THE OWNER of the only Clumber Spaniel at Blackpool ch show refused to accept the best of breed award because she did not want him to undergo the high-profile breed veterinary check.

The dog involved was Marjorie Charlesworth-Ironside’s Tavirosh Old Yeller, who is 18 months old. Two Clumbers were entered at the show but the other did not take part.

Mrs Charlesworth-Ironside told DOG WORLD that when Clumbers were added to the high-profile list she vowed never to put her dogs through one.

"I’m very fussy about who touches my dogs and which vet I go to,” she said.
"We were all very upset that the Kennel Club had hit the Clumber with the double whammy of not only being a vulnerable breed but also being on the high-profile list. We had a meeting and everybody was very unhappy that our breed had been chosen as the only gundog breed to go on the list. The Clumber is a good, healthy breed.

"I didn’t have a best of breed-winning dog at the time, but I said that when I did I wouldn’t let any vet I didn’t know go over it. Everybody cheered. I do have my principles and I will stick to what I said. I feel just as strongly now as I did.”

...[snip]...Yeah one of the things in the KC Good Citizen course is having your dog stand whilst someone else checks ears, teeth etc