The Dachshund Diary, Charles Baris

These articles will be a continuing feature in the DCA Newsletter. Thank you to Claire Mancha and Kathy Lockyer for initiating the research involved in order to share such an important part of Dachshund history. This article was submitted and written by John Hart.

A well known and well respected All Breed Judge once called Charles “The Mayor of Dog Shows”. You see, for him, it wasn’t politics. He loved it and he truly loved the people.

CHARLES BARIS

February 10, 1939 - August 11, 2022

Charles, having been born and raised in NYC, had never owned a dog in his first 30 years.

On January 6, 1969 he met me and my 2 year old smooth dachshund bitch named Hartig’s Red Rhapsody “Lisl” and it was love at first sight for both of them. “Lisl” immediately transferred her affections from me to “the love of her life”. Charles was a “dog whisperer”. He could work magic with dogs.

She was subsequently bred and produced the first dachshunds to carry the Barhar moniker (a combination of our surnames Baris & Hart). CH Barhar Big Spender and CH Barhar Funny Valentine. Spender was shown to his championship by Howard Nygood. Lucy, Funny Valentine, was shown by Charles.

In a short amount of time, we had the good fortune to acquire CH Midernoch’s Wild Card W “Minnie” who was bred to CH Ventebe's Draht Timothy. That litter produced CH Barhar Pal Joey & CH Barhar Two O’ Hearts v Midernoch. Her second litter by CH Westphal’s Shilalah produced 4 champions. Minnie went on to produce 4 more champions which was a record for a wire bitch at that juncture.

One of her get from that second breeding produced CH Barhar Pickwick “Pippin”, who opened the door for us and made a notable owner handler of Charles. Pippin went on to be the top wire in the Dachshund Variety System. The sister, CH Barhar Gingerbread Lady W, finished easily with Charles on the other end of the lead.

The slower maturing brother, CH Barhar Mlnnie’s Boy W “Buzzie” finished by going WD, BOW and BOV at DCA, then on to winning BOV at DCA again the next year. He was defeated the third year by his brother Pickwick. Buzz was a multigroup winner and All Breed Best In Show winner.

As fate would have it, and it still baffles me, we were offered the great smooth CH Farmeadow Light Up The Sky, and he did! He was 3 times BOV at DCA and had many group and an all Breed Best. He was #1 in the country all system one year, which alludes me at the moment. He was also a sire of great repute.

Again, almost accidentally, we were given the longhair CH Kemper Dachs Bad Habits, as a replacement for his dad, CH Bayard le Jordan, who died shortly after Pat Kemper had sent a bitch to be bred to him.

Knowing how crushed I was at the loss of Jodi, Pat called me on my birthday and invited me to take any puppy in the litter when they were old enough. Though Pat and Charles were enamored of one of the pups, I selected another that most reminded me of Jordan. That puppy turned out to be CH Kemper Dachs Bad Habits, a multiple Specialty, Group and Best in Show winner.

For a small “Kitchen Kennel” owner, success was unbelievable and unexpected. The dogs of Barhar became the only wire, smooth and longhair owned by the same owner, to win Bests in Show “all breed” at that time.

Our smooth bitch CH Doxhaus Starmaker of Barhar also went Best in Show, making Charles the only owner handler to accomplish the Long, Wire & Smooth all Breed Bests.

Charles eventually applied for his judges license and enjoyed a remarkable judging career. For a “one breed judge” he was invited to judge all over the world.

He judged 3 times in Japan, twice in China, once in Australia, all over Canada and the United States. He was also invited to judge Wires at the Centennial Show of the “The Dachshund Club” of England.

He and Ann Gordon were tied for the most DCA judging assignments when they retired from the show ring.

Charles was President of the Knickerbocker Dachshund Club for at least 20 years.

At the February specialties he would invite 4 judges of repute to judge the varieties, and as an added enhancement, he would invite 8 judges to act as his “Celebrity Panel of Stewards”. No one ever turned him down.

A well known and well respected All Breed Judge once called Charles “The Mayor of Dog Shows”. You see, for him, it wasn’t politics. He loved it and he truly loved the people.

Charles and I were together for 531⁄2 years and were married on our 40th Anniversary.

I’m John Hart, the “har” in Barhar and it was my privilege to be a part of this unexpected journey .

As Charles was the love of Lisl’s life, he was also the love of mine.

This is a reprint of the DCA article from the Winter, 2013 DCA Newsletter.

Charles A. Baris, a native New Yorker, was born and raised on the Isle of Manhattan graduated from Mt. St. Michael Academy and St. John’sUniversity and spent his Professional career on Madison Avenue in the advertising business. Since retirement, he can be found working at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

It wasn’t until 1969 when, by chance, a rather opinionated red smooth Dachshund named Lisl came into his life and changed it forever. Charles began his love for the breed, and his winning ways that eventually grew

John with CH Kemper Dachs Bad Habits, CH Barhar Minnie’s Boy W, Charles with CH Farmeadow Light Up the Sky “The Barhar Boys”

Charles with CH Barhar Pickwick

Charles accompanying Ann Gordon to her son’s wedding.

Charles with CH Kemper Dachs Bad Habits Starmaker

Charles with a miniature longhair puppy

Charles with CH Doxhaus Starmaker of Barhar

into a rather impressive record. A breeder, owner, handler, he managed to dominate the Dachshund ring from 1975 to 1985, finishing over 85 Dachshunds with more than 800 Best of Varieties; numerous hound groups and All Breed Best in Shows on 4 different Dachshunds (long, smooth and wire), each of whom climbed to #1 in the statistics, making Charles one of the most successful owner/handlers in the history of the breed, and BARHAR (Baris and Hart) the only kennel to accomplish this feat.

During the 1980’s, Charles campaigned the Sky daughter, Ch. Doxhaus Starmaker of Barhar, and the longhair, Ch. Kemper Dachs Bad Habits many times into the Best in Show winners circle, continuing his ability to take his dogs to #1 on the charts. A little-known fact is Charles also bred and showed long and wire miniature Dachshunds, German Wirehaired Pointers, Dandie Dinmont Terriers, and a Petite Basset Griffon Vendeen, all of which lived harmoniously in their “kitchen kennel”.

At the height of his show career in 1985, Charles decided to turn in his “lead”for a turn at judging, and never returned to the show ring again as an exhibitor. Charles remains active in the dog world: former DCA’s delegate to the AKC, a position enjoyed for the last 12 years; he is also President of the Knickerbocker Dachshund Club and member of several all-breed clubs. He divides his time between his home in New York City and his Oceanside retreat on the Delmarva Peninsula. Charles continues to judge dog shows all over the world and thanks his many Dachshunds who have made this all possible... the wonderful world of dogs. None of this would have been possible without the love and guidance of his life-long partner, John Hart, who was there on the side-lines.

John Hart, the complimenting partner of Barhar Dachshunds, acquired his first Dachshund in 1954; his name was Prince Rupert v Wilhelm and this is where the Dachshund saga began for John. Rupert dominated John’s life until he was stolen from his backyard while John was away at college in New York. ln 1963, while working as a vet’s assistant in Briarcliff New York, John had the opportunity to meet the Dachshunds von Westphalen and at that point, his love of the breed was rekindled. As John states, “From this point on, with generosity, hard work, a lot of luck... fate wrote my script. Peggy Westphal (Ms. Dachshund) gave me my first Dachshund, Capricious v. Westphalen, who took 2nd in a huge black and tan class of 22, at DALI in 1963. I was hooked.”

Knowing absolutely nothing about the breed, John had the good sense to just listen, ask questions and read everything he could about Dachshunds. He states, “My copy of the 20th Anniversary Issue of the American Dachshund literally fell apart in my hands.’ ln the mid 1970s John’s pride and joy came into his life: CH Farmeadow Light Up the Sky, “Sky” was the #1 Dachshund in 1977-1978. He was a red smooth standard dog with 3 BOVs in a row (1976, ’77, ‘78) at the DCA and was retired after this last victory. He then went on to sire over 56 champions. This wonderful dog helped motivate and propel the Barhar boys into the winning circle for years to come.

John notes many luminaries in the Dachshund world who gave him insight, opinions and guidance, such as: Peggy Westphal, John Cook, Bob Forsyth, Grace Hill, Frank and Dorothy Hardy, Jane and Bobby Fowler, Pat Kemper and Mary Howell. As John states, “I’d like to thank these generous people who gave me access to their wisdom and opinions and for making this a joyous ride, Of course, I am thankful to my partner, Charles Baris, without whom this breathtaking adventure would not have been possible. And, lest I forget...Thank you God.”

Charles Baris and John Hart created the renowned BarHar Dachshunds. Listed below are some of their famous cast of characters: • CH Barhar Big Spender S. the first Barhar champion. • CH Midernoch Wild Card W (Minnie) - dam of 10 wire champions whose children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren dominated the wire ring, including a Hound Group 1 at the Garden and several DCA BOV National wins, as well. • CH Barhar Pickwick, (Pippin) - #1 wire, as well as DCA-BOV 1977. • CH Barhar Minnie’s Boy W #1 wire 1976, BOV DCA 1975 from the classes, and another DCA-BOV in 1976 with several all breed Best in Shows and many group wins. • CH Kemper Dachs Bad Habits - #1 long 1980, 250 BOVs, as well as several all breed Best in Show wins and numerous hound groups. • CH Doxhaus of Starmaker of Barhar, a Sky daughter, with many BIS wins and 150 BOVs.

Charles with CH Kemper Dachs Bad Habits

INTERVIEW

Question #1: How did you learn so much about Dachshunds and who were your mentors in the Dachshund world?

CAB: I read all the old Dachshund magazines that had so many wonderful articles in them written by the top breeders of the day, studied the photos of the dogs, developing a mental image of the standard. John Hart was my best mentor who knew so much about the breed.

JRH: I read and read the American Dachshund, particularly the 20th Anniversary Issue that was the bible of the breed and still is.

Question #2: Why do you think you and John have been so successful with breeding top-quality, winning Dachshunds?

CAB: I think God played a role here. However, that is another story for another day.

BOTH: “Watch, look and above all listened, asked questions but did not voice an opinion until the time came when we felt we had an opinion to share. After many years doing my homework, l felt I had a good foundation for my opinion IF asked. I think because John and I had different opinions and points of view on our dogs and breeding, it helped keep us open-minded and objective.

Question #3: What is the lineage of your top Dachshunds?

ANSWER: Smooths – Heying Teckel and Fleming, Wires – Westphalen, Longs –Kemper Dachs, and Bayard.

Question #4: What advice would you give to someone new to the world of breeding Dachshunds?

BOTH: Study and read the old magazines if you can get your hands on them. The articles, although written a while ago, still apply. Sit at ringside and study the dogs in the ring with an open mind and talk to the breeders. Don’t be too quick to judge and run your mouth.

Question #5: How were you able to breed and raise Dachshund puppies in an apartment in New York City?

CAB: Now that would be quite a picture! When we were breeding and showing from 1970-1998, we had a large home in Montrose, NY with an outside X area. Although we had what we called our “Kitchen Kennel” all our dogs lived with us in this kitchen area and were exposed to many people and situations that we felt contributed to their good temperament inside and outside the show ring. Constant socialization is very

important to new pups and older dogs, as well. All our dogs were free to socialize until feeding or bedtime when each would go to their own house (plastic crate) that they loved.

Question #6: Since you have experience with all 3 varieties, besides their coat, what do you think differentiates the 3 varieties from each other?

CAB: Smooths, with their strong Germanic tendencies, are in charge of all situations, and very opinionated. Longs, very easy-going and laid-back, prefer to sit back and watch the others get into trouble. Wires, the clowns, are always in motion and love everybody. Kiss, Kiss, Kiss...

JRH: I once heard it said that the smooth was the sophisticate, the long was the aristocrat, and the wire was the buffoon.

Question #7: What is the top challenge in proper breeding for each variety?

BOTH: Finding a good quality foundation bitch, if you do not have one, then go out and buy a good one. Line breed her to stud dogs in her pedigree that have produced some of the qualities you want to introduce to your line and, hopefully, the breeding will produce. Do not breed to photos of stud dogs. Repeat the breeding at least one more time. Sometimes, the second time around will produce qualities lacking in the first attempt.

Question #8: As a judge, what is the most common fault you see in the Dachshund breed?

CAB: As a judge, I think dogs who finished their championship by the “Grace of God” are now in the specials class and should not be. We have lost a strong under jaw; we now have flat back with no raise over the loin. We now have fronts that are set too far forward and lacking upper arm. Our breed was meant to be gaited at a proper pace, not raced around the ring as so many are these days. There is nothing more unsightly than a short-legged Dachshund moving at a pace it cannot manage - legs going in all directions.

Question #9: What concerns do you have about the future of the Dachshund breed?

CAB: Our concerns lie with smooths and longs. There has been remarkable improvement in miniatures in all 3 coats. Standard wires are much improved and much better now. For the most part, smooths, with a few exceptions, have taken a few steps backward. Longs essentially have remained the same. I think they could be a little smaller and shown with less coat, which masks breed type. Not a pretty look in my opinion. Proper grooming is important.

Question #10: If you could change anything in the Dachshund world, what would it be? BOTH: The newcomer with a few wins under their belt becomes an instant expert. In addition, that new exhibitor should stay around and watch the entire Dachshund judging instead of packing up and leaving after they have shown. Maybe even stay to watch groups and Best in Show. Spend time talking to other breeders as well as breeders of other breeds. Make new acquaintances and develop new friendships. This is how you learn and grow in the sport, by expanding your horizons.

Question #11: Do you have a fond memory you or John can share from your time in the Dachshund world?

BOTH: The first time we laid eyes on a 7-month-old cherry red smooth puppy that we later named Farmeadow Light Up the Sky.

CAB: The DCA (1975) when our smooth Dachshund “Light Up The Sky” won his third consecutive Best of Variety and was promptly retired. The honor of being elected DCA delegate to the American Kennel Club and when l stepped down after 13 years, I received a huge standing ovation by the membership at the DCA Annual Meeting for my thirty years of service to the club and fancy... that was quite an emotional moment for me.

JRH: At one of the associated shows with DCA, Judge Tommie Steward (a prominent wire breeder judge), in her final cut for Best of Variety, pulled out CH Barhar Pickwick, CH Barhar Minnie’s Boy W, CH Barhar Dulcinea, CH Barhar New Girl in Town and CH Barhar Gingerbread Lady from a huge class of specials. All litter mates.

BOTH: The Barhar Boys, Minnie’s Boy, Pippin and Light Up the Sky winning the DCA three years in a row...never done before.

Question #12: Today and in the past, what activities have you and your dogs been involved in, besides the show ring?

BOTH; All our activities and efforts revolved around Dachshund conformation, with no apology for that. We also devoted a great deal of time to our All Breed Club, Knickerbocker, trying to make it a special annual event where people would come and enjoy themselves and return the following year with new friends. I think we succeeded in this area.

Question #1 3: What Dachshunds do you have now at home with you and John?

BOTH: ln 1995, when our last Dachshund, Minnie’s Boy W, at 18 years of age, passed away, we moved into a condo on Central Park West, living on the 20th floor with no dogs. Question #14. Any future plans or changes foreseen in your Dachshund involvement?

CAB: Now that I am only accepting one or two judging assignments a year John and I have now become “Travel Junkies’, experiencing what the world outside has to offer - people, places, things. Try it sometime. We recently judged a show in China and are planning another one soon.

Question #15: What did you get out of being so active within the Dachshund world and organizations?

ANSWER: What the two of us owe to our breed cannot be measured. It has given us a great deal of fun and satisfaction. So many life-long friendships, as well as so many wonderful invitations to judge dogs in foreign countries, like Japan, China, Australia, England, and Canada; establishing friendships and being able to see other examples of the breed in foreign countries, many with ties to our blood lines.

A little something to remember from Charles: “Every dog is different.They need to be groomed differently, handled and shown differently, and a close rapport developed with each to get the most out of the partnership in the ring.”

“We cannot close any interview about Dachshunds without expressing our gratitude to Peggy Westphal, Mary Howell, Bobby Fowler and Pat Kemper for their advice, guidance, and their friendship over the years.”

“Thank you Doxie Digest for the opportunity to participate in this interview and to you, the readers, who are reading about these two lucky guys.”! (The article was originally published in the discontinued “Doxie Digest” in 2013.)

CHIC #167776

At the All Hound show of Bellingham Bing At the All Hound show of Bellingham Bing wins BOV and goes on to win an Owner wins BOV and goes on to win an Owner Handler Group 2 and then wins a Group 4 in Handler Group 2 and then wins a Group 4 in the Hound Group under breeder judges Janet the Hound Group under breeder judges Janet and Robert Schwalbe. Thank you and Robert Schwalbe. Thank you for your for your wonderful comments on him. wonderful comments on him. Bing won Absolute at the Willamette Valley Bing won Absolute at the Willamette Valley Dachshund Club field trial. Thank you Dachshund Club field trial. Thank you to all to all the hard working clubs, members and judges the hard working clubs, members and judges at these events. at these events.

Jordin Misfeldt-Wallis & Kyle Wallis Jordin Misfeldt-Wallis & Kyle Wallis Royalaire Royalaire Royalairekennels@yahoo.com Royalairekennels@yahoo.com

We are proud to announce Evee is now a Dual Champion at 12.5 years old she had as many as eight 2nd places needing that elusive 1st place. She got that 1st place under Jerry and Pat Price and finished with almost 70 points which is nearly unheard of on the west coast!

She came out this fall for field trials She came out this fall for field trials and surprised us by getting her 1st place and surprised us by getting her 1st place in a large competitive class. She finished the in a large competitive class. She finished the field trial season with several placements and is field trial season with several placements and is well on her way to her FCH. She has also has well on her way to her FCH. She has also has been active in Earthdog getting one been active in Earthdog getting one Novice Leg, Farm dog, and will be back in the Novice Leg, Farm dog, and will be back in the show ring this fall. show ring this fall.