It
was 1983 when I bought my first Shar Pei. A brown horsecoat bitch
we named Truffles. Then
followed a 10 week old puppy Tshimaos Ging-Gong (Velvet) along with
an 18 month old bitch Tshimaos Fang-Yin (Gina).
Another import was shortly to follow from Germany again
this time Bruno
-
Tshimaos Yangtsekiang of Jentiki - a
cream brushcoat male.
I
bred Yorkies at that time and in all the years I kept them together
there was never a cross word. My male Yorkie Simon was always
kissing and licking Bruno's mouth and lips - they all got on really
well.
When we moved and bought boarding kennels in 1992, I slowly reduced
my Yorkies because of their coats (running free in a paddock really
wasn't a good idea as their coats knotted and tangled in an
instant).
With all the work that goes with running a busy boarding kennels I
was no longer able to continue in my position as Treasurer for the
Shar Pei Club of Great Britain and showing became a rarity. I
did however stay active as welfare coordinator. Running the kennels
seemed to be a 24/7 occupation with no time for anything else.
It
was during these 13 years that I concentrated on breeding a healthy
type of Shar Pei paying special attention to the coat texture. A
coat that was easy to live with, not too harsh or bristly, a dog
with some substance, and above all a kind and loving temperament.
Eyes were really beginning to show an improvement now, so although I
rarely attended the shows I was still doing my bit to improve the
breed.
We
sold the kennels in June 2005 and moved to Cambridgeshire. BLISS!
The phone finally stopped ringing day and night, and we were able to
concentrate on "having a life". I’ve always enjoyed judging and was
highly delighted when I was approved by the KC to award tickets
in the breed.
I
kept two pups from my Waffles x Muffet breeding namely Puzzle and
Blush. Puzzle started to look promising and so I started to show
him. Not the easiest dog to show, I have to admit, but with
patience and encouragement from a lot of folk he became a CHAMPION
in Sept 2006, at just 19 months old. I kept a bitch from his first
litter to Lara - Jentiki hat trikk Hattie, who I am now showing.
So
here we are with our first Champion and thoroughly enjoying
ourselves, showing and staying in our nice new caravan. Steve has
sold his beloved Patrol and bought a Mercedes van fitted out with
cages for the dogs. He shows his bullies and I show my Dachies and
Shar Pei. How life has changed!
Jennie
October 2006
