Rita, a Bouvier Des Flandres with a three year old child
Today is the finals for Crufts, the agility, obedience, junior handling and the other events, including the Best in Show. And several people in Barbados would be watching it live on their computer as in other parts of the world.
At Waterford this morning there were quite a few people at handling classes getting ready for the B’dos. Kennel Club’s All Breeds Championship Show. Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Rottweilers, and Golden Retriever puppies were there with the various adult breeds.
Some years ago Laurie Beckles used to handle an imported Bouvier Des Flandres which I own, Ch. Rick Lois From the Dogsfarm at Calliope
Today, Laurie, was on the grounds with his three year old son and his son took a liking to my Bouvier Rita, who is one of Rick Lois’ progengy. I’m sure Rita weighs more than the child but she loves children.
Here is Laurie Beckles with Rita’s sire Ch. Rick Lois From The Dogsfarm at Calliope
A Barbados beach
Liz Cartledge (of Ryslip) will be in Barbados after Crufts for the Barbados Kennel Club’s first 2010 All Breeds Championship Dog Show.
At Crufts she will be judging the best of breed dogs in the Hound Group.
This judge has judged dogs in Barbados on several occasions and would have friends on the island.
The last time she judged here was in 2000 and she put up an imported Akita as her Best in Show.
I expect she will see very few Akitas at the show here in March.
Her Best Locally bred dog in the show, 2000, and also best locally bred puppy in the show were German Shepherd dogs. I expect she will also see very few German Shepherd dogs when she judges the dogs here in March.
Liz Cartledge was born in Sweden and married Joe Cartledge in the UK in 1971. Her late husband was regarded as a “terrier man” and as a former professional handler had won a Best in Show at Crufts with an Airedale Terrier.
The Terrier Group like the Toy Group in Barbados has very few entries. There are, however, some Airedale Terriers on the island, including a puppy which was recently imported.
The business Ryslip is a family business which is well known for its boarding and quarantining services for dogs and is very well respected. Some of the dogs coming to Barbados from the UK would have been shipped through Ryslip This business was first established by her late husband in 1955.
Liz Cartledge is an international judge. She grew up with dogs and at 13 years old saved up for her own dog – a Pembroke Corgi. Her late father had Boxers and Dobermanns and besides showing them, was also involved in obedience training.
She has bred Norfork Terriers, Swedish Valhunds, Japanese Spitz and
Pembroke Corgis. None of those breeds are in Barbados.
Liz Cartledge has given a lot of her time and energy to promote and support junior handling in the UK.
She would be very familar with all the breed standards for the breeds shown here and she is an experienced judge.
Barbados is enjoying beautiful weather, clear blue skies, sunny days yet breezy and with no rain. So I expect Liz will enjoy the island and also explore what new developments have taken place since she was last here.
The weather we are experiencing is nice for tourists but worrying for us locals as I do not recall Barbados entering a period of drought like we are now in. There have also been a lot of bush and grass fires as well as cane fires which would have also affected the island’s water supply as the fire tenders would have used a lot of water fighting the fires.
Let’s hope that some rain soon comes to freshen up our landscape, revive our plant life and refill our water wells.
I expect to publish her critique with the photos of the top dogs from the show here.
Tags: Barbados, Liz Cartledge
Dogue de Bordeaux at a Barbados dog show
A pair of UK imported Dogue De Bordeaux dogs were lined by their owner on February 28, 2010.
Dogue De Bordeaux have been on the island now for a few years and it is nice to see some of them coming out for dog shows.
With the excitement of Westminster Dog Show now over, the buzz in on in the dog show world for Crufts.
Crufts is often regarded as the World’s Best Dog Show. However, I believe the USA would give that award to their own Westminster and maybe some European countries might favour the World Shows and other dog shows which are held in various countries.
Last year a live website carried the action of the Crufts show and one of its great features was that a “catch up” could be done by videos on events which were missed.
This year The Kennel Club is setting up a site where not only can Crufts be watched free and live but by paying for a “catch up” take in the agility, obedience, breed conformation and the group and Best in Show judging which might be missed. There are also videos of past years.
Man and dog watching fishing boat, Barbados
On Sunday, around 6:00 am. I was at Martin’s Bay, St. John.
This area is a small, rustic, as yet unspoilt fishing village.
The dog in the photo above was out walking with his owner. The dog which looked like an Akita mix, was well behaved and friendly and walked by his owner’s side without a leash. His owner told me that the dog also enjoys going for a swim by himself.
This area is known for sea foods, lobsters, conch, sea cat, pot fish and other fish such as snapper, dolphin and flying fish.
A few yards away from where the man and dog were standing watching the fishing boat is a small fish market and a few yards inland is a shop/restaurant which on Thursdays specialises in all kinds of sea foods. Patrons come from all over the island and from all walks of life to eat the freshly caught and cooked “pot” fish, heads and all. These fish are known as “pot” fish as they are caught in fish traps as opposed to the flying fish and other fish which might be caught by nets or fishing lines as in deep sea fishing. Pot fish might also be spear fished.
I have eaten lunch here several times and I have always enjoyed the “pot” fish. There are not many places in Barbados where you can buy or eat “pot” fish.
Scaling flying fish in Martin's Bay
Although some dogs in Barbados would be chained and tied up or fenced in on their owners’ properties all their lives, it is nice to come across the ones enjoying their freedom and appearing very well cared for.
To play and walk in the sunshine with its owner, swim in a warm ocean and maybe enjoy some fish as well as dog chow, that should be a happy dog’s life.
Tags: Barbados
Agrofest which started some years ago in Barbados is eagerly looked forward to by exhibitors wishing to enter their stock in shows for sheep, pigs, beef and dairy livestock. And for spectators, it is a fun and educational event.
The traffic numbers show that the show is well supported by locals and tourists. Last year Agrofest was reported to have between 45,000 to 50,000 visitors.
Agrofest is produced by The Barbados Agricultural Society and its supporting partners. Agrofest has run now for the past five years. A long time ago, the venue, Queen’s Park, was used for agricultural exhibitions and this exhibition has now been developed on a much larger scale and has broadened the concept of an agricultural exhibition.
There will be a Petting Zoo for children, rabbit exhibits, flowers, and fruit and vegetable exhibits.
Agrofest creates an opportunity for trade booths to display and market products and/or services related to agriculture.
The Royal Police Band will be there and the Tuk band as well as other entertainment.
This year’s theme is “Green today …. substain tomorrow”
There are prizes in categories such as best garden. This year there is also a bird show.
This show is regarded as the island’s top agricultural exhibition. The venue, Queen’s Park, is in the heart of the city, Bridgetown. It runs over three days and caters mainly to school children on Friday and the general public on the other two days.
On the last day of the show, Sunday, February 28th, around 4:30 pm., The B’dos. Dog Training Club, will be entertaining the public with an agility demonstration. Newspaper releases say this is regarded as one of the highlights of the show and the area is packed with spectators wanting to see the dogs go through tunnels and over jumps. The cheers and claps are loud, and the crowds seem to enjoy the dogs which make mistakes or refuse to do the obstacles more so than the dogs which do “clean” runs.
An obedience demonstration is also supposed to take place by club members, and even a dancing with a dog demonstration.
Trevor and Adrian with their dogs
I am not sure about Trevor who has a German Shepherd dog, on the left, but Adrian on the right with Hydro, a Belgium Malinois, will be participating in the obedience demonstration at Agrofest.
The dogs doing the agility demonstration will be mainly from the gundog group and I expect it will include some of the less experienced handlers and dogs.
And yes, I will probably go to Agrofest but my bouviers will be at home when I am walking about 🙂 🙂 at Agrofest.
The lights, glitter and the dogs are gone from the show ring at Madison Square Gardens and a new winner for America’s Dog of the Year has been announced.
Sadie the Scottish Terrier, Ch. Roundtown Mercedes of Maryscot, with over 100 Best in Show wins was always tipped to win the Show based on her track record. She has 112 Best in Show ribbons.
Sadie is four years ago, DOB April 2nd, 2005, and it is nice to see she is a female (now the dog term is really bitch but I realise that non dog people do not like the word!)
Most of Westminster winners in the past have been males.
Records show that terriers have done well at Westminster – Sadie is the 45th terrier to go Best in Show at Westminster. She is the eighth Scottish Terrier to win the award, and is second to the Wire Fox Terriers.
Barbados has had Scottish Terriers and just a few years ago they were on our show grounds. However, none now enter our shows and the people who imported them have left the island. We still have a Wire Fox Terrier on the island which in my opinion could do a lot better at our shows if more attention was paid to it, by its owner(s).
Some show people prefer males because they think they, size wise, have more presence.
Others may say that a female in season can be moody and would probably perform to a lower standard because of her seasons. And, of course, top females are going to come off the show circuit to be bred at some time.
The other Westminster winners were:
Hound group – The Wippet, Ch. Starline’s Chanel, female DOB December 13, 2007
Toy group – The Poodle (Toy) Ch. Splash PJ Moon Walk, dog DOB October 3, 2006
Non Sporting Group – French Bulldog Ch. Robobull Fabelhaflt Im on Fire dog DOB September 1, 2007
Herding Group – Puli Ch. Cordmaker Field of Dreams, dog, DOB March 30, 2004. This Puli also won the Herding Group Last year.
I have never seen this breed at a show in Barbados but I used to see one walking in Barbados in the Lower Carlton area with a female but I was always on the wrong side of the road to talk with its owner and it was always at a peak traffic time in the evening.
It is a breed I like, but then again, I like coated breeds. 🙂
Barbados does not have a Herding Group. The Herding Group was once a part of the Working Group but it became so large that the dogs which worked and also were known to herd sheep, cattle were separated in a group called the Herding Group.
The UK has a group which would be similar and is called the Pastoral Group.
Barbados has one group for these dogs which were known to herd as well as work and this group in Barbados is known as the Working Group.
The Sporting Group Brittany Ch Willowick Talltean Female – DOB – November 21, 2004)
Working Group Doberman Pinscher Ch Allure Blazing Star Alisaton (Female – DOB – February 15, 2006)
There are lots of sites and blogs carrying pix. and information on the show.
You can watch the videos of the best of breed judging, group judging and Best in Show on Watch Here
All of these videos might not be immediately available to the Caribbean area but I know that the Best of Breeds are.
Barbados standards are based on the UK standards and the USA way of grooming dogs, like for example, Bouviers, is different.
Westminster Show is a show of Champions who are there by invitation.
And in watching Westminster, you are watching some of the world’s top professional handlers with some of the world’s top show dogs.
via CBC News – World – Ont. Bouvier aims to be Westminster’s top dog.
Those of us who follow dog shows will be looking forward to The Westminster Dog Show. It is a show where only champions can compete and will be held on February 15th and 16th in New York, at Madison Square Gardens.
It is the 134th annual show.
The show will introduce 3 new breeds:- Irish Red and White Setter, the Norwegian Buhund, and the Phrenean Shepherd.
And the number one favourite going into the show is a Scottish Terrier, Sadie. She carries a No 1 ranking but we know that anything can happen at Westminster. She has won 100 Best in Show titles.
Terriers always seem to do well at Westminster. They animate easily and the crowd loves them.
The well known David Frei says fewer than 30 dogs have 100 Best in Show wins, so that Scottish Terrier is very strong.
And there is my favourite breed coming forward in Demetrius, the Bouvier Des Flandres and the other Bouvs. competing in the Herding Group. Over the past few years, the Bouvier is regarded as a top ranking breed in the Herding Group as it has been winning or placing second in the Herding Group.
I enjoy the Westminster site and the videos. I have bought their dvds on occasion and the occasion being that the Bouvier Des Flandres does very well in the Herding Group and the show.
I love the handling skills and the presentation of the dogs and the show.
And although I do love my own breed, I think the Terriers are a great group to watch and they will always be strong in shows. I like the coated ones like Sadie.
Tags: Bouvier Des Flandres
Dogs enjoying beach at Long Pond
In Barbados, unlike some other parts of the world, there are no beaches which carry signs restricting dogs. And unlike what some overseas people might believe about the island, there are no private beaches. I agree that the island might have a cove or two with natural rocks which would be a deterrent for walkers, but when the tide goes out, these places would most likely be accessible.
So dogs are free to enjoy the beach. They should be on a leash but in an isolated area, I don’t think that the dogs’ owners would worry about it. And once the dogs are well behaved, I don’t think anyone else would bother about it either.
The location was Long Pond, Lakes, St. Andrew and a group of us with our cameras were on that beach from around 5:30 this morning. It is a very isolated area. Almost unique, with rough seas where it is dangerous to swim because of the very strong cross currents, and its hilly terrain. Fresh breezes and sea spray come off the Atlantic ocean in a mist.
Fishing opposite Long Pond
It is a peaceful place to fish. And the guy fishing there was not the only person fishing as three more men came down the beach with fishing equipment.
It is, to me, one of the most scenic places in Barbados. Because it is very isolated, it is an area where it is safer to travel in a group than just one or two people.
Long Pond, Barbados
This area is known as Lakes (obvious reason). At times the sea joins the water in the pond and although Barbados is experiencing a dry period with little rainfall, this area remains with deep water. It has fish and birds who live in its environment.
One other dog was on the beach, a large pit bull type on a long thick rope but its owner turned back when he saw us.
Dogs walking this beach off leash in this area should be under their owners’ control for their own safety as this particular area is dangerous for swimming. A dog walking too close to the shoreline could get swept out by waves which suddenly sweep in.
Tags: Barbados
Several types of training activities are currently going on.
There is agility and here the dog must be trained in basic obedience and its owner be a member of The B’dos. Dog Training Club to participate. The agility here has dogs and handlers at different levels.
There are three different levels of obedience classes going on at The B’dos. Dog Training Club. One is the basic obedience class. The other two classes are the Novice (CD title) and the Open (CDX). Like agility, a person has to be a club member to do the Novice and/or Open training with the club. Even if the training is done privately, the dog still has to sit and pass the trials under The B’dos. Dog Training judges to get the title.
There is also a small group of guys doing Schutzhund training. This is not done at the grounds used by The B’dos. Dog Training Club but as some of the Schutzhund guys are also doing the Novice and the Open, some of their dogs and handlers are seen there.
I believe all dogs will enjoy agility and agility can even help shy dogs be more outgoing. Dogs might not find obedience trials fun but it is important to train dogs, especially large dogs. But all dogs are not suitable for training in Schutzhund.
The most common breeds used for Schutzhund would be German Shepherd dogs, Belgium Malinois, Black Russian Terriers, Bouvier Des Flandres, Rottweilers, and Dobermanns. And if they come from “working” lines as opposed to “show” lines, the better the chance the handler would have of succeeding with them.
Bouvier Des Flandres and Belgium Malinois
Both Rita, the Bouvier, and Hydro, the Belgium Malinois in the above photo are being trained for the CDX but both have to pass the final leg of the CD title first.
Rita runs in agility and Hydro is being trained by his owner, Adrian Ward, in Schutzhund. In the pix. Rita was in a down and stay command and I asked Adrian to see if she would do a reliable stay with the distraction of himself and Hydro behind her. She was fine and did not even look around at Hydro.
Schutzhund involves tracking, obedience and protection work.
Pedigree dogs were breed to perform certain tasks and so a person seeking to have a dog perform Schutzhund should look at the dogs which were bred to perform certain working tasks. For instance, a Golden Retriever would probably be very good at tracking and is known to be very easy to train for obedience but its temperament would be unsuitable for the protection work required to pass the Schutzhund tests.
There is, of course, some dog training done privately and by some of the other trainers on the island.
Tags: Dog training in Barbados
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