Welcome to the
British Chihuahua Club

2012 Open Show
Our Open Show took place on Sunday 6th May at Breaks Manor, Hatfield.  Due to the cold and mis­erable weather the show was held indoors, with only room for one ring, but there was still a lively buzz and a good entry of longcoats at least, if the smooths were a little low at just 48 entries.  Mrs Linda Jones judging the smooths gave BOB to Sutton & Gadsby's dog Taladayga Quick Step, who was just beaten to BIS by longcoat judge Vicki Osborne's BOB, Dr Geoff Curr's bitch Natimuk Astrid, under BIS judge Mr Tony Allcock MBE.  BPIS was Hazel Senior's Garnox Disco Kid and Best Veteran Beverley Sutton's Nikitos Nuffideas.

During the interval between judging Smoothcoat and Longcoat classes our Chairman Mr Graham Foote introduced the owner of a nine-year-old Chihuahua suffering from Syringomyelia who had brought the dog along so that exhibitors could see for themselves the kind of symptoms (neck scratching, unsteadiness) that might be signs of this disease.  Although many of the exhibitors were distressed to see a dog in such an unhappy state, no-one would wish this awful disease to become more prevalent within the breed.  Perhaps it's time to draw attention to Syringomyelia and inform breeders about it so that steps can be taken to eradicate it, or at least reduce its incidence among Chihuahuas.

2012 Newsletter
Although finished very late indeed this year, all members of The British Chihuahua Club should by now have received a copy of the Club's annual newsletter.  If you didn't get one, is it possible we don't have your correct postal address?  When moving house please remember to let the Club know by dropping a line to the Secretary.

2012 Annual General Meeting
The 2012 AGM was held on Sunday 25th March at Knowl Hill Village Hall.  It was reported by the Treasurer that due to falling income and rising expenses there was only a very small surplus this year and that Rescue had to use nearly £3,000 of savings to meet rising costs.

Mrs Linda Cater resigned from the Committee during the year and Mrs Norma Armstrong has now also stood down.  Mr Adrian Bickers was elected unopposed as a new Committee member, leaving one current vacancy.

It was announced that Mrs Pam Bungard will retire as Secretary of the Rescue after this year, and so we are now seeking someone who can understudy and then take over the role.  Several additions to the BCC Judges List were proposed and approved, and then a lively debate began over some controversial proposals relating to Chihuahua health and breeding.  Members who decided not to attend may well wish they had been there to make a contribution to these decisions!.

Sadly the Chairman had to inform us of the recent death at the grand age of 102 of our past President Mrs Evelyn Radford.

For a fuller account of the meeting and the proposals discussed and voted on, please click on this link

Crufts 2012
There was a small shift in the entries for Crufts this year, with Mr Nick Farrugia judging 219 longcoats, down 10% from last year, while smooths made a comeback with Mrs JE Day judging 150 dogs, a 15% increase.  Congratulations go to the BOB winners, Mrs Lesley Adams with her longcoat dog Ch Hollyel's Diamond Geeza JW and Mr David Reece's smoothcoat bitch Ch Copymear Celebration who won her first 5 CC's in 2010, added another 15 last year and is having another successful year in 2012.

Congratulations in fact to all the winners, including the other CC winners Mrs Lyn Ison's Lynpix Little Gem and Mrs Carole Davies' Dachida's leading Man.  Reserve CCs went to Coltham Music For Dancing at Lowenchi, Parkbow She Devil, Yorone Signature Look and Taradona Alice.  True stars of the puppy classes were Sandrayia Mid Knight Star l/c Best Puppy) and Bramerita Sparkling Star (s/c Best Puppy).

Changes to Code of Ethics
Would members please take note that we have amended our Code of Ethics to comply with new rulings from the Kennel Club.  As from 1st January 2012 the Kennel Club is no longer accepting registrations for litters where the dam has already whelped four previous litters because of concerns that the current legal limit of six litters can potentially be detrimental to a bitch's welfare, and we have therefore changed item 17 to indicate that members shall not mate a bitch after it has had four litters, instead of six as previously, and mentioning the above restriction.

Additionally the KC will no longer accept registrations where the dam has already had two litters delivered by Cæsarean section.  Item 19 of our Code of Ethics was already compliant on this point but the wording has been amended to mention the KC restriction on registration.

For further information on Kennel Club breeding restrictions as they apply to Chihuahuas, please click on these links to the Kennel Club Breed Information Centre for Chihuahua (Smooth Coat) or Chihuahua (Long Coat)

Coltham Music For Dancing at Lowenchi (Perry)

Best in Show (and S/c DCC) was Davies' Dachida's Leading Man, with s/c dog RCC to Dachida's Master Stroke.  The BCC was Reece's Ch Copymear Celebration with reserve Dachida's Lady In Red.   In longcoats the DCC went to Dee's Coltham Music For Dancing at Lowenchi with Clarke's Yorone Magic Touch Tismechi getting reserve, while the Bitch CC and RCC went to Farrugias' Coltham Winner Takes It All avec Cholas and Fraser's Ch Widogi Peepshow, who was also the Best Veteran in Show.

Best Puppy in Show was the smoothcoat Sutton's Tinasjoy Eznotoy Nikitos, and the longcoat Best Puppy was Milton & Nelson's Gold Scarlet by Gestavo.  Full results here.  Thank you to our judges Mr Terry Strange (smoothcoats), Mrs Shelda Hornby (longs) and Mr Francis Yeoh (BIS).

Don't be tricked out of your money
With the continuing popularity of Chihuahuas, people desperate to obtain a puppy are sending off large amounts of money to people they've never met for dogs they've never seen.  Sadly many of them never receive the puppy they were promised, or ever see their money again.  Read our page Buying A Chihuahua to see how the Club can put you in touch with Club members who may have puppies for sale.  Our members are obliged to abide by our code of ethics