French Bulldog

Seventeen Frenchies registered and … all of them English! It wasn’t easy, the quality of some of the dogs was so high. It’s true that some established English lines have some problems. Perhaps the lines are getting a little closed, but the English know how to move forward in their breeding and they are doing just that.. Importing new blood is now not so complicated as before and with the odd exception who is afraid of anything from “out there” many breeders are looking to continental lines..
A little timidly in my opinion, but they are trying
As I said it didn’t look easy to come away with anything, especially considering that Monty had lost 4lbs or so during two weeks’ travelling. We were competing with some dogs that were in my opinion very big, and certainly fatter.. The subject of big dogs is a little delicate. There are judges who like to put them up, others aren’t in agreement.
As to the showring, it was the first time we competed on sand, having to carry a cloth to clean the dog up a little before putting him on the table. Shows in England are above all a spectacle. Its not unusual to see the ring steward geeing everyone up, public and competitors. On the other hand they are more friendly and informal it’s common to see a dog outside the ring greet a friend who is inside waiting his turn for the table. The owners swap jokes, it’s very enjoyable. The tension is there alright but this way it gets relieved.
“ Laydees and a chuntlemen” announces the steward, “ our winner in Open Class today is………. Shanvic Sunbeam Bear!”
We’d just beat the male dogs,…. good work my little “ thin partner”.
At the end there were three for BOB and the judge chose Sadepa Little Benita, Monty got Best of Opposite Sex. Two nice rosettes to take home, or rather back to the campervan.
Monty was a hit with both breeders and judges some asked if he was available for stud, and others just thought that it was just as well we didn’t show up at their shows too often.
Apart from the show the rest of the trip was also very interesting full of information and interest for any Frenchy lover,,information that , bit by bit, I’ll post in the future in this page. I hope it will be of interest to those of you out there.
Our warmest thanks to all those, breeders and judges, who helped make the voyage so interesting and enjoyable. Thanks to all for your great help.

Once again in the Parque de la Florida. Last year we got to Reserve BIS in puppy class, beaten by a poodle " a meringue floating on the wind". We didn't mind because she was certainly a beauty. The judge this time, Mr Terry Nethercott, was the first English judge to set eyes on Monty. We got thorough the preselection in the group judging, but he liked the ribbons and bows more. Well we're used to this now. Monty showed very well despite the ants tickling his feet. Final result: CAC CACIB and BOB. More for the collection. The show was pretty well organised, a lot of people stayed to the end, perhaps due to the good weather. The punctuality could have been sharper, but everything else went fine. Special mention to the Senior Ring Steward who was calm, sure and in a good mood throughout. Thanks to all concerned.

It was hot, too hot for a Frenchy. Perhaps too hot for everybody. We were lucky in that we were on at 10 in the morning, and it was hot, but still bearable in the "Jesus María Pereda" football stadium. The exhibitors soon started putting up their tents and parasols. A lot looked up at the sky to see if any kind cloud should put in an appearance. The Medina Show isn't much like other shows, more like a garden party, everybody has a good time. First up and the judge Rodi Hubenthal gave Monty CAC point, CACIB point and Best of Breed. This despite the fact that someone had had the brilliant idea of bringing a Frenchy bitch on heat to the show, driving Monty to distraction. But what are you going to do? We thought the best thing to do was to go home straight away and not wait for the afternoon and the inferno that it would bring. But Monty won the group, and so we had to stay to the end. I never thought that Monty's breathing would be so good under these extreme conditions, but all the time spent walking and running on the beach paid off, and he showed really well and so got Reserve Best in Show. He was up for it to the end. Way to go Monty. Many thanks to the judges, Mr. and Mrs. Rodi Hubenthal, for spotting Monty's strong points under such conditions, and for the ring assistant who was also very helpful at the final stage. Thanks to all concerned.

A lot of breeds, seven pavilions full of beautiful dogs, seven thousand dogs registered to compete. Not easy to bear. Maybe because things went well for us, we can say that the organisation was very good. But as always not everybody was happy. As I said, we were lucky. The judge, Mr. Hans Lehtinen, Finland gave us Excellent, 1st in Intermediate class, a splendid result. Of course the final winners were the usual supects Parures and Akiris. I sometimes wonder if these dogs keep winning out of inertia or if they are really so good. After close inspection I figured that both played their part. But the fact is that there are dogs that are starting to give the present habitual winners very serious competition. We shall see what the future holds.... but the next World Dog Show is in Holland, and it will take a really super dog to beat them on their "home ground". But a year can be a long time. Coming up for the CAC against our good friend Vera and her boy Misha v.d. Mestreechteneerkes was very exciting. When she won her tears rained down on Misha, and I could only hug her and cry with her. Anyway, thanks to all who helped us get this prize especially the judge, Mr. Hans Lehtinen.

It's just a year since we last visited this lovely spot. Monty was only three months old when he first saw the rings of El Centro Ecuestre de "El Asturcón", the equine complex of Asturias , then it was just to look round, and Monty was like a little chocolate ball . Everyone, including the judges fell in love with him at first sight. And it worked. He strode into the ring in Intermediate Class for the first time, sure of himself. The judge, this time Mr Nils Molins ( Sweden), took no time in deciding. Excellent 1st, CAC, CACIB and BOB. We almost got 1st of Group Nine, but the same judge said he was still a very young chap, so we got third. Still a long road ahead but we now have our first Championship point, National and International. As to Group Nine, Monty will continue chasing the tails of Papillons and giving me despairing looks when I tell him this is not the time or place to give 'em a tweak. Blessed are the Obedient!

Still in Young Dog class. This was our final outing in this class, from now on we go into intermediate class. We could have taken home BOB, but we were up against some tough competition, our good friend Jaquella Tintin. He is six months older than us and is a fine example, so we had to be happy with Excellent 1st and Best Young.Thanks to judge Brigitte Schojth (Denmark) who took her time deciding who got the prize, but maturity won out in the end. There were no prizes for Young dogs,because they have done away with the prizes in this class to save time. Young dogs from now on compete with Intermediate Class, Open and the Champions for BOB.We don't mind, but from now on there will be few young dogs competing, except the early developers. Let's hope the next outing sees better luck,. Fingers crossed.....