Arthrug Old English Sheepdogs are owned and loved by Tony and Janet Steele. We are always happy to give help and advice to anyone who is thinking of owning an Old English Sheepdog puppy.
History of Arthrug Old English Sheepdogs
Our first Old English Sheepdog. Mareband of Arthrug (Wellington) was bought as a pet in 1975. We lived in South Africa at the time and we were encouraged to show him. At his first show he won a first place, and we were hooked. In 1976 we acquired Marian of Arthrug (Jenny) but she wasn’t a show girl. In 1977 Wellington gained his South African title. We had a couple of litters, but our next successful show dog Shaggybeau Eager Edgar of Arthrug (Edgar) was bought in 1983, and he gained his South African title in 1986, just two days before his flight to U.K. and six months in quarantine. Unfortunately, we lost Edgar at an early age due to a heart attack.
On our return to U.K. We kept in touch with the show scene, although we didn’t show until we bought Lamacres Tobermory of Arthrug (Toby) in 1992, but he didn’t enjoy showing. We lost Toby due to a brain tumour.
We bought Mirene Make Believe with Arthrug (Pookha) in 1994. She qualified for Crufts 1995. In January 1999 she gave birth to a healthy litter of 10. 8 bitches and 2 dogs. These puppies were out of Breedonhill Unknown Legend (Harvey) owned by David and Janet Swannell. We kept a bitch from this litter, Arthrug Upon a Star (Disney). She had a successful show career, qualifying for Crufts each year she was shown. In 2001 Disney was joined at Crufts by her litter sister, Arthrug Make me a Star (Milly) who is owned by Jenny Sinfield. We repeated the mating and, in October 2000 Pookha gave birth to 3 dogs and 2 bitches. Our son Andrew had a dog puppy from this litter Arthrug Silver Dream (Dougal) and he qualified for Crufts each year he was shown. He is now retired and a much loved couch potato and pet.
Disney gave birth in October 2002 to a litter of 7, 5 dogs and 2 bitches, but unfortunately we lost one of the bitch puppies after 2 days. These puppies were out of Beauvallon the Sorcerer at Mirene (Bertie) owned by our very good friends, Irene & Geoff Duplock. We kept a bitch puppy from this litter Arthrug Upon a Moonbeam (Rose) who was best bitch at the Working & Pastoral Breeds of Wales show just one day after she was 6 months. The following week, at her first Championship Show, she qualified for Crufts 2004. One of her litter brothers, Arthrug Blue Moon (Baxter), who is owned by Debbie & Steve Wilson and family, qualified for Crufts 2004 at his first Championship show.
In 2004 we achieved a long held ambition of gaining a place at Crufts with a home bred dog. Rose won a 4th place in the Special Junior Bitch class out of an entry of 13, and Baxter won a 1st place in the Special Junior Dog class out of an entry of 6. WE WERE SO PROUD.
In July 2005 we said our last goodbye to our dear Pookha, she was 11 ½ and the vet could do no more for her. We stayed and held her until there was no more pain. Sleep well, darling Pookha, you will be forever in our hearts.
Rose continued her winning ways, qualifying for Crufts each year she has been shown.
Rose gave birth in September 2006 to a litter of 4 healthy bitch puppies. These puppies were out of Beauvallon Philanderer JW, (Oliver) owned by Helen & Gareth Harris. We kept a puppy from this litter, Arthrug Upon a Sunbeam (Madison). During 2007 Madison qualified a total of 11 times for Crufts 2008. She won Best Puppy in Breed and Reserve Best Bitch at the Working and Pastoral Breeds of Wales show and Best Puppy in Breed at the Welsh Kennel Club Championship show, as well as several other first places. She was also placed in several Puppy Stakes classes at various shows.
Madison was at Crufts in 2008 - she didn’t gain a place, but was very well behaved. She also took part in Discover Dogs at Crufts and enjoyed all the fuss and attention. Rose also took part in Discover Dogs and they both had their photo taken many, many times.
So the Arthrug Story Continues
March 2008
Madison has moved up to Post Graduate class, as she was 18 months old on 20 March. She was entered in the Post Graduate class at the OES Club of Scotland Championship Show at the end of March and we are pleased to say she gained a 2nd place, which qualifies her for Crufts 2009. As she was only the 2nd youngest in the class we were thrilled.
Click on the link below to view OES ornaments and jewellery for sale.
http://www.oesmemorylane.co.uk
If you have any queries regarding Old English Sheepdogs, please contact us on
arthrug@oesdogs.fsnet.co.uk
