Best in Show USA • December 2020 by Best in Show Magazine

WE ARE

Best in Show

Dear Best in Show Magazine Readers and Followers, We have started our adventure in the USA after years of publishing in Europe. We have crossed the pond to bring a beautiful and meaningful publication to the people with great quality content, such as interviews with your favorite judges, handlers, breeders, and more. We are approaching the end of the year and wow what a year this was! We all are going through something that no one could have predicted. This year has changed the way we do dog shows - from social distancing to wearing masks, but we are thankful we still have some events to attend. Many events have been canceled over the past year and we thank the clubs that put forth all their efforts to put on a show, and those that couldn’t have a show or had to cancel for government rules, we will see you next year. We are coming to Orlando when for many months we didn’t know if it would have been possible to have the show. We thank all the efforts of the AKC, Royal Canin, the clubs, and the many people that work on this big week that has become a can’t-miss event. The feeling might be different but we are excited to see all these beautiful dogs live in person! I want to thank all the people who made the first edition of Best in Show Magazine USA possible! Gay Glazbrook, Mike McGuire, and Rhonda Cassidy thank you for all your help with photos. I truly hope you will enjoy spending time reading our new edition with a cup of coffee or tea until our next exciting issue in February 2021. Stay safe!

JOVANA DANILOVIC Chief Editor

CHRISTIAN RANGEL Marketing Director

CHRISSY DANIEL & MARY MARSHALL Collaborators

BISCREATIVE.COM Art Department

ANNE TUREEN & LEE GROGAN Contributing Writers

INTERVIEW WITH A JUDGE

INTERVIEW WITH A HANDLER

ESTEBAN FARIAS

RINGSIDE CLICK

MOUNT OGDEN K.C.

CROWNED 100

MICK THE KERRY

TWO ICONS

LYNDHURST & WESTMINSTER

EDD BIVIN

CONTENT

LIVING LEGEND

MOE MIYAGAWA

MEET THE BREED

DOBERMAN PINSCHER

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112

CONTENT

HISTORY OF THE BREED

RINGSIDE CLICK

IDAHO CAPITAL K.C.

TRAVEL TIPS

ORLANDO AND ITS PLACES

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134

PEKIGNESE IN THE UK

INTERVIEW WITH A JUNIOR HANDLER

CAROLINE CLEGG

INTERVIEW WITH A JUDGE

Edd EDD Bivin BIVIN Pomeranians as they acted like big dogs, as if they were anything but small. They have great temperaments and are tough little dogs. We know you started in 1952, when you first acquired a Pomeranian bitch. What attracted you to a Pom? I liked the coated dogs. My family had lost its elderly mixed breed pet, so at that point I started to look for another dog. I saw a Pom on the street with his mistress and asked what breed of dog she had. She said, ‘a Pomeranian young man’! It was cute and sassy. My family said I could get whatever breed I wanted as long as it was not a big dog. I chose this toy dog. I liked

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How did you discover dog shows? Pomeranians were not easy to find in that day. I talked to a private breeder, Maxine Bean, who I later became good friends with. She didn’t have puppies at that moment, so all she could suggest was to return to the person from whom I had acquired my first bitch pup. We had a nice conservation and kept in touch. A while later, Maxine told me there was a dog show coming up. That is when I first went. I remember to this day, AKC

I NT ERVI EW W I T H A JUDG E · EDD BIVIN

only had six groups. All six were represented so it was

know, going to a university was expensive so I didn’t

like Best in Show at the Garden! You know, the quality

have lots of money to go to many shows. Maxine Beam

was really good! That is how I got started.

was very helpful and supportive. We went from time to

How did you progress from 1 dog to 30 in a couple of years. I would say it was closer to 6-8 years. I had a small toy kennel and had 30 dogs in the kennel. I got hit with distemper. They got hepatitis really hard. They didn’t

time to dog shows. I would drive and do all that but it was easier when someone was with me. I was a young kid but people were good to me. They wanted to support me. That made a difference. Do you have any other hobbies?

have vaccines back then for toy dogs. It was really hard

When I was young I appreciated what my father insisted

on dogs.

upon when he said, ‘As long as you live in this house,

Were you in high school when you started breeding dogs?

you have to do something other than dogs. You can do the dogs, but you have to do something else too’. I was

Yes, I was in high school, bred dogs and had litters. My

involved in music but gave that up for the dogs. I gave

family was very supportive. I was doing what I wanted

up some other things for the dogs as well. It became

to do. They were always behind me, helping with

somewhat time absorbing!

everything. When I got hit with distemper I lost 16 dogs. Their support carried me through somehow.

What was the most successful dog you have bred/shown? The best Pomeranian that I ever produced was Ch Edwards Reddy Teddy. This was while I was a kid in high

You finished high school, attended college, graduated,

school and college with little money to show dogs. He

and went on to work at Texas Christian Univeristy for 32

did finish handsomely. He did some nice siring too.

years. How difficult was it to balance showing dogs with school/study/work? I graduated from TC University and then taught in a public school. During that time, I was married... but that marriage was not successful, so we divorced. I had only a few dogs at that time because I was also going to school and was focused on finishing school. But I never stop showing dogs. I just didn’t have that many dogs. Actually, I never showed lots of dogs. I was a kid and had to pay for this activity on my own. You

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we got married. We never had that many litters. If we had two litters a year, we were pushing it. Most years, we would only have one litter. We bred very carefully and worked very hard. Were you showing or judging when you first met? When Irene worked at the kennel club, we couldn’t show. When we got married, she

resigned from the

kennel club so we could start showing some dogs. She was always showing. I didn’t show dogs. It was Irene that showed early on. As we got better, we became more competitive. Since we were judging, we didn’t go into the rings ourselves at all. Maxine Bean and Anne Clark are your big mentors. Can you please share what you learned from them? I always said Maxine taught me a lot about function and certainly about type. Maxine’s father, Herman Cox, taught me about Hounds and other different breeds though not with the same intensity as Annie and Maxine. Maxine was very helpful as she taught me about care, brushing and doing all that grooming. Maxine was so ‘hands on’ about dogs herself. Proper management was When Irene and I married, our best show dog was a

very important to her. Annie didn’t teach me so much

Doberman Pinscher. The best producer we ever owned

about practical matters, rather we discussed aesthetic

was Ch Boo Radley. He sired the grand futurity winners

theory, harmony, balance, type, function and structure.

at the Doberman Pinscher national specialty three years in a row, out of three different bitches. He and his son Ch Eldo Radley tied for top sire of the breed one year. Did you meet your wife, Irene, at the shows?

What year did you start judging full time? I never judged full-time. I was involved with the University until 2003. I retired early because we knew about Irene’s health and she couldn’t get well. I judged

Yes. I met her at the shows, and we became friends, then

quite a bit afterwards. But I have never judged full-

romantically involved. Irene had Dobermans. In 1978,

time.

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Would you say your judging is based more on type or movement? I judge more type. I want sound animals but I want dogs to look like the breed. How did it feel to judge BIS at Westminster kennel Club. It was, of course, the pinnacle of my dog career! I had judged groups at that time, the breed rings. All equally important as far as responsibility towards the breeders and the dogs are concerned. To be asked to do Best in Show at the Garden was a tremendous surprise! It reflected the respect I had earned and felt like a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;stamp of approvalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for all I had tried to do in dogs for many decades. The AKC National Championships Best in Show came

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after that.

I continued my work judging groups

In my opinion, to be a good judge, you must have seen

etc. including at major events and many national

good dogs. Nowadays, this means you need to travel all

specialties, which I feel are important assignments.

over the country to see them, one at a time. It is tough

Westminster was a great thrill and great honor for

to learn. Do you think the quality of the dogs you judge is based on

me. You started in purebreds in the 1950’s. Over the past 60

the work of the breeders?

years, how has grooming and presentation changed at

The breeders must have good dogs to breed. But they

the shows?

have to breed good dogs for us to have good dogs.

Certainly grooming and presentation is more extreme today in many breeds than it was back then. I really wish we were more reasonable about that. Today, we trim breeds in ways that alters typical breed appearance. All those things are unnecessary. What do you think has changed most over the last 10 years regarding entries? Too many shows diluted the quality. Of course, Covid-19 is also having an affect on current months, so lets talk without it. If we have too many shows, there is seldom keen competition. People are unable to observe and to learn from and to see the top dogs. We don’t have the same display of good quality dogs

Breeds are cyclical. They tend to be strong for awhile, then they’ll go down. Then in a few years, they come back. You need a cluster of talented breeders working together and competing to bring a breed to a strong standing. How do you see shows after Covid-19? Will things change? I can’t predict what will happen. I can tell you that once something has started, it is very difficult to curtail it. When you have so many dog shows every weekend, so many at one place, that is the convenience factor which has become the expectation. Changes in the show calendar will require a collective understanding of which direction our sport needs to take.

competing with each other on a more frequent basis.

Do we want the title ‘Champion’ to increase in

We don’t have strong mentors.

significance or diminish?

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I NT ERVI EW WITH A HANDLER

ESTEBAN Farias Hi Esteban, thank you for taking the time to answer the following questions for Best In Show Magazine. We know you were born into the sport, and that your family bred Dobermans. Tell us more about your family and how did you start? We started with Dobermans back in 1984 when we moved from the farm to Buenos Aires. We became interested in the breed after watching the movie The Doberman Gang. I ask my mom and dad if we could get one, and after several long conversations, they said yes!

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I NT ERVI EW W I T H HANDLER · ESTEBAN FARIAS

We bought our first Doberman from an advertisement

My dad showed Dulcinea at a big show and lost the class.

in the newspaper. The veterinarian who cropped our

She was still a puppy and the judge told my father that

dog’s ears introduced us to dog shows.

he did not show her well, and he could not reward the

My father, Hector Farias, started showing the dog and never won anything.

After attending many shows

without success, he started learning about structure and conformation. We decided to contact reputable

puppy. My father did not want to show her anymore that day and was ready to go home. I asked him to let me show the puppy and he said, “But you don’t know how.” I responded, “Dad, please let me show her. Please!”

breeders Rosa Rivera and William Pacheco of Will-Ross

That day I showed Dulcinea at the second show and

Kennel for a show quality puppy.

won Best Puppy, Reserve Best of Breed, Group 3 Adult,

They invited my mother, Alicia, and father to their house, and that night they came back home with a new puppy who would eventually be named Will-Ross

and Best in Show Puppy. My father and mother were amazed how well I showed Dulcinea, and from that day forward I was the one who showed all their Dobermans.

Dulcinea Black.

What made you decide to become a professional handler?

My father started showing her and did very well. At the

I was working full-time at the age of 18 and showing dogs

time, I was practicing with her without anyone knowing

for other people during my first two years of vet school.

about it.

It was becoming difficult to manage showing dogs full-

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INT ERVI EW W I T H HA NDLER Âˇ ESTEBAN FARIAS

different breeds. One of the more special victories was when I won best of the best with a female Doberman under Barbara Alderman, a judge that I admire. Here in the USA, I have also had a number one Doberman, placed in the top twenty with Brandon and Lex Luthor, and have won many Pug nationals, including Pug of the year. In 2018 I also won toy of the year, the toy group at Westminster and at the AKC National Championship in Orlando. Every single win from a class to a winnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s is important because of the way we prepare the dogs I show. The time spent with them, and how they give back with affection is very gratifying. time and attending school, so I had to decide between the two. I chose to follow my passion for showing and working with dogs and am so fortunate to love my job. When and why did you decide to move from Argentina to the United States? I moved from Argentina to Miami, Florida on January 1, 2001, to show dogs for Ada Levine, a lady that I respect and love.

We know your wife Jennifer breeds and shows dogs and your kids come along as well. What does it mean for you to have a family at the show? To have my family coming with me is amazing. It is a lot of work trying to show and have the kids in virtual school these days, but I would not change that a bit. To do what I love and have my family involved is the best Good assistants are invaluable to help run a tight ship when on the road, at the shows, and sometimes at home.

Who were your mentors when starting out in the sport of

Can you please tell our readers what you look for in a good

pedigreed dog shows, and do you still have mentors you

assistant and what you hope to teach them in return?

go to for advice or opinions? My mentors were William Pacheco and Rosa Rivera. You have had many amazing wins in your professional dog showing career. Can you please tell our readers about some of your most memorable and special wins?

During the years I have had many assistants. What I look for is a simple dedication and love for the dogs. While we are working, I always try to pass things along that I have learned during my career and talk about it. Every handler has their own recipe, but we all love and want happy dogs that desire to be with us and get noticed in

Throughout my career I have had amazing wins like

the ring--this is very important for an assistant to learn.

the first time I walked into the ring with Dulcinea--that

There are many things to learn and teach in this sport,

was out of this world for me. In Argentina I have many

but for me, the most important is the respect that we

number ones; nationals, top twenty, and with many

need to have for our four-legged friends.

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INT ERVI EW W I T H HA NDLER Âˇ ESTEBAN FARIAS

What is your favorite breed to own, breed, and show (these can be three different breeds) and why? I love dogs in general.

My three choices are the

Doberman, Pug, and Bullmastiff because I have had many years showing these breeds and living with them. What are your favorite thing and least favorite thing about being a handler? My favorite thing about being a handler is playing with dogs all day, and when you love what you do, it does not seem like work. For me, there are no least favorite things about being a handler. A difficult question but can you please tell us your favorite dog you have shown so far? I can mention so many dogs that have been and are my favorites. I can tell you that Biggie the Pug has stolen the heart of my family like none other--we miss him. What dog past or present, not shown by you, would you have loved to show? I would have loved to show the Doberman Indy, shown by Andy Lynton, a person that I admire in and out of the ring. What is your favorite show to attend each year and why? My favorite show is Orlando; because it is a big show, not benched, and normally has great weather. How do you feel about the change of venue and date for the Westminster Kennel Club? I think the people who are organizing Westminster are trying to do their best and I applaud them for their efforts.

Would you like to become a judge someday? Yes, I think becoming a judge at some point would be a lot of fun. Who is the person-owner/breeder/handler, or judge that you most respect and why? A person that I respect a lot in this sport is Gwen Demilta. If you were not a professional handler what career would you choose? My other career choice would have been as a veterinarian. How do you see shows after Covid? I hope we can go back to normal, and until then we are trying to do our best. The clubs are doing a great job, and it takes a lot of work to put a show together. People are working very hard to make that happen, so I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have enough words to thank them for the effort.

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LYNDHURST &

WESTMINSTER Two icons The Colonial period (1600-1793) saw important civil and private construction in red brick with white wood detailing inspired by Palladian designs. One important example that survives today is the Governor’s Palace in Williamsburg, Virginia. Anyone who has ever visited the East Coast of the United States, especially Boston, is familiar with the Greek Revival style which dominated American architecture throughout the 1700’s. This period corresponded to the Georgian period in England (17141835 circa). There were specific elements unique to

the Northeastern United States in these 200 years of architecture. It is quite apparent that architects as well as their clients looked to Europe and especially to t was the era of Shakespeare and ‘Queen Bess’ in the 17th century when the New World was discovered. In England, it was the Tudor architectural period which utilized much

brickwork, rich oriel or bay windows and tall chimney stacks. Those comparable resources were scarce in this developing country. Only essential buildings were raised almost exclusively in wood, in what was to become the United States of America. One of the

England as their model. The romantic movement of the mid 19thcentury inspired art and architecture which bolstered European medieval themes and ideas. Reflected in the vertical emphasis, with steeply pitched roofs, pointed arches on tall windows and doors, this architecture is known as Gothic Revival. Lyndhurst Mansion is one of the most prominent examples.

earliest homes that still stands today is the Corwin or

The Lyndhurst Mansion, in Tarrytown, New York is

‘Witch House” built circa 1630.

known among architectural historians as one of the

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most important 19th century homes in the country. In a 3-part documentary, “10 That Changed America”, airing on PBS in April 2016, Lyndhurst Mansion was named one of the 10 most influential homes that ‘transformed residential living in the United States’. The main building, with its asymmetrical shape and prominent turrets, resembles a castle. Interestingly, it was the other outbuildings, the gatehouse and the little caretakers’ houses at Lyndhurst that are considered the most significant. Architects applied the Gothic Revival concepts typical of cathedrals and state buildings to smaller dwellings. In 2016, Howard Zar, the executive director of Lyndhurst, described this ‘middle class version of Lyndhurst’ was created, duplicated and developed across the country. The architect of Lyndhurst Mansion, Alexander Jackson Davis was born in New York City. He launched his architectural career in 1826 working for a prestigious firm that specialized in the Greek Revival style. In their offices, Davis had access to the greatest library collection on architecture available at that time. He became versant in all historical styles, especially classical and gothic which was all the vogue in the Victorian era. In 2004, a retrospective of his life and work at the metropolitan Museum of Art brought his accomplishments before the public. As Amelia Peck points out in her introduction to this exhibition, ‘Design, not structure or theory was his chief interest and strength.’ A young Davis enjoyed the everyday pastimes of the mid-Victorian era such as reading gothic thriller novels and presenting domestic theatrical productions. Davis excelled in draftsmanship in addition to watercolors, enabling Davis to communicate both the precise

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architectural detailing of his subject while lending

Merritt acquired it and continued with Davis. Davis’

a sense of scenic, picturesque romanticism. This

additions saw the mansion double in size with Merritt

inspired his patrons, who wanted their commissions

renaming it Lyndenhurst (1864-67) after the estate’s

to reflect cultured references to European history.

linden trees. After Merritt’s death, the nouveau riche

These ideals were much frowned upon by the

tycoon Jason Gould purchased the mansion, shortening

successive generations of architects who embraced

the name to Lyndhurst. The Gould family could not

the essential nature of Bauhaus and in the United

do better than look to Davis for their country retreat

States, Frank Lloyd Wright’s (1867–1959) rigorous

and were fortunate to find Lyndhurst. Gould added on

organic theory. The legacy of Davis survives due to his

the massive greenhouse, which had a staff of twelve

various commissions of government buildings, cities,

people just to maintain the palm avenue down the

and universities. His only book, Rural Residences

center walkway. The mansion stands on rising ground,

was published in 1837 on country homes which

a soft promontory, overlooking the Hudson River only

carried his ideas to the general public. The over one

just north of New York City. In good weather, the

hundred private country residences for families had

skyline is clearly visible from the property.

the primary aim of providing a lifestyle for the owner commensurate with his ambitions and social status.

The lives of the Gould family saw the beginning and development of what we now call the ‘Dog World’.

Three families owned this property over the years with

In 1847, the first recorded dog show was a group of

each having made significant changes to the building.

classes for Pointers and Setters held in Tervuren,

The original commission for Alexander Davis to design

Belgium. The event considered the first United

and build the home was made by the former New

Kingdom show is Newcastle Upon Tyne, was restricted

York City mayor, William Paulding. The house was

to Pointers and Setters. It was organized by Richard

named ‘The Knoll’ from 1838-1842. When the property

Brailsford, gamekeeper to the Prime Minister. Dr.

became available, the wealthy merchant George

John Henry Walsh, a veterinarian, and editor of the

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The Field, was a keen sportsman, and promoted Brailsford’s show in his journal. In 1867, he wrote the first published standard on the famous pointer, Major. Dr. Walsh actively encouraged the nascent breed clubs to prepare standards, collected and included these for his 1867 book, The Dogs of the British Isles. This was widely read, carrying to the general public the idea of specific breeds. This contemporary idea generated several editions of his work. In his editorials, Walsh lobbied for judging according to standards rather than subjective opinion. At the 1869 London show, organized by the National Dog Club, dogs were judged based on a breed standard for the first time. This event was arguably the birth of the modern-day dog show. Conformation competitions and the publication of standards made breeding through artificial selection the mania of the day. Dog shows were regularly attended by men and women of elite society and royalty. In 1873, the foundation of The Kennel Club in Pall Mall was followed the next year by the opening of their stud book. This brought increasing cleanliness and uniformity to proceedings. Walsh himself wrote that he ‘hoped this craze for dog shows would abate before a lunatic asylum became necessary!’ Fortunately for us, breeding and showing continued in the United Kingdom, across Europe and the United States. Anyone, who was anyone, wanted to be part of it. Two of the Gould children were especially involved. Frank Jay Gould (1877-1956) spent much time with his family at Lyndhurst. As a young man, his passion for the Saint Bernard, an icon of the Victorian dog fancy, led the family to build an entire kennel for his dogs. He later transferred most of his stock to another breeder as his activities brought him to France. Frank

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judged Pointers at the Westminster Dog Show in 1915.

show. A change was needed from Madison Square

He served as President of the Saint Bernard Club of

Garden and the limited event space of the Piers in

America and established the Gould Cup for this breed .

New York City. The lush rolling hills and open-air

Anna Gould (1875-1961) also a dog enthusiast, was known for keeping King Charles Spaniels and Pekingese. Like her brother, she went to live in France for many years. During her time in France, she was married to two French aristocrats adding to her name the title of Duchess. In 1937, after the death of her second husband, Anna was able to flee France before the German invasion. She returned to residency in Lyndhurst as well as her position as society leader. Only four years after the foundation of The Kennel Club of Pall Mall, the Westminster Kennel Club was founded. An article in the New York Times made the announcement on March 28 1877, that the first Westminster Dog Show was ‘A New Fashionable Amusement’. It goes on to say:

grounds of Lyndhurst Mansion, on the countryside of Tarrytown, was the ideal solution. Lyndhurst is accustomed to hosting large events and specifically, dogs. Two other Kennel Clubs, with established shows, offered to surrender their booking dates to ensure the Westminster tradition continued. As Howard Zar, the executive director of Lyndhurst points out in an interview , ‘there is continuity in the union of Westminster and Lyndhurst.’ The 145th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Junior showmanship Finals and U.S. Agility Masters and Obedience Masters will be held on the grounds of the estate the 12th and 13th of June 2020. Westchester Airport is very near, though driving from NYC takes less than half an hour and there is public transportation from the city on the Hudson line

‘The Westminster Kennel Club, of this City, an

subway and/or train, only a 1.15hr trip . The vibrant

organization

the

area of Westchester affords hospitality at every level

improvement of the strains of hunting dogs, in the

of comfort. A panorama of attractions nearby include

use of which they find their best amusement, are

the Rockefeller estate and several national parks.

gentlemen

interested

preparing for an extensive bench show to be held at Gilmore’s Garden, on the 8th, 9th, and 10th of May.’ This Westminster Kennel Club’s Dog Show is a landmark event. Not only is Westminster important in the discipline of conformation showing, but also significant to the history of sports in the United States. Only the Kentucky Derby thoroughbred horse race has a longer continuous running. When the Covid-19 coronavirus threatened to curtail public events, the kennel club was quick to find an alternate venue to ensure the continuation of the historical

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Photo credits: lyndhurst.org

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MOUNT OGDEN K.C. Logan, Utah September 17th - 19th, 2020 Photo Credits: J. Danilovic

DAY 1 • Judged by Amy Gau - BEST IN SHOW WINNER GCHG CH PROTOCOL’S I CAME I SAW I SPARKLED Doberman Pinscher Owner: K. Kato, J. & K. Mullins & C. Austin Handler: Andy Linton

- RES. BEST IN SHOW WINNER GCHG WYNMOOR INTERSTELLAR English Springer Spaniel Owner: E.Kerfoot, J.Hayes, P. Peterson, C.Vose, P. Parchman & T.Lauer Handler: Janice Hayes

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MO UNT OG DEN K .C.

DAY 2 • Judged by Cindy C Lane - BEST IN SHOW WINNER GCHB BRAVO IT’S AN INDUSTRY TERM Scottish Terrier Owner: Rod Ott & Pilar Kuhn Handler: Gabriel Rangel - RES. BEST IN SHOW WINNER GCHG WYNMOOR INTERSTELLAR English Springer Spaniel Owner: EKerfoot JHayes PPeterson CVose RParchman TLauer Handler: Janice Hayes DAY 3 • Judged by Deborah Y Verdon - BEST IN SHOW WINNER GCHS CH ELLENSIDE RED IKE AT ESKWYRE Lakeland Terrier Owner: Tim & Carey Fayram & Lucienne Miodonski Handler: Bill McFadden - RES. BEST IN SHOW WINNER GCH SIDEKICK’S LIFE IS A HIGHWAY Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen Owner: Janice Brown & Brent Humphrey Handler: Janice Hayes

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MICK T H E

K E R RY

by Anne Tureen

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C RO W NED 100 · MICK , THE K ERRY

Bo Bengston

an AKC champion of record at the time. The judge was Melbourne T.L. Downing.The next year, 2001, was really

I do not think there is a dog

Mick’s year: he won a total of 87 BIS at AKC all-breed

anywhere that more people

shows from January to December, among the most any

would include on their lists of

dog has won during a 12-month period and more than

All-Time Favorite Show Dog than Mick. In a 2013 interview for Dogs in Review with his handler Bill McFadden I described Mick as “maybe the greatest show dog anyone has seen in America, and probably anywhere else, too, for that matter.” That is strong, but

twice the number won by any other dog that year. He defeated more than twice as many competitors as well: over 138,000 in all during the year. In 2002 Mick was shown much more seldom but won 22 more BIS and was again the Top Terrier in the U.S.

I stand by that statement, and Mick’s record backs it up.

Mick’s record at Westminster was brilliant by any

He is one of the very few dogs to have won Best in Show

standard, except perhaps his own. He won the Terrier

at both Crufts in England and Westminster in the U.S.,

Group there in 2001 and 2002 but failed to win Best in

and he won Best in Show more than 100 times. Other

Show both times, although he was clearly the favorite

dogs may have won as much, but I am not sure that any

to do so. This may have had something to do with the

of them were as exciting to watch as Mick.

fact that Mick was not an easy dog to show. He was

Mick’s breeder Ron Ramsay has separately talked about Mick’s beginning in England. It was usually Geoff Corish who showed him over there, but Michael Coad handled him to BIS at Crufts in 2000, and Mick won BIS at five other all-breed championship shows in the U.K. the previous year. That was only the beginning of what was to come, however. Mick came to America, where his new owner was Marilu Hansen — already the owner of the great Giant Schnauzer Ch. Skansen’s Tristan II, No. 2 of All Breeds with 29 BIS in 1999 — and his new handler was Bill McFadden. That spring, Mick made his American debut by winning back-to-back Bests in Show at the Great Western Terrier shows, also known as the “Montgomery of the West.” He was then not shown until the great Morris & Essex Kennel Club show in the autumn and won BIS “from the classes,” meaning that Mick was not even

strong-willed and excitable, and he was probably more fun to watch in the ring than to handle. Anyone other than Bill McFadden would probably not have been able to bring the best out of him as often as he did. Finally, in 2003 everything clicked: Mick showed like a dream, won the Group for the third year running — an amazing and nearly unique achievement — and Best in Show! The judge was Mrs. Irene Bivin; Mick was just a couple of months away from turning seven years old. (He was born May 29, 1996.) Mick was also Best in Show at the AKC National Championship show in 2002, one of the few dogs to have won both Westminster and the AKC show, and the only one to have won these as well as Crufts. The AKC show is of recent vintage compared to the others: the first one was held in 2001, while Crufts and Westminster both started in the 1800s.

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While the AKC National is undeniably a prestigious

become Dog of the Year in the U.S. three times? The

event, it is ridiculous to say — as Wikipedia in fact does —

Scottish Terrier Ch. Heather Realisation, who won BIS

that a win there completes the triple crown. The fact is

at British championship shows 16 times, long a record?

that there is no triple crown in dogs, as there is in horse

Or the Cocker Spaniel Sh. Ch. Tracey Witch of Ware, BIS

racing. If there were, I feel that the FCI World Dog Show

at Crufts in 1948 and best of all breeds at championship

would qualify, as well as Crufts and Westminster, much

shows 13 times? And what about the early winners in

sooner than the AKC National Championship. No dog has

Europe and Scandinavia, not as well documented as those

ever won all three … but I am sure it is just a matter of

in Great Britain or the United States but nevertheless

time until that happens.

successful, many of them in different countries?

Is Mick the greatest show dog of all time? It is impossible

Of course, nobody can say for sure who is the greatest

to say. How many today have seen the Boxer from the

of them all. But there is no question that Mick, through

mid-1950s, Ch. Bang Away of Sirrah Crest, the first dog to

his charisma, showmanship, and evident quality, is the

win 100 BIS in America? Or the English-born Pekingese

closest many of us have come to watching greatness in

Ch. Chik T’Sun of Caversham, the only dog ever to

the show ring.

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Ron Ramsay Mick was not an all-time champion that came out of nowhere; he was the result of careful breeding, yet the COI (coefficient of inbreeding) percentage is quite low. Tell us about his pedigree and the choices you made.

I kept on two bitches from that pairing: the bitch pup I wanted to keep — Rosa (Torum’s Rosa Mundi) and her litter sister Elsa (Torum’s Agapanthus). Elsa was poorly as a youngster and we decided to keep her until she got better, then we didn’t want to part with her! We went straight to work on these girls. I was improving in my grooming and training at this stage, and Rosa did very

Here is some background …. My first Kerry Blue

well and became my first homebred champion. At that

was acquired as a pet. Now, just like everything

time, another dog from the United States (Bluefires

I do, I went out of my way to research the breed. I

Double Trouble) had been acquired by David Roche

wanted a puppy from the best breeder in the country,

from Australia (Fermoy kennel), and he had brought

so I eventually contacted Malachy McGeown of

that dog over to the UK to Granemore kennels. Here was

Granemore kennel, and they were able to give me

another male from the Chances Are line, and I called

Granemore Mary Reppin, who was just going to be

them straight away for a mating.

our family dog. Since this breed is known for being strong willed, we decided it would be best to enroll her in obedience classes as a youngster, and through this group we learned about dog shows and what you need to do to participate. We decided to go ahead and give dog showing a try.

With Elsa (Torum’s Agapanthus), the bitch we’d kept by chance, we used Bluefires Double Trouble and produced Int. Ch. Torum’s Mr. Dooley (who features in three lines in Mick’s pedigree) and Am. Ch. Torum’s Corky Capers, who went to USA as a puppy in the ‘80s and became a top-producing sire and for many years was Number

In 1979 A Kerry Blue from Canada, Callaghan of

2 Top Sire behind Melbees Chances Are. Corky sired

Leander, went on to win the Best in Show title at

around fifty champions in the USA until Mick overtook

Crufts. since we were now very keen on the breed,

him.

this inspired a dream for me, that of promoting the Kerry Blue Terrier and showing the world that these are not just wonderful dogs, but worthy of the highest accolades. Perhaps I was just a naïve beginner, but I called up the owners of that winning dog and asked to use him at stud for my bitch, and the answer was yes. I felt sure about this choice not just because of his great win, but I had been gathering all the material on the breed that I could get my hands on, and for some time I had held Melbees Chances Are in my mind as the finest Kerry Blue ever, and Callaghan was descended from that line.

Another litter from one of my first bitches is the result of rather a funny story. I was attending a breed dinnerdance with my nephew sometime after the early death of my first wife. When we arrived at the venue, the only seats left were at an empty table, so we sat there alone, feeling a bit awkward. The next people to arrive joined us. I was a bit taken aback when the gentleman introduced himself by saying, “Hello, I’m Sean Delmar, I’ve seen your bitch Rosa Mundi, and I have the male you are going to use with her at stud!” Today we all know Sean as the president of the Irish Kennel Club, but

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back then he was just another bloke. The following day

Mick as he matured fulfilling the promise you saw in

at the show he brought out his dog Shillelagh’s Fajara

him, the obstacles, and the decisions you made in his

of Nostaw, and sure enough, I saw exactly what he was

training and career?

thinking. He was a slightly small male, while our bitch was slightly tall, and he had a lovely length of neck and he moved like a dream.

Clearly Mick was the pup we kept in his litter, though I would say that was a difficult choice, since the litter was quality straight through, and his siblings went on

To answer your question about the COI, my ideas about

to nice careers. However, at eight months I began to see

breeding from the very beginning have been to go out

something I felt was exceptional. Remember that the

and then to come back in again. The success of this

standard was published in 1934, but it did not exactly

approach, of course, depends in part on the quality

correspond to any one dog. In fact, if you go and look

of breeding that a third party, who has your dogs,

at some of the images of dogs from that period, you will

is going to produce, and in this we were lucky. We

see nothing resembling the description of the standard,

entrusted Mr. Dooley to Sean and Cathy Delmar. From

so at the time, the standard described the ideal Kerry

him they produced Shillelagh Fairy Charm and several

Blue Terrier rather than anything walking in the rings

champions, then through a Louisburgh dog, Mick’s sire

at the time. When I saw Mick at eight months, I saw

Arranshire Pioneer was produced. We saw Pioneer at the

exactly the dog described in the standard! That is when

famous International Kerry Blue show in Cork, Ireland,

I contacted Geoff Corish to say we had this exciting

and thought he was something special. He was mostly

youngster!

Louisburgh breeding but with the line to Mr Dooley.

Most dogs in the UK were owner-handled in the late 90’s,

We brought him over to England and Geoff Corish

and I had handled my own too, but I felt Mick needed

handled him for us, while we showed Mick’s dam,

the best of the best to realize his potential. He lived with

Dasumianco Quietner. She was a bitch we had been

us as a house pet, like all my dogs, playing with the kids

following since her grandmother (Torum’s More Than

and what have you. All my dogs have a long walk on

A Match) came out of a litter from Rosa Mundi and Mr.

the beach in the morning, chasing each other up and

Dooley and was bred by friends of ours who also had

down the grassy sand dunes. We had a young German

Granemore lines. We brought Dasumianco Quietner

Shepherd male at the time; this was my wife’s breed, and

back to Torum because her pedigree went back to Mr.

I have memories that will last a lifetime of Mick and the

Dooley twice, so in pairing her with Pioneer, we had

GSD (who was called Miko) gamboling along the beach,

three strong lines to Mr. Dooley in the pedigree, along

then occasionally it would happen that they would have

with several other good dogs. This is how Mick came

a look at one another as they were trotting along, say

into the world.

one or two meters apart, and they were clearly saying

Ric Cashoudian is quoted as saying that he “thought God had broken the mold after Chances Are until he saw Mick”. What were the watershed moments evaluating

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“Are you in?” – “Yes!” and off they would shoot, racing each other down the seaside. What a sight! So he lived with us, and I groomed him and we took

C RO W NED 100 · MICK , THE K ERRY

him to the shows — but when he came into Geoff’s

you should feel, especially from the look in his eyes,

hands he would be on the table every day of the show

that he is a dog to be wary of, although in life they are

and Geoff would regroom him, snipping just tiny bits

generally incredibly good-natured with people.

of coat here and there; amazing because I could see the difference it made in clearing up the profile. He is a top dog man. You mentioned the standard. Do you feel the standard of the Kerry Blue Terrier is easy to understand for people coming to the breed?

BIS What is your nutritional plan for a growing puppy? RR We used to get fresh ground meat from the abattoir in our district. They cleaned out the grinders and the result was the finest grind of meat, innards, and bone that you can imagine, and for as long as they were operative this was our feed. Unfortunately, they closed,

Yes — it gives a good picture of what you should be

and we moved on to dry kibble with something fresh in

looking for in a good dog. I feel there is much beyond the

it, such as ground meat, scrambled eggs, fish — always

standard that experience adds to that picture. The coat,

something different.

for example, is especially difficult to understand. It says that the color should be coming through by 18 months, but this is only a guideline. Good color can come in later than that; in fact, if it comes in very early, I am always on the alert for unsatisfactory pigmentation. I keep a very careful watch on the eye color, which should be dark, and the pigmentation in the gums and roof of mouth, which should also be dark. This can sometimes

In the Charlie Rose interview following Mick’s Westminster win (https://charlierose.com/guests/6987), Bill McFadden points out that Mick did much more intense showing in the USA that he had done in the UK. Had you evaluated attending the European national shows, specialties, big events such as the European Dog Show or World Dog Show?

be a problem in a Kerry that comes into color early.

Oh no, of course not, remember that quarantines were

Another important aspect of the coat is the texture. It

still in place at the time. Moreover, we are just a small

should be comparable to a woman’s soft wavy hair. If

family operation. My kennel maxes out at four dogs;

you have a hard coat, or God forbid, a wooly coat, this is

they all live in the house. We have maybe one litter

very far from typical of the breed.

in a year and I would say, though we are extremely

Other supremely important points are the powerful, broad quarters, which are the motor of the dog, then the front must also be correctly developed to handle all that power moving straight out. The neck should never be too short or long. A short neck does not have the sufficient mobility to tackle larger vermin, and a long

dedicated to the breed, extremely, we are just active at a hobby level. When Mick achieved the Crufts BIS, I was overjoyed; I was fulfilling my dream of seeing the Kerry Blue brought forward to the highest prizes. Nonetheless, I felt this very special dog could carry on beyond what I was able to do for him.

one won’t have the power. Kerry Blue Terriers are not

When he left for the USA, my heart simply broke. He

sweet little “give me a biscuit” dogs. When you see one,

was my boy. There is no sense in what people say that I

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was well paid or any such trifling matter, though Mick’s

PNA issue and now that tests have been developed, I can

career had drained our resources in a significant way.

say my lines are clear.

We did not regret this, and we did not look for any amends. We decided to trust Marilu Hansen and Bill

What is lifelike after a dog like Mick?

McFadden to carry Mick on to recognition for the breed

Fortunately we have continued to breed quality. You

in the USA. This was trust very well placed, since I was

can be sure we repeated the 1996 mating that produced

thinking “Oh, let’s hope he can win Montgomery,” when

Mick. From the same combination in ’97 we bred Int.

in fact he went far beyond that fine achievement. But

Ch. Torum’s Stormin Norman, who after all his groups

this decision was for Mick, who was so clearly a superior

and BIS achieved Number 2 Dog All Breeds in Finland,

animal, and for the breed to which we feel dedicated. He

then in ’98 it produced Ch. Torum’s Tunde Bayou, who

was like our son — that is the only way to explain how

won many groups, RBIS, and BIS all over the country,

we felt about giving him to Marilu.

including two Terrier Groups at Crufts and RBIS at

Did you breed only from Mick or also from his littermates,

Crufts. Tunde was Top Terrier in the UK at that time.

and what were the results? (Wikipedia states that he has

Int. Ch. Torum’s Calico Jack at Irisblu went on to Top

sired over 61 champions.)

Kerry 2013 in Ireland, 2015 Top Dog All Breeds in Australia

Very good question. Do you know that hardly any show people used Mick in the UK? After he won BIS at Crufts, one pet breeder came to us. One explanation is that Melbees Chances Are was considered a PNA (Progressive Neuronal Abiotrophy) carrier. I have my doubts on that because in over 40 years of breeding I have never had a

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and 2016 Top Dog All Breeds in Canada, so we are far from resting on our laurels. I am proud to have served as judge at many significant Kerry Blue events in the UK and abroad, so I am a lucky man. I think I can say that my work contributed to bringing forward the Kerry Blue Terrier as a breed to be reckoned with in the dog world.

C RO W NED 100 · MICK , THE K ERRY

Bill McFadden I first heard of Mick when a Kerry Blue Terrier client of mine

in his plans. They were doing a painting of Mick and had publicity commitments. I began to wonder if we had in fact sealed our agreement or if someone else had, but I went with the flow and we went home empty-handed.

came back from a visit to the

In early June, however, all came to fruition and Mick

UK with such a heavily embroidered rendering of this

arrived. We started walking about two hours a day at

puppy that she had seen that I discounted it. However,

the park just to hit our stride together. I got his trim

the news started to filter through of this young Kerry

looking the way I like it, too, and things started to

Blue who was outstanding. I started discussing this

crystallize for me. We had a big terrier show at that

dog with Marilu Hansen and we made contact with

time called the Great Western, and it was second only

Ron Ramsay, but I didn’t actually see the dog until we

to Montgomery, counting 1,500 to 1,700 terriers; it was

went over for Crufts in March of 2000. There were other

both prestigious and elegant. Top terrier in the USA

people looking at Mick, according to the grapevine, even

that year was a Bedlington owned by my wife Taffe.

Peter Green was contending. I watched him at Crufts,

When she saw Mick walk out of his kennel, she did not

Mick was fussy when the judge went over him, that kind

have nice things to say to me (Bill laughed). He won

of thing, but he went Best in Show under Ellis Hulme,

the breed under a breeder-judge, a Kerry lady of the old

and my client, who was with me, was thrilled. When

school. This was not a shoo-in, since she was the sort

Ron and I finally had a moment, there was no urgency

of judge who understands that this is a working breed, and I couldn’t be sure she would appreciate the polish I had put on his presentation. Mick, however, was out to please and you could hear everybody falling in love with him. He was the talk of the show, and we sailed through to Best in Show. We replicated that win the next day as well with top honors for Mick! The third day was an all-breed event, the Beverly Hills show, and he hadn’t been entered. The Best in Show judge actually came round and reprimanded me for not entering Mick, and I apologized, of course, and explained that we had only come for the terrier shows and our strategy was to save him until Montgomery weekend.

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This was the very first year that the Morris and Essex

only place he wasn’t magical was Westminster. I truly

show was being recreated from the original 1940s shows

believe that he felt all those people had come just to see

that were such a legend. The committee did an amazing

him. He was so excited to walk into the main ring that I

job, and the show relived all its early glory. We won

could not get him to focus. We got through group well

Winner’s Dog under another breeder-judge, and then

enough, but the main ring was just too much for him.

went Best of Breed, and then group, which was a great

This happened two years running, and l felt a bit guilty

win considering the quality that day. It was getting

since he clearly deserved to win, so obviously I was

dark, and a light rain started as Best in Show began.

missing something in my presentation. The third time, I

This didn’t ruffle my feathers; in fact, I think a Kerry

made clear to his whole team that this would be the last

Blue looks great in these circumstances, his coat goes

try. He contracted a prostate infection coming up to the

wavy and he sort of glows. Mick went Best in Show to

big day so when he got overexcited and the testosterone

public acclaim under judge Melbourne Downing and

started pumping he must have felt some pain because

that made three shows, AKC champion with three Bests

when I was about to free stack him in front of the judge

— nice record! Moreover, Mick brought home three

his neck would go stiff, and he would start barking. I

out of four of the Bests that Montgomery weekend. He

managed the smaller rings well enough, but the Best

garnered over 113 Bests total, so we were popping up

in Show judge was a Doberman person, and I knew

on that podium about every other time we went out. His

there would be zero tolerance for unruly behavior. I

second year at Montgomery he took home all four Best

was sweating it out from the moment we broke from

in Show wins.

the curtains. When we made our return from the down-

Mick had a reputation for being wild, and he was spirited, but never mean; he loved playing with other dogs. The

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and-back I knew he was ready for his little display of terrier temperament, so when we came before the judge for that moment of clarity, I threw myself down on one

C RO W NED 100 · MICK , THE K ERRY

knee. He looked at me, like “What the heck are you

Everyone great and small loved Mick. A young lady that

doing?!,” so that curved neck and that twist of the head

worked for me, Dana Gabel, used to spend lots of time

that terriers do when they are trying to work something

with Mick, training him or just enjoying his company.

out in their minds did it. He looked amazing. He finally

Marilu Hansen, his owner, loved him too, and it was a

made it to Best in Show at Westminster!

gracious gesture that she allowed me to keep him on

Irene Bivin had been the judge for Best in Show at Westminster, and she was a classic Texas lady. She had no problem going against the grain, she would always say it as she saw it. When I met her again in Dallas after the big win she said, “Do you know what I was thinking as you all came into the ring?”. That’s when I started trembling inside, but then I said to myself, “Don’t worry, they can’t rescind the win!” — but all I actually said was, “Oh, what was that?”— “I thought that of the two dogs

for the rest of his life. This was also a practical decision. For one thing, she already had a collection of beloved dogs, among them was a Giant Schnauzer who had been Number 2 All Breeds in the USA, and that dog probably would have had words with Mick before long. She also had a Pekingese which Mick might have seen as his personal squeaky toy. Another practical consideration was Mick’s busy calendar with mounts, so it worked out best for all concerned that he stayed on with me.

that were NOT winning under me that day, the Kerry

He was a great housedog. It was a privilege to live with

Blue was one!’’. That means that live on television with

him.

17,000 people watching, there is so much pressure that it is palpable, Mrs. Bivin’s opinion rose from zero to win. That is remarkable.

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MOE Moe

MIYAGAWA

written by Ga y Glazbrook

018 marks the 50th year Moe Miyagawa has been in Doberman Pinschers. He has handled five dogs to the coveted DPCA National Specialty Best in Show winners’ circle, a feat never achieved by any other handler. He and breeder Mary Rodgers

had great success with the Marienburg dogs in the seventies. Their Ch. Marienburg Sun Hawk CD was a top producer, #1 Doberman in 1975, Top 20 Winner and Best of Breed winner at the 1976 and1978 National Specialties. Hawk’s daughter, Ch. Marienburg’s Mary Hartman held the breed’s record for the Top Winning Doberman of All time until 1989.

Pr ev i ou sl y p u b li s h e d b y

“Bees,” as she was called, was Top Dog All Breeds in 1978, winner of two

Do ber ma n N et w o r k i n 2 0 1 8

National Specialties, the Top 20 as well as Group First at the illustrious Westminster Kennel Club show. The working group was extremely

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Miyagawa

competitive atthat time as it included the herding breeds. In the early nineties Moe and then wife,

Cynthia Woodward, piloted Ch. Ravenswood Cario V Aquarius to a position as one of our breed’s leading sires. Cairo is the maternal grandsire to the Top Producer of all time, Ch. Cambria’s Cactus Cash. He was also the

Ch. Marienburg’s Mary Hartman

very first champion produced by the iconic Ch. Brunswig’s Cryptonite. Cairo produced a multitude of champions including Ch. Cynderwood Halston V Sunchase, who wrapped up her career as #1 Doberman. In 2002, Moe won his fifth National Specialty

with Ch. Marienburg’s Repo Man. Moe has judged our Futurity twice and has judged out of the county including the MexicanDoberman National, New Zealand and Uruguay. On this, his gold anniversary in Dobermans, it

is fitting that we honor Moe as he has dedicated

Photo by Julie Mueller

the majority of his life to the breed as a handler, breeder, owner and mentor.

1976: Best of Breed - Ch. Marienburg’s Sun Hawk, under breeder Judge Mr. Patrick Doniere, Jr. 1978: Best of Breed- Ch. Marienburg’s Sun Hawk, under Judge Ms. Tess Henseler 1979: Best of Breed- Ch. Marienburg’s Mary Hartman, under breeder Judge Mrs. Peggy Adamson 1983: Best of Breed - Ch. Marienburg’s Mary Hartman, under breeder Judge Mrs. Peggy Adamson 1999: Grand Prize Futurity – Marienburg’s Repo Man, under Judge Mr. Vic Monteleon 2002: Best of Breed - Ch. Marienburg’s Repo Man, under breeder Judge Mrs. Irene Bivin

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L I VI NG L EGEND • MOE MIYAG AWA · Whenever I flew to West Coast

a bad word of another dog or anoth-

shows, Moe was always friendly and

er handler. He is the true gentleman.

welcoming. His smile and sense of

And who could forget the Great

humor was always evident. It didn’t

“Moe” stories told by Judy and Pat

matter that I was showing an Irish

like the Osama Bin Laden National..

Setter, he was nice to everyone.~

LOL. He is such an amazing charac-

Anne Marie Kubacz”It is the Friends

ter, such a blessing to all dogs, such

we meet along the way that help us

a cherished friend to have.

appreciate the journey”How true that is of Moe Miyagawa! For all the

“MOE”

years that we have known Moe he

He is the man, our friend to be,

has always been that special man;

Not so tall, and never free.

handler extraordinaire, caring indi-

At the end of the lead he’s tough to beat,

vidual, trusted friend and just a hell

But knowing him, is the greatest treat.

of a nice guy. There is never a time

We’re glad he’s here for time to come,

when Moe says, “No” or “I can’t.”

He’ll make us laugh ‘til day is done.

Rather it’s always, “When or how

So think not bad he’ll be back to show,

can I help?”When he handled our

Because you see he’ll always be Moe!

top 20 Moxie we always knew he would give it 150%. In the ring he is

We Love you Moe!

the perfect gentleman, never to say

~Holly & Steve Schorr

· My cowboy hat… I was on my first Montana circuit working and learning from Marj Brooks. Montana is big sky country, and cowboy hats are the rage there. We went to a downtown area with Mary and Moe, and I saw this great cowboy hat, but it was quite expensive. Moe tried to be helpful and asked the clerk if he would allow me to flip for the hat. Double or nothing were the stakes. After much discussion and encouragement, I agreed. Unfortunately, the flips didn’t go too well. I lost, and it taught me a lesson - don’t always listen to Moe. We love you Moe. ~ Faye & Gary Strauss 1975 - Soon to be champion Ch. Moraga Hills Desert Wind (aka Margo) winning a specialty sweepstakes under Moe. Marj Brooks the handler. Margo went on to produce 13 Champions and became the first of Sherluck’s foundation bitches.

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L I VI NG L EGEND • MOE MIYAG AWA

· Moe!!!!! I’ve known you just about as long as I

~ Michelle Santana

have been in dogs, and that’s been a while!You seem

· I always get a laugh when you are around. You

the same to me now as you did then - a perpetual

make it a light and enjoyable thing when showing our

teenager! I can’t wait to see you back at the shows. It’s

dogs. I especially enjoy listening to the teasing and

not the same with out you.

jokes going around at the shows. Sometimes we all ~ Bill McFadden

get wrapped up in the tension of showing but you are always there to lift our spirits. I’m so glad that you

· I met Moe when I was a young girl; he and my mom

recovered from your scary episode and I know you’ll

were competing for number one. He had Repo Man,

keep fighting. It will be fun seeing you back at shows

and my mom had Edna. I remember watching them

soon, Moe.

fight hard for the breed in Dobermans. They went

~ Darlene Young

back and forth each day. Repo winning some and Edna winning some. What I remember most is that even

· Ages ago, I went to Moe with tears in my eyes

though the stakes were high, Moe always had a smile

because i could not finish my dog, Peter. I asked Moe

a soft chuckle and a sincere congratulations for my

if he would be willing to show him for me. Moe told

mom and Edna. He is quite simply loved by everyone.

me that Peter was a really nice dog, and that he would

He always has kind words a funny story and the most

gladly handle him, but then added, “But you can beat

contagious laugh. It is a true gift to call him a friend.

me with this dog.” I rolled my eyes. He continued, “But

We love you Moe.

to do it, you need to stop looking around at all your ~ Carissa Shimpeno

competition. Focus on your dog. Just you and your dog. Remember that.” Taking that tidbit of wisdom, I

· Moe was a great influence on me while I was

practiced and learned. I did finally beat Moe with my

growing up. He was like an uncle to my brothers and

dog Mobius. It brought tears to my eyes when Moe

I while RV traveling to dog shows, spending time in

approached me and said, “You have the best dog out

Idaho, fishing. He also taught me how to surf and of

there, and you handle him beautifully. You learned

course, how to hit on women at a young age. He is

well.” I have shared this with newbies and long

truly part of the Boyes family and one of my father’s

practiced friends. It is a wisdom that has done well

best friends. We can’t wait to see him.

for all who ‘get it’. Because of Moe, I stepped up my ~ Ed “C.R.” Boyes

game. I won an all breed BIS from the classes owner handled, and have been in top five standings with

· A few years ago, Moe judged the DPCA Futurity,

multiple dogs, all because “it’s just me and my dog.”

and I was in charge of “babysitting” him. He couldn’t

Thank you Moe, from all of us.

hang out with fellow handlers - like normal - in the

~ Brenna Spencer

RV area before judging, so we went to have a pedicure and Moe’s fave - SUSHI!

· Moe Miyagawa has always been a friend to me and

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had helped me way back when I got my first bitch. Del Mar’s Heat of the Night was named “Ruby Dee” after the actress who was a strong African American woman and a spitfire. Moe approached me and asked to special her. I was excited until he said that I would have to let her go and stay with him. We walked her around the show grounds and Moe asked me to set her up. I did, and he quickly said, “Let me do it!” Ruby Dee was easty-westy, but he fixed it immediately. He loved her. Moe had me meet Jo-Ann Kusumoto at her house, and we talked but I just couldn’t let my baby go. Moe was very understanding but disappointed. He has been a friend for 25 years and even gave me approval on the puppy I have today. I wanted his opinion on the puppy I decided to keep, and he liked my boy, CubaSon. Love you my friend and I wish you the best. ~ Joseph Smith · Moe Miyagawa and the illustrious Ch. Marienburg’s Mary Hartman are the reason I became involved in Dobermans. The first time I saw this magical team · The first time I met Moe I was a young girl traveling with Carol Petruzzo on the Florida circuit. He was showing the handsome Sunhawk (above). He was genuinely kind and always smiling. Our friendship has grown over the many years in Dobermans. I have a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for all Moe has accomplished and always with a smiling heart! Love you, my friend. ~ Gwen DeMilta

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was in 1978 in Austin, TX. In the BIS ring along with Mary Hartman was the top non sporting dog, white standard Poodle, Ch. Lou-Gin’s Kiss Me Kate. The Doberman prevailed. Their ring presence together was like nothing I’d ever seen before. I knew was that was the breed for me.

L I VI NG L EGEND • MOE MIYAG AWA

Moe Miyagawa, Cynthia Woodward. Bonnie Linnell Clarke, Francis & Chris Yamaoka - Hawaii - late 80’s

I was mezmerized. In 1987, I moved in with Moe and

and then had a realization the next day prior to ring

his wife, Cynthia Woodward, in Bonita, CA where I

time… Does a Maltese wear one bow or two? The

started a grooming business at their boarding kennel.

vision of he and RP together whether in the ring or

So many fun memories and endless laughs were

out of it always makes me giggle. From RP running

shared, and it was a great introduction to my years

off leash around the show site and visiting with

spent in California. Thank you, Moe, from the bottom

Moe’s neighbors behind his back to the five pounds

of my heart. You’ve been an inspiration to so many

of chicken Moe would carry and fling about in the

for so long. The time to honor you is long overdue.

ring looking for animation from RP; the memories

Love you to the moon & back.

are fond of that duo. Sending you get well wishes, and

~ Gay Glazbrook

waiting to see your little legs racing around the ring again soon!

· While I do not know Moe well, I know enough to

~ Amy Tourond

know he is one in a million! He always wears a smile and is up for a good practical joke. Did you know he

· Moe Miyagwa…There are a 1000 and one stories

can show a Maltese too? I’ll never forget the year in

about Moe, maybe even more. If you have been

Montana when Moe was asked to show a Maltese.

fortunate enough to have had Moe cross your path,

He told the client to just take the dog to the set up,

you certainly have a “Moe story” or adventure. Two

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and enjoy life, and he can take a joke, as well as dish one out on someone else. If you have been blessed to have him call you his friend, you have a friend for life. He is someone who would do just about anything, at any time, to help his friend. He might get lost trying to find you, but he will eventually show up! With a heart as big as Texas, a smile and charm that could sell a fur coat to a Polar Bear, an amazing talent and God given gift with dogs, handsome, sharp dresser, and now mix those all together and you have one amazing man - Moe Miyagwa. We funny incidents we can share. The first one, Judy Doniere told Moe at the dog show one day, about a very wealthy man who was wanting to buy a Doberman, his name was Saddam Hussein. Moe set out to find him at the dog show, but it seemed like every time he would just miss him! Judy would say “Oh Moe, he was here just a minute ago, you just missed him!” And Moe was asking everyone at the show, “Have you seen this guy named Saddam Hussein?” Finally, Andy Linton told Moe exactly who Hussein was, and Judy had her very funny story to tell about Moe for a very long time! The second one is, Moe likes to tell a tall tale if he can. One time when we went golfing, at the end of our game,

all face challenges in life, and Moe has been faced with one of the most difficult, battling for his life. The world-wide outpouring of prayers, love and support for him during this time reflects the enormous amount of respect, admiration, and love we all have for Moe. I know we all thank God, for blessing us and placing Moe in our lives. And the blessings He has shown Moe, by His Grace and Mercy during this challenging time. We love you, Moe, and thank you for being our friend. May God continue to bless you and give you the strength to do everything you love in life. Your friends, ~Eugene Blake and Julie L Mueller

and before we got to the pro shop, Moe asked me how much money I had with me. I told him around $1200 dollars. He said, “Give it to me, I am going to pull a prank.” We get inside the pro shop and Moe makes a big commotion saying, “Man, I can’t believe you won all this money from me! I am never playing with you again! Here is your $1200 dollars!” And he hands me back my own money. Moe always loves to have fun

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Moe

caring

people

one I

the

know.

nicest He

and

most

great

handler with a good feel for the dogs, and the dogs respond well to him. He was always the hit of the parties we had at the Nationals. Hope things are going well for you and hope to see you again at the Nationals.

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· When I first became interested in Dobermans in the mid-70s there was a dog called Ch. Marienburg Sunhawk being campaigned by Moe Myagawa. From a wide-eyed teenager’s perspective at the time, it seemed as though this dog never lost! Although I was mostly on the sidelines at that time, I intently watched Moe and Hawk as well as Moe’s next big winner, Mary Hartman. Mary Hartman went on to become America’s number one dog of all breeds and the top winning Doberman of all time at that point. Moe will never know how much I have learned from him, especially at that time.Moe is truly an icon in the Doberman breed. Only Moe has won five Doberman Pinscher Club of America National specialties. He has showed countless numbers of Dobermans to their championships and has had numerous top Best in Show winning Dobermans. With all of Moe’s great success handling dogs, I think his greatest claim to fame is his ability to make people smile and have a good time! To know Moe is to love Moe! Fast forward 40 plus years to now from the time I first started admiring Moe’s success in Dobermans. He and I have been through so much together as friends and fellow participants in the dog show world. We have watched each other and helped each other through fun times and not so fun times. Through it all, Moe is family to me and I love him like a brother. ~ Andy Linton · My life changed and my world expanded after I said

after his health crisis. He’s strong and we need him to

yes to Moe after a 6 week long distance relationship

continue to be a force in our dog family. Moe is loved

in 1985. I didn’t really know him but was instantly

by all. He is a special soul. Love you Mr Moe.

drawn to his sweet nature and he made me laugh. The

~ Cynthia Woodward

10 years with Moe were some of the best in my life. Certainly never a dull moment! He taught me how to

· Mr. Moe, what can I say? Thank you for flying to

take chances. We bred the number one Doberman and

Hawaii in the late 70s and early 80s when I lived there

owned the top producing sire together. I’m grateful

to show and win with so many of my Dobermans. You

he came into my life. I got to live my passion. Moe is a

have always made me chuckle and smile, whether

kind and generous man and one of my closest friends

grooming my dogs or coming back from the beach

today. My dad always said Moe will always land on

with my husband, burnt to a crisp. Your tales of

his feet and he just proved that again beating all odds

chicken plastered on the ceiling from a pressure

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cooker totally cracked me up. Many more years in Dobermans to you! Fondly, ~ Chris Hall Yamaoka · First of all I would like to congratulate Moe on all of his accomplishments in the Doberman world. I have been friends with Moe for about 35 years, and we have shared a lot of memories together including fishing, hunting, golf and vacations. Speaking of fishing, Moe would often fall asleep while fishing so we would tie him up in his chair and tell him he had a fish on. Well, you can imagine what would happen. For everyone who knows Moe, you would know his life history in a matter of minutes. Over the years I have had so many great memories I will never forget all the good times. ~ Bruce Schultz “Moe” the Man, slick and tan, brought to us by way of Japan. Who would have thought, you would have brought, your amazing talent to this land. How did you know we needed you so? to spruce up the show ring working your magic. You taught us a lot, we never forgot. But we still have a lot to learn. So stick around and tell us more you’ve got knowledge to burn. Teach us stuff, we need to know. We want to show and win. Just like you did again and again and again! Keep smiling that great smile and never change your style, We love you Moe and don’t you forget it ~ Adrian Woodfork

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MICHELLE Santana Thanks for doing this interview with Best in Show Magazine. Please tell us, how did you get involved in dogs? How did you start with Dobermans? Actually,

didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t

find

Dobermans.

They found me through my mother!

FOXFIRE

As a child of about five or six years of age,

DOBERMANS

Carlo that she aspired to show. Judging by

my mom had a male Doberman named his photos that I now have, I do not think that aspiration ever came to fruition. He also did not have a great temperament with strangers. I do remember my mom dragging my older brother and me to fun matches and maybe a specialty show. These shows were truly boring for kids!

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Every year, it was a family tradition to attend the Golden Gate Kennel Club Bench show at the famed Cow Palace Arena. I would come home to play dog show with my little poodle and my dad’s German Shepherd.

Eventually, my mom purchased an adult

female Doberman off the bench named Fancy. She was already had points and a success story was envisioned. However, she promptly bit one of our neighbors who excitedly came running towards my mom while waving his arms to meet our new dog. While it was a warranted reaction, given the situation, my mom returned Fancy to her breeder. It was then that my mom took a long hiatus from her dream to own and show Dobermans. As a small child, I had the whole collection of books by Albert Payson Terhune that included Lad of Sunnybank. I wanted to be a Collie breeder! My parents promised me a Collie when I turned twelve. I had a small, elderly poodle and the plan was that when she passed away, I could get a Collie and start going to dog shows. When I was fourteen, my parents acquiesced and consented for me to get my Collie. I set out for a sable Collie, just like Lad. I came home with a blue merle Collie already named Todd. Since my mother was chauffeuring me around to fun matches and training classes with Todd,

convinced my mom that the bitch was ready to go with a professional handler. My mom hired Mr. Eugene Haupt, who quickly finished her with a Best of Breed and Group One from the classes under Langdon Skarda. Our first litter was born from her in 1982. Every Foxfire Doberman today can be traced back to her!

she decided to pursue owning a Doberman again. We

Which Doberman has been your heart dog? Please share

turned to the yellow pages of San Francisco. This was as

a short story about them.

common as looking for a dog in the classified ads in the newspaper back in the day.

That is such a hard question!! When you have been breeding for 40 some odd years there are so many that

In 1979, we came home with our foundation bitch! I

come across your path that are game changers. From

commandeered her to show in conformation once my

my first Foxfire Special, Dreamer, to my first Best in

Collie fizzled. I put her first two points on her from

Show winner, Demon. If I had to take a stab at naming

the 9-12 months class when I was sixteen years old.

the defining Doberman of my life, and my pursuit of

When she aged into the 12-18 months class, much to

making an indelible mark on the Doberman breed, I

my dismay, I was ‘fired’ as her handler. Her breeder

would have to name Jade. Multiple BIS/BISS/DPCA AOM

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Jade’s most noted son, Jet, CH Foxfire All Star, is one of the top producers of Dobermans. In 2009 and 2012, Jet was the AKC’s top Doberman sire and Working Group sire, with nearly one hundred champions! We are using his frozen semen now to reach that apex. Jet is the sire of the famed Fifi, GCH Protocol’s Veni Vidi Vici CA DN MX MXB MXJ MXJB ROM. Fifi is a Doberman Pinscher Club of America (DPCA) top twenty winner and fourtime DPCA National Specialty winner. Jet was also the sire of the only BIS/DPCA TT Qualifier/SCH I Doberman in the history of the breed, Ava, GCH Catawba’s Take No Prisoners CD ROM SCH I. Another Jade son, Jullyen, CH Foxfire Alltimate, also sired a National Specialty winner, Julius, GCH Foxfire’s Alltimate Wanna Be that was the #2 Doberman All Breed in 2019. Which attributes are your priorities when breeding the Doberman? Because the Doberman is a ‘what you see is what you get’ breed, and no one part is more important than the whole, like head or coat, I really try to breed for Top Twenty Winner and the #1 Doberman of 2005, CH Foxfire’s All That Jazz.

overall type. They are a package to me. However, one must never throw the baby out with the bath water, so slight nuances are to be accepted. One

Jade was the epitome of what I had worked so hard to

area that I do place great emphasis on is in front

produce. If I could just replicate her hundred times

assembly angles. My early mentor was a stickler for

over, I would be supremely satisfied! She was my

striving for correct angles. That has stuck with me

companion and slept on my bed for twelve and half

years, which is a rare age for a Doberman. Jade and I traveled the country together, and ultimately, she was so much more than a winning show dog because she

What criteria do you use when evaluating puppies regarding coat color? Do you prefer one?

proved herself in the whelping box ten-fold. She was

M.S.: My desire is always black! Which is ironic

the American Kennel Club’s top producing Doberman

considering in that we set out for a black foundation

dam in 2008 and 2009. She produced fourteen

bitch but came home with a red! Mother Nature always

champions.

has different plans for me as she delivers outstanding

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reds into my life! Quality over color is something I often

breeders. It is kind of a go out for one-year/generation

recite to myself!

and then come back in. If I find a niche, I will breed

How many dogs do you keep in your kennel? How often do you use dogs for reproduction from the private families who own your puppies? I try to only keep a minimal amount dogs at any one time. This fluctuates during show season and with litters and puppies but I am growing out. Over the years I have cultivated what I call a village of wonderful folks that help me keep dogs for showing and breeding. It is a common joke around my Foxfire Village that I ask my nearest and dearest puppy folks to babysit. It is a winwin for everyone! They get a wonderful companion, get to follow and participate in the show scene, and then

several bitches to that stud dog or encourage my village of bitch owners to use them too. I recently acquired a puppy back, though it is two years old now, from a litter sired by one of my stud dogs. I had wanted to go into a Canadian bloodline that we had cross bred many years previous. It was near impossible to go to the Canadian line itself because of the hassle of shipping semen through customs. They recommended one of their US based, co-owned bitches be breed to my stud dog that lived on the East Coast. Well, I jumped at the chance to acquire a male from that litter. His first two litters here are quite exciting!

watch their dog’s progeny reach the heights of success.

In Dobermans, there is not quite the European abroad

‘Once you have one potato chip, how can you resist

use of stud dogs because they are so different from

another’ is our mantra!

American Dobermans. The one instance I did go abroad

Usually co-owned bitches are placed with the understanding that I may take them back to show them and possibly breed them one or two times. It really depends on their pedigree and the importance of that pedigree to carry Foxfire forward. How good a mother are they? How well do they produce? Do they have siblings that excel them? There are many factors and no one size fits all, but there is a clear understanding in my mind. It is kind of a motto amongst my breeder peer group that when you let them leave, anything can transpire. How often do you use a dog from other breeders at stud or by acquisition? Are these generally dogs in the USA or do you also go abroad? I would say I ebb and flow in the use of dogs from other

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to Argentina was to breed Jade to Jet’s sire, CH Inaqui

impression on the breed, improving public awareness

De Black Shadow. It was fortuitous that Jade was in

and perception of the breed, and through service to

season during the Eukanuba, now Royal Canin National

the breed community, The Doberman Pinscher Club

Championships in 2005. I was able to breed to him. I had

of America hereby grants Michelle Santana of Foxfire

chosen to go South America because of their good size,

Dobermans the APEX award GOLD level as outstanding

excellent head type, eye shape and color. My desire was

Breeder’.

to keep all the good qualities of Jade, but maybe increase her size/bone and to keep her lovely head and ingrain the deep black eye and almond shape. In the show ring, which achievements are you most proud of?

Which 3 dogs showed in recent years, not from your kennel, do you most admire? I’m not sure if this qualifies as not from my kennel since she is sired by my Jet, but my favorite Doberman of All Time is GCH Protocol’s Veni Vidi Vici, better

M.S.: There are three Awards for Outstanding Breeder

known to all the world as “Fifi”. She was outstanding

that I am most proud of as accomplishments. The first

in conformation, temperament and spirit. I Love the

came in 2010 when the American Kennel Club honored

Fifinator!

me with the Working Group Breeder of the Year Award at the extravaganza that took place in Long Beach, California. The second achievement was in 2012, when the Dogs In Review Winkie Award for Outstanding Breeder was bestowed upon me by my peers. My third was a 2015 accomplishment award from The Doberman Pinscher Club of America. It is called the APEX Legacy Award. Currently, I am the only Breeder at

My favorite male is the late, great Monty, BIS CH Eastwick’s Meadow Monster. He contributed greatly to the breed and Foxfire Dobermans. Notably, I judged his dam as my DPCA Grand Prize Futurity winner in 1997. Third, I just stand and watch in awe Fifi’s daughter, Sparkle, GCH Protocol’s I Came I Saw I Sparkled. What do you think are the strong points and weak points in the breed today?

the Gold Level. This award is unique because you must

I think the Doberman is in great shape! There are many

qualify by producing outstanding dogs with a certain

breeders doing their best to produce Quality Dobermans!

number of champions. You must also meet the criteria

Hence, I see there are many quality specimens being

set forth for producing Performance Dogs, Register of

shown.

Merit dogs (those attaining a champion/ upper level performance degree and pass the DPCA Temperament Test), and have a certain number of dogs on the DPCA

Do you think judges generally have a well understanding of your breed?

Longevity Program list. Lastly, you must also serve the

For the most part. The DPCA has an outstanding Judges

DPCA, in some capacity, as a volunteer. The insignia

Education Committee (JEC) that distributes wonderful

on the award reads, ‘for making a lasting , positive

educational materials including a video called, How to

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Judge the Doberman. This can be found on the DPCA

box as to meet the description in the standard. I often

website (www.DPCA.org). Periodically, they publish and

witness, in a judges effort to emphasize finding a dog

distribute bookmarks to judges containing key points

that ‘fits in a box’, a body that is square, they will forego

to judge the Doberman. Also, current breeders that

striving to appreciate the angles desired in my breed

are members of the DPCA can assist by notifying the

and award the shortest backed specimen in the ring.

JEC when we see novice judges not getting the breed

The dog awarded could actually be under-square, and

standard. The JEC will even issue letters to judges when

quite straight in the angles desired.

a DPCA mentor reports to the JEC that a judge, perhaps, needs a bit more mentorship.

Which judges would you consider ‘specialists’, meaning that their understanding of the breed is deep enough,

I would say that one of my pet peeves is that one thing

that their opinion should represent a point of reference

that escapes many judges is that the Doberman is an

to breeders?

angled breed. The breed standard reads, ‘shoulder blade sloping forward and downward at a 45-degree angle to the ground. Meets the upper arm at an angle of 90 degrees. Length of shoulder blade and upper arm are equal.’ The shoulder and forearm should not be straight as a stick. ‘The appearance is that of a dog of medium size, with a body that is square. Compactly built, muscular and powerfully built’. Yet, the specimen should fit in a

That is also a hard question to answer. Obviously, breeder judges should fulfill that role. However, obtaining an AKC permit to judge does not always require you to have an eye for a superior specimen. A breeder judge can have bred and exhibited mediocre specimens of their breeding program, even attaining a modicum of success, and still go on to be a great judge. Conversely, a breeder judge could have wide acclaim as

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a judge just not be able to walk in a ring and apply their

Twelve years ago, exasperated by the futility in

expertise and knowledge. Personally, I would say that

breeding Dobermans due to their inherent health

is the same even for all breed judges that walk into a

issues, I wandered around a dog show to pick my next

ring. Some can apply their eye across the threshold of

breed. I chose the Papillon! It only took having to groom

other breeds, and others can just never see a quality dog

the bitch to deter me from wanting to show that breed!

standing before them!

We now reside with our stubborn foundation bitch “Ch

Which breed would you have if you did not have Dobermans? Well, I’ve already had some! Unbeknownst to many, my significant other, David Miller, was a breeder of German Shorthaired Pointers when we got together over twenty years ago. Under the banner of Placer Country, he has

Pebbles Devils” and her son “Puff Daddy”. Ironically, they are the matriarch and patriarch for raising the Doberman puppies at Foxfire with our daily walks to our creek. Finally, please share why you would encourage people to get a Doberman?

175 Champions. While we do not breed German Short

I might be skewered for this response, but I initially

Haired Pointers anymore, I am the co- breeder of

discourage folks from owning a Doberman unless they

probably a dozen.

fully understand the scope of the Breed!

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1) You are usually on what I term as 24/7 suicide watch. As everything is fair game to be ingested by a Doberman. They are notoriously destructive and needy. Our prospective homes are screened by: Are you retired? Do you work from home? Can you go home at lunch? Can you employ a Doggy Day Care? A Doberman cannot sit at home by themselves, for an eight hour a day, forty-hour work week and turn out ok. 2) Next, you will want a Velcro dog. They follow you everywhere! You will no longer even be able to go into the bathroom or take a shower by yourself. 3) Sadly, our Breed is plagued by some major Health issues. Most notably, a couple of forms of heart disease so it is not a breed for the faint of heart. Researchers estimate fifty to sixty percent of all Dobermans, regardless of pedigree, will succumb to some form of heart disease. At what age will they succumb is the more realistic question. Their heart health upkeep includes annual cardiac screening via echocardiogram and halter monitoring which can be cumbersome and expensive. On a positive note, the treatments for heart ailments has dramatically come a long way! With early detection and medication, dogs can now thrive for many years!

‘Devil Dogs’ first used in World War II) and saved many

The positives of the Doberman include their selfless

soldiers in war time. Yet, they can be gentle, with

devotion to their owners. Dobermans have an innate

great patience, and do wonderful therapy and service

alert, watchful, determined nature.

Coupled with

work or children’s reading programs. They excel at

a unique versatility of unmatched intelligence, and

obedience, agility, tracking, dock diving, and virtually

a generally biddable attitude to please, they can do

any dog sport you can imagine. They are well suited as

virtually any kind of work! In police work and the

a loyal, family companion. The Doberman is a breed

military, they were once the (United States) Marine

that can do anything!

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CHERYL Green Thanks for doing this interview with Best in Show Magazine. Please tell us, how did you get involved in dogs? How did you start with Dobermans? In 1972, I went to my local conformation show in Nashville, Tennessee and met Jeff

ALâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;CHER

Brucker with Devil Trees Black Shaft. I

DOBERMANS

Obedience. I introduced myself to Jeff and

already had a pet doberman competing in asked for his recommendations on who to buy a puppy. The rest is history! Which Doberman has been your heart dog? Please share a short story about them. I believe each dog takes a piece of your heart. Champion Aquarius Tantrums and

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Tiaras V Phillmar Red by Tim Stone and Jim Briley

What criteria do you use when evaluating puppies

was my heart dog. I recently lost her at 10 1/2 in July,

regarding coat color? Do you prefer one?

2020. Gia was a group winner but was an outstanding producer. Producing 17 puppies, she had 11 champions, including two Best in Show winning daughters, the Doberman Pinscher Club of America (DPCA) top 20 winner and numerous obedience titles holder. Most of all, she was my best friend and my loyal protector. Which attributes are your priorities when breeding the Doberman? Form to function is most important to me, along with balance and movement. I am a ‘headhunter’ so they must have a beautiful head.

Color really doesn’t matter to me, though I breed only blacks and reds. I appreciate a beautiful fawn or blue but have never bred one. Structure is far more important to me than color. How many dogs do you keep in your kennel? How often do you use dogs for reproduction from the private families who have your puppies? I do not have a kennel. Dobermans do not thrive in a kennel situation. I currently have four Doberman‘s that live with me in my home.

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My breeding stock is always sold on a co-ownership for numerous reasons. I usually have one litter a year at my home. The bitches I co-own are bred in their home. It is less stress for the bitches. How often do you use a dog from other breeders at stud or by acquisition? Are these generally dogs in the USA or do you also go abroad? All my puppies are sold in the US. I am always looking at stud dogs to use in my breeding program. I not only look at conformation but also look at longevity, health and the pedigree. In the show ring, which achievements are you most proud of? I’m very proud of all my dogs I’ve bred. But when I had in the DPCA top 20, a bitch I bred and bred her parents, that was a thrill of a lifetime! I have been fortunate enough to have numerous Best in Show dogs and dogs ranked in the top five in the country. Which 3 dogs showed in recent years, not from your kennel, do you most admire? GCHP Foxfire’s Allimate Wanna Be. An outstanding red dog with bone and substance and a really nice producer. GCh. Protocol’s Veni Vidi Vici - FiFi was an outstanding show dog with a lot of charisma and presence. GChP3 Rakly s Field Of Dreams Alisation. A beautiful representation of the breed. What do you think are the strong points and weak points in the breed today? Strong point of the Doberman is that our temperaments are outstanding. We seemed to have shortened our length of the bodies up and we’re having better top lines. The win points in our parade are our gay tails. We still have lack of bone and substance and we need to improve the neck into shoulders. Do you think judges generally have a well understanding of your breed? I find most working and herding judges understand our breed.

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Which

judges

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;specialistsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;,

would meaning

you

consider

that

their

understanding of the breed is deep enough, that their opinion should represent a point of reference to breeders? There are far too many judges to mention. I think breeder judges usually do a very good job of judging dogs. Again, working and herding judges as they understand movement for our breed. Which breed would you have if you did not have Dobermans? I bred and owned English Pointers for many years as well as whippets. I am currently looking for an outstanding pointer special. Pointers are a very wellkept secret and a wonderful breed to live with! Finally, please share why you would encourage people to get a Doberman? The Doberman breed is a very loyal and loving companion as well as a fierce protector. The short coat is definitely a plus. But a family should be committed to be involved with their Doberman. They are known as the velcro breed. They want to be close with their person.

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M E E T T H E BR E E D T H E D O BE R M A N P I N S C H E R

WITH

ANN Ramsbottom Thanks for doing this interview with Best in Show Magazine. Please tell us, how did you get involved in dogs? How did you start with Dobermans? Jim and Ann Ramsbottom both started with Dobermans. For Jim, it was 1957 when he fell for the sheer physical beauty of the breed.

CAMBRIA

He initially trained and competed with a

DOBERMANS

female, entered the show ring, and the rest is

male in obedience. Within a year, he had a history. He jumped head first into the show scene and became a self-described ‘trophy hunter’. His list of ‘trophy’ dogs includes Best in Show winning Ch. Schauffelen’s Rendevouz. Jim co-owned and personally pointed top winning Ch. Marienburg’s Sunhawk before Hawk was campaigned by

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MEET T HE B REED · THE DOBERMAN PINSCHER

Moe Miyagawa. It was not until thirty two years into the

the construction of a house, everything must fit and

sport, Jim entered the whelping box, where he found his

contribute to the whole. Correct angles, for example,

true passion.

have a whole lot to do with the ability to move with speed

In 1970, Ann purchased her first Doberman from Mildred Bryant through Irene “Nail” Bivin. Born into the cattle business, Gretchen was Ann’s first livestock project in

and agility. But, so do the soft tissues as does correct temperament.” Ann clarified, “No one part makes the animal.”

4-H. It was then she began competing in obedience trials,

What criteria do you use when evaluating puppies

conformation shows and junior showmanship.

regarding coat color? Do you prefer one?

Ann

became infatuated with the purebred dog scene and knew from that moment, she wanted to be a breeder. Jim and Ann, both from Texas, met and eventually married through their journeys in the breed.

Jim and Ann agree that coat color has no place in determining quality. Jim believes,”Dilutes are to be judged as equals.” There is now DNA testing available to determine and eliminate the possibility of dilution.

Which Doberman has been your heart dog? Please share a

Dilution often comes with coat problems later in life.

short story about them.

Unfortunately, the dilutes are also often judged with

Jim’s heart dog would be Betta, Ch. Florowill’s Bit of Magic. Not only is she still the top producing female Doberman

prejudice. So, as breeders, Jim and Ann prefer not to add a negative to the mix.

of all time, but she was his travelling companion. Eddie, Ch. Cambria’s Cactus Cash was a grandson of Betta, was also a hard one to lose. They were inseparable. Eddie happens to still be the top producing Working Dog. Ann does not really have a heart dog as each of her personal companions have had a piece of her heart and left a painful void. This includes her relationships with some of her champions. Which attributes are your priorities when breeding the Doberman? When breeding, Jim and Ann’s priorty is the standard, as it is written. The AKC breed standard reads as ‘energetic, watchful, determined, alert, fearless, loyal and obedient.’ They believe the Doberman is first and foremost a functioning athlete. Jim compared breeding to building a house. “As with

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males, including males their kennel does not own, have produced over 500 champions. Jim pointed out, “We have included a number of South American sires in our breeding program, but those ultimately go back to American dogs.” In the show ring, which achievements are you most proud of? Jim and Ann agreed “Our Futurity wins at the Nationals, How many dogs do you keep in your kennel? How often do

where we have won three Grand Prize Futurities, and

you use dogs for reproduction from the private families

many Best Junior, Best Puppy and Best in Sweepstakes.

who own your puppies?

These are raw, ‘for real’ wins often judged by breed

In their kennel, Jim and Ann house show dogs that are in training and in competition, puppies that are growing out, and bitches in for breeding. The kennel is not intended to be a long term home for their dogs. If

specialists. Winning with specials is exciting and great for marketing a breeding program, but it is not realistic. There is a huge human element involved in specialing any dog including advertising, performance and marketing.”

their personal dogs do not live in the house, they go live

Ann continued, “It is certainly exciting to have Garden

in someone else’s home. Jim continued, “Many of our

wins. We have had a number of Best of Breeds wins and a

breeding bitches are co-owned and live elsewhere and

couple of Group 2 placements at the Westminster Kennel

come to us only for breeding and whelping. That said, we

Club.”

keep ten to fifteen Dobermans at any given time.” Ann described that they do sometimes lease outside bitches for breeding. They breed primarily for themselves and

Which 3 dogs showed in recent years, not from your kennel, do you most admire?

the continuation of their breeding program. They are

After some discussion, Jim and Ann would include Ch.

always breeding for the next outstanding producer. Jim

Royal Tudor’s Wild as the Wind , Indy, Ch. Brunswig’s

put it simply, “That is what a good breeder does.”

Cryptonite , Kafka, and Ch. Protocol’s Vini Vidi Vici, Fifi

How often do you use a dog from other breeders at stud or by acquisition? Are these generally dogs in the USA or do you also go abroad? Jim and Ann often go outside their kennel for stud dogs, but seldom go abroad. The dogs most compatible to their standard are in the United States. In most cases, these sires carry Cambria dogs in their pedigree. Cambria

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on their short list. They noted each of these dogs were great spokesdogs and did much to promote the Doberman in a good light. Indy, Kafka, and Fifi all had outstanding temperaments, which is a hallmark of the breed. What do you think are the strong points and weak points in the breed today? Ann responds, “One does not have to flip through

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MEET T HE B REED · T HE DOBERMAN PINSCHER

many old Doberman Quarterlys to be reminded that

Ann said, “There are up and coming judges we are

the Doberman has improved tremendously in many

excited to show to. Vicky Seiler-Cushman is an example

qualities. Consistently, Dobermans today have better

of handler turned judge who probably owes a lot of her

heads, angles, temperaments, and soundness”. Some

notoriety to her time spent handling Dobermans. She is

weaknesses that Jim feels has become rather consistent

certainly giving back as she has taken on a leadership role

include body shape (incorrect outline), improper croups,

in the parent club mentoring program. She has written

and forward set shoulders.

excellent articles, and worked closely with breeder-

Do you think judges generally have a well understanding of your breed? Ann answered, “We feel a lot of winning goes to the

mentors in reaching out to our judges.” Which breed would you have if you did not have Dobermans?

prettiest, best trained or performing dog. We believe real

Ann quickly answered, “Most people know that my other

judging, from knowledgeable judges, is sorely lacking”.

love is Pointers, which I have also bred. Jim is rather in

According to Jim, “Our breed is not hard to understand, but it rarely comes down to truly selecting breeding stock by evaluating according to the standard”. Which judges would you consider ‘specialists’, meaning that their understanding of the breed is deep enough, that their opinion should represent a point of reference to breeders? Jim chuckled, “That’s a loaded question! We believe that when we lost Pat and Judy Doniere, we lost two true patriots of our breed. They truly understood, preached and rallied for our breed. No longer actively breeding, they were in a politically advantageous position to speak from a non-partial position. We did not always agree with their judging but their passion and desire to pull a judge aside, who needed guidance, tutoring or just to see

love with his American Foxhound. We are both, however, devoted to the Doberman Pinscher. We are interested in other breeds and feel there is a great deal to learn by understanding the differences in our breeds.” Finally, please share why you would encourage people to get a Doberman? “Dobermans are very special to us. They are extremely smart and maybe too smart for someone who just wants a dog as a casual companion. To own a Doberman, you must be prepared to raise a child. They demand both mental and physical stimulation. They cannot be left to their own devices as they will rot in a kennel. Dobermans are demanding but incredibly giving. They will be your sidekick, your protector, and your friend,” Ann added with a smile.

a great example of the breed, was like no other. Certainly,

Jim summarized, “A Doberman’s mind is a terrible thing

judging is an evolution and we commend those who are

to waste and many owners do not even begin to tap into

curious and ever-learning. It is a rare and self-confident

the intelligence of their own dog. They will be your

judge who bothers to have conversations with breeders

Einstein or your worst nightmare if left and forgotten.

when questions arise.”

And did I mention they are incredibly beautiful?”

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ThePekignese in England by Don Sutton

he British invasion! No not the Beatles,

one. The dog was named Looty, a bitch. She weighed

Dave Clark Five, The Who, The Kinks, The

3 pounds. It is not known what happened to Looty.

Rolling Stones and Herman’s Hermits

Edward C. Ash hoped to find a letter from General

invasion of the 1960’s, but the British

Dunne to Her Majesty. No such letter and no mention

invasion of 1860 when British and French troops

of Looty appears in Queen Victoria’s published letters.

stormed the Imperial Palace in China and stole five

Mr. Ash wrote to His Majesty’s Librarian at Windsor

Pekingese. The Chinese Court fled, the Emperor and

hoping that he might be able to find some note made

his thirteen wives, a distance of about a hundred miles, taking with them their Palace dogs, leaving all their treasures behind them, and a few badly armed guards to defend the doors. The story goes that in one room lay the body of a woman, the Emperor’s aunt, dead by her own hand, and in the room close by her were five dogs of great beauty, the Lion dogs of China. It is stated in another account that six other Lion dogs were found drowned in a well in which they had been thrown to save them from the fury of the foreigners who were advancing. One of the five dogs was presented to Her Majesty Queen Victoria by General Dunne, who graciously accepted the fawn and white

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Looty 3 pounds, supposedly died on March 2, 1872

T HE PEKI GNES E · HISTORY IN ENG LAND

by Her Majesty, or a letter or a description of the dog Looty. Unfortunately his very kind assistance brought no such note to light, but as will be seen, suggests that his misgivings as to the Palace dogs are well founded. Below is a letter from The Librarian, Windsor Castle, Berkshire on October 14, 1935. “Dear Sir, I thought the best hope of obtaining the information which you seek was to write and ask whether H.R.H. Pcss. Louise, Duchess of Argyll, remembered anything about the dog in question (Looty); for there is no note of the gift in Queen Victoria’s Diary, nor are any letters preserved here on the subject. H.R.H. replies, through her Lady-in-waiting, that she has only a very vague recollection of such a dog, and

Lord John Hay & Schlorff, a little dog 5 to 6 pounds.

that she feels sure that it was not at any time an intimate companion of Queen Victoria’s. Her

black-and-white bitch 5-6 pounds that was presented

Majesty was often given dogs, and those which

to Lord John Hay’s sister the Duchess of Wellington by

were not kept in the house were sent down to the

her brother. Schlorff & Hytien had offspring but there

Kennels in the Home Park at Windsor. It is to be

is no record of these dogs in the foundation of the

presumed that, if the gift was made, this dog also

Pekingese breed in England. The 4th & 5th dogs, Guh

would have been sent there, Very truly yours,

(male) and Meh (female), were believed to be much

O. F. Morshead”

bigger dogs than the other three (11 – 12 pounds), were given to the Duchess of Richmond and Gordon, these were actually the first of the famous Goodwood

The 2 nd and 3 rd dogs were taken by Admiral Lord John Hay, a dog and a bitch. Schlorff was a male, redchestnut with black muzzle and he lived until he was 18 years old with Lord John Hay and/or his sister the Duchess of Wellington. The female was Hytien a

strain. They were undoubtedly bred from, but I don’t think any exact records were kept. For thirty years by the Duchess of Richmond, at Goodwood, and later by her sister-in-law, Lady Algernon Gordon-Lennox, at Broughton Castle, the strain was kept alive before Pekingese were shown in England. During this time

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HISTORICAL

Pekigneses

Pekingese was not a sought after breed. This is a recap of the five dogs that were stolen from the Pekin Palace in 1860 and only the two Goodwood dogs figure in the pedigrees of the beginning of Pekingese in England, but they were not the only Pekingese that were involved in the history of Pekingese pedigrees in England. It was not until 33 years later when in 1893 Loftus Allen, commanding a ship in the China trade, returned to England with a gray brindle dog, Pekin Peter. Purchased from a taxidermist in Shanghai, and

Pekin Prince (8 pounds)

had only this man’s word for it that it came from the Palace in Pekin. Mr. Allen was convinced that he was stolen and he was hidden away and only shown on promises of secrecy, and after being purchased was not sent on board the steamer until they were on the point of sailing. This dog was a gift for his wife, Mrs. Minna Loftus Allen (who became a famous breeder and an author on Pekingese). With this dog, Mrs. Allen became England’s first Pekingese exhibitor; and Pekin Peter, the first of the breed shown there, was entered in 1894 in the “Any Variety Not Exceeding 90 pounds” Class at Chester. In 1896, Mr. Douglas Murray imported a notable pair of Pekes; Ah Cum and Mimosa, year-old reds sent

Ah Cum (5 pounds) One of the foundations of the breed,

by an official attached to the Royal Palace. These

coming direct from Pekin Palace in 1896. His stuffed remains

two Pekingese were hidden in a hay box which

are in the Natural History Museum He died in 1905.

was inside a crate containing Japanese deer to leave China. Ah Cum was (5 pounds) red with a black mask; Mimosa was (3 pounds) also red. Mr. Loftus Allen also imported Pekin Prince and Pekin Princess. This was a notable year because these dogs figured prominently in the beginning Pekingese pedigrees. Pekin Prince was (8 pounds) black with one white paw and

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T HE PEKI GNES E Âˇ HISTORY IN ENG LAND a little white on his chest, but his mate Pekin Princess was (6 pounds) all black. A friend of Mr. Allen, Mr. Maitland, of Shanghai, had a number of racing ponies, and his No. 1 boy, who looked after them, had a brother, one of the guards in the Palace in Pekin. This brother stole Prince and Princess and gave them to his brother, who brought them from Pekin with the ponies who sold them to Mr. Allen and so they came home to Mrs. Loftus Allen. A few days after landing in

Ah Cum as he is today stuffed in the Natural History Museum.

England Princess had four puppies, one of which was the wellknown Pekin Pretty. Lord John Hay was a visitor at one of these shows and was full of admiration for Pekin Pretty. Mr. Hay said that she was the best small one he had ever seen. There, however, was no demand for Pekingese in those days, and Mrs. Allen never bred Pretty which was a corn-coloured with a black mask and ear-fringes. Mrs. Allen sold Pekin Peter to Mrs. Howard Kingscote, and he was mated to Goodwood bitches, and was the grandsire of Ch Goodwood Chun. Every champion Pekingese

Ch Goodwood Lo the first Pekingese Champion

bred in England is descended on one side at least from this grey-brindle dog, Pekin Peter, or the black, Pekin Prince. These were not the only Pekingese that were imported from China but the first eight or nine were the only ones that believed came out of the Pekin Palace. With the Empress-Dowager Tzu Hisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death in 1911 and the revolution the long reign of the Pekingese in China came to an end. Rather than allow the dogs to fall into unworthy hands the Court officials killed the great majority of them, such few as escaped disappearing into private life, where they have left no trace. There are very few if any Pekingese in China today. Ch Gia Gia the first Pekingese Champion female 118

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TRAVEL Tips

ORLANDO POPULAR AND SECRET PLACES IN ORLANDO

T RA VEL TIPS · ORLANDO

Once again, after so much incertitude we are back

allowed and exempt from fees/restrictions. Maximum

in Orlando. The feeling may be different, but we will

number of pets per room is one with a weight limit of

be there with the same enthusiasm, and are looking

50 lbs.

forward to discovering who the big winners will be for all the shows, but in the mean time we want to share with you some tips for enjoying Orlando. We want our readers to discover the popular and secret places around the city.

Hilton Orlando is a vibrant, contemporary resort with an exciting personality to compliment an exceptional location. It is central to all major theme parks and attractions and just minutes Tropics Pool Bar & Grill offers sweeping waterfalls overflowing into two pools

TIME TO SLEEP!

and a lazy river lined with luxurious cabanas. Very

After a long day at the show we need some good rest

great alternative to stay near the show.

for the next day. Orlando is well known for their park resorts and big hotels so here are a few that are some of the best for you and your four-legged friends. Hyatt Regency Orlando is an iconic hotel located in the heart of everything Orlando has to offer-- theme parks, shopping, dining, nightlife and so much more! Hyatt Regency Orlando offers a choice of two sparkling pools, plus a full-service spa and salon. They have 1,641 comfortable newly restyled rooms, complimentary WiFi, and other modern amenities. Soak up the Florida sunshine poolside at one of their two pools complete with a water slide, waterfall, splash pad, and separate kiddie pool area. Pet Policy: Pets allowed. Rosen Plaza is a standout among Orlando’s finest

convenient to the convention center, this is another

Pet Policy: Pets allowed. When you are ready to celebrate or just to hang out with friends after your wins at the show, here are some great restaurants with something delicious to offer for everyone. We hope you try them and enjoy!

BEST OF BREED MEAL Mrs. Potato A must try, this strip mall restaurant might look like a little joint, but it is way more than that. The staff is amazing, and the atmosphere is fun. The food is fresh, hot out of the kitchen, and of course delicious. You most try their shrimp baked potato and the carne seca empanada!

meeting, convention, and vacation hotels. Rosen Plaza Hotel is famous for its high standard of excellence. With the Orange County Convention Center right next door, it is smart and simple to make this lovely hotel your choice for relaxation. When it is time to wind down you are only minutes away from Orlando’s world-famous attractions. Pet Policy: Only dogs are allowed, Service animals are BE S T I N SH OW MAGA Z I N E

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The Mexican Camel The Mexican Camel is a quick service fusion Mexican and Mediterranean restaurant with a scratch kitchen loaded with flavors. This place is fantastic and offers a unique menu with an array of Mexican and Middle Eastern options. Make sure and order the pita chips

innovative, hand-crafted cocktails, wines, and beer. Seito Sushi has built a reputation for quality and consistency over the past nineteen years. The modern yet comfortable atmosphere suits every occasion. This is the perfect place to gather after your group! You must try the Sweetheart sushi roll.

with it – fresh, fried, and flavorful.

The Melting Pot This restaurant does not need any introduction for those cheese lovers who know this is the place to go. The Gnarly Barley Quaint, unique, and offers good food. The outside might look like a dive bar, but they serve great food inside and have additional seating options on a nice second-level patio. If you are a beer drinker, then you will also enjoy their extensive list of brews and growlers to choose from. Try the beef brisket sandwich—one of the best sandwiches I have ever eaten.

GROUP 1 MEAL Seito Sushi Seito Sushi offers a sophisticated setting to enjoy traditional and signature sushi rolls, sashimi and

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The Melting Pot is known for the outstanding service they provide and the amazing food they serve. The Quattro Formaggio Cheese Fondue is out of this world.

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Winter Park Fish Company

Chatham’s Place

Comfortable casual restaurant with high-end local

This restaurant provides you with a fine dining

fish and seafood. Winter Park Fish Company offers a

experience like no other in Orlando. Chatham’s Place

wide range of choices from scratch made sides and

uses locally sourced ingredients that are farm fresh

preparations to delicious seafood prepared to entertain

directly from the chef’s very own farm. The dining room

the palate. The seafood combo plate is a must try.

is elegant and sophisticated with a great ambiance to celebrate and enjoy your time with friends and family. The Breast of Duck is one of their most popular dishes.

BEST IN SHOW MEAL La Luce La Luce serves modern Italian cuisine inspired by the Napa Valley famed chef Donna Scala. Creative dishes

Eddie V’s Prime Seafood

evolved from traditional family recipes that have been

Eddie V’s is a magical dining experience and you will

handed down for generations. You can enjoy freshly

not be disappointed. Delicious food, personalized

handmade pastas, pizzas, and seafood. The Malfaldine

service, beautiful decor, and a great location--you will

Alla Lina is one of the best pasta dishes in Orlando.

be submerged in the finest dining that Orlando has to offer. The center cut filet is as good as in any other great steakhouse. If you want the best flavors make sure to add the South African lobster tail to your plate.

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T RA VEL T I PS · ORLANDO

TIME TO HAVE FUN….

Universal

Fun is at the top of the list when you visit Orlando. Here

Universal Orlando Resort, commonly known as

are some of the most memorable activities to do around

Universal, is one of the most frequently visited

the city.

American theme park and entertainment resorts with

ICON Park

something for everyone, young and old alike. Universal Orlando consists of two theme parks, Universal’s

Take in some of the best views of Orlando from 40

Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay, a night-time

stories high by signing up for a ride aboard The Wheel

entertainment complex, eight hotels and an upcoming

at ICON Park. Sunset is a great time of day to go take a

attraction Epic Universe.

spin and enjoy spectacular views. Disney This world-famous resort consists of four theme parks-Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Come and hang out with your favorite Disney characters. The park is one of a kind and offers endless fun for all. The best thing to do is to get a two-day pass to have enough time to immerse yourself in the fun of it all.

ART AND HISTORY The Holy Land Experience The Holy Land Experience brings the heroes of the Bible to life through exceptional theatrical Broadway style productions and educational exhibits within an immersive biblical atmosphere for guests of all ages. We hope you all have a great week full of amazing wins, good times with friends and most importantly making fabulous memories with your four-legged buddies. We do not know what next year will bring but we wish health, happiness, and festive holidays to you all.

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Titanic

Orlando Museum of Art.

Immerse yourself in the history of the Titanic while

The art lover will enjoy the thousands of pieces on

viewing over 200 artifacts recovered from the wreck

exhibition at the Orlando Museum of Art. The museum’s

site by RMS Titanic, Inc. The recovered artifacts have

main purpose is to interpret and present the most

been conserved and are continuously monitored and

compelling art for the public to experience, and to

maintained so they can be displayed in the exhibitions.

positively affect people’s lives with innovative and

In total, RMS Titanic, Inc. has recovered 5,500 artifacts

inspiring education programs. This is a museum you

from the wreck site.

cannot miss.

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IDAHO CAPITAL K.C. Boise, Idaho October 9th - 11th, 2020 Photo Credits: J. Danilovic

DAY 1 • Judged by Anne Katona - BEST IN SHOW WINNER GCHS BRAVO IT’S AN INDUSTRY TERM Scottish Terrier Owner: Rod Ott & Pilar Kuhn Handler: Gabriel Rangel

- RES. BEST IN SHOW WINNER GCHS CAKRA JP DHARMA ONE HEART Saluki Owner: Hidemitsu Shibuya Handler: Andy Linton

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I D A HO C APITAL CITY K .C.

DAY 2 • Judged by Judith V. Daniels - BEST IN SHOW WINNER GCHS BRAVO IT’S AN INDUSTRY TERM Scottish Terrier Owner: Rod Ott & Pilar Kuhn Handler: Gabriel Rangel - RES. BEST IN SHOW WINNER GCH ASPENGLO BETTY DAVIS EYES Golden Retriever Owner: Charles Rogers Handler: Bruce Schultz

DAY 3 • Judged by Sandy I. Wheat - BEST IN SHOW WINNER GCHP SKYLINE SUMMERWIND ORDER IN THE COURT Keeshonden Owner: Jean Gauchat & Joshua Hargis & Susan & Kristen Cullen - RES. BEST IN SHOW WINNER GCH CH SOLETRADER RIGHT SAID FRED Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen Owner: Tonya Struble & Catherine Meddaugh

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I N T E RV I E W W I T H A J U N IO R H A N D L E R

CAROLINE Clegg Hello Caroline, please tell us something about your beginnings. When did you get your first dog and how did you get an idea to start going to the shows? I was lucky enough to have parents that were involved in dogs for many years before I was born. My parents were professional all-breed handlers and brought me to shows every weekend as a child but then retired once I started school. I was four years old when I showed my first dog, which was the Golden Retriever that my dad was campaigning. He was special at the time, and I won Best of Breed under Judge Donna Buxton. My parents never pressured me to show dogs, but I was always jumping at the chance to run around the ring like my parents. When did you start participating in dog shows as a junior handler and how was your first experience? My parents and I talked about starting in juniors before I turned nine. I was apprehensive at first because I loved to show in the breed ring, but eventually we decided it would be a great learning experience for me. On my ninth birthday, I competed in juniors at our home show

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in Cincinnati, Ohio and was honored to win Best Junior Handler from the novice junior class under Judge Scott Pfeil with my Golden Retriever puppy. After that day, I was absolutely hooked and continued to show in juniors until I aged out. When you started did you have any mentors or people who were helping you with an introduction into the world of dog showing and the rules of junior handling?

our type, and was a big, blonde, beautiful dog that we thought I could have some success with. As I was already

I was blessed to have such a large dog show family that

aged out, I knew that my last two shows for juniors

knew me and who I looked up to. When I started juniors,

would be the AKC Tournament and Westminster. It was

I started to learn from other handlers by either talking

always my dream to end my juniors career just like I

and practicing with them, or just watching them show

started which was with a Golden. I was so excited to

their dogs in the ring. Amy Booth, Clint Livingston, Nina

walk on the big green carpet again and to do it with a

Fetter, Angela Lloyd, Wally Sommerfelt, Peter Gaeta,

Golden for the first time, since I had already been in

and Barbara Alderman are some of the people that truly

the group ring with my Kuvasz. Being in the middle of

helped shape me as a handler and gave me so much

the Garden always makes me feel like I have electricity

insight. These people are very accomplished handlers,

running through my veins which is euphoric. I was

breeders, and judges that have an extreme wealth of

already thrilled to make the finals, so to be placed was

knowledge and love to help the younger generations.

just the cherry on top for me, and I got to celebrate with

You won third place in junior handling at the Garden this

one of my best friends who won Best Junior that year.

year, please tell us everything about it. Which dog were

Do you have someone helping you improving your skills

you showing and how did you choose him? How did you

nowadays?

feel entering the ring at the Garden and finishing third?

I try to gain as much knowledge and experience from

It was truly a dream come true for me. Since I started in

anyone I can, so I have started to work as an apprentice

juniors, my goal was always to try and make the finals

for a few handlers for the past couple of years. Currently,

at Westminster, and it finally happened this year. I was

I work for Lisa Bettis who is an extremely accomplished

showing a Golden Retriever named Frankie, who we

handler. She is sharing a lot of grooming and handling

acquired from a breeder/ friend of ours the year prior.

expertise with me in fields that I am not experienced

We reached out to her for this dog specifically because

in such as trimming, terriers, and excess hair. Besides

the dogs that I have used in the past were females that I

these specific fields she also teaches me something new

was planning to breed and would be out of commission

every day such as a handling tip or a business strategy.

for the time being. My father and I fell in love with him

Working for handlers who excel in a specialty, such as

at a show because he is an older style Golden, which is

Lisa Bettis with Bichon Frises and Afghans, is the best

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seminar run by both Allison Foley and Will Alexander which helped individuals improve their handling skills with their personal dog. I would attend any seminars led by them again and again. There are plenty of seminars on general handling skills, which are phenomenal, but I would love to see more seminars that teach about a certain specialty such as terriers or trimming. I would also want those seminars to be taught by renowned handlers and/ or breeders such as Gabriel Rangel, Ernesto Lara, Bill McFadden and the like. Lately there are many big handlers searching for way to learn in dogs. How would you describe the relations between junior handlers? How friendly and helpful are they with each other?

assistants. What do you think handlers are expecting from assistants? Work ethic. Most handlers don’t care about how much experience someone does or does not have because they will be willing to teach you. What they do care about is

Just like in every sport there are good and bad, but as a

how hard you work and the dedication you give to them

majority, most kids love to learn and help one another.

and the dogs. If you are a junior working for a handler

Everybody makes friends with other juniors, both older

they know when they hire you that you may not have

and younger, and learn from each other as they age.

much experience, but they will want to teach you if you

The competition really helps kids grow a good sense of

ask them and give them your hard work and sweat in

sportsmanship when they compete with their friends

return. This means from the second you wake up you

every weekend.

do not stop until the day is done, no phones, no messing

Seminars on handling and grooming are very educational. Whose seminar would you like to attend? I always love attending different seminars and helping when I can, but breed/ specialty specific seminars

around with friends. The key is having a good attitude, and your work is in exchange for valuable knowledge. What are assistants looking to learn from professional handlers besides knowledge?

are the most educational in my opinion. For example,

Good assistants that want to work and learn will be

I attended the best seminar I ever have been to last

looking for a handler who is willing to give their time

year which was focused on Poodles and put on by

and knowledge to them. They want to be in a safe and

Allison Foley. She spent a whole day teaching us about

appreciative environment where their hard work is

the breed, grooming, showing, and answering all our

appreciated and maybe some camaraderie. No one

questions. The following day was another handling

wants to work for someone who doesn’t appreciate how

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hard they are trying and is grumpy all day. In contrast,

could understand why I would periodically miss school.

I do not expect anybody to be elated throughout the

If you work hard to be a good student, they will see that

entire day of a show, that is impossible, but a cheery set

and normally help you succeed in your school career as

up is always more attractive to a young assistant than a

well.

gloomy one. What about the future? Do you plan on pursuing a career as a full-time professional handler or do you have some other dreams?

Do you have any advice for young people interested in becoming a junior handler? My biggest advice is to find yourself a mentor. This could be someone in a breed that you are interested in,

I do want to show dogs and continue my breeding

or a handler that you really admire. Go up to them, start

programs, but I also want to carry on my family’s small

a conversation and ask for their help and advice. Most

businesses outside of dog shows so that I don’t have to

people will want to help you and share their knowledge

rely on shows in a rapidly changing world. I am currently

and experience with you, but they never will if you don’t

working on my degree in business entrepreneurship to

ask them first. Do not be dissuaded if they say that they

help shape my mind for business so that I can handle

are busy during the day. There is a difference between

and breed dogs successfully while also pursuing other

being busy and saying no, this is their place of work.

dreams.

Also, please ask them yourself and do not make a parent

Do you have other hobbies?

do it for you. The handler will prefer if you ask yourself because it shows that you care and have some ambition.

I like to consider myself a mediocre bookworm, so I love

Ask them if after the day is done they could help you

listening to audiobooks while I travel or groom my dogs

groom your dog, or ask them to watch you present your

at shows. I also love to try and find new music for my

dog and ask for critiques. If you listen to their advice

ever-growing playlist, which is now over 37 hours long.

and use it, they will want to help you and it could also

How do you manage your school and time for traveling? This year is certainly quite different because of COVID-19, but my key to success in both high school and college has been to try and get ahead on my school work during the week so I have more time on the weekends to enjoy the shows. However, it was quite common to see me working on my computer at a grooming table during the day at a show. Another insider tip would be to have personal relationships with your teachers and professors. I always explained to my teachers during the first week of school my passion for dogs so that they

create a great friendship.

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