Pamplona
Q: Please tell us, how did you get involved in dogs? How did you start with Bichons? What is the story behind your kennel and your kennel name?
A: My mother always had Poodles, so l guess it was a natural progression for me to continue. It was while buying a Standard Poodle from Wendy Streatfield of Leander that l first saw a Bichon in the flesh for the first time and l knew straight away that was to be my number one breed. The dog was all-American breeding, from Rick Beauchamp’s Beau Monde kennel. I bought him and then incorporated him into old English bloodlines and the rest is history, as they say! He was the foundation of the Pamplona Bichon Frise. I then purchased another male from Clare Coxall’s Tiopepe Poodles. He was English and Irish champion Tiopepe Mad Louie at Pamplona and he went onto become the first Bichon to win an all-breed best in show, the first to win a group at Crufts. He was handled by my partner Geoff Corish, and he was also the breed record holder for the Bichon at that time. My kennel name, Pamplona, comes from a village in the French Pyrenees
Q: Where did your first dogs come from?
A: My first two dogs came from two of the top breeders in the UK, both of Poodles. They also loved Bichons. Wendy Streatfield and Clare Coxall. She was mated to the dog l bought from Wendy Streatfield, Snow Shamrock of Leander, and produced many champions.
Q: Which dog do you consider the foundation of your own breeding?
A: I would have to say a very pretty bitch called Irish Ch. Lameda Irish Lace. She was very much ahead of her time. Super type and balance, lovely size and a great showgirl. She won many groups in Ireland (my home country) and was the first Bichon to go Best in Show in Ireland at an all-breed championship show.
Q: What kind of selection do you prefer in your breeding program linebreeding, inbreeding or an outcross?
A: I always prefer to linebreed but occasionally I will have to outcross. I only outcross when its necessary for us to bring in some new blood. But the outcross really must be a linebred dog. The resulting progeny from this breeding would then be put back into a bitch of my own who is linebred. We did this with great success when we imported Ch. and Am. Ch. Parays I Told You So. He changed the breed in the UK dramatically producing wonderful Bichons for Pamplona through his children and grandchildren.
Q: What would you say was your greatest achievement as a breeder so far?
A: That would be breeding Ch. Pamplona Bring Me. Eric was a Dog Of The Year winner and Crufts group winner as well. He is now the breed record holder in the UK and has also produced more champions in the UK than any other other Bichon dead or alive.
Q: Which attributes are your priorities when breeding the Bichon?
A: Type must come first along with temperament. Not only do we want to breed top winning dogs but also want them to be healthy as well with the typical Bichon temperament.
Q: What three qualities do you think are the most important when you look at a Bichon?
A: When I am judging l look at them all first, to see balance and shape. I then move them around together as with so many coated breeds, presentation can hide so much. Moving them around l can see head carriage, outline, and tail carriage. I want them to have reach and drive. I then go over them on the table for a closer examination. The three qualities l look for are type, temperament, and correct head and expression.
Q: Which faults would you not tolerate in your breed?
A: We would not tolerate long and low, which is so ugly in a Bichon.
Q: How has the breed changed over the years? Would you say it has gone to better or worse?
A: I have been fortunate to judge the breed in many countries and l must say the breed has improved greatly. Very seldom do we see those that are long and low, the completely wrong balance. There are a lot of clever and dedicated breeders out there who have one goal, and that is to improve our wonderful breed. The perfect Bichon has yet to be born, but everyone is certainly working on it.
Q: Can you describe an ideal Bichon?
A: I am not a breeder who is ever kennel blind, far from it. And no one is more critical of Pamplona Bichons than ourselves, but l have to say that Eric, Ch. Pamplona Bring Me Sunshine, is my ideal. He is now 13 years of age and is as stunning now as he was in his prime. He has the correct balance and type, his head is perfection, with such a pretty and super pigment something so important in the breed. When he moves he comes alive and commands such attention as when he won the group at Crufts he gained so many admirers for the breed. My goal is to breed another little gentleman like Eric.
Q: Please name three of your all-time favorite winners bred by you and three not owned or bred by you.
A: The three dogs bred and owned by me are Ch. Pamplona Bring Me Sunshine, Ch. Pamplona It’s All About Me, and Ch. Pamplona Could It Be Magic. Those not owned or bred by me would be Am. Ch. Devon Puff and Stuff, Am. Ch. Paray’s Propaganda, and Finnish Ch. Ashmair Here Comes Sunshine.
Q: What homebred dog of yours comes closest to your ideal?
A: That’s an easy answer, Eric, Ch. Pamplona Bring Me Sunshine.
Q: Which breed would you have if you did not have Bichons?
A: Great Pyrenees and Irish Wolfhounds.
Q: What advice would you give to a new person in the breed?
A: Read as many books as you can find on the breed. Attend lots of shows, then watch, listen, and learn from the experts. Watch them prepare and handle their dogs. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, at the right moment of course.
By Paul Flores
Stirling Bichons
