Llewellin Setters Breeders Blog

I have written in the past expressing my views about Llewellin “blood lines” and their significance today. I feel that I must also say a word about the popular idea that if a breeder gets involved in breeding a certain breed of dog then his name gets to be in some way associated with the breed.

I refer to many writings I see on chat sites (which I never would participate in) and the like, as well as to the many people who e-mail and call me making reference to dogs which they attach the breeders name to.

Some examples would be “King Llewellins,” Humphrey Llewellins,” “Advie Llewellins,” even “Lynnhill Llewellins” and so on. This is of course total nonsense. There is no such thing. These dogs are Llewellin Setters. Period. (This same statement has also been attributed to Bernie Matthys of the Field Dog Stud Book in spite of his actions against Alfred King). You have no qualifications to add your name to the breed regardless of who you are. Of course you are free to register the dog with any name you please. However, just because you have registered or bred a hundred or even a thousand or more Llewellin Setters they remain Llewellin Setters going back to the work of the founders.

(Read on …)

Certain inhabitants of the Countries of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, (collectively the United Kingdom today) can be associated with the development of a very high percentage of all of our modern sporting dogs. The English Pointer, English Setter, Irish Setter, Gordon Setter, Springer Spaniel, Beagle, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever and numerous other breeds can be traced back to breeders and breeding programs in the British Isles. Why is this? Could it be that these people have so much more passion for dogs than the inhabitants of other countries?

Well, there is certainly no shortage of dogs and dog enthusiasts in the British Isles today. But then that’s about the same situation in the USA as well as the rest of Europe. The French, for example, would not want to be left out!

One needs to take a look at a number of factors involved to have a true understanding of what took place in the past and to some extent continues today with regards to dogs and the British. Some of the vital factors include, in no special order: (Read on …)