NORWEGIAN BUHUNDS
Many of you will know the story of the Buhund that I am going to write about, it is an amazing story of survival, and I do wonder how dogs from other breeds would have survived what this dog went though, he shows the breed still has the Viking spirit. The story started back last summer in America when 7 Buhunds were taken into rescue in California. After health checks they were put up for adoption. This is the story of what happened to one of the seven named Rudy. Told by Faye Adox who is President of the NBCA (Norwegian Buhund Club of America ).“Rudy a rescue Buhund one of the 7 from CA he went missing on September 12th.His new mum contacted the Minnesota Retrievers a volunteer organisation based in Minnesota. They worked with his new mum in getting the word out that he was missing. Rudy had only been in his new home for 3 weeks when he jumped on a screen door which popped opened, and Rudy bolted. The Retrievers and his mum put out flyers in the local area and we (NBCA) posted on all the local FB pages about Rudy. The Retrievers put up drones near his home with no luck. More flyers were put out every day and more postings. The first sighting was about a week or so after Rudy disappeared,it was only about a mile from his home. First, he was seen next to the road and then in a neighbour’s yard who was putting out food for stray cats ,Rudy was hungry and resourceful !I have to say as head of the NBCA rescue I questioned their methods, I would have been put there putting up traps at the 1st sighting. However, I did not know then what I know now. They did put up traps after it was confirmed it was Rudy but sadly, he did not show ,someone in the area had been letting off fireworks and he got spooked. It was another week or so before he was sighted again several times -this time about 4 miles north of his home. Cameras were put out, but he was not caught on camera ,then he was spotted a short distance away. The trap was set again and Rudy actually made it into the trap but not far enough in to trip the trigger. Monika Grimm, who had been Rudy’s foster mum was delivering one of the other rescues to their new home, stopped in the area with 2 of her own dogs in hopes that nice pee trail from his favourite girl might help. At each one of these sightings Minnesota Retrievers were sitting out near the trap all hours of the day and night waiting for him to trip the trigger and be caught. Sadly, Rudy again disappeared, it was hunting season and the local farmers said they had heard a lot of gun shots and Rudy was gone again. Fast forward to the end of January 5 months after Rudy had disappeared. There had not been a sighting for months. All this time his mum had been putting out flyers and I was still posting on all the sites near the area. The Retrievers were also keeping the word out there -no one was forgetting about Rudy .Then both the Retrievers and his mum received a message about a dog that looked like Rudy about 5 miles from his home on an abandoned property. The Retrievers put up a camera and put out some dog food. The pictures the person who saw him shared, definitely looked like Rudy. If it wasn’t him at least another dog would be safe. After confirming there was indeed a dog on the property a trap was set. The camera confirmed it was Rudy; he was still wearing his tag with Rudy on it. There was a snowstorm coming in and a company had moved into the abandoned area ready to demolish all the buildings. It was catch him that night or he would be gone again. His case worker, Nicole was planning on staying out there all night to get him in if he went into the trap and triggered the door. Rudy made his appearance and was caught about 11.45EST. I received a message about 15min later. They were going to let Rudy calm down and then go into the trap. When Nicole went into the trap Rudy went to her for some love. Nicole said she would take him back to her place. He is a flight risk and because of this his mum decided that because of her age, it would be best if he went back to his foster mum Monika who has said she will keep him. The Minnesota Retrievers never gave up on Rudy, and nor did we” What is amazing is over the 5 months he gained 5lbs in weight a great story of survival, intelligence and independence of the breed. He had a vet check, a bath to remove burrs and a nail trim. He is suffering from Anaplasma, which is a tick borne disease which happily is treatable with antibiotic, and is loving all the pampering he is getting. The Retrievers were so impressed with Rudy that they have joined the forum to learn more about the breed.
On 8th February Millie Lambert her mum and sister celebrated living Wales for forty years and what other way to celebrate than go to a dog show, South Wales Kennel Association held its Open Show at Merthyr Leisure Centre Merthy Tydfil. The Buhund Judge was Tim Hutchings he awarded BOB & BP to Millie’s homebred Sturtmoor’s Gon’n Dun It (Gunna) who has is having a great puppy career, he was G3 and Puppy Group 2 also under Tim Hutchings (Winuwuk) and later won the Puppy Stakes under Matthew Oddie winning £10. The same day but in England, Jacqui Walmsley went to Ilfracombe & District Canine Society Show held at the Matford Centre Exeter. Jacqui told me that Mary and Coralie Dosson’s Leggatts Part Time Lover (Barnaby) won AVNSC PG, with Jacqui’s Trelowen Amelia at Frostisen (Bunny) 2nd in AVNSC open behind the eventual group winner. Bunny was then 2nd in Pastoral Veteran, again behind the Group winner, earning some more points for her Veteran Warrant. The judge was Jerry Stephens (Brightmeadow). The following day it was Portsmouth Southsea Kennel Association show at Havant Leisure Centre. The Buhund Judge was Glynn Payne (Fearnought), he found his BOB in Sue Crocker’s Leggatts Jive Talkin(Noodle) handled as usual by Jasmine Freeborn, Sue’s Leggatts Voulez Vous (Tissy)was RBOB so a very successful day for Sue.
Margaret Deuchar margaretdeuchar@gmail.com
Any views expressed in Margaret’s Breed Notes are hers and hers alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Norwegian Buhund Club of the UK