Due to being let down and awkward timings, I have 2 friends who have been persuded into looking after Ellie & puppies in July during an un-get-out-of-able family holiday. I need to buy them very special gifts, and as one of them has a Welsh springer I thought a really nice figurine would be nice, but I'm having trouble finding anything on Google. And perhaps something American cocker for the other lady, as she's very fond of my George! Any other ideas for special presents and where to find them most welcome!

The Griffiths brothers list a Welsh on their price list, although I can't see it on the site (perhaps me being blind!). They'll usually paint to particular markings too. Give them a call, they're very helpful.

M.

Lovely figurines but no Otterhounds :(.

> The [url=http://www.vicandtimsculptures.com/" rel=nofollow]Griffiths brothers[/url] list a Welsh on their price list, although I can't see it on the site (perhaps me being blind!). They'll usually paint to particular markings too. Give them a call, they're very helpful.
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The Bracco would be even better if it has been sculptured with the correct footfalls instead of over-reaching!

I love their Rough Collie sculptures.

I was thinking I couldn't see the Welsh, but it's on their price list. Thanks, I'll call them to see if they can send a pic. Anyone else got ideas? It's so frustrating that these stalls are EVERYWHERE at champ shows, specially Crufts, but I can't seem to find them on the net! Must be being daft!

Next time you see the brothers at a show, go and chat to them, they will take measurements of a live dog to try to get the dog in the right proportions, they measured one of my flatcoats a few years ago. They also like it ifthe owners tell them about the breeds so they can get movement right if they are doing a dog in action. I assume they like to back this up with pictures of dogs in action, as most artists like to have something to work from.

Otterhound they probably would do an otterhound if they were asked and had some measurements and pictures to work from.

Thanks Polly but I'm not doing shows at present as my girl is in whelp, and I need the present by July really. My friend's dog is very elderly and wouldn't look good as a sculpture, bless her (and I have no idea if she's a good example to begin with). I just want a generic good model of the breed.

hi Lucydogs, what about a portrait instead? The are some great prints out there, might be easier to find a very good likeness in prit rather than as a figurine.

A print might work, but it's harder to know, when you haven't been in the person's house for ages, whether there is room to put a picture on the wall, whereas anyone can find room for a knick knack on a shelf! But yes, I'd be happy with a nice Welsh springer print (that didn't cost the earth!)

The Bracco is not over reaching, this is the correct "extended" trot of the Bracco and is as much a breed feature as teh stilted gait of a chow.

I know about the gait of the Bracco, thanks. I know they have a special harness to give them this long extending gait having known people who have been around the breed since it's arrival in the UK.  But it's footfalls are wrong, the back feet should move into the space the front feet leave.  Dogsteps is a very good video to watch.

Whilst some use the Braga to train the dog into the correct gait, it does come naturally! If you look at the introductory photo show on the SABI (Italain breed club) website http://www.ilbraccoitaliano.org/ you will see that the "footfall" on the sculpture are entirely typical of many examples of the breed working in the field.