Breeder Sharon Barkley
finishing his trimming. She's such a star!
Just got down on the floor and got covered
in hair! Thanks Shaz - extra pizza for you
when you visit this summer!
Rufus and me in the
line up.
Trudy Short, the
judge, made us work hard, we went round and
round and round!
Rufus a bit dubious!
Starting to enjoy
himself and his merry disposition starting
to come out!
More standing up, me
starting to stiffen up...my knees aren't
what they were!
Our 5th place and
prize card.
Rufus relaxing on his
bench. He took it all in his stride. We were
so proud of him!
Before a trim...
....and after! Crufts
in 3 weeks!
Learning to "beg" - in fact he
taught himself as he just started doing it one day!
Smart little dog. Video below of his 3
attempts....he was having fun to start with then he did
it.
Had to put this clip on.
Cesar Millan...this guy is
amazing. This was a very aggressive pit bull terrier who
was attacking anyone who went near his owners, on a
walk, in the house....will try and find the rest of this
clip. It is quite amazing! One of his best ones.
And finally......!
We have a river running at the
bottom of our 33 acres and often take the dogs down for
a swim and to collect pizza party wood for our wood
oven! This was March 2007 - Rufus wasn't even born
then - Caspar, our 5 year old GSD absolutely adores
swimming, as you can see.
We entered Rufus in a show
in March this year. His first show....a championship show
with dogs coming from all over the UK, so no pressure
then!!
He had been out in
the fields with us and the sheep and lambs the day
before and was absolutely filthy as it rained all day.
We put him in the bath Saturday night and the water
immediately turned black! Still, he scrubbed up
really well and we just about managed to keep him clean
the following morning, clocks going on an hour made it
even earlier.
We dragged my 83 year old
mother along and she absolutely loved every minute.
Rufus was a bit overwhelmed by all the dogs when we
first got there but soon settled, and his breeder,
Sharon, helped my finish off trimming his ears and feet.
He went in his first class,
minor puppy, and was pulled in second, beaten by his
brother, out of a very strong class of puppies who came
from all over the UK to try and qualify for Crufts, so
we're going to Crufts next March! He then came
second in his next class behind a very beautiful and
much older dog. We are so pleased with the way he
took it all in, sat quietly either with his sister, Ceri,
or with Rita.
We used to breed Welshies many years ago and in total only
bred 6 litters from 3 bitches. A very old breed, they are fun to
have around, good housedogs and get on readily with all other animals
and people.
My first dog, Emma Girl of Sharman, died early 1980s
after an operation, aged 11. She was incredibly intelligent,
obedient and would even help round up the cows, barking to keep them
moving when asked to.
I kept one pup from her last litter but made the
decision to sell her a few weeks later to help pay towards my new horse,
having just had my 6 year old TB x put down due to a broken leg.
Beaconside Siw went on to show champion then was exported to Australia
in pup. I am now in touch with her last owner.
When Beaconside Billy
died, aged 15 and a half a couple of years ago we were without a Welshie for the first time in 35 years.
The search had been on
for a couple of years and we finally had the opportunity to
buy a pup from Cherryheath Welsh Springers in East Sussex.
We drove to Hastings last weekend to meet the breeder and
dogs and 9 week Cherryheath Mr. Excel "Rufus" came back with
us! He cried a bit but soon settled for the 5 hour
journey and has been such a delight!
Had his first
injection yesterday and I was lucky to get him from the
vets...they all wanted to keep him!
Someone did ask if he
was a Welsh Springer and not an English Springer, as he was
born in England??!!!
We look forward to
getting back into showing this fabulous boy next year as we
had so much fun showing Beaconside Rupert.
