It is so sad to witness the demise of a forum I joined relatively late but learned so much from. I suppose this gradual but inexorable decline is due to Facebook and other social media platforms, none of which I would wish to espouse. I don't live my life online, apart from keeping contact with family living faraway and a few exceptions (very few).

I have enjoyed the lively debate and wealth of information which was always available on here. Thank you all,past and present.

I hope the lights don’t go out on this forum! Like you, I joined fairly late, so missed the “early glory days”. I’ve found the information given here very useful, and very helpful for my two most recent dogs’ longterm conditions; it has enabled me to have sensible discussions with their vets when necessary, as an active participant in their care.

This forum is still the first website I visit each morning: I do hope it can continue. At the very least that the back years of information can be preserved and remain searchable as there is so much of use and interest there.

Jan, I believe you have recently moved house, so I wish you very happy in your new place.

Thank you Merrypaws. Yes, we have returned to the South after a few years in my "neck of the woods". Makes sense as most of my adult children and grandchildren are down here. I will miss the Scottish Borders and Northumberland but I did a lot of writing while there so time well spent .The new place does not yet feel quite home as yet but boxes mostly unpacked. The two girls have settled well and enjoyed the company of a grandchild over the weekend .

Well I still check in multiple times a day but I hardly ever post anything .
I suspect everyone uses facebook now- Champdogs is on facebook I think- I don’t do facebook.
I don’t think there are many users now on the forum, I suppose it’s seen as old fashioned- which is what I like, it’s easy to use( although I still don’t know how to make links properly)
Maybe those of us who want to keep it going should make a mental commitment to post once a week?
Should we put up a poll or something? Do you want to keep going? Or not?

I still check in daily although I don't have dogs now. I still enjoy reading and commenting if I have something to contribute.
I do use FB but mainly to keep up with my breed I'm actually still on our local branch committee.
This was the first forum I joined when I got the internet.

Jan what do you write?

Cd is in fb but not all the posts.  I prefer to use the forum but as has been said the majority of users and many of the really knowledgeable people have disappeared

Such a shame as without them I wouldn't have anything like the knowledge I have gained

Agree with all of the above. It is sad that social media, which has caused so much harm since its inception, now dominates discussion/debate/communication. Re. posting once a week. I could give it a try and perhaps a poll also a good idea, but I suppose if nobody is looking on the forum,there will be no  response. I have pondered writing up a dreadful experience I had as a breeder which would potentially generate a debate . It is nearly ten years ago but still haunts me, and angers me.

Does anyone remember Tommee? He was a real character. He could be scary and during my early days on the forum, as a novice breeder, he upset me very much. But he knew his stuff and I got to really respect and like him. I used to fantasise about meeting him by chance/ mischance as I crossed his fields with dogs he would have considered unruly. Bet he wielded a mighty shepherd's crook !

Re. What do I write. My genre ( although I have written other sundry novellas) is historical fiction but the charcters are placed in authenic historical context. The first book of my Scottish/ Prussian saga was published last year and is set mainly in Normandy 1938-45. The sequel will be released at the end of this month and is set in Bonn, Germany 1946/47 and East Prussia 1930s.  Book three ( out next year) is set in Berlin 1948/49 and East Prussia late 19th/early 20th century. Book four is not yet compete but meanders around East Prussia as above, Berlin 1944/45 and the Cold War period.
I publish under my maiden name Jan Stirling Locke.

I hope this is not considered advertising. It is not my intention to do so!

I think it's a sign of the times. Forums have become outdated, just like so much else. I'm still on an e-mail list in the US about cats, there used to be hundreds of us and now there's only a handful left. Most have died. It's a shame but inevitable. I much prefer this format to the Facebook groups, which can become really nasty.

Does anyone remember Tommee? He was a real character.

He was a she, who previously posted as Moonmaiden for many years. I think she ended up being banned. The name Tommee came from one of her dogs. Real name Dyane - I won't add the surname.

That is really interesting. Thank you Goldmali. It solves a bit of a mystery, for me at least. While I believed Tommee to be a man ( this is so very "unwoke" I suppose !) I had a suspicion that they knew me.  The post which upset me revealed a lot of knowledge about my dogs. It was very spiteful and personal and I had my suspicions as to where it came from.

The use of forums seems rather patchy: I read several forums, although I contribute to only one other (a more general, very wide-ranging forum which is very busy). A breed-specific forum which used to be very active is now very very quiet, but a busy forum mainly devoted to another animal closely associated with dogs has an active dog section. And one with lively debate on current affairs pertaining to an occupational sector is also very busy.

A factor seems to be that a lot of the contributors seem to be older people, but by no means exclusively so. I, like others, don’t do Facebook, I find it too short-form and “chippy”. I know this forum has had its own share of trenchant views put forward with no hold barred, but once attuned it can be actually refreshing to read strongly held viewsput forward (quite old-fashioned these days not to sugar-coat a view till one’s teeth ache!).

Re. Facebook groups and nastiness. It is exactly why I will have no part in them. It is frustrating that everything these days directs you to a Facebook group or similar. There is no moderation in these groups and people feel they can say what they like, no matter  how cruel and mendacious.

I check in most days but don't post very often. Back in the glory days it was almost like a chatroom and conversations flew down the page so fast it was hard to keep track of who was replying to whom! Quite a few of the Old Guard are in their own FB group but that's quieter now too.

Anyone else remember the terrifying Sally Broomstick? I never did find out who she was.

>There is no moderation in these groups and people feel they can say what they like, no matter  how cruel and mendacious.

That depends on the group. Some are so strictly controlled that they are uselessly saccharine-sweet!

Sally Broomstick. Hmm..love the nom de plume but he/she must have been before my time. Just as well !

Jeangenie.
Do miss those days, joined as a complete numpty & replies to questions could have 'sharp' responses, but it was the one place I came for advise from knowledgeable members.
Enjoyed the chat room days & very sad when so many of the old guard left. Is Carrington (sp) still around, I know Huskygirl sadly died, so many members including yourself I remember.
.

Jan I can assure you there  is moderation in fb groups. I am still a mod in very large international cat group for raw feeding about 40k members was for dogs in 2 others. Now the quality of mods and admins varies immensely and as some have said it can be so vague  and useless it makes me mad.nasty stuff can happen  others are extremely strict. finding one that suits you is the trick imo.
The other problem is if you saw some things that are said and done you need very tough mods in some cases to deal. I was always a bit soft and they sent me out to deal with the silly people posting . Unlike some I didn't swear or be nasty in return. some will. Downside is it takes over you life if you arnt very careful. I pulled away because I felt I couldn't switch off

Just had a look at cd on fb. Its hardly being used . the last post was from admin back in January and previously a competion in December. I also feel it would be nice if Mark or any one of the admins here showed they were still alive with some input here and there

Just got your book from Amazon Jan.

I have enjoyed Champdogs for many years. I look in most days, although I rarely post. My only remaining dog is now 15 and, being 70 and living alone, don't think I will be getting another. I do like Mamabas's idea of advertising older dogs though. Maybe when Fleur has gone I might think about it. My competitive agility days are over but I still keep in touch with people on the agility facebook page. This is definitely moderated, nasty posts are soon removed, but there is the ridiculous situation where we are unable to use the word for a female dog as facebook threatened to close the page down for abusive words! I would be sad to see this forum close. I also remember Tommee.

I miss reading Smokeybear aka Tohme, - always good sound information. She does occasionally appear in print as a book critic for the Kennel Gazette. Also, Jean and her pack of Chi's. I presume that she must have passed. If so, I hope her little ones found loving homes.

Thank you! I hope you enjoy it. I am very self-critical and when reading it over curse myself for repetition. It was my first published novel and I could have been more forensic in the editing/had more input from my editor. I am more aware of the pitfalls now. The sequel is much shorter and more precisely edited. I have learned from my errors.

Will let you know how I get on with it. I miss Alyson too. I contacted her privately for advice a couple of times and she was also very helpful.

Ca Also,
Jean and her pack of Chi's. I presume that she must have passed. 
I hope not though a long time since we last spoke, so have just left a message on her phone!

It's true that it's very quiet on here these days. I suppose I've only posted if I needed to ask anything. Or respond if there's something I think I can contribute. I guess that's ok if there are lots of users. So I'm not sure what the answer is. The forum has certainly been a good resource in the past. It would be a shame to let it wither away.

Oops!

I do check in regularly and have wondered why it’s gone so quiet. I don’t ‘do’ Facebook or any other social media thing.
I don’t miss Tommee whom I suspected was female. Rude for no reason and while quick to offer criticism was slower to offer advice -in my case at least. Some people don’t seem to understand or much care that such comments can be really upsetting.

I thought your post Furrie Friends was interesting because I caught the tail end of a programme on radio 4 about how moderating on social media platforms which is being outsourced to poorer third world countries, and the moderators aren’t offered any counselling for some of the awful things posted including images.

I saw a TV programme at some point about the people who have to watch through stuff on FB and decide if it's acceptable or not -what an awful job to have! I feel sorry for those that do it. It's scary how much bad content there is. Luckily the algorithms ensure that what I see is almost entirely dog or cat related.

I hate the way Facebook, works as you can't find anything later, but it is what most people use to stay in touch.

The breed groups are good (if your not in a commercial breed).  A lot of the group members organise meet ups for walks around the country, which was much harder to do with just a National club catering for the breed.

SAdly it has made forums less popular, but theya re sooo good to look things up. and that posts have a heading/topic.

I’ve just come on here after a long time away and am really surprised by how few recent posts there are! I remember John, who gave really common sense advice …
And Jan, I think it’s you who very kindly gave me a crate for the car and some other bits and pieces! I’m trying to remember how long ago it was, and I think it was to stop my pup at the time from annoying my goldies - and she’s nearly 12 now!

Hi Jan

Time flies does it not !

I am back in East Sussex after a few years on Scottish Borders ( my roots) and Northumberland. Currently in Hungary for a couple of weeks. So pleased the stuff was useful. I have a lot more stuff to dispose of - puppy pens/crates /harnesses - I could fill a shop . Down to two dogs- Flinti's daughter Freya( Goldie) -now nine and working cocker Mabel.

It does!
I’m about to have my first litter for 20 years! I’d love puppy panels/pen if you’d be happy for me to have them? I also work for the charity Dogs for Autism so we might be able to use anything you don’t need if that would be ok?
Enjoy Hungary!

Absolutely. I'll PM my new address. We are close to Hailsham in East Sussex. You are welcome to take as much as you want. I will PM you my address.
Jan

Thanks so much, Jan - I have just replied to your PM ????

Hello everyone. This is a long shot. I am UK based. I am searching to try to find a relative down the blood line from my male lemon and white show cocker Jake's Lemon Linen (Milo) 3.4.2012 (AP01663903) who sadly died in January 2024. KC registered. DAM Heathroma Rose (AK02924606) lemon and white and SIRE was Popeye The Sailor Man (AL02558608) blue roan. The dam had one litter prior to his and Milo had 6 litter mates, 2 of which were bitches; Lucy's Blue Velvet and Tammy's Topaz Silk.
I would really love to find a puppy who is a descendant ideally of the DAM as it is lemon and white I would love to find again. I have looked as far backwards and sideways as I think I can on the  KC website but am struggling to find descendants. Any advice much welcomed and many thanks in advance:)

Hello Montymum

I hope you get a reply. I am not familiar with the breed but you could look on the Show Cocker Breeder section of CD. Look at the pedigrees of their dogs/ litters and you may find a connection to the line you want.

Good Luck !

Jan

Thanks Jan x