Established and registered with the Kennel Club in 1967 the name of Willowdale was derived from the area in Canada where we lived and is solely associated with the German Shepherd Dog.
The Kennel
The name of Willowdale is synonymous with quality bred dogs and is a well known kennel affix registered at the English Kennel Club for over 30 years. This kennel has bred many championship winning animals, police and hearing dogs and the first schutzhund (German working qualification) dog bred, trained and owned within the UK. Champions, Green Star winners (awards towards the title of champion in Southern Ireland) and many cup winners through all the major GSD clubs in Ireland have been produced. Some of the Willowdale dogs have been used in BBC and other television productions.
We are located at the above address having moved from Belfast to an area with a large acreage so that we can accommodate our dogs suitably. The dogs have the luxury of a few acres to run through every day and also the benefit of playing and swimming on the beach at Cloughey.
We believe that all our dogs must get out for exercise every day, not just the chosen ones, all the dogs. They work for us so they must get their play.
Willowdale German Shepherd Dogs are presently one of the top breeding, showing and working establishment in Ireland by virtue of the following achievements.
Willowdale Emme
Currently she has 1 CC 6 Res CCs and her daughter Samstag Drue at Willowdale is one of the top winning youngsters in Ireland.
Willowdale Feig
Awarded the coveted title of top female in the United Kingdom by winning the female CC ticket at the Joint GSD Clubs’ Annual Championship show, under the Vice President of the SV Herr Buss from Germany. CC under D Banyard at Bolton. Gaining the title of Irish Champion and qualified V (excellent). Res CC Denis Vessey
Producer of top winning young animals:
Galoise Boston.
Galoise Aoibheann at Willowdale.
Galoise Demi and Dominque.
Willowdale Faldo
His record speaks for itself:
Irish Champion.
Top Pup 1993.
Top Youth 1994.
Top Sire 1995.
Top 10 UK 1995.
Top Open Male 1996.
Qualified V (excellent). His progeny have taken top awards in both the UK and Ireland.
Willowdale Psalm Ireland’s top producing stud dog
Irish Champion
Top Pup 1995.
Top Youth 1996.
Top Open Male 1999.
Top Sire 2000.
Sam’s breeding is pure German and second to none as is evidenced by his superb breeding status. He has the distinction of producing the top puppy dog at the Premier GSD show of the year in 1999 along with 3 other top winners.
Willowdale Aquira
A top Irish female with qualifications second to none. Kera forms the
foundation for breeding in the future of the Willowdale kennels. What a
future ahead of us!
‘V’ qualified Hips 6
BC Survey Class I
Other top winners
Willowdale Quone
Top Puppy Bitch 1996
Willowdale Veigh
A Puppy winner.
Willowdale Whren
A Puppy winner.
Willowdale Michigan
Top Top Hip score 11.
Top Puppy 1995.
‘V’ qualified.
Willowdale Dirk
A top winning son of Psalm.
Hips 10.
‘V’ qualified.
Willowdale Eises
Now taking over as Ireland’s top producing male
a winning male every time out.
Hips 10.
Top producer Ireland.
Willowdale Henna
Another young winning female.
Willowdale O’Shey
Currently a top winning puppy dog in the UK 2002 son of Aquira and Eises.
Willowdale Macks
Is the latest to follow the Willowdale dogs’ winning ways.
Willowdale Fyre
Has qualified in WT and will continue to be trained to the top spot.
Willowdale Dakota top winning female 2005.
Willowdale Ghya
A young winning pup
Plus many more too numerous to detail here
The breeders.
The following might be useful in assimilating the characteristics of the breeders:
Jackie Duff.
During the period 1967 to date experience includes:
President of the NIGSD Training & Working Trials Club
International championship show breed judge
Committee member of the GSD club of NI
Introduced the concept of the working dog to Northern Ireland
Trainers of GSDs for the NI GSD Working Trial Club
Qualified 5 animals in international working trials
Tattooist
Conducted discussions on temperament and working ability of the canine species
Well known personality in the exhibition dog world
Advisor USPCA re trainability
Qualified as an Instructor and registered with and a member of the British Institute for Professional Dog Trainers
Jean Duff
During the period 1967 to date experience includes:
International championship show breed judge.
Past committee member, Assistant and Secretary of the GSDC of NI.
Produced the GSDCNI quarterly magazine.
Presented several articles to top GSD publications.
Educational committee member.
Innovator of the hip scoring scheme being used in Northern Ireland.
Introduced the concept of surveying (ie assessing GSDs potential for breeding) in Northern Ireland.
Produced the Irish Year Book for GSDs – Shephazine.
Qualified as a Dog Psychologist and member of Animal Care College, Institute of Animal Care and Education and the Canine Behaviour Centre.
Lecturer at Bangor College on Animal Behaviour.
Jackie and Jean
Jointly administer and control the training for the Ards Borough Council and North Down Borough Councils in co-operation with the Kennel Club for the running of their Good Citizen Dog Scheme.
Give talks and lectures on request by Councils and other interested institutions.
Presently studying for the Kennel Club Trainers Accreditation Scheme.
Work together problem solving for all breeds of dog.
Set up a breed club under the Irish Kennel Club and a working club under KC London
Working with Bangor Tech College in their Animal Care HND by accepting work experience students for training at our premises
German imports.
Sagaro Anastasia was our first venture and we bought her straight from quarantine. The import Quirli von Friedenspark was then purchased and the quarantine born female Dreenas Emer. Also recently the females Yanka von mons Tabor and Jacki vom Susanenhain – and in March 2003 Neera vom Brunskilltal and a young female out of Quantin v Arminus and Jurca vd Kahler Heide.. 2004 brings the import Quest van het Boomboos and the males Cai and Champ vom Haus Santo to Willowdale. We purchased and mated Questa to Basko Deininghauserpark Sch 3. Chera v Adelplatz came in mated to Quasso v Grotte due April 2006. Our other young females Ina v Godalis and Cruz v Salix Traumhaus will be with us later on during 2006.
The females.
We pride ourselves on owning excellent specimens of the breed with top quality bloodlines. The strength of any kennel is in the females, the one most important aspect of any breeding programme. Some of the following that we are happy to introduce are now departed or in new homes but we were instrumental in bringing these lines into Ireland.
