02 Breed Notes – Boston 2023

Boston is the first show of the year and Keesies were on Thursday the first day. We were sixth in the ring for judge Mark James, but with no CC’s on offer there were only 6 Keesies entered with 1 absentee.

Best Dog with Best of Breed was Mel Harris’s Ch Kichigai Boy Is Back In Town for Watchkees (Ch Neradmik All About The Boy for Watchkees x Kichigai Lilac Wine) with Reserve Best Dog going to the Junior winner, David Matthews & David Peck’s Ch Keitakees Someone To Love at Byquy (Ch Neradmik Family Affair with Lekkerbek x Byquy Kinky Boots at Keitakees) handled as usual by David Matthews.

Best Bitch was Matthews & Lee’s Ch Winklestar Aurora at Valindale JW (Vivids Majestic Prince of Winklestar (Imp USA) x Winklestar Serendipity) with Reserve Best Bitch going to Becky Bates’ Allforus Eternal Flame (Ch Quasars Brilliant Light Van Het Earlskamp Serenaubach (Imp Bel) x Foxifayre Keep The Faith (AI).)

The Kennel Club has announced the most recent updates to the requirements and recommendations for Assured Breeders, including health testing, aimed to further improve dog health and responsible breeding. Elbow and hip screening have been agreed to be added as requirements for the Keeshond, as BVA/KC scheme data suggest that dysplasia does occur in this breed. Eye screening has also been accepted as a new test under the Assured Breeders Scheme, but at this stage will be placed as a recommendation as very few dogs have been tested to date, and therefore there are little data to draw conclusions from with respect to the incidence of eye disease at this time.

Of the 83 Keesies who have had their hip and elbows scored, less than half are owned by an assured breeder and of all the litters born in the past four years, around half of the litters have had both parents scored. The same applies for eye testing; of the 50+ Keesies who hold a current eye certificate, fewer than a quarter are owned by an assured breeder. So there are more non-assured breeders out there who think health tested parents important, than those on the KC’s scheme.

As I mentioned in my notes last week, Len Howie sadly passed away just before the New Year after a short illness. Along with his wife Celia, they had the affix Ranoel; although it was usually Len in the ring handling their dogs joking that he was just the kennel boy! Len made up their first Champion – Ch Ledwell Pandora in 1978; Pandora’s dam (Ledwell Isabella) was also the dam of their first homebred Champion – Ch Ranoel Auriga. Len joined the Keeshond Club’s committee in 1981 and was their Chairman from 1990 to 2003 and was a supporter of the NoEKC for as many years. He judged Keesies at Crufts in 2003 and last judged the breed at Leeds in 2010.

For those of us who were there, Len will be remembered (amongst other things!) for being put in charge of the camping at the Keeshond 2000 celebrations at Sherborne. Designated the ‘Kamp Kommander’ – Len was kept busy keeping all us happy Keesie Kampers in order and providing evening’s entertainments. The funeral will be held on the 23rd January at 1.00pm Banbury Crematorium.

Anji Marfleet