Although the Domburg kennel has only been in existence since 1988 I have been involved with and had a great love for dogs from an early age. I worked at a local German Shepherd kennels after school and handled my very first dog at the Three Counties Show at the age of eleven and from there went on to handle a variety of different breeds at Championship level.
My first involvement with Belgian Shepherds was in the early 70's when I handled Gruline Aimee du Shane as a puppy for Anne Older at a local open show. Shane was of American type; glamorous, with good structure. Later at another local show I saw a new import Bandol de la Pouroffe at Snowbourn. I was immediately smitten and knew instinctively this was the correct type, and more importantly the type I wanted. At that time dogs of this correct type and quality were few and far between. I did not have a dog of my own then however I knew that I wanted to own and eventually breed beautiful Belgian Shepherds, the Tervueren always being my passion.
I started my Belgian education by watching, helping, handling and above all listening and talking to experienced breeders. I mostly handled for the local Bergerac kennel. Little did I know at the time what an impact this collaboration would eventually have. I knew that in order to start my kennel and breeding programme on a sound footing I needed to have a foundation bitch of real quality and type with a pedigree that would reproduce. In 1988 my wait was over and she was well worth waiting for; my first Tervueren was a gift from Bergerac namely Ch Bergerac Sweet Talk “Dash". Her pedigree contained some of the most beautiful and influential imports to come to these shores namely Fanfare of the Two at Niavana, Dancing Dolly of the Two and Ch Norrevang Bacchus of Belamba.
From her very first BPIB at Darlington under Anne O'Shea I knew I had a star. She won BPIS at Working Breeds of Scotland under breed judge Vic Salt and group judge the late Bobby James. Her first RCC came at the BSDA club championship show under Mdme Willemine Van Deijl. From there she went on to win 7 CCs and 4 RCCs.
It is to Dash and her forbearers I owe my success as she and her wonderful pedigree gave me what I have today. Not only was she my most wonderful companion she was legendry in the show ring and as a producer her influence is, to this day, still wide reaching and very evident. It’s a roll call of who's who in Tervueren in the UK. Dash was top Tervueren brood bitch in 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2002. In 1996 she was also Top Brood Bitch in the then Working Group and runner up All Breeds. She produced 10 Champions from three litters; a record in itself. She was taken from me sadly long before her time but I will always be eternally grateful to have had the opportunity to own such an important and influential Belgian Shepherd.
The first Domburg litter was born in 1991 and this was to combine Dash to Jacky MacAndie's Niavana On Fire which produced the very successful "Talk" litter. On Fire was chosen for his type and obvious good looks but mostly for his pedigree. By putting these two together I line bred to two very influential stud dogs namely Fanfare and Bacchus producing eight puppies five of which went on to become Champions.
Whilst visiting the Bergerac kennels I fell in love with a tall, handsome red dog called Ch Bergerac Blue Knight. He sired Dash's second litter; the "Dressed" litter. The most successful and best known of these is the Group winning Ch Domburg Dressed to Impress at Talamo "Rumer" with 21 CC's becoming the second highest winning male Tervueren in the history of the breed. He is the sire of 5 UK and numerous US Champions. Included in these is BOB at Westminster show Am Ch Cinema I Have A Dream and the UK Group winning Ch Hawksflight In Technicolor.
For Dash’s final litter she was mated to Ch Opium van de Hoge Laer at Corsini. This combination produced seven dogs and one single bitch of which five of them became Champions. Among these were the dog Ch Domburg Jeu D’Amour sire of the Groenendael Joint Top Bitch CC Record Holder and the bitch my own Best in Show winning Ch Domburg Reve D’Amour.
Ch Domburg Reve D'Amour "India" won her first RCC as a minor puppy and her title from novice. Her wins are too numerous to mention however among the highlights are Best in Show at the BSDA Championship Show, BOB at Crufts 2002, 2005 and 2006. In 2005 after winning BOB under Marcelle King she then was crowned Crufts 2005 Pastoral Group winner under Kari Jarvinen. The following year in 2006 at Crufts under Jenny Eaves she again took BOB before being placed Group 3 under Steve Hall. She is currently the Bitch CC Record Holder despite making only very rare appearances in the show ring. India took over the mantle from her mother Dash as one of the most influential bitches in the breed in the UK. Her contribution to the improvement and development of the breed is more important to me than any show win. India also made history in 2005 being the only dog to have won Top Dog in the Pastoral Group, Top Brood in the Pastoral Group and Pastoral Group Winner – all at the amazing age of 10 years young. That same year she won a further 9CCs including Group 3 Midland counties, Group 1 Driffield and Group 2 LKA. India's impact on the breed and the Domburg kennel continues via her progeny following in their mother’s and her mother’s footsteps.
India’s 3rd litter was to Jacky MacAndie's young import Zeffirelli Van de Hoge Laer at Niavana resulting in a litter containing Domburg In Love “Vienna” who stayed at home as a future producer being mated firstly to Ch Domburg Rock DJ at Zantal. This litter produced the youngest bitch to win 3 CCs namely Ch Domburg Hot at the Top at Jumasue.
Ch Branock Impressions of Red “Amber” (Domburg Dressed to Impress x Questenberg Porsche) came to live at Domburg as an adult and was bred from only once under my affix although she did have a litter previously under the Branock affix. Her litter at Domburg was to an India son namely Domburg In Envy producing the breeds' youngest male Tervueren champion namely Ch Domburg Rock DJ at Zantal.
The above mentioned successes have meant that Domburg has been Top Tervueren kennel for a record number of 11 times in 1994, 96, 97 98, 99, 2002, 03, 04, 05, 06 and 07. In 2003 I was also Top Breeder Pastoral Group and runner up Top Breeder All Breeds making Domburg the UK’s most successful Tervueren Kennels of all time.
Amongst all the wins my dogs have achieved I am particularly proud of their Crufts’ successes. As my friend the late Caroline Harvey once said “People say Crufts is just another champ show - Yeah!”
· Ch Domburg Dressed to Impress at Talamo was the 1997 dog CC and BOB winner
· Ch Domburg Melodie D’Amour at Monamour was the 1998 dog CC winner
· Ch Domburg Parfait Amour was the 1999 dog CC winner, and both 2000 and 2002 CC & BOB winner
· Ch Domburg First Love was both 2002 and 2004 bitch CC winner
· Ch Domburg Star of Africa was the 2003 dog CC winner
· Ch Domburg Reve d’ Amour was the 2003 BOB winner, the 2005 BOB & Group 1 winner and the 2006 BOB & Group 3 winner
· Ch Domburg in Envy was the 2006 dog CC winner
· Ch Domburg Hot at the Top at Jumasue was the 2007 bitch CC winner
Surprisingly for my show success I actually do relatively very little breeding. I am proud of my achievements in the breed; confident my success is based on my solid foundations. I understand my lines; know where my strengths come from and where any weaknesses need improved. I line breed to the strengths in the original lines, only bringing in outside lines which will complement what I already have. I endeavour that each mating I do counts, and only undertake a mating when I feel as sure as I possibly can be that it will produce the desired results. I am fortunate I have very sound counsel to call upon when I need to discuss dogs, their lines and my future plans.
Anyone who studies and truly understands Belgian Shepherds I am sure will appreciate the following sentiment - Belgians are a slow maturing breed - my dogs epitomise that sentiment. As puppies they generally only give a glimpse of what's to come, like fine wine their best is savoured slowly with age. Above all they stand the test of time as demonstrated by my amazing Ch Domburg Reve D'Amour, Crufts Pastoral Group Winner 2005 at 10 years young.
Domburg will continue to breed as before, in a small way - strangely enough not with the show ring at the forefront of my thoughts, and certainly not swayed by fashions or trends, but striving to breed beautiful Belgian Shepherds which fit my ideal being correct type, the combination of elegance and strength and a typical character. Breeding dogs has always been a hobby through which I have made many friends all around the world however I would emphasise that that is all it is. I have my husband, daughter and a business, all of which keep my feet firmly on the ground. When I stop getting goose bumps whenever I see a beautiful Belgian Shepherd, or fail to appreciate quality, regardless of the breeding or kennel, then I will know it’s time to stop. I consider myself very fortunate to have started out in my breeding with such outstanding lines but I do work very hard at breeding the best Belgians I possibly can and, yes, I am very proud of the dogs that I have bred and their influence on the breed. They will take their place in the history of the breed and I know that history will be their true judge.
