Sunday 28th June

A scorching hot day for the Whitstable show held at Maidstone. We were judged outside but there was a nice shady place for the dogs thank goodness. Very disappointing entry and with 3 absentees I was the only exhibitor present. I had to enlist help as I had entered two puppies alongside Frank in the Junior class (thanks Jackie and Alan (Tubbs - Welshies)) - not sure what I would have done without you!!! Frankie won the Junior class and BOB, Ollie was 2nd behind him and was BPIB. Ron Ellinor judged the group and I was hopeful of a place as he had given Frank a nice puppy class last November. I am delighted to report that Frankie did it again - he won the group and then went on to RESERVE BEST IN SHOW. Ollie again performed like an old hand and gained puppy group 3 - a delightful result considering he is only just 6 months and 10 days old! Must give Ziva a mention as she showed really well and really didn't put a foot wrong, I am looking forward to showing her myself one of these days!!

Wednesday 24th June

Added some lovely new pics of the babies today, in a complete dilemma which way to show Kerys - she looks like two different dogs on the two different sides. She will probably play second fiddle to Ziva for a while, as she is not quite as together.

Tuesday 23rd June

As the puppies mostly come out with me en masse, decided to take just Ziva to Ringcraft for their match - a little "one to one" time. I really didn;t expect much, so imagine my delight when she not only came away with Best Puppy, but also reserve Best in Match beating some winning adults!! Way to go Ziva!!!!!

Sunday 21st June

Lovely weather for the babies debut, dry weather certainly makes a show day easier! We arrived well early for the show only to find they had delayed judging due to an accident on the M25. Ollie and Kerys were in Puppy, Ollie won and Kerys was second, both behaved impeccably for their first outing although Kerys (handled by Steve) did look for me and Ollie a bit, to be expected). Ziva (again handled by Steve) was in Junior with Frankie - they must have looked quite comical stood next to each other - a masculine strapping lad against a petite feminine bitch! Frankie won the Junior and Grad classes earning another JW point, Nellie took the open class. I don't know what I would have done without Steve's help, he was running back and to fetching the right dog at just the right time!! Steve handled Nellie in the Challenge, I took Frank in who ended up BOB. Daisy helped us in the challenge ably handling Ollie to BP over Ziva (who Steve handled - having dashed back to the cages to do a quick swap!) Later in the day I took Ziva and Kerys into their variety classes for a bit more experience and we were delighted when they both won their classes. We were even more delighted when Frankie went in for the BIS competition and ended up RESERVE BIS. And just for a bit more icing on the cake, my dear little Ollie showed like a pro to take 3rd BPIS at his very first show!

Saturday 20th June

Blitzed the housework this morning (although the European Ironing Mountain just gets bigger) so that I could spend the afternoon and evening getting everyone ready for tomorrow's show. The puppies are delighful to trim - all very co-operative, very unlike their mum who is a complete fidget on the table, but when you are that beautiful in looks and nature you can get away with blue murder!!! That said, Kerys did manage to kick the scissors whilst I was doing her back feet and I have a nice "v" shape incision on the back of my hand. Luckily I managed not to get any bright red staining on her lovely white bits!!!

Friday 19th June

A hectic week at work has left me a lot to do at the weekend to get 5 dogs ready for the show at the weekend. Steve does a great job of keeping them happy when he's at home with them, but even though he is a whiz with the scissors (he's a hairdresser) I'm the one that does all the trimming!!! But I am really looking forward to their first show.

Tuesday 16th June

A week of decorating and visiting the South of England show has left little room for dog news. Hopefully with the puppies about to make their debut we will have some news worth adding! Watch this space.

Was hoping to have some new photos of the puppies to add this week but we just ran out of time.

Monday 8th June

Day one of a week off so took the chance to take our four 7+year olds to the vets for blood samples to send to Cambridge for the Hepatitis and Mammary Tumour research projects. Really simple procedure and the plus is they each get a free liver screen. Hope lots of people take part in this scheme to help find the answers to two diseases which cause much distress to dog owners, not to mention the suffering to the dogs themselves.

Tomorrow sees the start of a it of decorating - we have got two days to do the kitchen, utility room and the bathroom - think we might be a bit optimistic!!!!! Also hoping to get the babies to ringcraft.

Sunday 7th June

Did a little bit of work with the babies today - just a fortnight to go until their first show. Madly I have entered all three, plus Frank and Nellie - what was I thinking??????

Saturday 6th June

Had a celebration supper party this evening to congratulationate Christine Savell's Sh Ch Petranella Perfick JW ShCM gaining his title. Not all the invitees could attend - but 8 of us raised a glass of bubbly to "Bosley the Beautiful".

Friday 5th June

Lovely smooth journey to Newbury for Southern counties meant I arrived very early at 7.30. Very pleased that Frankie won the Yearling class to gain some JW points, beating a CC and RCC winner. Nellie gained a 2nd in PGB behind the eventual RCC winner. Really enjoyable day chatting with springer friends. Well done Kizzy's little brother Eric on the CC & BOB - thought he looked a picture!

Sunday 31st May

Managed to get Frankie bathed and spruced up last night and was happy with how he looked for the South of England Gundog show today. They put on a great show and had attacted a great entry overall - 479 dogs in total. We were really pleased when Frank won both his classes and even more so to get Best of Breed judged by Celia Woodbridge. There were 26 dogs in the group/bis competition. Imagine our delgiht when Frankie was declared BEST IN SHOW - I am not sure what thrilled me more - the fact that he absolutely showed his socks off for me; that he was pulled out for the top spot; or the £100 prize money (plus bottle of champagne!!!). Celia had stayed to watch and was equally delighted.

Saturday 30th May

Not a lot of news on the dog front, did go to the Guildford show on Wednesday at Shalford Park Not sure what it is about that show but it seems to be a rain magnet. It chucked it down all day. Not the best results we have ever had - a 1st in Junior and 2nd in PG, but we got home early and went for a lovely walk. Congrats to Maxine Hydon who won BOB with her Mompesson youngster.

Working today so it will be a rush to get Frankie ready for the show tomorrow. Nellie is having a break from open shows, once the puppies are ready to "come out" open shows will mostly be a "boys only" affair.

Monday 25th May

A busy weekend without dog shows. We have taken the decision to retire Ross from the ring - he has now had a "short back and sides" and is relishing languishing on the sofa and sunbathing whenever the opportunity presents itself. Back to work tomorrow with a day off on Wednesday for the Guildford show, shame the forecast looks hideous!

Sunday 17th May

Well I was right! Frankie was the only springer entered at UK Paper. Hope we don't lose the classes there too. Maidstone is usually a social affair with us all piling into the cafeteria for brekkie after judging - bit sad that I had to have beakfast on my own (well wasn;'t going to miss out was I ?!) Celia came along later to pick up the Southern Line Newsletters, so it was nice to have some company for a while. Obviously Frankie got BOB and we were pleased to get longlisted then shortlisted for BIS. He really strode out in the big ring. Took the girl babies too for a spin and both of them had a turn in a spare ring. I think it is going to take some work to get Ziva to enjoy it as she is a little wary of other dogs (loves people though), Kerys just thinks it is one big party!!! It'll be Oliver's turn next time.

Saturday 16th May

Boring, boring, boring, no news to report, got a show tomorrow at Maidstone, got a feeling I might be Billy Nomates as don't know of anyone else going to the show.  Hope I am wrong. Puppies are going through the ghastly 5 months old stage, just when I am trying to plan the start of their campaign. As anyone who knows me will testify, patience is not one of my virtues and I can't wait to see the "finished articles" so it is driving me mad !!!!!!!

Thursday 14th May

Really pleased to hear that Kizzy is a granny!! Maddie (Dutch Ch Dexbenella Devil Woman) has given birth to 5 beautiful babies - congrats Jeanne!

Friday 8th May

Chester's son Bosley gained his well deserved 3rd CC today and is now SHOW CHAMPION PETRANELLA PERFICK JW ShCM. He is the sire of Frankie, Oliver, Ziva and Kerys. So Chester says well done Son, and the rest say well done Dad!! We say - thrilled for you Christine!

Monday 3rd May

Went to the SEAS show today, another small entry which was a shame - although there were some nice dogs present. Chuffed to win a point with Frankie in Graduate, even more so when he won BOB beating Nellie who had won the Open Class. Nellie won RBOB and thanks to Sharon Barkley who took her in for me was shortlisted in the RBOB comp. Frankie went really well in an extremely strong group and although he wasn't placed I was very proud of him.

Saturday 25th April

ESSC Champ show today at a great new venue. Came away with 3 firsts and 2 seconds so shouldn't be disappointed with that! Nellie took a nice PG Bitch class. All the dogs looked and went well - all you can ask of them really. CONGRATS to Gus who won his JW on the day - thrilled for you Trudy (W xxx).

Saturday 18th April

Nothing much to report at the moment, puppies coming along nicely, hope to get some pics of them today. No shows for us this weekend, Maybe have some time to catch up with the house chores.

Wednesday 15th April

Windsor Gundog today held at Kempton Park Racecourse - one of my favourite shows. Jacky Mitchell was the judge today and she had drawn a super entry of 24. Frankie was entered in Junior and PG on the hunt for JW points. He came second in each class behind Helen Cokell's Trimere Thrills n Frills who gained the one point she needed for her JW - many congrats Helen. Nellie won a lovely open class and went on to win BOB, we were delighted with that. She put in a great performance in the big ring later on and was shortlisted down to the last 6 or 7 for BIS. Chester won the breed veteran class and we were thrilled when he beat all the other declared best veteran in breeds - the judge commented how beautiful and sound he was - we may be biased but just had to agree!!!!

Sunday 5th April

Another show at Ardingly today - the Crystal Palace show. Not the largest of entries, but pleased enough that Frankie won BP at his last show in puppy. He won the Junior and Post Graduate classes and we were chuffed when he also went BOB. I (Wendy) wasn;t so chuffed that I spent a couple of hours the day before getting Nellie trimmed and bathed for the show only to find, on arrival, that I hadn;t entered her!!!! This working lark is plaing havoc with my brain!