From BCDS

[edit] Welcome to the British Carriage Dog Society

The Society exists to help preserve this working heritage of the Dalmatian as a coaching dog. In past centuries Dalmatians would often accompany horses and carriages on their travels. They acted as guards and decoration, protected the passengers, reassured the horses and killed vermin in the stables each night. The Dalmatian is an endurance dog and its efficient trot enables it to cover long distances without tiring.

The Society runs the annual national Carriage Dog Trials. The trials test and demonstrate the Dalmatian's traditional role as a companion to ridden and driven horses. The trials demand both control and fitness, as dogs are judged on their obedience and capacity for endurance. Our principal trials sponsor is Fenix Carriages and we are immensely grateful for their continued support.

[edit] STOP PRESS - ENTRIES FOR THE IRISH TRIALS ARE NOW CLOSED AND THE TRAINING DAY IS FULL

[edit] Trials Taining Day 24th October Herefordshire. Click here for more information

[edit] Trials Workshop 2nd October, Buckinghamshire

The British Carriage Dog Society is running a Carriage Dog Trials Workshop. This is designed for anyone interested in organising, stewarding, judging or competing at a Carriage Dog Trials.

The workshop will cover:

- The components of a Trials from an organiser’s perspective

- Correct working positions and exercises under the Society’s rules

- The endurance element: preparation, vetting, scoring and management of your dog on the day

- The role of a judge and how to prepare to judge

- The roles of the obedience and course stewards

This will be an interesting day utilising diagrams, photographs and video clips with a combination of presentations and discussions. The emphasis will be on promoting good and safe working of carriage and road dogs and consistent standards of organisation, judging and stewarding at future trials. Click here for venue information

[edit] Hereford Driving Club's Summer Fun Day

Jane Friend drives her new pony pair with Sue Beamon grooming with her dog Benson behind at Hereford Driving Club's fun drive, at Burton Court in August. Alex Friend has the horses' heads and Peter Friend is bringing the all important refreshments!

Pat Dutson and her dog Cato at the same drive.

[edit] Mr Darcy works at the BDS Concours D'Attelage de Tradition (which in plain English is a French Competition showing coupling of horses in a traditional manner!)

Ron and Maggie Gallop's Mr Darcy trots behind his carriage at the BDS' Concours D'Attelage de Tradition at Helmingham Hall in Suffolk. Read more about this event [here]

[edit] Carriage Dogs display at Working Horse Trust Open Day in July

Fenris runs behind Anne Dickens' Percheron Nobel, with new BCDS committee member Celia Gilbert as groom, displaying in front of appreciative crowds at the Working Horse Trust Summer Open Day in July in Kent. (n.b. The BCDS recommends all drivers and passengers wear safety hats.)

Gail Cotteril runs Skittle behind Daniel Brown's coloured cob driven by son Sam with brother Toby grooming, kindly turned out especially for the carriage dog display at the Working Horse Trust Open Day.

[edit] Results from the 2010 Fenix Nationals here

Pictures of all competitors at Eqinepix Photography.

Gold Carriage Dog Todd was the first dog ever to run the gold test twice - this year he won the Groom's Award from the Groom Handler class for his owner Tim Srafford. Here he is at axle out on the course with driver Dawn Tebbett and her horse Storm Queen.

Mr Darcy qualified as a Gold Carriage Dog this year and came second in the Gold Groom Handler class for his owner Ron Gallop. Maggie Gallop drives Jos who was awarded Best Condition Horse by the equine vet.

Miranda Purves' Splash in the stay exercise - Splash did an exemplary test to win the Silver Carriage Dog class.

Gail Cotteril's Skittle wins the Silver Groom Handler Carriage Dog class with John Wilmot driving his pair Buck and Cruella.

John Wilmot drives his pair Buck and Cruella with his young Bronze Carriage Dog Ruby alongside. John drives on main roads and has taught Ruby to run in this position for her safety. Ruby also rides on the carriage in very heavy traffic. Ruby was awarded the Judge's special cup at this year's trials.

Rescue dog Charlie Brown won the Bronze Groom Handler Carriage Dog class for his owner Ron Gallop and was awarded Best Rescue to reflect the progress he'd made since his rescue after a bad start in life and his good work with the carriage.

Julie Swindells at the mid point vet check with her team.

[edit] The first Irish Carriage Dog Training - June 2010. Read about the day and view more pictures here.

Irish Trials 4th/5th September more details here.

Sarah Morgan hides under a sheet with Bandit trying to find her while trainer Alison Burgess looks on.

Frances Ryan tests Pollyanna's instinct to work with Sarah Mullins' carriage pulled by her Section D stallion Yanto.

[edit] Only Paws and horses Carriage Dog Display - More pictures here.

Miranda Purves' Splash demonstrates a turn of speed behind her carriage at the Only Paws and Horses display at the Hop Farm in Kent.

Munin rides on her carriage (always a useful trick in case of a cut pad) after demonstrating some extra obedience exercises, including picking up a dropped glove, a send away from the carriage with a recall, and picking up a dropped whip. Her son Fenris runs behind.

Gail Cotterill's Skittle demonstrates a down stay beside Sue Stevens' carriage.

At the South East Shire Horse Association show in May, Anne Dickens took her carriage dog Fenris into the show ring with Percheron Nobel who was entered in the 'Ladies Cart' class with his Victorian Ralli Car. Thanks to Tony Golding for the pics - more from this show here SESHA

Fenris enjoys the space under his new carriage!

The Hereford and District Driving Group decided to downsize the whole show in 2010, so although there was no Carriage Dog Class, two Dalmatians were made welcome and entered Concour d'Elegance. These were Merlot owned by Jane Friend and Cato a Dalmatian Welfare dog owned by Pat Dutson. Here they are with fellow drivers in front of the beautiful venue - Hampton Court - Herefordshire version! Thanks to the Hereford Club.

Gold Carriage Dog Fenris with Anne Dickens as passenger on Donna Simmons Phaeton with her Dales Axle in front at the London Harness Horse Parade at the South of England Show Ground, Sussex.

John Wilmot with his young dog Ruby show us all how to get around in the snow. John is grooming for his son Maurice who is driving pony Dinky - they were all enjoying the snow at Tatton Park Knutsford, Cheshire. Ruby is a now a very versatile carriage, sledge and dancing dog.

At the South East trials in 2009, Cecilia Fitzsimons kindly donated a picture of the winner of the Best Condition Dog award. Here is her portrait of Splash owned by Miranda Purves. Contact Cecilia on cecilia.fitzsimons@gmail.com to commission a painting of your dog or horse.

Jo and Stuart Greenland's two Dalmatians Jasper and Amber are equal first to acheive a Long Distance Dally award in our DaliMiles scheme. Many congratulations to them. Jasper and Amber with Stuart ready for their next 1,000 miles.

Milo, owned by Donna Simmons, sits by his carriage at his first Club Drive at Friston Forest in East Sussex. Milo is the brother of Anne Dickens' Fenris and came to Donna via Dalmatian Welfare. Donna is starting to train him to compete in this year's trials. Milo sits by his carriage waiting to set off on a BDS drive around Friston Forest.

Parker and Polo, driven by Anne Dickens and with Gold Carriage Dog Fenris in attendance, reprise their roles as reindeer in a charity delivery on Christmas Day morning delivering presents to children in the local village in return for a donation to Driving for the Disabled group. The team raised £300 for the group which, thanks to Dalmatian owner Celia Gilbert, will be doubled by Barclays bank. Polo and Parker with Brian King (Father Xmas) and Fenris waiting for the off.

[edit] Paws in the Park 2009 Carriage Dog Display - More pictures here

Splash behind Miranda Purves' Bennington carriage passing Fenris and Freya (left) with Anne Dickens driving Parker at the Paws in the Park carriage dog display 2009.

The Dashing Dalmatians line up in one of the routines to music from Abba.

To appreciative crowds at the two day 'canine extravaganza' Paws in the Park held at the Hop Farm in Paddock Wood, Kent, five Dalmatians demonstrated their carriage dog work. Some of the carriage dogs had also strutted their stuff as part of this year's Dashing Dalmatian team where the Dalmatian held its own in the big ring against many other breed displays. Heather Leach and Louis also gained a 4th place in the agility competition and Gail Cotterill and Skittle a 2nd place in the spectacular Horse and Hound jumping.

Click here to view a video of the carriage dog display

Grateful thanks, as always, to Jim Guilfoyle for the pictures.

[edit] 2009 South East Carriage Dog Trials - Results and more pictures here

Celia Gilbert and her rescue Dalmatian Poppy pass their Instinct Test with flying colours at the 2009 SE Regional Carriage Dog Trials on 6th September at Cobham Manor Equestrian Centre, Maidstone, Kent.

Alison Burgess rides Danny with her young girl Tally qualifying as a Bronze Road Dog in the speed exercise at the SE Trials.

Poppy attended the trials training the day before and Celia was so inspired by her performance that she decided to return to enter Poppy the following day. Opting to run her on the lead, Poppy worked to such a high standard that had she done the same off the lead, she would have passed a Bronze Carriage Dog test. A dog on a lead does not necessarily mean that it will automatically work behind a carriage. Often a dog will lag, or weave, shy, or forge forward, or show discomfort at the proximity to the carriage and lean out on the lead. The fact that Poppy ran in a consistent position as if she were off a lead, showed that she has a strong coaching instinct and was enjoying herself. Thanks to Diana Burford and her horse Juno for helping Poppy and Celia to participate, despite just having completed the endurance course with another competitor.

The Trials are made possible by the generosity of all our SPONSORS.