Is it the dogs or the people that have changed?

I recently wrote a piece about the suitability of several of our terrier breeds for the smallholder. I particularly wanted to focus on their ability to control rats and mice – the bane of any livestock keeper.

I am keen that, to significantly raise their numbers (and interest in them) more of our rare/vulnerable native breeds need to get back to work.

Terrific terriers

In the March 2021 issue of Country Smallholding I raised the profile of three rare terrier breeds – the Bedlington, Manchester and Sealyham – and demonstrated their potential to fill the role of a pest controller.

Fit for function, fit for purpose

In issue 27 of Edition Dog (Dec 2020) I reflect on my own experience of owning and breeding dogs with working ability, and discuss what ‘fit for function’ really means.

Rare breed SOS

My Canine Chat column for Torbay Weekly on 3rd December 2020 put rare breeds in the spotlight.

Rethinking Rare Breeds – Part 1

Issue 14 of Edition Dog (Nov 2019) was the first of two features on rare breeds and how they could become more popular.