NWGRC News & Views

On behalf of North West Golden Retriever Club, I would like to thank all those who, despite the weather, attended the Companion Dog Show on Sunday 12th June and especially those who lent a hand in helping us to make the best of it. We raised £1,430 which I think was brilliant considering just how bad the weather was, which threatened to put such a damper on things. I am afraid that some of the money taken on each of the stalls ended up so wet, I’m not sure how much they made individually.

It shows just how dedicated we dog lovers are that so many braved the bad weather to take part in this annual event and we really appreciated seeing you there. I don’t suppose the dogs were too bothered about the weather though, as they enjoyed wallowing in the wet!

Open to all breeds, one of the dogs walked away with many of the top prizes: Lexi, a Wirehaird Visla bitch who won Best Pedigree: Best Open Pedigree and on to Best in Show. The owner, Rose Summerfield also had other prize winners in the breed, Darci: 2nd in Sporting Pedigree and Milly: 3rd in Judges Favourite. Rose was really glad she braved the weather.

The day was made so much easier with having help in setting up the show and so many willing hands staying on to help in dismantling the wet gazebos. We had them all drying out in our paddock on Monday, it looked as if the circus was in town!

I’m not sure that many of our members realise how much work goes into organising an event such as this and without all the help we had it would have made it a much harder day.

Many thanks once again and let’s hope for better weather next year.

Auldstone’s Poppet - Poppet the Tiny Terror is the first in a series of books I have written as a result of my photographs and observations of the antics of Poppet, a little black Cocker Spaniel that came to live with my family of Golden Retrievers, Borell, Hannah and Nan. The book is aimed at children with a learning age of between 6 and 9 years, however I am sure that all animal lovers would be delighted to have one as a keepsake and not fail to be enchanted, following Poppets’ progress as she merges into her new family.

I have already read the book to over 60 children at school and they didn’t want me to leave, I felt like the Pied Piper. Their little arms were stretched through the railings begging me to stay or come back with my Goldens, showing that children thrive from having animals around them.

Reading an enchanting story about dogs, especially involving Golden Retrievers whose reputation is unparalleled, can offer a great deal to children, particularly to a shy retiring child. My book is meant to be informative, soothing and enjoyable to read and without even realising it, children can learn a lot through Poppet and her adopted family of Golden Retrievers.

It has proved to be an exiting new phase in my life, bringing pleasure from reading, and as Poppet enters her second summer with Borell, Nan and Hannah, a second book is waiting in the wings as Poppet progresses.