Where It Started
Hi I am Kathy,
I purchased my first Bulldog in 1985, my Kennel name has been registered since 1989, I am a Foundation and Life Member of the Southern Bulldog Club, and a registered NZ Kennel Club member. I have shown my dogs round the South Island since 1986. I didn't breed my first litter until 2004, when I felt I had educated myself on lines, pedigrees and health issues in regard to this breed.
Bulldogs were not my first choice when I went looking to purchase my first companion to enter the world of Show dogs with, I was looking around at either a Boxer or a Bullmastiff but I got talked into looking for a Bulldog. As chance would happen I was told about an advertisement in an out of town newspaper for a "beautifully ugly" little boy looking for a home. I rang the number and found he was the last one left from a litter of 10, so payment was sorted and delivery was organised. Later in the week another litter was advertised in my own area so I rang and spoke to these people and enquired if I may come and meet their dogs. This was my first face to face encounter with the gorgeous sourmug that would become my life time addiction!!!!!!!
Late December 1985, a little brindle Bulldog male arrived on the plane. I was so nervous going to pick up this little bundle. Talk about love at first sight, and so the love affair began with the best breed in the world! Mowgli was my initiation to the world of Dog Shows and meeting a whole lot of different people. I found the elderly people the most enthusiastic in greeting a bulldog. The memories this breed evoked, everyone seemed to have a story of having known a bulldog, and it never ceased to amaze me that no matter how small the encounter it was always remembered with great detail and a smile.
September 1987 my next boy joined the world, he became NZ Ch Baton Brae Aramdaeus, Cam had a real spark for life, a sense of humour, an incredible stubborn streak and a fantastic temperament. His loyalty was with my father, he spent a lot of time with dad, whether sleeping at his feet in the sun, going out on their walks or annoying him by stealing his tools while he was trying to work on something. There are numerous memories of this dog but the ones that stick to the front of my mind are how this dog could climb!! Was nothing to find him up in the middle of the fruit trees stealing apples to eat, but probably one of the things that makes me giggle the most is him following my father up the ladder on to the roof of the house!!
January 1988 marked the arrival of Jacqueline Of Mt Oliver. Kelly was mum's girl, wherever I went she was right behind me. As she got older she ruled the house with a velvet paw, even letting me know what time she felt I should be heading to bed! Kelly never enjoyed the inside of the Show Ring and never experienced mother hood, but she was the most fantastic surrogate mother you could ever ask for, even the kitten didn't escape the washing from that massive tongue.
Other Bulldog Family Members And More
Following on from this the family enlarged a couple of times, and also decreased. In 1993 Gipsy Rose Of Brambly, Abbey joined us. A lovely red and white girl, what a comedian. She had the funniest sense of humour I have ever met, I have yet to meet another dog that can blow bubbles in a water bowl as well as she could.
In 1994 Deb Jordan of Rocksteady kennels used the services of Cam over her bitch. I kept a lovely brindle girl from this mating, Rocksteady Camzecko. Sophie fitted in lovely, very much like her dad to look at.
Early 1996 I was overjoyed to receive a phone call to inform me that a wee red and white girl was joining us from world renowned kennels Kama in Australia. Alee was the next little girl to join our clan.
Over this time we also had a couple of French Bulldogs, thanks to my sons interest in this breed. The most noted one of these being Ch Mordicus Of Mohau. Ted was a black faced fawn, and what a character. His entry to the world of dog shows resulted in 4 Baby Puppy In Shows over the course of one weekend. The impact this cheeky little boy had on our family will never be forgotten, where the kids were so was Ted; having a bad day was his chance to make you laugh and goodness knows he could do that. He was in his element with an audience.
1998 saw the arrival of the Bull Terrier, Baxter. In a short space of time and some heart breaking losses, he became our only dog.
At this point I stepped sideways and took a breather. I had taken some harsh knocks and lost direction, making me somewhat frustrated and more than a little heartbroken.
The Magic Returns
In 2001 a lovely brindle bitch came to our home. She was to become known as Ch Witchy Poo Of Codera. Cybil was to be responsible for a fresh start for me and encourage me to kick start myself again. Imagine my excitement to find that in the background of her pedigree she had my original boy Cam's bloodlines! I am forever indebted to Angie of Codera Kennels for encouraging me to get back out there! I cannot thank her enough for her support and encouragement when I was ready to give up. I have met some great people through this breed, both round NZ and overseas and been very lucky to have had some fabulous dogs in my life, some arrived and some I have bred myself.
Never be embarrassed to ask, you make more of a mess of things if you blunder through and pretend you know!!
