Two dogs on beach
Phoebe, Sh Ch Shannas Solitaire and Danny, Sh Ch Ferndel Philosopher were inseparable companions; they are shown here on one of their regular jaunts together along Fraserburgh beach.
Source: Shannas

We had always said that we would never be without an Irish Setter in the house – we had owned, exhibited and occasionally bred Irish Setters for many years before acquiring our first Gordon Setter. However, when our last Irish, Wickenberry Kumquat at Shannas – ‘Katie’, died at 12 years old, we felt that it might be wiser to have a smaller breed.

I had long admired John Thirlwell’s Ferndel Welsh Springer Spaniels and approached him to see if he would consider allowing us to have something from his breeding lines. He didn’t have anything available at that time so we waited and waited…………and then waited some more……

Eventually, John had a puppy from a litter that he thought we might like so Ferndel Philosopher, ‘Danny’, came to us. Proving a perfect complement to our Gordon Setters, he was later joined by a bitch puppy, Ferndel Top Story, ‘Sophie’. We were devastated when we lost them so had no house dogs for quite some time until we were joined by Ferndel Limited Edition, ‘Jimmy’. Bred by John, he was Sophie’s grandson out of her daughter, ‘Nettle‘. Shortly afterwards Jimmy was joined by Ferndel Comands Attention, ‘Jenna’ – and, yes, we do realise comands is spelt incorrectly, it’s deliberate! Another Sophie grandchild, her dam is Ferndel Silhouette of Cwsscwn, ‘Silha’, a very successful daughter from Sophie’s second and final litter. Their details are included on their own pages.