NORWEGIAN BUHUNDS
I am sure you all know that a few weeks ago it was the 25th Anniversary of the terrible events of 9/11.Faye Adox who is President of the Buhund Club of America and her Buhund Ghost were invited to the Memorial Service held on the site of the twin towers, as they belong to Animal Assisted Crisis team .There were 8 teams to bring a small amount of comfort to the families and 1st responders during the emotional service .Faye said they were honoured to be there and Ghost never stops amazing her .They were at the exit, when he noticed a young girl who had just come out of the memorial service and was crying. He went up to her, Faye said she introduced themselves and asked if she would like Ghost to sit with her, at first, she said no but then proceeded to get down with him, he laid his head on her arm; he stayed there and let her pour all her sadness into him. Faye said he helps one person like that it is worth the entire day.
More than 300 search and rescue dogs were deployed to ground zero in the days and weeks after the attacks. They worked 12-hour shifts with their handlers. There were vets to help with their paws, eyes and noses. Most of the dogs were used to searching after avalanches and earthquakes not urban areas and only finding bodies of the deceased. After a while the handlers noticed, the dogs were beginning to lack motivation and were becoming depressed; it was realised it was because they were trained to find people alive. So, some rescue workers would hide in the rubble and let the dogs find them and reward them as if it was a real find. Some dogs never fully recovered, and their experience is part of ongoing research into the long term physical and psychological effects of search and rescue work, that research continues to shape how disaster response dogs are trained and supported.
It is interesting as most of you know I do scent work with Time and as you go up the levels there are blank areas the dogs have to search and the area called clear, but even at that basic level compared with search and rescue dogs if there are too many blank areas the dogs switch off and do not want to search.
Lucy Beatrice Stevens told me that recently she took Zuki aka Leggatts Fly Like An Eagle on an introductory Barn Hunt Session, she said they had a wonderful couple of hours leaning the basics and scent identification. Zuki did really well and that she will be looking to do some competitions with her in the future.
Saturday 26th September was quite a busy day for the breed. Jasmine Freeborn headed off with her and Sue & Sam Crocker’s Tissy aka as Leggatts Voulez Vous to Okehampton & District Canine Society Open Show held at the Grange, Oakhampton Devon, where she was RBOB to Mary and David Dosson Ola aka Kimura’s Ola Normann Nor Jr Ch (Nor Imp) who was BOB. The judge was Richard Chaffe who judge all the Pastoral Breeds and gives CCs in American Cocker Spaniels. BIS was Chris John’s Portuguese Water Dog Ankors Fraser River Among Cristakell  (Chance)handled by daughter Char, both Chris and Char give CCs in Buhunds and have Buhunds at home.
The same day the first Bu Bumble for some time organised by Lisa Strong was held at the usual venue in the area for Bumbles, Hinchingbrooke Country Park Huntingdon. It is ideal for Bumbles as it covers 150 acres of open grassland, mature woodlands and lakes with designated paths and a very nice cafe to be visited at the end of the Bumble. Lisa and Alex took their 3 Eris (Ch Leggatts Dancing Queen at Draccus) her daughter Raven (Draccus I Have A Dream (ai)) and the Buhund that started it all for them Loki Snowflake who is now 14.5yrs old. At the other end of the age scale was 22-week-old Yiva  (Leggatts Shine A Light) with companion Luna (Mazads Joie De Vivre) and owners Andrea and Andrew Platts. Pixie (Wheatshade Snow Dreamer) brought along owner Sarah Stonton. Sue and Marti Camm had Teya (Arnscroft Di Amond Pearl). Caroline and John Harrison took along Tia (Knytshall Sasha) and last but certainly not least there was Jenny (Tapui Sparkle) accompanied by owner Angela Unsworth.
The following day Steve Atkinson judged the breed at Belfast Ch show held at the Eikon Exhibition Centre Balmoral Park; Lisburn he awarded BD & BOB to Sue Avery’s Ir Ch Trelowen Forest Gump(ai) with BB going to Sue’s Ir Ch Fjordriket Magic Potion (IMP US).
I finish with some clear eye tests Jacque & Michael Cobb & Nancy Kent’s Ch Koromandel Best Served Cold At Knytshall(Jamie) by Ch/Can Ch Kyon’s Bold Norseman x Ch MaidofCopper For Koromandel (Imp Fin) and the same owners Knytshall Ragged Robin (Rowdy) by Jamie x Knytshall Eloise. Cheryl and Paul Denham – Horton’s Riverhund Kyon Where Shall I Wonder To Jjavacobe (Goose) (Imp Can) by Am Ch Fabrajs Marquis De Lafyette O’Kyon x Can Ch Kyon’s Fine Flotte Rue.
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