Large Munsterlanders and German Shepherd Dogs

Chris and I had a wonderful trip to Harlech with our girls. Carol and Otto, Cassie’s brother, came to. The 4 dogs had a tremendous time chasing bunnies in the sand dunes and seagulls on the beach. The weather was perfect and not a soul about, heaven!

Ebby and Maya

Ebby (lying) and her 7mth old pups Maya and Elsa

Maya

Elsa

Maya came to stay on her holidays while her family went to a family wedding abroad. She adapted to life here at Catherton incredibly quickly, coping with hens, ducks, horses and cats. She soon became one of the pack and fitted in like she had never been away. We arranged a visit from Elsa, her sister, and it was lovely to see the 2 girls and their mum playing in the field.

Maya’s family have done us proud, she is a wonderfuil confident girl very well socialised and as you would expect very bright.

When they returned it was lovely to see how pleased Maya was to see them all again. I couldn’t help shedding a tear when she left.

The object of the Natural Aptitude Test (NAT) is to look for the natural working ability in the hunt, point and retrieve gun-dog. The NAT is divided into 7 parts; hunting, pointing, gun-shyness, swimming, retrieving, tracking and biddability. each part is judged and marked separately. We do not work Cassie but she has always shown the ability to be a good working dog so decided to brush up on her gun-dog skills and enter the NAT.

The test was arranged by the Large Munsterlander Club and held at Cowbog Farm, Kelso, Scotland.

I am very pleased to say Cassie passed all parts and gained her certificate of Natural Aptitude In The Field.

The picture below is of our friends Kate and Matt with their lovely boy Dougie who also passed his certificate.

Father and daughter win best dog and best bitch at Malvern. Cassie’s first best of sex. She continues to exceed all my expectations, bless her!

Well done to to all who took part in our second Test night.

Congratulations to Anne and Pablo, Sue and Jessie, Lynn and Jameson who all passed their Improvers test with flying colours. A special thanks to Ang and Cocoa who volunteered to act as a distraction as part of the test.

On the same evening 11 dogs and their handlers took their Beginners Test. Congratulations to Paul and Winston, Lionel and Shep (who got the highest percentage of the night) Chris and Ellie, Jane and Bently, Liz and Jack, Fiona and Fin, Lynn and Maise, Janet and Libby, Zoe with Max and Paddy. A special mention for Megan and Fern, our youngest participant who had to leave before we took the picture.

None of this would have been possible without Steve Tolly who Judged for the evening. Steve has many years of training and handling German Shepherds and Springer Spaniels in the Police Force.  It was very satisfying to hear Steve compliment everyone on the high standard.

Well done to all. It gives me an awful lot of satisfaction to see the change in handlers and dogs as the weeks go by and makes me very proud.

Crumpsrook had a successful day at the club championship show. It’s lovely to meet up with everyone. Oscar was first in the ring and won his Post Grad class, then Jasper won Open Dog. Harry, who will hopefully be Cassies “husband” in the Autumn, won his veteran class. Such a superb mover and looking really well. Jasper then went on to win the Challenge for his 20th CC. Congratulations to Carol.

I did feel the pressure was on for Cassie and I to follow suit but I need not have worried. Cassie was as professional as ever and won her post graduate. It was the biggest class of the day with some lovely entries so it was a very special win.

The day was finished off with Jasper getting Best of Breed. What a day for our extended family!

A quick mention for Dougie, he won his Limit class. Congratulations to Kate and Matt.

Oscar and Cassie

Jasper, Harry and Cassie

Cassie taking in the big occasion before her class.

Crumpsbrook Large Munsterlanders had a fantastic day at DFS Crufts 2011. Cassie (Crumpsbrook Acacia) exceeded my expectations by gaining a second place in Post Graduate in a large class of quality bitches.

She really loves the big occasion and showed her socks off !

Standing for the Judge, Mrs Pamela Blay, to write her critique.

Cassie and her brother Oscar (Crumpsbrook Robinia) shown by Holly gained a well deserved 3rd Place in Post Graduate Dog.

Helping puppy buyers find their way.

As a prospective new owner it is understandable to want some kind of reassurance that you are purchasing a puppy from someone whose priority is the health and welfare of the puppies that they breed. Someone who will provide you with a quality, supportive and informative service both before and after you take your puppy home. One way to do this is to contact a Kennel Club Assured Breeder. The scheme promotes good breeding practices, giving prospective owners the best opportunity to bring home a healthy well adjusted puppy. As a puppy buyer there is now some kind of benchmark to help you in your search to find a responsible breeder.

Assured Breeder Scheme requirements

Assured Breeders must:

• Ensure that all breeding stock is Kennel Club registered
• Hand over the dog’s registration certificate at time of sale if available, or forward it to the new owner as soon as possible
• Explain any endorsements that might pertain and obtain written and signed confirmation from the new owner, at or before the date on which the dog is physically transferred, that the new owner is aware of the endorsement(s), regardless of whether or not the endorsed registration certificate is available
• Follow Kennel Club policy regarding maximum age and number/frequency of litters
• Permanently identify breeding stock by DNA profile, microchip, or tattoo
• Make use of health screening schemes, relevant to their breed, on all breeding stock. These schemes include DNA testing, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and inherited eye conditions
• Socialise the puppies and provide written advice, in the Puppy Sales Wallet, on continuation of socialisation, exercise and future training
• Provide written advice, in the scheme Puppy Sales Wallet, on feeding and worming programmes
• Provide a written record, in the Puppy Sales Wallet, on the immunisation measures taken
• Provide reasonable post-sales telephone advice
• Inform buyers of the requirements and the recommendations that apply to Kennel Club Assured Breeders as well as the existence of the complaints procedure
• Draw up a contract of sale (see below link) for each puppy and provide a copy in the Puppy Sales Wallet
• Provide a list of breed specific traits and tendencies or any further breed specific advice or information that may enhance the puppy buyers understanding of the breed they are buying

In addition there are a number of recommendations.

Assured Breeders are strongly encouraged to:

• Make sure that whelping facilities accord with good practice
• The contract of sale should clearly lay out to the buyer the nature and details of any guarantee given (e.g. time limit) and/or any provisions for refund or return and replacement of puppy. If endorsements are being used the contract should also explain why these have been placed and under what circumstances they would be removed (if any). The contract should be signed and dated by both breeder and purchaser, showing that both have agreed to these terms
• Commit to help, if necessary, with the re-homing of a dog, for whatever reason, throughout the dog’s lifetime
• Follow relevant breed health screening recommendations