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Seminar Report from the Chairperson

Barbara Plews

It was my idea to have a Teach - in –Seminar and this was eagerly taken up by the committee. They agreed to organise this for April 2009

On the day everything went very smoothly I decided to go through the breed standard using one of my own dogs as the model demonstrating the important parts in the standard. There were many sensible questions asked during my talk and I hope my answers helped those attending to understand the finer points and also faults to watch out for,

Maureen Higgins gave a very interesting talk on the Griffons using both rough and smooth dogs in different colours. Maureen also undertook to go through the Affenpincher breed standard in the unforeseen absence of the original speaker.

After a Banquet of a lunch we had a demonstration of micro chipping by Lorraine Gillhespy, then a hands on and advice session using dogs from different breeders.

 

Reports on the Seminar from the following Breed Correspondents:

The NKCS Club hosted a teaching seminar at Grenoside Community Centre on Sat 4th April. The breeds involved were Affenpinschers, Griffons Bruxellois and King Charles Spaniels. The seminar was very well attended and even had two visitors from America - Pat Cox and her friend who had only just arrived in this country. There were exhibitors and breeders from several other breeds, including Sue and Dick Terry. I am told everyone seemed to enjoy the day and found it very useful and informative.

Barbara Plews from KCS was the first speaker with models "Dinah" and "Nelson". Questions were welcomed and dealt with as her talk progressed and at the end. Maureen Higgins then spoke on and demonstrated the Griffons. Maureen was also able to speak on the Affenpinschers as at the last minute the designated speaker for that breed was unable to attend due to illness.

Lorraine Gillhespy demonstrated micro chipping on a Pekingese puppy. Lorraine will micro chip to order at the NKCS Club Open Show on Sun 11th Oct.

I am told the Luncheon Buffet was fabulous - soup, a choice of three hot meals or a cold meats and salad platter, followed by a choice of several different sweets and fresh fruit, plus tea, coffee and biscuits.

In the afternoon there was the opportunity to handle the breeds present and to ask lots of questions.

All those present were given a Certificate of Attendance.

The organisers of this very successful seminar were Mea Kendall (nee Askins) and Margaret Mallows with help from Gill and Steve Smith and Bob Rushton. I hope I've not missed anyone out but this week I'm in a hurry to meet an earlier DW deadline because of Easter.


GINA MARTIN   0116 262 4259.

email  ray@rvmartin.freeserve.co.uk

The Seminar "Fit for Function Fit for Life" mentioned earlier was a great day well organised by the Northern King Charles Spaniel Club. Invited to share the day were Griffons and Affenpinschers It was a good attendance including three American visitors. The food was delicious with more than anyone could eat Margaret Mallows was responsible for the food and the organising along with Mia Kendell and Lorraine Gillespie, Lorraine first gave a demonstration on Microchipping followed by a mirochipping session which quite a few took advantage of (Including Griffons) The talk on KCS given by Barbara Plewes was interesting especially the reference to the fused toes, as the Griffon has KCS in their ancestry this explained a condition that used to be fairly common in our breed "the webbed foot" and in both breeds these were always associated with the most beautiful heads. The total number of "Griffonites" present was three! myself speaking, Margaret Cook Secretary of the Northern and Joan Goldin Treasurer we all had dogs there for the hands on session and to answer questions, I had a black rough, Margaret had a selection of red smooths and Joan with of course her team of black/tans in both coats, not a red rough in sight! but they did attract a lot of attention. Unfortunately no one was present to represent the Affenpinschers, luckily Kay Down and Joyce Warrington arrived and just by luck happened to have one in the car and he was brought in so that we could demonstrate the differences between the two breeds. Lots of subjects were discussed including health issues, for me it was a very enjoyable and informative day, hope everyone else enjoyed it. For those who didn’t attend, you missed a great day.

Maureen Higgins 01977-558363 mhys16052@blueyonder.co.uk

LINDA McGill was scheduled to talk on the Affenpinscher at a three-breed seminar with King Charles Spaniels and Griffons. Unfortunately Linda was taken ill shortly before the event and because it was a busy weekend dogwise we were unable to find anybody to stand in for her. However the three Affenpinscher owners, Kay Downs, Julie Baldwin and Joyce Warrington, who attended did a very good job of presenting the breed.
Joyce writes: "On Apr 4 Kay and I attended the King Charles Spaniel, Griffon Bruxellois and Affenpinscher seminar. The venue was at Grenoside Community Centre in Sheffield which proved very easy to find. There was lots of room for parking, a large park to walk dogs and a view to die for. It was a little disappointing to find there were no other Affenpinschers there and no information or material on the breed. Fortunately Kay had brought along her little dog Boz.
"The morning started with a talk on the King Charles with some very good points being made on heads, coat types and feet. All coats and colours were represented and I found this talk very interesting.
"Next were the Griffons. There were only three Griffon people there but between Mrs M Higgins, Mrs Cook and Joan Goldin they had both coats, docked and undocked in black and black and tan but only smooth coats in red.
"Kay, Julie and I represented the Affenpinscher. Maureen Higgins and I showed the differences between the two breeds. Boz stood and behaved himself very well as he was stroked and handled by others. It was all a little like Discover Dogs as we did our best to answer all the questions. There was a large raffle and a very good three-course hot or cold lunch. After lunch there was a talk on microchipping and then we finished with a hands-on session. It was a very good day and I thank all those who worked so hard to organise it."
TEASDALE, 01932 847679, tonsarne@talktalk.net