brelade cocker spaniels: About Us

About Me

Brelade

My love of this wonderful breed—Cocker Spaniels—started 27 years ago when I had my first Cocker Spaniel bought for me as a thirteenth birthday present.

At the time my family couldn’t decide between a Cocker Spaniel or a Golden Retriever but eventually my Mum & I had our way and we got a Cocker Spaniel.
I think my Mum had already set her heart on a Cocker Spaniel having owned one in the 60’s which she had bought from the well known Devonview Kennels — “Devonview Bridget” who went back to Tracey Witch of Ware.

So eventually Dad went and bought me a locally bred Blue Roan dog out of a Craigleith dog whom we called Prince.

The very loud & adorable Ralf— my first Chocolate Roan —

Bitcon Dark Treasure at Brelade — he brought me back into the world of Cockers & showing and so the story begins ………………………again!!!!

Since 2001 I have been fortunate enough to have bought in many fantastic Cocker Spaniels from some of the top kennels in the UK and I think myself very lucky to have had these wonderful opportunities.

These have allowed me do some great and consistent winning at all levels in the past 7 years.

I have now bred some dogs of my own at Brelade — both Blue & Chocolate Roans and they have over and above exceeded what I thought I could ever achieve in my return to the showring and in such a short space of time.

I would also like to add, that since returning to showing I have been honoured to be asked to show dogs by my fellow exhibitors including
Irish Setters, Welsh & English Springer Spaniels, German Short Haired Pointers, Labradors and even a Great Dane — and I have even won or been placed in Groups with some of them!
I would like to thank my fellow exhibitors for allowing me to have this honour — it reminds me of my Junior Handling days – and believe me those are long, long gone but are still very happy memories !!!!!!

Since returning to the show scene (7 years) I have bred two dogs that have achieved their “Stud Book Numbers” and so qualifying for Crufts for life and owned three dogs that have won their “Show Certificate of Merit” - two of these have been bred at Brelade.....Brelade I’m Big Trouble & Brelade Bootneck.

All of my dogs at Brelade live indoors and live as members of my family.
If you manage to get a seat on the sofas you’re a very lucky human!!!!

I now look forward to much more success over the next many, many years with this wonderful and adorable breed — “The One & Only Cocker Spaniel”…….

So all this happened way back in the ‘80’s and this is the reason I got started with my love of Cocker Spaniels & the dog showing “bug”………………...

In the years that followed I had a break from showing Cockers and I then moved to Australia, moved back to the UK, bred & showed Weimaraners both in this country and Australia (one of whom I brought back with me).

I successfully showed Weimaraners in both this country & Australia and Bromhund Jasmin won “tickets” in Australia and on returning to the UK was “mum” to my first litter of Weimaraners including Brelade Silver Warrior who qualified for Crufts at his first show.

Then eventually in 2001 I got another wonderful Cocker Spaniel (my first love) ………………………….

At this time we had never even thought of showing but someone saw Prince and suggested we show him and so that was the start of my showing!!

9 months later we bought Prince a companion who was bred the same way. She was a Blue Roan bitch called Bridie.

They were the “love of my life” but I was never under any illusion that they would be champions but however I had some great fun, made some good friends, learnt some good lessons and learnt much about showing dogs from some of the most experienced people in dogs in the South West than I could of ever hoped for!

I was taught to show with Cockers, Goldies, Irish Setters, American Cockers and even a Dobermann !!!

1980’s

1990’s

2000’s

I was really getting into it now and 2 years later bought a better type of show dog out of a Glowhill bitch who was bred to Sh Ch Quaine Juryman. This was Duke and he was my first dog I qualified for Crufts.

I still remember it well—Blackpool Champ Show—June 1984 with the memorable judge Mr Joe Braddon and a first in Junior dog!

Duke was always consistently placed and never ever let me down.

Then along came Howie.

He was a Haradwaithe dog out of Sh Ch Haradwaithe Sorceress and a brother to Haradwaithe Specialist.

Like Duke, Howie was always well placed at all levels including many BOB’s & BPIS at Open level on more than one occasion.

Pengorse Major Alert

Of Brelade

Duke

Prince Minstrel Boy

Prince

Haradwaithe Silver Magician

Of Brelade

Howard