Dr N C Bisset-Berkahn
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AspiringAbout Me
I received
my first pedigree Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in 1983 as a ten-year-old and
attended the odd ribbon parade with him. He was primarily a child’s pet
however.
In 1988 I
took over the training of my sister and her husband’s Golden Retrievers to help
them out (they had a young family). This sparked my passion for dog sport and I
was away most weekends competing in competition obedience, agility and a bit of
working trials training. I was still living at home at this point and was
finally allowed to get my own Golden Retriever in 1993. I competed with Laird
in obedience and the occasional conformation show.
I instructed
for the Napier Dog Training Club and served on committee from approximately
1990 until I left to obtain my vet degree at Massey in 1995. The last 2-3 years
of this I was Treasurer for the club.
While at
Massey I attended a few obedience tests and ribbon parades but my primary focus
was obtaining my degree. I lost Laird while working in clinical practice and
while waiting for my new Golden to be born came across a stray hound cross
puppy on a Good Friday who I was taking to the pound when they reopened
on Tuesday. He ended up staying for 13 years and I competed in obedience and
agility with him (as well as my new Golden). During this time I instructed and
served on committee for Hawkes Bay Canine Obedience Club, until my daughter was
born in 2004.
When my
hound cross was getting towards the end, I told my daughter she could research
and choose a breed for her very own dog which she could show. She chose a
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (without my influence!) bringing me full circle
back to my first breed. Sophie and I breed and exhibit our Cavaliers under our
kennel name Thistlebrook. I also have a Golden Retriever that I do a bit of
obedience work with and Sophie (occasionally) shows.
In 2014 I
was integral in reinvigorating the defunct (and gazetted as about to be
dissociated) Heretaunga Plains Toy Dog Society, serving as secretary for the
club for 4 years. I then became secretary for East Coast Ladies Kennel
Association in 2018, a position I still hold.
I have recently branched out in breeds and imported an Italian Greyhound, a breed I have admired for years.
I am really looking forward to learning even more about my great passion and seeing things from the other side.
