36 Breed Notes – WKC 2026

I can’t believe that I’m writing this. We are now two thirds of the way into this year and so far, there has only been 1 litter of 6 puppies born and at least 4 misses that I know of. As far as I’m aware there might be a couple of litters ‘in the pipeline’, so hopefully we should manage to get this year’s final tally into double figures.

The lack of puppies being born in the past few years has consequently been reflected for some time now in the entries at Ch shows; the odd show will attract a half decent entry, but on the whole the numbers have plummeted with no sign or hope of recovery. Our current allocation of 25 CC’s needs an urgent and serious overhaul, but I can’t see that happening anytime soon.

There were only 16 dogs entered at WKC for judge Jane Paradise (who last judged us at South Wales in 2024) and we were first in the ring with a 9.00am start. With 3 absentees leaving only 6 dogs and 7 bitches and no entries in either Minor Puppy, Puppy, Novice and Special Beginners classes, Post Graduate Dog, the Veteran Bitch was absent; apparently judging still wasn’t over until 10.30am.

The DCC with Best of Breed and Best Veteran went to Natasha & Colin Hickson’s Ch Kichigai’s Only The Lonley VW ShCex (Bert von Ricara (imp Den) x Kichigai Special Edition) with the RDCC going to Tyra Church’s Voila Mon Vadim Damour for Tykees (Imp Fra) (Golfstrim Iz Mirashela x Fr Ch Pepyte Damour La Dolce Vita) from Limit.

It was a 4th CC for Vikki & Sean Marshall’s recently crowned Ch Devonia Black Pearl (Arabesque at Devonia (Imp Russ) x Torrikees Made In Heaven at Devonia) with the RBCC going to second in Open, Mark Redler & David Wheatley’s Ch Keitakees You Are My World (Ch Neradmik Family Affair with Lekkerbek x Byquy Kinky Boots at Keitakees). It’s no surprise that with our dismal puppy numbers, that there were no puppies entered.

A reminder that entries for the NoEKC’s Ch show, held in partnership with Darlington close on Friday 4th September; on-line only via Have A Dog Day. The judge for the Club show is Sue Smith (Sueacres) and for Darlington it’s Caron Bell (Allforus)

Anji Marfleet