About Monkhams

Long ago, before PBGVs roamed the garden, Monkhams was the home
of many loved Bassets. Then, one year, on an annual visit to Crufts,
there they were - a whole row of rough-coated, happy looking hounds.
I immediately fell in love with them, whatever they were, and soon
convinced my husband, Bernie, that one day this would be the breed
for us - Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen.

The 1980s
Gradually we lost all our old Bassets, one by one. This sad decline in
numbers made room for the long-awaited rough-coat. In 1983, we
arranged to have a puppy from Anne and Sandy Mackenzie, whose
Wakelyns kennels was at that time in Suffolk. However, before the little
bundle of fun arrived, Nick Frost invited us to visit Clipperdown
Cottage, near Berkhamsted. This was the home of Fredwell, Dehra and
Jomil, the latter being the affix of Joan Wells-Meacham and Mildred
Seiffert who introduced the breed to the UK in 1969. Nick wanted us to
see an orange and white bitch that he had kept as pick of the litter for
Mildred. Unseen, she had decided not to have the four month old.
Before we knew it, Jomil Sirène of Monkhams (Jomil Mistral ex Jomil
Gitane) was in the back of our car on her way to her new home in
Essex. Wakelyns Willow of Monkhams (Gourou of Wakelyns ex Ch
Twinrivers Duchesse of Wakelyns) joined her shortly after.

Aster (Jomil Sirène of Monkhams) and Willow (Wakelyns Willow of Monkhams)

Both excelled in the showring and gave us much pleasure. However we
were constantly being asked "What is it mixed with?" or "What is it?"
(even by the judge!), much to my husband's annoyance. Even though
Willow displayed some of the grand characteristics of her forebears,
she won regularly as many judges in those days could recognise a
sound hound, even if not familiar with specific breed type. Jomil Sirène
(Aster) proved to be of true petit type and our first litter in 1984 (by
Jomil Larbi of Varon) produced our own Monkhams Hollyberry and
Valerie Link's first PBGV Monkhams Hannah, who later became a
Canadian Champion.

Litter sisters Monkhams Hollyberry and Canadian Ch Monkhams Hannah TD

Shortly after, Willow was the first bitch in the UK to be mated to the
newly imported Dan/Lux Ch Salto de Crislaure of Morebess. From this
litter Douanier Dillen remained for a while at Monkhams before going
to Sussex and Django went to Bets Young in California as one of her
foundation stock. After Bets died, he lived happily with Joyce
Miley-Woodfin, who later moved to Texas.

Monkhams Douanier Dillen

Dillen's litter brother, Monkhams Django

Bernie died in August 1986. It was difficult for me to continue showing
but, a year later, Aster went Best of Breed at Richmond Championship
Show, gaining her first and only Challenge Certificate.

Aster

The 1990s
In 1990 my daughter Jenna and I moved to Buckinghamshire.

Our garden

Unfortunately we then discovered that Holly was unable to have pups.
Determined not to lose the line Bernie and I had started together, in
1992 I imported a bitch from Hannah's last litter. Thus, Jamar
Monkhams Ivy League (by Am Ch Jamars Wild and Crazy Guy) became
the first PBGV to be imported into the UK from the States. Having lost
our old Fredwell Basset, at about the same time we also collected
Riverwalk Whoopi Goldberg of Monkhams (Rosie), a black-blanket.

Fredwell Fern of Monkhams

Riverwalk Whoopi Goldberg Of Monkhams

Ivy League (Dollar) had two litters. Her first in 1995, by Dehra Eminent
(who later became an American Champion) gave us Monkhams Teasel.
Her daughter, Monkhams Astra (by Ch Dehra Yorrick At Pommeraie),
born in 2000, has gone on to be a superb brood bitch for us,
producing theTop PBGV 2004 in both Denmark with Dk Ch Monkhams
Bart Simpson With Soletrader (by Dk Ch Chouan Officer & Gentleman)
and the Netherlands with Monkhams Dusty Singfield With Soletrader
(by Ch Afterglow Woody Woodpecker).

From Dollar's second litter in 1996, sired by Ch Dehra Ypres at
Bondlea, we kept Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. Dana's litter in 2001 by
Woody Woodpecker gave us Monkhams Cafe Au Lait (Mindy).

In 1999 "something else" entered our lives - Jamars Saffi of Monkhams
(DK Ch Chouan Officer and Gentleman ex Am Ch Jamars Kindred
Spirit). Valerie Link's return to England gave her the opportunity to
import one of her bitches via Denmark and who could resist this
opportunity to acquire a bitch emanating from such a strong Danish
line, going back to that all-time great, Gimlet? Saffi has attitude, an
extra set of batteries and has stunned judges and spectators alike with
her ring-presence. Saffi gained her title in 2002. In early 2004 she had
a strong litter by Ch Willowbrae As You Like It.

With some promising youngsters and exciting bloodlines we are
looking forward to seeing what the future holds for Monkhams!