Issue: 29/11/2024
I so wanted to attend this year’s Dutch Nimrod, unfortunately other commitments did not allow me the time to go. The Nimrod, which is Holland’s version of a gundog championship (all breeds), was held on the 11th November at Overijssel. Running this year were 2 Spaniels, 6 HPR’s and 10 retrievers. All dogs have to qualify throughout the year, which is extremely difficult in itself. Only once in its life can a dog compete in the Nimrod. In a country that no longer allows the rearing of game birds to shoot, wild birds which are not native to Holland are very rarely seen. Training and breeding gundogs to hunt and/or retrieve gamebirds only exists in other countries, hence the Nimrod is a set of imaginary exercises of control, run on cold game of fur and feather. 3 tests of 3 retrieves, only 2 dogs completed all 9 retrieves, both were Labradors. 1st went to Eveline Veilbrief-Abels with Grace Van De Cranebeurcht; 2nd Wilfred Sckenc with Waterland Spolder. Again there was a Chesapeake that qualified and competed, this was Gondje Van Zinnicq Bergmann with Yukon’s Gold Bennet Lake.
Just one show result this week, at Gundog Club of North Wales Open Show Joy Middleton – ex committee member, show manager, Chessie Chat editor etc, received an entry of 8 – 4a. BOB Dave Rigby’s SH CH Chesepi Waco; RBOB Cathy Broomfield’s Glaneils Count On Me. The next day Dave Rigby, Club Working Test Secretary and committee member, was able to take Joy and her co-owned Hebe out on the marshes.
The September/October ACC Bulletin recently arrived. Different in layout but still full of results, photos, information and reports etc. Dates for your diaries for 2025 – The National Show Specialty Oct 20-25, Ocala, Florida. The 2026 will be in the West and the 2027 in the Midwest. Entries are never as high as a Specialty held in the East. The National Field Trial Specialty 2025 will be in the North and the 2026 in the South. No other details are available at the moment.
In the same Bulletin there was a report from the Swedish Club Show, judged by James Newton KC. It was another very successful show for Catharina and Kay Lindstrom with BIS going to Susqudilla’s Double Coats Mountain Man (imp USA), a full brother to Mahon-Hunns, Middleton & Heskins Susqudilla Bergelle Big Apple (imp USA) a dog James Newton handles in the UK; BOS Erica Bergman’s Double Coats Duner Bay; BP Johan Stromberg’s Double Coats Centanniel; BV Lindstrom’ Double Coats Flora Amor; Best of Breed Group Double Coats kennels; Best Progeny Group Double Coats Sea Breez WD.
After previous breed notes I am asked what causes a dog to become hard mouthed and what can be done to stop it. To answer the second part, is very little. There are different reasons that may cause a dog to become hard mouthed. One is in bad breeding, some dogs can be very excitable, head strong and determined to catch their quarry. Dogs with this nature will often be harder to train, this type of dog although it may have speed and determination one should think carefully about breeding to or from it. Another reason for hard mouth is stress. Dogs that have been badly trained or handled in a dominant manner. Too many dogs working at the same time can cause jealousy. A happy dog will want to put its retrieve in your pocket, an unhappy dog may circle around you, drop the bird and race off for the next one. One of my sayings when training novice people is too much, too soon, too far, too bad.
Janet Morris
01873 880271
penrosechesapeakes@gmail.com