Latest News & Updates

Orsa continued her winning streak by winning her 5th CC at WKC. Rachel and I were still on holiday so Janet kindly handled her for us, with Jon by all accounts doing a sterling job in the challenge. At the time of writing she is leading Top winning Maremma of 2007 with just 2 shows to go. Anything could happen of course but fingers crossed!

Glad to hear also that her son Kai has been hip scored with a low score of 7 (would be an A in Europe I think).

Orsa has been busy – another CC and BOB (at National Working Breeds from judge Zena Thorn-Andrews) – and another TV appearance! Not in the flesh this time but Tony was interviewed on Animal Rescue Live and talked about his dogs – including a photo and a little description of Orsa. Again he highlighted the breed and the fabulous character – another little bit of welcome positive publicity. The clip can be seen again at www.bbc.co.uk/animalrescuelive – then select videos for show 11 – then Anthony Head. The clip Sarah and Colin is also well worth watching – Sarah showing how she has used TTouch to work with deaf American Bulldog puppy Colin who is adorable! Enjoy.

On May 10th at Birmingham National Championship show our Osca Dei Giunoni (Orsa) won her third CC making her a UK Champion (subject to KC confirmation). We are all thrilled – not least as she is our first Champion. Her other CCs came from Brenda Banbury and Janet Atkins, with 2 reserves from Albert Wight and Jacqui Downes.

Huge thanks again to Sarah, Tony and the girls, Jon, Tina and all of “Team Orsa” in Bath who really must take the lion’s share of credit for this – and to Agostino Molinelli who let her come to the UK in the first place. Way to go Orsa!

Shameless brag alert….. on behalf of our Gracie, who at the grand old age of 10.5 years, came
out of a 7 year retirement from the show ring yesterday, and won Best in Show at the Maremma Sheepdog Club of GB open show!

She showed beautifully for me and to be honest that was the most exciting thing – she was retired all those years ago because she hated showing and was so reactive (though never aggressive). Yesterday she was as good as gold in the ring and quite relaxed. She has been improving steadily over the past couple of years with TTouch – much calmer, less reactive, more capable of recovering from situations. But I never thought she would be up to this. And with a male judge to boot!

Had only planned to bring her to the open show for a day out but maybe had better keep her out of retirement to help increase the entries at champ shows for a while!

Congratulations too to Orsa’s son Kai on winning Best Dog and Best Opposite Sex.

Orsa was shown at Crufts last week – her first time as she missed last year – and did us proud by winning the reserve bitch CC while her son Kai won the reserve CC in dogs. Congratulations to Anita and Rosemary on their second Crufts RCC with Kai.
Orsa was a delight – she is such a special dog – and came along with her own personal entourage – Sarah, Tony, Tina and Jon – as well as a whole crowd of TTouch supporters. Certainly made life very easy for me – she was terrifically fit, beautifully groomed and expertly TTouched. All that was left to me was to run her round the ring!

Overall it was a lovely day – BOB and DCC went to It/Int Ch Cafiero di Lucas Angitiae over for the show from Italy and a magnificent male. BCC went to our favourite “competitor” Ch Biancaluna di Selvaspina – must be her 4th year running. Well done to Janet Atkins and our visitors from Italy on these results.

Photos of the day courtesy of Jon, Orsa’s personal bodyguard, photographer and chef, are available at www.flickr.com/photos/janetttouch

Personal circumstances meant that we were unable to get to Crufts with either of the girls this year. It was the first time I had missed it for the best part of 20 years so a big disappointment. But we were absolutely thrilled when Kai, Osca’s young son, won his second Reserve CC from the puppy class, also taking Best Puppy in Breed. Well done Kai and owners Anita and Rose. He is doing us all proud!

Full details of Kai -

Poggio Picenze of Tassrosa (Ch Oceano Atlantico della Collina Di Revigliasco di Sunhaze (Imp It) x Osca Dei Giunoni (Imp It)). Breeders: Janet Finlay and Bethany Hewart. Owners: Anita Brown and Rosemary Tassell.

Will post a photograph when I can get one!

Delighted to see that Osca’s daughter Irpina is now an Italian Champion. Many congratulations to her owner and breeder Agostino Molinelli. Osca sends her love.

and of course owners Rosemary and Anita. Kai – at the grand old age of 7 months – attended his first show today (the Maremma Sheepdog Club of GB championship show) and won the Dog Reserve CC! He is growing into a stunning lad and is a credit to his owners – in particular he was incredibly well schooled and balanced for one so young. He was also Best Puppy in Show over his sister Fresca – but we didn’t mind – just thrilled to see them both in the challenge for the award.

Well done all of you – I hope it is the first of many top awards for him.

Lovely too to see Cali with Paul and Sandra, for a brief visit before the show started. He too has grown into a very handsome and well mannered lad and is a credit to them. Great to see you all!

www.aniwa.com has some great pictures of the groups at Crufts – the pastoral group includes some really good ones of Anna Albrigo’s BOB winner. Go to the Crufts’ slide show
and flick through the pages until you find the Maremma (after the Lancashire Heeler and before the Norwegian Buhund if that helps!).
The order of the pictures is group placings, then each breed alphabetically, then the shortlisted dogs. So the Maremma has 4 shots under
breed and 2 more a bit later in the last section. Pictures 95-98 and 146-147 are the Maremma! Hope you can find them. I particularly like 146.

Today was the Maremma Sheepdog Club of Great Britain show. The day started not too auspiciously with an AGM that could at best be described as “heated” – sadly some appalling behaviour from people who should know better – why do disagreements have to descend into personal attacks and petty comments? Differing opinion and debate is healthy but not when noone even bothers to listen to the other side because they are shouting their own case! Anyway we got through it and hopefully noone can now argue that the new committee has not been openly and fairly elected by the AGM and perhaps they will be allowed to get on with the job of promoting the cause of the Maremma Sheepdog in Britain with the support of all members. I really hope so.

The show itself was delightful. Our judge Pamela Jeans-Brown has been an interested supporter of the breed for many years and was lovely with all the dogs, from the new and rather apprehensive puppies to the seasoned veteran (Florence!). She was very sweet about Florence who at a week or so off 11 years old was enjoying her day out hugely. Grace and Jake came along for the ride but Osca of course is otherwise occupied for now.

Best in Show, fresh from her BCC at Crufts, was Ch Biancaluna Di Selvaspina of Silvermere, owned and handled by Janet Atkins. As honorary members of “Team Bilu” we were all delighted with this. Reserve BIS was Anne Latimer’s Sonymer Gaiety (also a bitch) and Best Opposite Sex, Jacqui Downes’ new male puppy Milwyr Valiant. Best puppy was litter sister to the BOS, Jacqui’s Milwyr Vienna. Congratulations to all concerned.

Once again entries were low especially in the males. Hopefully this should improve later in the year as recent litters have been predominantly male. But we still need to encourage more people to show their Maremmas – and even more importantly make sure that the atmosphere is welcoming and positive when they do. For once I was thoroughly relieved that no newcomers attended the AGM!

Great day yesterday for Maremmas at Crufts 2005. Anna Albrigo brought her Ch Ali Baba Di Selvaspina over from Italy to the show – not only was he Best of Breed but he was shortlisted to the final 7 in the Pastoral Group – the first time a Maremma has been shortlisted in a group at a UK Championship show for around 10 years! Many congratulations to Anna. This can only do good for the breed in the UK – showing judges and the public alike a top quality Maremma male performing impeccably, especially when the breed has been rather in the doldrums of late.

Congratulations also to the BCC winner Ch Biancaluna di Selvaspina at Silvermere – also of course bred by Anna and owned and handled by Janet Atkins. Bilu was BOB last year so a pretty good record so far!