Catja at Loudiac

Five rings of Brittanys. Over three hundred dogs entered. All got judged and an appraisal of each is given to the handler at the time. The dogs deemed 'excellent' had a chance to be judged and placed No 1, 2 or 3. however this is arrived at it seems by attrition, one dog after another is dropped. There were four UK dogs entered. 2 open dogs, open bitch and veteran bitch. Mick Young's bitch was the last bitch to be put out of the ring before the line up was finally decided from an initial class of 46. Britt, was placed 3rd in her class of Veteran Females. We had not entered Topaz – another year should see him body up a bit more.

Something that was especially good to see was David Campbell from Canada and Kathy Gorman (BCGB) assisting in the ring. Not just as box ticking record keepers but judging by the arm movements very much involved in the assessment of each dog.

The high point for the Sunday for me was to meet Catja again and have her to ourselves for several hours. She is – he says with blinkered eyes – a magic little dog. Hermann has done some impressive work with her. For instance she went off to play with another dog and his answer was to call her and throw a dummy - she forsook her new friend and ran to the dummy. Perhaps she is not a real Brittany?? Running around (chasing her own shadow as much as anything) wore her out. Not much beats having a puppy go to sleep on ones lap.