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AFTER A FEW WEEKS AWAY, CHATTERBOX IS BACK AND PLAYING CATCH UP...........

Katie Eldred turned 98 YEARS on 22nd February 2015.....I know she had a lovely day out...at a dog show, of course!.....BelatedMany Happy Returns of the day, Katie, from the Cavalier Community worldwide...

ICE, ICE BABY

People in parts of the USA aren’t the only ones suffering from a seemingly endless winter of cold, snow and ice-slick sidewalks. Their dogs are feeling the cold too!

While millions of residents from the Rocky Mountains to the East Coast shovel snow deep into the season and hunker down awaiting relief, their dogs are either missing out on walks or left vulnerable to injury with each salt-coated step. Rock salt and shards of ice, can cut feet or get wedged between toes, de-icing chemicals can burn paw pads and frostbite can happen. That’s led to a late-season boost in sales of doggy boots, which can be an annoyance for canines but allow owners to protect pets that are like family.

Malia Ebel trained 13-year-old Seymour and 12-year-old Sanders when they were young to wear boots, which are a necessity instead of a fashion choice. “My dogs don’t have a problem with the snow; it’s the salt that hurts their feet,” she said. “So it’s great that their feet are protected and they can walk on the street all winter. In a winter like this, there has been so much snow and they’ve had to salt the roads very consistently.”

The persistent winter has pushed Boston close to its 20-year-old snowfall record with more than 100 inches and seemingly froze Niagara Falls in place. While people throw up their hands at each new storm, the weather is giving a boost to pet clothiers.

At the Barker & Meowsky Paw Firm in Chicago, the number of boots sold each day in the last six weeks was four times higher than a typical day this winter. Company President, Alice Lerman said. Boots called “Muttluks,” fleece-lined boots that resemble furry Mukluks for people, were good sellers, as were Pawz disposable booties that look like balloons and come in 10-packs. But the boots that sold out every day were a new product called Saltsox. They slip on easily, stay dry and come shaped like a dog’s foot so they won’t fall off as often, Lerman said. There are even less intrusive options: Musher’s Secret wax was designed for sled dogs and forms a shield on paws to keep ice and salt out. Bag Balm moisturizer and Vaseline also can be used in a pinch.

HOW "ART" THOU?

MID 19TH CENTURY OIL..."ROYAL FRIENDS"

VINTAGE CAR FIT FOR A ROYAL BREED

A massive 1924 Sunbeam and an aristocratic Cavalier named Charlie were two of the biggest hits at Canberra's 2015 Wheels Exhibition. "I bought this car as an unfinished project about six years ago," owner Ross Merdal said. "I'm not sure whether we got the car to match the dog or the dog to match the car."

The event, the thriving Canberra car club community's annual big day out, attracted more than 1000 cars and at least five times that number of spectators.

LUCY WON AT "RUFFS"

A Cavalier from Studley in Warwickshire who was rescued from a life of misery, has been hailed as a champion by the alternative to Crufts. Lucy was named as the RSPCA’s RUFFS champion after an online vote. Her owner, Lisa Garner took her in from a rescue centre in March 2013 after she had come from a puppy farm where she had been used to breed pedigree puppies in horrendous conditions. “I’m over the moon that Lucy has won Ruffs. I’m like a proud parent. People have been so kind. When Lisa first had Lucy she was in a terrible state and was completely withdrawn. At a tiny 3.5kg, her legs were stained with urine and she had clumps of fur missing. But with a lot of hard work, love and patience, Lucy’s life has been transformed and she is now an ambassador for dogs everywhere. Last year she was named most heroic hound at the National Pet Show and starred in her own fund-raising calendar. She has 3,000 followers on Facebook and raises awareness of puppy far

"H" STEPS UP

Former "STEPS" recording star, Ian 'H' Watkins raised £1,240 for Friends of the Animals RCT recently by taking part in television’s Family Fortunes quiz.

Dog lover "H" who comes from the Rhondda in Wales raised the money which will be used towards the cost of life-changing surgery for 'Ben' the Cavalier who came into the care of Friends of the Animals RCT from a puppy farm. Due to the lack of care and attention shown to Ben in his young life...believed to be two years old....his eyes were in a terrible condition and he is almost blind. He is currently under the care of an eye specialist vet who estimates the cost of protecting Ben’s remaining sight – and possibly improving it – will be £3,000.

THE VOICE OF WESTMINSTER

"Angel, the Cavalier and Grace, the Brittany live in a one-bedroom condominium in New York near the river on East 72nd Street. The setup is pretty perfect with a sofa that fairly begs to be flopped on, and a flat-screen television that’s always set to their favorite channel, NY1. Even better, they’re on the fourth floor, which means it’s a quick elevator ride to the great outdoors, and a very short walk to the park where all their friends hang out.

But Angel and Grace are not alone in their paradise. They share it with a couple of bipeds, who though oddly territorial about the bedroom, have been successfully trained to provide hearty meals at suitable intervals and to offer extravagant praise and abundant treats even for rookie tricks like begging and rolling over.

This is the residence of David Frei, the veteran co-host of Westminster Dog show at Madison Square Garden, New York, and his wife, Cherilyn. The Freis have been fixtures of the far Upper East Side since they moved here from Seattle in 2002.

“A dog trainer had recommended the area because of its proximity to Carl Schurz Park,” said Mr Frei, 65, who has had considerable experience with both human and canine ball-chasers. He worked in public relations for the Denver Broncos, the San Francisco 49ers and ABC Sports before becoming director of communications for Westminster. Because of the dogs, the couple chose a low floor. “When they’re very young or very old, it’s difficult to be high up,” Cherilyn said. “When they need to go out, they need to get out fast. Or if there’s an emergency and the elevator isn’t working, we have to carry them. We learned that lesson when we lived on the 39th floor.”

The apartment is a shrine to man’s best friend. Dogs are represented in bronze, crystal, Limoges, glass and needlepoint, on pillows, throws and mugs. There are oil paintings of dogs, line drawings and photographs of dogs. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, canines figured in the couple’s romance. David, a former breeder of champion Afghan hounds, was discussing therapy dogs during a Westminster telecast in 1998 and Cherilyn who was writing her master’s thesis on animal-assisted therapy, just happened to tune in and prevailed on a mutual friend to introduce them. They married in 2000.

In the modestly furnished apartment, what is convenient for the humans is generally trumped by what is comfortable for the dogs. The couch is dirt-colored. The rugs are carpet remnants that get swapped out annually because of the depredations of myriad paws. Perhaps that’s just another way of saying that she and David know what’s important. “There’s just enough sky in our view that Grace can go to the window and see the birds fly by. It’s quiet here and it’s good for all of us. We’re at peace.”

........CALUM IS SO CUTE

A young Scot, Calum Taylor, aged seven, from Moray, took part in the Scottish Kennel Club’s Junior handler of the year contest in Cumbernauld where he handled his Cavalier,'Jazz', in the age 6-12 group. Calum’s mum, Joanna said: “The most important thing when handling a dog is having a good bond with it. Calum spends hours with Jazz. Every day when he’s finished with his homework he’s out taking her a walk, brushing her and playing with her. He’s a natural with her, and I think I’m more nervous about the competition than he is. Calum is totally dog-obsessed, and has a real passion for it.” During the event the young handlers had to escort their pets through certain patterns and movements, with marks being awarded for how well dogs are presented. Calum is a member of the Banff, Moray and Nairn Canine Club.

.......MADISON, GROOMED FOR STARDOM?

Madison Millington from Rhyl, aged eight, and her nine-month-old Cavalier'Libby' won sixth place in the Young Kennel Club under 12s "Groom Through" at Crufts. During the class, entrants were required to show a full understanding of their dog’s coat. The Ysgol Llywelyn pupil was given the go ahead to compete at Crufts after she won the Young Kennel Club grooming competition in Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, last year. Madison has four dogs - two Cavaliers and two Bichons.
Madison’s mum, said: “Madison was really excited but very nervous. Apart from fun dog shows the only proper competition she has entered was the qualifier. Every owner and their dog has to qualify before competing at Crufts. It was her first time competing at the show. Madison didn’t realise until she started telling people she was going to Crufts what a big achievement it was. The more people that told her how amazing it was that she was going, the more excited she got.”
Madison is training in agility with Merseyside Agility Dogs on the Wirral and also does obedience classes in Prestatyn. Ms Millington added: “She groomed our other cavalier called Bella in her qualifier but could choose any cavalier to groom at the dog show. She chose Libby as she is younger and she is a confident dog, except she wasn’t too sure of the bright lights."

.....MAGGIE SHOWING US ALL HOW TO DO IT

Meet Maggie from Sunderland,the red haired 8 yearoldgranddaughter of Ted and Pat Rogerson (Rabymar) who is already well known in the Cavalier ring. Despite her youth she has won lots of classes, red cards, rosettes and trophies with the Cavaliers she handles. Maggie does it in a quiet, sympathetic, accomplished way and is always generous win or lose.

Thefuture looks bright......

TOP DOLLAR

"King Charles Spaniels" by Richard Ansdell, RA (British 1815-1885) oil on canvas 36 x 28in.

A Beagle took top honours at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show this year, but it was a painting of two spaniels that was the pick of the litter at the Bonhams' Dogs in Show & Field Auction on Feb. 18th. The painting sold for $81,250 or £54,969.

The annual auction is held to coincide with the Westminster show and the art in the auction included every breed recognized by Westminster. Ansdell’s oil on canvas garnered the highest sale this year.As to why it performed so well? “It’s a very attractive painting,” Alan Fausel, the vice president and director of fine art at Bonhams, said. Though it might have also had something to do with the painting’s previous owner — the infamous socialite Claus von Bülow who sold it and other pieces from his collection to Sotheby’s in 1988. Von Bülow had been acquitted in 1985 in a retrial of charges that he twice tried to murder his wife. The auction reportedly was part of the settlement of a lawsuit brought against Von Bülow by his step children. Under terms of the agreement, he was to leave the United States, give up all claims to his wife's estate and any right to profit from publicizing the affair. The sale of the outstanding art collection, put together by Von Bülow and his wife over many years, wildly exceeded its estimates.

SPOTTED AT CRUFTS 2015....

grateful thanks for contributing to Laura Davies, David McCullough, Dennis Homes, Kelly Lee and Karen Bacon

The Entente Cordiale is alive and well, it seems...from France...Fabienne Auquiert, Nathalie Gantier and Guillaume Tytgat celebrates with Scot Norma Inglis

all the way from OZ! Raewyn McCullough

Dominic Auquiert

Mervyn Hunter

Peter and Ruta Towse

Marisa Colavecchia, Judith Echazarra, Chris Knight

Carol Jenkins with David McCullough from Melbourne

Richard and Zach Chapman

France 2.....Scotland 2....
Guillaume Tytgat, Nathalie Gantier, Norma Inglis and Jonathan Maclennan

Martina Schleisiek from Germany and her niece Melissa

Anne Bayliss and Norma Bloice

caught Dennis Homes in the headlights!

Per Knudsen, Birthe and Claus Jensen all from Denmark. Ria Kavelaars from Holland, Bruno Castro from Portugal and Jonathan Maclennan who lives in Sweden