meet the breeder

WHEN DID YOU FIRST BECOME INVOLVED IN DOGS?

DB: Growing up on a working dairy farm meant that dogs were always present, as working dogs and pets. We had three GSDs over the years and an Elkhound.

SB: My family purchased our first family dog, a GSD in approx 1973/74.

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU ENCOUNTER GERMAN SHEPHERD DOGS?

DB: When the old pet GSD, 'Rex' died in 1983 the family made a decision to buy another GSD but this time we wanted a well bred one which we hoped we could show. We bought GERO of BRITTAS (Groll v Restrauch x Lucinda Light of Brittas) from Mrs Gwen Barrington in 1984. It was soon apparent that the puppy we bought, "Britt" was not going to make the grade and he lived the rest of his days as the house pet. We had already spent a year showing "Britt" and had definitely caught the bug, we made a visit to the Two Day show in 1985 held at Tredegar Park hosted by the GSD Club of Wales and realised that the shows we'd been attending with "Britt" were no longer for us. We wanted the types of dogs we'd seen winning at the Two Day show and so with Mrs Barrington's help, encouragement and guidance we eventually contacted Malcolm Griffiths of the Bedwin Kennels in Aintree, Liverpool and bought a bitch 'BEDWIN FINA' we then bought an eight week old dog puppy 'BEDWIN PIROL' and then later we purchased Pirol's mother 'PANJA vom LOHER STEIN.

SB: Although GSDs were always around the family home when I was growing up and I was unwillingly taken to shows it wasn't until 1984 when I was 15 that the arrival of and Emmevale Zarroff daughter 'GARMARTI MARY ROSE OF PENDLEDNE' arrived and kindled my interest in showing GSDs. There was something about "Rosy" that captured my heart and inspired an interest in the breed.

HOW DID YOU ESTABLISH YOUR LINES?

As we had previously had our own independent interests in GSDs prior to our marriage in 1995 we had dogs from other sources but we were admant that we wanted to do our 'own thing'. We already had five dogs between us (Ch.Bedwin Pirol, Ch.Panja v Loher Stein, Arko v Huhnegrab, Garmarti Mary Rose of Pendledene and Pendledene Chintz) all of whom were veterans or approaching veteran age. Of course to establish our own lines we had to start with at least two dogs, a dog and a bitch and so, diplomatically, David contributed the male; 'BEDWIN XORRO' and I brought the bitch; 'PENDLEDENE ATARI' to the newly formed Lararth partnership. The result of this mating was 'LARARTH ELEISHA' who had a moderately successful show career as a youngster but her forte was to be in her production. Over the next six years she would go on to produce two champions, a junior warrant, British Youth Siegerin and seven multiple championship show winners.

WHO WERE YOUR MENTORS AND WHY?

DB: My mentor, which will be no surprise to anyone; is the most breed knowledgeable person I have come across during my time with GSDs: Malcolm Griffiths (Bedwin). I was fortunate and proud to have been part of the Bedwin Kennel for 12 years both as the quarantine kennel manager and partnering Malcolm with the showing side during which time we made up many British champions and were the first UK kennel to exhibit seriously in Europe. Through Malcolm I was privileged to meet another figure whom I hold in the absolute highest regard; the late, great Walter Martin (Wienerau). Malcolm had an ability and talent to spot the potential in a GSD, whether that be a puppy, stud dog or brood bitch, he just seemed to have an uncanny way of knowing and an unrivalled way of explaining things to people, experienced or novice. He is arguably the best handler of a GSD the UK has ever seen. I deeply regret the final path Bedwin followed and sadly miss my true friend.

SB: Rose & Harry Emmett (Emmevale). As a 15 year old I had the opportunity to spend time at the kennels based in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire and from there I knew even at 15 that what Emmevale had achieved in GSDs was what I coveted. Being at their home at such a young impressionable age was the best foundation anyone could hope to build upon. They had owned/bred eight champions, some of them being litter mates and over the years had developed with the times, importing new blood to enhance and successfully improve their established bitch line. As individuals they always practiced what they preached; a 'spade was a spade'. Honest, trustworthy and genuine they taught me to appreciate seeing a good GSD for being exactly that and that alone.

WHAT ARE THE ORIGINS OF YOUR PREFIX AND WHAT YEAR WAS IT REGISTERED WITH THE KENNEL CLUB?

After what must have been 15 or 16 attempts at anagrams of our names, dogs names and house name we finally settled in 1994 on the last seven lettersof our village name LlanfihangeL-AR-ARTH.

AS CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW JUDGES WHAT YEAR DID YOU FIRST AWARD CCs TO SHEPHERDS?

DB: 1999 - GSD Club of Wales

SB: 2005 - Scottish Kennel Club

DID SHOW RING SUCCESS COME QUICKLY?

You could say yes. 'BEDWIN XORRO' returned from Germany and went on to win 2 CCs here in the UK and 'PENDLEDENE ATARI' won a RCC. 'LARARTH ELEISHA' made an immediate impact by winning at her first couple of champ shows, and 'BLANIK ARIA OF LLEDFEGIN' (owned in partnership with Gwyn Williams - Lledfegin) was a big success also going on to win 2 CCs and 1 RCC. We were also very fortunate that whilst we were establishing Lararth as an independent kennel we were both still involved with our previous commitments which kept us in profile, David was still working at Bedwin and aided both BEDWIN SIEGARO and BEDWIN CORA to gain their titles. I was still handling and steered SANTINA CARERRA and COTCHEES DIGGER to their titles. We are aware how incredibly lucky we were that we never had to start completely from scratch which most other exhibitors find they have to do. Showing and success over the years has been greatly assisted and made more pleasurable thanks to Andrew Connolly (Conadrew) who has shown so much dedication and loyalty to the animals hea has handled for us. Over time we have developed a dependable friendship based on mutual respect and trust.

HAVE YOU ATTEMPTED TO BREED TO A PARTICULAR TYPE?

Absolutely! We both feel that what we have bred over the last few years have traces of both Bedwin and Emmevale animals represented in them. We have always strived to breed quality GSDs of correct size with strong bones, sound with straight columns and not too short. We have always had a strict rule about not keeping too many animals and aiming to only breed from show successful bitches, to date we have only bred from one bitch who was not a championship show winner. Over recent years Brian Wadlow has joined the team and it has been interesting to have a likeminded yet individuals perspective on the situation, making suggestions which perhaps we wouldn't have thought between just the two of us. Long may the successful partnership continue.

WHAT NEW BLOOD HAVE YOU INTRODUCED OVER THE YEARS AND HAS IT BEEN SUCCESSFUL?

The most influential and successful dog we introduced to our breeding was 'APOLLO von DAKOTA'. His arrival here at Lararth was a complete stroke of luck, Malcolm asked us to look after the dog as he had just left quarantine a matter of weeks before the 1998 Sieger show. Apollo never went back to Bedwin (even though it was only next door) and stayed here with us until he passed away in his sleep in 2005. We mated Apollo on three occasions to 'ELEISHA' which produced two of her champion daughters 'LARARTH AYESHA' and 'ODYSSEY' and the Junior Warrant winner 'PHOEBE'.

When we mated 'ARIA' to him in 2001 for our litter we hoped we would get another nice bitch similar to 'AYESHA'. What we got was a litter of six males and one female! Ever reluctant to keep a male because David's standards were firmly fixed on 'PIROL' our hands were tied and we kept what we believed to be the best male puppy. We called him "Harry" after Harry Emmett, (I'd already had a Rose in "Rosy"), we wanted to tie his pet name up with a KC registered name and as I'd just finished reading a book called Spellbinder which was a biography about the greatest ever escapologist, Harry Houdini we registered the pup as LARARTH HOUDINI. "Houdini" was unbeaten was unbeaten as a puppy until at ten months old he lived up to his namesake and escaped from our grass paddock area and broke his left tibia in a road traffic accident. With the assistance of our local vets and a fantastic orthopaedic specialist at the Weighbridge Referral Service in Swansea "Harry" was put back together with a metal plate (which he still has to this day) and by the end of 2001 he was back in the ring and won his first RCC at Working & Pastoral Breeds of Scotland under the late and well respected Mr John Young (Jonal). "Harry" gained his title in 2003 along with the crown of Top Winning GSD of that year and again in 2004, he went onto equal "PIROL's" tally of 16 CCs and also won 11 RCCs. From limited studs he was the Top Sire in 2004 and produced a champion son 'ZUBERG LYRIC' and numerous RCC and champ show winners.

From the same litter that "Harry" came from we sold another dog puppy to newcomers Gordon & Margo Owen; they had previously shown horses but they took to showing dogs with a skill and insight alien to some seasoned exhibitors. Gordon & Margo have campaigned 'LARARTH HURRICANE OF AMNEDD' successfully, during the younger classes it wasn't unusual to see both brothers heading the class and "HURRICANE" has gone on to win his way out of the post graduate class and collect 2 CCs as well as siring a CC winner himself.

HOW DO YOU SELECT A STUD DOG?

Firstly it's all dependent on the bitch in question. Her faults and attributes along with her pedigree must be considered, and this is the important point to remember, never lie to yourself about the bitch's faults, she may be the best winner you've ever had but she will have points to correct. We gravitate towards dogs who display the qualities firmly set in our ideas. It is as well to remember that sometimes choosing a stud dog may require sacrifices, with the exception of temperament and health. The perfect dog or bitch hasn't yet been born and rather than focusing too much on a dogs minor faults which may discourage you from eventually using him try to weigh up the pros and consider them against the cons. Open pedigrees on both sides may result in a fluke one off result but the line will soon end with out compounding type from inbreeding. Line breeding/inbreeding is the only sure way to maintain type.

HAS ANY PARTICULAR DOG(s) IMPRESSED YOU OVER THE YEARS?

We have both been fortunate to see some great dogs both here and in Europe over the years but some of our particular favourites include:

DB: Fanto vom Hirschel, Jeck vom Noricum, Ch Ariomwood High n Mighty, Ch Drumbiels Chadwick at Drumwhannan, Vanta von der Wienerau, Quena vom Haus Sommerlade, Ch Catja of Vornlante and Ch Bedwin Fantasia.

SB: Jeck vom Noricum, Fando vom Sudblick, Eiko vom Kirschental, Ch Muscavas Rocky, Ch Moonwinds Golden Mahdi, Aust Ch Emmevale Zarroff, Quenal vom Haus Sommerlade, Tabata du Val D'Anzin, Ch Middross Mica and Ch Bedwin Zoe.

OF YOUR OWN DOGS WHICH ONE HAS BEEN YOUR PARTICULAR FAVOURITE?

Not an easy question for either of us to answer because it almost feels like a disloyalty to all the other dogs we've lived with and loved over the years. They are all special but it is also true to say that some do get to you more than others for no apparent reason. As we're pushed for an answer here are our individual choices:

DB: Champion Panja vom Loher Stein (Panja) will always have a special place in my affections. Today I would say my favourite is Champion Lararth Houdini (Harry), he's such a great, giving, pleasurable dog to have around, to own him has been an honour, to have bred him as well has been a dream come true.

SB: Garmarti Mary Rose of Pendledene (Rosy) spent so many years with me, from teenager to adult, she was a constant presence and my reason for becoming involved with this wonderful breed and crazy, cash draining past time of showing that we call a hobby. If I live to be a hundred my memory of "Pop" which she was nick named will always remain with me. Of the present clan they're all very special, I defend and protect them all like an over possessive mother, but on top of the pile is Champion Lararth Ayesha (Ginger) she was my first champion and it was such a pleasure to show her, she has a fantastic temperament and always gave every performance 100%, she's glamorous and beautiful, demanding and spoilt, for so many reasons I love her dearly and just couldn't ask for a better companion, although her daughter 'LARARTH SASSY' is slowly creeping up the popularity chart for all the same reasons as her mother!

RETURN TO TOP

WHAT FEATURES DO YOU LOOK FOR WHEN SELECTING A PUPPY FOR THE RING?

DB: It's surprising how much of the adult dog you can actually see in an eight week old puppy. Balance, soundness and movement are very important factors. Although we all like males to have strong heads I learned long ago that dismissing a male puppy who doesn't have the strongest of heads is a big mistake. A puppy should be able to trot easily and effortlessly as young as eight weeks, without this natural ability you will be able to manufacture the adult but it will never excel.

SB: I usually select a puppy at eight weeks old. Accepting that they are all sound, healthy and displaying good temperaments I want to see the puppy trotting around with a balanced gait, maintaining it's shape, any other qualities are a bonus and I never consider anything (except those listed above) more important than the gait of a young pup. I never pick a pup from stance and prefer to watch the pups at play on the lawn, it's especially effective when they don't know they're being watched. Some pups pick themselves, you just instinctively know they're the one even in the largest of litters; "Eleisha" and "Odyssey" are examples of this although one came from a litter of ten and the other a litter of three they just stood out. On the other hand, some are more difficult to 'find', "Houdini" was one of the this type, from three very similar, nice dog pups it was more down to luck that we kept him than any form of skill. Everyone makes mistakes, however, I believe in committing to my choice and living with it, dwelling on 'maybe's' or 'could haves' will not change a situation.

ARE YOUR DOGS HOUSE DOGS OR KENNELLED?

We currently have six GSDs who are all kennelled and a mini-smooth Dachshund who lives in the house.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MAJOR PROBLEMS IN THE BREED TODAY?

1) The malevolent emails and comments posted to a well known site which only serves to humiliate, disparage, offend and discourage fellow exhibitors.

2) Too much focus on Germany without accepting the bad with the good.

3) Not enough belief in British GSDs. The UK has some good dogs and bitches, admittedly not the quantity seen in Europe but nevertheless we have and have had some very good stock here in the UK. We do have some good males, British bred and imported, enough to build a foundation upon yet the trend is to use dogs located in Germany.

4) Too many exhibitors listening to predictions for the next show. It isn't difficult to suggest a few dogs/bitches who are actually capable of winning CCs, perhaps next time ask the messenger of these predictions just exactly what fact their information is based upon before throwing the schedule in the bin costing the club revenue, the judge and entry and perhaps even yourself a better result than expected. If the judge doesn't have the dogs to give the awards to they are often left with no other choice than to give it to the 'red hot favourite', a judge can hardly give a CC to a dog/bitch sat at home.

WHAT ARE YOUR OPINIONS ON TYPE AND MOVEMENT CURRENTLY?

It is still a tendency to keep puppies who are far too short which inevitably fall by the wayside through junior when their lack of body length will affect their movement. In the UK we have an unhealthy obsession with firm, short bodies and high withers often at the expense of the forehand. Some of the most prolific winning dogs/bitches over the years rarely enjoyed glowing puppy careers, most who have good forehands tend to look a little 'old fashioned' at six months old, yet by juniors most of the 'pretty' specimens which were beating them six months ago can only stand in their wake as that extra length and well angled forehand have sorted themselves out the result being the ground covering gait we all strive to achieve.

Movement of any GSD is not best viewed at the speeds we promote and encourage today in our rings, hence another leaning towards off lead gaiting. At any one given time in our rings we have a few very good moving dogs and bitches that we would do well to use more of in our breeding programmes.

IN THE WORLD OF DOGS WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST THRILL?

DB: It would be the Sieger shows of 1991, 93 & 94. In 1991 we showed Bedwin Nushka in the youth class. From over 300 females she was initially pulled out in 9th and although she lost two places it was a fantastic achievement to finish SG11. In the same year her brother Bedwin Nickor was SG24. Two years later, a little wiser, we were back with two more youths; Bedwin Xorro who was SG16 and Bedwin Cira SG21. The following year both Xorro and Cira were shown in the open class, passed their manwork test, the first British dogs to do so and went on to be V33 (Xorro) and V38 (Cira).

SB: Handling Ch Kurtridge Dino to his 4th CC at the Two Day show in 1998. When you have a true friend like I consider Beryl Budd to be it means so much more to deliver something which is so truly appreciated. Victory is hollow without friends to share it with.

Another moment which gave me a great thrill was receiving phone calls and text messages from the visitors to the 2005 Sieger show told us that the photo taken by URMA earlier that year of "Houdini" was being displayed on his prestigious stand, here was a man who had looked at the best dogs in the world down the lens of his camera had chosen a picture of a British dog for his stand, it was sad to have missed actually seeing it for myself but it was a great surprise to see in the Foto Urma book of 2005 the photo of the stand with 'Harry's' picture there. Whatever his reasons for selecting the picture, whether it was the quality of the shot or the dog himself is unknown, but a great honour.

EQUALLY WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT?

DB: Failing to gain the title of Champion with Bedwin Xorro. The stigma surrounding the kennel at the time when the dog returned home from Germany I believe prevented him from being truly recognised.

SB: Judging my first Championship show at the SKC in 2005. To turn up at a show and judge seven males was totally and utterly soul destroying. Along with the humiliation of the lowest turnout of GSD males every I had the email circulars to contend with on my return home. The exhibitors voted with their feet which is their prerogative, however, if it was because of rumours and predictions; that didn't come to fruition, I hope some owners of dogs I really liked at the time have realised their own costly mistake. On the flip side, to compensate for the sadness felt judging the males, the thrill of the ringside reaction when I gave out the bitch CC to Zentrum Fenja was astounding, the cheers and applause were loud enough to bring judging in three neighbouring rings to a standstill. But no one circulates that in an email do they?

BREEDING / SHOWING / HANDLING / JUDGING. Please put these in order and explain why?

DB: Showing / Breeding / Judging / Handling.

I enjoy showing, breeding is the future, judging is to promote good animals and handling I'd rather leave to the experts

SB: Showing / Breeding / Handling / Judging

Showing is your public display of all your efforts, hard work and achievements. Breeding is 10% thought and 90% luck. Handling is now only a form of helping out. Judging should be more rewarding but in today's canine society you're damned if you do and damned if you don't

WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE "PET PASSPORT SCHEME" A FEW YEARS AGO IT HAS MADE IT EASIER TO MOVE DOGS AROUND FROM COUNTRY TO COUNTRY. NOT ONLY HAS IS ALLOWED DOGS TO COME FROM ABROAD TO COMPETE IN THIS COUNTRY, IT HAS ENABLED US TO COMPETE IN EUROPE. DO YOU SHOW ABROAD AND WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON THE "OPENING UP OF THE BORDERS"?

Of course opening up the borders and relaxing quarantine laws was always going to open up more avenues. However, it has not made the dogs any more accessible; the only certainty is that your bitch won't have to spend six months in quarantine.

We have seen some very good animals exhibited under the ATC scheme, and excuse us for generalising but we believe that a British exhibitor enjoys nothing more that watching a good dog/bitch being shown here, irrespective of it's owners address. what is not acceptable is inferior dogs visiting here and winning because of their owners address. It is an interesting, debating point for us that if here in the UK we have such a terrible system that needs so much developing and improving, why do the Europeans wish to visit here to exhibit their stock? Do they seek and ego boost or do we have an enjoyable showing scene that we are failing to appreciate?

During the early 90s we showed as a team partnering Malcolm Griffiths and enjoyed results that have to date not been beaten. It was a wonderful experience, great fun and taught us all a great deal about the German show scene and system, however, we achieved nothing from it, our dogs returned home as unsung hero's and gave them no greater recognition than if they had never left the country. It is well to remember that Nushka never won at a Champ show in the UK, her type completely unappreciated here. It is as well to remember that back then Malcolm was as well known and respected by the 'hierarchy' in Germany as he was elsewhere in the world yet we could still only go so far and that was made quite clear to us, even after some German's predicted Xorro could go as far as VA. As three bachelors, Malcolm, my brother Elfyn and myself spent almost every weekend travelling to Germany, Austria and Switzerland to promote the dogs we intended to show at the Sieger show. I can't stress how much fun we did all have from the experience but all we really received for our efforts were empty bank accounts!

WITH THE FIRST BRITISH SIEGER SHOW HELD IN 2005 AND ACCLAIMED A SUCCESS, HOW DO YOU SEE THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE GSD IN THE UK?

Personally for Lararth the first British Sieger was a huge success, VP1 MPD, VP2 MPB, SG1 Youth Female and V5 Open Dog. We thoroughly enjoyed the day and the format of the event.

The obligation of Breed Surveying was a very good introduction in 2006 but perhaps the enforcement of it was 12 months too early. With an increase of regular, geographically convenient Survey's in the future it should become as much an accepted requirement as hip scoring is today. An excellent move forward.

We would both like to see off-lead gaiting introduced to the open classes at both the Joint Clubs Two Day show and the Sieger event. A development over the years at both these events from off lead gaiting would be the introduction of off-lead individuals for the adults. We hear about the requirement of working qualifications , this again isn't fully clarified so until it is imposed upon us, and unless we are fortunate enough to have an import at the time of it's inception the majority of us will find ourselves sadly lacking. We can only develop at the speed or our slowest member and the off lead work will encourage more owners to attempt some form of obedience/ control work instead of merely running round in circles during the weekly visit to the training club. A simple exercise that will introduce us to control work and could gradually lead onto more control and who knows given time, we find that we've been striding towards a working qualification without even realising we'd already mastered the basics. Lets dip our toe in the water first before we decide to swim the Channel.

HAVE YOU ANY ADVICE TO PASS ON?

The next time you feel the urge to turn on your computer and post a derogatory remark or send a malicious email; Stop! Put a lead on your dog and go out for a walk. Your dog will benefit at the next show and you'll feel better for not having contributed to someone's demise.

BESIDES DOGS DO YOU OR HAVE YOU HAD ANY OTHER HOBBIES OR PASTIMES?

DB: Before I started showing GSDs I kept and showed pigeons - Show Racers. My highest accolade was winning Best in Show at the Old Comrades how in 1982 (the pigeon equivalent to Crufts).

SB: Until leaving Lancashire, I played a lot of hockey for a local team, ran cross country and was a regular at Ewood Park watching Blackburn Rovers.

FINALLY IN THE LONG TERM HOW WOULD YOU LIKE THE LARARTH KENNEL TO BE REMEMBERED?

If only one person every credits us with the comment "They had some good dogs in their day!" that will be enough for us