Top prizes for Totenkopfs

Iain Ferguson

Many people will never have heard of Totenkops as a breed of dog which are actually a type of Cocker Spaniel. One thing that can be recognised is that owners John Carmichael and Adrian Bulmar of Inverlochy Villas certainly know a fair bit about them with three award winning dogs and boxes of rosettes to prove it.

At the recent Highland Canine Association Dog Show, Oran, Isla and Maya came home with five prizes, including firsts for Oran in the Open Gun Dog category and Maya in the Minor Puppy category. More recently, at last month’s Black Isle Show Maya took Best Puppy in class and Best Puppy in show, while Oran was first Gundog and second in the Open.

John and Adrian did not set off to show their dogs, intending them only to be pets, but such was their lineage, coming from well known and renowned breeders Colin and Val Flowers who can count royalty and world class celebrities amongst their clientele, they tentatively but successfully entered a local show around 18 months ago and have carried on winning from there.

“We thought, these are from a good home, we will have a bash,” said John. “The first time we won something we said, we are rubbish at this, it’s not usit must be the dogs”. However, one thing led to another, and after attending local ring stewarding classes they are now part of a group of dog enthusiasts.

Despite this, the dogs are still much loved and loving pets who live in the house with them. They have official ‘show’ names. Oran, who turns four in October, is Totenkopf Oran at Inverlochy. Isla, who is nearly 2, is Totenkopf Isla at Inverlochy, while Puppy Maya, aged eight months, is Totenkopf Maya at Inverlochy.

John said: “The dogs are pets first and foremost. As well as rosettes and certificates, the dogs receive treats when they come home. The shows are the icing on the cake, the awards are the candles on the icing on the cake”.