Kennel Gazette January 2019

January 2019

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Contents

Contents

January 2019

Opinion

Art & culture

4 The ‘new girl’

Sue Garner reports from the Kennel Club Board

6 Viewpoint

Simon Parsons welcomes the new year and reflects on which dog-related issues might be on the agenda in the months ahead

News

7

Every picture tells a story

Bill Moores uncovers a Thomas Fall photo in his grandparents’ house and looks at how photography changed the face of dog show newspapers

Special features

8

A day of discussion and a need for change?

Bill Moores reports on the Special General Meeting of the Kennel Club

14

Celebrating 100 years of the German Shepherd Dog

The foundation years of one of the world’s most popular breeds

The Kennel Club, Clarges Street, London W1J 8AB www.thekennelclub.org.uk

Chairman: Steve Croxford Vice Chairman: Tony Allcock MBE Chief Executive: Rosemary Smart Secretary: Caroline Kisko Customer services: 01296 318540 Petlog Main Number: 01296 336579 Petlog Lost & Found: 01296 737600 Library/Gallery: 020 7518 1009 Insurance Enquiries: 0800 369 9445 Editor: Carrie Thomas Editorial Manager: Sara Wilde Editorial Panel: Bill Moores (Chairman), Terrie Cousins-Brown, Ian Gabriel, Philippa Gilbert, Robert Greaves, Revd. Bill King, Gay Robertson

18 Bark & Read

The role of the Kennel Club in helping children and young people to become confident, happy readers

numbers visit Discover 22 Record Dogs in London

of the Yorkshire Terrier — Ch Huddersfield Ben 33Father How the Fosters came upon the ‘Father of the Yorkshire Terrier’ and changed the course of canine history

A report on the most successful event in the show’s 23-year history

years of Midland 34 Fifty Counties Canine Society

The opening ceremony of the Margaret Everton Pavilion

18

Bark & Read

Health matters

12Is it Alabama rot — or not?

What is known so far about this mysterious and often deadly disease

Judges’ choice

26The Yorkshire Terrier

The breed standard, breed news, and breed experts pick their three favourite dogs which they have judged in the ring

Editorial enquiries: kennel.gazette@thekennelclub.org.uk The Kennel Club, Clarges Street, London W1J 8AB Subscriptions: 020 7518 1016 subs@kennelgazette.org.uk Kennel Gazette is published monthly on behalf of the Kennel Club by Warners Group Publications Plc www.warnersgroup.co.uk To advertise contact Andrea Walters andrea.walters@warnersgroup.co.uk Printed by Warners Midlands Plc Kennel Gazette is the monthly publication of the Kennel Club. Views and opinions expressed within the Kennel Gazette are the personal opinions of the original authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Kennel Club.

22

Dii Discover D Dogs og

Cover photo: Kennel Club office dog Henry, a Welsh Corgi (Pembroke) With special thanks to Sandgate Library, Kent, for allowing the Kennel Gazette to use their library.

Turn to page 18 to read more about the Kennel Club’s Bark & Read project supported by the Kennel Club Educational Trust.

Photo: ©The Kennel Club

/The KennelClubUK @thekennelclubuk @TheKennelClubUK

The paper used for this publication is a recyclable and renewable product. It has been produced using wood sourced from sustainably managed forests and elemental or total chlorine-free bleached pulp. This magazine can be recycled either through your kerbside collection, or at a local recycling point. Log on to www.Recyclenow.com and enter your postcode to find the nearest sites.

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On my mind

The ‘new girl’ Offering a different view

A

fter almost 30 years of serving on various Kennel Club committees, I was delighted and privileged to represent my disciplines of obedience and rally on the Kennel Club Board. It’s not easy for those of us from disciplines other than showing to break through the barriers of voting at the AGM. We are small in number and not necessarily in a position to influence the ‘show world’ voters. So, I really did appreciate those who offered to support my nomination and canvass on my behalf. I hope I live up to their expectations.

It’s a long time since I’ve been new to a job, and so it felt quite strange when attending my first Board meeting in June 2018. Well how was that first day? Much as I had expected? Yes. Plenty of pre-reading to do?

Most certainly! Was I overwhelmed? No. Fortunately, I have previous experience of company board meetings in my NHS roles, and confess the format is similar wherever you are. The subject matter may be different but the requirements of a board are still much the same. Plus, I was made welcome by all, and that helped a great deal. So why did I feel it was right for me to be there? Well, I’ve been a long time actively competing, judging and being a show organiser of obedience competitions, and, when was such a person a member of the Kennel Club

Board? Certainly not recently.

The Kennel Club is many things to different people; there are the show and activity disciplines with licensed events held throughout the year and all over the UK. There are training elements, Assured Breeders, registrations, Petlog and more.

The Kennel Club has a lobbying role, working with government and political parties to ensure the rights of dog owners are maintained, and relationships are made with canine charities working on common goals.

However, I know from my own experience of talking to people at the shows I attend just how little people know of the Kennel Club’s range of activities and its involvement in the wider world of dogs.

All of the areas in which the Kennel Club is involved or has an interest require a level of governance, knowledge and understanding from the Board and a strong staff base. So, I am under no illusions that my time as a Board member will not be easy or without conflict of some sort. My NHS experiences as a clinical professional and senior manager will see me in good stead.

Board members are a cross section of exhibitors, judges and show organisers with most having professional knowledge and expertise outside the world of dogs, which is a considerable advantage to the management of the Kennel Club.

Photo: ©Yulia Titovets/The Kennel Club

By Sue Garner

Rally display in the Genting Arena at Crufts 2018

Their role is to look after and act in the best interest of the Kennel Club, and even my short time on the Board has shown me it’s easier said than done! As so often in life, there are times when it’s clear how best to act or what decision to make, but frequently the required actions are less clear and a judgement call has to be made and this is where expertise from the different

Obedience Competition at Crufts 2018

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On my Mind

disciplines and business backgrounds comes to the fore.

Which brings me back to where do I fit in?

Hopefully, to offer another view that’s the result of obedience, rally, pet dog training

“A lot has changed in the last few years and it is not surprising that some struggle to keep up with the pace of evolution” and life experiences that will assist the Board to make decisions that both support and further the Kennel Club’s objectives.

That said, there are most certainly challenging times ahead. However, I am not alone. It was obvious at my first meeting there is a broad range of knowledge and experience in those who have been elected to the Board. There are those whose interests lie in the activities disciplines, such as obedience and rally, agility, working trials and gundogs, as well as showing. So, I would hope that a balanced debate can he held on any subject and a reasoned decision made.

Who knows what the future brings? But we are engineers of our own destiny so, in light of recent events, the Board needs to work with the members to restore faith, and trust in its competence to manage and its various committees to execute their duties effectively. Those who are more detached

from the show scene can bring a different perspective to any discussions which is both objective and perceptive, so, hopefully, moving forward to a better place.

A lot has changed in the last few years and it is not surprising that some struggle to keep up with the pace of evolution. Is this too much for the membership to assimilate?

Maybe for some and not fast enough for others. So, whatever the climate of opinion, the Board will never please everyone.

SUE GARNER As a child Sue and her sisters always wanted to have a dog, but it was never to be. Her mother was always saying “We’ll think about it when the cat dies.” Sue had been married for two years before the cat died!

She owned her first dog soon after her marriage in 1978 to husband Peter who had decided that a Border Collie would

Communication is something we all do on a daily basis but it’s amazing how often we just don’t quite get it right. Life is full of misunderstandings and talking at cross purposes. The Kennel Club, its members and stakeholders are not immune to the vagaries of life and I will do my utmost to objectively meet the challenges that come my way.

What of the ‘new girl’? Who knows, but the next couple of years will tell! ● be the right dog for them. So, in January 1979, Jessie was born and it was Sue who was to take her to training classes run by Jessie’s breeder. She has been fortunate over the years to have had the help and guidance from a number of expert trainers to help her with all her dogs.

Sue has always been happy to ‘give back’ to the world of obedience, where she has spent many years enjoying shows, competing, judging or as part of the show management team.

She joined the Obedience Liaison Council in the early 1980s, serving 20 years as a south and south west representative. This beginning has led to membership of numerous committees and working groups to her successful appointment to the Board in May 2018.

Alongside enjoying her time training and competing, she pursued a successful career as an Orthoptist, moving from a clinical role to a senior manager in 2001.

She then decided in 2005 to take a step away from the NHS, to work part-time from home as a companion dog trainer.

She’s now retired, but certainly not slowing down!

Photo: ©Flick.digital/The Kennel Club

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Viewpoint

Viewpoint

By Simon Parsons

W

ell, let’s say goodbye to 2018 and I’m sure everyone connected in any way with the Kennel Club will say ‘Good riddance’.

It’s been one of the most difficult years in the Club’s history but, thankfully, it’s over and we can all move forward bearing in mind what the events of the year have taught us.

Let’s hope the new year can be more about dogs than dog people. Within all the politics, external and internal, it’s all too easy to lose sight of the Kennel Club’s mission and purpose.

In last month’s column I suggested a few possible areas on which the Club’s efforts could perhaps be concentrated in the future.

This time, here are just a few thoughts about areas actually concerning dogs which may be on the agenda.

The most obvious of these is, of course, health, an area in which so much progress has been made and is still being made, witness the new respiratory function grading scheme which is being developed by the Kennel Club in collaboration with the University of Cambridge and which it is hoped will be available to breeders early this year.

Only an idiot would deny or belittle the tremendous contribution the Kennel Club and the Kennel Club Charitable Trust have made to the general improvement of health in so many breeds, coupled with the enthusiastic efforts of breed clubs and, of course, the breeders themselves. However, it is an ongoing debate as to what level of control and influence the Kennel Club should exert.

Firstly, which conditions should be on which schedule, with the results of tests published? And, secondly, which tests should

the Kennel Club insist breeders of different breeds carry out if they are a member of the Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme?

Should testing by itself be enough? Should the Kennel Club require a satisfactory result of such tests? And how would you determine what results are considered satisfactory?

Should the Club go further and, in some breeds and for some conditions, insist that only tested parents are bred from? And so on and on. How far should all this be taken? It’s a debate that will go on forever.

Then there is the debate about the ‘colour not recognised’ issue which affects some of our most popular breeds, including French Bulldogs and Pugs. Although some measures were announced a couple of years ago, sometimes one gets the impression that not everyone in charge realises how strongly those breeders who do their best to keep to the Kennel Club standard in their breeding plans feel about this issue.

I understand that a report on this question will be presented to the Board in due course, which will then be circulated for consultation to the breed clubs in the breeds most affected. There can be no easy answers, especially as the topic should have been more firmly addressed several years ago when the extent of the problem was first realised, but this is one

area where the Kennel Club can reconnect with its core supporters by more obviously acknowledging their worries.

A few years ago the subject of the Kennel Club’s attitude to crossbreeds was fiercely debated. Then all went rather quiet, but the issue won’t go away and will need to be resolved one day. This all ties in with ‘refreshing the brand’; no doubt there will always be a debate as to what extent the brand should concentrate on promoting ‘purebred’ dogs or dogs in general.

With a renewed interest in the topic of ‘dangerous dogs’, no doubt the Club will be in the forefront of those campaigning for fairer legislation. And, as the new rules settle in about which breeders need to be licensed — something on which there is currently almost total confusion — those in authority will need to be balancing legitimate concerns about the welfare of breeding animals and puppies from commercial breeding establishments with the need to not make life too awkwardly bureaucratic for the small time hobby breeders, who are the backbone of our world, and encouraging a sensible application of the law.

So, a happy new year to all readers of the Kennel Gazette, and may it be a considerably less ‘interesting’ one for us all. Perhaps the motto for 2019 should be: ‘Remember, it’s all supposed to be about the dogs!’ ●

SIMON PARSONS Simon Parsons has owned a variety of breeds but his first loves are the Corgis.

He worked for Dog World newspaper for 39 years and awards Challenge Certificates in 13 breeds. In 2014 he instigated the revival of the Kennel Gazette

Photo: ©Laura Kolbach/The Kennel Club

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News

The International Canine Awards 2019

I

t is not too late to nominate a researcher, scientist, or breed health co-ordinator, whose work has had a positive impact on the health and well-being of dogs, for these leading canine health awards, run by the Kennel Club Charitable Trust.

Vernon and Shirley Hill, founders of Metro Bank, have kindly donated a prize fund totalling £61,000 and the Kennel Club Charitable Trust is encouraging people to nominate themselves or their peers by 30th January, 2019. The awards are being held on 30th May, 2019 within the International Partnership for Dogs (IPFD) conference, and the Kennel Club is one of the founding members.

The four canine health awards are; International Prize in Canine Health, Lifetime Achievement Award, UK Student Inspiration Awards (split into undergraduate and postgraduate), and the Breed Health Co-ordinator Award. For more information about each award and previous winners, please see the website below.

All nominations should be made via the online application form on the Kennel Club website before 30th January 2019 at www.thekennelclub.org.uk/ICHA If you have any queries regarding the application process, please contact Andrea Harris at the Kennel Club via icha@thekennelclub.org.uk

Every picture tells a story!

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Images owned by DH Hockley©

M

y grandparents loved dogs and had numerous pictures of them on the wall in their house, usually the remains of old calendars they particularly liked. One was a head study of a Wire Fox Terrier. “That is just like Don,” my grandmother would say, “ he was the best dog we ever had and a great friend of the children.” It was a story my mother confirmed!

It wasn’t until my grandmother moved to sheltered accommodation that I realised that the photo was a Thomas Fall image with the distinctive script-style credit bottom left in the shot.

At the time, Our Dogs photo archives contained many Fall prints and being involved in production it was also generally recognised that we could rely on them for quality images.

In the 1960s the photography element in the weekly dog show newspapers was almost non-existent when the hot-metal letterpress print process did little for picture quality. This, and the quality of the newsprint paper, were disincentives when it came to the decision to use photographs in the papers.

The coarse-screen blocks etched by an acid process demanded large format printed, contrasty photographs to retain any sort of quality. It was also common to see hand re-touched images go through this process only to slightly improve reproduction.

In the early 1970s things took a more positive turn with the advent of the web-offset printing process. Though ‘screening’ photographs was still necessary much finer dot screens and eventually varying shapes of dots produced better reproduction. This process was to extend to the popular annuals of each weekly paper and together was to last for 20 years until desktop publishing became the norm. Digital imaging was followed by image scanning in the 1990s. Many will also recall the first digital cameras which appeared shortly afterwards.

It may also be of interest that with the web-offset presses came the option to print in colour which was of great commercial interest to principal advertisers. The availability of colour depended on the colour units on any single press. The trick was to use these costeffectively within the physical constraints thereby maximising colour

Promoting the Pedigree through Photography: Thomas Fall exhibition in partnership with Mary Evans Picture Library is currently featured in the Kennel Club Art Gallery. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to view the world’s oldest and most valuable pedigree dog archive. Pictured above are three very rare carte de visites c1860s of the same dog but posed in different compositions. Other items featured are on exclusive loan from Mary Evans Picture Library and the Royal Collection courtesy of her Majesty the Queen

use on each colour unit. Opening up a colour unit was an expensive business; today computer to plate technology facilitates great use of colour.

Before the early 1970s there were few illustrated adverts in the weekly dog papers. This changed when Cyril Cooke and Diane Pearce vied for the chance to take photos of Best of Breeds at championship shows. They did so using large format film cameras; posting out proofs and ensuring within seven days that the weekly dog papers had the prints for inclusion in the newspaper.

In many ways these small adverts were loss-leaders. It was the commission driven half pages or larger adverts in the annuals which became the earners for the photographers.

Our Dogs was also responsible for introducing David Dalton and John Hartley to the dog show scene. David was part of a commercial operation in Birkenhead and John was a well-known newspaper sports photographer in Yorkshire. Both went on to carve out their own niches within the world of dogs in the pre-digital age.

To underline the importance of these Thomas Fall images the Kennel Club, in partnership with Mary Evans Picture Library, has dedicated an exhibition to his work and that of his successors who recognised photography as an art form and an important record of pedigree dogs. The exhibition runs until 29th March, 2019.

For enquiries and bookings: telephone 020 7518 1064 or email artgallery@thekennelclub.org.uk Bill Moores

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Special General Meeting

A day of discussion and a need for change?

“The Board has been criticised for decisions taken over a period where there has been unprecedented change environmentally, socially and in the way communication between individuals and groups is now being conducted. In reaching this point in the Club’s history, the Board may have failed to recognise fully the impact of the increasing use of social media as a mechanism for democratic debate and lobbying.” Mr Steve Croxford Special General Meeting report

by Bill Moores

Photo: ©Heidi Hudson/The Kennel Club

I

t was the best of attendances for the worst of reasons. On 6th November last year, 308 Kennel Club members turned out for a Special General Meeting, the run-up to which had attracted unprecedented media attention.

The background had been ‘a slow burn’ since early September 2018, when a group of members had formally requisitioned an SGM to call for the resignation of two Kennel Club Board members, Mr Mark Cocozza and Mr Jeff Horswell, from their positions as chairmen of sub-committees, and for the resignation of the Board Chairman Mr Simon Luxmoore himself.

Those without access to the darker corners of social media could be forgiven for being confused by the stream of communications which followed, some from the Kennel Club, others from the requisitioners; some by email, some by letter. Most were sent out to correct prior perceptions, while others to reinforce the Board’s ‘line’ on what was happening around them.

On the day, as interim chairman Mr Steve Croxford was directing members to their seats at the Curzon Cinema, Mayfair, the meeting start-time drifted by before he welcomed everyone, carefully outlining the need for an independent facilitator for the contentious item 3 on the agenda. While following procedure, he was interrupted

by Mr Ron Stewart who contended that the substance of the meeting was not valid under Rules 40 and 41 as the amended agenda for the meeting was not circulated the required 14 days in advance. This actually was incorrect and the procedure was compliant.

Before the interim chairman could ask for the calling notice to be read, a lady member swept to the floor to advise members that the further requisition lodged with the Kennel

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Photo: ©Heidi Hudson/The Kennel Club

Special General Meeting

The familiar brand that has been the face of the Kennel Club since 1873 is to be reviewed

Club that morning at 10am had contained 300 members’ names (far more than the required five per cent to formally trigger another meeting) and that the requisitioners had a further 236 members who had pledged their support for their aim, which was to remove the three previously named Board members as directors. The 2006 Companies Act, section 168, was cited as the reason for this action.

At 11.17am, the secretary eventually read the calling notice, item 1 and the meeting commenced with acknowledgements from Mr Steve Croxford, item 2, as to the pace of events over the previous week and use of social media. He also suggested to members that the Board must get better at ‘openness, transparency and communication’ and explained that the world in which we live in today is a faster-moving, more dynamic place than it was even three years ago and traditional institutions such as ours are racing simply to stand still in this environment. This has led to some members believing the Board has been moving too fast, with others worrying that we are being too slow as events overtake them.

Independent facilitator Mr Michael King was then introduced, who requested good manners, clear, concise arguments, and for members to do so without rancour.

It was made clear to the assembly at this point that the principal representatives of the requisitioners had elected not to speak.

It is also worth noting that others involved

in petitioning members and present in the room, were silent throughout.

Mr Michael King invited Mr Simon Luxmoore to address the meeting as outlined in item 3 of the agenda. He did so in a succinct manner addressing all the items in his original statement circulated to members. Concluding that the Kennel Club was at a crossroads in its history, he left members with the thought that ‘the future of the Kennel Club is in your hands’.

A bullish Mr Mark Cocozza followed, pointing out that trial by social media offers no fairness. He also damned the canine press for its part in the melée.

With particular reference to Disciplinary Committee decisions, he pointed out that these were made collectively and that the appeals process was robust and fair. He also informed members of changes to the powers of the Disciplinary Committee to ‘tailor’ the lengths of bans, a particular point of conjecture surrounding a recent high-profile Rule A42 case.

Lastly, Mr Jeff Horswell defended himself to members present. His ‘crime’ he said was to head the Judges Competency Framework (JCF). He outlined events since 2016, using PowerPoint, and chronicled its progress from the germ of an idea as a business plan, to the improvements made over time.

He also pointed out that one of the main protagonists involved in the requisition for his removal had in fact been present at many of the Board meetings which approved the

general direction of the JCF. There were sufficient points in the presentations. All three had uncomfortable moments and all three prompted contentious replies from the floor.

Opening up the discussion to members, Mr Michael King conducted himself well after what had been a potentially explosive half-hour. Was there utter disbelief in so many members’ minds as to what they had just heard? If there was, it manifested itself in conservative comment and restraint.

He reminded members that it was his brief to summarise all comments for Board consumption and he asked once more for clear, concise responses. Former senior members of the General Committee, former chairmen and those with accountancy expertise vied for the microphones. We learned of the many successes of previous ‘regimes’; of the high depreciation costs which would have to be borne until 2020 because of computer system replacement costs, and of the subtleties of above the line and below the line profit in relation to depreciation.

‘Trust us to do the right thing’, suggested one member of the Finance Committee.

Batting for the Kennel Club the new CFO Mr Kevin McGuirk fielded questions and was even able to categorically deny that he was not the ‘tail wagging the dog’ when it came to financial decisions. His role was, he said, purely advisory to the Board members.

Members questioned the early viability

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Special General Meeting

“Looking to the future, Mr Croxford asked members to consider how representative they were as a body within the world of dogs” processes it set to evaluate and approve judges? Should the Kennel Club involve the grass roots exhibitors and would-be judges more? Should the introduction of the JCF be delayed pending further consultation?

He pointed out that everything discussed on the day would be taken back to the Board along with Mr King’s independent summary.

This, he said, would help the Board to better understand members’ concerns, the direction of future priorities and help them to put in place clearer mechanisms to remove perceived obstacles and progress.

Item 4 detailed the Special Resolution, which formally removed from KC Article

37 Conditions of membership 37.2 the requirement for new members to pay an entrance fee. This was formally carried by a show of hands with only 14 against.

Speaking on item 5, Board member Dr Ron James proposed amendments to KC Rule A(B): COMMITTEES (h) Judges Function. This amendment and insertion to the rule passed responsibilities to the appropriate committee to act for the Board in hearing and deciding upon breaches of relevant Kennel Club regulations. Taking account of proxy votes cast, the proposal was carried 478 for and 180 against.

Moving to agenda item 6, the members were treated to a Health Report & Strategy PowerPoint presentation from Charlotte McNamara and Dr Nick Blayney in which they brought everyone up to date with progress in their field. Members were shown the ‘staircase’ of progress on the Dog Health & Research Road Map, the resulting reality and how results are used to inform and educate breeders and owners alike. It was clear that breeder co-operation was key to their success at all stages. This led to good feedback from the floor and discussion over several items which would be of interest to the educationalists in Clarges Street.

This was followed by items 7 and 8 which in turn dealt with education and

Photo: ©Flick.digital/The Kennel Club

of the Chepstow dog centre project, asking why withdrawal had cost the Kennel Club £170,000. One senior group and Best in Show judge spoke passionately of their concern over the JCF and the number of judges it may leave behind in its wake.

Pointing out that great experience would be lost, he pleaded with the Board to listen and act to keep those with valuable knowledge ‘on board’ as the framework develops in the future. The request received generous support in the room.

Another member was equally passionate about the support and retention of existing CC judges. Breed clubs, too, were deserving of support and should be given back their responsibilities to educate and selfdetermine the quality of judges. Another, noted for past criticisms of the Board and its actions, greatly favoured the JCF and asked fellow members to help develop it to perfection.

After several more passionate speeches, the interim chairman Mr Steve Croxford thanked Mr Michael King for his help in directing this delicate item which had taken just over two hours of meeting time. Looking to the future, Mr Croxford asked members to consider how representative they were as a body within the world of dogs. Was the Kennel Club deeply misunderstood in the

It was interesting to note from Steve Conway’s presentation that the Crufts brand was stronger than that of the Kennel Club

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Photo: ©The Kennel Club

Photo: ©Jess Clark/The Kennel Club

Special General Meeting

New Kennel Club Vice Chairman Mr Tony Allcock MBE

Photo: ©Flick.digital/The Kennel Club

New Kennel Club Chairman Mr Steve Croxford

communications. On the education front, Helen Fox and Mr Tony Allcock MBE informed members of their current objectives. With nine million dog owners in the UK and what seemed like a conservative 35,000 breeders, it was clear they had a good framework set up to educate and share learning resources. Young Kennel Club members, too, were a key area in the learning processes as they become more involved in dog showing.

Steve Conway, who joined the Kennel Club six months ago, talked to the by now dwindling number of members present, through the joys of the communication in the digital era, press and public relations, social media, brand marketing and the new customer relations management system.

It was also interesting to note from his presentation that the Crufts brand was stronger than that of the Kennel Club.

Indeed the perception of the Kennel Club as a whole from his sample was not particularly complimentary.

Steve Conway explained to members the interaction between the many brands within the Kennel Club and the array of logos representing them. The time was right, he suggested, for the Kennel Club brand to be strengthened and evolved and to this end we later learned that the Board had allocated £50,000 to engage a specialist company to build a new digitally acceptable Kennel Club brand. It is expected that this will be phased in during 2019.

Four hours into the meeting, Mr Ron Stewart took to the stage to place before the members three sections of item 9 aimed at seeking the members’ feelings about issues which concerned him. a) Members of the Kennel Club Board should not be allowed to exhibit at championship shows. b) The approved minutes of the Kennel Club Board minutes be published for the viewing of all members. c) The lodging of proxy votes be announced, together with the placement of those votes,

and supported by certification from the electoral authority. On a point of order raised by a Board member, just as Mr Stewart sought to gauge members’ feelings by means of a simple show of hands, his attempt was neutralised. Too many members, it was said, were disenfranchised to make this sort of vote right and proper. A former chairman and present exhibitor felt the first two items were wrong, as did several other members.

“We want people on the Board to pull their trolleys through the mud and experience what we do,” said a lady member.

It was also pointed out that other overseas’ kennel clubs had tried publishing meeting minutes and that it had subsequently raised more questions than answers in the long term.

A representative of the Kennel Club lawyers commented on the request to publish minutes pointing out that what some large companies do was to agree to publication of ‘open meeting’ minutes but at the same time run what are termed ‘closed meetings’ for sensitive subjects on an agenda.

In closing the meeting Mr Steve Croxford thanked members for their attendance and congratulated them on their stamina after four and a half hours of debate. ● Twenty four hours after the meeting on 7th November, Mr Simon Luxmoore and Mr Mark Cocozza resigned as directors of the Kennel Club Board. The Board elected Mr Steve Croxford as its new Chairman and Mr Tony Allcock MBE as Vice Chairman. In a press release the Board endorsed and supported the JCF work of Mr Jeff Horswell.

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Health matters

Is it Alabama rot — or not?

There is as yet no scientific evidence regarding where or how your dog can catch Alabama rot

What is known so far about this mysterious and often deadly disease

By Laura Holm BVM&S CertSAM MRCVS

O

ver the last six years, the media has been filled with horror stories of dogs dying from the mystery illness Alabama rot.

The disease has been given a number of other evocative nicknames including ‘dog black death’, ‘Alabama foot rot’ and ‘New Forest disease’, but it is more correctly called cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy, or CRGV.

So what is causing so much concern?

Firstly, a lot remains unknown about the illness. It was initially reported in dogs in the UK in the winter of 2012, and appears to be more prevalent during the winter and spring. In spite of large amounts of research over the last six years, the cause of the illness remains unknown.

Secondly, some dogs die from this disease, as a result of sudden onset (acute) kidney failure. The result of these two factors is that there is a lot of anxiety among dog owners and veterinarians about how to avoid this potentially life-threatening illness.

What are the facts?

What is CRGV? It is a disease of dogs (no other animals have so far been affected), which causes ulcerative (raw, sore) skin lesions/sores, predominantly affecting the feet, limbs and muzzle or oral cavity. Many different breeds and ages of dog have been affected and, while some dogs just get these skin lesions and recover uneventfully, a proportion of dogs develop acute kidney injury, which (as mentioned above) is an extremely serious complication.

The disease appears to occur sporadically across the UK with the highest case numbers seen between November and May each year.

We know that the disease involves damage to the lining of the tiny blood vessels in the skin and kidneys, which in turn leads to formation of blood clots. This is a little bit like deep vein thrombosis or DVT in humans.

The blood clots block off blood supply to the affected area, and this can lead to death of the tissue in that area. This is why we see skin ulcers, where tiny bits of skin have actually died and also why we sometimes see kidney failure when part of the kidney tissue has died.

As yet no evidence has been found to suggest that CRGV is caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, toxins, or radiation. There has been much speculation as to whether it

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Health matters

Generally, vets will recommend blood and urine tests for suspected cases, in order to assess for kidney injury, and to allow ongoing monitoring.

Clinical signs

Further tests

Most dogs developing CRGV are initially reported to have developed skin lesions.

These appear like sores, ulcers, or red, swollen, bruised areas, commonly with

Further investigations such as skin scrapes, hair plucks, needle samples of lesions for cytology, blood tests and skin biopsy may be helpful to differentiate some other

Photo courtesy of Jessica Worthington RVN

is related to something in mud or water, due to the higher prevalence in winter and spring, and relatively low case number seen in the summer.

Alabama Rot Research Fund (ARRF)

CRGV lesion affecting the main pad on a dog’s foot

“Any dog with unexplained or concerning skin lesions should be taken to see the vet as the first step” an infected appearance. These areas are typically seen on the feet and limbs, muzzle, tongue and underside of the abdomen. The majority of dogs seem well at the time the skin lesions develop, but some have been lame, lethargic, off their food, or had other signs like vomiting or diarrhoea. The skin lesions are typically quite painful and can cause the dog to lick or chew the area.

Any dog with unexplained or concerning skin lesions should be taken to see the vet as the first step.

Diagnosis Unfortunately, at this time there is no one single specific test that a vet can perform initially to confirm the diagnosis of CRGV.

interfering with blood supply and causing some of the kidney tissue to die. Clot busting drugs used in humans are not suitable for use in dogs as they tend not to work and also cause severe side effects. This means that the treatment options for dogs getting this type of kidney failure are quite limited and rely on supporting kidney function via careful use of fluids; controlling high blood pressure, which is a very common sequel of acute kidney failure in dogs, and ensuring the toxins normally eliminated by the kidneys do not build up in the body.

One advanced therapy which has been trialled in a small number of cases is called plasma exchange therapy (PEX)/therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE). This involves removing the liquid part of the dog’s blood (the plasma) and replacing it with donor plasma. This therapy is offered at only one place in the UK, Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, and it is not suitable for all CRGV cases.

PEX is certainly not a guaranteed cure, but the survival rate for dogs with kidney injury managed in this way may be slightly better than for those managed with more traditional therapy. Further research is needed.

conditions from CRGV. Some of these tests have to be carried out under sedation or anaesthesia. Biopsy involves taking a small piece of the affected skin and underlying tissue to send to a laboratory for analysis under the microscope.

Treatment of CRGV Dogs which have skin lesions but are well in themselves, with normal blood and urine test results, may need very little treatment.

In some cases the lesions may have to be clipped and cleaned, and some dogs could need a course of antibiotics. Severe lesions could need some sort of dressing to be applied.

Dogs which are in a lot of discomfort, or which seem ‘off colour’ might need to be hospitalised for pain relief and a fluid drip. These cases may need ongoing blood and urine testing to monitor for the development of kidney injury.

Unfortunately, dogs which do develop kidney problems require aggressive management. This is something for which your vet may advise referral. As mentioned earlier however, very sadly some dogs which develop kidney failure will ultimately die, or have to be put to sleep. This is because the cause of the kidney failure in CRGV is blood clots within the blood vessels of the kidney,

There is a national charity called the Alabama Rot Research Fund which was funded solely for the purpose of raising funds to further much-needed CRGV research. For further information about the charity’s aims, please visit www.arrf.co.uk

Confirmation of diagnosis The only way to currently confirm the diagnosis of CRGV is to examine kidney tissue at a laboratory, under the microscope.

Since kidney biopsy to obtain samples carries a very high risk in dogs which have kidney failure, this often sadly ends up being carried out as part of a post-mortem examination. ● Next month: When it is not Alabama rot? Shared symptoms often have a more common explanation

LAURA HOLM Laura graduated from Edinburgh in 2001, and worked in first opinion small animal practice, attaining the RCVS Certificate in small animal medicine. Laura has worked at Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists since 2007 and has played a key role in CRGV (Alabama rot) investigations

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Special feature

Celebrating 100 years of the German Shepherd Dog The foundation years of one of the world’s most popular of breeds reviewed in anticipation of its centenary celebrations

By Bill Moores

A

century ago last autumn the guns fell silent over Europe and the remarkable Alsatian Wolf Dog appeared on our shores in greater numbers, many as the prizes of military men largely as a result of the allied victory in The Great War. Anti-German attitudes at the time would not allow the breed to be known as the German Shepherd and even Charles Cruft banned Dachshunds from his shows after the conflict refusing to schedule classes

for them!

The Alsatian Wolf Dog survived these undeserved obstacles and flourished. It was wholly appropriate that military men were responsible for the breed’s importation to Britain and America, for it was a young German cavalry officer Rittmeister Max von Stephanitz, back in 1899, who had first considered a particular type of German sheep herding dog to be outstanding. Having been a student of German sheep dog breeds

for many years, he saw Hektor Linksrhein and was smitten. He bought Hektor, changed his name to Horand von Grafrath and set about establishing the Alsatian Wolf Dog. It is fair to say that his commitment was total and unwavering.

In 1899, von Stephanitz established a club quite unlike any other, essentially a onebreed kennel club, the Verein für Deutscher Schäferhund, which became known as the SV. Based for two years in Stuttgart and

These four images portray the type of winning dogs at the time of the breed’s development in Europe and the UK. They also show the different colours and shading

German Gr Ch bitch in 1926 Arna aus der Ehrenzelle, Sch.H. Photo by E. Kathrein, Dortmund/Courtesy of ‘The Alsatian’ by Geo Horowitz published by Our Dogs in the 1930s

Dutch Gr Ch bitch in 1925 and 1926 Bellorma von der Venuswarte Courtesy of ‘The Alsatian’ by Geo Horowitz published by Our Dogs in the 1930s

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then in Munich, under his close scrutiny the breed’s future was forged by ruthless selection and a careful policy of breeding from the most typical bitches to his favourite Horand. Close in-breeding meant that within a few years the breed size and general appearance was stabilised, the coat texture consistent and the breed’s workmanlike, intelligent appearance shone through.

It is interesting to note that at its inception the SV had 31 members and by 1912 this had grown to 3,500. Von Stephanitz was so single-minded in his task that the early breeders slavishly followed his guidance. He would select which bitches would be most suitable for certain dogs. Breed wardens would also check the quality of litters at birth. The result was a rapid rise to quality dogs and their proud owners naturally wanted to show them.

The early shows were not simple affairs!

They became the point in a year for von Stephanitz and his ‘wardens’ to give the breed further direction. Type and show ring presence was only a small part of the assessment; the dogs had to show their working abilities as well. Pedigrees were studied by the judges throughout the two-day event. To this day, the top winning dog and bitch, the Sieger and Siegerin, are coveted prizes within the breed.

Von Stephanitz’s gentle dictatorship over the whole breed meant that faults, when they appeared, were quickly eradicated for it was his vision that everyone accepted, right up to his death in 1936.

In the early days of the breed in Britain, inferior stock from France was imported as German-bred dogs were very difficult to

access. The deeper pockets of fanciers in America meant that quality German stock regularly crossed the Atlantic. Gradually as frosty relations between the two ‘enemies’ thawed, breeders imported ‘better’ dogs.

In the immediate post-war period, the Alsatian Wolf-dog Club was formed in 1919, CC status was granted in 1920, followed by the formation of the Alsatian League of Great Britain in 1924. Fittingly, its first ever show that year was judged by von Stephanitz.

Later the two clubs merged to form the Alsatian League & Club of Great Britain we know today.

There are very few countries in which breeds have suffered a total ban but in 1929 the Alsatian was banned from Australia. Any dogs remaining had to be neutered, resulting in the total destruction of the breed. The reason given was the fear of feral dogs mating with wild dingoes and the possibility of attacks. The state and federal laws remained in place until 1972. Since then the international-type of German Shepherd Dog has become popular and thrived.

The Kennel Club’s own figures show that in 1919 there were just 54 dogs registered.

This rose to the 500 mark in 1920. Three years later, in 1923, it was 1,600; by 1925 the registrations were over 5,000, rising to 8,058 in 1926.

In the Kennel Gazette, noting the ‘numerical supremacy’ of popular breeds, it was recorded that Alsatians accounted for

German Gr Ch bitch in 1925 Seffe vom Blasienberg, Sch.H. Courtesy of ‘The Alsatian’ by Geo Horowitz published by Our Dogs in the 1930s

37 per cent of Kennel Club registrations in the first seven months of 1926. In one month alone that year, 729 dogs were recorded!

That great showman Charles Cruft eventually recognised the draw of the breed and scheduled them at his shows in the mid-1920s, inviting various continental breed specialists to judge.

In 1925 Capt. Felix Werlik, President of the SV in Czechoslovakia, writing in the Kennel Gazette, commended breeders in England for the quality of their homebred stock. He also commented on the sound temperaments and noted that the bitches were superior to the dogs.

This great international exchange of ideals and ideas was effectively scuppered by the SV several years later when it issued a directive to all SV approved judges that they could only judge the breed in countries where the breed was known by its correct name!

With popularity came ruthless breeders many of whom exploited the Alsatian to produce puppies to satisfy public demand.

The national press played its part too, building up, to much acclaim, the qualities of the breed only to later damn them for being involved in ‘incidents’ whenever a child was bitten by a dog. Responsible breeders and those involved in the breed in the early years went to extraordinary lengths to defend it.

They even travelled extensively to gain first-hand knowledge of alleged incidents, often financing the defence of those owners they felt were being unjustly treated.

In the end what the press had popularised, they also ‘coloured’, so darkly that the bottom fell out of the puppy market

Ch Cillahson of Picardy, who won 22 CCs, was sired by Ch Allahson of If an influential sire over a 12 year period. His influence over the breed was so strong that he was found in ‘winning’ progeny 25 years later Photo by Sport and General/Courtesy of ‘The Alsatian’ by Geo Horowitz published by Our Dogs in the 1930s

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What’s in a name?

Even in its recent history the breed struggled to achieve recognition by its correct name. Over the years, living memories of two world wars was too much to overcome.

Whenever the subject was approached by those who simply wanted to correct what was to them an obvious error the Kennel Club’s General Committee would not entertain any discussion.

In 1936 the breed became known as the Alsatian (German Shepherd Dog).

During 1977 the subject was aired in the canine press by Dr Malcolm Willis and Kennel Club members were given the chance to have their say on the matter.

For Kennel Club Chairman then President Air Commodore JAC (Allen) Wright to speak out against the proposal was quite damning. He did so from the chair and seemed to have support in the room at the AGM. But the voice of reason and compromise came in that of Mr Raymond Oppenheimer CBE who, after listening to the arguments swing to and fro, proposed that there was a middle-ground. At that AGM members approved that the breed be known as the German Shepherd Dog (Alsatian). The vote recorded was 25 for and 15 against.

It had been a momentous day in the history of the breed.

It is worth noting that at the time the Kennel Club was still an all-male preserve and had just over 300 members.

Photo: williammoores.com

bringing a decline to registrations in the 1930s.

Some viewed this as a stability to what had been a frantic time in the breed’s early history. This decline was also mirrored in America where, in 1926, the breed accounted for 21,596 registrations or 36 per cent of the American Kennel Club’s total for the year.

Social conditions in both countries at that time were hard to say the least and expensive travel relative to weekly wages meant that showing and feeding a large dog was a low priority. At the outbreak of war in 1939, many dogs were destroyed as their masters joined the armed forces. By the following year the level of registrations equalled that of 1920.

Remarkably after the cessation of hostilities in 1946, breed registrations leapt to just over 11,000 making it second in the Kennel Club breed popularity table; a position it went on to hold for another eight years. That ‘rush’ to re-establish the breed resulted in the breed recording over 33,000 registrations in the immediate post-war period.

Reflecting the difficulties of austerity in the 1950s, the breed figures ebbed a little but the breed was never out of the Kennel Club’s top four. This continued into the mid-sixties when, in 1965, the breed went back to the top spot, a position it went on to hold until 1973.

It was this decade which also saw a two-tier registration system introduced for a threeyear period and a resulting decline in figures.

From 1980 to 1989, the breed reigned supreme with registration figures peaking in 1985 at 21,649. In the breed’s first 70 years of Kennel Club registration just over 642,000 dogs had been recorded.

In 2017, the breed achieved a registration total of 7,479 maintaining a level which had been consistent for some years.

This has been an interesting article to research. It is a breed I have long admired and as history records it is a breed that divides opinion. Recent years has seen many issues surrounding the breed widely discussed and equally well documented.

Some argue the ‘international’ type is correct, others favour the ‘English’ type but that is not for discussion here. ●

The RAF Police Dog Demonstration Team at Crufts 2018. The breed was used by other services as well

Just before Crufts 2017 the surviving canine weekly featured a three-page article asking ‘Where is the German Shepherd Dog heading?’ Breed doyens and acolytes contributed widely to the piece. At the end an anonymous ‘observer’ concluded: “Overall if things are to get better, it will depend on the human factor. People must be prepared to talk together without the levels of abuse that we often see on social media. This means everyone from the clubs, the Kennel Club, right down to the newest members must be willing to work together.

“There is much to be done to restore the image of this wonderful breed but it will depend on whether the enthusiastic and keen clubman will, with the help of the SV and the Kennel Club, rise up to the challenges. It is essential that the SV and the Kennel Club pull their weight and start to do the right thing. The biggest enemy secrecy, deceit and the money men. We live in hope”.

Amen to that.

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Photo: ŠThe Kennel Club

Special feature

Cecil Aldin painted this picture c1930 for a groom to give to his bride as a wedding present, the German Shepherd Dog, Dick Turpin, being her pet. The dog is shown alert and full of anticipation, perhaps of life ahead. Legend has it that Aldin completed the pastel in four days, during which time Dick had to have a Keeshond puppy friend along to keep him company. It can be found hanging in Clarges Street.

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Photo: ©Jonny Back Photography/Dogs Helping Kids

How does it work?

The idea is a very simple one, but the effect, both on reading levels and behaviour is really quite remarkable. Reading to and interacting with a classroom dog helps children and young people to love reading, overcome shyness and increase their confidence, and improve concentration and behaviour.

Typically, the dog is introduced to the whole class and then pupils, identified by their teacher as needing additional support, get to read one-to-one with the dog in a quiet area. Reading to dogs is effective because of the calming effect the dogs’ presence has on children and because the dog will listen to the children read without being judgemental or critical. This comforting environment helps to nurture children’s enthusiasm for reading and provides them with the confidence needed to read aloud. During reading sessions, the child is able to read comfortably and to make mistakes and be given the opportunity to self-correct at their own pace without feeling self-conscious.

Doing so out loud encourages positive social behaviour, enhances self-esteem, motivates speech and inspires children to have fun and enjoy the experience of reading.

It is a very flexible programme, so it can be customised to suit a school’s particular needs. All over the country, children are learning to love reading with the support of these amazing doggy companions.

“

I used to be afraid of dogs but Google has changed that. I really enjoy the classes with Google.

They are good fun

”

Hussain, a Year 8 pupil at Chace Community School

Bark & Read How the Kennel Club supports this worthwhile project

By Ciara Farrell

T

his year marks the seventh year of the Kennel Club’s Bark & Read project, supported by the Kennel Club Educational Trust. Bark & Read provides practical support to our partner service providers, big and small, to enable them to bring specially trained and assessed support dogs into classrooms and libraries, to assist children and young people to become confident and happy readers.

Between them all, our partner service providers are bringing approximately 1,500 dog and handler teams to 1,500 schools in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Who are the Bark & Read service providers?

There are now 15 different service providers around the country bringing specially trained and assessed support dogs to schools and libraries. These range from well-known large national charities down to smaller regional, local and specialist service providers. All the volunteers and dogs do this work at no cost to the schools. As it is a volunteer commitment, the dogs only work for a few hours at a time once or twice a week at most. Our newest partner service provider is Canine Concern (England & Wales) and we were delighted to welcome them to the Bark & Read family in October 2018.

Getting involved with your dog People who want to volunteer with their own dog should simply contact one of the service providers directly. The dogs that do

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The Kennel Club Educational Trust — promoting Bark & Read

Photo: ©Anthony Nevett

The Kennel Club Educational Trust supports Bark & Read through recognising suitable service providers, publishing the Bark & Read Standards of Practice, providing financial support for specific projects and promoting awareness of Bark & Read.

All the information about Bark & Read and the service providers who go to schools to carry out the programme can be found on the Kennel Club website. Nevertheless, it is really valuable for parents, children, teachers and potential volunteers to be able to see Bark & Read in action for themselves. Every year at Crufts, the Bark & Read stand provides an opportunity for just this — dogs and

Greyhound Danny, owned by Tony Nevett

this work are ordinary pets, but they still need to undergo training and assessment to ensure they are suitable for school and enjoy interacting with the children.

A good reading dog is one which has the right combination of training and temperament and excellent obedience is essential. Dogs must be trained ined using reward-based methods only. For preference, dogs should attend formal training aining classes from puppy level onward and d have achieved a Kennel Club Good Citizen Award at silver level.

“

My son has been so o much happier over the past few months egularly. We since visiting Teazel regularly. have seen his anxiety dramatically reduce and he has been much, much reas happier in all areas

”

Dogs must be calm, not inclined to lick or jump up, or react negatively to loud noises, crowds, sudden movements, resource removal or anything unexpected that they may encounter in a school or library. They should be able to settle easily and sit still with a child or young person. Dogs must be at least a year old and have lived with their owner for at least six months before being assessed and starting formal work. For manyy dogs, to attain the g it takes a few years y maturity needed to do this work.

All dogs must undergo a rigorous behaviour and training assessment and must have public liability insurance. Assessments are essential to assess the dog’s suitability and to ensure that the owner is interacting with the dog well and is sensitive to the dog’s unspoken body language.

As a dog’s temperament may change over the years, due to age, health and other factors, this assessment must

volunteers from the service partners are there to meet and greet children and to sit and read with them. The Kennel Club team is on hand to explain how it all works and how to get involved. As the volunteers come from all over the country and are usually very busy, this is one of the rare opportunities they have to meet and get to know each other, to swap ideas and build support networks so that they can all help each other out.

The Kennel Club Educational Trust is a registered charity and is happy to accept donations to support Bark & Read. This year, the Bark & Read stand at Crufts is part-funded by a generous donation from the Freemasons of the Connaught Lodge and Chapter.

“

When I am reading to Bonnie, she really listens

”

Charlie, from Elliston Nursery

be repeated regularly thereafter — we recommend at least every two years. All volunteers must also hold a current DBS check or equivalent.

The Bark & Read service partner that you volunteer with will assist you with all these requirements. q

Golden Retriever Google from the Bear Bones of Education Project

Photo: ©Burns by Your Side

Photo: ©Heid ©Heidi H i Hudson/The Kennel Club

Parent from the Nurture Group, Southmead uthmead School

Bark & Read Partner Burns by Your Side e

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Photo: ©Jonny Back Photography/Dogs Helping Kids

Special feature

Bark & Read Partners ● Building Understanding of Dogs (BUD) ● Burns By Your Side ● Canine Assisted Intervention Therapy (CAIT) programme ● Canine Concern (England & Wales) ● Canine Concern Scotland ● Caring Canines ● Dogs for Good Community Dogs for Schools ● Dogs Helping Kids ● From Fear to Friend ● Nicole Crossley and Robbie ● Pawzitive Book Buddies ● Pets As Therapy Read2Dogs Scheme ● The Bear Bones of Education ● Therapy Dogs Nationwide ● Tony Nevett and Danny

Getting Bark & Read into your school Schools that want to have a dog come to visit regularly should contact one of the service providers directly to see if there

“

There is growing evidence that this approach really helps to engage reluctant readers and raise standards of literacy.

Long may it continue!

out with everything they need in terms of training advice, assessments and insurance.

Schools should ensure that staff and students all know the basics of canine body language, how to meet and greet a dog, and basic hygiene, such as washing or sanitising hands. The Kennel Club Safe and Sound programme has lots of information for teaching children how to be safe around dogs.

”

Gill Bromley, strategic manager of libraries and archives at Kent County Council

are volunteers in the area. When the idea is floated in a school, members of the school community may want to volunteer their services with a dog which has not been assessed for suitability — however, no matter how comfortable a dog might be with strangers in a home setting or out walking, being in school is very different and it would be unfair on the dog as well as a huge liability risk to have an un-assessed dog in the classroom. If parents, governors and other members of the school community are interested in volunteering with their own dog, they should do so via one of the Bark & Read service partners, which can sort them

Photo: ©Jamie Simpson/Canine Concern Scotland Trust

Max from Dogs Helping Kids

Bark & Read partner Canine Concern Scotland

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Photo: ©Becky Moyce/Pets As Therapy

Photo: ©Flick.digital/The Kennel Club

Special feature

The Bark & Read stand at Crufts 2018

Doug from Pets As Therapy

“

Bud helps to improve self-esteem and confidence and enables pupils to engage more effectively with education

”

Photo: ©Jonny Back Photography/Dogs Helping Kids

BUD co-founder Maggie McManus

Our standards

“

The classes with Google are about building confidence throughout the year. All the children taking part in the classes started with very little confidence and we have seen big changes thanks to Google

”

Sue Warrington, Head Teacher, Chace Community School

Photo: ©Heidi Hudson/The Kennel Club

All service providers, volunteers and schools must adhere to the Bark & Read Standards of Practice. All of our Bark & Read service partners have participated in drawing up and approving these standards and have undertaken to adopt them.

In recent years, awareness of the benefits such programmes can bring to schools has grown among educators and the dog-loving public at large and canine-assisted reading programmes can now be found nationwide.

In order to ensure that these programmes are carried out with the safety, welfare, comfort and enjoyment of both people and dogs in mind, all the Bark & Read partners

and the Kennel Club Educational Trust have come together to draw up these standards of practice, which were published in August 2018.

Through these standards of practice, we aim to improve understanding of what these programmes are all about and what they can achieve, and to provide clear guidance to organisations providing these services, to individual volunteer handlers and to schools regarding their responsibilities towards the dogs and the children and young people who take part in these programmes. By putting clear, consistent and credible practices at the heart of everything we do, we can ensure

The Bark & Read stand at Crufts 2019 has been part-funded from a generous donation by the Freemasons of the Connaught Lodge and Chapter. From left to right: Mike Forbes, John Reymond, Gerald King, Dr Ron James and Ciara Farrell

that everyone who takes part, human and canine, has a safe and rewarding experience.

These standards of practice are under ongoing review and will be developed further as we achieve greater understanding of canine-assisted interventions and what these can do for people. ● For more information please see www.thekennelclub.org.uk/our-resources/ bark-and-read/ Or email ciara.farrell@thekennelclub.org.uk

COMPETITION Book on the cover ‘The Detective Dog’’ b

by Julia li Donaldson ld and Sara Ogilvie was reviewed in the November 2016 edition of the Kennel Gazette by one of the Kennel Club’s younger members. It is an ideal and popular book for young readers, about a boy called Peter who takes his dog, Nell, into school, where Nell listens to the stories Peter and the other children read to her. However, one day the books disappear and it’s down to Nell and her powerful sense of smell to find them.

The Kennel Gazette is very grateful to Macmillan Children’s books which is kindly providing three copies as a competition giveaway. If you would like to receive a free copy for a young person in your life, please send a postcard to Sara Wilde, The Kennel Club, Clarges Street, London W1J 8AB or email sara.wilde@thekennelclub.org.uk Deadline for the competition is Friday, 22nd February.

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Record numbers visit Discover Dogs in London

Photo: ©Yulia Titovets/The Kennel Club

Discover Dogs 2018

T

his year’s Discover Dogs was the most successful in the 23-year history of the show. A record total of 34,850 people attended the two-day event over 20th and 21st October, 2018, in London, which exceeded the previous visitor numbers at the ExCeL and the event’s former location at Earl’s Court.

As always, visitors were able to meet more than 200 breeds of dog, shop for products at hundreds of trade stands, as well as get advice on buying a dog responsibly from a reputable breeder, such as a Kennel Club Assured Breeder. But new for this year was the Cuddle Corner pop up, which proved

extremely popular with children and adults as they got to cuddle their favourite breeds and destress on beanbags, highlighting the psychological and physiological benefits of owning a dog. A surprise really, considering visitors have always been able to do this in the breed booths, but this extra area proved to be a real hit for the event.

The Black and Tan Coonhound appeared at the show for the first time since it became the 221st breed recognised by the Kennel Club last July and provided a great opportunity for the breed to be showcased to members of the public.

Discover Dogs is always a very popular

Photo: ©Adrienne Hammill/The Kennel Club

ABC agility semi-finals for medium dogs

Visitors were able to meet more than 200 breeds of dog, including the Pomeranian

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New for 2018 was the Cuddle Corner pop up, proving popular with children and adults as they got to cuddle their favourite breeds and destress on beanbags, highlighting the psychological and physiological benefits of owning a dog

There are also many competitions which took place at Discover Dogs including the ABC agility semi-finals for medium dogs and large novice dogs, the agility Small Mixi Pairs finals and the agility Starters Cup finals. The event also sees the Junior Warrant of the Year semi-finals, the UK Junior Handler of the Year finals, as well as the semi-finals of Scruffts, the nation’s favourite crossbreed competition.

Elsewhere, PDSA, the UK’s leading vet charity, introduced its new PetWise vehicle, encouraging visitors to ask expert vets any

Scruffts semi-final winner Maple with owner Nikki Davis and judge Sue Garner

Of course, the most important message that the Kennel Club hopes to deliver through Discover Dogs is the importance of finding the right dog for a family or person and how to buy a puppy or dog responsibly.

Continuing the success of the event is so important to ensure that the Kennel Club can make a difference to the lives of so many dogs, by ensuring the important messages are conveyed.

Min Witheyman with her Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen who was chosen as UK Junior Handler of the Year winner 2018 with judge Jonathan Daltrey and Liz Cartledge

canine questions and giving aspiring future vets the opportunity to complete a medical diagnosis of Henry, the Golden Retriever.

Blue Cross, Battersea and many breed rescue charities also welcomed visitors at their respective stands over the two days.

VIPs and celebrities were out in force to support the event with special appearances including EastEnders actor Danny-Boy Hatchard, along with his dog Suggs, and the Geldof family with FiFi judging one of the Scruffts heats. ●

Photo: ©Adrienne Hammill/The Kennel Club

Photo: ©Yulia Titovets/The Kennel Club

show and the Kennel Club events team have always been so grateful to the enormous number of volunteers who make the show the success it is, from the breed booth and breed rescue volunteers, to the trade stand exhibitors, ring volunteers, judges and competitors, and everybody else who gives up their time to make the event so special.

Photo: ©Tess Newson/The Kennel Club

Photo: ©Adrienne Hammill/The Kennel Club

Discover Dogs 2018

The most important message that the Kennel Club hopes to deliver through Discover Dogs is the importance of how to find the right dog for a family or person and how to buy a puppy or dog responsibly

January 2019 - Kennel Gazette 23

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19/12/2018 09:32

Yorkshire Terrier breed standard Breed standard

T

he breed owes its origins to the old working Black and Tan Terrier with infusions of Maltese and Skye Terrier blood. It is thought that Scottish labourers travelling to work in the mines and cotton mills of Yorkshire

brought their terriers with them and these provided the basis of the breed.

This ancestry is seen in the colour of the coat — the breed is born black and tan and changes to a steel blue and tan of silky texture with maturity. A dog named Huddersfield Ben, born in 1865, is credited as the foundation of the breed. The Yorkshire Terrier soon

Photo: ŠLisa Croft-Elliott/The Kennel Club

Yorkshire Terrier breed standard

became popular with ladies as a house pet but he still retains some of the features of his terrier background and can account for any domestic rodent.

In the early exhibition of the breed, the Yorkshire Terrier was shown on a silk cloth or cushion and now he remains the only breed which is exhibited on a decorative box in the show ring.

24 January 2019 - Kennel Gazette

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Yorkshire Terrier breed standard

● GENERAL APPEARANCE Long-coated, coat hanging quite straight and evenly down each side, a parting extending from nose to end of tail. Very compact and neat, carriage very upright conveying an important air. General outline conveying impression of vigorous and well-proportioned body.

● CHARACTERISTICS Alert, intelligent toy terrier.

● TEMPERAMENT Spirited with even disposition.

● HEAD AND SKULL Rather small and flat, not too prominent or round in skull, nor too long in muzzle; black nose.

● EYES Medium, dark, sparkling, with sharp intelligent expression and placed to look directly forward. Not prominent. Edge of eyelids dark.

● EARS Small, V-shaped, carried erect, not too far apart, covered with short hair, colour very deep, rich tan.

darker blue in colour than rest of body, especially at end of tail. Carried a little higher than level of back.

Undocked: plenty of hair, darker blue in colour than rest of body, especially at end of tail. Carried a little higher than level of back.

As straight as possible. Length to give a well balanced appearance.

● GAIT/MOVEMENT Free with drive; straight action front and behind, retaining level topline.

● COAT Hair on body moderately long, perfectly straight (not wavy), glossy; fine silky texture, not woolly, must never impede movement.

Fall on head long, rich golden tan, deeper in colour at sides of head, about ear roots and on muzzle where it should be very long. Tan on head not to extend on to neck, nor must any sooty or dark hair intermingle with any of tan.

● COLOUR Dark steel blue (not silver blue), extending from occiput to root of tail, never mingled with fawn, bronze or dark hairs. Hair on chest rich, bright tan. All tan hair darker at the roots than in middle, shading to still lighter at tips.

● SIZE Weight up to 3.2kg (7lb)

● FAULTS Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.

Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

The only Yorkshire Terrier to win Best in Show at Crufts was Ch Ozmilion Mystification in 1997, pictured here with owner and breeder Mr Osman Sameja

● MOUTH Perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Teeth well placed with even jaws.

● NECK Good reach.

● FOREQUARTERS Well laid shoulders, legs straight, well covered with hair of rich golden tan a few shades lighter at ends than at roots, not extending higher on forelegs than elbow.

● BODY Compact with moderate spring of rib, good loin. Level back.

● HINDQUARTERS Legs quite straight when viewed from behind, moderate turn of stifle. Well covered with hair of rich golden tan a few shades lighter at ends than at roots, not extending higher on hind legs than stifles.

Photo: ©The Kennel Club

● FEET Round; nails black.

● TAIL Previously customarily docked.

Docked: medium length with plenty of hair,

January 2019 - Kennel Gazette 25

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Breed news

The intelligent and spirited Yorkshire Terrier

By Diana Rich — Breed Education Co-ordinator

26 January 2019 - Kennel Gazette

Photo by Marc Henrie courtesy of Diana Rich

Photo by Russell Fine Art

Photo: ©Marc Henrie/The Kennel Club

T

he Yorkshire Terrier has changed quite a lot over the years. Many years ago they used to be in two different sizes, over 10lb and under 10lb. Just a few years ago the smaller Yorkshire Terriers were shown but now the bigger dogs are preferred by most breeders; although still under 7lb. The dogs nearing 7lb are sounder and better movers than the ones which were nearer 4lb. This also allows better ease of breeding from bitches which have done well in the show ring.

Under the old points system of judging, 50 per cent of all marks were awarded for the coat colours, texture and length. The dogs were traditionally shown on red boxes because many years ago the coat was long which meant showing on boxes showed off the coat to its best advantage; they were balanced on the exhibitor’s forearms with the coat dropping either side for the judge to go over. The tradition of showing on red boxes continues today but the coats are shorter and movement is far more important. Today’s dogs are much sounder.

The entries for shows are falling in general. The choice of judge is one consideration; this coming year has a large number of all-rounders judging, some of whom have insufficient knowledge of the breed. Some don’t even pick up the brush and others have no idea what they are looking for. The only one to suffer in this is our breed. It would also be helpful if the future judges studied the breed through all their age stages.

I would appeal to show secretaries to bear these things in mind when selecting judges for their future shows.

We have been fortunate that so many breeders have worked so hard to develop the breed into what it is today. The Yorkshire Terrier Club was formed in 1898 and the centenary show in 1998 had a huge entry.

People came from all over the globe, including Australia and it proved to be a very enjoyable weekend.

Huddersfield Ben (1865–1871) was credited with being the ‘father of the breed’.

After 150 years the dog is healthier now than it has ever been and the dogs live much longer. l

Yorkshire Terrier judges’ choice The Kennel Gazette asked a number of breed specialist and all-rounder judges to pick their three favourite Yorkshire Terriers which they have judged in the ring. The dogs could be from the past or the present and from anywhere in the world Ralph Ensz ■ Phalbrienz

Rosemary Macrae ■ Cadalis I have been in the breed for 27 years and have exhibited for over 40 years. My previous breeds were Afghan Hounds and Miniature Schnauzers but I fell in love with Yorkshire Terriers after showing one for a friend, feisty little dogs who are not only show dogs but family pets and can walk for miles. My decision to only have dogs was not taken lightly. Although I have never bred a litter I have studied line breeding and have been very involved in a friend’s breeding programme.

2Ch Ozmilion Love in Your Eyes

3Ch Verolian Out of the Blue

My third choice is owned and bred by Mrs Veronica Sameja-Hilliard. I judged this bitch at the Yorkshire Terrier Club of South Wales Championship Show in 1999; blue being the operative word here as she had a beautiful long steel-blue coat of pure silk.

She was a very lively little girl with a fascinating expression. She followed my every movement as if to question why I was looking at any other exhibit. She moved around the ring like a little train with great purpose and was graceful and a very sound and healthy specimen from this well-known kennel. I awarded her a CC, one of many she deservedly collected.

Bred by Janet Redhead, owned by Julie Sockett, this was a dog I had admired ringside and did not disappoint on going over him when I judged him at the Welsh Kennel Club. He was my dog CC winner at my first championship show appointment; pretty head, d, beautiful body shape with h such good colours so typical of the breed. In all he won 18 CCs CCs.

Bred and owned by Caroline Eden-Smith, I judged her at Scottish Kennel Club and she was a striking bitch of correct size and shape who just glided round the ring. Her ancestry of Ozmilion breeding shows through and her qualities have been passed on to her progeny.

Photo by Mr D Smith

Photo by John Hartley

2Ch Willihelm Heaven Sent

Photo courtesy of Veronica Sameja-Hilliard

My second choice is also owned and bred by Osman Adam Sameja.

I judged this bitch at South Wales Kennel Association Championship Show in 2003. This little lady is the breed record-holder with 43 CCs for bitches plus winning Best in Show at Richmond Championship Show.

Here was a girl with the most glorious floor-length three-shaded tans and steel blue glimmering coat of silky texture that was shining in the sunlight. Her feminine head and expression was demanding to be noticed and she moved soundly with pride and sophistication. It was another pleasure to award her the CC and BOB.

hrob ffor or JJulesmoor ules ul esmo moor or 1Ch Jankeri Heart TThrob

3Ch Ozmilion Kiss to Remember Bred by Osman Sameja and owned by Daniel Marsden and Diana Rich, she was another beautiful typey bitch from this kennel; head so ultra-feminine and a real personality bitch. It gave me great pleasure to award her her third CC and make up Osman Sameja’s 50th champion at the Yorkshire Terrier Club Championship Show.

Photo by Diana Rich

My first choice has to be Ch Ozmilion Mystification, owned and bred by Osman Adam Sameja, owner of the world-famouss kennel. I judged this dog at Darlington Championship Show in 1994. I was immediately aware that this dog knew he was important and probably sensed that he was destined for greatness in becomingg the first and only Yorkshire Terrier to be crowned Crufts Best in Show in 1997.

He was, of course, sound in all departments. ts This was as a dog that possessed all the attributes of as near a perfect specimen of the breed standard as a dog could be. His floor-length silky steel blue coat was shimmering as he moved effortlessly and faultlessly around the ring. It was a pleasure to award him the CC and BOB early in his glittering career. He is the lasting legacy of the breed.

Photo: ©David Dalton

1Ch Ozmilion Mystification

Photo: ©Trevor Crossland

My partner, Brian Downey, and I have owned, bred, and shown Yorkshire Terriers for more than 30 years under the Phalbrienz kennel name. We both also award CCs, and have loved and admired this unique breed.

Please note that judges are asked to make sure that all information supplied is factually correct. This information is again checked when submitted, but please note that unfortunately errors may still occur.

January 2019 - Kennel Gazette 27

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Yorkshire Terrier judges’ choice

Vic Chiswell ■ Chandas

Osman Sameja ■ Ozmilion I have had a wonderful life with my Yorkshire Terriers. I have judged almost all over the world and judged my breed twice at Crufts, and three times at the World Shows, which is a rare honour. My dogs have sired more champions for other people than any other kennel in the history of the breed.

My dogs hold almost all the records: top stud dog, top brood bitch, breed record-holder, bitch CC record-holder, three Crufts group wins and Crufts Best in Show in addition to 13 Crufts Best of Breed wins and 14 Crufts CCs. I have had two top dog all-breeds and six BIS winners at all-breed general championship shows. I am very grateful to so many people who have made these achievements possible

Ozmilion Love in 2Ch Your Eyes

Photo by Mr D Smith

In second place is Caroline Eden-Smith’s Ch Willihelm Beautyy of Love, another quality bitch of the type I like. She carries much of her sire Ch Ozmilion Reputation in her looks and ways and always showed herself to advantage. She is also proving to be a good brood.

I awarded her CC and BOB at Birmingham National Dog Show.

3Ch Keriwell Flirtation

3

Photo: ©Alan V Walker

Ch Ozmilion Illustration

In third place is Ch Ozmilion Illustration. I awarded him BIS at the Midland Yorkshire Terrier Club Championship Show. A handsome boy, with an exquisite coat and put down to perfection, he never stopped showing himself. A winner of groups, he was a real personality dog who went on to produce champions, too.

In first place is Ralph Ensz and Brian Downey’s homebred Ch Phalbrienz Tamarix. She was a quality bitch of ideal size, well-made and very attractive. She was always presented perfectly, she was ultra sound and was of the type which appealed to me. I awarded her BIS at the South Western Yorkshire Terrier Club Championship Show. She clearly appealed to breed specialists and all-rounders alike because she became top toy in 1992 as well as BIS at the UK Toydog Society.

Love ovee 2Ch Willihelm Beauty of Lov

Photo by John Hartley

My second choice is Ch Ozmilion Love in Your Eyes, the bitch CC record-holder.

I awarded her last and 43rd CC at Border Union when she retired from the ring. She was full of style, very feminine and so elegant. Following in the footsteps of my other two choices, she was also winner of BIS at an all-breeds general championship show.

1Ch Phalbrienz Tamarix

In third place I would choose Ch Keriwell Flirtation, a bitch I judged in 1986 at Builth Wells. She was homebred and campaigned by Mr John Wells. Sired by Ch Ozmilion Jubilation, who sired 14 British champions, she carried his colours and coat texture. She was very elegant and had a way of looking at you as if to tell you she was special. John and Margaret Wells bred a few champions but I have always believed her to have reigned supreme.

Photo courtesy of Margaret & John Wells/Fall

My first choice is the outstanding top winning Ch Ozmilion Mystification. He won my BOB at Crufts in 1995 and went on to win the Reserve erve Toy Group. What can I say about this world-famous us dog — the winner of 50 0 CCs, top dog all-breedss in 1996, winner of the Pedigree Chum Stakes Overall Final in 1997, and nd BIS at Crufts in 1997, the he only Yorkshire Terrier ever to achieve this. Hiss colours and texture were perfect as was his construction and movement; he show h was the h ultimate li h dog. d No one has been able to breed anything even close to his quality before or since.

Photo courtesy of Osman Sameja/Johnson©

ystifficcat atiion ion 1Ch Ozmilion Mystification

Photo by John Hartley

I have been involved with Yorkshire Terriers since meeting my wife and mother-in-law over 40 years ago. I have also taken an active interest in the Midland Yorkshire Terrier Club where I am now president and a life member. I have awarded CCs for many years both here and abroad and thoroughly enjoyed judging my breed at Crufts.

28 January 2019 - Kennel Gazette

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Yorkshire Terrier judges’ choice

Susan Chiswell ■ Chandas

Geoffrey Davies ■ Genderlee I first became associated with Yorkshire Terriers when at the age of 15, I was befriended

by Mrs Alice Burton of the Sweetloves kennel name. Alice was to become an influential part of my life, and I will be forever grateful for her friendship and guidance. No one could have had a better mentor.

When you recall the great kennels of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s you are prompted to remember the phenomenal examples of the breed. I could name 30 dogs that are so worthy of note. After due deliberation I decided that the below named dogs were the best Yorkshire Terriers that I have ever judged, and I place them in the following order of merit.

I have been involved with Yorkshire Terriers under the Chandas kennel name for most of my life, firstly with my mother, Edna Layton and then with my husband, Vic. We have made up several champions and I have awarded CCs both at home and abroad and I have also judged my breed at Crufts. I have been an active member of the Midland Yorkshire Terrier Club for many years and I am an honorary life member.

1Ch Ozmilion Constellation

3Ch Deebees Golden Fancy

I awarded this bitch the CC and BOB at Southern Counties Canine Association Championship Show in 1988. She was true Yorkshire Terrier through and through; a beautiful size, so perfectly put together, and she was not overdone in any way.

She had a spirit level topline which she held at all times. Her superb colourings were a joy to behold and she had a bombproof temperament. To receive acknowledgment in such illustrious company is an accolade.

My second choice is Ch Ozmilion Kiss to Remember, the litter sister to my first choice. A beautiful head and melting expression made her stand out from the rest. She was elegant, feminine and very stylish in the ring.

Owned by Osman Sameja and Daniel Marsden, it was Daniel Marsden who always handled her.

I gave her the second CC at Richmond Championship Show.

Photo by Diana Rich

Photo by John Hartley

2Ch Ozmilion Love in Your Eyes

I awarded this bitch the CC and BOB at Three Counties Championship Show in 2003. I can best describe her as the feminine counterpart of Ch Mystification, with the same style, the same presence and the same exquisite breed type. I particularly admired her shape, balance, conformation and, abovee all else, her sheer elegance and femininity.

Photographer unknown

2Ch Ozmilion Kiss to Remember

3Ch Willihelm One Direction My third choice is Ch Willihelm One Direction. He has a beautiful floor-length blue body coat and shaded tans, with long falls. He is a very handsome well-balanced dog with good conformation and I was pleased to award him his first CC at Richmond Championship Show.

Photo by Mr D Smith

I first judged this dog at Bath in 1994, and awarded him the CC and BOB. I went on to award him two Toy Groups at Driffield in 1994 and Manchester in 1996. He was as close to perfection as one could ever dream of attaining. His presence and style simply dominated the ring and he was a joy to assess. I can bring him back to life as though it was yesterday, and see him move around the ring holding his shape and topline at all and ll times, i d carrying i his exquisite headpiece proudly on a perfect neck, attentive at all times. His coat, falls and colours were indeed his crowning glory.

Photo: ©David Dalton

1Ch Ozmilion Mystification

My first choice is Ch Ozmilion Constellation. A son of Ch Ozmilion Illustration and Ch Ozmilion Passionate Kiss, he carried many of their wonderful qualities. Bred by Osman Sameja and owned

by Diana Rich and Daniel Marsden, I gave him BIS last year at the Yorkshire Terrier Club show; apparently he had won this award the previous year too. He had a strong and wonderful character; he really is a super dog.

Missed out on an interesting article?

For a full list of all back issues still available

call: 020 7518 1016 Or visit the online shop at: www.thekennelclubshop.org.uk/kennelgazette January 2019 - Kennel Gazette 29

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Yorkshire Terrier judges’ choice

Diana Rich ■ Solsplash

Caroline Eden-Smith ■ Willihelm

I acquired my first Yorkshire Terrier in the late 1980s, a granddaughter of Ch Ozmilion Distinction. I was fortunate that all my training was on the world famous Ozmilion dogs. My all-time favourite dogs were litter brother and sister Ch Ozmilion Mystification and Ch Ozmilion Kisses for Ever but I have not judged them at a show. I have been on the committee of the Yorkshire Terrier Club since the mid-1990s and am now vice chairman and an honorary life member. I am also a life member of the Eastern Counties Yorkshire Terrier Club.

I was brought up with Yorkshire Terriers. My parents bred the Janitas dogs and they were both involved with Eastern Counties Yorkshire Terrier Club (ECYTC). My husband Danny and I have been showing our own Yorkies for over 30 years now and have made up several champions under our own Willihelm kennel name. I have been secretary of ECYTC for eight years and my husband is chairman and president.

1Ch Ozmilion Illustration

My second choice is Mrs Caroline Eden-Smith’s Ch Willihelm Heaven Sent. She was a lovely dual-purpose sized bitch and is producing some very nice quality stock. I judged her at Richmond Championship Show and gave her BOB. A very sound bitch, she moved with style and was always superbly presented.

Photo by Mr D Smith

2Ch Willihelm Heaven Sent

In third place is Ch Aleksandr Yap at Hydefinition. A beautiful and very smart boy with correct steel blue, floor-length body coat and beautifully shaded tans, I also judged him at Richmond and he has also produced some quality stock.

Photo by Diana Rich

3Ch Aleksandr Yap at Hydefinition

Photo: ©Alan V Walker

2Ch Aleksandr Yap at Hydefinition My second choice is Ch Aleksandr Yap at Hydefinition owned by Mr T Yates.

I judged this boy at the Eastern Counties Yorkshire Terrier Club. He is wellbalanced with excellent conformation, lovely three-shaded tan on a very pretty head, excellent blue with correct coat texture and one of my favourites as he is true to type.

Photo by Mr D Smith

My first choice of the dogs I havee judged is Ch Jankeri Heart Throb for Julesmoor. I awarded him im Best in Show at the Yorkshire Terrier rier Club Championship Show. He wass a son of Ozmilion Sweet Inspiration on and carried much of his sire in his demeanour; he particularly had that hat typical Ozmilion head which I lovee so much. He was always presented d perfectly and was a top Yorkshire Terrier and has sired a British homebred mebred champion.

Photo: ©Trevor Crossland

1

My first choice is Ch Ozmilion Illustration owned by Mr O Sameja.

I judged him at the Yorkshire Terrier Club of South Wales, an attractive boy with the most stunning head and beautiful colours. His texture is of pure silk, good conformation with natural movement, a beautiful example of the breed as always from this top kennel.

3Ch Julesmoor Trade Secret

My third choice is Ch Julesmoor Trade Secret owned by Mrs J Sockett.

I judged her at Yorkshire Terrier Club of Scotland, a very pretty, feminine girl, clear in both colours, correct silky texture and moves soundly with drive; a lovely sound and honest bitch.

Photo by Mr D Smith

Ch Jankeri Heart Throb for or JJulesmoor ules ul esmo moor or

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30 January 2019 - Kennel Gazette

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Yorkshire Terrier judges’ choice

Crufts BOB Winners Yorkshire Terrier 1984 – 2018 1984

CH JAMESSON’S ROYAL STEWART

2002

CH HASSENDEAN ROYAL DANCER

1985

SILVY’S ROYAL INSIGNIA

2003

CH OZMILION LOVE IN YOUR EYES

1986

CH POLLIAM SWEET DELIGHT

2004

CH PHALBRIENZ PROCESSION

1987

CH SLADESMARK SWEET ALLURE

2005

CH OZMILION LOVE IN YOUR EYES

1988

CH OZMILION DEDICATION

2006

CH QOCCLE’S OLIVERLIGHTSOME

1989

CH OZMILION DEDICATION

2007

CH MYSHERIE ELATED LOVE

1990

CH OZMILION SENSATION

2008

FERRANIA’S KRISS

1991

CH SHIRLINES SUMMER SOVENIR OF SEDAE

2009

CH CANDYTOPS COSMOPOLITAN

1992

CH STATUS QUO AT BEECHRISE

2010

CH ESTUGO’S LEONIDAS

1993

CH CROSSPINS MORY KANTE

2011

CH LARGATE POETRY IN MOTION AT LABELLAS

1994

CH OZMILION MYSTIFICATION

2012

1995

CH OZMILION MYSTIFICATION

2013

CH PETER PAN STRIBRNE PRANI CH ROYAL PRECIOUS JP’S F4 JULIANA

1996

CH MURBAY EVENING BLUE OF CHANDAS

2014

CH ROYAL PRECIOUS JP’S F4 JULIANA

1997

CH OZMILION MYSTIFICATION

2015

CH DEBONAIRE’S HOLD ME NOW

1998

CH VEROLIAN OUT OF THE BLUE

2016

CH RED BULL DE LA VILLA Y CORTE

1999

CH PATAJOHN DESIRE

2017

CH MY PRECIOUS JP KAGAYAKI

2000

CH DONAHAYE DOUBLE DELIGHT

2018

CH RED BULL DE LA VILLA Y CORTE

2001

CH OZMILION APPRECIATION

Championship Show Judges Yorkshire Terrier 2019 Manchester Dog Show Society

Mr RJ Fitzgerald

M

Midland Yorkshire Terrier Club

Mrs C McFarlane

M

Crufts

Mr M Burns

M

United Kingdom Toydog Society

Mr P Boot

M

Lincoln & Humberside Yorkshire Terrier Club

TBC

Birmingham Dog Show Society Ltd

Mrs Z Thorn-Andrews

M

Scottish Kennel Club

Mr SC Bardwell

M

Bath Canine Society

Mr A Allcock MBE

M

Three Counties Agricultural Society

Mr J Pattison

M

Windsor Dog Show Society

Mr W Browne-Cole

M

Yorkshire Terrier Club of South Wales

Mrs AE Babaeva

M

Leeds City & District Canine Association

Mr F Kane

M

This information is correct at the time of going to print, however appointments may change due to unforeseen circumstances

German Wirehaired Pointer

For advertising opportunities within Judges’ Choice please contact andrea.walters@warnersgroup.co.uk

Photo: ©Lisa Croft-Elliott

NEXT MONTH

January 2019 - Kennel Gazette 31

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18/12/2018 12:23

Yorkshire Terrier judges’ choice

Breed clubs and societies take the welfare of their breeds very seriously and work tirelessly to provide help, support, and homes for dogs in need.

Yorkshire Terrier Club of Scotland Mr G Williamson

Tel: 01875 835212 georgewilliamson351@btinternet.com

Cheshire & North Wales Yorkshire Terrier Society

Northern Counties Yorkshire Terrier Club

Mr M Burns

Mr T Crossland

Tel: 01614 377118 burnsmark1000@gmail.com

Tel: 01924 382703 trevorcross25@gmail.com

Eastern Counties Yorkshire Terrier Club

South Western Yorkshire Terrier Club

Yorkshire Terrier Club of Scotland Rescue Mrs A Brown

Tel: 01236 843688

Yorkshire Terrier Club of South Wales Mrs P Evans

Miss C Eden-Smith

Mrs JM Drake

Tel: 01443 431052 mervynevans@yahoo.com

Tel: 020 8351 0823 willihelm@blueyonder.co.uk

Tel: 01179 601592 clamantha@sky.com South Western Yorkshire Terrier Club

Happy Days Yorkshire Terrier Rescue

Lincoln & Humberside Yorkshire Terrier Club

Mr T & Mrs W Souter

Yorkshire Terrier Club

Tel: 01752 785722

Mrs J Hutchinson

Mrs PE Mitchell

Tel: 07761 721220 lottiesbonnet@aol.com www.lhytc.co.uk

Tel: 01235 833171 patricia132mitchell@btinternet.com www.the-yorkshire-terrier-club.co.uk

Midland Yorkshire Terrier Club

Yorkshire Terrier Club Rescue & Re-homing

Ms L Brickley

Tel: 01922 632022 lyndabky@outlook.com www.mytc.co.uk

Mrs B Evans

Tel: 01234 262515

Breed Education Co-ordinator for the Yorkshire Terrier Mrs D Rich Tel: 07979 226848 Email: solsplash@aol.com

For further information of breed rescue contacts in your area, please visit www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/findarescue or contact Anita Tabrett, the relationship manager – welfare & breed rescue on 01296 718154 and anita.tabrett@thekennelclub.org.uk

Cheshire and North Wales Yorkshire Terrier Society Please note a change of date for our

Championship Show 11th August 2019 Woodford Community Centre Chester Road, Woodford, Cheshire, SK7 1PS All enquiries to Hon. Secretary & Treasurer Mark Burns - 0161 437 7118

Yorkshire Terrier Club of South Wales OOfficers and Committee would like to wish all our members and fellow exhibitors successful showing during 2019 Our Club shows for 2019

OPEN SHOW

Saturday 9th February 2019 at The Griag Community Hall, Bassaleg ,Newport ,Gwent Judges Mr E Sutton *(Dogs)Mr A Moore *(Bitches) Referee Miss B Evans

CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW

Saturday 13th July 2019 at The Graig Community Hall Bassaleg , Newport, Gwent Judge Mrs Anna Babaeva MINI SHOP Russia

32 January 2019 - Kennel Gazette

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Treasures of the Kennel Club

Father of the Yorkshire Terrier — Ch Huddersfield Ben

By Valerie Foss

Photo: ©The Kennel Club

Photo: ©The Kennel Club

M

Mrs Foster’s Dundreary from an engraving of 1872 from ‘The Yorkshire Terrier Handbook’ by Annie Swan first published in 1958

in gossip. She always gave the breeders of her dogs credit in an age when some did not.

The Fosters were prominent supporters of the Kennel Club (despite disagreements about bows in the hair) and also of Charles Cruft. However, it was Mary Ann’s energy and determination that enabled her to break into a male-dominated world, and to pave the way for legions of women breeders and exhibitors.

Photo: ©The Kennel Club

Mary Ann Foster from ‘The Complete Yorkshire Terrier’ by Joan B Gordon and Janet E Bennett, 1976

Mrs Foster’s Huddersfield Ben and Lady Gifford’s Katie

My thanks to Richard Haynes for his help and assistance with this article. ●

Photo: ©The Kennel Club

ary Ann Foster (1839 – 1906) was a significant woman of the 19th century as she was Britain’s first female judge.

She stepped into the ring at Manchester Dog Show in 1889, with papers at the time reporting on the ‘sensation’ that was to be a lady judge. She made a success of it, and was invited back the following year.

Born as Mary Ann Clayton, she came from an enterprising entrepreneurial family in Bradford, West Yorkshire. Although she came from a well to do background, deaths in the family meant she had to get a job as a worsted weaver. She worked at the mill and caught the eye of the overlooker, Jonas Foster, and they were married in 1859.

Their first recorded dog together was a small blue and tan terrier, Dazzler, who made the papers when he disappeared from their home. Despite all efforts, he was never found. The search was on for a replacement and it was to Huddersfield that they went where a dog called Ben was siring good puppies and keeping the vermin down in Eastwood’s Yard in the centre of the town.

The Fosters and their dog changed the course of canine history, when Ben was acknowledged as the ‘Father of the Yorkshire Terrier’ and first champion of the breed as Ch Huddersfield Ben. A painting of Huddersfield Ben by George Earl hangs in the Kennel Club Art Gallery, and forms part of the series of the Champion Dogs of England.

Ben’s untimely death occurred on 23rd September, 1871 when he was run over by a carriage and horses. This was clearly a blow but the Fosters kept on breeding, showing and supporting the breed wherever they could. Ben also appears behind all Australian Silky Terriers and both Norfolk and Norwich Terriers.

Mary Ann and her kennel maid Annie Leach, who was from a family of hairdressers, often travelled overnight with several dogs of different breeds, including Pugs and English Toy Terriers, to attend most of the big shows. Papers at the time record that she gave endless care to her dogs, never leaving them unless under the watchful eye of her maid. They report on her pleasant manner and that she never indulged

Huddersfield Ben from the Champion Dogs of England, oil on canvas by George Earl c1870

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Special feature

M Photo by Alan V Walker

idland Counties Canine Society was formed on 24th April, 1968, taking over from the defunct Leamington and County Canine Society. Their open show, pledged to support dog charities, and so for several years until the struggle to run the January open show, coupled with the championship status in 1976 with allocation of the Challenge Certificates taken from Cheshire Agricultural Society, stretched the balance sheet.

The Margaret Everton Pavilion

Photo by Alan V Walker

Now in its 50th anniversary year, Midland Counties has provided the necessary financial support to enable Staffordshire & Birmingham Agricultural Society to repurpose one of its buildings to create the Margaret Everton Pavilion — a very suitable tribute to the former President of Midland Counties who passed away in March 2018. The formal opening took place on Wednesday 24th October 2018 the day before the show — by chairman Robert Greaves, accompanied by Margaret’s sister, Jill Mole, and niece Ginny Mole. There were a number of invited guests including chairman of the Agricultural Society Peter Stone, and Richard

Williams the chief executive, together with officers and committee of Midland Counties.

Opening the new venue, Robert Greaves paid tribute to Margaret and her huge impact on the world of dogs and shows in the UK and beyond. He said: “Margaret never wanted anything like a stakes class in her memory and this, Midland Counties felt, was a most suitable tribute.”

The building now provides 590 square metres of clear floor space — ideal for breed club and smaller shows — with a new floor and ceiling to provide a bright and airy environment for any dog show.

Margaret was Midland Counties and Midland Counties was Margaret. A world renowned breeder of Great Danes and international judge, for Midland Counties, she was a great visionary and above all a true, genuine friend who is missed by so many. Margaret was involved in all of the Birmingham shows but it was Midland Counties that she nurtured and grew to its position today. Margaret started in 1968 as a steward with the Society and then moved to the committee, followed by assistant secretary to Olive Grindey, then chairman, secretary and finally president.

The Margaret Everton Pavilion is part of an ongoing commitment the Society has with the Agricultural Society. Midland Counties was the first to use New Bingley Hall, Stafford, for dog shows with the championship show in 1976. Since that first show at Stafford, the Society has enjoyed a very strong relationship with Staffordshire Agricultural Society and, over the years, has worked in partnership to invest heavily in the showground. This has included being instrumental in the funding of two halls

Photo by Alan V Walker

Fifty years of Midland Counties Canine Society — building the future

Memorial plaque for Midland Counties President Margaret Everton, who passed away in March 2018

(named after the late president Michael Argyle and one of its founder member’s, the late Gwen Broadley (Sandylands), lighting gantries in the main hall, tarmacing of roads, and drainage of the caravan site. The Society firmly believes in providing investment into the venue for the benefit of all exhibitors who use the showground.

During its 50th year, Midland Counties also continued its long term support of Dogs for Good and donated £26,000 for the ongoing training and support of 33 Dogs for Good partnerships in Herefordshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire. ●

Kathy Gorman commented: “I was delighted to be invited to the opening ceremony of the newly refurbished Margaret Everton Pavilion at the Stafford County Showground, the day before the start of Midland Counties recent championship show. It was a fitting tribute to a lady who was closely associated with both the venue and the canine society for many years.

“The following day it was also my pleasure to be the first person to judge in the Pavilion at the Lagotto Romagnolo Club of Great Britain’s Open Show. The bright and spacious venue easily coped with the breed club show and I am sure will be a welcome and well-used addition to this popular showground and venue.”

Centre right: Margaret Everton’s sister, Jill Mole, with Midland Counties committee and invited guests at the opening of the Pavilion. Robert Greaves, sixth from left, paid tribute to Margaret Everton in a speech opening the Pavilion and among the guests was Kathy Gorman, second from right, and Ronnie Irving

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You can make a difference for dogs...by giving them healthier and happier lives

Jacqueline Ferris-Woods / The Kennel Club Š

The Kennel Club Charitable Trust (KCCT) provides grants to various canine organisations nationwide, many of which are involved in the rescue and welfare of dogs. In 2017, the KCCT gave grants totalling nearly ÂŁ675,000.

Your support is essential to us and by giving whatever you can afford, you can help make a difference for dogs.

The KCCT has three objectives, the funding of: Science - research into diseases and other health conditions in dogs Support - The training of dogs to help humans Welfare - The rescue and re-homing of dogs which need help For further information and to make an online donation, please visit:

www.kccharitabletrust.org.uk

Registered Charity Number 327802

7-10TH MARCH 2019 THE NEC, BIRMINGHAM

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