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In 1923 Mabel Drummond registered with the Kennel Club her first cairn, It was simply named Blencathra. The Blencathra prefix was registered in 1925, and the first challenge certificates were won pre-war, Blencathra Cracksman winning 2 CC’s in the 1930’s. But it was after the war that the Blencathra Kennel really made its mark in the show ring. The first champion to be made up was Ch Blencathra Sandpiper in 1947 and from that time until 1971 when Ch Blencathra Barret gained his title. “ Drummie” , as she was affectionately known, continued to bring out one after another, campaigning to their titles no fewer than than 25 cairns.

If anyone could claim to have established a recognisable strain it was surely Mrs Drummond. In the early days her kennel was based on Hyver, Harvieston, Brocaire, Donnington and Twobees stock. Her ability to blend these lines into her own unmistakable type was truly a great gift.

Her Blencathra Cairns were renown the world over for their outstanding heads. Drummie said “ Without the REAL Cairn head you haven’t got the true Cairn – only a Cairn terrier “.

Mr Drummond with four Blencathras

Sandpiper made up in 1947, was the first Blencathra Champion. He was to be an influential dog in the Breed, sire of five Champions. Mrs Moody wrote in 1952: “Sandpiper was surely a great stud force and one which will undoubtedly leave his impression on the breed in years to come. Sire of champions and innumerable Ch. show winners, a great many sires are born, but few leave their mark on the breed, and it must a great loss to breeders that he should have died at the young age of seven and half years”.

Ch Blencathra Buccaneer , Ch Blencathra Barry and Blencathra Derryvale Tara

Blencathra Derryvale Tara

Mrs Drummond rarely parted with a Blencathra bitch but did provide fellow breeders with a selection of top quality Stud Dogs. Over the years these dogs, though from different lines, were all of unmistakably the same type. This was ”Drummie’s” great talent, she had a great “eye” and was able to pick the dominant bitches to breed from, and these were not always the Champion bitches.

Ch Blencathra Redstart from line I sired 7 Champions, Ch Blencathra Sandpiper, line G.B , sired 5 Champions, as did Blencathra Elford Badger and Blencathra Derryvale Tara who were both from line DGS.

Other Blencathra dogs siring champions were Brat (4), Milord (3), Brochter (3), Reynard (2), Rudolph (2), Chataboy (2), Sandboy (1), Ruffian (1), Smiler (1), Barrie (1), Blencathra Clivegreen Timothy and Blencathra Elford Chieftain also sired one Champion each.

Blencathra Puppies

A great contribution to the success of the Blencathra Kennel was made by Mrs Drummond’s friend and kennel help, Mary Elliot. She was with Drummie and the Blencathra’s for over 30 years. Devoted to her charges, she lovingly reared the puppies and cared for the other cairns at Carnforth.

Jim Pollock writes “I first met Mrs Drummond in the early sixties. To this day I can remember my excitement at my first visit to what I had been told was the Mecca for all who thought true heads defined the breed. On arrival, one was shown in to a small sitting room with every wall and available surface covered with paintings and photos of Cairns. Before your eyes were generations of Blencathra heads. Proof, if proof were needed that she had heads “fixed”.

Stud fees were always in Guineas, “The shilling, it was explained was for a “scarf for Mary”, the back room girl. Mary must have had an awful lot of Scarves! Bitches were mated in the hall and I remember commenting that Derryvale Tara seemed particularly keen on being introduced to the bitch, to be told that he had returned from Belfast show the night before and promptly killed a rat in the garden!

Mr Drummond was a very good pianist and it was quite usual to mate the bitch to the sound of classical music.  I can’t remember whether this helped the proceedings or not.

With the best will in the world it could not be said that the Blencathras were always well presented, even by the standards of the day. The late Bill McCulloch once asked Mrs Drummond if there were any combs at Blencathra. Later when he judged the first Joint Ch. Show, she waved a comb under his nose.

One felt particularly proud to be shown the dogs in their runs, and I remember being very taken by a bitch puppy and very tentatively asked if she were for sale. “Mr Pollock, you couldn’t afford her”. How right she was.

As a comparative novice and in awe of the legends in our breed, it confused me to hear her talk rather disparagingly of “a man, not a million miles away”, who had bred one or two nice little dogs. ‘Tho a glance at one or two of her pedigrees shows she wasn’t averse to a little “R. blood”.

Two greats in the Breed ; Walter Bradshaw and Mrs Drummond, each had enormous rivalry and respect for the other, their differences regarding the cairn best summed up in the sayings of each. Drummie “without the real cairn head you do not have a true cairn” to which Walter replied “ Aye but a cairn doesn’t walk on its ‘ead”.

We often hear it said that Cairns are not “ like they used to be”. As I look through my Scrap Book, which goes back to 1912, I am not really bothered about it because I am sure they never where.

Although I did not know the breed at that time, there were differences then as now. Long legged ones, to walk and climb and worry Otters among the rocks. Others with wider fronts, low to ground and digging feet to bolt Fox or Badger.

They were game, sporting and intelligent. Loyal companions, with an air of understanding one, which gives them the expression I can only describe as “ Cairnishness “

For years after I owned and bred a nice litter, I went to all the shows which I could manage, to make up my mind what I liked best according to my interpretation of the standard, and it a was a long time before I saw the results of my study in the show ring awards.

As the Cairn became better known certain definite improvements were made from the show point of view, although Judges reports of the late 1930’s were often far from complimentary.

More attention was paid to the “ Terrier “ qualities, one of the essentials of the breed. Ears became smaller, fronts straighter, feet thicker and movement more definite. Necks and shoulders improved and coats were groomed. The Cairn being better presented than in the older times while remaining unspoilt by over trimming or over handling in the ring.

They soon became one of the most popular of the Terriers, and for a number of years now they have headed the list of terrier entries at Championship Shows. Despite this popularity they have retained their sporting characteristics.

It must be said that our breed is first a “ Cairn “, he has a characteristic head with wide skull, deep but not long muzzle, straight front, thick pads and strong pasterns. And should move with power in his hind-quarters. His especial charm is his character and expression, keen, enquiring, understanding, but with the far away look, as though seeing across the hills of his “ AIN COUNTREE “. He gives loyalty to his friends who love him wherever they are.

Article first printed in the Cairn Terrier Association Yearbook 1966 and reproduced here with their kind permission.

Felshott’s famous sign situated on the Great North Road, midway between Morpeth and Alnwick, was well known to Cairn lovers worldwide. This was the home of the Hall Sisters, Dorothy and Margaret, and their partner Peggy Wilson.

The Hall sisters founded the Felshott kennel in 1925 after training for a year with Baroness Burton at the Dochfour Kennels, near Inverness.

At Dochfour they were fortunate to look after three Champions, Ch Rosshire Warrior, Ch Dochfour Vennachand and Ch Dochfour Vuaich Vorchad. Molly of Wales was also one of their charges when her Royal master, Edward, The Prince of Wales, was State visiting in Argentina.

With this experience behind they were confident that they would be able to build a successful breeding / showing Kennel. However they were to find the road to success a stoney one, experiencing the heartbreak of disease decimating their Cairns and their breeding plans.

Then in 1939, with the outbreak of the Second World War, the kennels were closed down. They did not think it would be six long years before they could resume their canine activities. With the War finished, Peggy Wilson, who had served as a codes and cipher officer, joined the sisters at Felshott. The task was to now rebuild the Kennel.

With great difficulty they managed to obtain stock and start to breed again. They were successful in introducing Redletter and Blencathra blood into their breeding stock to establish a quality line of their own and in 1963 they made up their first Champion, Ch Felshott Bryany.

The 1960’s and 70’ were to be the most productive era for the Kennel. The Partnership bred in total 16 Champions, 13 in their own name. The first in 1963 was the bitch Ch Felshott Bryany, who was to be an outstanding brood bitch, being the dam of four Champions. The last Champion to be made up, in 1978, was Ch Felshott Silly Season of Oudenarde, in the ownership of Mrs D & Miss H Hamilton.

Felshott was renown for the quality and strength in depth of it’s bitch line, 13 of the Felshott Champions were females. However their stud dogs were not without influence in the breed. Felshott Honey Badger, who was shown only a few times as a youngster, was the sire of 7 Champions, and his name is behind many of today’s top winners.

Ch Felshott Coolin, Ch Felshott Tulloch, Ch Felshott Winetaster, Felshott Hot Toddy and Felshott Tom Brown all sired Champions.

Peggy Wilson was very unstinting in the time and energy she devoted to the Cairn cause in many fields. A Championship judge both home and overseas. An authority on pedigrees and line breeding, she was generous in giving help and advice to anyone interested.

As historian, she became custodian of the famous “Fisher Cairn Records”, taking charge of them soon after Mr Fishers death.

Twice Peggy undertook the onerous task of revising the “Cairn Breeders’ Bible” “The The Cairn Terrier” by Beynon & Fisher.

For many years, Peggy had also written Cairn breed notes in “Dog World”. Never a mere list of facts, her column was always interesting; often thought provoking; sometimes controversial.

Committee member of the C.T.C. for 17 years and committee member and Patron of the C.T.A.

Dorothy Hall was as she said herself, very much the backroom girl. She wrote in 1967 “ For many years our four footed family has been so large that somebody has to be here to look after the them, so my sister and junior partner took over the showing. I write this from the angle of “the one that stays a home!” and there must be many of us. We watch the show goers set off, at all hours of the day and night, and we think about them all day wondering how the dogs have been placed. How was the pup standing up to the excitement? Would that Junior warrant be possible? Was that 3rd CC in the bag? Dare we hope for a BOB.

I think too, that we are more disappointed if it has not been a successful day as we have missed the bustle of the show – the gossip – and have not seen what the competition has been for our exhibits. We do appear sometimes at the Ch Shows, just to see what these dogs are like that we hear so much about and how our own look in their company”

Madge Hall was not only content with the success of her own Cairns in the show-ring, but played her part as a much respected A list Judge, and as a wise, valued member of the C.T.C. Committee from 1963-1970. When her active days in the Breed were over, she still continued to share her vast knowledge of the Cairn Terrier with all who sought her help.

The Felshott Ladies life and times can best be summed up by the words of  Dorothy Hall;

Forty-one years ago, my sister and I went to our first dog show with our own Cairns. We, and our friends, were confident that we would go B.I.S. And as far as I can remember we won a Res. card in a Novice class! In those days our breed was little known locally, and no classes were provided, so we were competing with all the other terriers. Very quickly the Cairn gained popularity and local Open shows put on classes for us. These were well supported and very soon the Members Shows followed suit. At these we were more successful and Red Cards and sometimes silver trophies were proudly brought.

Having spent a year at the Dochfour Kennels of Baroness Burton we were confident that we knew everything when we started on our own, and then proceeded to learn the hard way. The stud dog we were so sure would suit our bitch threw bad mouths or slack ears – or his progeny would not show. The bitch we were so sure would give us a “flier” who whelped in the night and was in trouble and the Vet miles away. No transport. No telephone after 8.00pm in this district – No Ceasareans in those days, or if attempted you lost you bitch. The ones we sold as pets and wished we had not. Then, at last, we produced our “swan” and distemper came like a black cloud and our hopes were dashed again. However, dog breeders are tough and never give up.

When war came the dogs had to go – the older ones alas to their happy hunting grounds, – the young ones farmed out. We never dreamed that six years would pass before we could start again. Our young ones then too old to breed from and our strain was lost.

With great difficulty we managed to buy several bitches. None of the well-known breeders would part with anything they had managed to keep through those war years – and who could blame them? So we were in business again, with many faults we would have to breed out – then HARD PAD struck and we lost half of what we had brought. One bitch, Dazzle of Darwencote, survived. Fortunately she was the best and on her we pinned our hopes. She was sound and her temperament was right, and above all she had TYPE.

She was sent to Ch. McJoe Of Twobees, and to our delight produced four daughters and a son. Now, we thought, we shall have something for the ring. A visit to a local show brought back gastro enteritis which swept round the Kennel in a couple of days like the plague. Dazzle fell a victim, and all four of her daughters succumbed and she was left with her small son. He was never a show specimen, but our faith in our breeding plan had been fulfilled. From that little dog and from Dazzle, by careful selection, are four of of the five Champions in the Kennel today descended.

Ch Felshott Bryany being our first Champion, seven generations in direct tail female line from Dazzle, and the latter’s son by McJoe played an important part in her pedigree. Mr Bradshaw gave Bryany her first CC, Mrs Nan McKay her second, and Col Whitehead – bless him – her third and her title. Two of Bryany’s daughters have since become Champions, but inevitably our first Champion must be our greatest source of satisfaction.

There are people who have the good fortune to breed a Champion in their first litter – but have they missed something? I know I come away feeling that these forty – one years have been well worth while and the disappointments and the heartaches forgotten.

Dorothy Hall 1967

Article first printed in the Cairn Terrier Association Yearbook 1967, and reproduced here with their kind permission.

Any kennel which has won its first certificate in 1914 and its last in 1958 must be credited with having more than a little influence on the breed . These dates include the long history of the Dochfour kennel owned by Baroness Burton. The first Champion was Rona, a daughter of Ch Firring Fling, which takes us right back to the earliest championship-show days. The Kennel has, through the years, housed 21 certificate winners, of which 11 became champions.

Of the 11 Champions that were housed in the kennel, perhaps the most notable were Ch Dochfour Vennach and her daughter Dochfour Vuiach Vorchad. Between 1922 and 1926 they won 21 certificates, the former winning 10 and the latter 11. They were considered two outstanding cairns and there was considerable debate to which one was the better.

Baroness Burton was one of the leading personalities in the history of the Cairn Terrier. She was a successful breeder, exhibitor and well respected Judge, her long judging career included Crufts in 1914. President of the Cairn Terrier Club and Member of the Ladies Kennel Association, she was a major contributor to establishing the Cairn Terrier as an exhibition.

Baroness Burton ( Nelly Bass), was a member of the famous brewing Family, a friend told her she had heard some ringsiders whisper about her as being “Hardly Vere de Vere” to which her Ladyship had promptly replied “ No! Beer de beer and damned good beer at that”!

Her interest in dogs was not a passing fad. She began in the early 1890’s with a French Bulldog, then owned Westies, Pekingese, and finally Cairns, and all the time keeping Keeshounds, Labradors and Gordon Setters. All of her sporting dogs were worked by the Baroness herself and she did not give up shooting until she was 75- a remarkable lady!

Baroness Burton belonged to a group of Society Ladies who had connections North of the Border and made annual visits to their properties in Scotland. On these sporting estates they were introduced, through their Gamekeepers, to the lively, game little working terriers – the Cairn.

When they came south after the season was over, they took their Cairns with them and the attractive little dogs were seen in the London Parks or where Society gathered. With their support and encouragement the Cairn Terrier soon rapidly gained popularity and became, during the 1920’s and 1930’s, one of the leading Terrier breeds in the show ring.

Baroness Burton was a great admirer of Mrs Campbell’s Cairns and it was her great desire to maintain and continue the “Brocaire” type.

The first champion the Baroness made up was Ch Rona ( sire Ch Firring Fling). Rona won her first CC in 1914 and the following two CC’s in 1915, she was to finish with a total of 6 CC’s. Shows had continued during the First World War but finally in 1916 the shows ceased due to the seriousness of the war.

Baroness Burton provided several Cairns to HRH The Prince Of Wales ( later the Duke of Windsor).

The Cairn Terrier had been a favourite breed of The Royal Family for many years and several members of the family had owned one.

The 1920’s were a very productive era for the Dochfour Kennel.

Ch Ross-Shire Warrior was bred by Mrs H Forbes but purchased by the Baroness immediately after he had won his first CC from the Puppy class. She considered him a very “Lucky” purchase. He was a big influence in the Kennel and his daughter Ch Dochfour Vennach gained her title in 1922 and was Top Cairn that year.

Of the 11 Champions that were housed in the kennel, perhaps the most notable were Ch Dochfour Vennach and her daughter Dochfour Vuiach Vorchad. Between 1922 and 1926 they won 21 certificates, the former winning 10 and the latter 11. They were considered two outstanding cairns and there was considerable debate to which one was the better.

A visitor to the Dochfour Kennels in 1922 wrote “ I found a collection of between sixty and seventy Cairns counting all ages. The Dochfour dogs are “lucky dogs” as they are kenneled in a huge airy stable, divided off for them, facing south, and lighted by electric light. For the day they have ten large grass runs on a sunny slope, with plenty of shade for the summer. From the entrance gate to the far end of the garden is quite two miles, so the facilities for exercise in safety from motors is great. The place abounds in rabbits, and the dogs are not only allowed, but encouraged to hunt, which, of course, accounts for the game look every one of the Dochfour.

The Cairns are in no way coddled, no heating in the kennels and I was immensely impressed with the health, condition and liveliness of all the stock. When at home the Baroness is always in the kennels – a fact amply vouched for by the obvious affection every dog shows for her”.

Dochfour Jake, was the kennel’s most influential stud dog in the 1950’s. He sired 3 Champions and was described as “ a dark red brindle , very game, hard bitten looking dog, who looked a real worker”.

Jake was never shown owning to having had distemper early in life which left his teeth marked,

His dam Dochfour Freda was also never exhibited as she was a war “ baby”, but according to judges who saw her, she was a lovely bitch who was well up to championship form.

Baroness Burton was very proud in 1951 to make up three homebred Champions in a period of six months, an achievement which she believed had not been done before. This was Ch Dochfour Suisadh ( a daughter of Jake), Ch Dochfour Eacob ( a son of Jake) and Jake’s granddaughter , Ch Dochfour Langach.

This was an even greater achievement as all three cairns, had in January of that year, suffered from very bad hardpad.

The last Dochfour Champion to be made up was another daughter of Jake , in 1958, Ch Dochfour Bean Mormhaur.

Mrs Breach ( Hearn ) wrote;

The Baroness Burton she had the most wonderful sense of humour and was most kind to me. She liked me to steward for her and she was a wonderful example of how a judge should control the ring and would never tolerate a bad temperament-  I might add, canine or human!

“What Walter did was take the breed by the scruff of the neck, shake out the stuffiness and short back, let daylight underneath, and do away with “bossy” shoulders and “Chippendale” fronts”– Quote from the Hall sisters of Felshott Kennels.

In the period 1948 to 1981 Redletter Cairns achieved and made every record in the breed. Forty two champions were made up. Top of the dog winners was Ch Redletter McMurran ( the breed record holder until 1991) who won 26 C.C.s – and the bitch, Ch Redletter Moonraker with 22 C.C.s, who held the bitch record.

Ch Redletter McBryan sired 13 Champions, heading the list of influential sires, the second being Ch Redletter McJoe with 9. In bitches, Ch Redletter Marcel headed the list of Influential broods with four others as the dam of four Champions.

Walter Bradshaw was not born into a privileged background but grew up in the north of England at a time of hardship and poverty. He went to work at the age of 12, his trade was block making in the cotton industry. During the first world war he served as a stretcher bearer, he said he was too slight for any other job! When the war ended he married Rose. Work during the twenties and thirties was difficult to find and for a time he had to go to Ireland to ply his trade.

At this time his great interest was in dogs. For obvious reasons he did not own many at any one time, but he particularly liked the terrier breeds, especially Fox terriers and Scottish Terriers, and Flat coated Retrievers. This latter breed gave him the prefix Redletter, the name of his first show dog.

So it was not until the second world war was over did the Redletter Cairns come to prominence. In 1948 he made up his first Champion, Ch Redletter Magnet. Thereafter Champions came thick and fast and he was a dominant breeder/ exhibitor for over four decades. His success meant that the influence of his dogs is worldwide and rare today is a cairn pedigree without a Redletter ancestor!

Walter Bradshaw was the first owner to win Best in Show at All Breeds U.K. Championship Shows with a Cairn. He did this twice with Ch Redletter McMurran at Paignton 1955, and Ch Redletter Sea Spirit at Manchester 1968.

His perception was remarkable. He never needed more than about six words to cut through the verbiage to get to the root of a problem. Some found this disconcerting, but quickly learned to realise the quality of his assessments and he was a highly respected Committeeman of the Kennel Club, many Canine societies, and the C.T.C. where he served on the committee for 23 years. He had a great affection for the C.T.A.( which he considered his local club) where he held every office. He was also a great supporter and adviser to the Midland Cairn Terrier Club in it’s formation in the early 1980’s.

He was a  popular judge, awarding CCs in 26 breeds, in all of which he had a closer interest than most all-rounder judges. In many of them he had helped form clubs and had attended breed functions. He had traveled all over the country judging since before the second world war at all types of shows. He was also a popular judge abroad, going to America and Australia as well as Europe. He twice judged the terrier group at Cruft’s, in 1970 and 1982, and the gundog group in 1978.

Walter followed his own advice, “Use your eyes”. He was gifted with eyes connected to memory so acute that they would make cameras linked to a computer come second in instant recall! He knew every dog he had ever seen. If a dog got off its bench – he always knew to whom it belonged.

Walter tried to help everyone, particularly youngsters and newcomers. Probably Northerners understood his laconic use of words better than most. “ This ‘un ull never do owt “, – and it wouldn’t. “ Very nice “ – meant no outstanding fault – but no outstanding feature either! “ Not a bad ‘un” translated Good! “It ‘ull do” – an outstanding specimen – “ It will do for me” – absolutely the tops!

How I started in Cairns

By W N Bradshaw

In 1944 when I was at a show in Burnley, I saw a young boy with a nice looking puppy. At the time I was Secretary of Accrington Canine Society and asked the boy if he would show the Cairn at our show. The boy then told me the puppy was for sale , price £5. I got a coat comb, brush, and lead and gave him this and £2 ( which was all I had on me that day) and collected the puppy the next day.

The first show I took it to was the Blackburn Sporting Terrier. I entered it in six classes and it was last in each if them. Afterwards I told the judge that he had lost his eye for a good dog as that one was good and was entered for Cruft’s. I couldn’t go to Crufts because of work so asked a old lady who used to show Pekinese to take it. She had never handled a Cairn, and asked how to prepare it. I told her to spit on her hands then rub them all over its head furnishings, and present it in the ring. It won 2nd and 3rd at Crufts under Baroness Burton, he was Anthorn Magnet and did a lot of winning.

A doctor had brought a Scottie from me but sometime later it had to be put to sleep. His children were very upset about this and I told them they could have Anthorn Magnet at no cost to them but I wanted to show him and he would have to be returned after the war. This was accepted. Unfortunately when taken for a walk by a servant, who let it off the lead, it ran under a passing car and was killed. The Doctors wife was so upset she brought me another cairn puppy from an advert in the papers. She brought it down to the ambulance station were I was working, I told her it would do and not to worry anymore.

When the war was over I persuaded the lady that the bitch should have a litter and found a suitable dog for it ( Stanholmes Dusty Prince – stud fee 50 pence ). The bitch whelped two puppies, a dog , which died, and a bitch. The bitch puppy I kept and showed. She became my first Champion, Ch Redletter Magnet. How strange things are to obtain a puppy in this way. It was lucky.

This was not the only lucky event what happened. I was at a show and one of the top judges was officiating. A bitch I liked was thrown out of her class, and I commented to the owner that I thought she was rather unlucky. He asked me if I was interested in buying her and confirmed that she was for sale for £25 as far as I can remember. I brought the bitch and it eventually became Ch Redletter Mona of Cambwell.. She bred me another Champion when mated to McMurran, that was Ch Redletter Monalise.

I brought another bitch and named her Redletter My Choice. I think I was at the first Cairn Terrier Association show after the war at Skipton, where I spoke to Miss Bengough about using one of her dogs for stud. She had two dogs there, Bonfire, and McJoe of Twobees. McJoe had already won 4 or 5 CC’s and Bonfire had always been second to him. Miss Bengough wanted me to use McJoe on the bitch, but I liked Bonfire so much I persuaded her to let me use him. I was very fortunate, when the litter matured, there was a very, very nice dog in it. He eventually became Ch Redletter McJoe.

When McJoe was about 9 months old, a number of people wanted to use him at stud. I was at a show in Liverpool and met Colonel Whitehead. He told me he understood that a number of people had booked McJoe for stud. He suggested that if I let this happen it would spoil his chances of becoming a champion, as the dog would spend his time looking for bitches instead of concentrating on the job in hand. He went on to suggest that a dog should be proven at the age of ten or eleven months and then rested until he was more mature.

This was a great thing about Colonel Whitehead. He was a very astute man and one of the few people that gave me a lot of help, guidance, and was always worth listening to. If I remember rightly, I think that was the first occasion I had received any guidance, and subsequent events have proven the wisdom of his suggestions.

Colonel Whitehead suggested, on one occasion, that there were a number of people in the breed that I should never allow to use any of my stud dogs. A man named Craig, who was not one of these people, had a beautiful bitch and wished to use Ch Redletter McJoe at stud. I said there would be no stud fee as I would like a puppy from the litter. Sometime later he brought the bitch for mating, but refused my terms. He paid the stud fee and agreed to sell me a dog puppy for a fee.

Months after this, I was at Bolton Show when Mr Craig appeared with a puppy under his coat. He explained that this was the puppy I wanted. I was a bit taken aback and asked to see it. We stood it on a bale of straw which we had at shows in those days. I took one look at it and told him that it would do for me. How much do you want for it? £10 he said. That puppy became Ch Redletter McMurran. Do you see how easy it would have been to miss the opportunity. Someone else could have brought it. I have already said I have been lucky in the breed. Through McMurran I did a fair bit of winning, and eventually broke the record for the highest number of CC’s gained by a dog in the breed.

On another occasion I was in Scotland watching the judging at a Championship show. I saw a lady with a nice looking bitch unplaced in its class and again I opened my big mouth. I told her I liked her Bitch. She offered to sell her for £35 which I agreed to pay. This was the highest sum I have ever paid for a bitch. She eventually became Ch Redletter Penny of Blarneystone.

Unfortunately, she had a very bad haemorrhage when whelping and died. You can see that it isn’t always the ones you think you are lucky with when something like that happens.

Always remember, if you have a dog with a good neck, shoulders well laid back, and a good front, the back end must be right. Don’t bother as much about heads as this is only one part of a dog. Good furnishings can make the head look good, but if you don’t have the essentials I have mentioned, no amount of hair can hide the differences. Some of you will achieve success, may be as much as or more than I have.

Remember success is waiting for you sometime, but don’t get carried away with the idea that all your dogs are the “swans”. Occasionally you will have an ugly duckling that comes good, but not very often. You should look for the nice looking puppy at the beginning.

Right from the start I have used my eyes i.e.. recognising a good puppy. This is very important. To my mind, if people would use their eyes instead of their ears, they would quickly find out the difference between a good dog and a bad one. To-day, they seem to be fond of listening to anyone pulling various dogs to pieces. A good dog will withstand criticism, a bad dog criticises itself. If you are really interested in the good of the breed, listen to what people say, but ONLY BELIEVE WHAT YOUR EYES TELL YOU. Find out for yourself.

In total, I think I have made up 42 champions. I have always been lucky. People have used my dogs and brought back puppies for me to see, and I have brought from them when I have seen something good.

I have’nt made a lot of money out of dogs, but, by Jove, I have enjoyed ALL OF THEM.

I brought another bitch and named her Redletter My Choice. I think I was at the first Cairn Terrier Association show after the war at Skipton, where I spoke to Miss Bengough about using one of her dogs for stud. She had two dogs there, Bonfire, and McJoe of Twobees. McJoe had already won 4 or 5 CC’s and Bonfire had always been second to him. Miss Bengough wanted me to use McJoe on the bitch, but I liked Bonfire so much I persuaded her to let me use him. I was very fortunate, when the litter matured, there was a very, very nice dog in it. He eventually became Ch Redletter McJoe.

When McJoe was about 9 months old, a number of people wanted to use him at stud. I was at a show in Liverpool and met Colonel Whitehead. He told me he understood that a number of people had booked McJoe for stud. He suggested that if I let this happen it would spoil his chances of becoming a champion, as the dog would spend his time looking for bitches instead of concentrating on the job in hand. He went on to suggest that a dog should be proven at the age of ten or eleven months and then rested until he was more mature.

This was a great thing about Colonel Whitehead. He was a very astute man and one of the few people that gave me a lot of help, guidance, and was always worth listening to. If I remember rightly, I think that was the first occasion I had received any guidance, and subsequent events have proven the wisdom of his suggestions.

Colonel Whitehead suggested, on one occasion, that there were a number of people in the breed that I should never allow to use any of my stud dogs. A man named Craig, who was not one of these people, had a beautiful bitch and wished to use Ch Redletter McJoe at stud. I said there would be no stud fee as I would like a puppy from the litter. Sometime later he brought the bitch for mating, but refused my terms. He paid the stud fee and agreed to sell me a dog puppy for a fee.

Months after this, I was at Bolton Show when Mr Craig appeared with a puppy under his coat. He explained that this was the puppy I wanted. I was a bit taken aback and asked to see it. We stood it on a bale of straw which we had at shows in those days. I took one look at it and told him that it would do for me. How much do you want for it? £10 he said. That puppy became Ch Redletter McMurran. Do you see how easy it would have been to miss the opportunity. Someone else could have brought it. I have already said I have been lucky in the breed. Through McMurran I did a fair bit of winning, and eventually broke the record for the highest number of CC’s gained by a dog in the breed.

( extracts from Midland Cairn Terrier Club Newsletters Oct 1981 & Jan 82 )

Reproduced here with their kind permission.

Out of the West Cairns

Article by Mrs Noney Fleming

Judy Parker-Tucker and the Uniquecottage Cairns by Fiona Cameron