28.12.2016
On Boxing Day we had a nice visit from "Käthe vom Belauer See" (Astrospring's Phoenix x Ilse vom Belauer See) with her friend "Tiffy" and her owners Karina and Stefan from the lower Rhine area.
We took a nice long walk in the forest. The dogs had lots of fun, but also we had good time talking about the latest news in the dogs world.
After the walk we had of course "tea time" in Belau.
Well, I think I don't have a great outcome of photos this time. Maybe it is because the dogs were not as obedient as they were supposed to be! Or was it just because they haven't seen each other for a long time? Anyway, the weather hasn't been good for photographing either....
Merry Christmas and all the best for 2017 to all our puppy buyers and friends in Europe and abroad!
22.12.2016
Usually around Christmas there are a lot of nice things coming in the mail!
This year we got a few nice photos from "Josepha vom Belauer See", called Josie. She is from our J-litter.
Josie is the little princess in the family and the star of her owners.
Meanwhile she is active in mantrailing and is doing a pretty good job.
18.12.2016
Yesterday our almost traditional Christmas-Dummy-Training with our Dummy-Training Group "Holsteinische Schweiz" took place.
Our trainer had thought about a number of nice and tricky tasks for our dogs, and some fun tasks for the owners. You will get a small impression through the photos. Unfortunately the weather was really cold and misty. We know also better weather in Northern Germany!
Despite the weather the training was really fun. At the end there was also a small "Thank you!" to our trainer Svenja Arendt. Since quite a while she is now trainer of our group. Under her supervision the group has not only grown in numbers; the training is also really nice and all the trainees like it very much. Our training is very goal oriented, never boring and the teams have all advanced through her great training! What a difference it makes to have a good trainer! Many thanks, Svenja, for your dedicated training on a volunteer basis!
10./11.12.2016
Double Show Weekend in Kassel, Germany and the siblings for J-litter were again joining in!
Saturday at the National Show only "Jakob vom Belauer See" (Jeppe) was shown under judge Ms. Anja Pusch. Jeppe got in Intermediate Class "Very good 1".
A day later at the International Show Jeppe got under judge Ms. Jana Janekova "Excellent 1" and his first CAC-VDH towards the title "German Champion (VDH)".
Sunday also "Jolanthe vom Belauer See" (Zelda) was shown in Intermediate Class. She got "Excellent 3" with an excellent report.
Well done, congratulations to all of you!
28.11.2016
Last few days we received a long and very nice letter from the family of "Kasimier vom Belauer See", aka Charly from our K-litter.
Charly is doing really well with his sportive family. Both girls love him to pieces. I remember that the youngest was not that keen about the dogs when the family visited for the first time. What a change has taken place!
I think it is great when kids are allowed to grow up with animals, especially dogs.
We received also photos of the only bitch in the K-litter after our "Ilse vom Belauer See". Her name is "Käthe vom Belauer See" and she is still called Käthe.
She inherited the joy to retrieve from their grandparents Lotta and Finow. And of course from her mother Ilse who also loves to retrieve.
Käthe is obviously not only a keen worker. I think she looks also really nice in the stand.
19.11.2016
Today we got the new Outfit for our team "vom Belauer See".
We think it looks pretty good!
Thanks to the photo modells for the brief photo session today!
12.11.2016
Svenja and Sebastian have been away with "Deb's Cortina" aka Jule and "Jolanthe vom Belauer See" aka Zelda. Another Show? Netherlands again? Or this time another country?
Well, to tell you the truth, they have not been to a Show this weekend. They drove up North to Denmark and the dogs were supposed to work this time at a Rally Obedience contest.
Sebastian and Zelda won her first pind towards the Rally Obedience Begynder Title with 95/100 Points in Begynder Class. They were also satisfied with the placement 5./6. of 15 starters.
Svenja and Jule started in Övet Class and secured with 90/100 Points their first pind.
Congratulations, well done! We are looking forward to your next trip whereever it will lead you...
05./06.11.2016
This weekend Sebastian and Svenja went with "Jolanthe vom Belauer See" to an International Show in the Netherlands.
Both days Jolanthe aka Zelda got in Intermediate Class "Excellent 1". First day she also got her second CAC-NL and her first CACIB! She was also placed "BOB"! The second day she got both "Reserves". Well done, I think it was worth the trip!
29./30.10.2016
Two days of Rally Obedience Contest at my local Dog Sports Club in Fahrenkrug, Germany.
Because of our pregnant English Springer Spaniel Lotta I didn't start myself with Ilse. But our Spaniels were very active and successful with their owners:
First day Svenja Arendt started with "Deb's Cortina" in RO Class 3 and got 86/100 Points and the first place. Also Cocker Spaniel "Holly von der Pulvermacherei" got the first Placement in RO Senior with 100 Points. Great!
Our Co-owned "Jolanthe vom Belauer See" started in RO Beginner with Sebastian Feilke that day. Place 4 with 97/100 Points were the result from 22 Starters! "Jakob vom Belauer See" got a "very good" with 83/100 Points together with Svenja Hansen. In the overall Group contest those four were placed as "Belauer Castle Goasts" first out of 11 Groups!!! Really well done!
The following day "Deb's Cortina" was placed 2nd in RO Class 3 with 88/100 Points. Holly started again in RO Senior but was not as serious as the day before. 93/100 Points secured her 2nd place.
"Jolanthe vom Belauer See" got the same Points. 97/100 Points was worth a 3rd place from 33 Starters! We are so proud of you guys!
The Video shows Jolanthes aka Zelda walk from Sunday.
26.10.2016
This year so many things happened around our Kennel. The first page "News 2016 - part 1" has no more capacity. Therefore I have been forced to start "News 2016 - part 2".
I have been with "Desperados Charlotta At Belauer See" to Kennel Calvdale in Yorkshire to get her mated by "JW ShCM Calvdale Night Court".
We did the journey of 1400 KM in two days. First I traveled to Dunkirk in France. I took the fairy to Dover. I have been really lucky. I had only about two Kilometers of slow traffic around Hamburg. Then it went really well all the way up to Yorkshire. Check in at Dunkirk was okay, although it has been a long time that I have been checked so carefully. There were four Check Points at the border control due to the refugee situation. A high fence around the check in area made clear that times have changed!
After a night at a hotel near Canterbury I continued my journey up North. Beautiful fall weather made the trip worth while. In the afternoon I reached the cottage I had rented at the edge of the North York Moors. A first walk in the area with Lotta was a nice closure of the day. I also saw the first pheasants. Unbelievable how many birds I have spotted during my stay in Yorkshire. I have definately never seen so many pheasants in all my life before! (All photos Ulf F. Baumann)
On Monday I drove then to Kennel Calvdale and the breeder Nicola Calvert. I met also her daughter Angela Chandler, she is breeding under the Prefix "Chanangel" Welsh Springer Spaniel and Flat Coated Retriever.
After I was shown the dogs and had evaluated the males my choice fell on the black and white male Rüden Thorn "Calvdale Night Court". Monday the mating didn't work out, but luckily we had two nice matings the following days. You will find more Information on the expected litter and the parents under L-litter.
After a brief shopping tour through Northallerton I drove into the North York Moors and took with Lotta a hike. A very impressive scenery!
After the wedding appointment on Tuesday morning I went to the Richtung North York Dales. Unfortunately the weather was really "british".
On my ways to the Dales I stopped at a small town as I needed something to eat. The british pies are just delicious!
On my way I stopped a number of times to take photos of the scenery and pretty houses.
I have been mesmerized by the North York Dales. My drive led me deeper and deeper into the Dales. What might be around the next corner?
Up in the hills I took a nice walk with Lotta. We were able to see farmers with their Border Collies and Quads herding their sheep. The roads got really narrow and sometimes I wondered that once in a while a truck came our way! How were the drivers able to manage those roads?
Rather late I decided to drive back home. I realized that I was 108 KM away from my cottage. Well, not really bad. But for those 108 KM I needed 2 1/2 hours! The road conditions are totally different to Northern Germany. Of course I took also a few photos on my way back home.
My third visit to Thorn was also successful. The conversation with Nicola Calvert has been very interesting and valuable. It is very enlighting how british breeder view what is going on breeding wise on the Continent and in Scandinavia. Our conversations backed up my points of view in breeding and my opinion on the English Springer Spaniels.
As today not much time was left, I went again to the North York Moors.
The North York Moors are a fascinating landsape. Heather and moors, it is possible to walk for hours and not to meet a single person.
But all the more you can hear and watch "Grouse".
All the time they start up into the air, then they fall down to hide again in the big fields of heather.
In this landscape it becomes cristal clear for what purpose our Spaniels are bred. Unfortunately in some countries in Europe the Spaniels are used totally different in hunting, although they are bred to hunt on very short distance and in really close contact with their master.
Taking photos of "Grouse" is really difficult. I tried my best. Well, at least my photos show that I met them!
I really would have loved to take a great shot of a Grouse. But the light wasn't really good. And although I was almost all the time ready to take a photo, the Grouse surprised me again and again. Next time I will try my luck again.
Another motive I liked were the signs of the British pubs. I think I could take a tour through England just hunting for those signs. This is a small start... maybe one day it will be a great selection.
Before I had to return home I had another day. I had planned that day for taking photos and sight seeing. When I am on the road I alway try to get to know other Kennels and breeders of my breeds.
As I am in contact since a few years with Kelly Jenkinson, Kennel "Eastriding", I made contact with her. She isn't living very far from the place where I stayed. I went then Thursday to visit her and her family. Kelly and her mother started Kennel "Eastriding" some 30 years ago and built up on the old "Cleavehill" lines. I am very interested in the Cleavehill lines. The breeder Jean Taylor has been know for her black and whites of exceptional quality. The visit at Kellys has been really nice and we had great talks. Kelly spent as a girl and Teenager a lot of time with Jean Taylor ("Cleavehill") until her sudden death. Jean Taylor has been a Mentor to her. She showed many years the dogs for her. I am sure we have not met for the last time! Thanks for your hospitality, Kelly!
Viel Zeit blieb neben der Fahrt mit Gedanken an den anregenden Besuch an diesem Tag nicht mehr. Aber ein kleiner Stadtbummel in Helmsley und ein letzter Spaziergang in den Moors war noch möglich.
After another interesting encounter with my 91 year old landlord I spent a last evening in my cosy cottage. The following morning I started quite early my trip back home.
Here and there I stopped to take another photo...
...and too soon I had to say "Good bye, good Old England! See you soon!"
Spaniel-Kennel "Vom Belauer See (FCI)"
Ulf F. Baumann
Sønderlundvej 7
6430 Nordborg
Denmark
ulf.baumann@springer-spaniels.de
fon +45 31 663078 or
fon +49 (0)160 9049 2873
