In 1984 our interest in Showing, breeding, taking part in obedience and agility began. We wanted as much pleasure from our dogs as possible.
The kennel Club granted our chosen prefix
name ELLMARA , which is unique to us.
We fell in love with the black Giant Schnauzer. We attended every Champion show there was in England for a whole year, to gain as much information as possible before waiting on a breeders list for our puppy to be born.
2003 our daughter was approaching her sixth birthday, by now she was showing an interest in handling the dogs.We felt a smaller dog would be more appropriate to begin with.
Our hunt was on, a dog with no genetic defects, small enough for a child to handle, not snappy but robust enough to live with a Giant Schnauzer. This led us to the Border Terrier.
What a super little dog, they seem too good to be true. We travelled to the other end of the country and bought our first Border Terrier puppy. By the time she was 6mths I asked the breeder for another puppy. That was the beginning of our Border Terriers.
2006 has been a hard and exciting year for us, due to circumstances, we no longer have the Giants but a new friend has joined us the beautiful Butterfly dog, The Papillon. Maybe a strange mix but the Borders and the Paps live very well together. Tipsy our first papillon Puppy has decided she is boss.
I have started my judging career in Papillons
I am on the current approved Breed Council C'list (for judges), which means I can judge
upto 5 classes at Open shows.
This year 2009,I took and passed the breed
specific exam for the 'A3' list.
The exam started with , a written question
sheet,as I passed this I was able to go on to
the next section which was to handle and
and place five Papillons in the order I felt they
should be placed, write a critque about why I
had placed them in the order I chose and
finally be interviewed by three Breed Specialists
on my knowledge, the confirmation , handling
of the breed and justifying my decisions on the
dogs I had placed. I feel very pleased on passing this exam, as a breed specialist. Once I have completed the rest of the Kennel
Club's and Breed Council's criteria I can move
up the lists firstly to 'B' list, and then onto the
A3 list which means I would be approved
to judge at Championship show level.
I am a committee member of Papillon (Butterfly Dog) club, for which I feel very honoured to have been asked to do.
We are not a Commercial kennel, our dogs are not a business
they are our companions. All our dogs live in doors with our
family and other furry friends. Our puppies are raised in
doors as well allowing them to socialise and become well adjusted
to what goes on in a family home.
