…and over to you

The EFG website brings a lot of people to the breed, the EFG and here to the blog. For a small site it is visited very regularly. All its life and through it’s different redos it has always done well. One of the reasons is that it has always been different. In the early days, when all websites were on white backgrounds, it was on black. People remembered the “black Glen of Imaal Terrier site”. The latest re-incarnation with its slanted offset front page caused a few eyebrows to begin with but that is a reaction and reactions are what stick in the mind. The EFG gets complemented on its different and friendly approach

As the EFG is currently getting ready to hopefully begin a new phase of its life what should happen with the website? What would you like to see on there? Is there anything you would like taken off? It’s your website so tell us!

Public Domain

The tag line of this blog is “keeping Glen of Imaal people up to date”. Those words sit right at the top of the page and what is written (and hopefully read) most days is intended to do just that; let people know what is going on that might affect them and their Glens.

Back on January 6th the introduction of the Kennel Club online Health Checker was announced & a link given so everybody could have a look. For the past six months many of the Kennel Club announcements have been able to be found here. Also some of the more “interesting” media comments and stories have graced this blog. A certain recent development has raised a question we knew was out there but it is one we can’t answer as we believe the EFG is doing what it can.

For months now the cry has been dog people should have “open transparency” in regard to anything and everything that could concern pedigree canine health. This is why the KC launched the online checker; anybody would be able to check if a certain animal had participated in any health tests i.e. results were moved into the public domain. Long before “online” was invented the Kennel Club produced the Breed Record Supplement; all animals registered with them were recorded and placed in the public domain.

Spring 2009 saw the collating together of Glen of Imaal Terrier information; information already in the public domain. There have been squeaks of indignation from a few “who gave permission?” “nobody asked us” “it’s not right”. It has seemed to be a genuine surprise that everything is “freely out there” for anybody to look at. The KC & the two dog papers have been covering this for months. Information has gone out to breed clubs about “changes” but apparently some are still unaware.

Collating the 08 results DID show some omissions in the Glen of Imaal Terrier results. The KC were got in touch with about this and the missing name has now been added. The owner of the dog did considerable teeth gnashing when the list was seen because they knew that their own dog had been done but if anybody used the KC tracker…….

AS everything is now in the public domain (and people are being encouraged to use the facility intensively) it can be suggested that all responsible Glen of Imaal Terrier people make sure anything to do with their dog, that is recorded at the Kennel Club, is up to date and correctly on the site. Even looking at the Glen Breed Standard now will find the Accredited Breeder Link. That link will indicate that Glen people who are ABs are required (previously recommended) to have done the relevent eye tests as per Kennel Club guide lines and there is another link to the online checker so it can be found out.

The EFG came into being because the “need to know” attitude around at the time irritated and Public Domain has been one of the bywords of the organisation. The blog came into being because it was wanted to get any information “out there”. The Kennel Club have come a bit late to the ideal but are beginning to adopt it with a vengeance. Actually that is probably the answer to the earlier question of “How can it be got out to people that everything to do with dogs, if the KC are involved, will soon be public domain?” It’ll take a bit of time and some will be later than others but hopefully like the KC they will adopt it with enthusiasm.

Happy Easter

At least all the WEATHER over Easter was useful for the Glens. It was too awful to go anywhere so there was only dog walking. Hats, gloves, coats for us with the Glens just leaping around going out, out out!!! In case anybody ever wonders Glens do not need coats or waterproofs of any sort, they are very weather tolerant. All the snow flurries (the east of the country had a lot) meant that there weren’t many people out so the dogs actually got out more than usual. I s Spring ever going to come?

Looking Forward.

Spring has come in like a Lion, we are all hoping it goes out like a Lamb and perhaps a sign we might get a good summer particularly for a certain weekend in July!

Caravanners need to book ( those needing hook ups ) with the Poplars Farm as they have only limted site available. This is a small selective site 1/2 mile away from the FUNd weekend (on the same road ) so early bookings would be appreciated.01205 722692 ( Caravanning & Camping Club certified ).

Do not forget to let Jean know if you want to stay at the local motel so she can book you in at a special rate.  Offers of  new season Strawberry Jam already being talked about, seems cream teas now maybe on the menu.

Happy St Patrick’s Day!

It doesn’t matter whether St Patrick’s Day was officially the 15th or the beginning of April due to the very early Easter this year mentally it will always be March 17th. So as the Glen of Imaal Terrier, by its very name says Irish, Happy St Patrick’s Day!

Crufts-All Over Now!

Crufts came, Crufts went and it seemed to be quite a success….well at least from the bottom reaches of Hall 1. There actually were a few spectators at 8.30am when the judging began of Glen of Imaal Terriers and it was a sort of double, double, double in the ring. Homer was BOB again (double 1), it was a return again to Ireland for both tickets (double two) and the two reserves were both bred by the same person (double three).

It was Crufts so there was food and drink,(the next one will be National Terrier so don’t forget to pack some for then) and many comments were passed about the lines of chairs that changed occupants again and again. It was summed up best by three comments. One was from a Glen owner gently explaining why arch rivals in both the ring and opinion could sit easily and well together putting the world to rights”real Glen people are like their dogs; they enjoy a good argument but it is never, ever personal”. Comment two from somebody of a different breed who ended up stopping and eating rolls whilst just having a little glass of wine “this is wonderful, why don’t our breed do it?” and the third came from an overseas fancier “why doesn’t this happen at home?” Glen hospitality rules OK!!

Hopefully journeys home weren’t too bad and the renown Crufts throat won’t strike too hard. Hopefully the ferries for the Channel Islands and Ireland aren’t cancelled for too long, the snow isn’t too bad for the north of Scotland run, the long journey back to Finland passes quickly and Jody and PJ don’t get too wet as they start their round England and Ireland tour.

CRUFTS…up and running.

Well, it’s day one and the only gossip from Crufts seems to be that betting has been suspended by a top bookmaker on who will take the eventual number one spot. A certain Group has been mentioned and a dog from that group has been tipped for weeks to take the number one spot so although two and two could make ten it seems the bookies have come very late to the news!

If any Glen of Imaal Terrier owner who doesn’t belong to either of the two breed clubs is attending over the next three days do make sure you pick up a “Headcount 2008” form. The Enthusiasts & Fanciers of Glens newsletter will be available down on the Glen of Imaal benches on Sunday so if you are a member do come and pick one up. Also anybody who hasn’t paid their subscriptions yet are more than welcome to cough up. Put them in a sealed  envelope please with your name and amount on the outside. As usual cakes, drink etc. will be available.

Glen of Imaal Terrier Temperament

Are Glens prone to hysterical behaviour? It can categorically be stated that they aren’t. An earthquake strikes and they don’t make a sound whilst their owner works through everything from crashed helicopters to road accidents! Not a usual example to use for a terrier test description but as everybody knows Glens aren’t ordinary.

It’s only 10 days until Crufts so it’s becoming preparations R US. Crufts is always getting a quart into a pint pot and this year is no different. People and Glens are coming from all over the world so it’ll be busy, busy. There will be details of the PRA Fund Raising Weekend available at Crufts but the (get the jargon) high profile advertising will start end of March. Keep an eye up for it!

PRA Fundraising Weekend

July may seem a long way away but plans are well advanced for the GLEN OF IMAAL PRA Fundraising Weekend. The judges are booked and the licence has been granted for the Companion Show. Dr. Bedford is coming to do the eye testing and Professor Epplan will be giving a talk. Events are being organised, stands booked and stalls organised. There is even a Burger Van coming! Have you remembered to circle July 12 & 13 in the diary yet?

“Rarest Breed”

I guess many will have seen the recent headlines in the newspapers & television: Glens are rarer than Giant Pandas and there are less than a thousand in the world! Remember Freddie Starr ate my Hamster as a headline in the Sun a few years ago? The recent Glen headlines are as truthful as that one was; in other words huge journalistic licence. There are more Glen of Imaal Terriers around in the world than there have ever been and that is certainly more than a thousand.