About Clare

I was born in Pembury in Kent in March 1966 - what a good year that was...and at that time my family lived in a small village called Borough Green. I went to Ightham County Primary school and the only livestock that I had at an early age was the odd gerbil.

My father was a Radar Engineer and worked abroad a lot of the time, so I was a lucky child with a postcard collection to die for and always top of the class for what I could take in - dried scorpions and gifts from Kenya and Egypt to name but a few..

When I passed my eleven plus exam I went to Tonbridge Grammar School for Girls - got older and the pets grew to be guinea pigs....still no dogs...

When I left school at 18 I went to Work For Trusthouse Forte. I started and was trained in the Restaurant with full Silver Service and then moved onto Reception . Unfortunately I became very ill and underwent a major operation which was touch and go...When I was back at home after several weeks in Maidstone Hospital, I turned to my mum and said that I wanted a dog, seeing as I had nearly died. 

I brought one of the dog papers and low and behold there was a litter of Mini L/H Dachshunds advertised in Hastings.  Hastings is a lovely seaside place to visit when you are recuperating.....and of course after writing to the kennels a seaside trip was undertaken.

Of course the litter was lovely and a dog puppy came home 2 weeks later, he was called Midge, he grew a little too large but was perfectly constructed. He competed in Obedience shows and did give the Border Collies and GSD's of this world a run for their money. That was the first dog to join the family and due to him, certainly not the last.

The family moved to Cornwall and not long after a whippet X moved down with the dachshund, she was a fantastic squirreler!! When she passed away I had to get another whippet as the dachshund was lonely - Jennifer moved in a lovely blue/fawn Sulamin Whippet.

The Dachshunds then started to grow in number - Harrimond Charley's Boy came followed by Zarcrest Gold Maid who enjoyed a successful time in the show ring in the UK and Ireland with 1 Green Star and 2 Res Green Stars.  She then chose to be a superb mother with a litter of 5 who have had successful results in England, Ireland and on the Continent. 

I had a very productive time in the show ring with my parents Mini L/H Dachshunds obtaining 3 stud book numbers and making their first home bred champion, Champion Drymoor Secret Delight.  In 2004 the Maundowne Dachshunds started to move in - Maundowne Momentum Via Drymoor a red dog appeared - enjoying his career in the Show ring with 1 CC and 1 Res CC followed by Maundowne Momento to Maxwin who obtained her stud book number within 4 months of being shown by me. 

In 2007 I moved to a lovely Farmhouse in the country which is a) perfect for me b) perfect for the dogs...which of course is the main reason for moving. 

Recently Maundowne Momento to Maxwin  has just had a litter of 3 - (all who look promising) and I am looking forward to starting them off in 2009 for the Drymoor Kennel.

After never wanting black and tan dachshunds and certainly never wanting standards, I now own 2 standard, black and tan girls - who I have to say are perfect in every way...quiet well behaved and exceedingly loving, and I would never be without them.....