Page 64 - K9 News - Issue 15 - March2021
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and as such she sometimes taps you on the and have been all over the world, seeing places
shoulder to remind us that she is in charge. and doing things that money can’t buy. Whilst
judging in Russia, I was taken 4 hours out of
From farming stock, we are aware that a bull Moscow, into the forest, where various breeds
of the highest quality will demand the highest including the Weimaraner were training to hunt
price. As will a Ram, or good producing sow and be steady on game such as wild boar,
or boar. The same applies for horses, in fact racoon & badger. Such respect from dog to
most animals; except dogs. Conscientious handler and both to game, was amazing.
breeders of pure bred dogs, where health
screening is performed and pedigrees are Both Stephen & I have judged in Scandinavia,
studied by established breeders, choosing Europe, Australia and New Zealand. In New
healthy stock with breed characteristics and Zealand we, independently, judged a young
sound temperament ,interestingly generally Weimaraner awarding him BOB and Group 1. At
cost less (in this Covid self isolating year) than the end of a long two day judging stint we were
puppies produced for financial gain at inflated approached by the dog’s handler who invited
cost. Scary, but many puppies are bred by us to her home the next day. So Keith and Pip
crossing two breeds that conjures up an exciting Simmons, took us to their home to see their
new name, thus ‘designer’ dogs. In clothes famous kennel of Weimaraners. It reminded us
and handbags, when they go out of fashion, of home; all dogs mixed amicably together. As
these ‘products ‘are disguarded, is this what will the kennel had much of the young dog (that we
become of, Mans Best Friend? Gosh, better get had judged) lines, we were offered by to have
off our soap box! him in at our kennel. Virtually 2 years later; NZ
Ch Carmellis Hot Dikkety Dog at Gunalt came
Over the years we have been in this sport, to the U.K. As we were not keeping as many
our lives have been enriched by the dogs we Weimaraners, ‘Doug’ as he is known, went to
have had and bred, and by the many lovely live with Richard Stafford and Ed Casey. This
folk who have been to our home to learn the dog introduced important new blood into our
idiosyncrasies of the breed - and ultimately lines and easily became a U.K. show champion
taken a puppy to add to the family unit. For us, winning a Group along the way.
as thrilling it is that a puppy we bred goes on to
be a champion, it is just as satisfying to receive I have judged various breeds at Crufts, including
a letter, call, or email, telling us the puppy the Gundog Group in 2008. I was voted by the
they had from us served as a family member folk in the dog showing fraternity as top all breed
–growing with the children, into the teens of judge of the year at the Pawscars-2019. I have
years. appeared, as an actor (dog judge) in the 2019
Hollywood film, ‘Show
All our dogs have been pets and each has had
stimulation, living and running together, (even dogs’ and done various TV work, applicable to
when we had 38, both dogs and bitches). We dog related issues. Family and dogs have added
only have 6 bitches at home now because we another dimension to our lives. Its amazing
are older, and also both judge regularly at a where the road takes you, if you work hard
high level. Stephen concentrates purely on the enough to be this lucky.
Gundog Group, whilst I love being able to learn,
and hopefully to judge efficiently, many diverse Stephen & Patsy Hollings
breeds. As a self confessed country bumpkin I
am amazed that I am now away judging a lot.
I never went on holiday, always riding and with
too many animals to leave - a 7 day a week
job! Now I get on a plane and go off judging
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K9 NEWS DIGITAL / MARCH 2021
