Breed Notes

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Some news that has manged to quietly ‘slip under the radar’ – a recent announcement from the RCVS (Citation (2019) Canine surgical AI now a prohibited procedure Veterinary Record 184, 206. Publication history: First published February 14, 2019. Online issue publication February 14, 2019) which states that canine surgical artificial insemination is now banned and…

After an unseasonably (but very welcome) warm and sunny early start, there was an equally warm welcome and hot bacon butties ready to greet everyone turning up for the North of England Keeshond Club’s AGM on Saturday morning. The Club has often had to change the date of its Open Show and AGM in February;…

Michelle Wright was delighted that her Ziva’s official Show Certificate of Merit confirmation finally came through and at Rutherglen Canine Club, Lacetrom Shuna ShCM celebrated by getting Best of Breed and then winning the Utility Group under judge Janet Kaye. It was their “Valentines” show so all the rosettes were pink with hearts on and…

The Keeshond Club held their January open show at Roade Village Hall, where Judge Bert Easdon had drawn an entry of 34 dogs with 4 absentees. Best Dog, Best in Show and Best Puppy in Show was Gill Brunt’s Zandvoort Up An Purrsonal (AI)(Kj’s Its Nothing Purrsonal x Ch Vanstrand Quantum of Solace) whilst Reserve…

It was CC’s back at Manchester after an absence of nearly 30 years and our judge Liz Dunhill, who was awarding CC’s in the breed for the 1st time had drawn an entry of just 32 dogs with 2 absentees. Keesies were in one of the annexes at Stafford – the Argyle Hall and were…

There were no no CC’s on offer for keesies at Boston where our judge Marion Sargent had drawn an entry of 9 with, astonishingly, no absentees. Keesies were 2nd in the ring after 35 Boston Terriers. Best Dog with Best of Breed was the Hickson’ Kichigai’s Only The Lonley (Bert Von Ricara (Imp DNK) x…

Our intrepid Northern exhibitors have been busy flying the Keesie flag over the Christmas period. At Carluke & DCS on Saturday 22nd, Boxer judge Lynn Mair (Glenauld) gave BOB and a fourth in the group to Ronnie & Karen Shepherd’s Lyntova I am Legend ShCM, whilst Caron Bell’s Foxifayre Keep The Faith with Allforus won…

Our judge for LKA was Karin Hickson (Kichigai) who was awarding CC’s for the 2nd time (her 1st appointment was at Leeds in 2015) and Karin had drawn an entry of 35 dogs with 15 absentees. Keesies were 3rd in the ring after 57 Shibas and 69 Japanese Spitz; judging didn’t start until around 2.30pm…

At BUBA Keesies were second in the ring for FCI judge Georg Walther (who was awarding CC’s in the UK for the first time). He had drawn the largest entry of the year after Crufts and the club breed shows – 60 Keesies with 13 absentees. The one Junior bitch entered was absent and there…

At BUBA Keesies are second in the ring after 75 Jap Spitz who have a 9.30am start, so it’s going to be after lunch before our judging starts. There is going to be party food table at the benches again this year (so please bring a contribution – sweet or savoury) which will start around…

It was a grey and misty early start for the North of England Keeshond Club’s Ch show; but the mist soon cleared and it was blue skies and sunshine, albeit with a seasonal nip in the air, for the rest of the day. As usual, a warm welcome (& hot bacon butties) greeted exhibitors at…

At Midland Counties our judge was Jean Davies (who last judged us at South Wales in 2016) and she had drawn an entry of 30 dogs with four absentees; there was just the Post Graduate Bitch class with no entries. It was a very leisurely start as not only were keesies second in the ring…

Judging the Keeshond Club’s October Open was Janice Bannister who had drawn an entry of 33 dogs with 11 absentees and Sue Bird (judging the Special Awards Classes) an entry of 14 dogs with 2 absentees. Best Dog and Best in Show with Best Veteran was Sue & Katie Wilkes’ Helkeesen Surfin at Dakaraikees (Summerwind’s…

At South Wales, the keesie judge was Christina Wilkin (Whizzkees) – who was awarding CC’s for the first time. We were second in the ring after 25 Chow chows and judging started around 12.00pm. Christina had drawn an entry of 22 Keesies with just two absentees and it was all over by 2.00pm. It was…

At Belfast, Irish judge Colm Beattie had just 2 keesies entered with one absentee. There has never been a large number of keesie exhibitors in Ireland, but I think that this year is the first year that none where at the show. Best Dog with Best of Breed was George & Sharon Rose’s Ch Rossvale…

Driffield Ch show society doesn’t seem to have much luck with the weather, and they really drew the short straw this year as it was cold, with torrential rain and gale force winds for most of the week leading up to the show; although it did improve for the weekend. They were certainly more fortunate…

At Richmond our judge was Jeff Luscott (who last judged keesies at SKC in 2015) and he had drawn an entry of 34 dogs with 10 absentees. There were no entries in both the Special Beginners classes, Veteran Bitch and the single Junior Dog entered was absent. Keesies were third in the ring after 50…

At Birmingham City our judge was ‘all-rounder’ Tom Johnston who was awarding CC’s in the breed for the 1st time. It was a leisurely start for exhibitors as Keesies were scheduled second after 90+ Tibetan Terriers and we got into the ring at around 1.00pm With an entry of 48 keesies, the highest general Ch…

A bumper set of notes this week, as for some reason my report for the Welsh Kennel Club never got sent into cyber space! At WKC Keeshonds had well known toy judge Dr Geoffrey Curr, who was awarding CC’s in the breed for the first time and he had drawn an entry of 32 dogs…

At Bournemouth Gill Brunt (Zandvoort) had drawn an entry of 21 keesies with 6 absentees. The entries for both Junior and Open bitch were all absent. Best Dog with Best of Breed was George & Sharon Rose’s Ch Rossvale Master of Destiny for Esorkees (Ch Neradmik Handsome Hero x Rossvale Scarlett’s Secret) with Sue Lindsay’s…

This is the last year that Keesies have classes with no CC’s at Paignton, as we have been re-allocated tickets for 2019 (our judge will be Rick Clasby). Hopefully the group days will also start to rotate as yet again Utility day was Tuesday which has to affect entries as not everyone is down there…

The glorious weather we’ve been having had to end sometime and it was Leeds Ch show who drew the short straw, as the heavens opened just in time for the weekend. Friday was Utility day which dawned warm and sunny, but by 8.00am the sky had darkened and the temperature plummeted. We had about an…

The glorious weather we’ve been having so far this year had to change at some point, and it chose the weekend of the North of England Keeshond Club’s July summer show held at Thorpe Willoughby Village Hall; although the forecasted (and much needed rain) never materialised. The morning dawned overcast, cool and breezy but got…

At East of England, Keeshonds were second in the ring after 60 Boston Terriers. Our judge was breed specialist Sharon Rose (Esorkees) who was judging us without CC’s and had drawn an entry of 18 dogs with 3 absentees; with the Open dog or Bitch class having an amazing 12 entries. Best Dog with BOB…

For a change, it was a lovely hot, sunny summer’s day at Blackpool, and Keeshonds were second in the ring with a 10.00am ‘not before’ time for well-known Swedish judge Sigurd Wilberg (who last judged keesies at Darlington in 2011). He had drawn an entry of 28 dogs (20 dogs and just 8 girls) with…

It’s no secret that Border Union is one of my favourite shows, with a lovely fairly quick draining showground in a beautiful part of the country and when blessed with glorious weather – I think it’s unbeatable. This year though, the rain which had threatened all week started Saturday morning and by the time came…

At Three Counties, Sue Butterfield was our substitute judge as the scheduled judge Jeane Waller (Brykin) had to withdraw due to ill health. We hope she is now feeling a bit better. There were 9 keesies entered with just 2 absentees (JD & OB) and there were no entries for either of the puppy or…

Our judge for Southern Counties was Irish ‘all-rounder’ Ann Ingram, who was awarding CC’s for the second time (her first appointment was Midland Counties in 2015) and she had drawn an entry of 44 with 10 absentees. There were nearly twice as many bitches entered as dogs; with the Post Graduate bitch class having an…

At Bath, Keeshonds were first in the ring with a 9.00am start for well-known Utility judge Sheila Jakeman; (who last judged keesies at border Union in 2016). She had drawn an entry of 24 dogs with just 3 absentees- all girls and there were no entries in Minor Puppy Dog, Junior Dog, both Veteran classes…

My thanks to Michelle Wright for being my ‘roving reporter’ at the Scottish Kennel Club; where Keeshonds were third in the ring after Pekes and Lowchens for well-known ‘all-rounder’ Tom Mather. He was awarding CC’s in keesies for the first time and had drawn an entry of 20 dogs with just one absentee but disappointingly,…

At Birmingham National, Keeshonds were first in the ring with a 9.00am start for well-known ‘all-rounder’ Jeff Horswell; who was awarding CC’s in keesies for the first time. He had drawn an entry of 42 dogs with 6 absentees and there were only two classes – puppy dog and veteran bitch which had no entries….

Even though judging was held indoors in the huge cattle sheds, it was still a wet, windy and very cold WELKS for Keesie exhibitors who were first in the ring with a 9.30am start. Our judge was Brian Curry (Norkees) (who last judged keesies at the National in 2014) and he had drawn an entry…

I’m writing these notes in the last week of April, a third of the way through the year and my ‘doom and gloom’ report really is aptly named! So far this year, only five litters have been born; resulting in just twenty two puppies – thirteen dogs and nine bitches. These comprised of two litters…

The judge for the Keeshond Club’s Ch show held at the Kennel Club’s building at Stoneleigh, was well known Irish exhibitor & FCI judge, Brian Carroll (Lyntova). Brian was awarding CC’s in the UK for the first time and he had drawn an entry of 84 dogs with 20 absentees. All the bitch classes were…

Sorry about the recent lack of notes, life’s as bit hectic here at the moment and I can’t see it improving until my little darlings go to their new homes in three weeks’ time; so I’m going to try and get you talking amongst yourselves!! In his critique preamble, our Crufts’ judge Rodney Oldham commented…

The first day of spring, blue skies and sunshine and looking out of the window, I can still see substantial drifts of snow lingering under the hedges. The old wives tale is that if it lies for more than 3 days, it is waiting on more snow – time will tell if that comes true…

The following paragraph somehow managed to get omitted from my notes last week. Both the Club and I are indebted to Jenny Shorer-Wheeler for coming to the rescue; as due to the imminent arrival of puppies I had to miss both the AGM & show (for the first time in over 30 years) Not only…

A bumper set of notes this week as I’m late with last week’s and early (for a change!) with this week; my next set won’t be until after Crufts! After a bright and chilly (but without the forecasted snow) early start, there was a warm welcome and hot bacon butties ready to greet everyone turning…

Nichola Kerr and Levi Altere V Kees Uit De Polder’s) had a day to remember last weekend at Ashington & DCS’s open show. Young Erik started the day off winning BOB & Best Puppy; he then got 2nd in the Utility group, won the Puppy Utility group and then ended up being awarded Best Puppy…

Marion Sargent (Tegwani) has drawn an entry of 44 dogs making 54 entries for the North of England Keeshond Club’s open show on the 24th February, which is being held after the morning’s AGM which starts at 10.00am. Gillian Marley who is judging the Special Award Classes first (starting at 1.00pm) has drawn an entry…

Most of you by now will have heard about The Kennel Club’s new judges’ education programme – the Judges Competency Framework (JCF), which will go live in January 2019. Further to this, the Kennel Club has recently written to all breed clubs asking them to appoint a Breed Education Coordinator (BEC) for their breed by…

The Keeshond Club held their January open show at Roade Village Hall, where Judge Ian Blackshaw had drawn an entry of 47 dogs with 9 absentees and it turned out to be a day for the youngsters. Best Dog was the winner of the Junior Class, Matthews & Ransley’s Szaryk Dutch Bargemaster with Valindale (Ch…

At Manchester Gavin Robertson (Soletrader) was judging Keeshonds for the first time and we were second in the ring after Mini Schnauzers. Judging started around 12.10pm and with an entry of 15 with just 2 absentees and no entries in either Puppy Dog or Junior Bitch, it was over and done with by 1.00pm. Best…

Against my better judgement and armed with a stiff drink, I watched ‘Britain’s top 100 dog breeds’ on ITV last night. The program itself was a bit of a misnomer as it transpires that it was the result of a poll taken of 10,000 Mirror newspaper readers and so not exactly representative of British Joe…

Boston is the first general Ch show of the year and it scheduled keesies classes (without CC’s) for the first time. Our judge was Sarah Hattrell (Khinjan) of Afghan and Schnauzer fame and she had drawn an entry of 19 dogs. We were in the main hall and second in the ring after 32 Boston…

As I write this, 2017 puppy numbers have failed to hit the 100 mark with only 93 puppies being born. Eighteen fewer born than last year and the lowest number since since 2012, the upward trend being short lived! There were 55 dogs born compared to just 38 bitches and only 1 fatality that I…

At the Winners’ Show in Amsterdam the other weekend, the Keeshond judge was Eva Nielsen (Sweden) and she had drawn an entry of 12 dogs. Winner of the CAC, CACIB and BOB was Int Ch Dungens Nice Guy owned by Eva Andersson & Marina Eriksson. The Reserve CAC and CACIB went to It Lu Ch…

At LKA, Keesies had the well-known Swedish judge Hans Almgren awarding CC’s in the breed for the second time (his first appointment in the UK was the NoEKC’s Championship show in 2010) and he had drawn an entry of 51 dogs – one of the largest entries this year apart from Crufts and the club…

Keesies were first in the ring for a 9.30am start at BUBA and it was a cold and foggy early morning start for exhibitors as they made their way to the Staffordshire Showground. The fine mist, which turned into persistent light rain, made it a miserable day; but it was warm and cheery inside with…