COLIN SHAW

The least experienced committee member of the Wire Fox Terrier Association, I only became a wire owner in 1996 when we travelled to North Wales to acquire a friend for our Welsh terrier - although I had a lifetime of hearing about the wires my mother was brought up with in the 1930's !

My wife, Kath, and I soon found that owning a wire did not mean that we just had a lovely pet; a breeder and exhibitor who lived close by somehow found out about our wire and came to visit her. The next thing we knew we were taking Daisy to our first breed show. There we were amazed to be told that "You can't take her into the ring looking like that", whereupon other exhibitors proceeded to turn our woolly pet into something that resembled their beautiful dogs.

The next big step was a decision to let Daisy have a litter. We were lucky that Bill Browne-Cole's Ch. Sceftsbr Consul at Travella was available and Bill then helped us choose a puppy to keep. At 7 months, Wylyefox Special Addition came 1st in Minor Puppy at the Wire Fox Terrier Association Championship Show and, five months after that, took Best Puppy in the Breed at Cruft's. Her daughter, also by a Travella sire, followed her to a second Cruft's win and we now look forward to her daughter starting on the winning trail in 2005.

Throughout the last eight years we have been constantly amazed and delighted by the support, advice and friendship offered by wire breeders and exhibitors, most of whom you know you are going to be "up against" in the ring shortly after. The breed has a wonderful collection of experts, all of whom appear only too happy to share their knowledge, experience and skill with a beginner.

I am pleased to say that our dogs remain pets that we show and can most often be found chasing rabbits and deer through the fields and hedgerows around our village, or joining me in a visit to the pub!

I am honoured to have taken my place on the WFTA Committee where I hope to have the opportunity to support the interests of the less-experienced and give encouragement to other newcomers.

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