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.

If you'd like to get started with your Dalmatian please contact Alison Burgess.

Only the Dalmatian, with it's lovely long stride, could keep up at the trot with a horse cantering! This is Maura Reade's Levi showing off the Dalmatian's amazing capacity for endurance work. With thanks to Paul Tester for photographs of Carriage Dog events including the Nationals. You can see more of his pictures here

[edit] Significant changes to the Trials rules - including obedience test and scoring w.e.f. 1 July 2012. Download a summary from the rules page here. This year's National Trials 7th July 2012 at Lincomb Equestrian, Stourport on Severn, Worcs.

[edit] Maggie's blog here

For those of you who have been following Fenris' blog, he has decided to take a break for a while. One of his old friend's back in the UK Maggie, owned by Roz Glick, will share her tales of adventure as she trains for the next Trials.

[edit] Training this winter? - send us your pics!

Celia Gilbert with her new rescue dog Harley ready for his new life as a carriage dog - in training with Alison Burgess and her new pony Jacko.

Roz Glick's Maggie practises her stay behind Isobel Standen's Shadow. Maggie is training for Silver at the 2012 Nationals. Roz says that now when she goes to open the gate with Maggie off lead, she now just stays with the carriage.

Chris Cleland's youngster Ozzy practises his stay with the carriage. Chris is taking the photo for us, so Alison Burgess holds his lead and the reins! The pony, Blakeney Carrot Baby, completed a Bronze Carriage Dog course in Yorkshire for Julie Swindells some years ago and has now gone to live with Alison, where he's helping out with training new carriage dogs in the South East.

What fun it would be to enter a carriage dog trials driving a zebra or two as the spots and stripes team!

Anne Dickens had a lesson in logging from Kitty, a lovely young Ardennes mare at the Working Horse Trust. Munin and Fenris decided they were working logging dogs; as Anne drove Kitty up and down the paths in the woods moving whole tree trunks, they followed dutifully behind.

[edit] Full results of the 2011 Fenix National Trials here.

Carriage Dog Champion was Maura Reade's Domino who has now completed a Gold test in two countries. Road Dog Champion was Tim Stafford's Todd. Donna Simmons' Milo took the Groom's Award. We now have our first two double Gold qualified dogs in Todd and Anne Dickens' Fenris who are now both Gold Road and Gold Carriage Dogs.

Tim Stafford rides Monty with Todd out on the course to complete 40km and become Road Dog Champion.

Donna Simmons handles from the groom's position to qualify Milo as a Gold Carriage Dog and take the Grooms' Award; John Mapleden drives Axle and Diesel.

Paul Tester has a site with many photos from the Nationals and numerous other BCDS events - you can see more of his pictures [here http://www.flickr.com/photos/dotty_dalmations/]

[edit] Special offer for BCDS members

Reduced subscription to In Harness magazine - which has a carriage dog feature in most issues. £19.95 for five issues. Go to In Harness and click "Pay On Line now" and enter BCDS in offer code box.

[edit] Ever thought about joining the DaliMiles club?

Now DaliMiles has a new target - the 2,000 mile challenge to become a Galloping Dali. Jasper and Amber have! Have fun recording your dog's mileage when out walking, running, cycling, riding or driving and work your way through the levels. Click here for more information.

[edit] BBC1 'The One Show' shown on 23rd August featuring Dalmatians including their role as a carriage dog. Check out the show here.

[edit] Some pics of carriage dogs at work over the years. Lots more on the events pages!

Carriage Dogs Skittle, Fenris and Munin all took to the Working Horse Trust at the end of July 2011 to do a display of the working carriage dog with working draft horses. The WHT is a charity dedicated to preserving and promoting the heavy horse breeds of this country and Europe. Here is Fen ris working with Nobel.

Download a video of Fenris working with Nobel here

In the Cotswolds Felicity Mee took out hunter Bruce with her Dalmatian Lucky and friend Chris Carruthers on Chester to be part of the 2011 1001 ride and raise funds for Dalmatian Welfare.

Julie Swindells' three Dalmatians trotting behind l-r Clover, Fern, Rolex, with Merlin (right) owned by the carriage driver Roy Pennington. What a fabulous wedding photo for the happy couple Diane and James married in May 2011 in Thelkeld near Keswick in Cumbria.

The Dashing Dalmatians line up in one of the routines to music from Abba at Paws in the Park in 2009.

Avril Pluck drives Louis with three times Carriage Dog Champion Spinner behind demonstrating whip handling at the Hand equestrian display in Somerset in 2009.

Competitors and friends relaxing at Kilkea Lodge farm after the 2011 Irish Trials.

Tally owned by Alison Burgess in the speed exercise at the SE Trials in 2009.

Couldn't resist including this lovely picture of Pippa Ellen's Mini Shetland pair Pumpkin (foreground) and Annie, who tackled the 2011 SE Trials endurance course in style and in time!

Best Condition Dog 2011 Silver Road Dog Dynamite owned by Kelly Evans riding Jonas.

Spin owned by Avril Pluck displaying her 1st place rosette from the Carriage Dog class at the BDS North Wales Spring Show 2011.

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.

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]

The Western gang: Benson with Sue, Ollie with Smudge and Fay, Buttons with Lester and Denise, Ruby with John, Holly with Karen, Daisy-Mae with Susan, Cato with Neil and Pat, Molly with Marianne, Neo with The Smith Family, Kobi with Michael, Smudge with Jane, Misty and Amber (the Lab) with Peter.

1900 Jane Friend with Gold Carriage Dog Merlot in attendance drives Rosie in her governess cart at the Hand Carriage Driving Extravaganza in 2009.

John Wilmot with his young dog Ruby show us all how to get around properly 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 very versatile carriage, sledge and dancing dog.

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.

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.