My affix was basically created in memorium to my late husband Roy, the tan being the first three letters of my name. I had my first liver labrador 35 years ago, a dog called ‘Monty’. When I lost him, a liver bitch was my way of having the same wonderful breed and colour without trying to replace the irreplaceable.
From those early beginnings has grown a whole family of wonderful gundogs, joined in 1988 by two Hungarian Vizsla puppies. Of the Labradors I have five generations here at home and with the Vizslas I had four although sadly we lost great grandma seven years ago.
My main aim is to produce good natured and good looking dogs which will fit into family life and yet still perform out shooting each season. This, I am pleased to say, I have achieved with success, and work and show most of the dogs. I train them to gundog work myself and hold two classes for others each week. Our Saturday mornings are now given over to “The Ashburnham Gundog group” where we operate a unique training format to train approximately 25 beginners/puppies/novices. Some of my pupils have managed to compete in gundog working tests also with success.
I encourage my puppy owners to explore the worlds of showing, working, obedience, agility etc. to see if there is something out there which the new member of the family may adopt as a hobby! The section Our Dogs will show you some of the awards the dogs have achieved, but remember, the biggest achievement is to be an invaluable and well loved member of a family.
I am a Kennel Club Affiliate Member and a member of the Kennel Club Accredited Instructor Scheme, working towards accreditation. I am also an Accredited Assessor, category B, for The Gundog Club. I am on the Hungarian Vizsla Society “B” Judges List.