After COMING out of the army in 1949, Joan bought her first King Charles Spaniel (£9 and sent by rail from Kent to Derby!). She has never been without a Charles since, although in 1959 she owned her first Chihuahua. She was quite famous, being the first Longcoat bitch in the country to be imported from the USA by the late Mrs Bedford. Cholderton Allen’s Cupie Doll was six-years-old when she had her and she lived until she was 15.

At the same time Joan started showing and has never stopped, but she says her dogs come first and foremost, her treasured companions. Joan says that in consequence she cannot boast of great wins, although she does have hundreds of rosettes up to BOB and group wins to show for her sins. She shows mostly in the West Country as she is somewhat limited - what with her hairy livestock to deal with at home!

Joan has re-homed just over forty Chihuahuas in the last thirty years and currently has eleven whose owners have died.

Alongside the toys she has a French Bulldog who did a lot of winning in his heyday, and a Lancashire Heeler. They have supported a lot of exemption shows and are multiple BIS winners, as are most of her show Chihuahuas. She has also served for over 26 years on the committee of Romsey and District Canine Society and currently has the honour of being its Vice Chairman.