Val and her Briards

Written July 1999 by Linda Shove, From issue No.4 French Letters

Val Harrington was another "Dunedinite" who has since passed away. Her life was changed irrevocably by her first Briard.

In early 1978, Val worked at the Otago Medical School in dunedin - in the same city block where I worked in a pet shop. I sometimes used to bring "Kaid" (Ch Bellesme Alkaid - my first male Briard) to work with me and walk him during luch breaks. Unbeknown to me, these walks were witnessed by Val who fell totally in love with him from a distance.

In September 1985, Val and husband Mike were ready to take the plunge and become dog owners. They came to visit some of my 6 week old pups and decided "yes" this was definitely the breed they wanted. But there was (I thought) one big problem - they had two small daughters. Camille was 7 and Tessa was only 3. I did my best to talk them out of a Briard (first time dog owners + pre-schoolers+ Briard puppy = possible disaster!!!!) But Val was so persistent and certain that Tessa would cope O.K. that we eventually came to a compromise. I was keeping two of the pups myself and we arranged for Val and family to come and pick up my two pups each weekend and take them for a long walk on the local beach. I was quite confident that "Mati" and "Vella" would prove such a boisterous handful for tessa that Val would abandon the Briard idea for another couple of years. (While researching this article Val confessed to me that at this stage she had been so desperate for a Briard puppy that she had contemplated telling me that both her young daughters had been killed in a car accident! But the impracticalities of having to hide Camille and Tessa every time I came to visit proved to daunting and she abandoned this ingenious, if somewhat heartless, deception!!)

But Tessa (and Val) proved me completely wrong and Tessa coped so well with two pups that i knew one pup on its own would be easy. (Camille of course, being older, had no problems with them) So when my next litter came along, the Harringtons were first in line and soon a fawn bitch "Cally" (Pascale Dor d'Angevin') went to live with them.

Initially everything went brilliantly but (perhaps because she was such a very easily trianed and obedient little puppy who had never had to be reprimanded) by the age of 7months "Cally" began to display occasional signs od "ideas above her proper station in life" and Linda "adopted" her back to Angevin to re-learn some "manners"!!!!

But, of course, this left a huge hole in the Harrington household which was initially filled as an emergency stop gap by my "Mati". (This was the same "Mati" that thay'd taken for a puppy-walking on the beach and who eventually went to live with Bruce McLellan in Wanganui.) After a couple of weeks though, Val plucked up all her courage and confided that the dog she'd really fallen in love with was my "Storm" (Ch Stormfield Rebel By Nature). I have only recently discovered that Val had been "lusting" after Storm from the moment she had first set eyes on him on her initial visit to Angevin and had longed for a "Storm" look alike. So in a round about way her wish was granted.

"Storm" was a lovely big 2 year old fawn male I'd imported from the U.K. as a puppy - but he and "Kaid" were NOT getting on - so it was something of relief to me to find him a good home locally. However - he was the most bouncy, energetic "full-on" Briard I'd ever known and i was certain that he'd be too much of a handful for Val and her two (still quite small) daughters. But, again, Val was insistent and "Storm" went for a trail. i was surprised when she hadn't phoned me for rescue by that evening - but the next day I was at a local Ribbon Parade when Val and family came in with Storm. "Oh my God - she's returning him" - I thought!! Once again though (you'd think I'd have learned by now!!) Val had proved me wrong and "Storm" had turned into a different dog from the moment he had set foot in the Harrington household!! He became positively civilised away from the "wind-me-up" atmosphere at Angevin!!!

Val showed "Storm" for a while but he was a bit of a handful at shows - his earlier experiences with "Kaid" had made him agressive to other male male dogs - and he was very strong and quite hard to handle in the ring.

Val decided ( as so many of us do!!) that two Briards must be better than one so, early in 1988 a little black bitch "Nicky" (Unique Noire d'Angevin) joined the Harringtons. "Nicky" was also shown for a while. Val made several attempts to have puppies from "Nick" and "Storm" - but unsuccessfully. ("Storm" was "Nicky's" best mate -except when she was in season and he tried talking dirty to her - she really put him in his place then!!!)

Sadly, in 1996 Val's beloved "Storm" was found to have bone cancer and died when he was 11. then in September 1997, "Nicky" developed pyometria ( an infected uterus) and died suddenly. For a short time the harringtons were completely dogless but then decided to go for something quite different - a black Curly Coated Retriever X called "Pedro". It soon became apparent though that he didn't fill that empty Briard space and uin May 1998 "Hugo" arrived on the scene. "Hugo" (Huguenot Dor d'Angevin) has brought Val back to the show scene again and he is well on his way to gaining his champion title with three Challenge Certificates so far. "Hugo" is also Wellington bound in September to make his debut appearence in a National Dog Show - a long trip without his "Mum" but he is such a laid back friendly dog he'll no doubt enjoy it all. (have no fear - "Mum" wont be Briardless while "Hugo" is away - my "Fanta" will be staying with Val to keep her company!

Over to Val now for her responses in Question & Answer Section

Why a Briard?

I never forgot the memory of my first glimpse of "Kaid" all those years ago.

Briard Ownership as you imagined it would be?

Even better!!!!

Most satisfying moment?

That fleeting moment in time when you stand back from your freshly bathed and groomed Briard and think "How magnificent!"

Most exasperating moment?

When it's piddling with rain and they aimlessly potter around the section with all the time in the world, then rush in soaking wet, with horrendously muddy feet leaving pawprints all over the carpet and still expect you to be pleased to see them!!!!

Most disappointing moment?

There haven't been any. (I told you she was completely besotted with them!!!!Ed.)

"Hugo's" Favourite Food?

"Schmackos" real yummy dog treats!!!

"Hugo's" greatest talent?

He has a large toybox full of assorted toys each of which he knows by name and can fetch them individually when asked. Even better, last thing at night on command "Pick your toys up - it's time for bed" - he picks each one up and returns it to the toybox!! (What a clever boy - next year Val will have him doing the washing-up!!!!Ed.) 

Endearing qualities?

(Up until this question, Val had been extremely "miserly" in the wordiness of her answers but suddenly "verbal diarrhoea" set in and I was onl;y able to scribble down a few key phrases !!! - Ed.)

.....devoted love.....

....big brown eyes gazing at you.....

....always right beside you...

....cant even go to the loo without his head on my your knee

....."They Just LOve You"

Another Briard in the future?/Prrefer blacks or fawns?

Yes - DEFINITELY! prehaps a future son of "Hugo" Definitely fawns - but as you have to have 'one of each' my next will need to be a black!