Barhi Welsh Springer Spaniels
Our Wedding - Aug 1998
Miar, Copper, Delenn & Rhian
Finuala Barnes has owned Welsh Springers since she persuaded her family to acquire one in 1972 and has shown them since 1983. She started judging Welsh Springers in 1997.
The word Barhi came from a combination of Finuala's surname and the name of one of the Welsh Springers we owned at the time - Rhian. As such, the "h" is silent and it is pronounced "Bar-ree".
Oliver (Sh Ch Barhi Crouching Tiger ShCM) is now taking a well deserved short rest from the show ring and will be reappear in Veteran classes next year.
Ruby (Islemoor Ruby Tuesday with Barhi ShCM) will be the focus of our showing activities in 2009.
Initially, work commitments did not allow for breeding and so the first dog to carry the Barhi affix was Kazval Bon Voyage via Barhi and she became our foundation bitch. So far, there have been only three Barhi litters. The naming of litters is always a fun thing to do. The first litter were named after places within the New Forest. The second was based on a well known Chinese film, reflecting two of our joint interests. The third litter has continued the film theme, this time based on Scottish films since their father lives there.
As well as showing, all of our dogs have gained at least their Bronze Good Citizen award and three of them have their Gold. Working on what they learnt in the Good Citizen, all of our current dogs (except Ruby, who is working toward it) have at some point in their lives competed in obedience, either at Open or Exemption (Companion Dog) show level, with some success. Some have also competed at Gundog working tests, but health and work commitments have not allowed us to focus as much time on this area of work as we would have liked.