UP TO ... 2008!

MALCOLM HART

Malcolm Hart, Hartmere Shelties. I started in the breed in 1967.

I live in the edge of a tiny hamlet with a name which is bigger than itself! Potterhanworth Booths is about 9 miles from ancient Lincoln which has one of the most beautiful Cathedrals in England. I have moved here in 2000 from my Native Lake District in Cumbria - which borders Scotland. The kennel name Hartmere was second choice. Shundraw was first choice and not accepted - and derives from beautiful in very ancient Norse. So Hart because it is my surname - and mere because the lake District is filled with small meres - or lakes as most people would term them. I live with my second wife Chrissie and I have a son from my first marriage, Neil, of whom I am very proud. He lives and works in London - but he is a frequent visitor here.

My other hobbies: I am a passionate historian with an equally large interest in archaeology and I read voraciously and paint ... oh and much to my wifes regret - I like to watch a lot of sport on TV!!!

I live here with 6 and one quarter ( a puppy) shelties. Here presently are: Ch Hartmere Hallmarked, now 10 and a former Sheltie Puppy of the year and Sheltie veteran of the year. He won the res CC at Crufts at almost 8 years.

His full younger sister aged 7 Ch Hartmere Hold the Dream, who was both Sheltie Puppy of the Year and Sheltie of the year and BOB  at Crufts 2003 and Bitch CC winner at Crufts 2005.

Elanmore Highlander, a son of Hallmarked, aged 7, who was shown with some success as a youngster.

I also have another lovely son of Hallmarked, who never became entire!

Hartmere Hidden Dream - many times best Puppy in Breed and her litter sister Hartmere Highland Dream, also a winner but often in the shadow of her sister.

And an 11  week Puppy who is from the third sister in the litter Hartmere Hint of Gold at Japaro.

Mostly Riverhill - but with a significant amount of Helensdale and some Exford lines.

These lines combined fulfil my expectation in head qualities shape and soundness. 

Ch Greensands Gangsters Moll at Monkswood

Ch Riverhill Raider (1965)

Ch Monkswood Moss Trooper (1970)

Felicity and Patience Rogers from Riverhill Shelties.

I learned to handle by showing a friend’s sheltie at the small Open Shows held locally. But at my first Championship Show handling my own dog it was a wet day and I stood in the doorway of the benching tent waiting for my class only to discover on emerging into the rain that it was in fact MY class I had been watching!! Hardly an auspicious start to a career – but a mistake I have never again made!

My first litter can be described only as a disaster! Two males neither of whom had any testicles descended and a pretty bitch who was given back to the breeder of the dam, the late and very lamented  Phyl Pierce of Philhope shelties – simply the kindest person I ever knew – who allowed  someone to borrow the pup to help with the loss of her pet sheltie who had died suddenly. The pup of course was never returned and Phyl was too kind and caring to demand her return.

Ch Hartmere Harris Tweed (photo) – who was so like Ch Riverhill Raider – who appeared many times in his pedigree.

Yes he was – I was most fortunate. He had the grace and elegant outline I admire so much and a well balanced head with the flattest of skulls and whilst colour is not too important to me - providing it meets the standard’s requirements – he was a pure golden sable. He became a Champion before he was 2 years and I never heavily campaign Champions even now – but then it was considered a crime – so Tweed never appeared in the ring when he was actually at his very peak. But I did show him once more at The SSC of Wales show where he won the res. CC at almost 10. I still miss him daily.

Such a difficult question – and if I could cut off pieces of all the Champions I have owned and reassemble them into one dog – then I would be a happy man.

Tweed together with the bitch Ch Hartmere Hello Gorgeous (photo above) had almost everything which please me in a sheltie including a very special personality. But I think Ch Hartmere Hallmarked and his full sister Ch Hartmere Hold The Dream are very worthy modern day successors to those two.

Sheltie registrations and entries have  indeed declined since the seventies when – I think – Shelties reached the dizzy heights of No 5 most popular dog, (secretly I am very pleased about this!!).

I wish that shows were more the relaxed affairs they used to be! In those far off days I remember much more laughter and genuine pleasure when others won and you didn’t – and there was a genuine feeling that with the exception of just one or two people who were perhaps difficult to have a full friendship with - everyone  else seemed much more united than they do now. There is no doubt that shelties now consistently achieve much higher Group awards than in those times but I think that the KC decision to divide the Working group into two groups Pastoral and Working has helped in this!!

Charm.

Balance or lack of it to be more precise disturbs my appreciation. If the component parts of the head are not in perfect proportion and balance - the unique expression the breed is noted for - is lost and  lack of balance in body denotes faulty construction which never results in the true movement – covering the maximum amount of ground with the minimum of effort. And of course too much coat which hides the outline of the dog gives  an overall visually unbalanced look.

Sometimes the differences I see in shelties between different countries are rather more than just slight!! But yes I do – and I don’t find this surprising as Shelties are not the easiest of breeds in which to retain uniformity – and I see differences in type within my own country too!

A resounding YES to this question! In fact arguably many people believe judges change breeds rather more than breeders do! If a dog wins – then many will use him at stud. If a dog never wins, few will use that dog at stud on their bitches. It follows therefore that judges have huge responsibility in their decision making. And if an untypical or unworthy dog wins a lot then I feel we have the judges inability to know well and be able to apply the standard  to thank for this – rather than proposing changes to our standard which has served us well since 1987! After all if judges cannot apply the existing standard – they are g hardly likely to fair better with a new standard!

WE have a saying in UK “You can lead a horse to water– but you cannot make him drink!!" For many years now we have had a very good and comprehensive training  scheme – and many competent lecturers to present the training. I know I am not alone in wishing that the ’message’ had been more readily received by some prospective – and it has to be said already established Judges.

I sometimes have the idea that newcomers have to prove themselves first before they are taken serious in their efforts to learn more about the breed. They often need years of experience and numbers of shows judged to attend the best and most detailed lectures. By that time they have already formed their opinion from others - whose opinions may not be correct! It might be an idea to train complete novices at an earlier stage in their time with the breed than they are now – and I think it's up to us to show that we are true ambassadors of the breed for everyone who is interested in that breed, perhaps to start with a warm welcome to all visitors around the ring.

I think All cooperation is vital for the future of the breed – and I wish the internet had been invented 30 years before it was – I am convinced that perceived differences in the breed in different countries would not be as apparent – if we had ALL been talking together much earlier. I still hope it is not too late for this to happen. But one thing is certain – it will never happen until we all decide that confrontation and impoliteness will never win any converts!

My judging appointment at Crufts next March has meant that out of choice – I have only attended 4 shows this past year and I have not read any show reports in this time either. Not because I fear influence in my decision making on the day – anyone who knows me well will say that is impossible!! But because I want to go into assignment with a completely fresh and clear mind. Ask me after Crufts has ended!!

Interesting question – because I always wonder what I will get when I breed outside of my established line with another UK line!! Over recent years I have seen (photos of) many dogs I like – and I have been bombarded too with photos of dogs who I would not like to use – also from progeny of NA dogs which perhaps do not ‘fill my eye’! But I have not seen ALL of the progeny produced by imports so I wonder if selection of pups is the key in this. Certainly some of our most respected judges have given high awards in Scandinavia – I think Europe and definitely in Australia to dogs with at least one  North American parent- so who I am I to argue with their decision  making?!!

Definitely a yes to this question. I would encourage all to spend a night by the fireside with the ESSC handbooks and to really study the dogs of yesteryear who were thought in their time – to be ideal – and to observe the changes which have taken place – which seem never to be remarked on with present day dogs.

I have so many visions for the breed – I don’t know where to start! But I will give my hopes for the continuing future for the breed !! I hope that a test for Coloboma and PRA will be found which will result in their eradication WITHOUT further reduction of the already small gene pool. And that we understand more about HD and are able to use the knowledge wisely. I hope for accord rather than discord within the breed recognising that a kind word and understanding that not everyone MUST think exactly alike  is more productive than harsh words and radical action.

No secret that I am a dedicated breed historian! So that topic is very close to my heart and I could bore anyone to death about this topic!! But I also enjoy expanding the past into talking with trusted friends about the personalities we had in the breed and the great and perhaps the not so great dogs of the past in a not so clinical and serious  way.

Oh there are many – some I wouldn’t dare to write here! But I suppose since my two brushes with a premature termination of my life in recent years perhaps “Live for today” is the most apt followed by “Enjoy health and happiness with those who are important to you – whether they have two legs or four legs”!

To enjoy showing Ch Hold The Dream’s daughter Hidden Dream again and to hope that my 9 week puppy is good enough to also show are my principal plans.

I think your well thought out questions have  been most comprehensive. But in light heated vein – If you had asked ‘what do I think of exhibitors running with their dogs in the ring’ I would have said 'I would wish they would realise that the standard implies that movement should be judged at brisk trot – that is the dogs trotting briskly  – not the handlers! And that as an ex handler of GSD I know that extra speed does not hide faulty movement from a competent judge!!'

I think the traditional wish for this season is apt “Peace to all men of good will” with perhaps an added “I hope all you wish for which is reasonable is fulfilled”.