Crufts

[puffernutter]

I know a Marmite topic!

We breed and show Clumber Spaniels and after a couple of posts in the "For Sale" area I said that I would report back on my time at 2017 Crufts here!

On Friday I represented the UK Clumber Spaniels in the British & Ireland Vulnerable Breeds Competition (he won the most points across all shows in 2016). It was a great experience to be in the Main Ring at Crufts and I hope that both he and I showed Clumbers off to their best!

A YouTube clip of the day is here, we're on from about 09.24 (Spaniels are the last three dogs to enter the ring).

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=-8_9ohYg-tg

We then went home, were up at 04.00 on the Saturday as breed judging started at 08.30!

We had a good day, we were placed in the top 5 in all the classes we competed in (my daughter got a first in one of her classes) and in all classes we beat other dogs! It was a good, but tiring day!

When I'm home again, I'll post some pictures of the day.

Our dogs can be found at www.whissgig.co.uk

Thanks for reading this far.

Cheers

Peter

 

[Shox Dr]

We done Peter, my mum used to show her dogs yrs ago a lot of work, but very rewarding

 

[Wendelspanswick]

We have a Hungarian Puli but I saw the Hungarian Pumi for the first time on Crufts (on the TV), cute dog.

 

[Migmac]

It a great way to see what the breeds look like. I'm quite interested in the Black Russian Terrier for work, nice to see a live one rather than just pictures on the net.

 

[rockweasel]

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Couldn't upload a picture of a Hungarian Pumi earlier but better late than never...

 

[Kent]

Why does anyone need a weird dog. Good dogs are common for a reason. BTW this is a real lab not like that lardy one they had at crufts

 

[Migmac]

I'll bet that's what folk said when labs came to the UK too

 

[Kent]

I'll bet that's what folk said when labs came to the UK too

Actually it was the St John water dog then and the demand was massive.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Why does anyone need a weird dog. Good dogs are common for a reason. BTW this is a real lab not like that lardy one they had at cruftsView attachment 105171

It would be a sad world if everyone had the same breed of dog!

 

[puffernutter]

Some pictures of our dogs at Crufts

Colston - Whissgig the Bristolian (shown by my wife)

Henry (Whissgig Daddy Cool) shown by yours truly!

Henry (Whissgig Daddy Cool) shown by yours truly!

Ollie (Whissgig Li'l Abner) shown by my daughter

Phoebe (Whissgig All That Jazz) shown by yours truly

 

[Tinbasherdan]

We have a Hungarian Puli but I saw the Hungarian Pumi for the first time on Crufts (on the TV), cute dog.

I have a Hungarian mrs if that counts.........


One thing I do notice, and which annoys me about these shows is the absolute lack of emotion shown by judges, and the way they talk about dogs like they are a thing to look at and nothing more. That and the fact the kennel club is responsible for more hereditary issues across many breeds than anything else. But each to their own, and they're some Bonny dogs there puffer

 

[Kent]

Some pictures of our dogs at Crufts

View attachment 105209
Colston - Whissgig the Bristolian (shown by my wife)


View attachment 105210
Henry (Whissgig Daddy Cool) shown by yours truly!



View attachment 105211
Henry (Whissgig Daddy Cool) shown by yours truly!


View attachment 105212
Ollie (Whissgig Li'l Abner) shown by my daughter


View attachment 105213
Phoebe (Whissgig All That Jazz) shown by yours truly

Nice dogs climbers shot over one a mate had a few times

 

[Kent]

It would be a sad world if everyone had the same breed of dog!

Of course

 

[puffernutter]

I have a Hungarian mrs if that counts.........


One thing I do notice, and which annoys me about these shows is the absolute lack of emotion shown by judges, and the way they talk about dogs like they are a thing to look at and nothing more. That and the fact the kennel club is responsible for more hereditary issues across many breeds than anything else. But each to their own, and they're some Bonny dogs there puffer

I said that this was a Marmite topic and I'll try not to stir things up. Clumbers have a number of hereditary issues with mouths, eyes and hips in particular and we were Breed Watch 3 at one point with the Kennel Club (the highest and under continuous scrutiny). Those that breed have worked hard (I'd like to think we've contributed) and we're now Breed Watch 2. Part of the problem is a limited gene pool (only a very few Clumbers existed after the 2nd World War, although Sussex Spaniel were even worse), but our Swedish lad "Beckis" is a third generation of an approved outcross to a Cocker Spaniel to improve the gene pool and he's sired one litter for us and two for others, so we're doing our bit to improve the breed and spread the Swedish genes around :-)

I'm not sure what you mean about judges? I judge (not at Championship Show level) although that is now just a matter of time as I've recently been on and passed the last seminar I needed to give Championship Certificates and all I need is to have judges another 20 dogs at 3 shows and I can be recommended to the Kennel Club to judge at that level. We show no emotion in the ring, but I love the breed and what they can do, if I had more time in this world, I'd be tempted to see how mine would work, but I have little enough time at the weekend, but believe me, I 'm passionate about the Clumber Spaniel!

Cheers

Peter

 

[Kent]

I said that this was a Marmite topic and I'll try not to stir things up. Clumbers have a number of hereditary issues with mouths, eyes and hips in particular and we were Breed Watch 3 at one point with the Kennel Club (the highest and under continuous scrutiny). Those that breed have worked hard (I'd like to think we've contributed) and we're now Breed Watch 2. Part of the problem is a limited gene pool (only a very few Clumbers existed after the 2nd World War, although Sussex Spaniel were even worse), but our Swedish lad "Beckis" is a third generation of an approved outcross to a Cocker Spaniel to improve the gene pool and he's sired one litter for us and two for others, so we're doing our bit to improve the breed and spread the Swedish genes around :-)

I'm not sure what you mean about judges? I judge (not at Championship Show level) although that is now just a matter of time as I've recently been on and passed the last seminar I needed to give Championship Certificates and all I need is to have judges another 20 dogs at 3 shows and I can be recommended to the Kennel Club to judge at that level. We show no emotion in the ring, but I love the breed and what they can do, if I had more time in this world, I'd be tempted to see how mine would work, but I have little enough time at the weekend, but believe me, I 'm passionate about the Clumber Spaniel!

Cheers

Peter

You can't really see how a dog would work unfortunately you have to spend many many hours training it. The clumber I shot over was less hyper than a springer and a bit more diligent In making sure every bit of cover was worked through. Not sure if it's so much a breed thing though as most of today's spaniels of work breeding are from trial dogs and judges like scoring on speed and. Gusto so the breed is altered by selecting the more hypo parents if that makes sense

 

[puffernutter]

..and there's a problem. Clumbers are designed to go steadily and thoroughly through heavy growth, not jump 5 bar gates! Most people on shoots are surprised how many birds that Clumbers put up after the Springers and Cockers have shot through first! Working people are are breeding Clumbers lighter and smaller and it's not what they are supposed to be!

 

[Kent]

..and there's a problem. Clumbers are designed to go steadily and thoroughly through heavy growth, not jump 5 bar gates! Most people on shoots are surprised how many birds that Clumbers put up after the Springers and Cockers have shot through first! Working people are are breeding Clumbers lighter and smaller and it's not what they are supposed to be!

You know I bet they say the exact reverse. Imo work was the pre-requist in the breed from day one. No spaniel can correctly clear a five bar gate, some might scramble over the top two bars but this leads to broken legs. Show breeding by having a set standard over generations gradually increases the prominence of given breed physical features, we see this in whatever gets kc approval. Field trials likewise have lead to hotter much faster dogs more handleable but more dependant on an owner who is on the case (which you are not always when your also trying to shoot). Most real gun dogs are separating into at least two and possibly three or four types of a single breed