

CHRISTINE MCDONALD Canine Curriculum Vitae My life has always been surrounded by dogs. My Mother, a Veterinary Surgeon, bred and showed Irish Wolfhounds, and the staff who lived in-house kept a variety of different breeds - Greyhounds, Whippets and Dachshunds, Beagles, Bassets, Welsh Terriers to name a few. I developed an interest in many breeds and aspects of dogs from a very early age.

Whilst still in further education, I chose Welsh Springer Spaniels as the breed I wished to specialise in, and my Brent bred foundation bitch Byrony of Banlieue was shown and worked with some success including winning a Challenge Certificate and Working Test awards. Eight Title Holders in the U.K. carry the Northey prefix- four Full Champions- Ch Northey Woodpecker, Ch Northey Stormcloud, Ch Northey Whittington and his sister Ch Northey Showboat (owned by Pat Dean) and four Show Champions- Sh Ch Northey Wish Me Luck (Ray Jelley) Sh Ch Northey Winchester at Beamans (Jane Chilvers) Sh Ch Northey Scarlet Lady at Trimere (Ann Corbett) and Sh Ch Northey Silver Cameo from Zamberlan (Jane Hopkins) Cameo was top WSS in 1996. I have also sent dogs to New Zealand, the USA, Holland and Finland, and many of them have won their titles and more.
Welsh Springers - “My ideal WSS is strong, merry and active, flowing from tip of nose to end of tail and balanced throughout. Even in the show-ring I like to see evidence of a biddable, merry temperament displayed. I like to see substance but also quality, and the exhibit to be of standard size, or within half an inch either way, with strong bone, without any hint of cloddiness, and rounded, well-padded feet to protect against thorns and rough terrain. I like to see a well-balanced head with nicely rounded, not too heavy flews, and adequate stop with chiselling below the eyes, which should have a kind, biddable expression. I like neat ears, not set too low, which tends to give a settery look. Well-laid shoulders are necessary to enable the dog to run at speed with his nose to the ground, twisting and turning to scent, and well-developed ribbing to give plenty of heart and lung room. I like to see generous hindquarters with good width and depth of first and second thighs to push the body through heavy cover. The arch over the loin and a generous ‘bum’ is necessary to display true type, and aid propulsion. The coat should be within the parameters of ‘rich red and white’ and the exhibit should ideally be presented to best advantage in terms of condition, trimming and showmanship. I like to see a feminine bitch and a masculine dog with neither giving the excuse for coarseness or fineness”. Copyright©2003 Christine McDonald

I have awarded CCs in Welsh Springer Spaniels (since 1989) Large Munsterlanders (1991) and Brittanys (2002) and Chesapeake Bay Retrievers (2008) in the UK, and WSS's in Holland, Sweden, Finland and New Zealand. In 1996, I completed the ‘Judging Diploma Course’ and passed with Distinction and have judged most Gundog breeds and Best in Show at Open Show level. Currently I am on B lists for English Springer Spaniels, Hungarian Vizslas, Irish Water Spaniels, and Irish Red and White Setters, and C lists for Pointers, Cocker Spaniels, Golden Retrievers, Sussex Spaniels and Curly Coated Retrievers. Judging at the Irish Red and White Setter Club of GB Open Show March 2008 I have now attained the following Kennel Club Judges Development Programme certificates: Passes with Credit for the following breeds: Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Curly Coated Retrievers, Flatcoated Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers, German Shorthaired Pointer, German Wirehaired Pointer, Hungarian Vizsla, Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla, GSPs, GWPs, English Springer Spaniels, Irish Water Spaniels, Weimaraners, Italian Spinones. I judged Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers at Crufts in 2007, and have been invited to judge Large Munsterlanders in 2009.

The dual-purpose aspect of Gundogs is a particular interest of mine. I am a past long standing member of the Welsh Springer Spaniel Club Working sub-committee, having previously served 20 years on the main committee.

In 2006, I took a break after ten years writing the weekly Welsh Springer Spaniel breed notes for Our Dogs, but still enjoy compiling a monthly column on all aspects of gundogs called ‘Gundog Gossip’. As well as an interest in Gundogs, I collect information on all breeds and am Vice Chairman of Chelmsford and District Canine Society, a local General Society, which brings me in touch with pedigree dogs of all breeds.
Copyright©2009 Christine McDonald