I have got an invitation to Ireland at the World Winner show in Amsterdam 2002.
Ireland is country of origine of the dog breed I have at home and breed, the Irish
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.
I have felt in love with Wheaten more than 10 years ago.
This beautiful, temperament, hardy and friendly dog surely commes
from beautiful country.
Are Irish the same like this terrier, whom they started to breed more than 200 years ago?
How is Ireland? Is harsh or hospitable? And what about the dog shows in the island, will
I see top quality Wheatens? What is attitude of Irish breeders to non standard coat type
which came from the States? My head was full of questions before travelling to
Beara peninsula |
Ireland.
The Circuit takes place in August, it is series of dog shows in one week.
It started on August the 16th 2003 in Dublin and ended with fiveth show in Tralee.
Irish ISCWT Club organized meeting of the breeders also from foreign countries.
The plan for my holidays was set
There were not so many Wheatens entered to shows, around 20.
About one third from this came from Great Britain. Wheaten
is not numerous breed even in the country of origin. The
judging and classes are different from what we know from the Czech Republic. The best
female and male get "Green Star". There were mostly showed irish coated
Wheatens in the shows. Dogs from the Great Britain were showed in so called English
coat type. This coat type is considered being fault according to FCI standard.
Coat is dull, hairs are thicker, undercoat is common. Also skeletons are different
fom original Irish Wheatens. I have to say generally won dogs with nice shiny Irish
coat, correct size, nicely trimmed and showed. I was little disappointed by skeletons.
Dogs had often lower tail set, tail carried over back, fine bones, unfirm top lines.
Show in Dublin, left male of Irish type, right female of English type |
The Club meeting was magnet for breeders from many countries: Finland, Norway, Germany,
the Netherlands, France and others. Irish breeder was talking about the breed history,
she showed old paintings of Wheatens. The most important speech was made by Louise
Borst-Borremann from the Netherlands. This lady breeds Wheatens for more decades,
she judged World Winner Show in Amsterdam, she is well known fighter for truly Irish
coat type. The contents of her speech were concerning nowadays breeding status in Europe,
when unfortunately wrong coat type is prefered by judges in dog shows. This dogs get the
certificates and are used in breeding and the serious fault - uncorrect coat is transmited
to the offsprings. The only Ireland, country of origine is able to change this serious
situation. The Canadian breeder was also speaking about inhereted ilnesses of Wheatens.
Lot of kidney and eye diseases are seen in Wheaten Terriers over seas, probably due to
close inbreeding from the beginning.
Ireland is interested in the breed and it´s quality. Irish are friendly discussing the problem, they are calm, somehow slow, not too emotional. Maybe bacause of this every official statement takes long time. We have to wait longer. It does not go together with Wheaten temperament. But it is important to know, that the breed is in capable hands of professionals and the breeding goes in correct way. We should fight in our countries as well to keep the quality and standard type of this kind terrier breed! Do not let the original type die just for fashion trends and somebody´s taste or ignorance or lack of interest! Wheatens earn this! They are beautiful in their original shape, with shiny, wavy, wheaten coat. Similar like little fields of Irish farmers, green pasture and carefully repaired monuments. Wheatens and Ireland have lot of similarities. I believe both will survive in their original appearance.
Show in Killarney on lands of antient cathedral. Open class, males. |
Meeting organized by Irish Wheaten club, speech of Mrs. Louise Borst-Borremann |
Ireland is interested in the breed and it´s quality. Irish are friendly discussing the problem, they are calm, somehow slow, not too emotional. Maybe bacause of this every official statement takes long time. We have to wait longer. It does not go together with Wheaten temperament. But it is important to know, that the breed is in capable hands of professionals and the breeding goes in correct way. We should fight in our countries as well to keep the quality and standard type of this kind terrier breed! Do not let the original type die just for fashion trends and somebody´s taste or ignorance or lack of interest! Wheatens earn this! They are beautiful in their original shape, with shiny, wavy, wheaten coat. Similar like little fields of Irish farmers, green pasture and carefully repaired monuments. Wheatens and Ireland have lot of similarities. I believe both will survive in their original appearance.
MVDr. Klára Bayerová, Printed in magazine "Svět psů" 12/2003
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