here was never any doubt in my mind that I would have a chow.

Growing up I was never allowed a dog but always knew I would have a chow one day and was lucky enough to meet and marry someone who also loved the breed. We bought our first chow, a blue bitch called Suki in the ‘80’s but she was a pet, pure and simple, we had no thoughts of breeding and knew nothing of showing other than our annual trip to Crufts as I had an uncle who was a championship show judge.

As my eldest two children grew up we had a variety of dogs, not all chows as they were allowed pets of their own, and lovely as they all were I always preferred chows and thankfully when my third child was ready for a dog of his own the breed he also wanted was the Chow that he chose and we have never been without them since.

I stumbled across showing by chance having taken our dog to Ringcraft classes thinking it was basic obedience. I was encouraged by the people there to give it a go and it opened up a whole new world to me.

It was more than just a hobby as it came along at a time in my life when circumstances had made me unable to leave the house or mix with people at all. Being able to go to places where people only talked about one’s dogs and not ask questions or bring up subjects I could not talk about turned my life around and was more beneficial than any therapy or prescribed medicine. I always feel I have a great deal to thank dog showing for.

I still show occasionally but am quite happy now to let Rhys do most of it just as he is happy to let me rear the puppies, something from which I derive a great deal of pleasure. We play to our strengths and work as a team.

Although I always wanted to maintain the colour blue for sentimental reasons (Suki being blue) I also love to see creams and have been instrumental in making sure we always have one or two here

I have been the secretary of the Chow Chow Club Wales, helping to run two shows one in April and the other October. I have also been a representatives of the club at breed council meetings. I am currently on the West of England Chow Chow Club committee.