Well, it’s only a few days before the start of Crufts so best of luck to everyone and a safe journey. Last month we had the main results of the Contest of Champions which was judged by Vanessa McHugh. This week she has written her comments and critique of the main winners in her breed notes in Our Dogs. I do urge you to read it if you can get hold of a copy. It’s excellently written and really interesting. There is very sad news from Elaine and Nev Simms who lost their Brody quite unexpectedly on March 1st. I think Brody was one of those dogs that made a lasting impression on everyone who met him; not just for his looks but for his character. He was such a gentle kind dog. Elaine wrote “Brody ,Ch Bowerhinton Broder, left us suddenly & without warning, it's been a great shock even though he was 13. He appeared in good health & had enjoyed a normal day, for that we are grateful. He was the son of Ch Bowerhinton Betterbelieveit & Ch Kestos Ispy at Graythor, two wonderful dogs who produced 4 champions in this litter, we had such a happy time showing him, he was just in his element, meeting & greeting people & other dogs, such a friendly boy & a real gentle soul, he will be missed by us all, & especially our neighbour who cared for him when we had a day out with the other boys. It was a standing joke with his wife that he appeared to spend more time 'next door' than with her, relaxing in a deckchair with his 'old mate' watching the world go by. “ Elaine and Nev, you know you have everyone’s sympathy. Even though it’s good that they don’t suffer a long illness or struggle with old age, it’s an enormous shock when they go suddenly. As everyone knows, there have been difficulties with travel to and from Northern Ireland with dogs ever since Brexit. Although the regulations had been suspended and checks were hardly ever done, I was very pleased to read last week that travellers will no longer be required to follow the EU regulations. The Kennel Club Statement said- “THE KENNEL CLUB WELCOMES THE WINDSOR FRAMEWORK AND REMOVAL OF PET TRAVEL BARRIERS BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND The UK’s largest organisation dedicated to dog health and welfare, The Kennel Club, has today (27 February 2023) welcomed the announcement of the Windsor Framework, which formally removes the pet travel border between Great Britain and Northern Ireland that was erected upon the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol. The Northern Ireland Protocol introduced a legal requirement for owners moving their dogs from Great Britain to Northern Ireland to comply with EU pet travel rules. This included a mandatory rabies vaccination in order to move a dog from Great Britain into Northern Ireland, alongside expensive travel paperwork, which was required for every journey from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. While the implementation of enforcement checks was suspended indefinitely, the Windsor Framework will formally remove the legal requirements introduced by the Northern Ireland protocol regarding the transportation of dogs from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Dr Ed Hayes, Head of Public Affairs, said: “We are delighted with the announcement of the Windsor Framework and the proposed removal of the pet travel border between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, that was introduced by the Northern Ireland Protocol. Ever since the significant implications of the Northern Ireland Protocol on pet travel became clear we have been lobbying the UK and Northern Irish Government to negotiate the removal of the pet travel border in the Irish Sea. The removal of these rules will ensure that it will be no more difficult for someone to travel from Edinburgh to Belfast with their dog, than it would be to travel from Manchester to the Isle of Wight.” Sadly the weather caused problems for a few people attending Crufts and some just didn’t manage to get there but there were not that many absentees. Well done to those who did make it, especially from way up in Scotland and all those who were placed. It’s many years since I saw such well filled classes that quite a few dogs were not placed. I can’t remember when I last saw 13 in an Open class. The Crufts You Tube channel covered the entire Group without the individual judging being cut as it was on TV so if you want to see at least the BOB being judged and moved you can catch up by googling Crufts 2023 day 3 to find the videos. I switched the TV off; I was sick of flyball and Otta was hoarse from joining in with the barking. Mr K Jarvinen from Finland was the judge and drew a superb entry as Scandinavian judges usually do. 11 in PG Dog, 10 in L Bitch and 13 in OB with 5s and 6s in other classes. Dog Challenge Certificate was won by Ch/Ned Ch Bowerhinton Brouhaha (Mrs T Maun) Reserve Dog Challenge Certificate winner was Ch Kestos Rex of Rothenborg (Mrs J E & Mrs G Cowper & Bingham) Bitch Challenge Certificate went to Treskha Tanqueray (Ms K H, Mrs H & Mr A Tress) And Reserve Bitch Challenge Certificate to Treskha Just The One (Ms K H, Mrs H & Mr A Tress). Well done Helen on the two top Bitch wins. Best Puppy went to Tunturijärven The Silva Fjord Laakso (Imp Fin) NAF (Miss T & Miss B & Ms J Mortimer & Gray & Brown), an import from the judge’s homeland. And Best Veteran was Ch/ned Ch Bowerhinton Brouhaha (Mrs T Maun) He was also Best of Breed and didn’t look remotely like a veteran in the Group ring. Congratulations Treena. I have a comment from Linda Shields who had entered her first ever Crufts that I feel says it all about showing and our exhibitors: I have to say that the camaraderie within our breed is outstanding. Everyone is just so kind, helpful and supportive and as all 3 of us were new to dog showing , we needed all the help we could get. I honestly can’t thank you all enough for everything you’ve done to help us. In my eyes Norwegian Elkhounds are the best in the world and their owners/breeders aren’t half bad either.” Well done also to our treasurer Stuart Byrne who took BCC in Finnish Spitz and to Margaret Deuchar whose Buhund ‘Time’ won RCC. Many thanks also to the team who set up and manned the Discover Dogs stand which was as usual, very popular. I must finish by wishing all the best to Karen Gold’s mum. She was booked into a beautiful care home while Karen and Alan went to Crufts but had a bad fall cutting her head above her eye so she was taken to hospital. Having been patched up she was put on hospital transport and taken back to the home at midnight. The staff found her unresponsive the next morning so she was rushed back to the hospital where she spent hours on a trolley in a corridor, alone. During that time her wedding ring was stolen off her finger. It’s absolutely appalling that elderly people are treated like that. Why on earth was she discharged when she obviously wasn’t right? A few years ago we had an elderly aunt dumped back into her own freezing cold home where she lived alone, after a few weeks in hospital without any preparation, no food in the house, no carers and no heating. Karen I do hope your mum is now ok and a complaint was made about the hospital. Thanks to social media, the small world got even smaller last week with a post from the grandson of Ron Hughes who the older ones among us will remember well as Club Chairman for many years. It’s lovely to see the younger generations of those people wanting to connect with the breed again. Not long now to the Hound Association of Scotland show on April 8th; judge Sharon Rossiter. It’s held at Errol Airfield once again, near Perth. Entries closed this Sunday just gone. I was surprised to read that SKC plans to hold their two shows on the same day. What are your opinions? It certainly saves a lot of travelling even though we only now have one set of CCs but it does mean that around half of all puppies born in the year won’t be eligible until the following year. There were a few errors on Fosse Data’s Crufts Results so you may like to check again once they’ve all been corrected. Spring is coming rapidly now so vets have printed a warning of possible dangers to your dogs. Firstly Spring Cleaning - Keep cleaning products away from pets, as they can contain toxic chemicals. If you think your pet has consumed or licked a cleaning product, please call the vet for advice. There is plenty of advice online about safe, natural products that can safely be used for cleaning such as lemon juice, white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda. From personal experience I know that bicarb sprinkled on dry carpets and left overnight before vacuuming can remove odours and help clean them. Certain proprietary carpet deodorisers and also essential oils used in sprays or burners, have a reputation for making dogs ill or causing allergies. Remember they do lie with their faces on the carpet so they inhale cleaners or lick them off their feet . Use something that would be safe for a crawling baby. Allergies - This is also the time of year when dogs can develop allergies. They can get hayfever just like humans so if you see runny noses or eyes, contact your vet. Don’t just use a human antihistamine. Allergic skin conditions can lead to itchy, red skin, usually caused by a reaction of the immune system to allergens in a pet’s environment. Symptoms of allergic skin disease in dogs include red skin, scratching, licking and chewing, persistent ear or skin infections, hair loss and runny, red eyes or noses. Grass seeds - Grass seed injuries happen when foxtail seeds get trapped in fur and pierce the skin. Check your pet’s feet and ears regularly and look for symptoms like shaking their head and ears, licking toes, swollen paws and red lumps. It won’t be long before grass starts to grow again and flower. Grass seeds can easily migrate from where they went into the skin and can be very difficult to find. Bulbs - Many dogs love to dig up the garden, but some spring flowers and bulbs can be toxic if eaten. Keep them out of reach and get in touch with your vet if your dog consumes a flower or bulb. Daffodils are poisonous to dogs if they eat the flowers or bulbs, or if they drink water from a vase with daffodils inside. Symptoms of daffodil poisoning can include an upset stomach and vomiting, and you may also notice that your dog is very sleepy and wobbly. A dog that has been poisoned by daffodils may also have fits. Wasp and bee stings - Most stings cause mild pain and irritation, and you can try scraping out the sting (without squeezing it!) with a credit card, washing the area in water and applying ice. If your dog has a bad reaction get them to the vet immediately. Anaphylaxis is extremely dangerous and I once had a dog that had a huge seizure when she ate a bee among grass and was stung in the mouth. The Blue Cross on https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/pets/wellbeing-and-care/pet-friendly-garden ,has a section on how to create a dog friendly garden. Don’t forget too that slugs and snails can carry lungworm so don’t leave toys outside.