The meaning of 'Monkstone'

A long LONG time ago there was a puppy called Scrappy who the Skinner's adopted from the RSPCA. He was adopted as a family pet, but was destined to be an Agility dog.

My Mum needed to think of a Kennel Club name for him, having never been through this process before and not knowing where to start she took the name of our road (Monkstone Drive) and combined it with his nickname and so he became 'Monkstone Scrapman'!

Scrappy learnt agility with my Mum, he then taught it to both my brother and myself, he was a very special dog; a true gent.

After Scrappy, we adopted K.O and 'Monkstone Knockout' just felt right as a name. She was the first dog I got to teach and she took me from Elementary to Intermediate when I was just 11 years old as well as qualifying for a number of Junior Finals and winning the 1997 Pedigree Chum Unders Final. My curly girly Collie-flower.

Following K.O the Skinner Pack grew with pre-named puppies and 'Valgrays' rescues and so it wasn't until 2005 when we adopted Phee from Many Tears that the Monkstone name resurfaced with 'Monkstone Phoenix'. Unfortunately Phee's agility career was short lived due to her health and so there were no more Monkstones left on the circuit.

The Snooky/Hex mating was planned over 18 months ago and Clive kindly agreed to let me revive the Monkstone name and honour the dogs which got me started. Following an application to the Kennel Club, I now own the Kennel Name 'Monkstone' which means so much to me and I feel a great amount of joy that any future puppies will wear it with pride and that the memories of the dogs I cherish live on. I know that there are some long standing agility competitors who will hear the name 'Monkstone' and smile at a memory or two.

Only time will tell what Monkstone's will enter the world in 3 weeks time. I just hope that they are all happy, healthy puppies and that they give their new Mummys & Daddys everything the Monkstones before them had to offer and more.