Lankeela is back in the building!

[lankeela]

I thought I told you lot to behave yourselves! Now gravitate, what is so important that you wanted me to cut short my (wonderful) holiday? Long walks on windy beaches, pub lunches where the landlady brings the dogs some meat and biscuits, afternoons lazing by the fire watching TV, and back to the pub for the evening meal. We even saw some seals bobbing about just offshore.

The dogs (five Lancashire Heelers and one Rottie) had a whale of a time rolling in the wet sand and chasing the foam from the waves. They met loads of dog friends and they are now all totally kn*ckered. It was a bit sad not having the old girl with us, she always loved the beach.

I even took the snails, and they caused a bit of a stir in the pub today, although they were a bit offended when someone asked if they wanted some garlic.

So now its back to business, hope all you and yours are well and hope we get some sensible questions and are able to help. We don't mind the occasional bit of banter, but please remember most people come on here for genuine advice, so please don't block it up with loads of stoopid questions.

[bensmum]

Hi lankeela - welcome back. the holidays sounds wonderful, just what I'd enjoy.
I was listening to the radio the other day and someone mentioned a giant african land snail called Fluffy! That wasn't one of yours was it?

[lankeela]

No, mine are all given human names, after some very slimy people that I know in the dog world!

[cruella]

Good that you are back lankeela
Gravitate has been looking for you to answer his questions.
Glad that you enjoyed the break.

[jules77]

Hi Lankeela, welcome back, we sooooooooo missed you, you need to take control on here, the place has gone to the pits since you been gone!!

Never knew you had snails, how interesting....

[robotics]

Sounds like you and your dogs had a fantastic time, welcome back.........someones going to be pleased you are back :)

[pastafreak]

Welcome back,lankeela-glad you had a good break. Snails on the beach,huh???....my daughter kept a couple of giant African when she was small....after she became bored with the ordinary garden variety-lol.They are fascinating creatures.

[lankeela]

Hi Jules, are you going to Manchester (or have we already had this conversation lol?). We are second in after St Bernards.

[leelapops]

Hi lankeela, welcome back. Glad to hear you're invigorated and rejuvenated!

Love to the woofers and the snails too ('cos even snails like to be loved!)

[jules77]

Dont worry, I dont think you have asked me before. No tickets for us at Manchester I am afraid, although the judge may have been ok for me and in hindsight rather wish I had entered.

I am a bit of a meeny, as I dont travel more than an hour unless the show has tickets and I didnt even check who the judge was..

Apart from a breed club show, next stop Crufts.....

[fredpuli47]

Lankeela, welcome back. Have you entered for Cruft's this year? What day is the "Pastoral Group" (daft name: makes 'em sound like a load of vicars. What was wrong with the old naming) ?

[lankeela]

Got three entered for Crufts, Pastoral day is Saturday 8th March. Also going on the Thursday to do a stint on Discover Dogs for the Vulnerable Breeds Society.

Think of it as breeds that work out in the pastures - i.e. sheep or cattle herding/heeling breeds - it makes more sense then! We used to be part of the Working Group but it was so big they split it.

Taking three to Manchester on Thursday, then judging Border Collies, Dobes and some Working/Pastoral classes in Thetford at the end of January, then going to club show in February up in Lancashire, then Crufts, so the old bank balance is a bit depleted. Wouldn't change it for the world though. One of my ringcraft dogs (Golden Retriever) just qualified for Crufts at Boston., 2nd out of 14 in PG. Owner is over the moon. Also an Irish Setter baby just 6 months at her first show qualified.

[fredpuli47]

Lankela, the bad news is that I'm at Cruft's all four days (as usual). So if an unusually handsome , small bloke, in his sixties (think a dwarfish George Clooney) presents himself, it may be me (then again, maybe not! I have to go all four days because after a lifetime with dogs, and having had, bred or been involved with so many breeds and having friends and contacts in every group, I do. (Note :That requires knowledge so you can converse about the bad judging of their entry and the.... er... politics of showing the breed, not to mention the changing fashions in what is and isn't desirable in the breed that year. You know what I mean!)

[lankeela]

Will be happy to meet and greet anyone if they come to find me at Crufts either on the Vulnerable Breeds booth on Thursday or at the Lancashire Heeler benches on Saturday.