Oct-Dec 2018

The Kennel Club Breed Record Supplement for the final quarter of 2018 is out. Glen of Imaal Terriers registered 48 for the year, exactly the same as 2017. Somebody, somewhere (as Crufts is here soon) will attempt to get a few lines in the press about “Vulnerable Breeds” and as Glens are in the bottom five of registration figures they may decide to use us. After the debacle of the “rare as giant pandas” year and managing to get that headline off the BBC website when we proved it was false the request went to the Kennel Club NOT to use Glens again and, up to yet, they have been as good as their word but time has passed and people in the KC Press Department have moved on.

Let’s do figures. Four litters were born late on last year that didn’t make the BRS, and Glens don’t generally one have singleton pups. Already this year four bitches have been-or are about to be-mated. Eight litters in a few months….not a lot if you are in a numerous breed but if the Gods are smiling it’ll mean more pups than all of last year’s registration figures.

The figure that everybody needs to know and remember though is this one:12. Twelve, an imperial dozen, the number of roses in a bouquet before we went metric and the number of Glen of Imaal Terriers that needed assistance by Rescue last year. Let’s do it this way as we’re doing figures; the equivalent of 25% of last year’s entire Glen of Imaal Terrier KC registration number had problems. Does this bring home what figures can mean? Absolutely nothing, absolutely everything and already this year, just eight weeks in, five more Glen of Imaal Terriers have been have been notified to Rescue.

Glens may be on the KC Vulnerable Breed list but they are not for everybody. They are not a breed that is cute. They are not fur babies. They are not a dog to be owned on a whim and are most certainly not a breed to take on unless you know what you are doing and what a Glen is. It’s appreciated that not many know that much about Glens so BREED BUDDIES (Here To Help) has been launched this year and the Glen of Imaal Quiz is designed to make you think.

Have you got a website?

The Glen of Imaal Terrier Quiz is being updated. If, when going through it, people decide they do want to meet a Glen the last page is links to Glen of Imaal Terrier owner websites. A slight problem has been encountered though, many of the websites currently listed no longer exist! So do you have a website and would like it including? Send the details to Liz Gay

If you know of a Glen person with a website who doesn’t read the blog do share this with them

‘Tis the season BUT…..

……something has got to be said!!

In January/February 2008 the UK Glen of Imaal Terrier world had media coverage like never seen before. Very poorly researched articles appeared all over regarding the state of the breed; Glens were “rarer than the Giant Panda” was the headline most often used and we knew it would cause trouble. Of course it was fought as hard as it could be but why listen to the actuality when the supposed factuality was so much more attention grabbing?

As had been expected that year saw Glens for sale with a price that could not believed but some people bought them because they were “so rare and near extinction”. This year has seen internet advertising of Glen litters reach new heights and many have selling lines like “difficult to get puppies”, “this very rare breed” and one even did do the Panda headline. There are some internet advertisers of Glen of Imaal Terriers who do the job properly by screening their buyers, by explaining about the breed, by having them to meet the parents and suggest other Glens to visit but there are others that don’t and this is why, for the first time in years, THREE GLENS HAVE BEEN IN RESCUE WITHIN A MATTER OF WEEKS!!!!! It is also known of, at least, two others who are looking for new homes after being sold to totally the wrong situation but these (up to yet) aren’t coming into Rescue because big money was paid and they want it back!

So, in honour of the season of goodwill, if you are thinking of getting a Glen of Imaal Terrier in 2010 (or even later) do have a look at this. Reading it through and answering the questions honestly could save you a lot of problems as your Glen matures. Glens are a breed that should bring a smile to a face but you need to honestly know what baggage travels with it