Caroline's breed notes are also available from www.pedigreedogs.co.uk.

23 August 2006

Two weeks of holidays in the Lakes District have kept us away from our computers. The dogs had a wonderful time with a lot of free running in the mountains and swimming in the lakes. The temperature was also cooler than in the South so it was just perfect for the hovies.

We came back to find out that we had received the approval from the German Hovawart club for the mating we are planning later on this year. I must admit I was slightly worried before starting this adventure as I had been told that Germany could have rigid policies and process and strong views about the breed. Well, our experience has been the complete opposite with very friendly and efficient people forgiving our non existing German and providing all the help they could. There was a process to follow, but nothing unreasonable. We will just have to hope that everything else with be as smooth as the approval is really just the first step and there are many more before getting any puppies.

Just before we left for our holidays, James took Venka with him to go and meet the people from Cantech www.cantech.org.uk/, a volunteer search dog association, affiliated member of NSARDA, who help to bring missing people home. The afternoon was most interesting and Venka’s assessment very encouraging, even if she was at first gently subdued by the very hot weather. James came back home highly motivated and with plenty of tips to progress with training. Venka already understands the principle of locating people and is getting good at it. We now have to train the correct response once the person is located to be able to use her skills in real life when she’s ready.I think we can hope to see hovawarts wearing the search jacket sometimes in the future as we are not the only people putting our hovawart “at work” with the young Minches Chief River, known as "Corie", currently being in training as an Emergency Search dog up in Scotland.

A lot of people come to the hovawart because they want an interesting, reliable and faithful family dog, which the hovawart certainly is. But I hope we can make people realise that the hovawart is also and maybe above all a fantastic working dog.

The schedule and entry form for the Hovawart Club Show which will be held at Oswestry on 1st October are now available from the Hovawart Club of Great Britain secretary Julie Condron (012533 777 186). Alternatively, you can download them from the club website www.hovawart.org.uk/php/ where you can also see a picture of last year’s winner: Dutch Ch Lara v Toverbergh.

We may have more puppies before the end of the year as Elaine and John at Pines have taken their Whistle to a working hovawart in Austria called Cooper ex Canis Lupus. This lovely boy has the IPO2 qualification and finished second in the working class at the IHF show. This should be a very interesting litter. It is obviously far too early to know whether Whistle is in whelp, but we’ll keep you posted.

We have also planned to take our Venka (Pines Piccolo avec Spicemill) to German Champion Jambo von Wittlerdamm. But Venka does not seem in a hurry to come in season. That’s breeding for you. Let’s see the good side of it, maybe it will give us enough time to get her Search & Rescue qualification before she has her puppies.

Richmond championship show

We had breed class for the first time at Richmond this year. Unfortunately, it clashed with the Dutch Hovawart Club Show so the entry was not as good as one could have hoped with 13 dogs entered. It was a lovely day though with several visitors who had come especially to see the hovawarts and asked a lot of questions about the breed. Loseley Park is a nice location and our judge Mrs D Kenis-Pordham was very friendly. Her best of breed Kynyaf Tiy Of Pines CDex “Orchid” then got noticed in the group judging as she got pulled out by judge Mrs Karina Le Mare. Her owner Elaine Betts was thrilled.

Reserve best bitch went to Pines Limerick. For the boys, Minches Jet was the winner. I remember when he was just a bouncy pup on the rings. He and his owner have come a long way and it presents better at each show. Reserve best dog was Pines Saxophone “DJ” and best puppy went to Tyehelva Super Summer.

The next chance to see hovawarts being shown will be on the second day of Darlington championship show, which will be held near Ripon at the end of this week. The 12 hovawarts who have been entered will be judged by Mrs Valerie Foss.

Read the previous breed notes