Redcap
Knight-in-gale over Canowindra
pedigree
Diva came to us in March 2005, as an
eight week old puppy. I had made the decision that I wanted to bring a puppy
on and train it for the show ring. Not confident enough to jump into breeding
my own, I chose a puppy from the Redcap kennel as I was so pleased with
Swagger. Diva is officially, Redcap Knightin-Gale and I wanted to call her
Flossie in order to reflect on my profession of nursing. I was out-voted by
husband, children and grandchildren alike. So she stayed Diva – and is one.
Diva’s show career got off to a
flying start when at 6 months and 10 days she qualified for Crufts® in only
her second Show, under breed specialist Sally Kimber, by gaining third place
in the Minor Puppy Bitch class. She continued to be placed until the autumn
and we went indoors. Diva hates indoor shows. She humps her back and
turns from a free moving girl into a close approximation of a sack of potatoes
on a string. I hadn’t the heart to enter her for Crufts®, so she stayed
home.
During 2006, Diva has not
regained her zest for showing, so she has now officially retired from the
ring. She has however still got a big part to play in the kennel's future
both as a working beagle in the Beagle Club's Working Section and hopefully
as a mother of future generations of Canowindra pups.
Diva has a nick-name which was
attached to her in puppyhood because she was so naughty. I’m ashamed to say
that she answers to it despite it no longer being applicable – she is known to
friends and family as ‘Deadly’. She is now what can only be described as an
‘obedient beagle’ usually this expression amounts to a contradiction in terms,
but her mother, Herazon Astley of Redcap is also a very good girl.
Diva has begun going to Agility. I
hope to publish more of this as she develops as she shows promise.
Diva at 7 weeks old
Diva and her 3 day old pups
