| Our Story |
| At Melbourne Royal Show in 1993, Erwin and I met the Spinoni for the first time and it was that old cliche "love at first site", as is often the case for those of us that are destined to be owned by a Spinoni. In February 1994, we were lucky enough to be offered an white/orange dog from Mulvine Kennels. We drove all the way from Melbourne to the New South Wales country township of Orange to get him! Officially named Mulvine Cesare (A.I), he was destined to become Alfred, after the scruffy lurcher who was Claude Jeramiah Greengrass's offsider in the British television series "Heartbeat". We were convinced to start showing Alfred and did so. For quite a few years, the two of us were the only Spinoni on the Victorian show circuit. Soon we felt the need for another spin (they are contagious!) and were on a waiting list for a puppy for a couple of years. but there was nothing forthcoming. During this time, we had met a few other Spinoni owners and had developed a close network. We agreed to import a dog that would eventually sire a litter to a friend's Spinone bitch. This is where Claude (who is white/orange) came into our lives. He arrived from Cornwall (Janet Neil- Kevardhu) in September 1999, aged 16 weeks. He loved his 4 week stay in quarantine at Spotswood. As we had Alfred, it seemed only fitting that his kennel mate be named Claude. They soon became the best of mates like their namesakes. Now in 2002, we have another Spinoni (didnt I tell you they were contagious?) whom we have named Gina (in keeping with the heartbeat theme). She is an orange roan daughter of Claude and bred by Stella Groves of Monteverdi Kennels. Gina will be our foundation bitch. She is an absoulute angel and a true beauty. For our kennel prefix, we have decided on Piedimonte, after the region in Northern Italy where Spinoni originated. There are two other registered breeders in Melbourne. Monteverdi owned by Stella Groves and Hollyberry owned by Robyn Gowers. |