Elizabeth MacLean

The Lynwater Kennel is situated on the edge of Almondell Country Park, near Broxburn in West Lothian.  The property enviably includes woodlands, pastures, paddocks and stables for not only is the Lynwater Kennels situated here but also the Almond Lodge Arabian Horse Stud 

Horses are another great passion of mine and I have a lifetime's  knowledge and experience in breaking, training and breeding.  When not exhibiting the Lynwater Cockers, you will find me at Arabian Horse race meetings with my horses which are ridden by my daughter, Joy. 

I was raised with, and still own, Pointers and Labradors but my first experience with cockers was with a red dog which I found abandoned, tied to a banister in Edinburgh.  My first "proper" cocker was a gift of a pup from Kathleen and Andrew MacDonald of the nearby "Kathand" kennel after having helped them out by rearing a litter of cocker puppies when their mother got into difficulties ... the rest, as they say ... is history!  However, nothing in life is that easy and as my kennel grew, I experienced many disappointments, mainly due to stud dog owners concealing problems in their lines.  I overcame this by breeding within my own stock until I established my own sound cocker line.  To this day, I have no truck with breeders who conceal genetic problems or continue to offer dogs at stud which should have been withdrawn from all breeding programmes.  The hard work and intimate knowledge of the Lynwater lines finally paid off and the Lynwater affix has become synonymous with quality cocker spaniels possessing true cocker temperaments ... you can't afford bad temperaments when you are selling to the general public!

In the UK show ring I have produced three homebred champions: the gold bitch - SH CH Lynwater Little Owl, a dark blue roan bitch - SH CH Lynwater Forget Me Not and, of course, my proudest achievement so far with my glorious orange and white bitch - SH CH Lynwater Dawn Shimmer who won Best of Breed and then the Gundog Group at Crufts in 1994.  That I would have "made up" more champions is without a doubt but my young stock are in such demand all over the world that I find it hard to keep overseas buyers at bay!  See my exports page for where you will find Lynwater cockers.  A significant number of these overseas exports have gone on to become champions and Lynwater cockers are at the foundation of many successful kennels both here in the UK and abroad.

My biggest drawback when it comes to getting out and about to shows, or accepting judging appointments, is that unfortunately, I never learned to drive and have to rely on friends to get me around the country. 

I occasionally accept judging appointments but quite frankly, being a "hands on" person, prefer to be at home with my animals whom I know and love.

The background used on this page is Almond Lodge and Lynwater Kennels.  ã Lynwater 2001.

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