In 1993 we decided the time was right to add a four-legged friend to our family. After much searching we decided on a bearded collie and were put in touch with Caroline Nicholson who in turn put us in touch with Lynn Adams whose bitch Eby had recently had a litter. As luck would have it there were some dog puppies available. The whole family, hubby (Malcolm) sons (Keith, Mark) daughter (Claire) and myself set off for Kent and promptly fell in love with all the pups, but one in particular who kept following the boys around. So it was that two weeks later we went back to collect Bertie, our very own beardie.
Bertie however sadly passed away on 19th June 2009 and he will always be missed by all.
Jambalaya Snow Plough
(Ch Brenriga Double Take/Diotima Grace Darling)
Although Bertie only dabbled in ‘showing’ I decided I would like to ‘have a go’ and was lucky enough to bring home Jess from the Bendale household.
When Claire finished her A-levels she wanted to spend the summer in America and Anne Wilding put us in contact with a ‘beardie’ family in California. She fell in love with Toby(Am Ch.Bendale Smooth Operator) so it seemed only natural that we would ask Anne if we could have a ‘Bendale puppy’ and as luck would have it, Ginny (Ch Bendale Love Me Do JW) was in whelp and produced five lovely bitches. On September 7th 2003 Jess and I started our lives together. She is definitely a ‘mummy’s girl’ but is always delighted to see her ‘first mum’, ‘auntie Sue’ and other friends, both two and four-legged!!’
Bendale Love Me Tender at Subessen
(Ch Otterswish O’Connor/Ch Bendale Love Me Do)
We have been in and out of the show ring since then and taking Jess onto the green carpet at Crufts was magical and something I never thought I would do.
At the Three Counties Championship show in 2007 Sue Bird handled Jess to 2nd in Open Bitch, so gaining her stud book number. We are grateful to both Sue and Anne for handling Jess so expertly on a number of occasions.
In April 2006 Jess had a litter of 9 pups and from these we added Blaze to our household.
Blaze has certainly made her presence felt in the household – live-wire, monkey, mischief are just some of the words that have been used to describe her. I was delighted when we took Blaze to Scotland for the BCC of Scotland show in October 2006 and she qualified for Crufts on her 6th month birthday. She really enjoyed her day at Crufts, entertaining the audience with her antics in the ring!! Hopefully she will have learnt more ring etiquette next time!!
Subessen Land of Grace
(Ch Mungo’s Over the Moon at Zoesta/Bendale Love Me Tender at Subessen)
Blaze has done well in minor puppy and puppy classes and we are now waiting for her to finish growing her adult coat to compete again in the ring.