Afghan Hound Database and Breed Information Exchange (Kennel/Breeder History Baroness Westonholz SWISS/UK Closmidi Kennels) |
Closmidi Afghan Hounds (and Pekinese) were known in Switzerland for their type and soundness and won many prizes at Continental shows. Baroness Westonholz moved to the UK prior to the war to be near her sons who were at Harrow (a very famous public school). In the era of the mid 1940's, it was permissable to completly rename a dog under UK Kennel Club regulations. A very famous UK Afghan bitch is Patrols Creme Chenille, which was in fact born as Lotus Of Closmidi. This Afghan was the dam of two Patrols Champions (Ali Bey and Ali Khan), winning stock from this Patrols line were exported to Canada. Lotus of Closmidi was also the dam of Winstyle Dera Khan - arguably one of the most important bitches of the late 40's as she was mated with Jalalabad Barawala (see Devitt) as the foundations of the Carloway kennels. Few writings exist about Baroness Westenholz but her Afghans are an important part of our breed's history, here in the UK and abroad.