MEMBER PROFILE – Sue Johnson
Sue Johnson is a JOINT PRO member with her daughter in law Jacky. Sue lives in Bootle, Merseyside. We asked Sue about her interest in Bolognese and about her dogs.
I was watching Crufts in 2009 when I saw a little white dog strut across the screen. I was captured by this little white ‘wash and go’ dog. I have always had collies which required lots of exercise but very little maintenance. As I had taken early retirement and my last border collie had died a year before I was on the lookout for a smaller companion who I could show and breed. Something I had always wanted to do but either didn’t have time or the resources to do while I was working. After a lot of research and hunting I finally got my first Bolognese Karry in 2010.
I soon found out the ‘wash and go’ was a misnomer. To keep a Bolognese in show condition takes a lot of hard work. There is a constant battle against the staining and keeping up with the grooming. On the other hand the love you get back is incomparable. Bolognese love to love. They love to curl up on your lap, they love to have you stroke and tickle them, they love to play (especially with smelly socks they steal from the laundry). They would be with their owners 24/7 if they could.
My daughter in law Jacky and my granddaughter were interested in showing. They have always had a variety of dogs, most of them rescues. When Karry had her first litter (4 girls in 2013) they were first in line for a puppy. Skyla and her half sister Lucy became their first show dogs. I kept Pippin from that litter. She was the runt of the litter so small and full of character. Her showing days were soon over as she never grew big enough.
Karrys second and probably last litter in May 2015 produced 5 boys. I kept Tino (Valentino) from that litter and am presently showing him. Jacky had a first litter with Skyla last year 2016. She kept Siena (girl) and Polo (boy) both now 8 -months. They have both qualified for Crufts. Tino has also qualified, so we are all looking forward to taking part in the greatest dog show in the World, Crufts 2017 here we come!
