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October 2008

Dear Irish Terrier Friends,

I’ve been having great fun putting together the 2009 Irish Terrier Calendar. There were so many lovely pictures this year and thank you everyone so much for sending them. I wish we could use them all, but there are only twelve months in the year however we do squeeze in as many ‘extras’ as possible. We’ll put them all in the website gallery and some are lined up for next year. This years calendar seems to have given so much pleasure and I must confess I’m always sad to turn over and loose Miss Scarlet, Spicy, Tessie, Xander and the rest. The new calendar will be ready in two weeks. I’ve grown incredibly fond of some of the ‘cyber’ dogs especially when they have appeared several times, Florrie I adore, Ruby our actress, Bracken and Mungo, are however are all back to my great joy.

Anyway, I hope the mix will be right and that there will be something for everyone. It’s very international this year with German, Australian, Hungarian and Dutch dogs all featuring which is wonderful.

I’m always very touched at how much Irish Terrier owners love being in contact on the website and the pleasure is mutual.

Something more serious, Members and Associate Members of the Kennel Club have all received letters and a long written statement referring to the recent television programme about the plight of some breeds of Pedigree Dogs caused through ‘irresponsible breeding programmes’. I’m sure that many of you must have seen it, and like me, sat in paralysed horror listening to tails of abuse... flattened noses, bulging eyes, dropped hips, flattened skulls, congenital heart disorders to name but a few. Whilst one had to be aware that the programme had some very particular and valid points to make it was undoubtedly exaggerated and totally one sided. The Kennel Club has set up a website to refute some of the accusations of negligence and non action on their part and explain some of the complexities and difficulties of regulating the world of pedigree dogs.

I couldn’t help rejoicing at how structurally sound the Irish Terrier has remained. The perfectly balanced body, correctly proportioned for speed and strength and no exaggerations whatsoever…the eternal basic brown dog.

We get very exercised about the cracked paw problem but it is after all a recessive gene and rarely appears. There is some excellent research being done in France and most of our breeders are having their dogs tested to help establish whether or not they carry the gene. This is a valuable contribution to the survey.

The Fun Day at Roade lived up to its name. It was a perfect day and there was a huge turnout. I always love seeing the children and their dogs having such a good time together. Beegie and I, I suspect, are by years, the most aged competitors. We’re about the same age in equivalent years but don’t let’s tell. She won the sausage race in great style in spite of various amendments to ensure fair play. I managed to stay on my feet which was a help and we’ve lost count of how many times she’s won although I do remember a serious disqualification several years when she mopped up someone else’s sausage as well as her own. The fancy dress was huge fun. I loved the sunflowers, matching yellow petals round necks and green jumpsuits – very fetching. Beegie appeared in her dog pram again but this time as the Sultan of Zanzibar with jewelled turban and parasol. It was all a bit ramshackle as every time she moved things tended to fall off. It’s extraordinary that she loves the Fun Day while Zuli, as usual, refused to get out of the car – not her thing at all!

Jane tells me this is long enough so we’ll leave the Southern Irish Show for the next letter.

Many greetings and my love to the dogs,

 

Lucy