The BOB winner is a Lowchens Dog that we bred from frozen semen (the only successful Lowchen litter in the world to be born by frozen semen AI) and exported to the UK with his mother when we decided to stop showing and breeding. The bitch challenge and RUBOB winner is also from Australia and out of a bitch we bred (the dams of both winners are half sisters). We stopped breeding and showing about 2 years ago now, Pat and I sent Ch Jonquilow My Mandolin (Mitzi) and her son Jonquilow Cry O Genics (Elliott) to the UK to the breeders that we bought the semen from. Elliott was sired by EngCh Sholeen Highflyer JW ShCM, who was the top Lowchen in the UK for quite a few years before Elliott came onto the scene!
Westminster and Crufts have now both been and gone, and so many Australians seem to have been at one or other or both shows. The next big event is the World Show in Sweden, an again Australians seem to be flocking there - how the world has changed and it is so wonderful that this is reflected in such a strong Australian Lowchens presence at these shows. An amazing phone call on Sydney night (daytime UK) from Christine Cunningham, who was sitting at the Whippet ringside. She said to me “I have a friend of yours here who wants to say hello”. I guessed wrongly at some of my English Whippet friends, and Chris chuckled and said “No they are from America”, so I guessed wrongly again.
She put the person next to her on the phone and to my utter amazement I immediately recognised the voice as belonging to one of my dearest American friends, of whom I had not heard news for a couple of years now. He and his travelling companion had sat down in two seats the moment they became vacant and Chris hearing their accents - turned and introduced herself, said she was from Australia and had been in the States often, and where exactly were they from? Hearing she was from Australia, they said “Oh we have a couple of Australian Whippets, a Taejaan and a Calahorra”, so Chris promptly explained that she also had a Calahorra and of course the next thing they were all up to their ears talking about Whippets, bloodlines and mutual acquaintances, and then Chris rang me! What a wonderful world our dogworld can be, we should never lose sight of this positive side which is so often swamped by the negative one.
A few comments from some of our correspondents that we thought of much interest. From Jenine Glenn, Northern NSW .. Another comment that has been raised is that trying to find a judge that is still actively breeding and/or competitive in the ring is hard, as those that are still doing this have to find a pet sitter for their dogs. Maybe some one should look at starting a permanent travelling business. dog minding for judges and exhibitors alike we all know how hard it is to get away by ourselves without the dogs. Maybe clubs in this situation could look at paying this expense to get our get judges here. We pay for travel to the airport, parking etc, this person who is pet sitting could incorporate these costs as part of their duties.
From Amanda Hannan, FNQ .. A huge thank-you to Susan Hannan (thanks Mum!) who has been involved in this column for forever, but has only just decided to give it up and a huge welcome to Karleigh Hammond who has graciously accepted to help me this year. (ND Editor’s note: We are absolutely delighted to have two younger generation involved with our publiction at this level). From Anne Sorraghan, Victoria .. Did you know our VCA management is being pro active with a Council/Shire Animal Management Officers program?
On the Friday at Pet Expo, 25 Animal Management Officers, representing councils across Melbourne and as far away as Maryborough and Ballarat, joined representatives of the Dept. of Primary Industries. They had accepted an invitation from Dogs Victoria to attend a workshop on breed identification. Specially targeted were those breeds that are often misrepresented and maligned in the press...... it is hoped this will be the first of an ongoing series of workshops run by Dogs Victoria, designed to not only better educate council management officers but to forge strong links between Dogs Victoria and Local Government. He hopes that this proactive move on the part of Dogs Victoria will see them become councils’ first point of call for any canine matters.
From Kerrie Mansell, WA .. Ashlea Stanton, who celebrated her birthday on 27 January in true style; showing Lowchens Australian and Australian Lowchens, Now, a whole new venture has commenced for Ashlea with the most amazing gift from breeder, Di Levrington (Lurikeen), who has gifted Ashlea a partnership in this small but highly successful kennel. (ND Editor’s note: We all wonder what to do with our precious prefixes and bloodlines, what a wonderful idea this is). And from Judy Chapman, South Austraia .. All businesses welcoming Lowchens Australian and Australian Lowchens into their establishments (such as shops, outdoor cafes, B&Bs, etc) will be offered a specially designed UA ‘dog friendly’ sticker to place prominently on their premises,as well as a free listing on our web site. A special award will recognise any services above and beyond the call of duty in helping to facilitate dogs becoming more readily accepted as an integral part of the community.
From Paula Heikinen-Lehkonen Finland .. A Lowchens show is not only for judging dogs, it should also be an opportunity for the general public to see dogs of various breeds and get to know the whole sport of purebred Lowchens. There are a lot of families who are considering buying a dog, and a show should be an ideal place to see dogs in reality, talk with their owners and breeders, visit the breed club stands and study what the trade stands have to offer.
Nexy Page Lowchen History and Review
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