Wight. Other great wins include the World W ld Show Sh in i Budapest B d t 2013 taking the breed and the group, and topping all Best in Show under the expert eye of Tamas Jakkel.

Photo courtesy of Angie Allan

2Multi Ch Bottom Shaker My Secret

Owned by Sjaak and Nelleke Meijer of the Netherlands. ‘Sax’ was campaigned throughout Europe winning manyy titles. I jjudged g him in Grenoble and gave him Best of Breed and he went on to win the group 1 placement, and I thought that he was a truly outstanding dog.

He was super masculine with a beautiful broad skull, powerful, well-arched neck onto well-placed shoulders, great bend of stifle and soundly constructed throughout.

He had a great spring of rib and was so well coupled; amazing bone and strong in hock. His coat was so clear, with the correct texture, and always well presented. A dream to watch on the move, which he did with great ease and extension. Sax had an impressive show career and gave a lot back to the breed.

Photo courtesy of Angie Allan

3Multi Ch Sparkle Square’s Last Gossip

I was lucky to have this lovely bitch shown n under me at my first championship show appointment, the South Western Old English Sheepdog Club in 1986, and I gave her the bitch CC (her sixth) and then Best in Show. She went on to win a total of 51 CCs and was the breed record-holder for a time before handing that accolade over to her most famous son Ch LamedaZottel Flamboyant. Besides winning 51 CCs she whelped five litters and produced champions in the UK and abroad. My notes from 1986 say ‘a truly lovely lady’, she was cobby, well-balanced, moved well and had a coat of clear colour with excellent texture and break.

Barkshire’s Born in 2Ch the USA with Brinkley I saw this boy at probably his first championship show, the Greater London Old English Sheepdog Club Show in 2003, when he had not been in the UK for very long.

He was eye-catching, a wonderful shape, an outstanding mover, had great ring presence and was always beautifully presented. He won 14 CCs and several groups, sired seven UK champions, and his bloodlines complemented the Brinkley stock. Sadly he became infertile at a young age.

3Ch Ginnsdale Stargazer Blue of Barnolby An outstanding dark-eyed male bought in from a pet litter by the Ashcrofts to complement their Barnolby bloodlines. He won several CCs and sired eight UK champions.

He was again an excellent mover, fitted the breed standard and filled the eye. He was possibly not shown as widely as some, as the Ashcrofts had a large kennel at that time including several stud dogs.

Photo courtesy of Terri Simmonds

An absolute stunning example of the breed. ‘Missy’ was an outstanding, ultra-feminine bitch that oozed quality. She had a true, square outline, beautiful bone and substance, a rise to loin, wonderful angles front and rear and, to sum up, as close to the breed standard specifics as you were going to find. Her coat was the clearest of colours and of excellent texture, and break. Her movement was effortless and she had drive with a good roll. Missy had an illustrious show career winning 51 CCs CC and d still ill is i the h bitch bi h record-holder. She was also a phenomenal brood bitch producing 26 champions throughout the world.

Photo courtesy of Angie Allan

1

Photo courtesy of Pam Tomes (Raynsford)

1Ch Zottel’s Miss Marple of Lameda

Ch Zottel’s Miss Marple of Lameda

Photo courtesy of Christina Bailey/©Diane Pearce

We purchased our first Old English Sheepdog on return from our honeymoon in 1969. The breed was Nigel’s choice; I was very happy to have a dog. In 1970 we went to Crufts and, later in the year to the Old English Sheepdog Club Championship Show and have not been without a bobtail, usually several, since, although showing was a little intermittent over the early years due to raising a family and running a pet food business.

I have thought long and hard over selecting my three favourite dogs/bitches, a difficult task, and have settled on the following three, all exceptional in their own eras. In my opinion they were all outstanding in breed type and excelled in movement, vital for a working dog, and had wonderful temperaments.

A short while ago I decided to change my hobby of show jumping, thinking of scaling down on cost and time, but two bundles of fun a short time after and I realised my decision was going to prove more time consuming and equally as costly. In 1977 I started my new adventure with two puppies from the Swanbobs kennel, I guess the rest is history. I gained my own kennel name, Allmark, and bred my own champions in this country and overseas. I feel that I have been privileged to have been successful in what was a very popular breed at that time when we had well over 200 entries at some shows. I owned the first international champion in the breed, Ch Allmark Ralph Lauren, who also won the inaugural Kennel Club Junior Warrant Final in 2000. It is a breed very close to my heart and choosing three of the best Old English is not easy.

28 March 2018 - Kennel Gazette

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Old English Sheepdog Judges’ Choice

Barrie M Croft ■ Malcro

Mark James ■ Waterley

Old English Sheepdogs have been my great love for the last 53 years. Over this time I have seen and judged many wonderful bobtails, not just in the UK, but overseas, and I have awarded CCs 20 times in the UK, including at Crufts 1999 and almost 80 times in 23 different countries. The very first Old English I ever saw was Ch Prospectblue Shaggy Boy in 1965.

My parents bought me my first Old English Sheepdog in the early 1970s. We picked him out of a tea chest in the back of a car and I carried him all the way home. Little did I know that from that day I would be involved in the world of pedigree dogs. I was fortunate to work intensely with the breed at the famous Reeuwijk kennel of my great mentor Mrs Backx–Bennink in the Netherlands for several years and I am pleased to say that her ground work is still evident in top class breeding today. I have shown and judged the breed in many countries and have admired many beautiful examples of the breed, however, I have only chosen examples of the breed that I have actually had my hands on. I had the great honour of judging the breed at Crufts recently and even though the breed has declined in numbers, the quality was very good. It was one of my greatest days; a day that I will cherish forever.

This super example of the breed, was my BOB at Crufts and I just remember afterwards going over him and thinking: My God, I have just had the breed standard in my hands. He is so very masculine without being too heavy or coarse. I loved his head and expression and his dark eyes. He also has the correct pear shape and a big rear!! I also liked his l really ll lik d hi natural presentation, his coat was mature and he can really move in a typical Old English way. I am pleased to see that he is already siring CC winners. His clever breeder, Mrs Christina Bailey, is responsible for many top winning examples of the breed around the world.

3Ch Pockethall Silver Charm

Ch Bobbington Latin Lover

Photo courtesy of Mark James

3

Owned and bred by Alex Little, this is a real stand-out dog in the breed. He was a perfect size and shape and all male, with a huge black nose. In particular he had a super front which in this breed shouldn’t be too heavy, a common fault at the moment. He was always beautifully presented in a very natural way and he had a crisp blue jacket. Another that moved well. He was a great asset to the breed. This dog has sired many champions in many countries.

For my second choice, yet another bitch, the late Ronnie and Rita Ashcroft’s, Ch Barnolby Wendy Bruin, another I gave a BOB to.

She was the ultimate in breed type and was one of several champions owned and bred by these clever breeders. This kennel played such an n important part in our breed history and is behind so many of our presentt day breeders.

Photo courtesy of Barrie Croft

2

Barnolby 2Ch Wendy Bruin

Thirdly yet another lady! This time Ray and Ruth Wilkinson’s Ch Pockethall Silver Charm. I gave her the CC and BOB over the famous Ch Jedforest Don Carlos. That day, I gave him his 40th CC, which was then the breed record at Leeds Championship Show in 1984. Silver Charm had a coat to die for and again came from breeders who had the knack of producing one good one after another. If I can be permitted to include a male it would be a young d dog I jjudged Switzerland d d iin S it l d last year, Swiss Ch Pennylane Aston Martin, who is still young but something special.

Photo courtesy of Barrie Croft

Ch Zottles Best Kept Secret

Photo: Yulia Titovets/The Kennel Club©

I can still remember holding her in the palm of my hand. I had a fantastic journey with her showing her all over Europe. She was greatly admired by every UK breed specialist who judged her. She was by the US import Multi Ch Ellenglaze Ladies Choice and out of a Fezziwig female. She was very feminine and had the correct shape and a super jacket of the correct colour and texture. I adored her and it brings a tear to my eye thinking about her again after so many years. Yes that’s me in the picture!

Photo courtesy of Mark James

Ch Reeuwijk’s 1Multi Care For Beauty

Choosing the best ever Old English was easy for me then it became more difficult. The best Old English I have ever seen and judged was John Smith and Christina Bailey’s Ch Zottel’s Miss Marple of Lameda. I gave her a CC at a club show as a youngster in 1987, where she also went BIS. She still is the bitch breed record-holder and an all-breeds championship show BIS winner. Her son Ch LamedaZottel Flamboyant is our breed record-holder with 56 CCs (one from me). Miss Marple was not only a wonderful winner but she was a phenomenal brood bitch producing six UK champions and 26 champions in total.

I last saw her at the grand old age of 15 still full of attitude and her own importance. ‘Missy’ was a once in a lifetime Old English and I don’t think we will see her like ever again.

Photo: ©Alan Horner

1Ch Zottel’s Miss Marple of Lameda

March 2018 - Kennel Gazette 29

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Old English Sheepdog Judges’ Choice

Ch Brinkley Bubbliciou Bubblicious ious At Valleydel Valleydell Della Oakes ■ Oldoak I have had Old English Sheepdogs since 1972.

They have been my love and life.

I have judged them from 1978, both, home and abroad and my finest accolade was judging Crufts 2015.

AD

1Ch Barnolby Troubleshooter at Oldoak

Photo By Mr Steven Graham

DOB: 04/06/17

Photo: courtesy of Della Oakes

To me he was a great specimen of the breed. He had a lovely strong head, with two dark brown eyes with full pigment.

A strong muzzle and good bite, his lovely arched neck leading in to good shoulders. He had a strong body with good rise over his loin, good bend of stifle, neat strong hocks, a coat of good colour and texture, and moved d with excellent drive.

Ch Blueshire’s I Am Canadian With Brinkley ( Imp) X Brinkley Sheza Amazing Breeder Ms Pam Tomes I would like to thank all concerned for making it possible for Bubbles to gain her title last year and also to Pam for allowing Bubbles to live with us.

Mrs Leila Bull & Mr Malcolm Guy The Dell, Valley Road, Throop, Bournemouth, BH8 0EB. Tel: 01202 546932

A feminine bitch, she fitted the breed standard well with her lovely head and dark eyes, strong muzzle, good bite, good length of neck, correct shoulders, square body with good rise and strong rear with excellent movement.

Photo: ©Alan V Walker

Oldoak 2Ch Krisco Kisses

Oldoak Kings Randsom 3Ch at Darwillow

DOB: 04/06/17

Photo: ©Alan V Walker

A young dog with all the attributes of his great great great great grandfather Ch Barnolby Troubleshooter at Oldoak. He has the same build and movement and was a joy to watch made top Old English Sheepdog 2017. Ch Barnolby Troubleshooter at Oldoak was a fantastic stud and sired many champions and all my breeding goes back to this fantastic dog. He also passed on his fantastic temperament and conformation.

John Weaver Daytime office 0121 7882 326 Evening 0121 770 5941 Mobile 07801354974 Email: weaverjohn@btconnect.com Dee Miller 01604 830408 Email: millwinkie@gmail.com

www.oesrehomingandwelfare.co.uk 30 March 2018 - Kennel Gazette

28-31 Judges Choice CS NF.indd 30

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Old English Sheepdog Judges’ Choice

Christina Bailey ■ Zottels Old English Sheepdogs, (formerly, from 1985 - 1995 LamedaZottels OES) attention to the health factor of our dogs and I am not 100 per cent certain about one of the dogs I mentioned then. So, with this in mind, I base my three choices now not just on the overall look and breed type of the dogs but also on their contribution of good health to their offspring.

Additionally the adjective ‘greatest’ must also include, temperament.

In short, I think that it is almost more important what impact a dog has had on the breed, than its show results and physical appearance. This obviously narrows one’s choice considerably and I hope I will be forgiven if one of my choices goes to a bitch I have bred myself, but her impact on the breed worldwide is undisputed and a record in itself.

I have owned, exhibited and bred Old English Sheepdogs since the very early 1970s; firstly in Germany and then, since 1985, in the UK. Since the early 1970s I have bred well over 160 champions worldwide, including 28 UK champions, who gained well over 300 UK CCs. During all those years I have, of course, handled many Old English, which I consider to have been excellent specimens and I do recall being asked to comment on my favourite three Old English Sheepdogs in 2004 for a similar article in the Kennel Gazette. I haven’t really changed my mind since then; I just feel that these days we may have to pay a bit more

1Ch Zottel’s Miss Marple of Lameda

‘Tristan’ was bred in America. He and my third choice were quite similar in type. Both boys were veryy compact with excellent head piecess and ample amount of bone and substance. Tristan’s pedigree was

Champion Melleonar’s Crackerjack At Bovaron

Photo courtesy of Christina Bailey

3Ch Bobbington Latin Lover

‘Wyllie’ was exhibited during the early 1990s, at the same time as the current breed record-holderr Ch LamedaZottel Flamboyant.

It is quite something to have two excellent males in the ring at the same time. Wyllie was a more masculine and heavier boned male than Flamboyant with an excellent amount of substance, very dark eyes and a real stallion-type look about him. His temperament was kind d and funny at the same time, just the way an Old English is supposed to be. He was also certified clear under the BVA scheme, at the time, to my knowledge, the only male with a 0/0 score. Looking at the records of his offspring, one can safely call him an influential male on the breed not just in the UK, but also abroad as his semen was used worldwide. Both those males, Tristan and Wyllie are the type of males I would love to be able to see in the ring now.

Photo courtesy of Alex Little

Ch Ellenglaze Ladies Choice 2Multi

based on the successful Fezziwig line. Imported by the late Mrs Backx-Bennink (Holland) of Reeuwijk fame in 1973. He caused quite a stir at his first shows here in Europe due to his remarkable substance, excellent head, bone and body. It is impossible for me to say how many champions, (apart from my own) he sired but looking at some of the records, I think one can still safely call him the most influential sire in Europe. His offspring was very healthy and most of them certified clear of hip dysplasia.

Photo courtesy of Christina Bailey

Fits my definition of ‘great’ perfectly, as not only was she a truly outstanding specimen, ending her career with 51 CCs — the breed record at the time and to this day still is the breed’s bitch recordholder. She was also thee dam of 26 champions, 14 of which were all breed BIS winners. Herr son Ch LamedaZottel Flamboyant is to this day still our current breed record-holder.

She lived to a grand old age of 16 years and three months, never losing her unbelievable outlook on life and attitude, in short she was a once in a lifetime dog.

‘Missy’ was certified clear under the BVA hip scheme and most of her children had clear certificates too. She was eye tested at a very old age with a clear result.

Introducing our next generation

Zosia

(Hazyland’s Cheeky Girl) (Ch Zottels Xceedingly Nice For Hazyland v Zottels Dream Of Me At Hazyland)

DOB: 04/06/17

3 CCs, 6 RCCS. Best OES Puppy 2016.

Sire: Ch. Argovian Livin’ On Love Dam: Germ.Ch. Sweet Expressions Q-tie pie.

Ronnie Burns. ronnie.bovaron@btinternet.com

All our dogs live with and care for Debbi & Martin Palmer T: 07921488456 E: hazylandoes@btinternet.com www.hazylandoes.com March 2018 - Kennel Gazette 31

28-31 Judges Choice CS NF.indd 31

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Old English Sheepdog Judges’ Choice Did you know?

Championship Show Judges

This year’s Crufts Old English Sheepdog judge is Mrs Pauline Barnes with an entry of 131

Old English Sheepdog 2018 Crufts

Mrs PJ Barnes

M

Old English Sheepdog Club of Scotland

Mr G Ted Lee

M

West of England Ladies Kennel Society

Mrs P Chadwick

M

Old English Sheepdog Club of Northern Ireland

Miss T Simmonds

M

Birmingham Dog Show Society Ltd

Mrs T Reed

M

Scottish Kennel Club

Mrs A Turner

M

Bath Canine Society

Mrs M Powell

M

Greater London Old English Sheepdog Club

Mrs IM Quinn

M

East of England Agricultural Society

Mrs JM Haldane

M

National Working & Pastoral Breeds Society

TBC

Old English Sheepdog Club of Wales

Mrs VA Stucke

M

Welsh Kennel Club

Mr MW James

M

This information is correct at the time of going to print, however appointments may change due to unforeseen circumstances

Crufts BOB Winners Old English Sheepdog 1984 – 2017

1984

CH JEDFOREST DON CARLOS

2001

CH ZOTTELS YOU DON’T FOOL ME

1985

CH SIMBERDALE HENRY HIGGINS

2002

CH ZOTTELS YOU DON’T FOOL ME

1986

CH SIBLINDY MANTA

2003

BAHLAMB’S BENEVOLENT BRETHEREN (IMP SWE)

1987

CH ZOTTEL’S MISS MARPLE OF LAMEDA

2005

CH ZOTTELS YOU DON’T FOOL ME

1988

CH ZOTTEL’S MISS MARPLE OF LAMEDA

2006

CH REATA’S COSMOPOLITAN

1989

CH STARJANDA LOVE ON THE ROCKS AT TIMADUNK

2007

CH ARYAKAS COSMO JUNIOR

1990

CH GREYFELL STORM WARNING

2008

CH BRINKLEY SIR JONNY

1991

CH LAMEDAZOTTEL FLAMBOYANT

2009

VILLA’S CRUELLA AT DIZZNY

1992

CH BELLABLUE NIKITA (IMP)

2010

LIGHTNINGS TEQUILLA SUNRISE

1993

CH LAMEDAZOTTEL FLAMBOYANT

2011

CH OAKFARM GYPSY ROSE OF CLENMAEN

1994

CH BOBBINGTON LATIN LOVER

2012

CH BOTTOM SHAKER MY SECRET

1995

CH LAMEDAZOTTEL JOSEPHINE

2013

CH ARYAKAS GENESIS AT BEAUVALLON

1996

CH BOBBINGTON LATIN LOVER

2014

ARGOVIAN JUMP ‘N JIVE AT KLIT-LY’S

1997

CH OAKFARM DROVERS BOY

2015

SHAGGY BLUE BOB’S REBEL YELL

1998

CH BOBBINGTON LATIN LOVER

2016

CH ZOTTELS BEST KEPT SECRET

1999

CH OAKFARM OCTAVIA

2017

ARYAKAS PEGASOS

2000

CH OAKFARM OCTAVIA

Assured Breeder Scheme Further information can be obtained from the Kennel Club Health and Breeder Services Department Email abs@thekennelclub.org.uk or call 01296 318540 Breed-specific requirements and recommendations including health screening for the Old English Sheepdog under the Assured Breeder Scheme Breed

Requirements for Health Screening of Breeding Stock Last updated January 2018

Recommendations for breeding stock Last updated January 2018

Old English Sheepdog

1) Hip scoring 2) Eye Testing - Annual

DNA test - PCD

32 March 2018 - Kennel Gazette

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07/02/2018 13:40

Old English Sheepdog Judges’ Choice eepdog at Crufts

Find an Old English Sh Breed clubs and societies take the welfare of their breeds very seriously and work tirelessly to provide help, support and homes for dogs in need.

Old English Sheepdog Club Mrs P Barnes

Tel: 01793 741002 macopabobtails@aol.com www.theoesc.co.uk Old English Sheepdog Club (Parent Club) UK

East Anglian Old English Sheepdog Club Mrs V Burns

Tel: 01449 766793 or 07979 755278 ronnie.bovaron@btinternet.com www.eaoesclub.co.uk East Anglian OES Club

Greater London Old English Sheepdog Club Miss H Woods

Tel: 01234 838249 helen@gloesc.co.uk www.gloesc.co.uk Greater London Old English Sheepdog Club

Lancastrian Old English Sheepdog Club Mr RG Wilkinson

Tel: 01204 696085 rgw@ntlworld.com

Midland Old English Sheepdog Club Dr S Winson

Tel: 01922 410611 sarah@meisan.co.uk www.midlandoesclub.co.uk Midland Old English Sheepdog Club

North Eastern Old English Sheepdog Club Mr PD Coggins

Tel: 01914 109733 peterdcoggins@btinternet.com

North Western Old English Sheepdog Club Mrs D Brocklesby-Evans

Tel: 01302 872253 North Western Old English Sheepdog Club

There will be an Old English Sheepdog breed booth stand at Crufts situated in the Discover Dogs area where you can speak to the experts about what it is like to own this faithful breed. For further information on buying a dog responsibly visit www.findapuppy.org.uk

Old English Sheepdog Club of Northern Ireland Miss O Pennie

Tel: 07921073043 oescni@gmail.com www.oldenglishsheepdogclubofnorthern ireland.webs.com The Old English Sheepdog Club of Northern Ireland

North Eastern Old English Sheepdog Rescue

Old English Sheepdog Club of Scotland

Old English Sheepdog Club of Scotland Rescue & Rehoming

Mrs K Coggins

Tel: 01914 109733

Mrs M Strachan

Mr J MacDonald

Tel: 01355 520417 andylovesjordon@hotmail.com www.oesclubofscotland.co.uk OES Club of Scotland

Tel: 01416 324893 james@bramlynn.freeserve.co.uk

Old English Sheepdog Club of Wales

Old English Sheepdog Rehoming & Welfare Society Mr J Weaver

Tel: 01633 612326 rjmorris12@btinternet.com

Tel: 01217 882326 or 07801354974 info@oesrehomingandwelfare.co.uk weaverjohn@btconnect.com www.oesrehomingandwelfare.co.uk

South Eastern Old English Sheepdog Club

Old English Sheepdog Rescue & Welfare

Mr RJ Morris

Ms MS Leggett

Ms J Love

Tel: 01268 511987 or 02077 476409 melrooOO1@aol.com South Eastern OES Club

Tel: 01327 360908 julie@old-english-sheepdog-rescue.co.uk www.old-english-sheepdog-rescue.co.uk

South Western Old English Sheepdog Club

Truffle Sky Old English Sheepdog Rescue

Mrs KD Reeves Tel: 01225 351609 Kim.reeves23@gmail.com

Mr R and Mrs R Carney

Tel: 02866 326730 trufflesbydrumgay@btinternet.com

For further information on breed rescue contacts in your area, please visit www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/findarescue

REGISTERED SOCIETIES AND CLUBS - Why not become a KC Affiliate and receive your issue of the Kennel Gazette Join now by visiting www.thekennelclub.org.uk/kcaffiliates or call 01296 318540

March 2018 - Kennel Gazette 33

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Treasures of the Kennel Club

Old English Sheepdog Ch Fair Weather This prolific winner is celebrated in the Kennel Club Art Gallery

© The Kennel Club

Photo: © The Kennel Club

T

Ch Fair Weather by Margaret Collyer, oil on canvas, signed and dated 1906

Official Crufts photography available to order online today!

Beautiful image prints and gifts, made to order for pixel-perfect q qualityy

Photo: © The Kennel Club

his original portrait of the celebrated Old English Sheepdog Ch Fair Weather can be seen in the Kennel Club Art Gallery. It was painted in 1906 by Margaret Collyer and was donated to the Kennel Club along with a collection of medals Ch Fair Weather won.

Ch Fair Weather was bred and owned

by Mrs Fare Fosse and was born on 10th May 1898. She was the winner of 19 CCs and became a champion at just over a year old.

At Crufts in 1899 at only nine months of age, she won every prize for which she was eligible and repeated this in 1900, 1901, 1902 and 1905.

Ch Fair Weather’s medals are also on display with her painting. There are 16 gold and four silver medals displayed on a gold chain and a total of 17 medals displayed on a silver belt. The medals included on these chains are some of those won by Ch Fair Weather during her showing career and include a Crufts medal awarded in 1900, a number of LKA medals dating from 1899 until 1909, and an Old English Sheepdog Club medal awarded to Fair Weather for best bitch in show in 1900.

Ch Fair Weather has been preserved and forms part of the collection of animals at the Walter Rothschild building in Tring, which is part of the National History Museum.●

www.dogimages.org.uk w org.uk Ch Fair Weather’s medal collection

34 March 2018 - Kennel Gazette

34 Treasures of the KC CS.indd 17

12/02/2018 13:35

Introducing

The Emblehope & Burngrange Estate Northumberland A Centre of Excellence for Working Dogs

This beautiful moorland estate stretches to some 7,550 acres and is absolutely ideal for walked up trialling and training for Retrievers, Spaniels and HPRs. The estate offers both Pheasant and Partridge shooting and the varied terrain offers opportunities for all breeds of Gundog to demonstrate their natural working abilities. Woodland cover provides excellent hunting for Spaniels whilst the stretching moorland is ideal for challenging retrieves and for the pointing breeds to show off their hunting abilities to the full.

As a Centre of Excellence for Working Dogs, the Estate also welcomes the full range of working dog activities including: • Field Trials including Pointer and Setter Spring Stakes • Gundog Working Tests • Gundog Training Days • Live Game Training Days • Pointing Tests • Working Trials • Bloodhound Trials • Activity Training Days • Shooting and Gundog Activities

Book your training activities with the Emblehope Estate: www.thekennelclub.org.uk/emblehope Email: emblehope@thekennelclub.org.uk Tel: 01296 318 540 ext 290

IBC.indd 1

© Steve Magennis and Nigel Dear

10/01/2018 12:21

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