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The Kennel Club of Jersey… for the betterment of dogs . . . since 1888

Patrons: The Bailiff of Jersey Mr Timothy Le Cocq

andThe Lieutenant Governor

Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton GCB, BSc, FRAeS

Christmas 2019 Newsletter

Don’t Hang about at Christmas!

The President, Chairman and Committee of the Kennel Club of Jersey

wish all Members a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year

www.kennelclubjersey.com

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Editorial It is gratifying that my first effort at producing the KJC Newsletter has been generally well received, and I will endeavour to keep each issue - in Steven Laffoley-Edwards’ words about the first issue - “informative, interesting and with a dash of humour”.

However, most content needs to be derived from contributions voluntarily submitted to me, rather than me having to chase Members for articles, photos, etc. I am happy to be able to include a number of Members’ contributions in this issue, and I look forward to receiving others. Also, any ideas from Members as to what they would like to see in future issues will be very welcome, and I will do my best to comply.

In this issue we again have a very interesting Junior Members’ page; such contributions are vitally important because junior members are the very future of our Kennel Club.

With Debbie Coleman’s assistance I was able to get a number of “show reports” published in the Jersey Evening Post. A problem has been getting good photographs suitable for reproduction in the newspaper. Can anybody help us with this?

You will spot two “paid” advertisements in this issue. It will be appreciated if anybody can assist in securing other adverts so that the Newsletters will “pay their way”. Rates are quite modest.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all KJC Members, sponsors and supporters a very Happy Christmas and a successful 2020.

Stephen Lawson stephen.lawson@kennelclubjersey.com

Events in 2020

At Royal Jersey Showground, Trinity Main Road:25 January: Members Show15 February: Dog of the Year28 March: Championship Show24 June: Annual General Meeting25 July: Championship Show15 August: Open Show26 September: Championship Show14 November: Open Show

At St Peters Rifle Range:-5 January: Training 14.30 - 16.0019 January: Training & Match 14.30 - 17.00 9 February: Training 14.30 - 16.0023 February: Training & Match 14.30 - 17.00 1 March: Training 14.30 - 16.00 15 March: Training & Match 14.30 - 17.005 April: Training & Match 14.30 - 17.00 19 Apri: Training 14.30 - 16.00 3 May: Training & Match 14.30 - 17.00 17 May: Training 14.30 - 16.0014 June: Training & Match 14.30 - 17.0028 June: Training 14.30 - 16.0019 July: Training & Match 14.30 - 17.00 9th August: Training 14.30 - 16.00

NEW KCJ PATRON

The Committee is very pleased to announce that the new Bailiff of Jersey, Mr Timothy Le Cocq, has kindly consented to become a Patron of The Kennel Club of Jersey.

The Committee extends its wholehearted appreciation to the outgoing Bailiff of Jersey, Sir William Bailhache, who served as a Patron of KCJ for many years, and who was a familiar figure at many of our Shows over the years (see photo on page 12). Thank you so much for your support.

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SPOTLIGHT ON TOP DOGS IN JERSEY

Agata writes that Amber (Brazan Amber Pageant) bred by Marion Lovelace joined her family in 2012 and was their first Irish Terrier. Amber showed the “right” attitude from a very young age, so after some encouragement from her breeder we decided to enter the “dog show world”.

Having gained 4 CACIBs at International Dog Shows in France, Poland and Belgium in 2016, Amber became an FCI International Champion. Followed by 3 CWCs won at 3 different shows in Poland and giving her a Polish Champion Title in July 2019.A month later, at the Kennel Club of Jersey Summer Championship Show, Amber was awarded her 3rd and crowning Jersey CC completing her Jersey Champion Title and making her the first Irish Terrier in the Club’s history to become a Jersey Champion.

Agata says that Amber loves “showing off in the ring” but first and foremost she is the most loved (and spoiled!) family pet, enjoying long walks, family road trips and is a fantastic mum and companion to her daughter Hazel.

Int/Pl Ch Brazan Amber Pageant (AMBER) owned by Piotr and Agata Kucza

DOUBLE SCOTCH!At just 11 months old an exceptional Scottish Terrier going by the impressive name of Berrybreeze Quintella at Mckalay won not only Best Puppy in Show, but to the delight of her owners, Anna Pinto and Fiona Whitethead, young Matilda also won overall Best in Show in the Club’s Autumn Show in September, under judge Mrs Sue Hewart-Chambers.

Then just two months later Matilda did a remarkable “double” by also winning Best in Show in the Club’s November Open Show under judge Mr Richard Kinsey.

In September the Reserve Best in Show was one of the tiniest dogs in the Show, a smooth coat Chihuahua with a name nearly as long as she is: Jicara Strikes Back at Beaulamey, owned by Hayley Bisson, who calls the feisty 23 month old little girl Evie. In November the Reserve Best in Show went to Peter Walker with his home-bred nearly 4 year old Lhasa Apso, Int, Multi & Jsy Ch Petwalk Irresistible, pet name Sophia.

Fiona Whitehead with Matilda, Richard Kinsey, Peter Walker with Sophia.

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A man was walking through a hotel and noticed three men and a dog playing cards at a table. The dog was exhibiting an extraordinary performance. “That’s a very smart dog,” the man commented. “He’s not so smart,” said one of the irked players, “every time he gets a good hand he wags his tail.”

A woman rang an airline customer-service desk asking if it was possible to fly with her dog on board.

“Certainly,” the airline agent said, “so long as you provide your own kennel.” She went on to explain that the kennel needed to be large enough for the dog to stand up in, sit down in, turn around in, and roll over in.

“Good heavens!” exclaimed the perplexed customer “I’ll never be able to teach him all of that by tomorrow!”

DOGGIE HUMOURA man went into a vet’s surgery with his large dog and said “My dog is cross-eyed, can you do something?”

The vet replied, “Let’s have a look at what’s wrong,” and he picked the dog up to examine its eyes. After thoroughly inspecting the dog for a few minutes, he says, “I’m going to have to put him down.”

“What?” screeched the owner, “you’re going to put him down because he’s cross-eyed?”

“No, no, no - because he’s really, really heavy!”

DOGS HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOUR TOO!If having a sense of humour means “having the ability to make others laugh”, we can conclude that most of our dogs are very well equipped! The canine enjoyment of life and the humorous antics they display are some of the many reasons why we enjoy living with dogs.

Puppies are particularly playful and, whilst they might calm down a little with age, most dogs can be easily persuaded to have fun their entire lives. Indeed, certain dogs just seem to be born to have fun and treat every interaction as a potential playtime. Dogs can vary in their personalities, however, with some being more serious individuals than others. Breeds such as Bloodhounds, Bassett Hounds, Rottweilers and Chihuahuas are often considered to be less playful than other breeds - with many exceptions, of course. Airedale Terriers, Golden Retrievers, Poodles, Miniature Schnauzers and Whippets are typically amongst the most playful.

Since dogs tend to look after their own needs whenever they can, it has been suggested that their humorous behaviour is merely attention-seeking behaviour. This could, to some extent, be true in that dogs will repeat behaviours for which they are rewarded with attention and/or treats.

This repetitive behaviour can be to the dog’s detriment, when owners inadvertently reward behaviours which might have disturbing consequences for their dogs. Tail chasing, for instance, can look like fun and we may be tempted to laugh at our dog as it becomes dizzy chasing its rear end. This can, however, go on to become an obsessive-compulsive disorder which can be difficult to treat.Therefore, owners should only reward behaviour which is good for their dog.

When dogs are playing, we often see them appear to grin, smile and even laugh. Their mouth will be open and you may hear your dog panting, almost like a quiet laugh. If your dog is friendly and likes to play with you, you can even get down on the floor and perform a playbow, panting like your dog; your dog is very likely to join in - or at the very least ‘laugh at you’!

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A to Z OF DOG BREEDS - A is for AFGHAN HOUNDHopefully articles such as this one will be helpful to KCJ Members as well as to any non-Members who might be considering homing the breed featured. Members are very welcome to submit informative articles about their particular breeds for inclusion in future issues of the KCJ Newsletter.

The Afghan Hound is possibly one of the most recognisable dogs in the world, thanks to its unique coat. It is elegance personified. This unique, ancient dog breed has an appearance quite unlike any other: dramatic silky coat, exotic face, and thin, fashion-model build. Looks aside, Afghan enthusiasts describe this hound as both aloof and comical.

Hailing from Afghanistan, where the original name for the breed was Tazi Spay, the Afghan is thought to date back to the pre-Christian era and is considered one of oldest breeds. According to legend, its ancestor also travelled on Noah’s Ark, and the breed seems to be featured in cave drawing which date back to 2000 BC.

The Afghan Hound’s vision is excellent and they were first used as hunting dogs; Afghan kings and aristocrats bred and used them as hunting dogs for hundreds of years.

Although it was forbidden to export an Afghan Hound, the breed was eventually smuggled out of Afghanistan and into England in the nineteenth century, and subsequently started to be bred in England and Scotland. The breed was accorded UK Kennel Club status in 1926, and 10 years later in the USA.

Afghan Hounds do well in both agility and show competitions. Having been bred originally for hunting, they are proud, intelligent and independent, as well as being strong-willed - although they are very loyal to their owners. They do need plenty of exercise to keep them entertained.

Afghan Hounds come in a variety of colours: black, black-and-tan, red, blue, white and brindle; many individuals have a black facial “mask”. They are classified as being “large” dogs: males may be 29” or 73cms high and 60lbs or 27kg in weight, and females might be 24” or 60cms in height and weigh 44 lbs or 20kg.

This breed needs considerable time-consuming work to keep in good condition. The Afghan Hound requires grooming on a daily basis, and having the dog’s hair cut by a professional groomer is essential. Everyday brushing of the dog’s coat is necessary to reduce shedding; ears and eyes should be cleaned regularly to avoid infections.

As a general rule Afghan Hounds are not recommended for “first timers”, that is, for people who are not experienced dog owners.

RAFFLES AT SHOWS AND MATCHES

Raffles at Shows and Matches are an important source of revenue for KJC (although the proceeds of some raffles are donated to charities selected by the Committee.) We very much welcome donations of suitable items to offer as raffles prizes, but because our raffles are licenced by the Jersey Gambling Commission we must ensure that all items offered as prizes are of good quality and are “in date”. Thank you in advance for supporting our raffles by donating prizes and by buying tickets.

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My Junior Handling Experience by Yakira Michel

Junior handling has by far been the best thing I have done in my life so far. I have met some amazing people and I have made some amazing friends! Junior handling has given me so many opportunities and I am so grateful to all the people who have given up their time to help train me and the other juniors. Through junior handling I have been given opportunities to get to know different breeds and different dogs and to learn about their different personalities. The main two dogs I show is Ivan who is a chesky terrier and Nico who is a Leonberger. I first started by attending a fun companion show with my dog, Blue. I decided to enter a fun breed show and after I was asked if I wanted to give Junior handling a go since I love dogs and me being me and doing almost anything I can with dogs, I said YES!

That was how I met Ivan! I have been training and showing with Ivan just over a year now and at first it was far from easy but we carried on working together and learning what works best for us and now we have an unbreakable bond! I have learnt his quirky ways and we have shared some great memories! I have since started training him for his Gold Good Citizen Award and we are still working towards it!

I recently went to Guernsey with Ivan and his owners, Christine and Mick, who have both been so good to me letting me handle Ivan and their other dogs! They have taught me a lot about dog showing and they have both been amazing role models! In Guernsey Ivan and I had great success, winning my age group in handling and then winning overall junior handler. Then in September Ivan and I were best in show in Guernsey.

I have also been handling Nico who is a Leonberger! He has the biggest and kindest heart and is a pleasure to handle. At first when his owners, Ian and Helen asked if I would have a go at handling Nico, I was a bit hesitant as Nico is such a big dog and stood on his hind legs is taller than me! But I decided to give it a go and I am so so pleased I did! Since I started training with Nico we have started to build a really strong bond! Nico has taught me a lot about myself and my handling skills. He is such a great dog and I love handling him!

During my junior handling I have handled breeds such as Cesky terriers, Leonberger, Shelties, Cocker Spaniels, Boxers and Whippets, to mention a few.

I am soon getting my own show dog and I have decided to go with a German shorthair pointer (GSP). I have chosen this breed because I have always liked the breed and I wanted a bit of a challenge.

Through junior handling I have had lots of learning curves and some great achievements! One experience that has taught me a lot and helped my handling is when I was showing my friend Robyn’s sheltie called Guess - just when we were about to set off to move something spooked him and he went to hide under a table. This experience tested my handling and ability to cope when something goes wrong! This experience has certainly improved my handling and has taught me that not everything is going to go smoothly and go to plan but if you try something different you will eventually find a way to get the best out of your dog and any situation for that matter. Since Guess was spooked, we have taken things slowly to ensure he is confident enough to go back into the ring! I have also handled both Robyn’s shelties Guess and Ash in a brace class at a championship show. They were both amazing and came away with best brace in show! I also handled the Lawson’s whippet called Sandy when he won best puppy and reserve best in Supermatch.

If I were to give any advice to anyone starting handling, it would be to go for it and take all the opportunities you can and to always be open to handling a different breed/dog because you never know until you try!

Juniors’ Page

Please note that ALL communications concerning KCJ shows, show entries, judges and related issues, should be addressed ONLY

to the KCJ Show Secretary, Rachel Le Masurier, on mobile 07797 744 947 or at showsecretary@kennelclubjersey.com

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FROM SHOW DOGS TO TRI DOGS

After a crazy conversation one day of “what else can we do with our dogs?” I suggested to Jeanette that we do a Tri Dog event at Box End Park in Bedfordshire. I’d been there last year but didn’t do the full Triathlon.

So, we got ourselves a scooter each in the summer and our training commenced.

Swimming practises began in the sea with our dogs wearing harnesses with a bungee line attached to us. Rocco was a duck to water and couldn’t get enough swimming! Rufus was rather more reserved!

The days we couldn’t swim we tried out the scooters. Where to go? This was our main problem, not wanting to be a nuisance to members of the public so we picked our training times and areas to make the most of the distance and speed. Rufus was a natural speedster! Both dogs had to learn their commands of left, right, stop, steady and go on. These were commands that were also used for the canicross.The canicross was the easiest to practice and to learn together. This was what we started the bulk of the training with so we could enforce the new commands for the dogs. It was also the easiest discipline to just go out and train, come rain or shine. The equipment was also the cheapest to start out with. A running belt, good fitting harness and a 1.95m bungee line (Park Run lines are slighter shorter at 1.5m) and not forgetting a good pair of trail running shoes.

Anyway, the weekend crept up and we boarded Condor Liability for what was to be a very bumpy roller coaster across the Channel. Safely arrived in Poole, we travelled up to Box End Park in Bedfordshire for a recky of the course and to register and get our freebies. I’d entered two events, Tri Dog with Rufus and Canicross with Piper. Unfortunately, Piper couldn’t travel with us and so I decided to try canicross with Lima. This was a 5K run on two days. We had only had Lima living with us for five months and he had never run before let alone running with a harness on attached to me! OMG this dog was fab! He loved the whole experience and completed the run on both days. Barbara would have been so proud of him I’m sure.

Jeanette and Rocco are both amazing swimmers and this was deffo their best discipline. Rocco scored bonus time points as his swimming was so good. The scootering was next and not Rocco’s favourite, but he kept going into transition two where he left the scooter and ran back to the finish line in a time of 43.22 mins.

Poor Rufus, despite wearing a buoyancy aid for the swim, was really not very confident in the fresh water lake, so rather than push him to do something he was unsure of, I got out of the lake early and incurred a time penalty. We ran into transition one taking off my wetsuit and his buoyancy aid, clipped on the bungee line and jumped on my scooter. Rufus loves pulling the scooter and although we had only trained on the coastal paths and Tri Dog was on grass, he did really well.

Before I knew it, transition two was in sight where we ditched the scooter and started the third discipline of running. Rufus loves to run to and towed me back to the finish line in a time of 34.21 minutes.

Jeanette and Rachel Ferbrache

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS FOR 2020

A reminder that your Kennel of Jersey’s annual membership fees as agreed at the 2019 AGM are due for renewal from 1 January 2020. Members now have the choice of receiving all communications from KCJ by post, OR paying a lower annual fee and receive all communications from KCJ by email.

Members wishing to take part in the January 2020 Members Show must be fully paid-up members prior to the date of the Show. Memberships not renewed by 31 January 2020, will incur an additional Late Renewal Fee. Memberships not renewed by 31 March 2020 will lapse, and a KCJ New Members Form will need to be completed and submitted, and payment due will include a “joining fee”.

All membership communications should be addressed to:

Mr B Michel, Membership Secretary, The Kennel Club of Jersey, Val Plaisant Cottage, Mont Sohier, St. Brelade, Jersey JE3 8EA. Tel: 01534498484. Email: bob.michel@kennelclubjersey.

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BREEDERS’ ALERT: SILENT OR SKIPPED SEASON?If a female dog is unspayed and in normal reproductive health, she will come into season - or “heat” - regularly, although infrequently - usually just once or twice a year. Knowing when a bitch is likely to come into heat is important for the owner of an unspayed dog, both so that it will be known when the time is right to mate her if it is intended to breed from her, and to keep her away from male dogs if that is not the case.

However, if her owner knows that a dog should be approaching her season, but things run late and eventually it seems as if she has not come into heat at all, that can be very confusing! Whilst it is not impossible that a female dog will “skip” a season now and again, there is another possibility: a silent or “dry” heat.

A silent heat is when a bitch goes through her season, but it is virtually asymptomatic, and does not come accompanied by the normal signs of heat, such as changes in behaviour, physical changes, and the urge to breed, displayed both by the bitch and by any unneutered male dogs with whom she comes into contact. For the owner of an unspayed bitch, it is wise be aware of the possibility of a silent heat, the potential causes of it, its symptoms and effects, so that it can be identified.

How each bitch behaves and shows symptoms of her season can vary from case to case; in some it is obvious and very pronounced, whilst in others it can be hard to tell, even if the bitch is going through a genuine season. Some bitches do not change at all in behaviour or temperament during their heat cycle, and might have only a very light discharge with little to no swelling of the vulva, which is perfectly normal for some bitches. This does not mean that the bitch is necessarily going through a silent heat, but simply that her seasons are very asymptomatic.

Even if her owner is not aware that a bitch is in season because the effects of it are very muted, male dogs in the locality will be very much aware of it if the bitch is indeed in season! If male dogs start hanging around the house, or make a beeline for the bitch when she is out on walks and display a heightened level of sexual interest in her, the chances are that she is in heat, but that her owner is simply not aware of it. But if that is not the case, then a silent heat might be the reason.

It is important to differentiate between a “silent” heat and a “skipped” heat cycle, and both instances are equally likely to happen, adding to the confusion! A bitch might potentially be more likely to miss a heat cycle if she has one of a certain set of medical conditions, such as hypoadrenocorticism, hyperadrenocorticism, or hypothyroidism; therefore, if a bitch does miss a heat cycle and displays any other symptoms, it is worth getting her checked out by a vet, just in case. Bitches who are underweight or very thin, or who have recently lost an unreasonable amount of weight, might also be apt to miss a heat cycle altogether, which is also worth bearing in mind.

Whilst the vast majority of female dog breeds and types are apt to come into season regularly every 6 or 7 months, some breeds are known to come into season on average only about once a year. The Tibetan Mastiff and the Basenji are two such breeds, so it is wise to look up the normal parameters of a dog breed’s heat cycle before starting to wonder whether something is amiss.

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SUCCESS IN GUERNSEYMany congratulations to Peter Walker on gaining Best in Show at Guernsey Kennel Club’s Winter Open Show held on 27 October, with Sohia, his home-bred nearly 4 year old Lhasa Apso, Int, Multi & Jsy Ch Petwalk Irresistible. Peter and Sophie are pictured here with BIS judge Mrs S Marshall (gundogs, hounds,w terriers) and Mrs C Moffat (utility, working, pastoral, toys judge).

SUPERMATCH WINNERA small dog with a big heart and a long name was rightly adjudged Best In Supermatch at the Kennel Club of Jersey’s Supermatch held at Royal Jersey Showground in September. She is Thelma Alsford’s 2 year old Pomeranian called Thelbern My Time To Shine, with the pet name of Koko. Reserve Best in the Supermatch went to Stephen & Jennifer Lawson’s young male whippet with an even longer name of Oakland City des Plaines des Bruyeres at Kipipiriking, or Sandy for short, who also won Best Puppy in Supermatch.

Pictured are Thelma Alsford with Thelbern My Time To Shine and judge Caroline Wheatley

2019 SPONSORSHIPThe Committee and Membership of KJC would like to extend a BIG “thank you” and the Compliments of the Season to our very generous major Sponsors:-

Raw N More - sponsorship of our 2019 Championship Shows Animal Health Trust - sponsorship of our Autumn and November 2019 Open Shows Ransoms - sponsorship of our Companion Show 2019 Jacksons - sponsorship of the main marquee at our Spring Championship Show

And also to the generous Sponsors of the Dog of the Year 2018 held in February 2019:-

Bohemia for our Rosettes Jules Boutin Travel for our flowers K9 Wellness Centre for our Bubbles Reception at the Gala dinner Romerils TV - Auction Jersey Dog Handlers Association - Glass Trophies for winners Condor Ferries £100 voucher - Auction Jersey Race Club Membership - Auction Jersey Big Dog Club £140 (2 x £70) - Auction Sumas Seymour Hotels Randalls - 10 x wine for top table Liberty Cabs - £150 credit for Judges’ travel Steven Laffoley-Edwards - loan of PA system and 2 microphones Ian Hutchinson - rigging and derigging and operation of PA system Stephen Peck Stationery - 6 bottles of vintage wine Pets Paradise at Le Marquand Bros - 40 Goody bags for winners

A huge “thank you” also to all Members and all other local businesses who have generously donated and supported all the Club’s raffles throughout the year.

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DOGGIE NEWS, TITBITS AND TREATS

The committee has agreed that the Club will bear the cost of approved repairs to trophies up to a maximum of £100 (up from £75 previously).

Members are reminded that any show entrant must be registered with the same name (including affix or kennel name) in each juristiction (such as Jersey and Guernsey, or Jersey and UK). For further information and clarification, please contact the KCJ Registrar.

Members are warned that the registration of an affix or kennel name in one jurisdiction is not automatically registered in any other jurisdictions. For example, a kennel name or affix registered with KCJ in Jersey needs to be applied for and to be registered with the UK Kennel Club, and vice versa.

There is no guarantee that an affix or kennel name registered in one jurisdiction will be available or acceptable for registration in another jurisdiction. Please consult the KCJ Registrar for advice and guidance prior to making any applications for affix or kennel name registration.

A list of local Qualifiers for Crufts 2020 will be printed in the next issue of the Newsletter. Details of dogs which have qualified in Jersey will be readily available, but owners of dogs which have qualified in jurisdictions other than Jersey need to provide the editor with full and accurate details of their dogs, such as: full name and any titles, breed, age and gender, class(es) qualified for, and name(s) of owner(s).

For information about KCJ show and handling training (see page 2 for venue, dates and times) please contact Claire White on 07797 730 580 or on registrar@kennelclubjersey.com OR Jersey Dog Handlers Association - registered with KCJ - via Christine Marett on 07797 740 836

A reminder that KCJ Members in possession of a current membership card - the new one for 2020 will be issued as and when membership fees for 2020 have been paid - are eligible for 5% reduction from the costs of purchases from either Animal Kingdom or the Pet Cabin on presentation of their membership card.

Both businesses have adverts in this Newsletter.

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Advertising Rates in KCJ Newsletters:

¼ page: £40 either 9 cm wide by 13.5 cms deep OR 18 cms wide by 6.5 cms deep

½ page : £70 18 cms wide by 13.5 cms wide

Full page: £120 18 cms wide by 27 cms deep

For more information, and to reserve space, please contact the editor on:

stephen.lawson@kennelclubjersey.com

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NEW MEMBERS’ PAGEThe Committee is very pleased to welcome the following new members to the Club:-

Mr Matthew Freegard Mrs Catherine Hamilton Miss Johanna Jakubietz Mr James Brennan Miss Helen Dubois Mrs Laura Le Sueur Mr Shaun & Mrs Natasha Richards

We hope the following information will be useful to new members who might like to show their dogs, and also to existing members who have not yet embarked on this popular canine activity.

Introduction to Dog Showing

Dog showing is the most popular canine activity in Jersey, in the UK and in other countries, and is a great way to show others why your dog is the best on the Island! All pedigree dogs can take part in dog showing and it is possible that you and your dog could end up taking part in the world’s greatest dog show: Crufts.

What Dog Showing is All About

Dog showing or exhibiting is an exciting competitive activity in which dogs compete against each other for prizes or awards. It is a competition in which a dog’s attributes and conformation are compared against a set “breed standard” for its breed. Whilst it can often be taken very seriously, it can also be a fun pursuit which people and their dogs thoroughly enjoy - as do spectators. Dog shows are held regularly in Jersey and Guernsey, and in many places in the UK, and to find the dates of Shows in Jersey please see page 2 or visit the Kennel Club of Jersey’s website: www.kennelclubjersey.com

How You Can Start

First, make sure your dog is registered with the Kennel Club of Jersey, through the Club’s Registrar (registrar@kennelclubjersey.com). Only pedigree dogs are eligible to compete at dog shows - although this rule does not apply to companion dog shows - in which crossbreeds are allowed to compete. In order to compete your dog needs to be 6 months of age or over on the first day of the Show. Health is of paramount importance, so before starting dog showing, make sure your dog is fit for function, and fit for life.

Secondly, ask the Club’s Registrar about training classes - for you and your dog - on the basics of ringcraft and dog handling. Classes are held approximately every second Sunday at St Peters Rifle Range (adjacent to the Parish Hall) from 2.30 pm - see dates listed on page 2 - at a very modest charge per session. Also, the Jersey Dog Handlers Association (registered with KCJ) holds regular classes on Tuesday evenings at RJA&HS Royal Jersey Showground on Trinity Hill for “socialising” dogs and on ringcraft and handling for owners and dogs; further information is available from Christine Marett on 07797 740 836.

Thirdly, go to one or more of KCJ’s Shows at RJA&HS (no admittance charge) and watch how your breed is shown. All breeds are shown differently, and therefore you will need to understand how you can show your dog in a breed specific way to its best effect to attract the attention of the judge. Also do not be shy to speak to exhibitors who are around the ringside. Most will be happy to answer even the most basic questions; after all, we’ve all been new handlers and competitors once, so go ahead and ask away! Just remember not to disturb or distract someone who is just about to go into the ring to compete, and that dogs not entered in the show are not allowed into the show premises

Familiarise yourself with the Kennel Club of Jersey’s show regulations, which can be found on its website. Also, you are advised to read the article on “Dog Show Jargon - Demystified” on page 5 of KJC’s Autumn 2019 Newsletter, which can be found on the KCJ website (or you are welcome to ask for a PDF version from the editor).

Pictured in the showring is Ir Sh Ch Kanix Orchestra For Petwalk who has gained her Irish Show Champion title this year winning no fewer than 14 Green and two Group wins. Pet-named Flute is co-owned by Peter Walker with Stewart Cummings.

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CI Dog Of The YearCI Dog Of The Year

CI Dog Of The Year

History of Channel Island Dog of the Yearby Christine Marett

Channel Island Dog of the Year was born when the Guernsey Dog Club presented the - then - Jersey Dog Club with a trophy for their Centenary Year in 1988. It is believed that Elinor McFadden was the driving force behind getting the Dog of the Year up and running. The Reserve Dog of the Year trophy was presented to the Jersey Dog Club by the Aurigny Dog Club also to celebrate the JDC Centenary.

In its infancy, to qualify for Dog of the Year a dog had to win Best in Show, Reserve Best in Show or Best Puppy in Show from the CI Open Shows. The event took place in a local hotel and was followed by a dinner. Exhibitors showed their dogs in their evening dress as the dinner immediately followed the competition.

The first dog to win Channel Island Dog of the Year in 1988 was Yvonne Windsor’s Yorkshire Terrier, Ch Royalties Reflex. In 1994 the puppies were given their own competition with Best Puppy in Show and Reserve Best Puppy in show qualifying from the CI Open Shows and Jersey Members Shows. The trophy for the puppy competition was presented by Brian Cummins, Diana Abbott and Peter Walker. The Reserve Puppy trophy was donated by Collette Allen in 1996. In 1999 the Group Winners at CI Open Shows and Jersey Members shows were included. From 2001 all Group Winners and Puppy Group winners from all ten Channel Island Shows were invited to compete.

Channel Island Veteran of the Year was added in 1999 with the Best Veteran in Show at all ten Channel Island Shows qualifying to compete. The Best Veteran trophy was kindly donated by Brian Cummins. The Reserve Veteran trophy is the Murray Marshal trophy; it was purchased in 1993 to replace the “stolen” Murray Marshall. When the stolen/lost trophy was found the new Murray Marshall was happily donated to Reserve Veteran. In 2001 Channel Island Brace of the Year was added with Best Brace in Show at all the shows being invited to take part. The Best Brace trophy was donated from the Bernard Jackson Estate. Although records for Reserve Best Brace go back to 2001, there was no trophy until 2012 when one was kindly donated by Ian Hutchinson & Helen Lester. The format for the competition has evolved over the years and is the same as the one being used today. We have long outgrown a hotel, and the competition now takes place at The Royal Jersey Showground, home of all the Kennel Club of Jersey shows.

In 2013 agility and obedience were added. That first experimental year only included Jersey agility and obedience dogs, and Andrew Dicker from the UK judged both the obedience and agility, so it was an early start! To qualify for agility a dog needs to have gained a clear round and be placed 1st - 6th in a standard agility or jumping round at one of the Registered Clubs shows. The final comprises a jumping round and an agility round. To qualify for the obedience a dog needs to win a qualifying class or gain the highest number of points at designated shows.

The present format of Channel Island Dog of the Year showcases three major activities people can get involved in with their dogs, and this year as the weather was kind to us we managed to hold all three competitions at the showground. The 2019 CI Dog of the Year will be held on 15 February 2020 at the JAH&HS venue.

Back Row (left to right)Margaret Bayes (KCJ chairman),

Sir William Bailhache (former Bailiff of Jersey),Chris Bligh (GKC chairman),

Mrs G Clark and judge Pats Hollings.Front Row

Laney and Joe Betts, 2018 DOTY winning owners