David Dawes (DAWCO)
For my 10th birthday I was given a Welsh Corgi Pembroke which started my journey into our wonderful breed. Sadly she wasn’t a great show dog and always had a flop ear.
Early on I met Bill Houghton and Magda Henshaw of Vita Kennel fame who took me under their wing and starting taking me to shows to help them handle their dogs which included Staffordshire bull terriers, basenjis, standard smooth dacshunds and miniature smooths, longs and wires. Bill was very knowledgeable regarding all things dog and introduced me to many wonderful people in the dog world. One of my favourite dogs to show was a miniature smooth haired dachshund, English and Australian Champion ‘Dormy Frederick of Wendlitt’, giving me my first best in show at 13.
My passion has always been the Welsh Corgi Pembroke and was introduced to Jean Johnson from Jodiwyn Kennels who provided me with my foundation bitches to start Dawco Kennels in 1968. Jean was a wonderful mentor and friend for many years and helped me purchase ‘Ch Wendlake Flaming Linen’, son of ‘Ch Jodiwyn Beau Geste’. I continued to work closely with Jean for many years and greatly value the knowledge that she passed on to me.
In 1978 I purchased a bitch from the UK from Peggy Gamble, ‘Blands Glory Be’ who produced two spectacular litters. The first litter from ‘Wendlake Flaming Linen’ produced 6 champions; 5 of which were best in show winners. One of these was ‘Ch Dawco Midnight Sparkle’ who had a major influence on the breed in the early 80’s producing many best in show winners, both in Australia and New Zealand. The second litter to ‘Ch Jodiwyn Beau Geste’ also produced 3 champions. I also imported other Blands and Perrymist Pembrokes from the UK which helped to strengthen my early breeding program.
Since this time I have bred many top winning Pembrokes, some of which were campaigned by others. ‘Ch Dawco Dusty Sandman’ owned and shown by Athol and Betty Searston won many best in shows and in 1984 was the Champion of Champions winner.
I have continued to breed and show over the years and in the past ten years I have worked closely with Liana Bettison of Aziah Kennels and Robyn Smith from Curvo. Many of our young winners today descend from ‘Ch Aziah No Time For Tea At Dawco’. Together we have imported frozen semen from the USA, producing many quality pembrokes, including Best in Show winners.
I am qualified to judge working dogs and have enjoyed judging both group and breed specialty shows. I look forward to my first overseas appointment in Ireland in May 2025.
I am now retired and look forward to continuing to breed and show this breed that I love. Together with my cohort we work together to foster the basic principles of our breed – type, quality and soundness.