Return to Home page

Spud

Spud is our English Springer Spaniel. He was twelve on August 18th 2009 and has the very posh kennel name of Ladbroke Mo Buster.

He is a very special dog and everybody who meets him loves him. I always joke that if I wanted (heaven forbid) to give him away I'd have a queue twice round the block to take him.

Spud is responsible for getting me interested in Obedience as we took him to pet classes when he was a puppy. We also took our second dog, Flump, there and Spud really milked his position as the Old Man of the Dog Club to blag treats off anyone soft enough to fall for the patent Spaniel look of "She starves me and she beats me and .. (swallow)!". I helped at the club for nearly 5 years and Spud was often used to demonstrate to the lower classes. His good nature meant he often had complete strangers practising the "present your dog for examination" element of the KCGCDS tests on him. Spud also appeared in the Club's display team.

Spud is starting to choose when and sometimes if he wants to go for a walk but can still run manic spaniel circles when the mood takes him, however, he shows his age afterwards when he likes to crash out in his bed for an good kip and a snore.

**Update**

Unfortunately Spud has had to have a malignant tumour removed. The tumour was completely removed at the initial site but the biopsy gave a guarded prognosis as this type of tumour very often spreads via the lymph system. He is fine in himself and we have been advised that any problems with secondary tumours will be at least 6 months away so we are looking after him and trying not to spoil him too much.

It is now over a year since the tumour was removed and so far everything is looking fine. Spud is going a little senile and is a bit stiff but still very much a Spaniel and enjoying life to the full.

Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme

Spud has passed all his Good Citizen tests:

• Bronze
• Silver
• Gold

Obedience

Like Rupert, Spud made his obedience debut at Wolverhampton DTC Championship show. We were drawn eighth in the ring, which meant an early start. I found out when I got to the show that Rupert and Spud were drawn in different rings, which was a relief, as it meant I didn't have to worry about handling them in the same stay ring. Spud was the odd-man-out as all my friend's dogs were drawn in the same ring as Rupert.

Spud was just coming up to his eighth birthday at the time of the show and had never competed before. He had never been seriously trained for competition obedience, only pet obedience so I was very pleased with him when he only lost 5 marks.

	Spud's Obedience Debut "Recall"
"Coming Mum!"	Finish with a "Pop!"	"What next?"

Spud enjoyed himself so much that I decided to train him properly for competition work . Whoever said you can't teach an old dog new tricks never met my Spud, he has learnt to retrieve and is having to completely relearn heelwork as he was only ever taught pet-standard heelwork before. He is also having a complete ball doing so!

Chesvale DTC Open Obedience Show

Our next outing wasn't until Chesvale DTC Open Obedience Show in May 2007. Spud was entered in the KCGSDS Special Pre-Beginner Stakes. He worked with his usual enthusiasm and only lost 3.5 marks! 2 on heelwork and 0.5 each on play motivation, recall and gate control. We had to runoff for 7th place, we had to redo the recall and, despite me anticipating the steward's command to "leave your dog", Spud obviously did enough as he was 7th! This marked the end of Spud's competitive obedience career (always retire on a high) but he still enjoys doing a bit of training to keep his paw in.

Spud proudly shows off his rosette and place card

KCGSDS Special Prebeginner Dog or Bitch Part I lineup.

Breed Showing

As you can see Spud is a Working English Springer Spaniel, there may be some Blue Blood in his pedigree but they are all FTChs rather than ShChs!

However, Spud did make his breed show debut in 2005 at Swallowfield Companion Show where he came 6th in the Veteran class. What a star! Following on from this heady success I entered him in the Veteran and the Waggiest Tail classes at Matchborough DTC Companion Show in June 2006 and he came 4th in both classes. Well done Spud!

Return to Home page

Copyright Rachel J Bradley 2004-10