Lucy's Newsletter

 

 

Subscribe to Lucy's FREE Newsletter...

Click here to send us an email
with your name and address!

 

November 2009

Dear Irish Terrier Friends,

November seemed to run out on us and I can hardly believe that the Christmas tree is up and the lights switched on. We learnt the hard way years ago not to have anything ‘remotely’ edible around the tree – far too tempting for the generations of thieving terriers.

Zu and Beegie are already circling gently and rearranging the old battered polar bear, panda, innumerable woolly lambs, teddy, Father Christmas and a row of ‘little brown dogs’ that have ‘reclined’ under the tree for as long as anyone can remember. They’re all old friends of ours, survivors you could call them, with bits missing from the attention of children and puppies. They were not as delighted however to see their Christmas collars, bells and tartan ribbons I’m afraid, not popular but very pretty!

I mentioned the Minstead Show in my last letter and do want to say how good it was to see Eileen Batley judging. She is a great Irish Terrier person with many, many years of experience in the Breed. It is wonderful to see her quiet concentration in the ring and her kindness towards the dogs. She has bred many beautiful Irish Terriers, loves and appreciates the Breed, and is a wonderful guardian of what the true Irish Terrier should be. It is difficult to keep the breed ‘true’ and avoid fashions for certain characteristics in the ring. For example, excessive stripping out of the coat, a narrow ‘too pointed’ head and ears set too high…the appearance of a very showy terrier no doubt, but we do need to remember always that they are ‘all round’ terriers, sturdy, swift and stout-hearted. Eileen is totally dedicated to these principles and judges the dogs accordingly.

I looked after the Manner’s musses last week and, although we are very devoted to each other and love being together it never stopped raining. I had a hair-raising journey down to the New Forest in torrential rain in pitch darkness at 3.30pm, four dogs and two bird cages – I was very anxious indeed and drove all the way crouched over the steering wheel like a chimpanzee. The Forest was like a giant lake in some places and the Salt Marshes in Lymington well under water. We bobbed from behind one gorse bush to another with everyone trying to shelter under my coat. I did feel after four days that my hair smelt exactly like another wet dog.

On a more serious note a reminder that with these dark winter days it is particularly necessary to take every care to keep the dogs safe on the roads. It is so desperately dangerous and there have been, already this winter, several accidents resulting in one broken leg, one miraculous escape without a scratch and a desperately sad incident when a puppy was run over and killed. It can happen in a flash and the despair it brings is terrifying. One cannot be careful enough about closing doors, gates and checking on the dogs if there is a party, visitors or builders in the house. We’ve all had terrible heart stopping moments when the puppy escapes and I’m writing this as much for myself as anyone else. It does need an ongoing vigilance. We have sent endless messages of sympathy to the heartbroken family of the little pup which is all any of us can do.

The Irish Terriers won the Terrier Match this year at Weedon. These matches are great fun occasions. The dogs parade in pairs and are judged against one another, one to be knocked out and the other moving on to compete again. These are not champion dogs but mostly young dogs just starting their show careers. It’s always great fun and lovely to see several breeds of terrier competing together and we won by a good margin which was splendid!

A dream of mine came true when a gathering was organised at the Animal War Memorial on the 11th November – The Armistice for the First World War. ‘Everyone’ was there laying a wreath for their particular breed of animal. We had three beautiful horses from the barracks in Hyde Park, the Royal Veterinary Corps, The Dog Trust, The Kennel Club, The PDSA, The Blue Cross and many others. Dear Jilly Cooper, who was so instrumental in the building of the Memorial, was there making us all feel very welcome. Everyone who laid a wreath read a piece and inevitably there were a few tears.

I was delighted when it was mentioned that four years ago there was one wreath only – and that was – you’ve guessed it – for the Irish Terriers. This year you could not put a pin between the wreaths and beautiful bunches of lilies. I hope you all remembered to read our little prayer for the dogs on the day.

Discover Dogs has come and gone. We’ve got it to a fine art now and were blessed with the enormous Hall One at Earls Court. Huge interest for our beloveds and some real charmers representing the Breed. We’re so neat and tidy now and had some excellent comments from the Kennel Club. Our only problem was that we’re a bit short of winter puppies but I do know the spring will produce some right little tykes and I’m hoping very much that one will be mine.

The calendar has proved very popular again. I have to say I shall be away in January so if you would like one, please be in contact soon.

Must mention my new kitchen! Zu and Beeg are not pleased. Beegie particularly looks at me reproachfully and seems to be saying ‘I used to sit on a bed in here so what’s happened?’ I’m afraid I will not be forgiven.

Many greetings, my love to the dogs,

Lucy