Page 6 - Absolute Final 13 Spring 2025 Newsletter

same time and she became known as the parrot; as soon as her course
finished she would jump up onto my shoulder, so I am used to being laughed
at!!! Showing led to judging, and judging Crufts in 2017 has been the pinnacle
of that activity.

With the help of my late, dear friend, David Matthews, I have made up two
beautiful girls; only took me 40 years.

I do think that it's a shame that there seems to be this divide between show,
obedience, agility and pet dogs, or any other discipline that people choose to
do with their dogs. When all is said and done, whatever your dog’s talent is
they are still your pets.
I have served on the Keeshond Club committee for 20 plus years, starting off
as the Events Co-Ordinator, then Treasurer and followed that with being the
Secretary, during which time we, your committee, tried very hard to encourage
all members to take part in events we wanted to run. Unfortunately, without
the support we had hoped for.

As members you do own the Club and are welcome to come to our AGMs to
express your thoughts, good or bad. If you feel we could include something
of interest you need to let us know.
In most of my correspondence to the membership as Secretary I would ask
if there was anything that you would like the committee to arrange to do. In
those events I was involved with very few non-showing members came, so
please have a think and we will consider if it could be arranged.

Keeshond walks are very popular and if you wanted to arrange one in your
area we would help you advertise them.

I am a member of several other breed Clubs and have to say it seems that
we all appear to be going through the same issues, dropping puppy numbers,
attracting new members and participation in any events are, to name a few
of the issues.

I don't think that we will ever get back to the numbers of the 60s/70s/80s as
we are not the same people we were then. Life in general has changed,
beyond recognition in some instances. Very few people are breeding now, it
is very time consuming, expensive and hard work, not to mention worrying
about who you let your puppies go to but without breeders we have no
Keeshonds!!!

I do feel very protective toward the Keeshond Club and over the years that I
have been a member, about 45, I have had the pleasure of meeting some
lovely people and owned some beautiful dogs that I have been very proud of.
All have been part of my family, some were show dogs and there were some
that weren't quite good enough but all were/are my 'pets'.
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