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As we reach the final edition of the year, we want to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude to all our advertisers and contributors. Your support and collaboration have been invaluable, and we couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you for being a part of our journey in 2024!

This issue marks a very special occasion as it leads us into the AKC National Championship by Royal Canin in Orlando — the biggest dog show in the United States! With the excitement building and plans already in full swing, we want to wish everyone safe travels, a fantastic time, and exceptional results at this prestigious event. Whether you’re competing, exhibiting, or simply enjoying the show, we hope it’s a memorable experience.

This year, Best in Show Magazine is proud to be organizing its very first Gala Dinner in Orlando. We envision this event becoming a new tradition — a chance to celebrate the end of a remarkable year in the dog show world. With great food, wonderful company, and live music, we look forward to sharing a special evening together. In addition to the festivities, we’ll be showcasing the stunning artwork of Leslie Hutto and Martial Robin — truly a celebration of the art and spirit of the canine world.

As we close out 2024, we hope this final edition of the magazine brings you enjoyment, inspiration, and insight. Inside, you’ll find engaging interviews, compelling stories, and thorough reports from the past year’s events. It’s been a year full of remarkable moments, and we’re thrilled to share them with you one last time before the calendar turns.

Thank you again for your continued support, and here’s to a wonderful end to the year — see you in Orlando!

JOVANA DANILOVIC Editor in Chief

LEE GROGAN Associate Editor

DANILOVIC BELTRAN ALONSO Social Media

GUGGENHEIM

DJORDJE

INTERVIEW WITH LEGEND

BO BENGTSON

from Best in Show archive, January, 2016

Interview made by Anne Tureen

In the trailer for today’s interview posted on the Facebook page of The Literary Dog, I asked which book might be considered ‘The Bible’ of Canine Literature. I can think of two. The first is the great milestone of all time, John H. Walsh’s encyclopedic The Dogs of the British Isles (1867), written under the pseudonym Stonehenge. This gentleman was passionate about sighthounds, wrote a number of books, and also became the editor of the influential magazine The Field, whose articles inspired the creation of the Kennel Club in the UK, that great mother organization reproduced across the world.

If reincarnation exists, it would be a reasonable explanation for the force behind Bo Bengtson, a leading sighthound breeder, top handler, active organizer of events, expert judge, and, thankfully, a prolific writer. He shares his amazing knowledge with the rest of us in the journal he founded and still contributes to, Dogs in Review, as well as in his many books, including a breed encyclopedia and the volume Best in Show: The World of Show Dogs and Dog Shows, compressedintojustunder650pages.Thisworkenjoys complete pre-eminence in coverage of all professional aspects of the dog world: the breed standards, judges, handlers, breeders, and the history of shows in the USA and around the world, just to list a few of the subjects covered in this masterly work. Mr. Bengtson is uniquely qualified to write on all of these subjects and more, since he has been active in dogs since his

youth in native Sweden, where he revolutionized his breed, and later distinguished himself in all aspects of showing in the USA. I was honored, to say the least, when he kindly agreed to speak about his life and work.

You have achieved so much in the disciplines of breeding, showing, and judging. Did you get an early start?

I was born in Sweden and was animal-crazy from the start. We had a Cocker and a Dachshund when I was a kid, and when I was 14 years old, I started going to dog shows. I knew right away that this was going to be my life’s interest — I’ve always said that dog shows at their best are like a combination of circus, zoo, and high drama … and if I hadn’t become immersed in dog shows, I’m sure I would have ended up being involved in any one of those. (I did try to run away with a circus when I was a child, and later on, I studied drama and theater history at university.)

Were Whippets always your main interest?

My parents allowed my sister and me to get an Afghan Hound in 1959 — not the most practical breed for a couple of kids. We loved her, I showed her to her champion title and some breed wins, and later we bred the first Bohem champions out of her. I was working in an Afghan Hound kennel in England in 1961 when I met some Whippets that were so wonderful that I knew this would be “my” breed. I have had Whippets for 55 years now… I was lucky to get involved with the

Laguna kennel, which was then the most influential in England (or anywhere, for that matter), worked there for a couple of summers, and got my first dogs from them. In 1963, when I was 18 years old, I won BIS at the big international show in Stockholm with Int. Ch. Laguna Locomite, and my Int. Ch. Laguna Leader was also a BIS winner and a great sire. Later, I imported several dogs from other kennels in England, of which Int. & Eng. Ch. Fleeting Flamboyant was probably the most famous.

I didn’t breed much because I could only have a couple of dogs at home, but those English stud dogs were used by other breeders and helped improve Whippets in Scandinavia. From the few litters that I bred came some really influential Bohem champions. The Swedish Kennel Club awarded me their Hamilton plaque for “excellence in breeding” in the early 1980s.

Also, in the 1960s, I got involved in Greyhounds. In partnership with GöranBodegård,nowaninternational FCI all-breeds judge, I bred a litter that included the influential Int. Ch. Guld, who is behind pretty much all top Greyhounds in Scandinavia, and in much of the rest of the world as well. In 1976, I showed her daughter, Int. & Eng. Ch. Gulds Black & White Lady, to Res. BIS at the international Stockholm show from the veteran class. Her daughter, Int. Ch. Piruett, bred by Göran and myself, was also BIS at this show. Lady was the first foreign-bred Greyhound to become a champion in the U.K.

So we find young Bo active both in Sweden and the UK, already on the international scene as a teenager, which was uncommon at that time. What was your next step?

In 1980, I moved first to Australia, then to California, and have lived here ever since. I still have Whippets who descend nine or ten generations down from those old English dogs in Sweden, but I almost never bred more than a litter per year. I hardly breed at all anymore and only have two spayed veteran bitches at home. Nevertheless, there have been about 120 Bohem Whippet champions in many countries over the years, plus about 15 Greyhounds and those Afghan Hound champions from long ago. Even though I live in America, Whippets I’ve bred have taken several FCI World Winner titles, and more are sired by dogs I sent abroad.

Would you say you were always a writer, or did that develop with maturity?

As a teenager, I sent a couple of show reports from England to the Sighthound Club magazine in Sweden. They printed them, and that encouraged me to send a few short items to the Swedish KC magazine, Hundsport. I was thrilled when they actually paid me for this — I somehow hadn’t realized you could make money from writing! Eventually, Hundsport asked me to take over all their show reporting. I wrote a lot for them in the 1960s and ‘70s and have continued to do so even after moving to America. I remember starting Hundsport’s annual Top Dog competition in 1965 or ‘66 — there was nothing like that in those days in Sweden, nor in most other European countries.

So journalism was something that has accompanied you for much of your life. How did you begin writing books?

Gradually, I started writing more, first about dogs in general and then all kinds of pets in a couple of the big daily newspapers, but I realized pretty soon that I didn’t want to become a regular journalist: Most of the older journalists I met were more or less alcoholic, bitter, and cynical — even the successful ones! I wrote my first dog book in 1966; it was just a pet-type “Family Dog” book, but it was translated into at least a few different languages. Last year, someone in Norway sent me her nearly 50-year-old copy of that book, apologizing for the scribbles that her then 5-year-old son had made in it. It’s a little disconcerting to realize that this kid must now be well past middle age!

In the 1970s, I wrote a couple of other books, including an encyclopedia of dog breeds for a Swedish publisher. I didn’t think it was very good, so I waived all rights to

it for a fairly small sum. A few years later, that book was sold to an international publisher, translated into many different languages, and sold more than 500,000 copies worldwide. (I remember seeing it in a bookstore when I was judging in Rio de Janeiro in the 1980s.) If I had gotten royalties, I would have had a very nice income from that book for years…

In the late 1970s, a British publisher asked if I’d like to write a Whippet breed book. It was a lot of work, but I learned a great deal about breed history and doing research. I’ll never forget going into the famous Foyles Bookshop at Charing Cross Road in London — the world’s biggest bookstore at the time — and seeing my book on the shelf. That first edition has been revised and expanded twice: the most recent book, The Whippet – An Authoritative Look at the Breed’s Past, Present, and Future, was published in California in 2010. It’s 350 oversize pages with plenty of color photos; it’s sold out now, but they keep telling me they will be printing copies “on demand” in the future.

Writing and publishing is something many people in the dog world simply cannot find time for, regardless of their qualifications. Organizing your own magazine must have been a monumental undertaking. How did that develop, and what was the impact of this project on your life?

It didn’t really occur to me that writing about dogs could be a real profession until I moved to the U.S. and was offered a partnership in a small publishing company that Paul Lepiane owned. We’ve been partners in life and work now for 35 years. Paul started The Afghan Hound Review, one of the first really big, glossy breed magazines in the 1970s, when he was just

out of school. When he also began to publish Poodle Variety a couple of years later, things got too big for him, and that’s when I entered the picture. Then I started Sighthound Review in 1984, we took over a Setter magazine for a while, and in 1997, we began to publish Dogs in Review, which soon became huge and very popular worldwide: In the early 2000s, we printed several issues that were more than 500 or 600 pages. I’m not sure how we managed to produce a big, monthly all-breed magazine and several bi-monthly specialist magazines from our at-home office with a very small staff… but somehow we did.

Gradually, we’ve sold off most of the magazines since the early 2000s. Dogs in Review is now owned by a large company in Los Angeles, but I still write for them. Paul still publishes Poodle Variety, and after selling Sighthound Review many years ago, I bought it back fairly recently. I’m having a great time writing, editing, and publishing it all on my own — it’s a perfect retirement spot!

I’m convinced that Providence has awarded you more than the 24 hours in a day that the rest of us are allotted, because apart from showing and breeding and running a magazine (and dashing off a book or two in your spare time), you were earning your credentials as a judge.

I started judging in Sweden and England in the 1960s, but I didn’t become an approved FCI judge until 1976. In 1977, I judged nearly 200 entries at the American Whippet Club specialty in Santa Barbara and two years later a similar number at the American Saluki Association’s show there. Those were fantastic experiences, the best any judge could have, but it probably also gave me the wrong idea about what

to expect from most judging assignments. I was also lucky enough to judge at Crufts, Westminster, several FCI World Shows, and in many different countries around the world in the late 1970s/early ‘80s.

While I was still living in Sweden, I was approved by FCI for more breeds than I had asked for, but mostly I had to give up on my judging career after moving here. It’s impossible to judge AKC dog shows and publish dog magazines simultaneously; I don’t know why it’s different in the U.S. than in other countries, but it is. I have judged some big specialties and all-breed shows in the U.S. during the time when I was not working as

a publisher, but mostly I have judged abroad, at FCI shows in Europe, England, Australia, Russia, China, etc. I’m currently approved for breeds in 7 of the 10 FCI groups and have judged BIS a few times in Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, and Mexico.

When I was young, I didn’t think there could be anything greater than becoming an all-breeds judge, but these days I enjoy specialty shows more than anything else. It’s much more interesting to judge a large entry of one of your favorite breeds than judging lots of breeds with smaller entries.

I love traveling; everybody else complains about it, but I have no problem with airports or flying. However, I

don’t want to be away from home, so I don’t judge that much these days. I always like to go back to Sweden and visit, and in 2016 I had a couple of assignments in England that I looked forward to — the Whippet Club show and later Best in Show at their Hound Association championship show. But now, for the most part, I prefer to stay home!

Do you still enjoy showing?

I haven’t shown a dog for months… It’s much more interesting to sit at ringside and watch. This week, we’ll go to Palm Springs with a few dogs for a specialty show. There’s a new puppy that I co-own and a few veterans, but I wish some young kid would handle the dogs — I don’t enjoy showing the dogs myself that much.

There are not a lot of shows in the U.S. that are worth going to — I’m actually envious of those who show in England or Europe. Other than the specialty shows here in California, there’s mostly Palm Springs in January, which is beautiful, and Santa Barbara in August, which is always fun and very international, and then Del Valle in northern California in October. The distances here are enormous; people from Europe tend to forget that — when I go to Westminster, it takes almost as long to fly in from California as it does from Europe. I’m a big supporter of Morris & Essex, but the show is held only once every five years, and that’s also back East.

The American Whippet Club’s national specialty will be held in California in April this year, and I look forward to that. The national specialties we have in the U.S. are easily the best dog shows of that kind anywhere! The Whippet national will last a whole week, and I expect we’ll get something like 500 Whippets entered. Everyone stays at a hotel with the dogs, and there’s so much going on you’re exhausted by the end of it… but a good national specialty is everything that dog shows should be — but very seldom are.

How did you come to write the Best in Show book? This is a work of unparalleled breadth, dating from the prehistory of shows and providing detailed information concerning every aspect of the dog world and showing. So much information, both historical, anecdotal, and plain factual (wins and statistics), is packed into the text, and I wondered how you were able to gather so much information together.

It seemed to me for a long time that there must be a place for a comprehensive overview and history of the world of purebred dogs. None had ever been published, as far as I knew. I wanted this book to be worldwide in scope and to cover the entire period that there has been a “dog fancy” in the modern sense, from the beginning of dog shows in England in the mid-1800s to the early 2000s. Most sports and hobby activities have some sort of reference work where you can look up details of past activities and major events, but there just wasn’t one to be found about the dog sport.

It was really difficult to convince a publisher that this was something that realistically could be done, and that it would be a good book. Most people felt it was a far-fetched idea, at least if you wanted it to be

as ambitious as I did. I wrote a book proposal for a publisher in late 2004, finally signed a contract in May 2005, and then worked on the manuscript and photos for more than two years. I couldn’t spend all my time on it, of course, since I had to keep my day job: You certainly don’t get rich from writing this kind of book! Halfway through 2007, they were ready for me to start working on proofreading the manuscript. The finished book was introduced at the AKC/Eukanuba show in Long Beach in December 2007; the official publication date was 2008.

How much of this information was researched by you from primary sources, and how much was culled from other texts?

If you mean how much information I could copy from other books of this kind, the answer is: pretty much nothing, since I found no similar book that had ever been published before. But, of course, I quoted from original sources a lot, both from old books and magazines that I had collected. One non-doggy book that turned out to be very important was Henry Mayhew’s wonderfully detailed London Labour and the London Poor from the 1840s; it told me more about the beginning of the dog fancy than any other book. But I realized I had to go back much further in time to show that people have admired beautiful dogs of good breeding for as long as there has been a written tradition, or even longer — all the way back to the Odyssey, where there is a reference to dogs being kept for status and “show”… The Greek philosopher and historian Arrian wrote a very affectionate treatise on his beautiful Greyhound in the second century A.D. – the dog even shared his bed! Later on, there was Dame Juliana Berners’ famous “breed standard,” again

of a Greyhound, and lots of various dog breeds are mentioned by both Chaucer and Shakespeare. I found an illustration of a really elaborate kennel building in France from the 1300s that we were able to print in the book. There is a portrait of a pair of really beautiful Salukis painted in China as early as the 1400s, and there are those famous “Ten Prized Dogs” paintings from the 1700s. Records exist that tell of Louis XIV giving beautiful little toy spaniels — early Papillons — as a farewell gift to his discarded mistresses, etc. etc.

One of the things I regret is that we weren’t able to give enough space in the book to one of the great early dog paintings, The Dog Market, completed in 1677 by the Dutch-born artist Abraham Hondius, who lived in England. The original was owned by Walter Goodman, the famous Skye Terrier breeder and judge, who has died since, and although he was kind enough to let us use a high-quality print, it was so late in the publishing process at that time that we were only able to squeeze it in on less than half a page… It ought to have occupied a two-page spread! It’s an amazing painting and shows clearly that the concept of separate breeds existed long before we had dog shows.

Finding things like that made the research a lot more colorful and put the whole concept of the dog fancy and “breeds” as we know them into perspective. And of course, I went back to the early kennel club records in both England and the U.S. a lot. Fortunately, I was getting good help from the Kennel Club librarian in the U.K. and spent a lot of time in the AKC library in New York, going through old issues of The AKC Gazette.

So there is plenty of travel going on, as well as reaching out to the various organizations that keep archives of

shows and show history. Your volume is also a visual reference book, with so many pictures of the dogs and people that made the history of this sport.

It didn’t hurt that I have a magpie’s instinct for saving anything related to dog shows, or that I had worked on the international show coverage for Dogs in Review for many years. I have a garage full of old magazines going back to the early 1900s, with tons of newspaper clippings, photographs, and books. We inherited the photo archives from Kennel Review when they folded in the 1990s, which added to our already large photo collection. (I have no idea how many photos we have, certainly more than 10,000 old print photographs — and of course today’s images are almost all digital. The print photos are in folders sorted by breed in a large file cabinet.)

Especially Desiree Scott and Simon Parsons at Dog World in England helped me get information from the early big shows over there, and I compiled results from AKC shows since Best in Show was first made into an official award in 1925. It was more difficult getting records from other countries, but it helped that I had traveled a lot and had contacts in many places, so it was possible to write some kind of dog show history from most parts of the world. Eastern Europe and Russia didn’t have much known dog history before the fall of the Soviet Union (although there were, in fact, imperial dog shows for Borzoi in Moscow before the Russian Revolution), and Asia has become a big presence on the world scene in recent years. I wish I had been able to write much more about those countries, but it was difficult to get reliable, first-hand information.

According to Wikipedia, the very first photograph was taken in 1827, but not until about 1900 was photography reasonably available to a large number of people. It is interesting that the very first photographic sequence (1878) was of a galloping horse. Were dogs also an object of interest? Are there many photographs extant of dogs and dog shows?

Photographs were a huge problem — not that I didn’t have enough, but the opposite. Sorting through them and deciding what to use was a big undertaking. There were supposed to be “only” 500 photos in the book — we ended up using about 750 illustrations in a 656-page book, but it was still difficult to narrow them down. I remember hiring an assistant who helped spread out thousands of photos on the office floor and put them in piles for potential use by breed, by year, and by geographical location. It was almost impossible to get photos of all the most famous dogs that were flattering to the dog (and the people in the pictures!) and also interesting for a regular reader — plus, of course, the photos had to be of good technical quality, and we also had to deal with copyrights … I’m not sure how we managed. Fortunately, a lot of the active dog show photographers around the world were very helpful and supportive.

Several times I was close to giving up: perhaps it really was impossible to complete a book like this one. Now, the division into chapters looks pretty straightforward, but we were working without a model.

(I had written a Swedish book about dog shows and show dogs a few years earlier, but it was much smaller and easier to complete.) I had a wonderful, patient editor who kept me sane, but by the time we got to proofreading, I was pretty frazzled … It was a huge relief to finally see the actual, printed book at the AKC/ Eukanuba show. They did a beautiful job producing it, and a lot of dog people I respect were very enthusiastic about it. For several years afterward, it would happen that even people I didn’t know came up to me at dog shows in various parts of the world and told me they kept the book permanently on their coffee table or nightstand … The reviews were wonderful, and the book got a lot of awards. I was particularly proud that it got the Independent Book Publishers’ Benjamin Franklin award for Best Reference/Directory 2009, with a book about child-rearing and one on world history as runners-up. I don’t think any other dog book has done that!

You include many notes on the women who were part of this sport. In fact, the role of women seems to be nearly parallel to that of men in this sport from the very beginning. Do you agree?

I couldn’t agree less! If Florence Nagle could have heard you say that, you would have gotten a lecture on how men kept all the power in the dog world, as everywhere else, to themselves as long as they could! Mrs. Nagle fought long and hard for women to be allowed to become members of The Kennel Club (UK), but that didn’t happen until 1978 — more than ten years after she had succeeded in getting the Jockey Club to award trainer’s licenses to women. Sure, women were sometimes asked to judge at Crufts and Westminster early on, but not nearly as often as men. It was basically a man’s world, in dogs as in everything else — although that didn’t stop a few wealthy and strong-willed women from being successful exhibitors and breeders. I’d love to have met Mrs. Geraldine

Rockefeller Dodge, who had the huge Giralda kennels in New Jersey and financed the fantastic Morris & Essex Kennel Club show, the biggest in the world in the late 1930s with over 4,500 dogs … or Mrs. Quintin Dick, later Lorna, Countess Howe, who won Best in Show at Crufts three times with her black Labradors around the same time. But they were the exception, not the rule, and if they had not had the positions they had, from inherited wealth or prestigious marriage, there’s no way they could have achieved what they did.

Countess Howe was in fact supposed to come over from England and judge Best in Show at Westminster, but she never did — I’d love to know what happened. (I remember Joe Braddon telling me that her Banchory dogs were not that great, but of course he competed with them …)

Things have improved a lot in recent years, but I just checked the websites, which I think are current, and

as of January 2016, there were 12 men and one single woman on the Board of the American Kennel Club. Of the 24 directors of the General Committee of the Kennel Club (UK), 18 were men and 6 women. And there has STILL never been a woman chairman of the American Kennel Club, the Kennel Club (UK), or the FCI…

Between your book and all the writing done in your magazine and other formats, there is really nothing left to say about dogs and showing, or is there?

There are still so many things to write about dogs that there is never space enough… Not only is there so much happening in the show rings and kennel clubs around the world that you’re never short of material, but the horizons for dog shows keep expanding all the time. When I grew up in Sweden in the 1950s and ‘60s, everyone knew there were big dog shows in England, and maybe we had heard a little about German Shepherds and Boxers from Germany, but that was it. Then we learned there were big dog shows in southern Europe, in Australia, the U.S., and Canada… I remember Hans Lehtinen coming back from Sydney in the mid1970s and telling us about all the beautiful Afghan Hounds he had judged there. We were flabbergasted — nobody knew anything about dog shows in Australia then! Just a few years later, I went to live in Sydney for a year, and I’ve been back judging many times. South America has some of the best dogs and handlers in the world,butwedidn’tknowthatuntilacoupleofdecades or so ago. Then things started to happen in Japan and some of the other Asian countries, and Russia became a serious player in dogs, as well as Eastern Europe, and now the FCI is planning to hold a World Show in China, which is, of course, very controversial. Last year I did

an interview with FCI president Rafael de Santiago for Dogs in Review, and he comes from Puerto Rico. There’s no way anyone could have imagined all this a few decades ago when I started in dogs.

In the past, I was probably ahead of most people in learning about dogs in foreign countries, but now I’m way behind. Things are happening so quickly. Most recently, I got an article for Sighthound Review about dog shows in Egypt! You wouldn’t think a country with a predominantly Muslim population could have dog shows, but they do. It seems almost to be one of the first things people want to get involved in once they reach a certain middle-class level of comfort: to gather around dogs in a sort of friendly and generally peaceful competition…

What does the future of literature regarding dogs and showing look like to you?

I don’t know about books. I’m sure people will still be reading hundreds of years from now, but I don’t know in what form. Personally, I want a book or magazine that I can touch, feel, and smell, so I can turn the pages, but that may change. I am pretty sure there’s a future for print publications, though, but they will have a very different purpose than they have now. It’s so easy to get news fast that the value of print publications won’t be to bring news but to sort through it, decide what’s important and needs to be saved, and to analyze and comment on the news so it makes sense to people.

Facebook is a potentially great medium that seems to be largely wasted on gossip and trivia so far. I don’t use it much, but I love email, because you can reach almost anyone you want anywhere in the world at any time, day or night, and they can respond whenever

they want. And nothing beats the Internet for quick information: I Google non-stop every day, and although I know Wikipedia isn’t always totally reliable, it’s a fantastic source of information.

What is the meaning, in your opinion, of being Top Dog today? Is it the equivalent of the most expensive dog, or is it really an indication of supreme quality in terms of showmanship and stock selection?

Of course it isn’t, but what other way of measuring success do we have? I’m not sure it’s possible to produce a Top Dog point system that’s totally fair and will satisfy everyone. What’s more important, Best of Breed wins or Best in Show wins? Is it more impressive to win ten BIS at shows with 1,000 dogs each, or two BIS over 5,000 dogs? I just wish there could be a little more sophistication than we currently have in the U.S., where pretty much all point systems are based on who defeats the greatest number of competitors over a calendar year. If you win BIS, you get points for all the dogs competing at that show except one (since you don’t defeat yourself), and if you place Group 4th, you get points for all the dogs in that Group at the show except the first four placed in the Group. The result, of course, is that to be No. 1, you need to show as much as possible, so you have a chance to add up as many points as possible. The top dogs in the U.S. are shown at least 150-200 times per year, which is really expensive, exhausting for both the dog and the handler, and of course also keeps any dogs that don’t have a full-time, well-financed handler out of the top rankings, regardless of how good they are.

In addition to the all-breed point systems, there is also the “Breed” system, which is based only on how many

dogs are defeated by going Best of Breed. Usually, there is a small number of dogs that are shown so often that others can’t expect to be among the top few unless they also plan a full-time campaign all year. I always feel that if a dog is shown perhaps one or two weekends a month — maybe 25-50 times a year — it should at least qualify among the top 20 of its breed if it’s a good dog. For most breeds, qualifying for the “Top 20” competitions that are often held at the national specialties is really the best guarantee for a dog’s ability to win in the U.S.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that the No. 1 dogs aren’t good. Nobody would spend all the money, time, and work involved in campaigning a dog heavily unless it’s a really good dog! There are professional handlers and experienced breeders who make sure of that. But there are always a number of other good dogs that can’t get near the top because they are not shown as often as necessary.

It would be great if it were possible to come up with a loaded system, so e.g., only the best 25 or 50 results of the year were included, or only wins at the biggest shows counted… but regardless of what you do, it’s not going to make everyone happy.

You point out in your book that the dog show circuit existed earlier and to a greater extent than is commonly believed, even without highways or airlines. Dog people just love showing! What other parts of your research were surprising to you?

Yes, there were “circuits” in the U.S., with several dog shows held near each other even in the past — most people don’t know that. They could go on for a week or even longer. The big difference was that there were

less than 150 AKC all-breed shows per year in the mid-1940s; by the early ‘70s that had increased to nearly 600, and in 1985 there were more than 1,000 AKC all-breed shows in a year for the first time. Now we seem to have settled around 1,500 AKC allbreed shows annually, none of which are particularly big by international standards: the average is less than 800 dogs, and few have as many as 4,000 dogs entered. Everyone agrees that’s way too many dog shows, but nobody seems to know how to change it.

What surprised me when writing the book really was how little dog people have changed. Dog show people wereascrazythenastheyarenow!TherewasaPointer in the 1870s who was shown at least 60 times, maybe even more, in both Great Britain and Germany … Can you imagine how difficult that must have been, before the advent of cars, before telephones? How did they even find out where the shows were? How did they make their entries? How did they get to the shows? The fact that people from England on occasion showed dogs in America at a time when it took weeks just getting from one country to another is really amazing. I remember reading that an exhibitor from Japan was showing at Westminster — or maybe it was Morris & Essex — in the 1930s… I’ll have to find that article.

Otherwise, I guess what was interesting to me was to realize how old the fascination with different dog breeds is — it’s been going on for hundreds of years, even thousands, before there were dog shows. Also how universal it is: It all started in England, of course,

but there really is a world-wide trend that people want to get together in organized dog shows and form a dog fancy. Whenever there’s a solid middle class, not necessarily wealthy but obviously with time and money to devote to something more than just surviving for the day, then this is where a dog fancy will be forming …

So many breeds have changed over time, some for better, some not. However, some also developed differently in the UK compared to the USA. For example, comparing the old photos of Wire Fox Terriers in the UK on pages 227, the and the US WFT on page 300, the UK group looks much more like today’s winners.?

I’m surprised you feel Wire Fox Terriers differ so much between Great Britain and the U.S. Since most of the American top winners are British-bred, imported or bred from British stock pretty close up, there ought not to be that much type difference in Wires. I’d love to talk to some Terrier people about this. Do Peter Green, Bill McFadden and Geir Flyckt-Pedersen agree

with you? Certainly the British weren’t selling rubbish to the Americans: the rich U.S. buyers were not stupid, and if they didn’t know enough themselves they employed very sharp buyers to make sure they got value for their money! The requirements were/are a little different, as in all breeds, between the U.S. and the U.K.: showmanship and style has always been more important over here, while breed type trumps all (or at least used to) in the U.K. I think there is much less difference today between the top dogs in England, or in Europe, and those in the U.S. It varies from breed to breed: in some, like English Springers and Shetland Sheepdogs, there is a lot of discussion about this, but I think there’s probably a greater difference between AKC Doberman Pinschers and FCI Dobermanns than any other breed … (They can’t even agree on the correct breed name!)

After sifting through all those photos, would you say most breeds have changed a lot over the years?

It sure looks like it, but you really cannot judge from old photos. Some of the dogs from the past look so different that it’s difficult to imagine how they could win so much, but that’s looking at them with modern eyes. Many of the great movie stars of old, silent movies were famous for their beauty in their own time, and they don’t look so hot to us today either. Certainly human features don’t change that much over a few generations, so I think it’s primarily that what we select as objects of admiration is different now and then. If you add changes in presentation, grooming, handling, stacking and of course photography, it’s no wonder that some of the old winners look really odd to us.

On occasion there are dogs — or photos — that transcend the years. For instance, the Great Dane Ch. Etfa von der Saalburg from the 1920s looks like she could win anything today … and there are others, but frankly you see more in old film or videos. I remember seeing a glimpse of an Old English Sheepdog that was used for herding in England in the 1930s on TV, and that dog looked fantastic. There were a few Borzoi in a Russian film that must have been from before 1917 who looked wonderful. I found a clip from Whippet racing in England in 1915 — most of the dogs wouldn’t win today, but there’s a brief shot of a couple of men coming through a gate with their dogs, and one of them is particolor, bigger than the rest and looked like he could have been “the father of the breed.” It gave me goosebumps …

And before we get too smug about our beautiful dogs today, let’s imagine what people will think of them maybe fifty or a hundred years from now. And of course I’m wondering what their dogs would look like to us today if we could see them!

Several times in each chapter I found myself thinking: ‘Oh, I’d like to read more about that person.’ Which of the many fascinating figures in the history of dogs would you think merits a full-scale biography?

One of the most interesting personalities in dogs, and probably the sharpest mind, that I can think of is Raymond Oppenheimer, who had the Ormandy Bull Terriers in England. He wrote a couple of fantastic books that ought to be compulsory reading for anyone who takes dogs seriously. (“McGuffin & Co.” and “After Bar Sinister” — difficult to get hold of and very expensive but worth every penny!) Obviously he

wrote primarily about his own breed, but there’s so much that applies to dogs in general. I only met Mr. Oppenheimer once, but it left an indelible impression: I was invited to lunch with a Swedish Bull Terrier friend at Ormandy long ago, and afterward we were shown all the Ormandy and Souperlative dogs by his friend and kennel manager, Eva Weatherill. It sounds presumptuous if I say I wish I had known him, but just to be able to sit and listen to him talk about dogs would have been fantastic.

There was of course Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge, whom I mentioned earlier. She has probably been profiled more often than any other American dog person. As the wealthiest woman in the U.S. of her time she was able to import all the top dogs she wanted from around the world. (A lot of German Shepherds and a legendary Doberman from Germany, primarily Pointers from England and many other breeds.) She was married to Hartley Dodge, of Remington Arms, and their son, Marcellus, was killed in a car accident in France when he was still quite young. I would love to know what she actually thought of the dogs she showed and bred. What were her thoughts on the American Kennel Club when they, according to some reports, scuttled her plans for the wonderful Morris

& Essex KC shows in 1958, leaving it as lost for many years until a rebirth long after her death in 2000. (The recent 2015 show was a big success!)

In England, of course, Countess Howe would be a similarly august subject of interest. There’s one other person I’d very much like to meet … or if not meet, at least be able to study and listen to: Lady Wentworth, who is best known for her Crabbet Arabian Horses, but she also bred Toy dogs and wrote a classic book, “Toy Dogs and Their Ancestors.” She sounds like a fascinating person — she certainly knew what she wanted, and how to get it! Of course Florence Nagle would have been interesting to talk to — I missed the opportunity of meeting her when I could have and never saw her Sulhamstead Irish Wolfhounds at home. (Probably that was because I was a great fan of the Eaglescrag Wolfhounds, which were related to Mrs. Nagle’s dogs but very different in type. I showed some Eaglescrag dogs and got dragged into the Sulhamstead/Eaglescrag type controvesy.) And speaking of Mrs. Nagle, I wish I had known Anastasia Noble better: her Ardkinglas Deerhounds are behind pretty much everything in that breed. She was very nice on the occasions that I met her, and she must have led a fascinating life. She was a colorful “natural” breeder of the best and most influential Deerhounds ever.

In my own breed I would give a lot to have a few conversations with Stanley Wilkin and Willie Beara, the two brightest Whippet breeders of the 1930s and ‘40s. Both were gone long before my time, both were extremely talented breeders, and neither wrote down what they thought about the dogs that are way back in all our pedigrees. I would love to know! But of

course I was lucky to be able to talk to the breeders who were still around in the late 1950s and early ‘60s, from Charles Douglas Todd to Dorrit McKay, and that’s something I really appreciate.

None of these Whippet people was particularly wealthy, as far as I know, but most of the other people I’ve mentioned were either wealthy or aristocratic or both. The fact is that if you wanted to be really successful in dogs, as in most other things, you needed that kind of background, especially in the past and especially to become well-known outside your own breed. But it’s what you do with your money and influence that matters; there were many who in spite of a privileged background failed to have much of an impact.

Of course money always helps, but I don’t think it’s as necessary today as it used to be. If you’re really talented and determined to succeed I think you can go far, even without tons of money or status.

What are your feelings about the future of purebred dogs and dog shows?

I worry a lot about that, at least in the U.S. There are so many problems facing the dog fancy and we haven’t been very good at dealing with them. Everyone who comes from America to dog shows in Europe is so impressed by the fact that the shows are so big, there are so many owner-handlers and so many YOUNG people at the dog shows! The AKC is trying to get more young people involved, but the way dog shows have developed in the U.S. that’s not going to be easy. We have lots of talented young handlers but not so many young people who are involved in breeding, club work, organizing dog shows, etc.

Your work has resulted in a series of achievements, I don’t think there is space to list them all, so what remains on your ‘to do’ list? Or, perhaps, there are some things you would like to change?

I guess I’m a little disappointed that I haven’t been able to accept the opportunities to judge as much as I want. Probably I would make a pretty decent allbreeds judge: I have had the opportunity to develop a much deeper all-around background in dogs than many in this sport … But you have to choose, you can’t do everything, and to me it was much more important to be able to publish a really good dog magazine than to be an all-breeds judges. Some people at AKC are terrific, want to give me more breeds and ask me to get back to judging, but others at AKC are not so nice …

If there’s one thing I’d still like to do, it would be a dream project to publish a really big, beautiful book — “Sighthounds in Art.” (If it were “Dogs in Art” it would have to be several thick volumes, and I won’t live long enough to finish that!) It’s not going to happen, because it would be too expensive to print and probably impossible to get the copyrights to all the great paintings, but it could be a huge, wonderful book … When I was in St. Petersburg a couple of years ago I saw that wonderful painting at the Hermitage museum of Catherine the Great walking with her Whippet in the park — there are so many paintings like that, and I would have loved to present them all in one place.

Otherwise, I’m just happy to be around and see what happens with dogs in the future. I hope I’ll be able to have at least a couple of Whippets as long as I live. What more can you ask?

Laurent Heinesche Judge

Canyoutakeusthroughthebeginningsofyourjourney with dogs—how it all started and what initially drewyoutothisworldofcaninecompanionshipand competition?

As far back as I can remember, I have always been fascinated by dogs, not to mention the animal world in general. Furthermore, aesthetics and creativity have always attracted me and held a predominant place in my life. This is how I learned to become a groomer, which combined these two passions and gradually led me to dog shows. With my partner at the time, we had poodles, and I quickly felt an attraction to white dogs. This is how I discovered the Maltese, with whom I immediately fell in love due to their long, silky white coat and sweet, charming expression, as well as their whimsical temperament. I had an instant connection with the breed, which felt like a natural fit for me. I also consider myself

fortunate to have met someone like Ronny Engelen from the world-renowned kennel ‘Of Millmoor,’ who has sharpened my knowledge, always supported me, and provided me with insightful breeding advice. In addition, several trips to America have perfected my grooming knowledge; there was definitely a before and after Westminster.

Over the past 30 years, you have dedicated yourself to breeding Maltese, Poodles, Yorkshire Terriers, and Pomeranians under the esteemed kennel names “Supers Supers” and “My Supers,” achieving numerous World and European champions along the way. Could you share which dogs stand out as the highlights of your distinguished breeding career?

Obviously, all my dogs have been important to me. Providing them with daily care and living in close contact with them each day creates an unbreakable bond. Nevertheless, some may have had a more significant impact on my memory than others due to various details. Among them, two of my Maltese dogs, Tantalizer des Supers Supers and Funny Ladies Segarl, marked an era of my life with the numerous successes they achieved. Both were named Best Dog of the Year across all breeds, winning many Best in Show titles, as well as the European Championship (where Segarl won Best of Group 9). A few years later, I repeated these exact results with one of my Maltese boys, My Supers Epice, with whom I had the honor of representing my country at the Eukanuba World Challenge in Long Beach.

In the 2000s, my white toy poodle, Xeliane des Supers Supers, was also proclaimed the best companion dog in my country and the 3rd best all-breeds dog. Xeliane

won the world champion title twice. She was a little dog who loved to grace the rings with presence and dignity. She owned the ring.

I cannot help but mention my little Pomeranian, Linnanhaltijan Quartz, who was also one of the loves of my life. This little boy shared every moment of my life. He accompanied me to work, to the supermarket—wherever possible, he was with me, even sleeping in my bed. In short, he shared my life from dawn until dusk. Additionally, he held numerous championship titles and was proclaimed Best Stud Dog for three consecutive years, along with a significant number of his offspring who also found success in the rings. Sadly, he passed away a few years ago. I always carry around my neck an amulet containing some of his ashes. I currently live with one of his grandsons, now 9 years old, who has also achieved numerous championship titles, as well as being the great-grandson of his grandson.

What do you consider highlights of your breeding career?

Each step toward victory in the show ring represents, in my opinion, progress for the breeds I raise and deep-

ly cherish. For three consecutive years, I was awarded the title of Best Breeder. This title recognized the number of dogs from my breeding program that achieved champion status worldwide during the preceding year. Some victories stand out, such as winning the group at the European Championship multiple times or Best in Show at the French Championship, which featured over 7,000 entries. All of my dogs have achieved at least 3 or 4 championship titles. Living in the heart of Europe has afforded me the opportunity to exhibit my dogs in many countries and accumulate multiple champion titles.

You have judged all over the world; what have been some of your most memorable assignments so far?

It is always a great honor when you are invited to judge the specialty of your own breed in any country, as I did to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Poodle Club in Czechia. On several occasions, I have also had the honor of judging the “Champion of Champions” competitions in various countries. Furthermore, I had the great honor of judging Group 9 at the Winner Dog Show in Helsinki. This show is a major event in Europe, gathering over 9,000 dogs per day. However, I must admit that currently, the appointment I eagerly await is the Westminster Dog Show in New York. I have attended this exhibition numerous times in the past.

What do you wish every judge knew about the Pomeranian before assessing them in the ring?

The intrinsic qualities that one cannot forget in this breed are breed type, body proportions, and coat texture. Regrettably, in recent times, we frequently encounter specimens where the breed’s characteristics INTERVIEW WITH JUDGE

have been diluted, leading to a misguided direction for the breed.

What 3 dogs from the past do you wish you could have judged or owned from anywhere in the world?

I first need to mention a dog who was a cornerstone in my breeding program, as well as in many others throughout Europe. That dog was named Caramalta Motivator from a famous kennel in England, who enabled many of us Maltese breeders to develop our bloodlines on solid foundations. This male was the result of several generations of breeding by prominent English breeders.

Then, I have a vivid memory of a magnificent Komondor at Westminster who won his group in 1993, Champion Lojosmegyi Dahu Digal. From a distance, this dog, with his floor-length cords and immaculate whiteness, could have been mistaken for a giant Maltese. It was a very impressive moment.

More recently, I had the chance to judge and meet a magnificent female Bloodhound, Loamy’s LanLaneSue, whose morphological characteristics matched her breed standard so well, as well as her typical gait. What drew me to her was her friendly and gentle temperament and expression, which could melt anyone’s heart.

The purpose of dog showing was (and should still be) to evaluate and “show off” breeding stock. Do you think for some breeders/owners it is becoming more about ribbons and rankings?

Absolutely and regrettably. The fundamental purpose of dog shows is to evaluate one’s own breeding or one’s own dog in order to maintain the correct trajectory dictated by the breed standard and to evolve positively for the future of the breed. If these conditions are not re-

spected and only aim to achieve a champion title, selfcritique is completely absent. It should be a self-assessment to evaluate the quality of our own journey within the breed. Unfortunately, this is a phenomenon that we encounter all too often in many breeds.

Who are some judges that have significantly influenced your decision to judge and your approach to judging? What qualities do you admire most in their judging style?

Over the years, I have been fortunate to be surrounded by multiple judges of great renown whom I deeply admire. I believe that my education as a judge has been shaped over time by gathering diverse information from various judges, which has allowed me to handle certain situations. With this knowledge, I have developed my own ideas and structure for judging that I would have

appreciated as an exhibitor. I am immensely grateful to everyone who has contributed to and supported me throughout my path. However, to avoid offending anyone, I won’t name individuals for fear of forgetting someone, but I truly appreciate all their contributions. Each day spent within our cynology brings me a wealth of new knowledge and enriches my experience. I wish to continue learning until the end.

You’ve been assigned to judge at the prestigious Westminster Dog Show in New York next year. How do you feel about this opportunity, and what are you most excited about when it comes to attending the event, especially considering that not many judges from Europe have received this honor?

It is indeed a tremendous honor and a culmination of

years in cynology. There are no words to describe this feeling. This event at Westminster currently represents the pinnacle of my judging career. I have visited the Westminster Dog Show many times, during which I sometimes assisted handlers and presenters in preparing their dogs. Returning to New York for such an event is beyond what I could have ever imagined. I look forward to reconnecting with old friends and derive great pleasure from the experience.

What do you like to do most to relax and unwind?

I enjoy spending time at home when I am not judging. I live on the edge of a forest and love gardening, painting, taking long walks with my dogs, and working on decorations—basic things in general.

What dish do you most enjoy preparing at home, and which one never fails to excite you when you order it at a restaurant?

Generally, I enjoy cooking somewhat elaborate meals. Everyday cooking is not among my preferences. I believe that in many restaurants, the meal you can never go wrong with is a good pasta dish, and I absolutely love it. I am also a big fan of Asian cuisine, but I would never dare to venture into those preparations myself.

Lastly, amidst your judging experiences, have there been any humorous or lighthearted moments that stand out and you’d be willing to share?

There must have been many, but one that happens frequently stands out. I have a habit of asking for the age of the dogs I judge in relation to the class they are entered in, and it quite often happens that the handlers give me their own age instead. The response is always surprising when it comes to the age of a young dog, and someone tells you, “67 years old.” I am quite sure this has happened to many of us.

PROFESSIONAL HANDLERS

&David Jennifer Harper

Please share with our readers how you got involved in the world of pedigree dogs.

I started helping the little lady who lived next door to me as a kid. She had Irish Wolfhounds and Great Danes. She, along with my mother, took me to my first show.

What handlers inspired you in the beginning, and who did you apprentice under?

I started with Ron and Eloise Hudson (Setters and Dachshunds). Then I had the opportunity to work with Michael Kemp. I followed that with the very fortunate chance to work for Jim and Annie Clark. My longest job was with Ron Buxton and Tom Spann (Cockers/Rottweilers/ Siberian Huskies).

As a handler, are you more excited to win at an all-breed show or a breed specialty show?

Absolutely at a specialty.

PROFESSIONAL

The purpose of dog showing is to compare breeders’ future breeding stock against one another’s. Do you feel your clients have this in mind when they place a dog with you to show? Equally, do you believe this is the mantra of those who show dogs in general?

I think most of my clients have that in mind, and they are also very good about asking for my advice. Sadly, this is probably not the way the majority of dog people think.

Is there a particular breed or group of dogs you prefer to handle? Please give reasons for this choice.

No. It’s more about the bond between myself, Jennifer, our assistants, and the animals that we have the honor to show. This year we have had Chihuahuas and Irish Wolfhounds on the truck, so that’s about as big a difference as you can get! That special relationship you have with your dogs is what really matters.

Do you work with assistants, and if so, what do you hope to impart on them during their time with you?

Wegenerallyhaveatleasttwoassistantsatatime.Love and care of the animals is by far the most important thing we can teach.

What dog throughout history do you wish you had the opportunity to handle?

Hatter. I absolutely loved that dog.

Do you have time to breed your own dogs? If yes, what breeds do you raise? If no, is this something you wish you had more time for in the future?

We have a blended household… I’ve always had Goldens, and when I married Jennifer, she brought in Shelties and Norfolks.

What do you think has improved, and what has declined, since you first started showing dogs?

There are so many more long circuits than there used to be. The entries are smaller, but you can still find the quality.

What are some of your favorite shows to show at in the USA and around the world?

I love the Orlando shows in December. There have been several years when it came down to that last show to see who would end the year as number one. It’s always fun to go to any breed’s national, too.

Can you please share some of your most memorable wins?

Winning the Golden National with my best boy, Hobo, for sure. There have been some pretty special Best in Show wins under judges I’ve admired. Watching Jennifer go Best in Show with a Sheltie that was whelped in our living room and that we got to watch grow and mature was pretty neat, too.

Would you like to become a judge in the future? If so, what breeds/groups would you like to concentrate on?

We both have our Juniors licenses. Maybe adding more once we retire from handling. We handle all breeds, so I would enjoy judging all breeds.

You have the power to change dog showing for the better in your eyes, what would you change?

I’m not sure about that one…

What is your favorite way to unwind on days off? Do you have hobbies outside of the dog world?

I love to cook meals for my friends. We also enjoy going to the movies as a family.

What is your favorite holiday destination?

We are water people… beach, lake, river, swimming hole… we love them all.

FROM AN OWNER-HANDLER LEASH

HAYLEE Siegrist-Gross

Please tell our readers how you got involved in the world of pedigree dogs and which people were the most important for your beginnings.

My journey in dog shows started in 2012 when I was 18 years old. Growing up, I had participated in horse shows and even cat shows, so the natural next hobby was dog shows. My mom, Dee Gross, had always wanted to try dog shows and had always wanted a Smooth Collie. I grew up with a Pembroke Welsh Corgi who was not a show dog but was the smartest dog you could ever know.

We got our first Smooth Collie from breeder Erin Blaisure, who helped us get our start in the sport. While I would go to dog shows every now and then, juggling college and a social life, it wasn’t until 2018 that I really got into the sport. At the time, I was living in an apartment with my now-husband Ryan Laske. I wanted a dog, and he said yes, but it had to be a small dog, which meant no Smooth Collie. I did a lot of research on many different breeds, looking for something with great health, a long lifespan, friendly, easy to groom, and most importantly, I had to think it was cute. The Tibetan Spaniel checked all the boxes, and after going to shows and meeting them in person, I knew they were the breed for me.

I got my first Tibetan Spaniel, Pepper, from breeder Colleen Bias Chaffee, and the rest is history. With Pepper, I got my first Regular Group Placements, a Best in Specialty Show, a National Best Opposite Sex in Specialty, BOS at the National Championship, Select at Westminster, top 5 in Breed (2021, 2022), and Allbreed (2022), and #1 NOHS Tibetan Spaniel for 4 years in a row (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)!! She’s also my heart dog, with numerous titles after her name and with the same smartness my Corgi had all those years ago.

Now I’m a breeder and go to dog shows almost every weekend. As my husband would say, I’m obsessed with this sport. When I get into something, I tend to go all in. I figure, as long as I’m still having fun, I’ll keep showing dogs.

What breeds of dogs have you shown over the years, and what breeds are your favorites to work with?

I have shown Smooth Collies and Tibetan Spaniels.

The Smooth Collies live with my mom, and we have finished every one we’ve owned, which makes 5 Champions. Smooth Collies are the most kind and willingto-please breed you could ever meet. They love to be cuddled and are always looking at you, wondering what it is you want them to do. They are sweet with everyone and get along great with the Tibetan Spaniels, too.

Right now, the Tibetan Spaniels have my heart. I like them so much that I decided to make more and bred my Pepper in 2023. We kept her daughter, Cherri, so now we have 2, and they add so much joy to our lives. Tibetan Spaniels are smart—some may say too smart. Pepper knows how to do everything now, but whether she chooses to do it is a different story. She knows to work only if treats are involved. They love to sit on top of high places, and mine will sit on the back of the couch to stare out the window and alert us if they see anything suspicious.

I work from home most of the time, and you can find

Pepper and Cherri in whatever room of the house I’m in, while our 2 cats can be found in whatever room my husband is in. The Tibbies sleep in bed with us every night and wake me up in the morning with kisses. They have added so much joy to our lives, and I am so thankful I get to live my life with Tibetan Spaniels.

Please share with our readers some of your highlights in the show ring as OH, so far.

Some highlights for me include:

Pepper (OHBIS OHRBIS BISS GCHP Shenanwood Strawberry Fields Forever RN FDC BCAT CGCA CGCU TKA ATT FITB)

• #1 Tibetan Spaniel NOHS (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)

• #3 Tibetan Spaniel Breed (2021, 2022)

• #5 Tibetan Spaniel Allbreed (2022)

• Won a Best in Specialty Show in 2021

• Won a National Best of Opposite in Specialty Show in 2022. That National weekend in 2022, she was Best of Opposite 2 days and Best of Breed BOH on the day of the Supported Entry.

• She also won her and my first Best in Show Owner Handler and Reserve Best in Show Owner Handler in 2022.

Pepper’s daughter, Cherri (MOHBIS MOHRBIS GCHB Haylily’s Shenanwood Cherri on Top FDC BCAT), has had an exciting start at only 18 months old. She has won 3 Owner Handler Best in Shows and 2 Owner Handler Reserve Best in Shows in the past 2 months and is currently the #1 NOHS Tibetan Spaniel for 2025. She is also currently the #6 Tibetan Spaniel in Breed Points for 2024.

What makes you more excited – winning an all-breed Best in Show or a Specialty Best in Show?

Both would be very exciting! I’ve come close to the National, winning a Best of Opposite at the National Specialty. I’ve yet to get a Group 1 in the regular group, so that would also be an exciting win for me, as well as a Best of Breed win at Westminster or the National Championship— all goals I am working towards with my dogs!

Every year, I create new goals for myself; that’s what keeps it interesting. In 2020, my goal was to be #1 OH for Tibetan Spaniels, and we did it! My husband asked if that meant I was done showing dogs, and I said, “Well, I have to do it again the next year too!”

On the whole, do you believe there are too many allrounder judges judging your breed and not enough breed

or group specialists?

For Tibetan Spaniels, I do feel there are not a lot of Breed Specialists, mainly because there are just not many breeder judges in Tibetan Spaniels. The worst is in Owner Handler Groups, where I’ve had judges who didn’t even know what the breed was. I’d hope judges would have a basic understanding of every breed they are judging.

Westminster or Orlando? Also, how do you feel about not having Westminster in the Garden anymore?

Both, lol! Westminster is more prestigious, I would say; it’s literally the Super Bowl of the dog world. I love the atmosphere there, and it’s been fun to go to all the locations in New York. Being a tennis fan, I especially liked it at Arthur Ashe—it was neat to be showing dogs where

tennis legends have played. Pepper was invited twice, which adds to the prestige, as you can either earn an invite or make the lottery of 2,500 dogs that make it in.

Orlando is just fun. It’s a massive venue, there are so many events going on, and every day is something different. I love going to the Owner Handler Finals there, and my friends and I always take a trip to Disney while we’re there.

What do you think, where in the world does your breed have the best quality?

I think here in the USA has the best quality for both Tibetan Spaniels and Smooth Collies.

For Tibetan Spaniels, people have imported a lot from other countries in Europe, which helps keep the gene pool fresh. I think, in general, there are a lot of nice Tibetan Spaniels out competing right now. I think it gets better every year too. Since I started showing Tibbies in 2018, I’ve noticed more being shown now, and the quality is always impressive.

How do you feel about the number of shows held weekly around the country?

Well, I’d say there’s a lot, and that does spread the entries thin, but I do show almost every weekend, so I like that there is always a close option (at least here on the East Coast).

Back in 2020/2021, when a lot of shows were canceled due to COVID, I traveled further than ever before because there were limited shows offered on the weekends. That did raise the level and the entries, which I thought was kind of cool. It was also fun going to new places I’d never been before. Now, I usually stick to plac-

es within 2 hours of my house so I can drive back and forth and don’t need to get a hotel. If I had to get a hotel every weekend, it would get too expensive.

Would you ever consider becoming a judge one day?

I would love to become a judge in juniors one day. I think they are the future of the sport, and it’s important to foster an interest early so that dog shows can be around for years to come.

Is there any advice you would like to give both to Professional Handlers, Owner/Handlers, and also judges?

I’m not sure if I’m worthy of giving advice, as there are still plenty of people who have been doing this longer than I have. For Professional Handlers, this is their job, and they are getting paid to do it, which is very different from Owner/Handlers, who are paying to do this as a hobby. For Owner/Handlers, I’d say I hope you’re having fun because, for me, dressing up in nice suits and dresses and getting to show my dogs that I love is a lot of fun.

Also, if you lose, always congratulate the winner.

What is your favorite way to unwind on days off? Do you have hobbies outside of the dog world?

For me, there’s nothing I love more than going on a long walk, whether by myself or with my dogs. It helps me think and clears my mind. I also love reading and try to read a book a week if I can. My husband and I play tennis together, which helps satisfy my competitive spirit when I’m not showing dogs (though he always beats me). We bring the dogs with us to the tennis court, and they play with each other while Ryan and I play tennis.

You have the power to change dog showing for the better in your eyes, what would you change?

If there was a way to ensure that 100% of the time, the better dog was chosen regardless of who was showing, that would be the change I would make.

Is there something that recently moved you?

I’ve been met with lots of kindness in both Smooth Collies and Tibetan Spaniels, especially in Tibetan Spaniels, where there is great sportsmanship. That’s why I’m still showing dogs today—because the people I was competing with were kind to me. I’m not sure how other breeds are, but I think it’s important to always be kind, especially to new people, because that’s what brings them back wanting more.

CHAMPAIGN ILLINOIS Kennel Club

by Alyssa Janiszak

KANKAKEE RIVER VALLEY KENNEL CLUB #1

Friday, October 11, 2024

SPORTING GROUP

GCHG Telltale Bohemian Rhapsody

SPANIEL (ENGLISH SPRINGER)

Owner: B Fink, L Pike, J Vanderlip, S Hatch & G Paulucci · Breeder: C Florence, R Novack & B Fink

HOUND GROUP

GCHS Daybreak’s Makers Mark W

Owner: D Kreig & C Puig · Breeder: D Krieg

WORKING GROUP

DACHSHUND (WIREHAIRED)

SAMOYED

GCHG Nordic’s Hobby Horse Puttin’ On Airs BCAT

Owner: B Fink, L Pike, J Vanderlip, S Hatch & G Paulucci · Breeder: C Florence, R Novack & B Fink

TERRIER GROUP

CH Misty Hollow’s London Fog

SMOOTH FOX TERRIER

Owner: T Schwartz, T Voss, L Siflinger & H Stone · Breeder: T Voss & T Schwartz

TOY GROUP

GCHP Sheeba Ladies Man

CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL

Owner: K Ostmann, I Cahn & D Robinson-Saathof · Breeder: J Becker & K Ostmann

NON-SPORTING GROUP CHINESE SHAR PEI

Plk’s N Xu-Fei Ready To Turn Heads

Owner: L & R Ellis & A Cookson

HERDING GROUP

GCHG Blue Heaven’s Orange Crush

SHETLAND SHEEPDOG

Owner: T Crady, S Perry Hinkle, K Rickard & E Crady · Breeder: L & L Graser

BESTINSHOW

CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL

GCHP Sheeba Ladies Man

Owner: K Ostmann, I Cahn & D Robinson-Saathof · Breeder: J Becker & K Ostmann

R.BESTINSHOW

SPANIEL (ENGLISH SPRINGER)

GCHG Telltale Bohemian Rhapsody

Owner: B Fink, L Pike, J Vanderlip, S Hatch & G Paulucci Breeder: C Florence, R Novack & B Fink

KANKAKEE RIVER VALLEY KENNEL CLUB #2

Friday, October 11, 2024

SPORTING GROUP

GCHG Telltale Bohemian Rhapsody

SPANIEL (ENGLISH SPRINGER)

Owner: B Fink, L Pike, J Vanderlip, S Hatch & G Paulucci · Breeder: C Florence, R Novack & B Fink

HOUND GROUP

BORZOI

GCHS Prairie View Eiswein Von Drachenwald JC DCAT ATT

Owner: J, J & J Zamowski · Breeder: K Sawyer & E Wolf

WORKING GROUP

GCHB Blackjack Livin’ The Dream

Owner: V Allenbrand & E Rush · Breeder: V Allenbrand

BULLMASTIFF

TERRIER GROUP BULL TERRIER (COLORED)

GCHS Hawthorn Dragon’s Heart

Owner: C Whitmer & P O’Driscoll · Breeder: P O’Driscoll

TOY GROUP

GCHP Sheeba Ladies Man

CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL

Owner: K Ostmann, I Cahn & D Robinson-Saathof · Breeder: J Becker & K Ostmann

NON-SPORTING GROUP DALMATIAN

GCHP Planett’s Sun Valley BCAT CGC TKN

Owner: J & M Zeleski, B Kaplan-Barrett & E Barrett · Breeder: B Kaplan-Barrett & E Barrett

HERDING GROUP

GCHG Blue Heaven’s Orange Crush

SHETLAND SHEEPDOG

Owner: T Crady, S Perry Hinkle, K Rickard & E Crady · Breeder: L & L Graser

BESTINSHOW

SPANIEL (ENGLISH SPRINGER) R.BESTINSHOW

GCHG Telltale Bohemian Rhapsody

Owner: B Fink, L Pike, J Vanderlip, S Hatch & G Paulucci

Breeder: C Florence, R Novack & B Fink

SHETLAND SHEEPDOG

GCHG Blue Heaven’s Orange Crush

Owner: T Crady, S Perry Hinkle, K Rickard & E Crady

Breeder: L & L Graser

SPORTING GROUP

QUINCY KENNEL CLUB, INC. #1

Saturday, October 12, 2024

GCHG Telltale Bohemian Rhapsody

SPANIEL (ENGLISH SPRINGER)

Owner: B Fink, L Pike, J Vanderlip, S Hatch & G Paulucci · Breeder: C Florence, R Novack & B Fink

HOUND GROUP

SALUKI

GCHG Omen-Sahara-Starlite Twiggy Running Thru The Roses BCAT

Owner: S Middlebrooks, K & J Musante & C Cowie Noah · Breeder: K Musante, T Turley-Kocab, M Kocab & C Cowie Noah

WORKING GROUP

STANDARD SCHNAUZER

GCHS Morgenwald’s Reach For The Sky V Katon FDC CGCA

Owner: F Cashin, A Geremia, P Ames & M Campbell · Breeder: P Duffee, K Koehler & C Feidner

TERRIER GROUP

GCHG Hiq’s Out Of Left Field

SCOTTISH TERRIER

Owner: R Hess, N Schaus, L Gerster & G Gamble · Breeder: M Harbison

TOY GROUP

GCHG Brylee’s Walk The Plank

Owner & Breeder: M, S & S Abels

NON-SPORTING GROUP

CH Bam’s QB Hickory Hills My Bella Stella

Owner & Breeder: A & B Munson & B Rooney

HERDING GROUP

GCHB Madalay Flyn Under The Radar

HAVANESE

BOSTON TERRIER

AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD

Owner: N & C Jedlicka & K Eden · Breeder: H Bergold, J Young, L Gibson & S Hall

GCHG Telltale Bohemian Rhapsody

Owner: B Fink, L Pike, J Vanderlip, S Hatch & G Paulucci Breeder: C Florence, R Novack & B Fink

GCHS Morgenwald’s Reach For The Sky V Katon FDC CGCA

Owner: F Cashin, A Geremia, P Ames & M Campbell

Breeder: P Duffee, K Koehler & C Feidner

SPORTING GROUP

QUINCY KENNEL CLUB, INC. #2

Friday, October 12, 2024

GCHS Kaska’s Meant To Be CGC TKN

ENGLISH SETTER

Owner: D Brnger, L Gancer & L Cook · Breeder: L Cook, L Gancer & M Coldiron

HOUND GROUP DACHSHUND (WIREHAIRED)

GCHS Daybreak’s Makers Mark W

Owner: D Kreig & C Puig · Breeder: D Krieg

WORKING GROUP

GCHS Bar-K’s Love As It Was

Owner: M Graves II & P Koenig · Breeder: P Koenig

TERRIER GROUP SCOTTISH TERRIER

GCHG Hiq’s Out Of Left Field

Owner: R Hess, N Schaus, L Gerster & G Gamble · Breeder: M Harbison

TOY GROUP POMERANIAN

CHG Tauro Burgundia

Owner: J Januskauskite-Plunge · Breeder: J Januskauskaite Plunge & T Plunge

NON-SPORTING GROUP

GCHP Planett’s Sun Valley BCAT CGC TKN

Owner: J & M Zeleski, B Kaplan-Barrett & E Barrett · Breeder: B Kaplan-Barrett & E Barrett

HERDING GROUP

AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD

GCH Applestream’s Reliving Flasdance RN FD BCAT CGC TKI

Owner: B Hoffman & J Plourde BESTINSHOW

GCHS Kaska’s Meant To Be CGC TKN

Owner: D Brnger, L Gancer & L Cook

Breeder: L Cook, L Gancer & M Coldiron

GCHG Tauro Burgundia

Owner: J Januskauskite-Plunge

Breeder: J Januskauskaite Plunge & T Plunge

ILLINOIS CAPITOL KENNEL CLUB, INC. Sunday, October 13, 2024

SPORTING GROUP

GCHG Telltale Bohemian Rhapsody

SPANIEL (ENGLISH SPRINGER)

Owner: B Fink, L Pike, J Vanderlip, S Hatch & G Paulucci · Breeder: C Florence, R Novack & B Fink

HOUND GROUP

BORZOI

GCHS Prairie View Eiswein Von Drachenwald JC DCAT ATT

Owner: J, J & J Zamowski · Breeder: K Sawyer & E Wolf

WORKING GROUP

STANDARD SCHNAUZER

GCHS Morgenwald’s Reach For The Sky V Katon FDC CGCA

Owner: F Cashin, A Geremia, P Ames & M Campbell · Breeder: P Duffee, K Koehler & C Feidner

TERRIER GROUP

GLEN OF IMAAL TERRIER

GCHG Abberann Rider On The Storm By Galore

Owner: C Puig & T Nesbitt · Breeder: T Nesbitt, A White & A & V Purcell

TOY GROUP

GCHG Tauro Burgundia

POMERANIAN

Owner: J Januskauskite-Plunge · Breeder: J Januskauskaite Plunge & T Plunge

NON-SPORTING GROUP

GCHP Planett’s Sun Valley BCAT CGC TKN

DALMATIAN

Owner: J & M Zeleski, B Kaplan-Barrett & E Barrett · Breeder: B Kaplan-Barrett & E Barrett

HERDING GROUP AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD

GCHS Copperridge’s Believe It Or Not FDC ATT

Owner: S Diaz Martinez & J Miller · Breeder: J Miller & S Blanco

GCHS Morgenwald’s Reach For The Sky V Katon FDC CGCA

Owner: F Cashin, A Geremia, P Ames & M Campbell

Breeder: P Duffee, K Koehler & C Feidner

GCHG Tauro Burgundia

Owner: J Januskauskite-Plunge

Breeder: J Januskauskaite Plunge & T Plunge

MEET THE BREED

SILVIA INÉS TOJO MASTER ROCK Xoloitzcuintles

How did you first become involved with dogs, and what sparked your interest in the sport of dog shows? When did you start breeding, and could you share the story behind your prefix and its significance?

I’ve been involved with dogs for as long as I can remember. When I was a little kid, all I did was think about dogs. As a breeder, I have been around the sport for more than thirty years. My first dog was a Great Dane. The day I went to register him under my name, I was invited by the Great Dane Club staff to attend a specialty show happening the following weekend… and that was it.

The MasterRock prefix is the merger of my previous prefix, “Rock It,” and Miguel’s prefix.

Which dogs do you consider the foundation of your breeding program?

I would say there are two girls that I would consider the foundationofourbreedingprogram.OnewouldbeAbi,who is our Calaco’s mom, and the other is Buga, who produced beautiful solid bitches that are now producing outstanding puppies.

Whatdoyouconsideryourgreatestachievementasabreeder?

Thisisahardquestion.We’veachievedmanygreatthingsin the last few years, but I would say breeding and owning the winningest Xolo in AKC history is the biggest achievement ofthemall.

Who has been your greatest influence in breeding and in what way?

My biggest influence is Miguel, my partner. When I first came to Mexico (I’m from Argentina), I had no experience with the breed. He introduced me to it and decided who to breed to, since he had already shown and owned Xolos before. I guess he made the right calls, haha. I have to give him credit for that. I quickly became passionate about this UNIQUEbreed.

Are there any other people who have been instrumental in your career as a breeder that you have looked up to and admired?

Oh, this is an unfair question since there have been so many people who have helped me throughout all these years, and I am very grateful to them. To name just one would be impossible, but they know who they are. In terms of knowledge, I really follow people like Raymond Oppenheimer or Julia Gasow. I am a strong believer in their words.

What is your breeding policy? Do you work with other kennels, have joint ownerships, or rent dogs in or from other kennels? Or do you prefer to have your stud dogs for yourself?

Our number one breeding policy is that we don’t breed untested dogs. That is a priority. We mainly work with our own dogs, but in this breed, you quickly learn that the genetic pool is very limited, so you must work from time to time with other kennels.

What kind of selection do you prefer in your breeding program: line breeding, inbreeding, or out-cross?

We mainly try to outcross as much as possible. Sometimes we do some line breeding, of course.

Are there any specific stud dogs/brood bitches in your variety, in your country, or globally, that you think have had an important impact on your variety and, if so, why?

Yes, I would like to pay my respects to “Neltiliztli” from owner and breeder Miguel Ángel Retana. This dog is rarely mentioned, but if you look closely at the most dominant Xolos nowadays, he is somewhere behind. In our case, he is Abi’s sire, Calaco’s mom. He is also the sire of Cocoa and Catrina, and like Abi, they are producing beautiful dogs. He is a great producer who produces great producers.

In your perspective, what is the most pressing issue facing the breed today that needs improvement?

I think there are a few things we need to improve within the breed. For example, breed type—we need better structure in every sense and sounder dogs in terms of proportion. Movement is also something we should focus on as breeders. The Xolo is a rectangular, strong dog, and we need to work towards that. We should avoid “sight hound”-looking Xolos or Peruvian Hairless-looking Xolos, in my opinion.

What was the average price of a pup and stud fee when you started, and how did it change over the years and why?

This is also a tough question. In the US, in my experience, the average price for a show puppy is around $4-5k, and the stud fee is typically around $2k, give or take. In Europe, the average price is much higher. A show puppy is sold for around $810k, and stud fees are around $3-5k, give or take. Unfortunately, this difference promotes a lot of backyard breeding.

In your opinion, what steps should we take to ensure the future of the breed in the world?

This is a very important question, as there are already many countries forbidding the Xolo breed, with the argument that being hairless makes them suffer. Personally, I find this completely out of hand. This breed has been alive and surviving without any human intervention for centuries. So, it’s our responsibility as breeders to come together as one and defend and protect our breed in an active way.

Q12: Please mention 3 dogs that are not owned, bred, or shown by yourself, that you particularly admired, and tell us what you most admired about each.

1. Tenango – He holds the All Breed BIS record in Mexico. He was a showman.

2. Tecoman – His achievements in the international scene are remarkable. He is the dog you can see in the FCI breed standard—such a beautiful dog.

3. Georgio Armani – He was the “pioneer” in AKC and opened many doors for the Xolo world.

What is the most important point you would like a judge of your breed to be aware of?

Judges should keep in mind that this is a primitive breed that is not comfortable with contact from strangers. This doesn’t mean fear; they simply prefer to avoid people they don’t know. The way in which the judge approaches a Xolo is crucial to their behavior. Judges should approach without fear and with confidence, though not excessively. They should ask the handler to show them the dog’s bite and avoid overdoing physical contact or giving pats

of thanks at the end, which other dogs may enjoy but Xolos really find uncomfortable. In dogs with hair, contact isn’t as extreme, but in the hairless variety, their sensitivity to contact and the temperature of those examining them is much greater, which can cause exaggerated reactions. The key is confidence, but without excess, and respecting the time of each dog and its handler.

If you were in charge of everything regarding dog shows, what change would you make first?

Only two words: Judges Education. What would be the most important single piece of advice you would give to all serious young breeders?

Watch and learn. I’ve been breeding dogs for over thirty years, and every day I discover new things to learn. I see new generations of breeders who have been breeding for four or five years and think they know it all. You never stop learning about dog breeding. Find a mentor who can back up what they say with facts and study everything you can. Sit ringside and watch the dogs move, watch the handlers work, and learn from the most reputable breeders of your breed and from renowned judges. Don’t base your knowledge only on theory or championships. And never, ever forget why you started in this activity: for the love of dogs.

. ACROSS ATLANTIC .

JASON CRISTIAN Adolini

How did you first become involved in dogs, and what sparked your interest in the sport of dog shows?

I was born into the purebred industry. My mother, being a professional dog groomer and Bichon breeder, instilled in me from my earliest recollection a profound passion for hard work and exquisite attention to detail. During my late teens, I developed a yearning to expand my knowledge base of purebred dogs. At this point in time, I began accompanying my mother to dog shows and was

totally captivated by the dog show scene. From the very first moment I stepped into a breed ring, I knew my direction in life was forever changed. The excitement I experienced from showing dogs was infectious.

What or who inspired you to be interested in dog handling, and how did working in Europe shape your aspirations?

Shortly after I began my involvement in confirmation dog shows, I developed a fascination with the terrier group and the artistry of handstripping and conditioning

Can you tell us about your experience working with some of the best handlers in Europe? What were the key takeaways from that experience?

Undoubtedly, the most influential figure in the scope of my professional handling career has been Javier Gonzalez-Mendikote. From the very beginning, Javier instilled in me a profound passion for excellence in the care, conditioning, and presentation of purebred dogs. I am very glad to have had the opportunity to work alongside him. Javier is always willing to share his knowledge of purebred dogs with me.

What is your favorite group of dogs to work with?

I have an intense passion for hand-stripped and handscissored breeds, particularly Bichon Frise and WireHaired Dachshunds. I have been very fortunate to

present several beautiful representatives of the WireHaired Dachshund breed throughout Europe.

Can you share a memorable moment or accomplishment from your career so far?

The fondest and most memorable moment in my handling career thus far was placing in the group at the European Dog Show in Denmark with my Standard Wire-Haired Dachshund bitch, Margot. I was ecstatic just to have the opportunity to handle a dog in the group ring, and then to goontoplaceinthegroupwasunbelievable.

Please name a few handlers, breeders, or judges that you particularly admire and why.

I was incredibly fortunate to have worked for worldrenowned American professional handlers Bill and Taffe McFaddeninCalifornia.IadmireBillandTaffesomuchfor their lifelong dedication to the sport of purebred dogs. Bill is a very gifted breeder of Wire Fox Terriers; the Random Kennel has produced some of the most beautiful wires throughouttheworld.

What are your favorite shows to attend? They can be in both Europe and the USA.

My favorite European dog show is Split, Croatia, in July. It is always an enjoyable experience and offers a tremendous venue for our sport. My favorite American dog show is the Kennel Club of Palm Springs; this is a beautiful show set in a picturesque location. I would very much enjoy attending the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, which is a show I have not yet been able to attend. Hopefully, I will visit in thenearfuture,asIknowitwillbeanamazingexperience.

Please mention three dogs that are not owned, bred, or shown by yourself that you particularly admire, and tell us what you admired about each.

Three dogs I have always admired, though I was not involved with them, are the Standard Wire-Haired Dachshund dog, Multiple-Champion World-Winner Dolce FontanaDiTrevi,bredbyAnnaluceSaletti(LuxDelPalatino Kennel);theLagottoRomagnolobitch,Multi-CHCruftsBIS 2023AKCGCHKanTraceVeryCheekyChic(Orca);andthe KerryBlueTerrierdog,

American & UK Champion Torum’s Scarf Michael. The commonality among these three dogs is that they were transformativerepresentationsoftheirbreeds.

What motivated your short-term move from Europe to the USA, and how has this transition been so far?

A9: I have always been passionate about fine-tuning my presentationskillsofpurebreddogsandrefiningmycraft.

Bill and Taffe are amazing teachers. I am very grateful for theircontinuedmentorship,guidance,andsupport.

Have you noticed any significant differences in dog handling practices between Europe and the USA?

Iwouldsaythat,ingeneral,thekeydifferencesbetween American and European dog shows are that the level of professionalism regarding grooming, presentation, and business management of American professional dog handlers is higher compared to their European counterparts. This is a generalization, and there are certainly exceptions.

What, in your opinion, could be improved at shows in the USA and in Europe from your own perspective?

I believe that in Europe, it would be wise to offer an owner-handler competition. I truly believe this would be beneficial for increasing entries at dog shows and encouraging newcomers to become involved in our

sport. Additionally, offering an owner-handler BIS competition would encourage novices to continue their involvement in our sport and provide an opportunity for development.

How do you see the difference between the dog handling business in the USA and Europe?

I strongly believe that professional dog show handlers in America are committed to world-class business practices.IntheUnitedStates,thereisastrongemphasis on running a profitable, efficient, and competent dog show handling business. Moreover, clients in America often seem to appreciate the high level of service offered by professional dog handlers.

What would be the most important single piece of advice you would give to all serious young judges?

I firmly believe that young dog show judges must understand the intricacies and nuances of the breeds they are approved to judge. Judges should focus solely on evaluating the dogs, and social politics should never influence a judge’s placements. Judges must also be aware that their placements have consequences for the future of the breeds they are judging. It is also very important for people to be respectful of the exhibitors who give them an entry.

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RINGSIDE MONTGOMERY KENNEL CLUB DOG SHOW

‘24

by RHONDA CASSIDY

AIREDALE TERRIER

GCHS CH SHERWOOD CK DEXTER HAVEN

Owner: Lisa Bryan & Scott Bryan. Breeder: Lisa Bryan & Jennifer Wornall & Christian Rangel.

AMERICAN HAIRLESS TERRIER

CH CAS’ OUTLAW JESSE JAMES

STAFFORDSHIRE TERRIER

GCH CH FRAJA EC REPEAT OFFENDER

Owner: Martin Goldstein & Julia Rudzik & Ellen Bannin. Breeder: Kimberly Rudzik & Ellen Bannin.

AUSTRALIAN TERRIER

BEDLINGTON TERRIER

GCHS FIRST CLASS DELTA OF THE RAPTOR SQUAD

Owner: Jacquelyn Fogel & Andrea Rich. Breeder: Jacquelyn Fogel.

BORDER TERRIER

BULL TERRIER (COLORED)

BULL TERRIER (WHITE)

GCHS CH GALACTIC BITTERSWEET LEGACY AT IRUKANDJI CGCA TKN FDC BCAT RI

Owner: Anna Cremeans & Beth Evans & Jackson Leonard. Breeder: Cathy Egnot & Beth A Evans.

GCHB CH ROCKY TOP’S DREAM CHASER Owner: Lori Kibler & Rebecca & William Poole. Breeder: Lori Kibler & Rebecca P Poole & William F Poole.

Owner: Susan Swords & Christin Cease. Breeder: Susan Swords & Christin Cease.

GCHG CH ROSCHEL FOXRUN THISTLE DO

Owner: Emily Burdon & Jose Miguel Sanchez & Cynthia Lubinsky. Breeder: Jen Holder & Rosemary Shoreman & Micheal Shoreman.

GCHB CH KILLARA FLYING DIRT DEVIL CA BCAT Owner: Anne P., Fiona C. & Moira McGroarty & G Brown. Breeder: Anne P., Fiona C. & Moira McGroarty.

CAIRN TERRIER

CH HJOHOO’S YES HJO CAN

Owner: Elisabeth Theodorsson. Breeder: Elisabeth Theodorsson.

CESKY TERRIER

DANDIE DINMONT TERRIER

Owner: Michael Radzinski.

FOX TERRIER (SMOOTH)

FOX TERRIER (WIRE)

Owner: Fan Yu. Breeder: Bill

GLEN OF IMAAL TERRIER

IRISH TERRIER

KERRY BLUE TERRIER

Owner:

GCHS CH RANDOM RUMBLEBEE

McFadden.

CH EVERLAND CASTLE

Breeder: Jennifer Hecker & Megan Vandenberg.

GCHS CH ROCKLEDGE KNOCK ON WOOD AT THORNTON’S

Owner: L M Honey & C R Comstock & S Mansfield & E Toshio Fugiwara. Breeder: Eduardo Toshio Fugiwara & Sean Mansfield & Linda M Honey.

GCHG CH BLUEFIRE DRIVE BY

Owner: Michael & Susan Cuda & Holly Million & Tim S Smith. Breeder: Tim Smith & Holly Million & Monica Kipp & Pamela S Bale.

GCHP CH ABBERANN SWEET HOME CHICAGO TKN

Owner: Alexander Rogers & Emily Bennett & Theresa Nesbitt MD. Breeder: Theresa Nesbitt MD & Lory Reinisch & Otto Reinisch.

GCH CH DECORUM ON REPLAY

Owners & Breeders: Lindsay N Siflinger & Andrea Curran & Jennifer Hoffmann.

GCHS CH KILGAWNY TAKE MY MAN

John Garahan & Kathleen A Garahan. Breeder: John Garahan & Harold Quigg.

LAKELAND TERRIER

GCHB

Owner:

MANCHESTER TERRIER (STANDARD)

MINIATURE BULL TERRIER

GCH ANCHOR UP GEDUNK

Owner: Elizebeth Spain. Breeder: Elizebeth Spain.

MINIATURE SCHNAUZER

NORFOLK TERRIER

NORWICH TERRIER

PARSON RUSSELL TERRIER

RAT TERRIER

GCHG CH MERAKI INTRIGUED BY THE BEES

CH TOLYN’S HAN SOLO

Leonardo Garcini. Breeder: Lynn A McCain.

GCHB AVALON’S GRAND VOYAGE BN RI TKN CGC

Owner: Lori Pelletier & Susan Newell DVM. Breeder: Lori Pelletier.

CH FOXBEND HOW SWEET IT IS Owner: David Crawford & Susan Crawford. Breeder: David & Susan Crawford.

CH DUGUALLA SPIRIT’S PENNE FOR YOUR THOUGHTS

Owner: Michelle Barlak & Jessica Lyn Stover. Breeder: Jessica Lyn Stover & Carmen E Williard & Bonnie Paul.

GCHS CH HAYSTACK SIERRA ROYAL HENLEY’S GOT THE STROKES

Owner: Ellen Lucas. Breeder: Dina Moore-Tzouris & Mollie R Davis.

GCHS CH ZRULES INVICTUS

Owner: James & Debra Barnhill & Leslie Mendelsohn. Breeder: Debra Marie Barnhill & Leslie Mendelsohn

Owner: Stacy Zimmerman & River Ridge KNL & Jennifer Chappell & Lenore Hedemark. Breeder: Jennifer Chappell & Stacy Zimmerman & Stacy McWilliams.

RUSSELL TERRIER

GCHG CH MONAMOUR BEYOND AND ABOVE

Owner: P Howard & J Paolo Malvar & J Ferrera & Alan Hargrave & V Swarowski DVM. Breeder: Kai Miichi.

SCOTTISH TERRIER

GCHS CH INVERCREST DARK INTRIGUE VIA MACBLAIN

Owner: Daphne Eggert. Breeder: Dr Carol Blain & Lori Tuttle.

SEALYHAM TERRIER

GCHB CH GOODSPICE EFBE DOES MY SPARKLE BURN YOUR EYES

Owner: Tara Bowker & Margery L Good & Emily Bennett & Lucy Spiegel. Breeder: Margery L Good & France Bergeron & Tara Bowker.

SKYE TERRIER

GCHS GLEANNTAN’S SURE SHOT GREYJOY

Owner: Antoinelle Vulpis & Frank Vulpis. Breeder: Allen Smith & Gleanntan Kennels.

SOFT COATED WHEATEN TERRIERS

DOUBLOON’S DOUBLE DARE

Owner: Elena Landa. Breeder: Elena Landa.

STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIERS

GCHG CH WAVEMAKER NONESUCH TT DN CGCA CGCU TKN VHMA VSWB FITG

Owner: J & L Caswell. Breeder: J & L Caswell.

WELSH TERRIERS

GCH CH STUDIO BE CURIOUS JP JUSTICE HERO

Owner: Jill See & Yuko Iguchi & Gabriel & Ivonne Rangel. Breeder: Yuko Iguchi.

WEST HIGHLAND WHITE TERRIER

GCHG CH ELVADOR STARLIGHT GOBLET OF FIRE

Owner: Dr Roxanna Twedt. Breeder: Roxanna Twedt & Patricia Gama.

PURE TERRIER

TERRIER

BESTIN SHOW

SKYE TERRIER

GCHS GLEANNTAN’S

SURE SHOT GREYJOY

Owner: Antoinelle Vulpis & Frank Vulpis. Breeder: Allen Smith & Gleanntan Kennels.

Staffordshire Terrier

Club of America Regional Monday, November 4, 2024

by Alyssa Janiszak

Understanding the Breed Standard is Everyone’s Business

by JACQUELINE FOGEL

Thiscountryhasundergoneasignificanttransformation in how show dogs are bred, and the impact is evident in the overall quality of the dogs now competing. From the 1940s through the 1970s, show dogs were primarily produced in large kennels managed by professional handlers and their staff. These large kennels were knownforproducingidentifiablebloodlines(sometimes more than one) and possessed extensive institutional knowledge of the dogs in their pedigrees. They became recognized for the style of dogs they produced, and many smaller breeders began their own bloodlines by purchasing dogs from these larger kennels.

In the early to mid-1900s, dogs were often treated much like livestock—until the animal rights movement gained momentum in the late 1970s. That movement changed everything. (More on that later.)

In addition to their purchased dogs, newer breeders benefited from built-in mentors with proven success

records, as well as a wealth of genetic knowledge and breeding experience they were eager to share. I purchased my first basset from one of these satellite breeders, and they were always willing to pass along the insights and information they had gathered from the larger breeders who had produced their initial dogs. It wasn’t just the dogs that were passed along to new generations; it was the institutional knowledge and practical information gleaned from decades of breeding high-quality, competitive dogs. This knowledge flowed through networks of puppy buyers.

If you wanted to produce show dogs, all you had to do was buy one from a large breeder or one of their recommended satellite breeders, and listen to their stories. You could also buy books from recommended authors and begin learning from the masters of the trade. It worked much like an apprenticeship program, witheachsatellitebreederdevelopingtheirownstyleor “look” based on the knowledge and breeding practices

they had inherited from their predecessors, as well as their own set of priorities within the pool of well-bred dogs they had available to breed from.

Two things happened independently but simultaneously in the late 1900s that would forever change how show dogs were produced: Large kennels began to disappear, likely because they were too expensive to maintain, and the Animal Rights movement gained significant traction.

I’ve only experienced the large kennels through videos and stories. By the time I acquired my first show-quality dog in 1969, I was already too late to the party. I was well aware of the bigger kennels—Santana-Mandeville on the West Coast and Lyn-Mar Acres on the East Coast. By that time, both had spawned successful smaller satellite kennels, and I began my search for a dog I liked, starting with the West Coast, where I lived. Before purchasing my first show dog, I also started educating myself about the breed.

I ordered a bitch sired by a top-winning stud dog, but my first real disappointment came when I realized I had to return her due to severe hip problems—her hips audibly popped in and out of the socket as she walked. I moved to Wisconsin with my original bitch and her daughter and bred them to a local champion. My first champion came from that litter, but my ongoing education was steering me in a new direction. Along the way, I learned that if I wanted to produce dogs with proper shoulders (critical for a breed that carries over 60% of its weight in the shoulder area), I would need to buy dogs from, or descended from, the East Coast LynMar Acres bloodlines.

I narrowed my choices to three kennels: two on the West Coast and one on the East Coast. I decided to buy

from the East Coast Tal-E-Ho kennel. That purchase, combined with breeding to a dog descended from that line and living in the Chicago area, set my course for the next 20 years. I had identified my mentors, bought a great dog, and bred to a great dog.

However, one thing caused me to stray from my original plan: breeding and whelping issues with my bitches. After five generations of poor to mediocre mothers, I could no longer ignore the genetic patterns being passed down. I knew I needed to change that, but that’s a story for another time.

As the large kennels of the past faded away, the satellite kennels took over the role of mentoring new breeders. On the surface, this seemed to work well. However, the lives of breeders had changed significantly during that time. Instead of breeders who made a living from breeding and caring for their dogs, the new generation of breeders had to work outside the industry to support what had shifted from a full-time family-sustaining business to an expensive part-time hobby.

Theyoungerbreedersofthe1970sthroughthe1990shad the same passion as the professional kennel managers, buttheynolongerhadthetimetomentorpuppybuyers who wanted to show. If new buyers could meet up with their breeders at matches or shows, they had wonderful opportunities to sit together and hear their stories. That’s how my generation of breeders learned the business. We were only one generation removed from the professional kennel managers, and our mentors had learned directly from those breeders. The information passed along was still valid and relevant, but the time we had to absorb it was often limited by our own busy schedules, which required us to work as well.

BECOMMING

Few of us had the resources to maintain large kennels, so most of our dogs became household pets integrated into our busy family lives. We rarely had more than 4-5 dogs at a time, and our free time was consumed with their care, training, and occasional breeding. Add a professional career and children to the mix, and it’s a miracle any of us made it through those years with our marriages intact.

The breeders coming from the satellite kennels had entirely different lives. Many could not afford the commitment of time and resources required to stay with a breeding program, even if they wanted to. Things like bench shows were both a blessing and a curse. I can’t tell you how many Easters I spent on a bench in Chicago, 100 miles away from my husband and children. The blessing was being surrounded by breeders and mentors for days. Thankfully, I have a wonderfully tolerant husband who always loved the dogs and adored his children, but it was a curse to miss so many family holidays. Sometimes, we combined showing with family activities and turned them into mini-vacations. I have very fond memories of the Kalamazoo shows, held next to a beautiful park where the kids played for hours. And Kalamazoo was on a train line that allowed Darling Husband to meet us there after work on Fridays. It was a fantastic way to start the summer every year.

Add the Animal Rights movement to this already strained picture of showing and breeding dogs, caring for young families, and working to support it all, and suddenly you have the straw that broke many camels’ backs. As if all the work of caring for, training, and showing dogs, while raising children, wasn’t enough, now we all had to listen to the self-righteous babbling of a group of do-gooders who couldn’t tolerate dogs

being kept as healthy livestock rather than adored family members, on par with our children. The guilt, and the forthcoming legislation based on that guilt, was overwhelming. The added expense of equating dog care with human care was also overwhelming. It was not enough that we cared well for our own dogs using the knowledge passed down to us from breeders of the past; now we had to get professional veterinary and expert opinions about dental care, wellness visits, canine psychologists, etc., as well as deal with a lot of bogus trainers who knew nothing about canine behavior except what they’d read in a book written by another bogus trainer. Our expenses skyrocketed, though the health of our dogs remained about the same.

We had apprenticed with great breeders, but according to the Animal Rights movement, that was not enough. They wanted all pet care to be professionalized. Unfortunately, few people recognized that there was a method, and an ulterior motive, behind what they were doing. Most people don’t know that the original movement was started by individuals who wanted to end the domestication of all animals. The first step in that process was to force an increase in the cost of caring for all animals. Their theory was that if it became too expensive to care for pets and farm animals, most people would abandon the idea altogether. They succeeded in increasing costs, but they underestimated the bond between humans and animals. That bond is unlikely to change for as long as both exist, no matter how difficult the Movement tries to make it.

So what does all of this have to do with the quality of dogs in the ring today versus the quality of dogs from decades ago? The shift in pet care and management from a skilled trade to a professionalized pet care model

has removed the incentive for owners to understand and directly participate in knowledgeable breeding programs.Asatrade,breedershadtobeknowledgeable about both the overt health of their animals and their genetic health and well-being. They had to understand basic genetics, as well as canine diseases that could affect their dogs. The care and breeding of dogs was a complete package.

Today, pet owners turn to outside “experts” for all things canine. They believe the vets who tell them that a healthy dog is all they need to worry about if they breed, and completely forget that basic breedspecific soundness and genetic well-being are equally important. Today’s breeders have abdicated their responsibilities to their breed, relying on professionals who may or may not understand what their particular breed needs to remain genetically sound as well as healthy. In addition, today’s breeders rarely consult the oldest breeders, who possess a wealth of genetic knowledge, in favor of talking to their own cohort of breeders who may not have a background in health care or genetics. They “learn” many things that are not necessarily true, and are often in conflict with information from several other sources they have consulted.

I often wonder why this happens. Perhaps they’re afraid to talk to older, well-established breeders for fear of sounding ignorant, but I honestly don’t know why they wouldn’t want to learn from the people who know the most.

In short, the apprenticeship model has not been replaced by anything except personal whimsy. Most people who want to breed dogs today have neither

the practical nor the educational experience to qualify themtoproducegeneticallyandphysicallyexceptional dogs. The transition from breeding as a skilled trade to breeding based on learned expertise is incomplete. There are educational materials available for people who want to learn, but few of today’s breeders want to immerse themselves in the level of detail required to produce superior dogs. They equate winning with superiority and make no attempt to understand the difference between the two. And they fail to ask for guidance from the last few breeders around who learned from both experience and educational knowledge.

Every AKC breed has a written standard. It is important thatallnewbreedersnotonlyread,butalsounderstand what all of the words in that standard mean. If you don’t know what a well-laid-back shoulder is, how will you know where to find it and, equally important, how to genetically ensure you can reproduce it with the dogs you have? Breeders, even casual ones, have a responsibility to their breed to improve it. But you can’t succeed unless you know how. The model for acquiring breeding knowledge has shifted, but the need for it remains. It’s everyone’s business to acquire the educational knowledge necessary to preserve our breeds.

Are there good dogs in the ring today? Of course, but the numbers are decreasing. Anyone can put two dogs together and produce puppies, but breeding exceptional show dogs requires so much more. It has now become everyone’s business to understand the health and genetics of good breeding. The quality of our show dogs depends on it.

BEST IN SHOW Gala

TWINKLE AND TOAST

Mark your calendars for the event of the year on December 13, 2024, at the spectacular DoubleTree Orlando SeaWorld! Set against the iconic AKC National Championship by Royal Canin, this gala promises an unforgettable evening you won’t want to miss.

Join us for a night of live music, exquisite dining, and a thrilling auction for Take the Lead, all while celebrating the highlights of the past year and unveiling exciting new projects. It’s the perfect opportunity to come together, celebrate excellence, and ring in the new year in true style.

Enjoy stunning art exhibitions featuring the captivating sculptures of Leslie Hutto and the vibrant paintings of Martial Robin.

The evening promises to keep you on the edge of your seat with thrilling performances, live auctions, and special surprises. Plus, be among the first to hear about the latest initiatives from Best in Show Magazine, shaping the future of the canine world.

This isn’t just a gala—it’s a celebration of passion, dedication, and the incredible connections we share. Secure your seat now for a night that will be the highlight of the AKC National Championship weekend. Let’s make unforgettable memories together as we close out an incredible year and look ahead to all that’s to come.

PHOTOGRAPHERS

KAITLYN & KELSEY Price

Kaitlyn and Kelsey Price are two sisters with a shared vision to create intentional, empowering experiences from start to finish. With their combined creativity, passion for storytelling, and business expertise, they ensure that every detail is thoughtfully taken care of.

Capturing genuine smiles, whether from people or pets, has truly stolen Kelsey’s heart. Having spent a lifetime battling body insecurities that made her uncomfortable in front of the camera, she turned that experience into a driving force. It became her mission to create a space where every individual—no matter their insecurities—feels not only comfortable but also safe in front of the lens. For her, photography is about celebrating the beauty inherent in each person, and she believes the joy of photography should be accessible to everyone.

Watching Kaitlyn succeed and grow her business over the years has been one of Kelsey’s most rewarding experiences. Gravitating toward the “business” side of things, Kelsey has become Kaitlyn’s operations manager, thriving in organization, details, and connecting clients with someone who can bring their vision to life. Outside of work, Kelsey is pursuing a law degree and spending time with her sweet Cane Corso, Glory. She’s learned so much from the creative industry and loves helping clients connect with Kaitlyn, knowing she will help them find exactly what they’re looking for.

LESLIE Hutto

Leslie Hutto is a sculptor from Hyde Park, New York, with a lifelong passion for animals. Encouraged by her family, she began sculpting in high school and received a partial scholarship to study classical sculpture at the Lyme Academy of Fine Art. Leslie later pursued animal anatomy at SUNY Delhi, blending her knowledge of sculpture and animal behavior into a distinctive style that captures the essence and energy of her subjects.

After taking time off to raise her two sons, Leslie continued sculpting part-time, working for dog clubs and private clients. Her work has been featured in Jan E Irving’s Great Dogs Amazing Artists and Women of Grace by Judy Ritter, and she has completed public commissions for institutions like the Cathedral of St. Paul and the Wichita Greyhound Park.

Leslie exhibits regularly at major art events and teaches dog sculpture workshops, sharing her expertise with aspiring artists.

ARTIST

Among Leslie’s awards are:

• Helen G. Oehler Memorial Award American Artists Professional League 2011 Grand National Exhibition Judges Awards

• LSU Animals in Art 2009: “Flight”, Judges Award; Gazehound Bedouin’s Dog

• LSU Animals in Art 2010; “Pursuit(Hound of Heaven)”, Judges Award;

• Second place sculpture Art Show at the Dog Show 2009;

• Richard L. Marini Award Audubon Artists Society ‘s annual Exhibition at the Salmagundi Club NY NY 2010;

• Josephine Beardsley Sandor Memorial Award CLWAC at National Arts Club NYC for ” Takeoff” 2010;

• Judge’s award HVAA 2008, and her work has been included in the prestigious Society of Animal Artists Art and the Animal annual show 2009, 2011, 2012.

• The Bennington: “Bedouin’s Dog” Art of the Animal Kingdom XIX

Professional memberships include:

• Signature Member Society of Animal Artists, National Sculpture Society

• Allied Artists

• Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club

MARTIAL Robin

Leslie Hutto is a sculptor from Hyde Park, New York, with a lifelong passion for animals. Encouraged by her family, she began sculpting in high school and received a partial scholarship to study classical sculpture at the Lyme Academy of Fine Art. Leslie later pursued animal anatomy at SUNY Delhi, blending her knowledge of sculpture and animal behavior into a distinctive style that captures the essence and energy of her subjects.

After taking time off to raise her two sons, Leslie continued sculpting part-time, working for dog clubs and private clients. Her work has been featured in Jan E Irving’s Great Dogs Amazing Artists and Women of Grace by Judy Ritter, and she has completed public commissions for institutions like the Cathedral of St. Paul and the Wichita Greyhound Park.

Leslie exhibits regularly at major art events and teaches dog sculpture workshops, sharing her expertise with aspiring artists.

ARTIST

SIGNATURE PET TRASNPORT

At Signature Pet Transport, we’ve built a legacy of trust, providing premium in-cabin air and ground transportation solutions for discerning dog owners, breeders, and handlers. Every journey is overseen by one of our elite Travel Guardians, ensuring your dog receives world-class care from departure to arrival. For those who prefer to travel alongside their companions, we also offer Travel Concierge Services—from expert consultations to seamless, done-for-you travel document preparation. Expanding on this commitment to excellence, our newest venture, PetAirX, revolutionizes pet travel with pay-per-seat, shared private charters. These exclusive, pet-dedicated flights connect major cities coast-to-coast, allowing dogs of all breeds and sizes to travel comfortably in the cabin alongside their owners.

Whether you choose the personalized expertise of Signature Pet Transport or the innovative flights of PetAirX, our mission remains the same: to deliver safe, stressfree travel solutions tailored to the unique needs of your beloved companions. For the nation’s top purebred dog breeders, owners, and handlers, we understand that your dogs represent more than passion—they’re a legacy. Trust us to protect what matters most with precision, professionalism, and care.

Signature Pet Transport and PetAirX: Setting the gold standard in pet transportation.

TAKE THE LEADAUCTION