Page 44 - K9 News - Issue 15 - March2021

make my point! There’s nothing wrong with learning and assessment, they are a great way
being competitive, nor striving for the best
results you can achieve. However, in the dog
game, this is not achieved with mediocrity.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, however
when we have breed standards to follow for our
chosen breed, beauty must also fit the blueprint
of the standard we are striving to recreate and
carry forward into the future
With lockdown restricting our movements
around the country, various breed clubs have
seized the moment and offered chances to
learn about their breed. The Welsh Springer
Spaniel Club was one of them, offering a free
online breed seminar which I was delighted to
be able to attend. Hearing about breed history
from Kathy Moores (Gorman) and then the
breed standard so brilliantly presented by John
Thirlwell of the renowned Ferndel kennel was
hugely enlightening. Even more pleasing was
that the seminar, immaculately organised by
Pat Butler-Holley and Peter Barnaby, was free
to attend and I didn’t have to travel any further
than my own desk! What more could you ask
for? I understand a number of other breed clubs
are making similar efforts, which I am sure will
be popular. It made for a refreshing change,
and I came away feeling informed and updated
about the breed, whilst not having several hours
driving home to endure. Whilst these online
seminars shouldn’t take away from hands on
John Thirlwell - Ferndel Welsh Springer Spaniels
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K9 NEWS DIGITAL / MARCH 2021
to educate judges of the future – let’s hope more
breed clubs take the task on; we have a few
more months at home to endure! It’s a great
way to gain easy access to education about
your breed, and others. I cannot praise the
Kennel Club Academy enough in this regard,
as their online breed videos are excellent with
many speakers of note presenting on their
breed, with live models bringing to life the breed
standard they have eloquently described.
As well as breed seminars, the indomitable
mother and daughter team of Barbara and
Aileen McDonald, two lynch pins of Perthshire
Canine Club, have been hosting – over the past
few weeks – various “nights in with” events, for
which you only have to pay a years subscription
to their Club (a pricely £3!). These social
evenings have been excellent taking in a huge
variety of topics and nearly always ending with a
great exchange of ideas amongst those present.
As many have said, it felt rather like being at a
show where you would have a good chin wag
at the end of it all with like-minded folk. This
concept has certainly brightened up my Tuesday
evening … and with the luxury of being at home
to attend, they have also somewhat depleted
my gin supplies (however I think Fiona Bruce of
Donaska Poodle fame has consumed far more
than I!).
These evenings have been really eye opening,
as they have brought together a number of
people from across Scotland, who are all keen
to learn something and take part in something.
There have been various comments mentioned
over a few weeks, be it about breeding or about
judging, and it seems that those contributing are
all coming from the same place, which is most
encouraging. Education is coming out as the
key element, and with everyone keen to learn
and attend I’m excited to see what Barbara and
Aileen come up with in their 2021 programme
– as it’s open to all, I’m sure they would be
delighted for you to join in too! A chance to
listen and learn is never far away from you.