Fergustaff

I first became involved with dogs as a very young child, my father own both

Lurchers and working Terriers.  I suppose it was inventible I would own some

type of terrier but little did I know it was to be a Stafford, sorry Staffords!

I showednot only these Terriers/Lurchers but our friends dogs to at local

working shows. Occasionally a ferret and a horse too!

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We acquired our first Stafford in 1995 quit by accident, he was a very large

Red and White dog called Blaze. My neighbour bred Staffords and although

I had met his dogs I had no knowledge about the breed and if I am brutally

honest, wasn’t sure I liked them. Like so many others I have read and heard

dreadful things about these dogs and wasn’t convinced I wanted one of these

dogs around my young family.  Thank goodness we took the time to get to

know the most loving and caring breed in the world.  My pre conceived ideas

were blown out of the water.  My youngest son spent many an afternoon in

the garden being babysat by my neighbours eldest dog, Fluke. He would quite

happily invite himself into our garden and sit with my son.

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Blaze was a son of Fluke who had been returned due to a change in the owners circumstances, our neighbour asked if we would like him which we agreed.  Blaze was as gentle in his nature nature as his father, my son learnt how to stand up by pulling himself up on Blaze.  I decided that I would like to try and show Blaze, so off we went to the local Companion Shows and watched everyone else to learn how things were to be done.  I soon learnt that Staffords are shown slightly different from other Terrier breeds.

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A couple of years later and my next Stafford came into our lives, again another dog which the owners no longer wanted. This was a Black Brindle dog names Smudge who to be quite honest had no manners what so ever.  He was bolshy, rude and liked getting his own way.  It was a decision that I will be forever greatful I made for so many reasons.  I collected Smudge from his previous owners who were devastated to let him go but relaised they did not have the time for him.  Smudge came home with reams of information and once I got him settled I began going through what I needed to know.

What I hadn’t relaised was that Smudge was bred by a local breeder and that he was Kennel Club registered.  I contacted the breeder and explained the cirecumstances of my ownership of Smudge.  He was understandably disappointed that one of his dogs had been rehoused without his knowledge, but agreed to meet me and Smudge so I could learn alittle more.

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A couple of weeks later we met up.  He told me all about his involvement with Staffords and that he attended Kennel Club licensed Open and Championship Shows. He also told me about a local club which trained Stafford's and I knew then that I had to go and learn more about this wonderful breed.  This I suppose was the beginning of the end, I attended the club and I met Mr Trevor Rowe (Rowenda), a man I will always have the upmost respect for.  My education began here, not only about the breed but also about how they are shown.

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In 2003 I was awarded my affix FERGUSTAFF by the Kennel Club.

In 2005 I judged for the first time at Open Show level since this time I have judged over 300 Staffordshire Bull terriers in the UK.

In 2016 have also judged in Holland.

In 2018 awarded Challenge Certificates for the first time in Scotland, and later in the year i was a part of the UK Stafford team with Fergustaff Jack Frost, Fergustaff Tudor Queen and my mother in law when we competed in the International Stafford Match in Holland.

 

My husband, Mother in Law and myself have all previously been committee members of the Western Staffordshire Bull Terrier Society and the Terrier Club of Devon and Cornwall.  At the moment I am the Assistant Chief Steward for The Paignton and District Fanciers Association.

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