National Dog Show 2012 with Klancraig Lord Flashheart and Klancraig Mrs Miggins

Today both Gary and I took the day off work to attend the National Dog Show with Flash at the agricultural showground in Stafford. Gail also went along with the lovely Isla.
We were absolutely thrilled that Flash won his class and was Best Puppy Dog and Isla took third in the puppy bitch class and later went on to gain her Bronze Kennel Club Good Citizen Award.

Not quite nine months of age and with only two brief appearances at ringcraft and this his first ever show, we were delighted with how Flash took the day in his stride although he was a handful in the ring figiting to be looked over by the judge, bouncing around the ring on the move and constantly looking for his partner in crime Gary - so lots to work on for me there!

Flash goes to ringcraft class

Tonight Flash went along to his first ever ringcraft class in preparation for the Birmingham National (Championship) Dog Show in May.
We were delighted with how he behaved in such a relatively small area with so many other dogs of all breeds and sizes, many of whom were quite noisy too. I don't think that Flash has been amongst so many dogs before but he took it all in his stride. I have to say that he is undoubtedly Gary's boy as he couldn't take his eyes off Gary all evening... needless to say, when we go to the dog show Gary will have to hide when Flash is in the ring otherwise I think Flash will be looking for his daddy rather than concentrating on the job in hand.
It was also lovely to see Flash's litter sister Isla again and we are thrilled at how well she is coming along.

Klancraig Lord Flashheart - Flash

Klancraig Mrs Miggins - Isla

Ollie - Sh Ch Kimmax Kandy Storm By Klancraig

Ollie is eleven years old today and still full of the joys of spring and bouncing around like a two year old. Our youngster Flash has undoubted given Ollie a new lease of life as they are like two naughty school boys together - either that or crashed out on the sofa in the sitting room enjoying a snooze curled up with each other.
Happy birthday Ollie Wollie.

Phaedra - Bryedal Emmaslass For Klancraig

Today we would like to remember  Phaedra - Bryedal Emmaslass for Klancraig - our beautiful liver and white dalmatian bitch who went to the rainbow bridge seven years ago. Today would have been Fay's fourteenth birthday.
A most gentle little girl who was with us for far too short a time but has never been forgotten and will always be missed.

Leads with Beads

It's not very often I treat myself but I did this week by purchasing two lovely show leads, one for Flash and the other for Winnie, beautifully hand crafted by Alex Friar (Sashal GWP's and Cocker Spaniels) and made from kangaroo leather.
This is a new venture for Alex and we wish her every success with it in the future.
Hopefully Flash will be sporting his new lead at Birmingham National in May and although Winnie isn't entered, we are entrusting her new lead to Flash's sister Isla (Klancraig Mrs Miggins) who will also be making her debute at the same show.
I know Alex has plenty of bookings for her leads but when time allows she will be making me another for Lottie. In the meantime if you wish to see more of Alex's handy work visit her website www.leadswithbeads.co.uk



This is our new lead for Flash - in black, burgundy and
white.

This is Winnie's new lead in green, white and burgundy

Tilly is seven today

April is a busy month for doggie birthdays in the Klancraig household and today it is the turn of Tilly, mum to Winnie and Flash, who is seven today. Happy birthday Tilly Tots and to your brother Plumley too xx

How the Years Fly...

I can't believe that our Bronte to Plumley puppies are now five years old, where has the time gone!? So happy fifth birthday to Lottie, Indie and all of their siblings... and to think your mum is ten this year xx

Foundations of Canine Behaviour Management

Having grown up with dogs, enjoyed showing and training them for the field, grooming them as a living and taken a passionate interest in their health and nutrition, I suppose that an interest in canine behaviour was going to be a natural progression.

As such, it has been one of my amitions for a long time to study canine behaviour and obtain some formal qualifications in this area but it has been a long time in the planning, since anyone who is interested will know that there are hundreds of study programs out there but which one to follow?

However, in recent years I have had the good fortune to befriend a lady who herself shares this passion and has herself studied in this field and was able to give me some well appreciated guidance as to the courses that I should follow. The result of this is that I have finally posted my registration to study the Foundations of Canine Behaviour Management Diploma in preparation for studying the Advanced Diploma in Canine Behaviour Management which I hope will eventually lead to a degree. 

I am really excited at the prospects of getting my teeth into this as I feel that health, nutrition and behaviour are all closely linked.

Waiting for dinner ...

Flash has decided that his place is at the head of the table although he hasn't quite worked out how to use a knife and fork :-))

Fund Raising For GWP Rescue

Raising funds for GWP Rescue - the GWPC is holding a photo competition with fantastic prizes. The competition closes on 16 April. Entries taken 'online' or by post.
Download the form here - http://gwpclub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/GWP-Calendar-Photo-Competition.pdf
There really are some fantastic prizes and all proceeds go towards GWPs in need.

Crufts 2012

Well it's that time of year again and I have spent the last two days at the NEC in Birmingham attending Crufts. This year and for the first time in a long time, I went to Crufts on Gundog Day without a four legged friend - my own fault, since would you believe I missed the closing date! Our judge was the well respected breed specialist Mrs Diana Durman-Walters who is currently the President of the German Wirehaired Pointer Club and our Health Co-ordinator (with the Kennel Club). Diana had an entry of 39 wires which for such a well respected judge and at such a prestigious show was nothing short of shocking but of course as a breed we are now suffering the effects of the docking ban which means that many of our quality youngsters who by virtue of the fact that they are docked are 'Docked and Denied' and are unable to attend even if they have 'qualified' to be there. There were no entries in Special Puppy Dog, Special Puppy Bitch, Special Junior Dog or Special Junior Bitch.

Despite all of this I had a lovely day helping to man the German Wirehaired Pointer Club stand and meeting up with old friends.

Best of Breed was awarded to the very beautiful Timo - Sh Ch/Ir Sh Ch/Am Gr Ch/Int Ch Timo II v Bockenhagen at Kimmax NAVHDA UT1 Euro Winner 09 (IMP Deu). Well done to his owners Maxine and Peter McCullough and handler Courtney Bastian who had flown in from the States for the privilege of handling this lovely boy at Crufts.

Today I went back to the NEC to watch the Border Collie judging and whilst I don't own another breed you could call this my 'second breed' since my best friend and formerly my business partner has owned and bred border collies for a number of years and as much as she shows and interest in 'my breed', so I show an interest in 'hers'. I would go as far as saying I have learnt a lot from following this breed - not only about conformation and movement but about health conditions too, since in my opinion Border Collie breeders are far more open about conditions which affect their breed than I have found in wirehairs. I didn't envy the task of the two judges - one for dogs and one for bitches - given the quality and number of the dogs and bitches which had entered. In Open Bitch there were 34 bitches entered which nearly numbered the total number of wires entered in the Breed yesterday! There were some lovely dogs and bitches there and I must confess I could have been tempted to bring one or two home.

My bargain of the day at Crufts was a book on raw feeding produced by Honey's and entitled Natural Feeding Handbook for Dogs. Retailing at £7.50 this little gem was available for £1 on production of your Crufts catalogue. I haven't read it yet but looks like one to put in my next puppy pack and they have said that they are happy to produce certificates for free samples for breeders to issue to puppy buyers too. For anyone interested, Honey's are in Hall One.

Winnie's visit to the Cardiologist

Recently the subject of Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) has been a topic of coversation in the GWP community following a number of cases of confirmed and suspected DCM involving a small number of GWPs. The GWP Club recommends that anyone planning a litter or planning to use their dog at stud test for this condition using the Echo-Doppler technique. Whilst the test is not definitive it can give an early indication of abnormality. Today we took Winnie along to Sarah Smith who is a panel cardiologist based in Derbyshire. Winnie was such a good girl and slept on the table through most of the proceedure - I think the highligh of the visit for her was the treats that Sarah gave to her at the end. Sarah said that everything looked perfect and she was happy to give Winnie a clean bill of health. Obviously we are delighted that Winnie has tested clear of the condition, we would have been devastated at the thought of her suffering from this condition and if we have a litter from Winnie we want to make every effort to ensure that her puppies are fit and healthy and of sound temperament. The results that Sarah has recorded today will be sent along with a copy of her pedigree to Joanna Dukes McEwan BVMS, MVM, PhD, DVC, Dip.ECVIM-CA(Cardiology), MRCVS of the University of Liverpool Small Animal Hospital who is a leading authority on DCM and has kindly offered to undertake studies into this condition and how it is currently affecting our breed.

The Cost Of Raw Feeding

Okay, I am being boring now (no change there then) but have you worked out what it costs you to feed your dog per week? I did a quick sum tonight... My dogs are fed a raw diet and they are fed twice a day and Ollie and Flash are fed three times a day. They get a breakfast of raw meaty bones (predominantly chicken carcasses and occasionally breast of lamb or pork shoulder ribs or pigs tails or rabbit) and supper is mince - beef, tripe, lamb - with added offal twice a week (heart, liver, kidney, lungs), eggs twice a week, sardines twice a week and veggie/fruit slop at least twice a week. It costs me roughly £6 per week to feed my dogs this diet ... and of course a little effort since it doesn't just fall out of the bag :-))

Training with Nigel Dear

We are very fortunate that Nigel Dear of Llanforda Gundogs (www.llanfordahpr.co.uk) lives a short journey from us. We have trained with Nigel in the past and very much like his gentle but disciplined approach to training. Since Flash is now six months of age, we feel that Gary and Flash would now benefit from some structured one-to-one training with Nigel and as such, we have booked their first lesson together the aim being that Gary and Flash may appear at some working tests this summer and Gary can then begin working Flash on the shoot next season.

Nearly six months old

Well I don't know where the last six months have gone, since it seems like only yesterday that we were preparing for the arrival of our Tilly/Bruno babies and now here we are and the litter are nearly six months old. I took this picture of Flash this evening after a stint on the grooming table.

Dr Jean Dodds

Today my friend and I have booked two places to attend a talk to be given by Dr Jean Dodds DMV. Dr Dodds is an internationally renowned expert in clinical pathology, haematology, endocrinology, immunology and nutrition and is a leading expert in the testing and diagnosis of thyroid problems. She has also been a strong campaigner to change the vaccination protocol in the US and had been instrumental in achieving changes in revaccination schedules. The day consists of talks on Thyroid Disease, Vaccine Issues and Nutrition... all of these topics are right up my street and I can't wait to attend. In my humble opinion thyroid issues are far more prevelant in dogs in the UK than people realise resulting in a plethora of health and behavioural problems and often go undiagnosed since the tests many of our vets perform are simply not thorough enough. Dr Dodds is speaking at two different venues on two dates, details of which can be obtained by contacting the following - Al Matherne - al@care-uk.com for the talk on Saturday 9th June in Manchester or Christine Stansfield - c_stansfield@btinternet.com for the talk on Sunday 10th June at Roade Village Hall, Northamptonshire.

Last Day of the Shoot.

This season Gary and Bronte have been working on a different and much bigger shoot than the one we have worked together over the last few seasons. For the first time ever Gary shot over his own (well my) dog and she picked up for him and several other guns. Gary said she worked like a trooper. I am so proud of them both but especially Gary who up until a couple of years ago had not worked an HPR.

Hopefully next season Gary will be working Flash. Flash will be the first GWP that Gary has trained, hitherto I have trained our dogs but since moving to Much Wenlock and being invited to join our local shoot, Gary has been truly bitten by the bug and has desired a dog to train and work himself. It was lovely to come home this evening and find Bronte curled up in front of the fire in the lounge - just where she deserves to be after such a busy day. Can't imagine for one minute though that she will let Gary leave her behind next year...

Otto - Klancraig Kaptain Darling

This is Otto, litter brother to Flash, Deano, Isla, Meg and Ted.

Bruce - Klancraig Hermes

This is Bruce, who is from Tilly's first litter and is litter sister to our own Winnie. Bruce lives with his half sister Meg (pictured below).

Meg - Klancraig Lady Kordelia

This is Meg at five months of age. Meg is from Tilly's second litter and is litter sister to Isla, Ted, Otto, Flash and Deano.

Klancraig Mrs Miggins - Isla

This is Isla at five months of age. Gail will soon be starting gundog training classes with Isla and as such, we hope to see Gail and Isla at some working tests this summer.

Klancraig Lord Blackadder -Ted

Winnie - Klancraig Artemis

Our Winnie-woo AKA Klancraig Artemis. From Tilly's first litter and half sister to Flash.

Klancraig Lord Flashheart (Flash) at 21 weeks of age.