BERNARD le Courtois needs little introduction; his illustrious career in horse breeding at Haras de Brullemail and his recognition as one of the leading authorities on sport horse breeding are no secret.

Perhaps less-known here in Ireland is his parallel success in breeding Mastiffs and Cairn Terriers alongside his partner Christopher James King. It was an instant love of the breed that inspired his adventure into breeding dogs, as he explains: “I was taking a broodmare to breed at a neighbour’s farm, and an enormous brindle dog greeted me with a stentorian bark.