Vet was busy but we waited.  He was so unsteady on his hind legs and did not want to co-operate at all.  She (the vet) was somewhat bemused by what she was seeing.  She took his temperature, we tried to get him to walk unsuccessfully.  She helped us out to the car with him and again put her hands along his ribcage and spine – she stopped halfway along and asked if we had felt this lump on his spine – we hadn’t.  We were told to drive to Glasgow Vet School and have it investigated.  While we drove home to make sure everyone else was OK for a prolonged absence, she phoned the Vet School and we were booked in and on our way.

His life was brief but we was such a comic – probably the nicest deerhound we have had.   His coat was murder but when I sat on the floor almost every night, he would

 lie and let me cut out the “bad bits”.  Ailsa – his sister is at a loss to know why Misty is with her instead of her brother : they were inseparable until last Monday when she came into season.

05 July 2009

Bill, I, Roamin and Filliberry went to the Scottish Game Fair in Scone yesterday.  It was fairly dull when we left home but the sun did come out when we eventually arrived - several miles of queues to get in which took us about an hour.

There were lots of clothing stalls, gun stalls, fishing stalls (with tuition!) birds (stuffed and live).  We did take a long look at the eagles, owls and falcons; there were ferrets and ferret racing (proceeds to Ferret Rescue!) - unfortunately they were resting when we passed by; clay pigeon shooting was continuous.  Pipe bands were in attendance; green poo bags were handed out as we entered, loads of food stalls.  There was a craft tent but I did not make it inside.

The dogs were as good as gold.  So many folk came up to us and asked what they were (the usual number of "are they Irish Wolfhounds"?)  A good number of the folk had had deerhounds in their earlier years - mostly Ardkinglas.  Met one other deerhound breeder and two other folk who had a deerhound with them.  Peter Grant tapped my shoulder towards the end of our time in Scone.  He was in good spirits.

It was very well organised - my only regret was that I did not get time to buy anything from all these clothing stalls because I had spent so much time talking to folk who had owned, still owned, and loved, deerhounds.  So felt quite proud of my two youngsters who were patted and admired and were very patient on a hot day.

24 March 2009  

Stroma, our gallant 10.5 year old left us today.  She was too shaky on her back legs to cope with the running that she loved.  Just last week, she tore across the paddock and gave an earful to a passing motorbike.  We are relieved that she went so quickly and did not suffer a long-drawn out illness.  

She was related to all the family who are left.  Fernitickles is her daughter; Misty is her-daughter-in-law (slightly tenuous link) and Roamin and Filliberry are her grandchildren.  So we are now down to four deerhound-folk.  The weather is mourning her demise too - it is pouring and very cold here.

Stroma was always a very strong character.  We brought her home from Betina Adams when she was six months old.  Her aunt Ardneish Hailie had recently suffered a pyometra and was unable to have puppies.  This fell to Ardneish Eskimo (Stroma).  She did have one litter and let it be known that she was NOT going to do that again.  Ferni is the sole survivor of  the three we kept.  The other sister is in Garelochhead.

She was the boss - if she didn't like anything, she put the pups right.  In her old age, she did mellow and grew into a kindly grandmother to Misty's children.  She was always fed outside (between showers as much as possible!) but recently, we noticed that she was demanding to get in once she had finished her routine.  She would stand at the gate and bark in a manner that could not be misconstrued or ignored!!

As usual, though recognising that she had a very good life, we are left with that chasm in our hearts.  We know that the four deerhounds we still have, will eventually help us to put it all in context - she has probably met up with all our other deerhounds who went before her and is having a pain-free, happy time with all of them.  Go on girl, you have earned whatever comes next. 

1 January 2009

Have to get used to this new date!

It was very cold here today but not freezing.  Sunny in the morning.

Five hounds in good spirits (so to speak - no whisky for them last night!!)  We have been cutting down some branches of trees which are threatening the electric lines and the dogs have enjoyed mooching around.  The puppies (now 19 months old) are allowed into the big paddock for very short spells, usually with one of us in attendance.  We walk round 2-3 times and they thoroughly enjoy the space and are very quick so we have to keep an eye on them, otherwise we get crashed into or land face-down!! (not recommended when the ground is frozen and hard, NOR when it is wet and soggy - as we have found out.  Thank goodness for automatic machines and hot showers).

Dogwise, we have had a fairly quiet time.  Apart from the girls being in season and off their food then, and nine weeks later, we have just been to the vet in December  for injections and worming tablets.  After two other pups had a bad reaction to Drontal, I switched to Panacur in the summer time, but after speaking to the vet, we went back to Drontal Plus this time and no bad reaction has occurred.

The pups have been lightly shown with a few successes - check Results for details.  Roamin is going to the Kilmarnock show on Saturday but as there is only an Open class, I don't expect any accolades.  It is just a day out for him (and me!!), a bit of socialising and ring practice - just in case we get to some of the more serious CH shows!! 

Roamin is so like his dad, Dalrymple.  Sometimes, I call him Dalrymple and wonder why he is not answering.  He is very lovable and huggable.   Filliberry is definitely from her mother, Misty : flighty, in your face, quick as lightning, highly intelligent, likes to curl up in MY chair.  They are both wonderful and I would not have it any other way!!

Now that I have reached pensionable age, two of my human children are pregnant.  Just like buses - never one in sight and then suddenly there are two!!  Crufts is in grave danger of being missed at the first one is due 1 March.  Second one is in May (so SKC might not have the pleasure of my company).  Might just squeeze in Club show at Dunblane (with a bit of luck!)

Ah well, Happy New Year everybody.  Hope 2009 is everything you hope it will be.

18 October 2008 

Well, we now have a Vintage (Stroma, 10) and a Veteran (Fernitickles, 7) in the family.  Misty is 4 and her pups (Roamin and Filliberry) are nearly 17 months old.  We appear to span most age groups!! 

Stroma is such a character.  Bill takes her out as many days as the weather allows.  They normally stick to the same route but after the roadworks finished, Bill tried a new route – all was fine until on the way home he tried to take a right (down to their usual walk) but Stroma said “on yer bike, I have had my walk and am now going home”.  No matter what Bill tried to coax her with, she stubbornly said “No, I am going home”.  And so home they came.  Bill was amazed at her strength of character (but I think he called wilfulness). 

Ferni (and Mura, her sister) had a birthday yesterday and now she is eligible to enter the veteran class.  I haven’t taken out any of my dogs when they reached this age but am considering having a bit of fun with Ferni.   She is in good condition – her coat is rather ginger – and might be a very good influence on whichever pup I take with her – maybe!!  So I thought I would give it a go and she is at a veteran class next weekend – not long then until we find out if she still knows the ropes.

28 May 2008  

Puppies are one today.  Roamin rounded off his puppy showing by winning 1^st at the Scottish Kennel Club. 

Now that they are no longer “puppies”, they will be shown in Junior. 

Fernitickles and Misty are in season, but I have told them that we are NOT having a litter this year.  For the past two seasons they have come into season a week apart, so it was no surprise to find out that it has happened again.

I went to see Ozzy and Sam today and they were looking really well and have completely recovered from a very bad reaction to worming tablets.  They recognised me right away and mugged me as only deerhounds can do, eyeball to eyeball!!  It was great to see them back to normal.

26 April 2008

Pups were at their second championship show on 12 April 2008 in Kelso - the Hound Association of Scotland.  What a wet day!  The ground in the car park was like a quagmire before the show - tractors were on hand to help folk get their cars out if they were caught in the mud after the show.  We had to show in a wet weather tent - not ideal for this big breed.

Joyce Bond had 78 entries.  The rain hardly took a breath the whole show.  There were two big poles in the ring quite near the tape and we had to run between the two - quite a few near misses.  Roamin was third in Puppy dog and Filliberry was fifth in Puppy bitch.

30 March 2008  

Well, the pups went to their first championship show yesterday.  They settled down on the benches without fuss (good start!)  We were in an annexe at Ingliston with the Gordon Setters.  It was a huge barn of a place with an open door which let in lots of cold air; the roof was very high which make the Gordons’ barking very echo-ing.  This did affect some of the newer exhibits in our ring.  

However, both pups did well and were placed 2^nd in their respective classes.  Roamin was in a class of 3 and Filliberry in a class of 6 so I was very pleased to get them both placed.  Tomorrow night they will be back at classes to fine tune their performances for the next show.  They were beaten by a brother and sister who are Dalrymple’s grandchildren!! (Dalrymple is my pup’s dad!!!)  So good old Dalrymple lives on in his four offspring!!! – hooray!!

04/01/08  

Sadly Dalrymple  left us in the early hours of this morning.  When I took him to the vet for his annual booster, she told me that his heart beat was very irregular and very fast.  We did try to clear away the cough which he had developed which, of course, was doing his heart no favours as he was coughing from the tips of his toes right through his whole body.   

Unfortunately all this happened during the Christmas/New Year season and getting an appointment with a vet with a scanner, ECG and X-rays took a little time.  He was at a surgery with all of this equipment yesterday afternoon (3 Jan) and was quite agitated by all the machinery.  However, after a very long wait after the examination I was allowed to take him home.  I was given diuretic tablets to clear the fluid off his chest and lungs and several other tablets which we would have started using today.  Unfortunately, he died in the early hours of this morning and has left a gaping hole in our hearts.   

Dalrymple was everything I wanted in a dog – great personality, no malice or bad temper; humour, loyalty, unconditional love and companionship.  His son, Roamin (7 months now) has a very hard act to follow but he is showing signs of all his father’s good traits and he is already quite a comic.

  21/06/07  

Puppies nearly four weeks now and weaning has begun.  How can ten wee puppies cause such mayhem?  Food everywhere! – inside puppies, outside puppies, splattered on kitchen units, tee-shirts (on humans) with new designer patterns on them!!  Meantime, Misty has been standing in the wings ready to clean up – plates first, puppies next (life is so uncomplicated for dogs!!)  No sooner cleaned up, showered (again!), and washing machine on and it is nearly time to start again – but a caffeine kick must come first!!  We are delighted that they are all thriving, and that Misty goes in to the “box” to give them warmth and affection and, of course, a nice warm drink!  

The rest of the gang have learned to turn a deaf ear to the noise when puppy feeding time approaches.  So long as they are fed and watered at THEIR normal times, they don’t complain.  And, though their cuddles may sometimes be curtailed somewhat by these “noisy brats” their quality of life is not too much affected. 

02/06/07

Well, we  had a very eventful week.  

On Monday morning (May 28^th), Misty was very restless from 6 am.  After taking her out several times and rescuing her from under bushes and in the undergrowth, I decided that I would only let her off the lead in easy-to-get-to parts of the garden.  

At around 10.30 Bill went out and, since it was nice and sunny, I took Misty out to a part of the garden where I had spied clumps of nettles (one of my favourite pursuits is to relieve the garden of these plants!!)  I was cutting and pulling and Misty wandered off a little way and went into a small area that was reasonably accessible for me to follow.  I was content with the task in hand until I saw Misty chewing away at something.  It was a dead puppy was my first thought.  I managed to reach her and get hold of whatever it was.  No, it wasn’t a puppy (brief relief!), but an afterbirth (mega panic), but where was the wee soul it came from!  Misty got to her feet and lying next to her was a wee black mound.  I scooped it up with the somewhat chewed “substance” and ran into the house. I grabbed a towel and rubbed the precious creature until it cried.  Thus began a rollercoaster day.  

 It was only 11.00am.  What to do next (other than panic)?  I rang Bill on his mobile – no answer. I thought about the Vet, but he was three miles away. Joan Savage’s number was next to the vet’s and she was less than a mile.  

I tried Joan who did not answer her house phone, nor her mobile.  Tried Bill again: no reply.  Then  the phone rang - it was Joan who, after hearing what had occurred, said she would be with me in a few minutes.  It was time for a few deep breaths…especially since No 2 was making an exit, or was it an entrance?  I did what Joan told me with the afterbirth of the first pup, wrapped her in a clean towel, put her in a box.   I then tended to Misty.  No 2 arrived at 11.40 – a boy.  Joan arrived and Puppy No  3 made a very quick entrance at 11.55 – another boy.  Bill arrived home.  

Well, I was thinking, that is the worst of it done and dusted since a scan at five weeks suggested five, may be six puppies – silly me!  Misty decided that she needed a long rest.  Now that I had all this help at hand, I wanted to get the job finished but Misty just looked at me and tended her three puppies.  The next two puppies were breech births, both boys.  Joan was marvellous in dealing with these difficult births, so calm and professional..  We were a bit worried about the second one because his breathing was slightly ragged and concerned that Misty was bleeding so much.  On phoning the vet, we got an answerphone message telling us that it was a Bank Holiday and there  was only an emergency service.  We rang this number and were told to report to the surgery at 4pm – an hour away.  We had a quick cup of tea and got organised to take all the pups in a box and Misty in the back of the car.  We arrived before the vet and  when she arrived rushed in with the wee laddie.  Bill was shouting as we went in the door that there was another puppy in the back..  So that was the sixth.  Full house I was thinking.   

Misty was given an injection (oxytocin), the pup’s breathing was checked out and we were told that he would be all right; the new puppy was fine.  So we had 20 minutes to get back home before the injection would take effect and Misty might have more contractions.  We thought, loads of time, it is only  3 miles (maximum journey time of 10 mins).  When we were getting out of the car, Bill discovered yet another puppy in the back – 7 puppies.  

The bulk of the evening was quiet.   At 8.55 puppy No 8 put in her appearance and at 9.20 she was joined by another brother.  What a day!   I was very happy to sink down on the floor next to the dogs’ bed for the night.  At 11.45, Misty stood up, upsetting the pups who were having a late supper, and puppy No 10 announced his arrival.  Phew, surely time now to relax and lightly doze to the rhythm of all the breathing taking place.  At 4.30am, Misty stood up again.  Oh crikey, surely not any more little folk!  Correct, it was only an afterbirth!  

What a day!!  When Stroma had her litter, she was much too dignified to have a manual birth.  She had a caesarian and we missed all the fun, trauma, and drama (well, most of it anyway!!) 

However, in retrospect, we are glad we did not miss Monday, 28 May 2007.  

Misty (Tartraven Flodday in Glenfoyble) and Glenfoyble Dalrymple are the proud parents.  

Our thanks are due to Joan Savage, midwife extraordinaire (Papillon Breeder!) ~ see links

22/04/07

  I can’t believe it is so long since I last updated the news.  

Obviously nothing too much untoward has been happening on the dog scene here!  

We have gone to several local open shows.  Details of good results are shown under each hound’s name.  The not-so-good results we will ignore.  

Ghillie and I went to Crufts and had a lovely day with a friend from Troon who used to have Basset hounds.  When we arrived at our Travel Lodge, it was in darkness and the folk on the desk had one torch between them and had to find alternative accommodation for all the “guests” who were arriving in estate cars full of dogs.  We were not at all amused as we had driven through blinding snow in the Ayrshire moors which made the journey tedious from the beginning!!.  It was quite dark when we eventually found the second Travel Lodge on the M5.  However, because I awoke at 5.30 the following morning, our journey to the NEC was trouble free as we followed two estate cars all the way.  

What a super big ring we had (as usual at Crufts) and although Ghillie did not stand very well for the judge, he ran beautifully all the way.  I was quite chuffed with him because he had developed a distinct reluctance to go back to the judge!!  I am working away with him – sometimes he embarrasses me to the hilt; sometimes he is almost reasonable about showing!!  Oh Dalrymple, I ought to have appreciated you more – perhaps I will take him out again.  He did not exactly ENJOY showing but he would run with me – and once he had sired a lassie, he thought he was taken to a show to find more girls!! – which could be quite embarrassing for me but delightful for him!!

09/06/06  

Not too much going on here.  Lot of work being done on the house.  Stables (now kennels) waiting for a couple of coats of paint having had a makeover at the beginning of the year.

MISTY came into season on 1 April 2006 (yes, April Fool’s day!!) and is now off her food and making “nests” – where are these babies she is asking?  Sorry lass, not this time.

GHILLIE is pushing his luck rather a lot at the moment.  Newest craze is to see how quickly he can pull the washing off the line – preferably when it is wet so that he can tramp it into any bald patches on the “lawn”.  He head-butted Bill one morning when I was suffering from asthma and the black and blue eye lasted a long time.  Then, another morning he just touched Bill’s hand and ripped a one-inch gash – Bill’s skin is very thin because of the steroid creams he has to use to contain psoriasis.  Nothing is sacred – my knitting is often ripped out if I have had to answer the phone in the middle of a row!!  Dog beds are a definite MUST for tearing to shreds;  fleeces fare somewhat better so I am not replacing any bedding other than fleeces.

Dalrymple had a lovely walk along Troon beach yesterday with Mac (Scottie!)  He was slightly abashed by the loud bark from this wee chap and a little worried about the leads getting tangled up!!  The weather has been HOT and the dogs and I have appreciated the thick walls of this old farmhouse which keeps some of the rooms COOL!!  Needless to say, Bill has been outside lapping up the heat and very reluctant to come in – even to get food.

20/04/06 - Misty is nearly finished her second season and Dalrymple has lost of lot of weight – collar very loose!!  He has escaped through all our safety mechanisms twice but was caught in the nick of time.  Ghillie (now 6 months) has practised on her head, her middle and eventually found her back end, only to be removed from the scene – and promised a  later date!!

Anyway, we have been to several open shows – Misty was BoB and 2^nd in Group at Catrine; also BoB at Caledonian Canine Society.

At Crufts, Dalrymple and Misty ran very well.  Ian Kirsopp ran Dalrymple  and I ran Misty.   Neither of them were placed but I was delighted that they performed well (apart from Misty not wanting to stand and being a bit of a fidget!!)  

As Ghillie is now six months, dog training classes have started for him – he is totally unimpressed and has no sense of trying to please his handler; nor of letting the “judge” look at his teeth or touch any part of his body!! – this might be another uphill struggle and I am contemplating “blackmail” – again!! 

08/01/06 - Yesterday (Saturday) I took Misty to a local open show ( Paisley and District).  (Four days earlier I had taken her to a show and she just would not stand and drew away from the judge so I was very determined to practise for Crufts!!).  We were on after 12 noon so I arrived just after 12 and we had to wait over 3 hours to be in the ring – AV NSC Hound Open.  As Misty is only 16 months, I had no aspirations in this class (13 were entered – most of them were there – compared to 26 on Tuesday).  There were around 10 in the ring and we ran second last (another deerhound running after us).  The judge, Mr T Rainey (Irish gentleman) kept coming back to her and checking her out (I was getting nervous!)  In the end he placed her first (I tried wo-manfully to look unsurprised and nonchalant about this placement because I had been told that I should not look surprised but should appear to think this was normal practice (not sure I was quite that good at it!!!).

Anyway, the very next class was the Group.  So I deposited my red rosette and back into the ring we went.  Misty stood and moved very well (again!) and I was fair pleased with her.  Again the judge seemed to come back to her.   And I really had enormous difficulty in looking nonchalant when she was 1^st in the Group!! (WOW!)

In the Best in Show ring, she ran quite well, again the judge came up to her and checked her out but the Akita was Best in Show and a stunning Great Dane was Reserve (I was very pleased about the Great Dane – he was gorgeous and had great ring presence – he was the winner for me!)

So, now we have had a taste of the HIGH life in dog showing.  I have calmed down and feet are on the ground again :  it was very exciting and the lass rose to the occasion.

Ghillie is Misty’s very best friend.  They are almost inseparable and he has settled in and snuggles up to any of the other hounds who has a space on their bed.  He is “eating like a horse” which is great – otherwise Stroma would be too, too fat!

28/12/05  - Well, it has been some time since this site was updated, but I thought I should end the year on a high note.

Dalrymple and Misty are qualified for Crufts which will be on 10 March for Deerhounds.

Just by chance, I heard that one of Flaunden Flora Macdonald’s boy pups was “available”.  I was very surprised at this because the pups had taken so long to materialise that I thought they would be snapped up right away.  I cast all caution to the wind and phoned Nell Wilson who had the litter and “flagged up” to her that I “could be interested”.  Of course, Bill sussed this out immediately and wrote to the children that “Mother was having another pup and he would have to doggysit SIX hounds again”!!!!!

Of course, having seen them, I was very spontaneous with my answer, but had to wait a week until everyone else had chosen their pups.  On Wednesday, 21 December, off to Cardross again and this time came home with the little chap who I have called Ghillie (I collected rather a lot of names in the intervening week!!!)

He has settled in very well.   Misty just loves having someone smaller than her to “talk” to and monopolise.  The others have noted that there is another being around but paid “it” little heed.   They do hang around a fair bit when he is getting “EXTRA” meals.

Megget, now 4 (sister to Fernitickles and Dalrymple) was spayed in November to save her unnecessary suffering after her seasons – a suspected pyometra last season spurred me into remembering to do it mid-term.

Stroma is now 7, a little overweight (which I can accommodate during these dark winter days) but as soon as the days lengthen, she will slim down again because of the extra exercise she and I will both get!!

Misty is 16 months old now and does not mind showing so long as it is indoors and on mats.  When we get to the grass, she is somewhat at sea – hopefully we will sort that out in 2006.

Anyway folks, all the best for 2006. 

06/09/05   - My spirited Ailie left us on 21 August.  She had been having difficulty getting up, but once we had her on her feet, she was mobile.  However, the light had left her eye, she was no longer tossing her head and defying all her difficulties.  She was 6 weeks short of her 9^th birthday (which was 3 days ago).

She went quietly and with dignity – not at all like Bill and I who were in total tatters.  Ailie had 23 months on 3 legs and we are very grateful to Edinburgh Vet School who gave us all the chance to share this extra time.

When life gets difficult, I try to think of how brave our girl was and try to follow in her footsteps – a tall order!   Anyway, she is probably having a ball having met up with Logan and Taggart who went before her.  I hope they introduced her to Mungo, our first deerhound (he left before she arrived).  I wonder how they would have got on – Mungo had portosystemic shunt and Ailie 3 legs – interesting!!!

The remaining five are all well.  Megget gave us a fright last week.  She was nearing the end of her ‘season’ and had an infection.  The vet and I were on the outlook for pyometra : thankfully, the antibiotics took hold of the infection in time.

On Saturday, I told Megget that she would romp with Dalrymple again and had all five together.  I then spotted (excuse pun) a rather watery blood droplet.   On inspecting Megget (who was quite unco-operative), I found nothing amiss – it was not her.  It was Misty.  So poor Dalrymple has another three weeks of going off his food and wanting to see and sniff the offending lassie.  Think, he might lose some more weight????

20/04/05 - Sorry about delay – have been moving/selling house.

Went to Crufts and Dalrymple was 3^rd in Post-Graduate; Fernitickles was in the biggest class of the day and unfortunately was not placed!

Then we went to Scottish Breeds in Edinburgh at the end of March where Dalrymple was 3^rd in PostGrad and Ferni was 4^th.

Off again to Scottish Hound show at Kelso. This time Ian Kirsopp was standing around so I asked him if he would like to show a dog – he did and Dalrymple was 1^st in Postgrad and Ferni was also first – now what does that say about my showing ability – no answers required!

This weekend was the Breed Show at North Berwick. Ian again appeared (just like magic) and Dalrymple was 1^st in Postgrad and Ferni was 2^nd in Postgrad.

There were several folk from Europe (Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands) and some the USA. Saturday morning was grand – dry, no wind, but when the lassies were being judged the wind got up and it was very cold. On the Sunday, it was quite wet and judging was indoors – we did not stay for the judging as the room was full of dogs and folk and rather stuffy.

14/12/03 - Well, this will be the last update this year.

Taggart left us last month. And Ailie now has three legs : she was found to have bone cancer in a hind leg. We had to make a quick decision as to what to do and opted to have the leg amputated. I am very pleased to report that she is doing wonderfully well, chasing rabbits and raising the old pheasant or two!! She had four lots of chemotherapy and was given a clean bill of health before the final session (after a doubt about her lungs which proved a false alarm). She is lapping up being the main "house dog". We allow her out with Stroma sometimes so that she has doggy company but she is more than pleased to go out with us round the garden (the paddock is a bit steep for her). The others are fine and relaxing after their brilliant show season.

The other big news is that we are en route to an old farmhouse in Ayrshire. I know there are great beaches there to run the dogs but haven't got there yet. I will have to put down the paintbrush, don a fairly heavy overcoat and go exploring with a dog.

All good wishes to all our friends out there. HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND ALL GOOD THINGS FOR 2004 - see you in the showring.

01/11/03 - Well, a lot seems to have a happened since my last update.

Oldest daughter was married in Moffat on 27 September. That all went well after all that organising and worry!!

We have bought a house in Ayrshire so will be moving.

Ailie was found to have bone cancer in one of her hind legs and had it removed. She is doing very well and runs past Taggart, bounds towards us with a laughing face - it is truly wonderful.

Taggart, not to be outdone by Ailie, has also spent some time at the Dick Vet in Edinburgh. He had cellulitis and septicemia on a hind leg. Our vets thought it was spinal so I took him to Edinburgh with heavy heart. Since he is 8.5 years old I did not we could cope with major decisions. However, it has not come to that. He is now enjoying life again. The wounds where they drained the fluid from are healing slowly and a pressure point has been stitched this week. He broke one of the stitches and is now half stapled, half stitched.

So we have been a bit "in the wars"

However, we are surviving and I have just remembered that I did not update on the last two shows. We went to Irvine on Sunday 7 September - Scottish Hound Association Open show - very disappointing entry: only 3 deerhounds appeared - one in each class. We did not get best of breed - Joan's Delight got that!

Then we went to Darlington Championship show on 12 September. Kay Barret was the judge. Dalrymple was 1st in Postgrad and Fernitickles was 4th, also in Postgrad. So that is our show record complete for this year. We did very well - much exceeded any expectations I could have had with my first litter. Content to be at home now with my hounds for the winter.

There was some extra excitement at Darlington. Jean Blandford asked me to run her girl, Flora Macdonald as the two sisters were both in Open Bitch (Betty Burke was the other lass). There were 4 in the ring and I felt I was making a pig's ear of it all because Flora was looking for her "mum". However, whilst I was standing Flora and concentrating really hard on making sure she was still, the judge called 3 times for us to come out first!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hadn't noticed until a pair of feet appeared in my sight!!!!!!! I gave Flora back to Jean and she was awarded the bitch CC. Jean was then very generous and asked me to do the lap of honour: fame!!! Watch this space.

24/08/03 - Off on the road again but a wee drive to Edinburgh this time. I was really pleased that they had the tent tops again as it was quite hot outside. There was a little breeze outside which made it quite pleasant.

Both pups have now used up all their days in the young classes and Post Graduate was the order of the day. Dalrymple had 5 in his class and was a real fidget so I was quite surprised when he was pulled out first. Fernitickles was in a class of 12 with one absentee. We were run in two lots and M McBride had a lot of work to do to get through this class. She pulled out six for further examination - six is my most hated number - someone has to walk out of the ring alone. Concentration was a priority - luckily Ferni was not as fidgety as her brother!! She was pulled out first!!! - my best ever win (apart from Crufts!!)

02/08/03 - Off early in the morning to Stafford. Good drive down and time for a coffee before the heat of the day hit us. It was very hot and dogs were hidden behind big umbrellas or swathed in wet towels to keep them comfortable.

Dalrymple and Fernitickles were both in Special Yearling. Dalrymple was first in his small class - delighted! Then when it was Fernitickles' turn she also was awarded first in a bigger class - more delight! At the end of the judging there were some special prizes, Special Yearling being one. Betina Adams took Dalrymple who beat his sister and was given a lovely bronze deerhound in a wooden box. It weighed a ton (so to speak) and I was quite apprehensive about dropping it on my way to the dogmobile - managed to get it to the van safely! So I was very well pleased with our day.

28/07/03 - Had a great day at Leeds yesterday. Had to wait until 1.30 for judging to begin (Borzois were on first in our ring). Arrived there at 9.25!! Sun shone off and on. Anyway, it was our first time in Postgraduate in a Champ Show and when I was in the ring with Dalrymple the sun came out whilst I was running and I became asthmatic - had to take inhaler twice! Anyway at the end of the class Dalrymple was first beating Gentom Lorcan for the very first time - I was quietly ecstatic. Then in the challenge J Lanning (judge) took out Kilbourne Celtic at Hammond for the CC. She then recalled 2nd in Open Dog (who I thought would get the Reserve. I concentrated on keeping Dalrymple still (he has become something of a fidget!!) and miracle of miracles, he was given the RCC (Reserve Challenge Certificate). Talk about gobsmacked - I was nonplussed, stunned, stupefied. His Mum (Stroma) had one RCC before I retired her and I cried (horror of horrors). This time I was so taken aback that I was almost dignified and we flew round the ring after Celtic in our lap or honour.

But the day was not quite over. Fernitickles was also in Postgraduate class (for girls). As usual, it was the biggest class of the day. She ran quite well with me (I had to hide the cheese until she stopped running because she got a whiff of it and jumped up!!) She was placed 3rd - 12 were entered and there were a few absentees. So I was well pleased with our day.

New photos of Dalrymple have been requested by soon-to-be-owners of his puppies so I have sent some to Jamie to update website.

Houndshow on Saturday. We will go because we see lots of folk and hounds not always seen at shows - much fun near the end of the season. J Phinizy from USA judging.

22/06/03 - Was at Blackpool Show yesterday. Both Dalrymple and Fernitickles were 2nd in their classes (Graduate). Flaunden Flora Macdonald was BoB and had her 2nd CC. Glantonmoor Aluin won the Dog CC. Much better weather than at Kelso - it was dull and cool - just perfect for me and the hounds to run.

15/06/03 - Took pups to Border Union yesterday. Both were in Novice Class - Dalrymple was 1st and Fernitickles was 2nd. The Tartraven Puppies were out in force - 3 in one class: one was Best Puppy. Gentom Lorcan who beat Dalrymple at Crufts was the Best Dog and got the Challenge Certificate - not bad since he was still in Junior!

Dalrymple's 8 pups are doing well - I am awaiting photorgraphs!

20/05/03 - Two items of interest: Dalrymple has become a Dad - 8 pups have survived.

Second item is that we went to SKC and Dalrymple and Fernitickles were both first in their Novice classes. Not a great entry for the show. Judge was D Pordham Kenis (who does not like exhibitors to place the dog's feet - I was told off several times!! Ferni was also run for the Reserve CC ticket - bril (she did not get it!!)

30/04/03 - Went to Scottish Breed Championship Show in Ingliston on 29 March. Small classes and Ferni and Dalrymple were in Junior where Dalrymple was 1st and Ferni was 2nd - Judge Caroline Dowsett.

On 12 April, went to Scottish Hound Ch Show with Liz Cartledge judging at the newly developed site at Kelso. Dogs very sick on the journey. Very twisty road and even though I did not drive fast the van seemed to swing a lot. However, having got there very early, I discovered that we were not first on!! When we did get into the ring (outside) the sun had put in a strong appearance and we had to run round the ring twice (had to take my inhaler after I had run Dalrymple!!) Dalrymple was 2nd and Ferni was 3rd. Judge was lovely and asked the age of the hounds - when I said that they would be 18 months in 5 days time, she whispered in Dalrymple's ear "you won't have any more classes in Junior"!!!!!!!!!

So we are now in Graduate or Postgraduate (the class from hell where everyone lands up after the puppy classes and competes with all sorts of ages)

Bill (husband - as opposed to dog!!) phoned up the local paper and the photographer came and the pups and I were on the front page (no, nothing smutty like page 3 for us!) And a lady from Annan came and interviewed me and took some photos of dogs for a magazine she sends articles to. I have also been asked to steward at a local fun show and keep all the kids in order - as well as their dogs. Looking forward to going back to the quiet life.

13/03/03 - On Saturday, 8 March 2003, Dalrymple and Fernitickles from my first litter went to Crufts for the day. Dalrymple was in Special Junior Dog and was awarded 2nd place - much chuffed! Fernitickles had a long wait but went into Special Junior Bitch and was 1st - surprise, shock and eventually delight. What a result. But the day was not yet over for little Ferni (they are both 16 months of age). In the challenge for the Reserve Bitch CC, she was pulled out to run with the Limit Bitch winner and 2nd in Open Bitch. We did not win but what a thrill to run at Crufts in that last run. I am somewhat gobsmacked to have done so well with my first litter. Never again, could I be so thrilled with a day at the shows. Lots of friends made their way to see me at the bench later on and I had lots of hugs - and I DIDN'T cry (as I have been known to do!!!)

Kim and Gail Lewis from Wales were extremely kind to me and sat with my hound when I ran the other. I did run their Ardneish Lillibeth in Post Grad Bitch but alas, I had used up most of my brownie points by then.

Needless to say, I am still on Cloud 9 - and may be for some little time yet.

All the other hounds are well and totally unimpressed with the result even though they did get an extra Bonio when I arrived back home!!

26/02/03 - Well, we have had a long break through the dark winter days. However, Jamie has found a new keyboard for his very old computer so we are in business again.

Not a lot has happened since last news. Pups have been filling out and are nearly ready for their visit to Crufts. Stroma has retired and is pleased to let her children carry on in the ring.

Bill has spent a lot of time sailing in Antigua but will be home in time to "baby" sit the four who are not showing at Crufts. Unfortunately, he plans to be in Antigua during the Breed Show so we are not going but wish everyone there a happy weekend.

31/08/02 - Logan left us yesterday and so it is a little tearful here today when we think of his special likes and dislikes. He had compressed vertibrae (that's about all I remember of the report from the vet). He could not stand on his hind legs and walking was an impossibility. He looked so sad and worn out that I took a deep breath and made the final decision. Always the gentleman and a happy smiling chap is the picture we will hold dear. He was so like Mungo (our first deerhound) in nature, and I can imagine them running together in happier times - no pain, just pure joy.

On a lighter vein, Stroma, Dalrymple and Fernitickles went to the SKC show in Edinburgh last week.

Dalrymple was 2nd in Puppy Dog, Ferni was 1st in Puppy Bitch and Stroma was 5th in Limit Bitch. I was particularly pleased with Stroma's result because it was a big, strong class and many good bitches were beaten.

21/07/02 - Just back from Border Counties Hound Club in Carlisle where their Open Show was held. I'll spare you all the details but just mention that Dalrymple (my wee lad!!) was Best of Breed; in the Best in Show challenge he was pulled out in the last 7 which I was thrilled with and in Best Puppy in Show he was awarded Reserve. I am quite exhausted thinking about it all.

At the Hound Association of Scotland Member's Limited Show at Alva at the beginning of the month, we had entered 8 classes and came away with five firsts, two seconds and one third. And at Dundee Canine Club Open Show Ferni was first AV Minor Puppy Bitch, whilst Dalrymple was 2nd AV Minor Puppy Dog.

We did go to Border Union and although they both were first in Minor Puppy, it was no fun because we had no one in the ring with us!!

We have quite recovered from Stroma winning 1st in Limit and Reserve CC at the Scottish Kennel Club back in May. For someone who really is happy to live quietly at home with her hounds, we appear to have had a wonderful purple patch!! And the nice thing about deerhound folk is that most of them have been very happy for me and my hounds breaking new ground.

After Logan's anal gland removal and a couple of chunks out of sides (Ailie and Ferni), the vet has had a few lean weeks but we are not complaining.

Taggart, Logan and Ailie have all benefitted from a good "stripping" out of old coat, particularly round the neck. The very wet "summer" nearly drove me mad with dirty muddy paws and wet towels - they do like a "rubadubadub" (I am sure they go out for a couple of minutes to get a warm towel rubbed over them - clever old things!!)

Hope to update more regularly, particularly if exciting things are happening - this will all be down to Jamie who has some fantastic fee in mind for updating this website: hope to keep vet bills small so that I can pay him ;-)

Well, we have had a bit of a week!!   Took Stroma to Scottish Kennel Club Show on Sunday to see if she would show at all.   We were awarded 1st in Limit Bitch and then took the Reserve CC (two 'firsts' in one day - wow!!)  I have not told Stroma that she is permanently qualified for Crufts - she would not be impressed!!

On 17 October 2001, Stroma had a litter of pups, four of whom survived (3 girls and a boy).  The whole delivery process was somewhat fraught and I am not thinking of doing it again.  We lost several pups which broke my heart.  Anyway, delighted that we had 4 youngsters who quickly thrived.  Didn't want to part with any of them since they had fought to stay alive, but a particularly nice couple kept phoning and when they came to see the pups, I was impressed with their attitude to all of my dogs, and so Talla left us in January and is quite settled, loved and spoiled (ah, it is a dog's life is it not!!)

We have had lots of visits to vets with our ageing chaps.  We have also had several scraps where someone has been injured.  However, at the moment, Logan is the only one under the 'doc' - he has a temperature and his prostrate is slightly enlarged.

Looking forward to taking Dalrymple and Fernitickles to Border Union in Kelso next month. 

Now that Jamie has updated the site, I will try to be more regular with updates.

21 July 2001 - sorry it has taken so long to come back to you. Have been showing (slightly) but still not covered in glory. The girls just don't want to go into the ring. I did take Stroma to Crufts but we were not placed - I think I will only go to Crufts in future without a dog!! - much more relaxing. There were lots of deerhounds there and so I did a lot of stroking. It was very nice to see so many owners again. Sandra Cummings had an ankle problem and had to be driven home with Esk; she is still in plaster (achilles tendon) and has to keep her foot UP!

Then went to Dundee - girls had 2 x third (which I was mighty surprised at since they were very awkward and unco-operative (how can I use these words against deerhounds - easily!!) - Menteith Clara BoB. Then to Hound Association of Scotland in Alva - a lovely wee show - and was not placed with Stroma (she ran slightly better than before_ - Menteith Charles BoB (brother of Clara - Dorothy Morton is doing well)

Went to East of England show as a passenger with Jean Blandford. I enjoyed being kennelmaid and not going into the ring - just holding the next lass in readiness to exchange at the end of the class - Beardswood Jurah was BoB (2^nd CC). Lots of deerhounds appear to have 2 CCs and so it will be very interesting to see who aspires to Ch status first.

Sadly Seamus Caine died last week. He had been in hospital for a spell and was back home - poor Nell must be shattered.

The new Newsletter arrived yesterday and I have to say that I am mightily impressed with its content - all good wishes to Glenis Peach and her team.

3 February 2001  -  Have had a very trying week with no success in mating Stroma.  Have travelled quite a lot and was exhausted at the end of it.  Now the whole family are back together again and chasing each other ragged - they will settle down soon, won't they??  Apart from the lack of success in mating, we are all fine.  Now Stroma may go to Crufts (I entered her as insurance for her to have pups - wrong!!)

31 December 2000  -  Am delighted to get to this date.  At last this  horrible year has ended.  Christmas was delightful in that we had a light covering of snow and it was so cold that it did not melt.  Two days later we had about one inch more snow and it has been really beautiful with bright sunny days and invigorating walks with the dogs when cheeks were frozen but it was so dazzlingly white.  However, today arrived in a different mood and there is now sleet-like rain which will ruin our bright white land and make it bleak midwinter again.  We did enjoy this week - especially as we were not flying, training or travelling anywhere.  The dogs liked running with their noses ploughing through the snow - no more alas!