Dog News, March 4, 2016

Dog News make nice!

Donna Beadle <eclipsekennels@live.com> The Digest Vol.32, Issue 9

Of American Dogs $5.00

Top of Page: Under her name: In left-hand corner: Handled by: Amanda Giles & Daniel Martin Owned by: Debbie Butt & Donna Beadle Bred by: Donna Beadle, Eclipse Kennels www.eclipsekennels.com, eclipsekennels@live.com

March 4, 2016

Multiple Best In Show Multiple Reserve Best In Show Multiple Best In Specialty Show

Contents

March 4, 2016

10 Editorial 14 Babbling: Glorifying The Past? By Geir Flyckt-Pedersen 18 Gimme Shelton: “Purebred And Proud” Part II By William P. Shelton 22 Question Of The Week By Matthew H. Stander 26 The British Scene By Geoff Corish 30 Brace Yourself: Another Giant Gone - Hans Lehtinen By Andrew Brace 34 Bests Of The Week 38 Ten Questions Asked of Christopher Keith 40 The Labrador Retriever In Art By Nick Waters 42 Marxisms: Canine College By Syd Marx 46 Amtrak’s Pet Policy Becomes Permanent On Most Trains Nationwide By Sharon Pflaumer 48 True North: A Report From Canada By Allison Foley 52 Rare Breeds Of The World: Sulimov aka Shalaika (Russia) By Agnes Buchwald 56 A Convocation of Politic Worms By Carlotta Cooper 60 Off The Leash: Amendments And Alerts By Shaun Coen 64 Election Shenanigans & Rumors, Monmouth Disbanded, Cathy Nelson & More By Matthew H. Stander 66 The White House Guards: The Belgian Malinois 72 Mouscron, Belgium 2016 80 The Gossip Column

By MJ Nelson

By Karl Donvil

By Eugene Z. Zaphiris

82 Click - Indy Winter Classic

By Booth Photography

84 Click - The Way We Were - Kennel Club of Beverly Hills 1992 By Eugene Z. Zaphiris

• 86 handlers directory • 88 classified advertising & subscription rates • 90 advertising rates DOG NEWS (ISSN 0886-2133) is published weekly except the last two weeks in December by Harris Publications, 1115 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10010. Periodical Postage paid at New York.

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4 Dog News

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Dog News 5

C O V E R S T O RY • M a rc h 4 , 2 0 1 6 • V o l u me 3 2 , I ss u e 9

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DOG NEWS is sent to all AKC approved Conformation Judges with more than one breed every week and have adjudicated at a licensed AKC show within the past three years on a complimentary basis. No part of this publication can be reproduced in any form without written permission from the editor. The opinions expressed by this publication do not necessarily express the opinions of the publisher.

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Dog News 7

Stan

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Import Ireland

Number One Staffordshire Bull Terrier In America - All Systems A TOP #1 0 Terrier* In the U.S. Group Winner & Multiple Specialty Winner

GCh. Lackyle Bairille Dubailt Handled By Ed Thomason Owner Zane Smith www.bullseye.world *CC System

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Thank you to Judge Mrs. Judith Daniels for this very strong Group Second

Dog News 9

The Editorial

A Strange Sort Of Endorsement

T

he Board of the ADSJ last week endorsed two candidates for the AKC’s Board of Directors on the basis that they had opposed a provision of the new judges approval system that was condemned by ADSJ as well as these pages and many others throughout the Fancy. Yet these two same individuals initially voted for the ridiculous masking procedure and while one changed her mind eventually the other did not. It is the strong opinion of these pages that any endorsement of any candidate should be based on an overall evaluation of a person’s work and viewpoints and not on an extremely limited three or four words contained in a single proposal. There are so many aspects of the new judging approval process to question and so many really important issues facing AKC that the ADSJ showed poor judgment in basing an endorsement on those specific words considering the fact that non-board member candidates expressed similar sentiments as the two sitting board members as well. It’s not the people (totally) to whom these pages object notwithstanding the fact that these pages decided to not endorse anyone but the reason for which they did it--seems odd to these pages for sure.

The Election Itself

W

ell the March election will be over by the time most of you read these pages. The last two weeks have been rather contentious with rumors and counter charges being spread by certain people within the Fancy. This seems to be a pattern set last year when an attempt was made to question the character of an individual running for the Board the week before the election but which was ignored by most fair thinking people. Similar at-

10 Dog News

tempts have been made by the same people this year, which have been anything but verified once again. Indeed these rumors have been checked out by these pages and have been totally denied by the accused. If after the election those spreading these so-called untrue rumors prove incorrect they owe the sport at least a major apology that’s for sure but should the opposite occur and the rumors prove true these pages have documented denials and those accused should pay the piper. These pages are pretty confident though that will not be the case.

Building The AKC Brand In The Pet Sector

A

lexandra Aleskovsky, the newly appointed Chief Growth Officer of AKC (a title becoming more and more recognized in corporate America but unusual I am told for a 503c4 such as AKC) who now attends all Board Meetings (again an unusual situation for AKC), gave a business report full of the usual language and hyperbole one would expect of a Harvard Business Grad using words such as optimize, rationalizing, resources aligned, focusing and prioritizing, strategic and the like all intended to impress the uneducated masses as well as the Board itself. Nonetheless her report ended with a reference to building the AKC Brand in the pet set, which of course is something everyone ever hired

by AKC who has had no real dog background tries to establish. Good luck to her in this area for sure, as her attempts for “Topline Business Opportunities” will include increasing advertising sales, e-commerce and a web site optimization to maximize content and commerce opportunities. Sound familiar???

A Significant Commitment

By AKC To Education

W

hat is the Canine College and what does that mean insofar as Judges Education is concerned? How much money is going to be budgeted for this Canine College initiative? What is the initiative that the Staff has selected called the Learning Management System--what in the world does that mean? Who within the Fancy has been consulted about this program? According to the Board Minutes this platform will form the backbone of an overall education strategy beyond judges education. Would any fair-minded person trust this Board to a carte blanche establishment of a Canine College based upon the latest judges approval program adopted by this Board and this Staff?

Come on guys and gals come clean before spending the money and establishing the program-what’s up your sleeves this time-more generic judging education with an even lesser emphasis on knowledge and hands-on experience? More computer generated standards and fewer hands-on requirements? Unacceptable these pages say, as we ask - nay demand - information about what this Board and Staff are up in these areas for sure.

Thought For The Week

T

he widely acclaimed “documentary” produced by AKC and aired by AT&T UVerse Sports is a good “pr” coup for AKC in the sense that finally the show has received some proper form of publicity. Does it replace public TV airings? Of course not but it is an attempt to raise the bar, which is more than has happened at AKC in quite a while insofar as public relations communications are concerned. How this affects FidoTV and AKC’s relationship though is a legitimate question to raise one would think.

Dog News 11

Audrey - Am. & Can. Best in Show Reserve Best in Show Multiple Best in Specialty Winner

Reserve Best in Show - Thank you Judge Mrs. Patricia A. Mowbray-Morgan

2015 Morris & Essex Best in Specialty Winner

Presented by Katie Shepard and Adam Bernardin Owners Jim Douthit, Helyne Medeiros, Julie Kempster Breeders Helyne Medeiros, Sean & Tammy McCarthy

Group First - Thank you Judge Mr. Eugene Blake 12 Dog News

GCh. Seasyde Holly Golightly

Best in Show - Thank you Judge Mrs. Ann F. Yuhasz

Group First - Thank you Judge Mrs. Mary Ann Alston Dog News 13

a bb ling B

By Geir Flyckt-Pedersen

Glorifying The Past??

I

s something my Swedish Uncle in Ojai, CA has blamed me for at times.

And of course he could be right. How many times during the last 25 years I have repeated that I feel very fortunate to have entered this world involving dog breeders and exhibitors at a time when we experienced sets of different values and priorities to what we witness today, I will never know for sure.

One important change is in my opinion the perception of time. In other words the time people had to spend together, visit friends and in general time to travel.

If we go back some 30-40 years the ringside at the most famous British summer shows were packed with visitors from all over the world, the majority Scandinavian and American, but also from India, Pakistan, South America, Rhodesia, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. Global friendships were established and many of us kept in touch by handwritten letters!!! Can you believe it??

I still have copies of all my correspondence from the beginning of time until writing letters went out of fashion a couple of decades ago.

Occasionally I take a look “backwards” and it is so amazing how many memories are refreshed by doing so. Both about people and incidents…

So many times your impression of unknown writers were based completely on handstyle and how they were able to express themselves…

Which at times led to some interesting surprises when we eventually met. But I did, and will always, admire some people’s handstyle. An area in which I did not excel myself…

If the Windsor show kept a guest book I guarantee it is very interesting reading. Official dinners for exhibitors and judges alike, organized dinners and get-togethers whenever there was a decent excuse found to spend some fun time together with like-minded individuals.

The same applied to Crufts, many summer all breed and breed shows- and I dare say in the US you had “parade” shows like Santa Barbara, Westminster, Westchester and for all terrier enthusiasts of course Montgomery.

Oh yes, there are still a multitude of overseas visitors present at these shows, but considerably fewer than in the “good old days”.

From Norway we every year chartered a regular passenger jet to transport dogs and owners to some of the major Finnish shows – and at least one full plane, without dogs of course, to Crufts. Buses were chartered for journeys to many other Scandinavian shows, but always included was time for parties.

Living in the UK we used to have lots of friends coming from different parts of the world and staying for a week or more.

A great time was had by all, but then what happened?

For something definitely happened.

What had happened to all time people used to have?? It all of a sudden seemed fashionable to give the impression of being extremely busy all the time.

But I still miss those old days when even the smaller sanction or limited shows were not considered over until we had all spent a few hours in the local pub and gone through all the mistakes the evenings judge had made during the show…

A favorite memory of mine is from Dublin, Ireland where I some hundred (so it seems) years ago judged a terrier show and was then invited to join the exhibitors for a pub meal round the corner.

I cannot recall any people eating anything during the meal, but can confirm that a huge number of my favorite Guinness were consumed by some of the exhibitors. Well, who needs food- there is plenty of nourishment in Guinness- and in addition it seems to loosen ones tongue =, erase all inhibitions plus change your personality and make you blatantly honest. Giving you the chance to in complete honesty let that SOB who just judged

“Living in the UK we used to have lots of friends coming from different parts of the world and staying for a week or more. A great time was had by all, but then what happened?”

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Continued on page 68

“

Rondo

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Starts the year off right going: BEST IN SHOW Maryland Kennel Club Judge Ms. Patricia Anne Keenan RESERVE BEST IN SHOW Maryland Kennel Club Judge Mr. Jason Hoke BEST OF BREED Westminster Kennel Club Judge Mr. Richard Powell

CH. LOTRANDO SUNSHINE CELEBRATION Expertly Handled By VANESSA SKOU Owners ZANE SMITH & VANESSA SKOU www.bullseye.world 16 Dog News

Dog News 17

“Purebred and Proud”

PART TWO

By William P. Shelton

R

ecently the producer of the documentary “Purebred Dogs Exposed” contacted me and asked me to define to her just what I meant by the phrase, “Preservation breeder, purposefully breeding,” or was this definition just more “empty rhetoric” from breeders? So I did my best!

We are a collective conservancy of many likeminded individuals who come together to purposefully breed and shelter a distinctive group of purebred canines. We preserve their legacy through educational and practical knowledge. Responsible breeders are compelled by a creed of improving their breed in the highest state of overall health, soundness and heritage. Preservation breeders strive towards a specific breed’s standard, which are set forth by long standing parent clubs that are bound to a mission of ensuring the legacy of their breed. The choices a breeder formu-

lates, with each future litter, becomes paramount that these decisions will be taken so seriously that they inflict no irreversible harm, always leaving their breed better than they found it, and on course for this generation and future ones to thrive well into the future.

It’s a breeder’s obligation to cultivate awareness and appreciation of their breed through education of not only themselves, but all those they come into contact with. Mentoring, education, and the sharing of experience are the clear path to a breeder’s future and success.

Preservation breeders recognize that each breeding they undertake is resolutely achieved with the intent of each subsequent breeding leading to the reasoning and again purpose for future litters. When committing to a litter they are taking into consideration the overall soundness as it relates to general canine function and the breed’s specific form and character. They breed forward for greater health of each litter and individuals by using the latest in DNA breed specific genetic markers, and other practical testing forms such as hips, eyes, hearts and many others used on a regular basis by breeders. They are mindful and are obligated to report these veterinarian results to such organizations as OFA, Cerf, and others. Thus by sharing these results, other breeders may use them as tools and making it more evident in identifying other healthy strains of families in which to breed on from. In essence their goal has been to create and contribute to what has become known as the healthiest canine colony known to exist. How can we predict this?

Because there are no other families of dogs doing what we do today in the world, specifically in the case of generations of veterinarian documented health testing, selection and purposeful breeding of the next generation of the happiest, healthiest family of dogs.

Responsible breeders are conscientious about the daily safe keeping of their family of dogs and each individual they bring into this world. So much so that rigorous placement practices are adhered to before puppies are ever appropriately placed. Along with the guarantee that for any reason fam-

Gimme

Shelton

Continued on page 70

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Question the

Of the week

By Matthew H. Stander

The Board of Directors of the ADSJ’S Organization has endorsed two people running for the Board based solely on their having opposed certain provisions of the new Judging Approval Process. Yet the Board Minutes of February indicate there was a dramatic 3x increase in the number of applications per month after the approval of this new approval process. The Question for this Week is how to explain this dichotomy and whether or not it is proper to endorse individuals to serve on the Board based on a single issue basis.

Jacqueline L Stacy Of course not!!!!

Delores Burkholder

First, endorsing people for the board (or the Presidency of this country) should be based on the qualifications of the candidate. The endorsement for the AKC board should not be about one issue. The board has always spent an extraordinary amount of time on the judges applications process. Give it a rest, let this process stay unchanged for a good while. The statistics do show a dramatic increase in applications. I believe this is for many reasons, one has been taking the field reps out of the observation process. I personally feel the reps should at least be able to observe judges if the judge makes that request. I think a permit judge discussing a quality entry with a field rep, is a learning experience.

Jim Moses

I think it is wrong to endorse a candidate based solely on his or her vote on only one topic. I would question what positions has that candidate taken on many of the other important issues during the course of their time on the board and balance my decision accordingly.

The new judges’ application process has not yet had the chance to determine whether this new system works or not. We need to give it time. Regardless of the process, cream always rises to the top. I remember that there was a lot of criticism given to the Board of Directors over the Grand Championships! And yet it has proven to include many more exhibitors and has caused increased participation. The Amateur Owner Handler series has also been a beneficial addition to AKC’s events. Let’s encourage, not discourage.

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Fran Smith

I think it is very dangerous to endorse anyone based on a single issue basis. It is certainly possible for an individual to have a very strong opinion on one topic and either be uninformed or vacillate on all other issues.

Joe Purkhiser

A wholesale increase in judging applications does not signal an improvement in the process, only a reduction in requirements. That was the aim of the AKC Board and they succeeded. It is also evident that great numbers of those who aspire to judge are in favor. I am not familiar with the Constitution of the ADSJ. If it promotes political activeness by their Board, then so be it. If it does not, they have assumed a role they are not entitled to.

Sally Vilas

I will argue that endorsements are a right - not a matter of ‘proper or not’. But, responding to your wording of the Question of the Week: I believe that endorsing candidates for the AKC Board of Directors based on a single issue is certainly ‘proper’ since the organization is representing opinions expressed by its members when the new Judging Approval Process was in the period of review. One of the reasons to belong to such an organization is the fact that it will represent the concerns and opinions of its members. Various clubs and/or individuals may also endorse candidates based on one issue or more. How much endorsements are part of a delegate’s voting decision is difficult to determine... each voter decides the weight of any endorsement. I believe it is the duty of each Delegate to listen to candidate responses to questions, to read their statements and any additional materials, listen to member comments and then vote for the candidates that he/ she believes will best serve the needs of the American Kennel Club and our sport in general. Yes, there was a dramatic increase in applications under the new approval process. The previous process was so disliked that many judges decided not to apply for new breeds. When the new process seemed to be more ‘do-able’, the result is the increased ‘catch up’ flow of delayed applications. The volume will probably decrease as time goes by.

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*C.C. System **#2 overall, The Dog News Top Ten List Breed & All Breed

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The

By Geoff Corish

BRITISH

T

scene

oydogs dominated the race for the Top Dog 2015 in the UK. So this year that award went to the Papillon Ch Gleniren Shootin Starmaker owned and bred by mother and son, Irene and Glen Robb and usually handled by Glen. His parents are both also home-bred champions, Ch Gleniren Nikolia Mania Sunshoo and Ch Gleniren Juniper Starmaker. His elder sister, Ch Gleniren Kiss Me Kate Sunshoo, also won six challenge certificates during the year and between her and ‘Travis’ they did the double six times!! ‘Travis’ is a great-nephew of the breed record holder Ch Gleniren Starlight Kisses and of the record holder of the Phalene variety Ch Gleniren Tres Mannefico Sunshoo.

The Longcoat Chihuahua Ch Hollyel Topaz Chancer owned and bred by Lesley Adams, has moved up one place from his 2014 third position in the table.

He is by Japanese-bred Ch/Int/Jap/Dutch/Bel/Ger/Lux Ch Peregrine JP Cup O Gold ex Ch Hollyel’s Topaz Angel. The latter is one of two champions bred in Lesley’s first litter and is herself a group winner as well as a successful brood bitch. ‘Geoffrey’ was hand-reared as he was a very small puppy and Lesley did not think he would survive. In 2013 he was top puppy and won his first CC at a breed club at ten months, and his title by 13 months with a group 3.

In third place and heading the gundog group is the Pointer Show Ch Sharnphilly Juici Cuture, bred and owned by Sam and her mother Sharon Dyer. She is by Show Ch Millpoint Top Hat N’Tails ex Show Ch Sharnphilly Complimentary. She has a total of 31 cc’s to her credit. Competition in bitches has been tough and for a short period both she and Show Ch Wilchrimane Ice Top Dog 2015 in the UK, PapilMaiden equaled the CC record achieved by Juici’s ancestor Sh lon Ch Gleniren Shootin StarCh Stonebridgelees Sultana. At Gundog Breeds of Scotland Juici maker went one ahead, but since then her rival ‘Flo’ has equaled it again.

Unlike in the last few years, no dog has dominated the best in show awards during 2015, indeed none has won more than two. One of these is the Bouvier that is in fourth place and tops the working group, Ch Liakport Lord Of The Rings, owned by Fiona Lambert of the Kanix knls and bred by her and Janet Hughes (Alsadie).

He is the result of using frozen semen from the Dutch-bred dog living in the US, Am/Can ch Trust Dusty van de Vanenblikhoeve, on Ch Alsadie Harriet.

A bulldog tops the non sporting group and is in fifth place, Ch Sealaville He’s Tyler, owned and bred by Paul and Hayley Seal and sired by Ch Iceglint I’m Harry ex Sealaville She’s Toyah. He gained his title in 2014 but things got better in 2015 when he was group 3 at Crufts and then won The Contest of Champions.

Two dogs share sixth place, both heading their respective group. Top hound is the tan and white Beagle bitch Ch Bayard Forgetmeknot, sired by Ch Nedlaw Barbarian ex group and reserve BIS winner Ch Bayard Make Amends. She was born in Jill Peak’s Bayard kennel, she was bred and until recently registered in the name of her then kennelmaid Sarah Jackson. She had a good 2015 but her first group win was at our last show of the year, The Ladies Kennel Association, where she went onto best in show, the first Beagle bitch to achieve this for 22 years and the last one was also bred by Jill!!

Heading the terriers is the Irish Ch Lakeridge Cahal, owned by John Averis (carrying on the Saredon heritage established by his later mother Judy Averis and Dave Scawthorn) and bred by Wendy and Keith Bower sired by the German-bred BIS winner Ch/Am Gr Ch Kells Touch of Fleet St ex Wyndam Rionach at Lakeridge. He won several groups during 2014 but in 2015 he went one 26 Dog News

further at The Scottish Kennel Club and went onto BIS, thus emulating not only his sire but his dam’s sire, US import Ch/Am Ch Fleet St Fenway Fan. The Alaskan Malamute Ch Chayo My Prerogative is in eighth place. Like the Chihuahua he is in the top ten for the second year, having reached fourth place in 2014. He is bred and owned

by Sue Ellis by US import to Europe Int/ Am/Dutch/Bel/Lux Ch Sno Quest’s Limited Edition ex Ch Chayo Better Than Chocolate.

In ninth place is the Border Terrier Ch Brackenfell Bok To Bach owned and bred in their first litter by Colin Hall and Lucy Ellis. He is by the group winning Ch Dandyhow Dr Walter ex Beaconpike Night Sky at Brackenfell. He was group 3 at Crufts 2015 and then won 3 group firsts plus reserve best in show at The National Terrier and Bath.

Remarkably tenth place is shared by three dogs. The Toy Poodle Ch Vanitonia As You Wish is another dual BIS winner of 2015. Bred by Lee Cox and Tom Isherwood, she is by eight-times BIS winner and number two all breeds Ch Vanitonia You’ll See ex Vanitonia If So. Ann Evans (Fabuleux) co-owns her with Vanitonia, and she won ten cc’s in 2014, plus four group 1sts and two reserve best in shows plus group 3 at Crufts.

A consistent winner over several years is the Weimaraner Show Ch Gunalt De Ice at Stridview, bred by Stephen and Patsy Hollings, owned by Karen Whitehead and handled by Jacqui Ward, from the successful combination of Sh Ch Gunalt Unstoppable from Mianja and Sh Ch/Irish Ch Gunalt Delicious which has produced five Show Champions!!

Another toydog that was fifth place in 2014, and again in the top ten is the Smooth Chihuahua Ch Sundowner Play Misty For Me at Dachidas bred by Jean Day and co-owned with her and handled by Aimee Davies (The Dachidas is famous for Aimee and her mother Carol, who have produced lots of beautiful Chihuahuas over the years). He is sired

by Ch Veejim Delta Force at Taradona ex Sundowner Spice Girl. His total number of cc’s is an amazing 48.

The herding group is headed by the Australian Shepherd Ch Hearthside Man Of Mystery at Dialynne. He is sired

by Am Ch Hearthside Master Of Disguise ex Am ch Hearthside Hilarious, bred in the US by Cynthia Snyder and Betsy Atkinson and imported into the UK by Melanie Spavin of the famous Dialynne Beagle kennel which has previously won the top hound award. He is the winner of five group firsts.

The Nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Number One Chinese Shar-Pei Breed & All Breed *

Best In Show Best In Specialty Show

Gch. Brekkukots Allies With Underdog, CGC

*The Dog News Top Ten List

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Brace f l e s r You

By Andrew Brace

Another Giant Gone: Hans Lehtinen

J

udging at some shows in Spain last weekend several of my colleagues were speaking fondly of Hans Lehtinen, the iconic Finnish all-rounder, as we were well aware that his health was deteriorating. Even so it came as a shock to return home to the news that Hasse had passed away. One of the conversations in Spain was with my good friend, Rafael Malo Alcrudo, the molosser breeds expert and all-breeds judge who recalled vividly judging Pomeranians shortly after he had been licensed for the breed.

Hasse was watching him ringside and after he had finished, he took Rafa by the arm and said “My friend, let’s sit down and talk about Pomeranians. I see you like these mini-Chows”! Rafa told how Hasse explained to him the essence of the Pomeranian breed, going into detail about the proportions of the head and desired foxy expression. It was clearly a lesson he never forgot and one that obviously shaped his judging of Poms for all time.

This scenario was so typical of Hasse. He took an interest in everything around him at dog shows … the dogs, the people who showed and bred them and the people who judged them. But where did this legend of the dog world begin? I interviewed him a few years ago and here are some extracts from that interview that should give an insight into the man himself.

Hans Lehtinen was born in 1937 in Helsinki, the capital of Finland. Even then dogs were favoured companions, most households owning cross-breeds, though the Lehtinen household did not actually own a dog. However Hasse’s maternal grandmother, who lived on a farm in the country, owned a French Bulldog and a St Bernard. These were the first dogs with whom the young Hasse became acquainted and both lived to a ripe old age.

After the Second World War dog shows resumed in Finland, these being rather relaxed affairs. Hasse first attended a dog show at a military camp in Helsinki in 1948, as an eager spectator. He was eleven years old and had already met the formidable Ulla Segerstrom (who was later to move to Sweden where she became a leading figure in Swedish dogdom) as they lived in the same neighbourhood. Shortly afterwards Hasse persuaded his mother to let him have a dog and duly a liver coloured Cocker Spaniel arrived. “She was cow hocked and had brown teeth,” recalls Hasse, “but she had a beautiful Cocker head and wonderful character. One day I showed her under H. S. Lloyd of Ware fame who gave her a Third prize for quality. I have often joked with the Finnish people that I showed a Field Spaniel before they had ever seen one!”

The first Cocker did not win much and she was never bred from, but she lived her life out as a much loved family pet. More importantly she stimulated a

30 Dog News

deep interest in Hasse for the dog world at large. There was at the time a Finnish Cocker Spaniel Club but it was dormant, but Hasse – still only in his early teens – along with some other Cocker enthusiasts got together and revived the breed club. Later he became Chairman of the Club after the death of Esther Selaste, who was a very strong personality and chaired the club for some years.

Hasse then imported two Cockers from Sweden, one of which, Örledens Can Can, became an International Champion. She was a tricolour and came down from British Colinwood lines. She had one litter to a UK import that Marianne Furst Danielson had taken to Sweden, Lucklena Musician, and the best of the litter was a male who won BIS at the Finnish Spaniel show, Rivale Cockney. By now Hasse had taken out Rivale as a kennel name, taken from a family of flowers.

Cockney however proved to be sterile so did not advance Hasse’s breeding plans too much and so his Cocker activities came to an abrupt end on a personal level, but over the years he has advised many Finnish Cocker breeders where to go for the best stock. In the mid-1950s Finnish dog people chartered a flight to the UK to visit Crufts and Hasse was amongst them.

“My first reaction to this huge show was that everything was so much better than anything we could have ever imagined. The quality of the dogs was very, very good, not in all breeds perhaps but in so many breeds I saw for the first time a lot of top level dogs together. This served to develop my taste and I began to develop an eye for higher quality dogs. At that time I was already a judge. As I had attended the courses which the clubs ran, I first became a Dachshund judge, along then with Schnauzers and Cockers. Everything was so small in Finland in those days, and if you expressed an interest in judging to one breed club, other breed clubs would snap you up as well. Although Finnish dogdom was still relatively young and unsophisticated, we had some of these old people who really knew dogs. I suppose you would call them stockmen, and the people in the clubs had great respect for these people.

As a result of that Crufts trip we got to visit many Cocker kennels such as Colinwood, Merryworth, Ware, Lochranza and Lochdene and so some of the Cocker people were able to buy good stock. On a later trip we had twelve Cockers on the plane with us coming back to Finland.”

In 1962 Hasse married Elina who was an established Schnauzer breeder and together they continued to breed very good quality blacks. A Swiss imported bitch, Ronet Barbanera, proved to be an outstanding brood bitch and really became the cornerstone of the Rivale Schnauzer kennel.

In the same year that he was married, Hasse was

invited to judge for the first time in England. The show was Manchester when John Owen was secretary. “I had met John in Scandinavia when we judged together,” remembers Hasse, “and he must have been impressed as I was later invited to Belle Vue. We stayed at the Queen’s Hotel in Manchester where it was so cold … even for a Finn! … my window was broken and it was freezing, so I took my pillow and slept in the bath!”

At Manchester Hasse judged Scottish and Cairn Terriers and Cocker Spaniels with CCs. He was at the time approved for several groups in Finland, becoming an all breeds judge in 1968.

“At that time we had a rule in Finland that you had to run in the forest with those hunting people and that really didn’t interest me, so it took me a bit longer to qualify for my all breeds licence,” laughs Hasse. He remembers that a Brio Scottie won BOB and a Redletter Cairn. In Cockers a Craigleith bitch was his BOB winner.

The following year Owen Grindey had Hasse judging at the City of Birmingham show when it was held in Perry Park, and he became a regular at the Birmingham shows.

Although Hasse was still relatively young, he was visiting dog shows outside his own country on a regular basis, and at every show he spotted an idea or innovation that he brought back home and implemented so that the Finnish shows became slicker and more sophisticated. Finland was however already under the umbrella of the FCI, although previously there had been two kennel clubs in Finland as the hunting people and

the society people just couldn’t work together. Today there is of course just one kennel club, and a huge one at that.

Perhaps one of the greatest contributions that Hasse had made to Finnish dogdom is the result of his ability to spot talent and potential in young up and coming judges.

Both Rainer Vuorinen and Kari Jarvinen readily admit that it was Hasse who encouraged them to develop their judging portfolios in the early days.

“Rainer had a beautiful Rough Collie dog that I had admired and I asked him if he would be interested in getting involved in judging. We were walking in a park and at first he was very quiet, then he thought about it and said that he would be. He had demonstrated that he had an eye for a good dog but he wasn’t terribly popular with the Collie club people because he was winning too much!

So he began going through the Schnauzer club’s judging programme. He soon established that he was very talented and other breed clubs invited him to go through their courses, and he has of course developed a great career as one of our finest all rounders.

Kari was a very good handler who showed Airedale and Fox Terriers very well and then he got involved with some very good Boxers and Beagles. Just as with Rainer, I asked if he was interested in judging and he too agreed, starting his judging through the Terrier club. He too later established himself as an international judge of great repute.”

So what is it that gives Finland – this tiny dot on the world’s map – the ability to produce some really excellent Continued on page 74

Dog News 31

32 Dog News

Dog News 33

Bests of the

Week

To report a AKC All Breed Best In Show or National Specialty Win Call, Fax or Email before 12:00 Noon Tuesday. Fax: 212 6755994 Phone: 212 4629588 • Email: dognews@ harris-pub.com

Rockland County Kennel Club Samoyed

GCh. Pebbles’ Run Play It Again Ham

Judge Mr. Eugene Blake Owners Barbara Bruns, Wolfgang Stamp, Amy and Andrew Green Handler Andrew Green Greater Hattiesburg Kennel Club – Thursday English Toy Spaniel

GCh. Maibee Orlando Judge Mr. Jim Briley Owner Cindy Williams Handler Michael Pitts

Ochlochonee River Kennel Club - Saturday Puli

Ch. Cordmaker Mister Blue Sky

Judge Mrs. Leah R. James Owners J. Beaudoin, L. Pitts, P. Kelly & S. Huebner Handler Linda Pitts Ochlockonee Kennel Club Boxer

GCh. Mephisto’s Speak of the Devil Judge Mr. Warner Cespedes Owners Mrs. Jack Billhardt & Sergio Tenebaum Handler Diego Garcia

South Arkansas Kennel Club - Saturday & Sunday Mastiff

GCh. Goldleaf’s Trouble Coming

Judge Mr. Bradley Jenkins Judge Mrs. Gloria Geringer Owners Laura Watson, Pamela Winter and Stephanie Taylor Handler Terry Smith Meri-Miss Kennel Club - Friday & Sunday Greyhound

GCh. GrandCru Giaconda

Judge Dr. Steve Keating Judge Col. Joe B. Purkhiser Owners Melanie Steele, Amy Phelan, Rose Tomlin and Rindi Gaudet Handler Rindi Gaudet

34 Dog News

Dog News 35

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* *CC All Breed

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Dog News 37

Ten Questions asked of

Christopher Keith Born: Houston, TX • Reside: Houston, TX Marital Status: In a relationship and never been happier • Astrological Sign: Gemini

1 2 3 4 5

When did you start showing and how did that first show go?

Started showing when I was 10 years old.

First show was San Antonio KC in juniors.

I went last because my mom’s Springer ran out of the ring trying to get to her.

How difficult was it to finish your championship?

The first dog I ever owned and finished that was mine was a Smooth Fox Terrier.

A very nice dog and he finished quickly in a couple of weekends.

Other than your own breed, what other breeds do you like?

I’ve always been a fan of Smooth Fox Terriers, having one as a juniors dog briefly at an early age. Another breed that has recently struck my interest are English Toy Spaniels.

Which dog person of the opposite sex would you be?

Dylan Kipp.

How do you feel about AKC’s role in our sport?

There are not enough pages in this magazine for my diatribe on how I feel about what their role is, should be or could be.

38 Dog News

6

How many shows do you attend a year, and which three are your favorite ones?

Probably about 140. My favorites are the ones closest to the house/kennel. However I attended Morris and Essex for the first time last year and that was a spectacle that I won’t forget. Westminster simply for the intensity and intrigue of bringing all the best dogs together in one spot.

7 8 9 10

Who from dogs would you like to see on the television show “Duck Dynasty?”

Devon Kipp.

What things in the world of dogs bring you the greatest joy?

The dogs. I love the unique personalities and therefore challenges each dog I show brings.

What characteristics do you admire in others and strive to emulate?

Anyone with patience to let things develop.

If you could afford to host an elegant catered dinner party, name at least three dogs and/or people you would like to invite.

Anne Rogers Clark and Ric Chashousdian to talk dogs, and Howard Cosell to talk sports.

The dogs would be Condor, Lacy and Mystique.

That’s a lot of successful people/dogs in one room. If you can’t listen and learn something from that dinner that’s on you. Lol.

Dog News 39

The Labrador Retrie

PHOTO By Kind Permission of the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensbury KBE © The Buccleuch Collection

© Private Collection

40 Dog News

© The Labrador Retriever Club

© The Labrador Retriever Club

iever in Art B y Nick Waters

T

© THE KENNEL CLUB

he Kennel Club in London is now happily installed in its new building just down the street from the somewhat dated post-war one. A familiar ‘face’ in reception from the old is Adrian Jones’ life-size bronze of the Foxhound Forager that greets visitors when they arrive. It’s a pity that the light and space experienced in most of the new building is not carried through to the art gallery, which is tucked away in the basement with a lot of dark wood and very poor lighting. A ground floor location with the option of some natural light, like most other West End galleries, would have been good.

The breed with the honour of being featured in the gallery’s first exhibition is the Labrador Retriever of which the parent club is celebrating its centenary this year. It was at the end of the shooting season in 1916 that a group of people gathered to discuss clude the Munden Kennel Pedigree book forming a club to promote and foster the interests of created by the kennel’s owner the Hon. the breed, which was rapidly gaining ground over Arthur Holland-Hibbert; an oil by Herthe Flat Coated Retriever. bert Dicksee of Old Bridge Bob, the first Compared with many other breeds, the Labrador joint Irish and UK Field Trial Champion; a is a comparatively modern one, its ancestors though portrait

by F.T. Daws of Wolferton Shelah going back to the early years of the 19th century owned King George V and loaned by and the St. John’s Water Dogs and Newfoundlands H.M. The Queen, herself a successful brought into the UK by the 2nd Earl of Malmesbury Labrador field trial owner, and two Stainand others. Little did these early pioneers realise that drop dogs shown on the Grimsthorpe they were sowing the seeds for what would become Estate where Staindrop dogs picked up the most popular breed worldwide on the bench, in on shoots for thirty-two years. The Stainthe shooting field, assistance dog and family pet. drop kennel was started in the 1930s by Although these very early dogs were black, inEdgar Winter and was responsible for terestingly two of the earliest pieces in the exhibition the first yellow ‘Dual Champion’, F.T.Ch. feature yellow dogs, suggesting an infusion of blood & Ch. Staindrop Saighdear. As an aside, between the retrievers. One is a portrait by Antoine Grimsthorpe Castle is the home of the Dury (c.1850) of Bernadine owned by Mrs Josephine Willoughby de Eresbys, a family synonyBowes, wife of the founder of the Bowes Museum at mous with the development of the Pug Barnard Castle. in the UK in the early 19th century and Although the breed is one of those now divided a fawn dog wonders around the castle into show and working types and equally successful today. in both disciplines, it was as a working and field trial With a breed that has such a strong dog on which its reputation was first established, dual following, show dogs are equally and it was the landed families who did this. well covered. The kennel that springs to Nevertheless the breed soon became a major mind with most people in the UK is probplayer on the show bench with Lorna, Countess ably the Sandylands of Gwen Broadley.

Howe’s Ch. & F.T.Ch. Bramshaw Bob winning BIS at Crufts in 1932 and 1933. Bob and a number of other items connected to Countess Howe’s Banchory kennel are featured in the exhibition including a picture by Reuben Ward Binks of seven of her champions. She very much dominated the breed for many years but did bridge the gap between the show and working side.

The Duke of Buccleuch’s Buccleuch kennel is the only kennel with an unbroken line of Labradors from the beginning of the breed in the UK to the present day. Featured Buccleuch items include two engraved copper printing blocks c.

1900, early photographs of Labradors on the estate and a copy of the Kennel Stud Book.

Other items of field trial interest in- © Private Collection

One of the Sandylands exhibits is a portrait by Patience Birley of Sh.Ch. Sandylands Star of Jayncourt who, after gaining her title, was sold to Mr. & Mrs. G. Anthony of Hawaii and was the start of a long and fruitful relationship between the Anthonys and the Sandylands kennel.

Just highlighting a few of the other pictures of famous show dogs there is a drawing by Leslie Probert of three famous Mardas show champions; a pastel by Marjorie Cox of three Poolstead dogs including Pipe Drummer who was BOB at Crufts centenary show; an oil by A. Third of Ch. Ruler of Blaircourt who was reserve BIS at Crufts in 1959; a pastel by A. Brydon which includes Ch. Sam of Blaircourt who crossed the Atlantic and added both his America and Canadian titles, and a watercolour by Tuus van Adrichem BoogaertKwint of Sh.Ch. Croftspa Hazelnut of Foxrush who holds the record for the number of CCs won by a Labrador bitch.

The chocolate Labrador is a colour in the minority and one that is not favoured by the working people, nevertheless it is not forgotten in the exhibition. Of the few pieces on show there is a double portrait of two Naiken dogs and a ceramic wall plaque by A. Marshall.

Moving away from pictures there are two lifesize bronze sculptures by Rosemary Cook and perhaps the most unique of all trophies, a silver and plaited cord whip on walnut support mounted with the head of a Labrador. Awarded for the Best Working Dog the Property of a Gamekeeper, it was presented to the Labrador Retriever Club by the ultimate sporting earl the 5th Earl of Lonsdale.

My criticism of the exhibition is there is far too much; ‘can’t see the wood for the trees’ springs to mind. If you sift through the countless portraits and contemporary collectables, hidden within are the dogs and people who have moulded the breed over the last 100 plus years and there is a story well told.

The Labrador Retriever in Art runs at the Kennel Club Art Gallery, Clarges Street just off Piccadilly, London until the 29th July.

Dog News 41

arxism M s This Judge’s Point Of View

By Sid Marx

Canine College

T

here has been a lot of discussion recently about the proposed “AKC Canine College.” As cited on the AKC website, the Canine College is “... an assigned project for the AKC Judging Task Force ... to investigate various distance-learning possibilities.”

The stated goal to provide greater educational opportunities to judges, breeders, and exhibitors is absolutely a worthwhile one. However, my experience as a judge and (in my real life) as a former National Training Manager tells me that the cost of this project will be exorbitant when compared to the results.

There is no denying that the present method for judges to gain new breed education is difficult, expensive, and inconsistent. I also agree that a breeder/ exhibitor education program is very much needed. However, thinking that a wanna-be judge or a breeder could learn enough about a breed by using a “... virtual computer based simulation of a judging experience ...” is really stretching reality. Even the Task Force admits that a computer-based simulation “... cannot replace all the valuable hands-on ways of learning about dogs and judging ...” yet it continues to be in the AKC pipeline.

There are many problems and reasons not to continue with this project as presently proposed, although it could have some value as a secondary support vehicle with a greatly reduced cost structure. All “adult trainers” know that there are key components necessary to providing training that is productive. From the Journal of Extension, “Research on learners has shown

42 Dog News

that adults learn differently from younger students.

Adults have special needs as learners and these needs should be taken into consideration when planning training for adults.” Of course I am assuming we want our judges and breeders to truly learn and not just get a check mark in a box.

In the training community, it is accepted that the richest resources for learning reside in the adult learners themselves; therefore, emphasis in adult education should focus on experiential techniques that tap into the experience of learners, such as group discussion, problem-solving, case methods, simulation exercises, games, and roleplay. Unfortunately very few (read that as none) of our present “breed education seminars” utilize these techniques. So if the AKC Judging Task Force really wants to improve our judges education, this would be a great place to start.

There is no consistency to the present-day breed education that is presented to wanna-be judges. Projecting the breed standard on the wall and reading it is not how to teach adults.

In fact, this method teaches nothing. How about appointing (hiring) someone with a training background to work with Parent Clubs to make their judges education more consistent and worthwhile?

Could a computer simulation be part of this improved education?

Absolutely! Should it be a primary education resource? Absolutely not. In fact, there are still Parent Clubs who have zero education programs. The distance-learning computer training would be better than nothing in these instances.

Two other key accepted principles in adult education are that learning must be relevant to the adult’s life and it should be used immediately. Obviously, learning a breed for a judge or breeder meets the first principle.

The hands-on component of breed training is one part of using it immediately. Unfortunately too many breed presenters believe that if one of the attendees does not “place” the dogs the way the presenter believes, they are wrong. This is not part of good adult education. Discussing the why’s and possible trade-offs is much more important here than flexing muscles.

Another significant problem to our judges education is that new judges do not get to “use it” immediately. The learning usually takes place months before applying for a new breed. By the time Continued on PAGE 76

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*The Dog News Top Ten List - Breed points

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Amtrakâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pet Travel Policy Becomes Permanent on Most Trains Nationwide

By Sharon Pflaumer Photos by Amtrak/Chuck Gomez

After decades of extremely limited options for those wishing to travel on public transportation with a pet, rail service is now available for small dogs and cats traveling with their passenger owners.

H

istorically, dogs traveled by rail in baggage cars. The practice ended on May 1, 1971 when Amtrak became the official publicly funded railroad service operated and managed as a for-profit corporation to provide passenger train service between cities in the United States. Rail service for pets was discontinued then because the baggage cars in which they had been transported didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t meet the health and environmental regulations set forth by the Federal government for safe travel, i.e., some dogs died en route due to poor ventilation and/or lack of protection from the elements.

Since then, the options for transporting a pet on mass transportation have been extremely limited. All that changed on February 3, 2016 however, when Amtrak announced the permanent extension and expansion of its pet travel pilot program. It allows passenger owners to travel with a small pet on many eastern corridor and select Midwestern trains.

On February 16, Amtrak added the same service for trips of up to 7 hours in length on most of its long distance trains, effectively making pet passenger rail service available to owners nationwide.

(The Auto Train is the only exception. It continues to only transport passengers and vehicles nonstop from Lorton, VA to Sanford, FL.) In addition to the above, Amtrak began a weekend-only pilot program on February 20 that offers service to owners traveling with a small pet on all Acela Express trains. Acela Express

46 Dog News

Amtrakâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s permanent extension and expansion of its pet travel policy helps meet the needs of its passenger owners. In the past, limited options for traveling with a pet on mass transportation made vacationing and other travel more difficult for them. trains offer service downtown to downtown between New York, Washington, DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia and other intermediate cities, as well as trips between New York and Boston. The Acela Express pet pilot program is

Terms and Conditions for Pet Travel Pet service will be offered at all stations whether staffed or unstaffed. Advance reservations are required for pet passengers and a surcharge of $25 will be assessed each way for travel. Pet eligibility to travel must be confirmed before departure. To that end, passenger owners traveling with a pet must arrive at the railway station 30 minutes before departure time in order to complete a Release and Indemnification Agreement to verify the pet is current on all inoculations and confirm the passenger owner is aware of all conditions to travel. Passenger owners traveling with a pet assume all liability for their animal.

Pets must be “at least 8 weeks old, odorless, harmless and non-disruptive” according to the Amtrak website. Only one cat or one small dog is allowed in an enclosed carrier on trips of up to 7 hours in length. The pet and its carrier must have a combined weight of no more than 20 pounds. (It’s unlikely the weight requirement would be expanded to include larger dogs because pets must remain in carriers that are small enough to be put under their passenger owner’s seat during travel, i.e., approved carriers, which passenger owners must provide, can be no larger than 19” long x 14” wide by 10.5” high.)

Pets must remain inside their carrier at all times and are not allowed to roam railcars nor can they sit on the floor at their passenger owner’s feet on a leash in the case of a dog. Passenger owners must remain with their animal at all times. For more information about Amtrak’s pet travel policy, visit Amtrak.com.

Note: Amtrak continues to welcome service animals on board at no charge.

scheduled to run on weekends through June 12, 2016. It will be regularly reviewed for possible improvements or continuation of service beyond that date.

“We are excited to bring this service to more of our passengers throughout the country who want to travel with these cherished family members,” said Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman.

Dog owners like Lucas Blanchard and Jeff Winn of Arlington, VA are equally excited about the service change. Thanks to the new pet friendly policy, they were able to travel on Amtrak with Frankie, their 12 year-old Dachshund. Blanchard and Winn had an existing trip planned to travel from Washington, DC to New York City to visit friends when they learned Frankie could travel as a passenger on the train with them.

“I called an Amtrak customer service associate who booked Frankie a pet ticket on our existing reservation for $25.00 each way. Being accustomed to boarding fees in the DC area of $40.00 per night and up, this was an incredible savings with the added benefit of having our pet with us while we were away. Frankie fit comfortably beneath my seat on the Northeast Regional and in 3-1/2 short hours, he had taken his first trip to the Big Apple! We are very excited that Amtrak has allowed pets on trains and even more excited that it is so much

“Expanding the Pets on Trains [policy] nationwide is a win for Amtrak and for millions of American pet owners who can now depend on rail service for their travel needs,” said Rep. Jeff Denham (CA). more cost effective than boarding,” Blanchard says.

Rep. Jeff Denham (CA) also is enthusiastic about the permanent expansion of Amtrak’s pet travel policy.

“Expanding the Pets on Trains [policy] nationwide is a win for Amtrak and for millions of American pet owners who can now depend on rail service for their travel needs,” he says.

Rep. Denham became interested in the issue when he tried to board an Amtrak train three years ago with Lily, his 15-pound French Bulldog but was told only service dogs were allowed. Since 2013, he and Rep. Steve Cohen (TN) have been trying to get a law passed that would make travel on Amtrak trains pet friendly.

To that end, he and Rep. Cohen introduced legislation that would require Amtrak to develop a pet policy for passenger owners traveling less than 750 miles with pets.

Although the bill wasn’t passed into law then, it was one of the factors that led to the creation of Amtrak’s initial pet travel pilot program in 2014. Rep. Denham and Rep. Cohen reintroduced the bill as The Pets on Trains Act 2015, H.R. 674. It was signed into law in December as part of the FAST Act, a larger highway authorization bill.

The permanent extension and expansion of rail service to passenger owners traveling with a pet also is the result of the overwhelming success of a series of Amtrak pet travel pilot programs. The initial pilot program mentioned above tested the feasibility of allowing pets to travel in passenger cars with their owners on a limited number of trains with destinations between Chicago and cities in southern Illinois. That program was so successful based on customer feedback that it was extended and eventually led to other pet travel pilot programs on Amtrak trains in other parts of the country.

Dog News 47

True North A REPORT FROM CANADA

By Allison Foley

A

lberta Kennel Club had the honor of hosting Canada’s first all breed dog show for 2016. Unlike our counterparts to the south by the fourth weekend in January there have been a total of four weekends of dog shows- we tend to take a while to get out of hibernation.

We relax in our igloos with our show dogs and sled dog teams and wait for cabin fever to hit before we venture out to see if Spring is indeed coming early this year.

Well I would like to think that is reality for us. There are some very good, unique to Canada reasons that our dog show season starts slowly. Yes it is cold in the majority of the country and yes there can be a lot of snow and ice but another reason is that the two major airlines in Canada, Air Canada and Westjet, have “Winter Holiday Embargos” where there are no pets flown as either cargo or excess baggage from December 15th Top Dogs as of Jan. 30, 2016 until January 14th and January 7th, respectively. This means there are no according to Dogs in Canada options for getting to dog shows other than the sometimes treacherous roads. In the end although the start is slow it is still nice for man and beast 1 Old English Setter to have this nice break.

Ch Tumbleweed’s Valubal Maui Nani Alberta KC, already famous for it’s “Summer Classic,” is now doubly famous for having the first all breed dog show every year in Canada. And 2 English Setter they did a fabulous job again having the dog show at the famous Spruce Sevenoaks Lady Penelope Meadows equestrian complex.

3 Boxer This year the dog show began under rather a dark cloud, as the founder and some say the dreamer Don Sutherland passed away on Ch Logan Elm-n-JEMS Your Latest Trick the Thursday evening before the dog show. As we drove into the show 4 English Cocker grounds that Friday morning all the flags at Spruce Meadows were at half Ch Ragtime Stone Washed mast and stayed that way for the duration of the weekend. One only has to go to Spruce Meadows and wander around to see the amazing ac5 Spanish Water Dog complishment and vision of this man. He has even been compared to Walt Bernardo de Sinkovic Disney as someone who had a dream and made it come to reality. Spruce Meadows is a world-class complex for horses and their people, and the 6 Kerry Blue Terrier dog show community only benefits from this fabulous venue.

Torun’s Calico Jack at Irisblu Competition was fierce throughout all three days of the weekend with the Old English sheepdog, Ch Tumbleweed’s Valubal Maui Nani winning all 7 Miniature Schnauzer three Best in Shows. As well the Kerry Blue Terrier Ch Torum’s Calico Jack at Ch Sparx Rich Dark N Delicious Irisblu (Number 1 dog of all breeds in Australia) made his Canadian debut completing his Championship with a reserve Best in Show.

7 Long Coated Chihuahua As well as three all breed confirmation dog shows there were three Ch Pastel’s Raybans licensed obedience trials, three rally trials, a fly ball competition and two 9 Pug competitions for junior handling.

Xoe’s Heartbreaker All in all another great event hosted by this club.

The True North being true to its word did have Mother Nature throw 10 Whippet some weather at us as several highways leaving the venue were closed Ch Lorricbrook Albelarm Believer due to severe ice and fog, giving many people from out of town another night in Calgary on a blustery winter’s night. Welcome to the New Year!

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Dog News 49

*#4 overall, All Breed, #6 overall Breed -The Dog News Top Ten List

*CC SYSTEM, BREED & ALL BREED POINTS

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Rare Breeds of the World

SULIMOV aka SHALAIKA – RUSSIA B y Ag nes B uchwald

O

ne of the great pleasures of writing about rare breeds is the discovery of worlds that are new for me, the very diverse environments where these dogs belong and how they evolved through time to become what they are today.

Some of these breeds are remarkably old, others surprisingly recent.

The goal of my articles is to share information on the dog itself, but also to present my readers with a more complete picture, one that encompasses the environment where the dog breed originated as well.

The dogs I choose to showcase are all pure breeds, albeit obviously not mainstream and not always recognized by all Kennel Clubs - sometimes a breed exists in its native form for centuries without the recognition of any kennel club.

We grow used to the familiar breeds we see in every dog show, and tend to imagine rare breeds as dwellers of remote corners of the planet, and that’s not always true. There are dog breeds kept and perpetuated in some pretty familiar places, true to their origins, but whom for one reason or another never hit the big stage and became easily recognized.

In fact one can take a plane and in a matter of a few hours land in places as familiar as several European capitals, or as remote as some mountain range in high altitude of Asia, and bump into a small but firmly established community of people who decided to refuse to allow a certain breed to disappear, or that is working to popularize a relatively new breed of dogs.

Now, if that’s what we decide to do - I mean to take the plane, one thing is certain: we will see security dogs in the airports throughout the world.

If one decides to fly Aeroflot in Russia, the person will certainly see Russia’s “Super Searching Dog”, the Sulimov Dog, a creation of Klim Sulimov. This is a quite recent breed that’s being received with a lot of enthusiasm in its native land, and of curiosity/expectation by the dog fanciers.

Almost every list on the Internet has the Basset Hound, the Blood-

Continued on page 78

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Dog News 55

A Convocation of Politic Worms

By Ca r l o t t a Co o p er

It’s that time of year again, when new bills wriggle out of the ground like worms. And no bills are more slippery, slimy, or covered with mud than bills to regulate dog breeding.

S

ince 2008, when HSUS began its campaign to regulate dog breeding state by state, we have seen all kinds of dog breeder bills but they usually have a few things in common:

• They portray all dog breeders as the same, whether they own three bitches or hundreds of dogs.

•

They portray dog breeders as criminals, often requiring background checks for licensing, searches of the breeder’s property, and other elements that are usually found in legislation for drug dealers.

• Bills seek to criminalize dog breeding itself under the guise of “consumer protection” or “animal welfare” with enormous fines for minor problems and even for paperwork errors.

• Exemptions in bills are used to divide and conquer the dog community – and are usually meaningless.

• Bills seek to put caps or limits on the number of dogs that breeders may own, in some cases very low limits.

There are almost always rumors going around that someone higher up in government really wants this bill to pass. Some dog group in every state often falls into the trap of thinking, “They’re going to pass this anyway, so we might as well support the bill and get some concessions for our own people!” If you have a group like that, good luck. Stopping a breeder bill becomes much more difficult as soon as one group starts thinking only of their own self-interest. Sure, someone always wants to pass these bills. That doesn’t mean they

56 Dog News

have to pass. If your dog groups make enough noise by contacting legislators, breeder bills can be defeated, stalled indefinitely, sent back to committee, and not passed. But you need to have your groups all singing the same song, if possible.

Legislative committees are already hearing from HSUS and animal rights people with hundreds of messages about “Stop the puppy mills!” – that means you, by the way. Don’t confuse them by having dog breeders contact them with conflicting messages! The only way to succeed in defeating bad breeder bills or other bad dog legislation is by working together.

Other features that often appear in breeder bills include warranteless searches, high fees, applications that can be denied repeatedly with reinspection fees, and care and conditions to be finalized after the bill is passed, as part of the regulations. This is a serious issue that many dog people don’t understand. HSUS and animal rights people will appear at regulatory committee meetings after the passage of breeder bills to demand kennel standards that are hard for many hobbyists to meet, just as with USDA kennel regulations. Very often none of these standards are written into the bill itself but they can make life very difficult for small breeders. The actual bill may not sound so bad but once the kennel requirements are added later, some breeders might not be able to comply.

We are also starting to see breeder bills that seek to prohibit breeders from participating in rescue. Everyone associated with AKC purebred dogs knows that our breed clubs have always been deeply involved with rescue. AKC breeders love dogs and they are devoted to rescuing dogs of their own breeding, dogs of their breed, and many people help with rescue in general. There is no legitimate reason for a state to prohibit dog breeders from taking part in rescue. But some

bills put forth at the insistence of HSUS, animal rightists, and others are trying to keep breeders from being involved with rescue. Perhaps they see rescue as a money-making activity and they want to keep purebred rescue dogs for themselves?

Whatever the reason, it is unacceptable.

Another new trend is toward having something like blue ribbon panels in some states to encourage commercial breeders to meet or exceed state requirements for breeders. While this probably sounds delightful, “Oh, my dog comes from a breeder with gold stars!” or some such – this is another tricky area for breeders.

Nothing you do as a breeder is ever going to endear you to animal rightists or HSUS. No matter how much you exceed your state’s requirements as a breeder or how many gold stars, ribbons, or other honors you earn as a breeder, HSUS will still despise you. You will only be the last morsel eaten by the crocodile. Some breeders may see this kind of accreditation as a way to be able to sell dogs in pet stores (along with shelter dogs) or have other marks of favor in your state. Perhaps there are some perks for participating in these programs. But please use caution and if you participate in one of these programs, remember that ultimately you are still a dog breeder and you have more in common with other breeders than with animal rightists.

If I sound full of caution and trepidation right now, it’s because that’s what I’m feeling. Year after year we go through these bills and they keep coming back with new twists. We keep fighting the same battles in the legislatures. We still have kennel clubs and individual dog breeders who don’t seem to understand that these bills affect them, too. Or they think that they don’t breed much anymore so it won’t matter to them. I have heard people say recently that they only have a couple of small dogs and they don’t have big litters so these breeder bills don’t affect them. Well, I think that’s pretty selfish thinking! If you are in dogs, it’s up to you to care about your breed and your fellow fanciers. You need to care about the future of dog breeding if you want purebred dogs to survive. Whether you are breeding much now or not, you need to stand up and fight these breeder bills. If you don’t, then don’t be surprised when everyone else stops breeding, too. These breeder bills affect all of us, so when someone asks you to contact a committee and tell them you oppose a bill, please take a few minutes to do it. Do it for our dogs.

You can always check the dog bills in your state on the AKC Government Relations site http://www.cqstatetrack.com/texis/ viewrpt/main.html?event=49bfaef9bd.

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“ Moby” and Paul Introducing

First weekend out as a Special

Group First

Special Thank you to Judge Mr. Ronald Rella O wners R uth P ereira • P am W aldron

H andler P aul C atterson Dog News 57

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Dog News 59

Off The Leash

By Shaun Coen

Amendments And Alerts

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ongratulations are in order to all Iowans who came to bat for their beloved purebred dogs and managed to get a pair of tandem bills seeking further, unnecessary restrictions placed on breeders amended. The bills would’ve created extensive licensing fees, mandated inspections and prohibited breeders from being involved in certain rescue activities and would’ve prevented Iowans from purchasing healthy dogs from reputable breeders who guarantee their stock. We’ve been monitoring these bills as the American Kennel Club’s Government Relations Department has been working tirelessly along with its Iowa member clubs and purebred breeders and enthusiasts to get these bills amended and the announcement came late last week that such significant changes had been made to the bill that it practically qualifies as a complete overhaul and serves as a perfect example of what can be accomplished when dog owners and breeders rally together to protect their rights as well as those of the consumer.

The original language of these bills has been deleted in its entirety. In its place instead is a proposal for a new “Quality Assurance Council” that will be charged with reviewing applications from commercial breeders “who seek to receive a quality assurance certificate denoting the breeder as one of the leading commercial breeders” in Iowa. To qualify, the breeder must demonstrate “a long history of caring for dogs or cats in a manner that consistently exceeds the standards of care required by both current state laws and the federal Animal Welfare Act.” The Council will be appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture and will consist of three persons, one “who has an interest in the welfare of dogs and cats,” one who will be appointed by the Iowa Voters for Companion Animals, and one member appointed by the Iowa Pet Breeders Association.

It hasn’t been announced how exactly the measure will be implemented or how the members on the Council will be determined but it’s hoped that it will include experts on animal husbandry and those who would be directly impacted by the laws, namely, hobby, small scale and larger-scale breeders and representatives of kennel clubs. One would certainly think that to be the case but stranger scenarios have played out. A better alternative certainly exists than what had been originally proposed. Thanks are in order to all who contributed to getting the original damaging verbiage eliminated. We’ll continue to monitor the developments and remain hopeful that the Iowa situation will continue to serve as an example where informed citizens can work together with

“Helping the socalled “life savers” understand that they are actually “puppy mill enablers” could go a long way towards curbing this disturbing trend.”

60 Dog News

legislatures to form, when necessary, fair legislation that considers the input of experts and not an extremist agenda unsupported by facts.

Just as there is a learning curve in areas of legislation there also comes a ‘corrective curve’ to amend measures that may very well have grown from good intentions but far exceed sensible reach. To wit, a recent spate of legislation has arisen across the country in the wake of an unacceptable number of dogs dying in hot cars – several of them police K9s – that calls for allowing private citizens to enter vehicles to free dogs perceived to be in danger. Some measures even went so far as allowing those to free the animal anonymously without being held accountable for the consequences should the animal attack or become at large, not to mention damage done to the vehicle and expenses incurred to the pet and automobile owner. One can imagine how the animal rights extremists could exploit such measures and the havoc that would be created should those measures be passed.

Three such measures were introduced in Virginia - two House Bills and one Senate Bill - but thankfully efforts have been made to apply the brakes and reexamine the potential repercussions of such allowances.

House Bills 38 and 1155 have been tabled for the year and Senate Bill 9 has been amended in a reasonable manner to exempt only law enforcement, firefighters, emergency services personnel and animal control officers from liability for property damage to vehicles or injury to an animal if the unattended animal is removed from a vehicle because of risk of serious bodily injury or death. The bill no longer allows private citizens to remove animals from vehicles and rightfully so. Kudos to the many dog owners, fanciers, breeders, and exhibitors who took the time to contact the committees about these bills and to the Virginia Federation of Dog Clubs and Breeders for leading the charge in communicating concerns to the legislators on these bills.

In New Jersey, all dog owners await the outcome of an upcoming meeting in which the New Jersey Senate Economic Growth Committee will consider three bills concerning dogs, one of which seeks to repeal consumer protection laws that will prohibit the sale of dogs unless the transactions are conducted face-to-face, and to require pet shops to sell dogs sourced only from shelters and pounds. The AKC’s GR Dept. is of the opinion that any changes to the original proposal are unlikely to strike the mandate that pet shops only sell dogs acquired from shelters and pounds.

It boggles the mind to fathom how an unregulated, unaccountable shelter business may be allowed to thrive in the neighboring Garden State, depriving all of its residents of pedigreed puppies with health guarantees in favor of possibly damaged and diseased dogs of unknown origin, size and temperament just weeks after the Westminster Kennel Club show, when purebred dog owners and breeders once again proved their prowess and concern for the health of all dogs. The “adopt don’t buy” movement actually perpetuates the problem of allowing unscrupulous puppy millers and backyard breeders to thrive and threatens the existence of the purebred hobby breeders who have dedicated their lives to producing better, healthier dogs. All concerned dog owners, as well as the AKC and all of its member clubs, must dedicate themselves to changing the “adopt don’t buy” conversation. The general public and legislators must be enlightened that these adoption drives are deceitful and result in more dogs living miserable lives in horrible conditions. Helping the socalled “life savers” understand that they are actually “puppy mill enablers” could go a long way towards curbing this disturbing trend.

*#4 overall, The Dog News Top Ten List - Breed

Dog News 61

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*The Dog News Top Ten List - All Breed

Election Shenanigans And Rumors, Monmouth Disbanded, Cathy Nelson...

! e r o And M

By Matthew H. Stander

S

ome people seem to think the Board elections coming up are “the most important elections” ever! I don’t quite see it that dramatically, as I think that each of these annual elections serve to encourage and/or discourage certain board policies that serve to hire the major officers annually as well. Personally I think these annual elections of Board Classes and Staff Members is outdated. I think the By-Laws or what have yous should be modified to make the system of electing Board Members and/ or Staff more in keeping with the needs of the corporation.

But I will take note of the fact that for the last two elections certain people be they Board, Staff or Delegates, the last two weeks of each election have tried to turn the elections into ugly rumored contests getting the dog press involved as well as their own cronies. Happy to say that we have resisted the temptation of these people and have quietly but thoroughly checked out the rumors being spread and concluded they were basically unfounded at least for the year 2016. We have sufficient documentation in our files from all of the people accused of certain shenanigans in which they profusely deny the charges made against them that should any of the detailed plans sent 64 Dog News

to us be proven true the conspirators should be drummed out of office in that event. What is particularly hard for me to understand is why it seems to be the same people year after year who start these rumors and how people are willing to believe the stories even though they are eventually proven to be false.

The disbandment of the Monmouth Kennel Club is a severe shock to one of the great jewels of East Coast dog showing. The reports we have received in our offices indicate the usual sad story of a club losing its monies through bad management, some alleged ugly lawsuits and a general lack of concern.

Monmouth for years was one of my favorite shows to attend on the Jersey Shore. Henry Stoecker and Ed McGough were two of the leaders of the club through its heydays and a holiday spirit was instilled in most exhibitors attending. The grounds would sparkle near the ocean, people were in high spirits, rings were ample and roomy, panels of the highest quality and it was much more than a dog show--it was an outing for all. Sadly it is gone now, swallowed up by the Cluster trends and subsequent years of questionable management.

T

he more I am sent copies of the Delegate communications between each other the more amazed I am at the number of them that are signed “speaking for myself only”. I continue to think and have pressed the point for years that if the opinions expressed

are the opinions of the club they represent then these people should not be corresponding on a so-called Delegate e-line.

They should be corresponding privately or publicly but not on this specific e-line. I think it is the job of the administrator of the Delegate e-line to not permit these personal correspondences to be on the e-line!!!

T

he untimely passing of Cathy Nelson during the Westminster weekend was a shock to all who knew her. A devotee of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Skye Terrier as well, Cathy was also an artist of note. Versed in all aspects of dog life as well as a sophisticated and intelligent woman, she will be missed terribly within the terrier world for sure. Cathy was a fierce competitor but a very knowledgeable terrier person one of a dying breed as we all know particularly under the new judges approval system, which goes so far in supporting generic interpretations of breed qualities rather than in demanding breed knowledge and interest itself.

I had many a discussion with Cathy about this new approval system, which believe me when I tell you she was fervently against.

What a loss in such a critical time for our sport is all I can say!

*The Dog News Top Ten List

Dog News 65

The Belgian Malinois

House Guards In 1975, the United States Secret Service determined that manpower was not enough to protect the White House.

They also needed the skills and abilities of some canine power. The breed chosen for this important job? The Belgian Malinois because they are intelligent, athletic and according to the people who engage in dog sports with the breed, incredibly driven.

Terry (Ch MACH Avonlea Show Off TD MXG MJG MXP2 MJP2 XF), Barb Van Eseltine’s Malinois, does the dog walk on an agility course.

Terry jumps through the tire on an agility course.

In addition to all his titles in obedience, herding, conformation, Schutzhund and rally titles, Ace is also a pretty good tracker.

By M.J. Nelson

“T

hey are physically excellent athletes with few inherent health issues. The Malinois’ drive, their heart and their intelligence is what separates them from other breeds. There may be other breeds that are more powerful, faster or more agile but none have the combination of these traits coupled with the desire to ‘get it done’ that a Malinois has,” said Andrew Albert who owns Ace (OTCH HTCh BOSS Bronze GCh Turicks Trifecta Multi-HIT and HC UDX2 OM4 BH TD RN CDSPCD CDSP-CDX FFX Multi-RHIT HSAs HIAs HXAs HTADI HTADII HTADIII RLFI RLFIIRLFIII HRDI HRDII HRDIII ROM-1.)

“As is true of many herding breeds, the Malinois has a heritage of working one-on-one with 66 Dog News

Andrew Albert and his Malinois Ace (OTCH HTCh BOSS Bronze GCh Turicks Trifecta Multi-HIT and HC UDX2 OM4 BH TD RN CDSP-CD CDSP-CDX FFX Multi-RHIT HSAs HIAs HXAs HTADI HTADII HTADIII RLFI RLFII RLFIII HRDI HRDII HRDIII ROM-1) move the sheep at a herding trial.

Clyde is a very good example of the versatility of the breed having titles in conformation, obedience, agility, rally and herding.

Streak (TDCh Ch Carousel’s Silver Streak HSAs TD PCD BN RAE NA NAJ NF SCHH1 TR2 NW1 CL3 CL4_H/S.F TN-N ROMII), one of Angela Silvestri’s Malinois does a bit of protection work.

people for hours at a time. This leads lean towards to dogs that natu‘do’ before rally have good at‘think.’

But if tention and focus. you think about The breed has also it, it makes sense. You would not want a war dog thinking too been used for police and war dog work. The dogs doing much when you are about to jump out of a helicopter.” this sort of work need all the focus and willingness of the Carol Shields also had some issues with herding and her herding breeds plus they need an ‘edge’ or sharpness. This Malinois Clyde (Ch U-Ch U-CD Clyde du Hameau St-Blaise CD makes the dog more intense and ‘tough’ in a good way.

RE PT NA NAJ TT CL1-R CL1-H CL1-S CL1-F CL2-R CL2-H CL2-S Malinois are definitely not ‘sweet.’ They also have a nice CL2-F CL3-R CL3-H.) “I had problems with the commands in size and a clean, square shape which makes them easy herding.

They have to be pretty exact and I have a hard time to work with physically and less likely to break down under moving with the sheep, watching my dog and walking all at the strain of training and competing,” said Barb Van Eselthe same time.

When we switched to herding ducks, even tine who owns Terry (Ch MACH Avonlea Show Off TD MXG though they are small and very easy to step on–Yikes!!–Clyde MJG MXP2 MJP2 XF.) did recognize the ducks as livestock, unlike some dogs that While the versatility of the breed is not in question, don’t seem to believe a duck equals livestock. He was able to there are some activities that have been more difficult for rate his speed better with ducks and work back off of them. some Malinois owners than others. “I have participated in a With sheep, he would tend to work for awhile and peel off wide variety of sports with my Malinois,” said Angela Silvesand race around them.

Ducks kept his focus. In addition ducks tri who owns Streak (TDCH Ch Carousel’s Silver Streak HSAs were easier for me to keep working and also to keep track of.”

TD PCD BN RAE NA NAJ NF SCHH1 TR2 NW1 CL3 CL4_H/S.F Barb Benner is another who had problems with herding.

TN-N ROMII), Flare (TDCH CH Silverthorn’s Dragon Fire RA “I found herding difficult but the problem was me and not the HT) and Vivid (TDCH GCh Carousel’s Dream of Fire N Ice RA dogs.

I struggled to ‘think on my feet.’

I finally gave up and HT NA NAJ NF CL2 RATS CRO1.) “Surprisingly, herding was moved on to other sports although I think if I had better acthe most difficult for my dogs and I. There cess to livestock and to trainers experienced are so many more variables in herding in working with the Belgian breeds, I would Vivid TDCH GCh Carousel’s than in other dog sports. In agility the obDream of Fire N Ice RA HT have continued. One of the problems with stacles stay in one place. In training, you NA NAJ NF CL2 this breed is that the characteristics that can set up almost the exact same situaRATS CRO1), make them good at dog sports can also tion as you will encounter in a trial. That’s another of Silvestri’s present the greatest challenge. Their speed not true with herding. You can walk into Malinois and her owner and enthusiasm can sometimes make it difdo rally in addition to an arena with a plan in mind only to have conformation, ficult to get the control needed to ‘play by it go completely out the window because tracking herding the rules.’ One of my dogs frequently took of what the stock is doing and you have agility and cross tracks when we were working on adto be able to adjust to the new situation. barn hunting. vanced tracking. A fellow tracker suggested Even after three years of working with my making a major food drop shortly after each herding trainer, I still consider myself new cross track and were able to work through to the sport. I’ve spent hours at the ranch the problem as she earned her TDX. She learning about livestock and how they also has a tendency to knock bars in agility act/react to different situations, essenand typically it’s one bar per run. I have yet tially learning how to read stock so I can to solve this problem but I’m using videos to anticipate what is about to happen and see where I might be late in giving her direcrespond correctly to it. I also watch other tion and I’m trying to improve my handling people’s dogs at different levels, take so where I want her to go sooner,” said videos of my sessions so I can see what Benner who owns Zenith (Ch OTCH MACH2 I’m doing and then be able to discuss it UOCH NATCH ATCH Carousel’s Pole Star UDX3 OM3 VER RAE with my trainer. But, the biggest issue probably is that my TDX MXG MJG MXP2 MJP2 MJPB FTC1 MFC TQX MFP T2B2 CA) dogs are city dogs and we only get to herd stock once a and Bijou (GCh OTCH UUD Carousel’s Southern Cross UDX2 week at most. We do go to the park and work around the OM3 BN GN GO VER RA TDX MX MXJ MJB MXF MFS T2B2 geese and ducks because that’s as close as I can get to CAA). livestock practice during the week. Finding a trainer who For Albert, an issue arose with some of the judges. He knows how Malinois think is also a challenge. Just because said, “I ran across a few judges who didn’t think Malinois someone knows dogs does not mean they know how to should be in an obedience ring and that the breed should be work with a Malinois. They are strong, intelligent dogs but Continued on page 89 also quite handler sensitive. In sports (and in life) Malinois

Dog News 67

Babbling

Glorifying The Past??

Continued FROM page 14

your dogs know exactly where he belonged….

And as I have previously mentioned, minor disagreements were not settled by use of words, but by use of your fists. Black eyes and missing teeth not all that uncommon.

But as a matter of fact often led to very meaningful discussions amongst the still sober people in the group- and whether you believe it or not- there are a few Irishmen who don’t touch any alcoholic beverages. And even a few Scots- even if I at this time cannot come up with a name…

In these days where the discussion, wherever 2 or more dog people meet in the US, is all about the new point system for aspiring judges- it would probably come as a shock that many of the “older” judges today came from a world where EVERYBODY arrived at the shows early in the morning and did not leave until after the finals.

And that they stayed even after their own breeds were judged giving them time to speak with as well exhibitors and judges- at a time when it was not uncommon for a judge to seek up an exhibitor in the benching or grooming are to give advice as to how to improve their performance.

And of course for those exhibitors who experienced this it was considered a huge compliment that any judge considered them worthy of special attention.

If that happened today it would not be unlikely that some of the “freshmen” would rather be insulted by this approach as so many people these days seem like instant experts who don’t need any guidance…

And if they didn’t tell you to Naff Off, the Field Rep or the KC would probably reprimand you for unwanted behavior???

I keep repeating the message that I don’t think there is any better way to learn about judging dogs than actually judging dogs and then having to answer for what you did and how you did it!

It is in my humble opinion no doubt that judging is difficult, that we all make mistakes and that we all have to a certain degree different perspectives on

“And as I have previously mentioned, minor disagreements were not settled by use of words, but by use of your fists. Black eyes and missing teeth not all that uncommon.”

68 Dog News

what the perfect dog of any breed should look like, act like and being presented like!

I have been so relieved by talking to well established, famous judges, who although having loads of routine, return to the judging table after having given out the ribbons asking themselves: “Why the heck did I do that”???

Being one who rejudges my classes for a couple of days after each show- I try to follow the advice given to me by a very famous all rounder many moons ago. If you can say you were totally honest with yourself at that tenth of a second when you pointed at a dog, then just stop thinking about it.

Then another advice always on my mind: if you find it difficult to choose between any number of dogs- choose the one that you think you could live with and look at every day…

But then of course –if you realize it doesn’t qualify any of them…???

Another advice I have been thinking about a lot over the years was: if you are trying to decide whether or not to show under a particular judge: Would you trust this guy to select a puppy for you or even buy an adult show dog for you???

Would save many of us a lot of money!

I just wonder how the “modern” or younger generation of aspiring judges would react if when after arriving at a show 7 am they found themselves “locked in” until the show was over at 5 or 6 pm. That used to be my reality when I first started out, but then I did not mind at all.

If, however, you were caught red handed trying to escape the show ground early after a miserable day, like trying to crawl under the fence which so many tried: Lifetime suspension from the Exclusive World of Dog Showing could be the consequence, so your reason to get away had to be well worth the risk…

Anyway- most of us spent the time “fenced in “ trying to learn about other breeds and speak with their owners- and we hopefully got something out of it.

So surely life was better “In The Good Old Days”- or was it really??? But I still think it made plenty of opportunities to learn about dogs in general – and even people…

Until next time..

*

*The Dog News Top Ten List - Breed points

Dog News 69

“Purebred and Proud”

PART TWO

ily members come directly back to the breeder under any circumstances. Responsible breeders microchip all their dogs identifying them so not one purposefully bred member is ever lost for very long. AKC breeders have developed an intricate nationwide rescue network through national parent clubs, regional chapter clubs, and satellite breeders rescue for the soul purpose that none will ever be left behind in any shelter.

Preservation breeders are being so successful in this task that the NAIA is reporting that less than 5% of all dogs in shelters today are recognized as purebred.

We know we must assist, contribute and support the outstanding organizations that do the same for the success of our breeding programs, such as our very own “Canine Health Foundation,” a cutting edge foundation bringing preservationist breeders the absolute state of the art in health testing and practices. DNA science and research for optimum canine health and reproduction, one of the only foundations of its kind, existing for the soul purpose of creating a genuinely healthier, happier canine existence. Not just for purebreds but all dogs.

This foundation and similar ones like it have significantly contributed to identifying science that assists also in cures for human disease as well.

We support the AKC because for a hundred and thirty plus years it has been our registry that has dedicated itself to the authentic heritage of purebred dogs and preservation breeders. Beyond aiding in the formation of many worthwhile projects, and organizations such as the Canine Health Foundation, the Dog Museum and others, AKC has become the champion of all canines, not just purebreds. This is evident in programs like the Disaster Relief Program initiated in times of national disaster for the purpose of reuniting and caring for all canines. AKC and its associates offer thousands of programs in canine socialization, training such as the “Star Puppy,” and “Canine Good Citizen” programs and several more.

Spectacular events known as “Meet the Breeds” where valuable information is shared among all dog enthusiasts, with the general public. Let us not forget “Dog Shows” where breeders assemble in the thousands to test and identify the progress of the soundness of their breeding programs and just how

their family stacks up to others like them in overall type and soundness. Performance events are there to demonstrate and test ability in specific breed character.

Breeders must work together as community leaders, working towards responsible canine legislation, for all the best in welfare practices; Knowing and personally taking time to correspond and meeting with local legislators and those on a state and national level; Donating and learning from such organizations as National Animal Interest Alliance and the AKC PAC. Your local coalitions of clubs and grassroots organizations are additional ways to combat legislation that can and will eliminate your ability to continue your preservation work as a breeder of the endangered purebred dog.

As AKC preservationist breeders we should not, and must not, lurk in the shadows any longer as we pursue our passion. The preservation of many rare breeds will not last the century and our life long quest for the happiest, healthiest canine family could actually cease to exist if we continue to only be relevant within this vacuum we call the purebred dog sport. AKC breeders must question everything we are doing today; where we are headed and the outcomes we expect to effectively change. Being purebred and proud, we already possess the most incredible and cherished commodity of its kind. We must promote it in the world today. We just haven’t been proactive in doing this for decades.

It’s not as important what we say as breeders, but rather what we do. It’s not so much about what awards we might garner along the way, but rather what we learn.

Not so much that we survive the twenty-first century, but rather we thrive in its time.

Last! A preservation breeder is that individual who holds such passion for the canine race that they are all dogs’ champion. At the end of the day it’s only the camaraderie of a dog we really ever sought. It’s because of our enveloping infatuation with dogs that we cannot just simply exist with them, but must be a part of protecting their welfare as a species, and are compelled to be a greater good in the development and evolution of their health. We work tirelessly advocating, promoting, and being sure that our dogs were known to exist in the healthiest and happiest of states and existences, perhaps even have flourished and thrived because of our sincerest of efforts.

Purebred and Proud.

Continued FROM page 18

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Dog News 71

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MOUSCRON St o r y & P h otos B y K ar l D onvi l

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f a show has its limits one edition is often almost a mirror image of a previous one. In 2014, 1995 entries were counted; in 2015, 2179 dogs were entered. That was too much and the Royal Society of St. Hubertus decided to limit the number of entries for Mouscron to 2000 and we see that 1994 dogs were entered, one entry less than 2014.

Mouscron is a very popular show and every year lots of French dogs are entered, as Mouscron is a border town to France. Some people's gardens are literally situated in France. Compared to the 1016 Belgian dogs, France entered 673 dogs, and that's a big part. The Netherlands entered 166 dogs and Germany 84. Mouscron is even closer to the Chunnel as Kortrijk and easy accessible for British Dogs, 53 crossed the sea. 14 countries were represented and the farthest travelers came from Russia (3) and Iceland (1). The number of dogs was nicely divided over both days, 992 on Saturday, consisting of groups 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 10, and 1002 on Sunday for groups 1, 5, 8 and 9.

72 Dog News

There were a little less trade stands, but Mouscron is usually popular for its inhabitants and attracts a fair amount of visitors. In the two main halls the rings were rearranged with corridors to walk easier around. Except for a few bottlenecks it was much easier going around and the exhibitors were happy with it in general.

For the first time there were no cages anymore. All that, along with the limited number of entries, contributed in a more relaxed show. If for next year a solution is found for the bottlenecks too, I think that Mouscron will get rid of its most important problems. Parking facilities will always be a problem and there is little or nothing the committee can do. Maybe a dropoff zone for cars like at the airport could be a solution, so people can

drop off their cages and dogs while the driver parks the car in the neighboring streets. The problem in Mouscron is that there is hardly any parking and this forces people to carry all their stuff and dogs a long way in the streets, often a very risky and difficult situation. But, you see, Mouscron is busy thinking and re-planning and that means that things can only get better, every year again.

Several of the 19 judges were here for the second year in a row. They came from 8 countries. 9 Judges were from Belgium, including Mr. T. Leenen who was called to come over and take over some breeds of Mr. Zidar from Slovenia who was not feeling well and stayed home. Other of his breeds were given to other judges who could take some more. For Mr. Zidar 107 dogs were entered on Saturday, a high number thanks to the popular English Bulldogs (60), and 58 on Sunday. His wife, Mrs. Fon Zidar was present, not easy knowing her husband was not feeling well. She had 110 dogs all together. Mrs. and Mr. Opara from Poland were invited last year too and proved very successful. And again, Mrs. Opara had 70 entries on Saturday and 40 on Sunday. Mr. Opara had 93 on Saturday and 65 on Sunday.

Mrs. Kelveri-Phillipou from Cyprus was the most popular judge on Saturday with 108 entries. She judged group 2 dogs. Her 34 Bordeaux Dogs are certainly worth mentioning. On Sunday too she was popular and the second best scoring judge with 104 dogs, all companion breeds. Overall winner and best scoring judge of Sunday was Mr. Markov from Serbia. 40 American Staffordshires and some other breeds, brought the Saturday score up to 87. On Sunday he had the popular French Bulldogs and the Pugs, 62 respectively 42 entries, and along with a few other breeds this brought the Sunday score to no less than 133.

The total was 220 for the weekend. Mrs. De Ridder from Belgium had a total of 144 for the weekend. On Sunday she had 78 all Retriever breeds and Companion breeds.

Mrs. Ekaterina Senashenko from Russia proved very successful last year and she was invited again too and she was granted the honor to judge Best In Show. She was asked to place only one dog, which has been the custom in Mouscron for as long as I remember. Placing all 10 group winners is not so much fun, as one has to be number 10, and 9, and 8, etc. My personal preference

is a 1-2-3 placing that makes all the others 4th place ex-aequo.

Choosing only one is OK too, making all other 2nd ex-aequo but this is more difficult for the judge who often has more than one favorite. Finally she pointed to the Bichon FrisĂŠe â&#x20AC;&#x153;I Want It All des Portes de Hanau", a two-year-old male bred and owned by Erb Cindy from France. The dog was entered in Champion Class males for Mrs. Kelveri-Phillipou and crowned again as Best of Group by Mr. Damir Markov.

"I Want It All" jumped over the border again but will probably be back next year, last weekend of January, 28-29 and you are all welcome of course. But remember, be in time to enter as the number of this popular show is limited to only 2000!

Dog News 73

Brace Yourself Another Giant Gone: Hans Lehtinen Continued FROM page 30

judges and some really excellent dogs?

“Back in the early days we had a few very knowledgeable breeders in a lot of breeds and they were very helpful, always ready to share their knowledge with us.

They were also grateful for us helping them with handling and giving them contacts with good breeders overseas. There were a handful of us, notably myself, Rainer and Kari, who were all living in or around Helsinki and we used to meet up regularly on a social basis and just talk dogs. We would sometimes decide to discuss one or more breeds and would get our hands on all the material we could – Dog World annuals, breed books, photographs and so on, and we would exchange opinions on what we liked about various dogs and tried to get to the soul of a breed standard by looking at the photos we had available to us. It was really the three of us that possibly had more fire and passion and we would really get inside in a breed – sometimes with a little whisky or wine, and sometimes without!”

Finland is a relatively small country and yet dogs from that country in recent years have been able to compete at world level with the best from any other country.

How is this so?

“We have some very clever breeders who have a deep feeling for their breed and an open mind. They have the vision to look at dogs in other countries and think that maybe they could benefit from getting some of this, and some of that and blending it with the stock they already have. We have breeders in different breeds who have a great instinct and if they feel they could get something positive from a dog they will do their best to use it, regardless of distance or expense!”

In Finland, as with all the Scandinavian countries, the judging system involves detailed critiques on every dog.

Finnish judges are brought up to be accurate and truthful in what they write about these dogs and not to gild the lily.

Hasse comments, “We start with puppy shows where dogs will get their first critiques so the owners get to know how good their dogs are from the start. The system is very good from the exhibitor’s point of view, but from the judge’s perspective I must admit I love judging in the UK and the USA as there you can just get on with the job and place dogs in order of merit. Sometimes with the critique system you tend to be too analytical, you pull a dog apart and then have difficulty putting it back together again! However, judging with the critique system you really do have to know your dogs and know your breeds. Judging without the critique system in countries where quality is high can be a holiday to us sometimes!”

Before anyone can breed more than one litter in Finland they have to become a member of the Finnish Kennel Club, and then their registration fees are reduced. This involves more people in the ruling body and also makes them much more aware of breed issues and breed responsibilities.

74 Dog News

Going back to Hasse’s judging career, having established himself in Scandinavia and having judged in the UK on several occasions his reputation spread and as others saw him in action he received invitations from farther afield.

Appointments came from Italy and other European countries and in 1973 he was invited to judge the Sydney Royal in Australia, which he judged an incredible seven times.

Knowing the mind-set of some Australian exhibitors, I wondered how Hasse’s high standards and his rather direct and often critical approach went down, down under.

“I never had any major problems in Australia to be honest, and as far as I am aware they have always accepted my decisions with good grace.”

In the USA one of the major prestige shows for many years was Santa Barbara when it was run by the legendary Stevensons and they were always keen to import new and talented judges from overseas.

“Frank Sabella and Bea Godsall were judging in Sweden at a show where I was also judging and they watched me, later asking if I was interested in going to the States.

They must have mentioned me to the Stevensons and so I started off with Santa Barbara as my first American show, and it was a truly fantastic show. Then I got to Bucks County and Montgomery for Dr Deubler – thanks to Peter Green of course - and other shows there followed.”

Does Hasse have a favourite country to judge in?

“No, I like to judge good dogs anywhere, but I have a special fondness for Great Britain and the USA, and still regard Britain as the mother country for the dog sport. You may have your problems here, but you still have access to some wonderful breeders and some wonderful dogs, not necessarily owned by the top winning kennel of the moment.”

Hans was unique in that, having studied so many breeds through visiting the large kennels in Britain and beyond as a young man, he set about creating one of the most sophisticated dog scenes in the world in his native Finland. I do not think any Finn would dispute the suggestion that he was the Father of modern Finnish dogdom.

Hasse remained committed to the breeds and could never compromise. He shared his knowledge selflessly with those he considered warranted it and helped so many younger judges (myself included) improve their understanding of individual breeds and the sport at large. He was responsible for encouraging and bringing on so many judges in Scandinavia and Finland’s position in the global dog world is a great tribute to him. Through his extensive travels he was often in a position to acquaint breeders in Scandinavia what was going on in their own breed elsewhere and would recommend incorporating foreign lines. Most of the breeders were only too happy to take his advice and did so with great effect.

Never one to sweeten the pill, Hasse told it as it was and his direct approach was appreciated by those who are truly passionate about the dog world.

He loathed politics and game-playing and did not suffer fools gladly, as always closest to his heart were the dogs that gave him such a wonderful life. Time spent with Hasse was always a learning experience.

Few judges commanded more respect than Hans Lehtinen on an international basis and his place can never be filled. His contribution to the sport in so many ways has been inestimable.

Our sympathies go to his devoted partner, Johan Juslin, who cared for Hasse as he bravely fought the illness that has robbed us of so many wonderful friends, and to his family.

He will never be forgotten.

*

*2015 Breed, 2016 All Breed - The Dog News Top Ten List

arxism M s This Judge’s Point Of View

Canine College

Continued FROM PAGE 42

this judge is finally approved (provisionally) and gets her first assignment, the learning experience is often a year or more in the past. People remember more when they practice or use their learning compared to when they just read or hear information.

The amount of information we remember is in direct proportion to the amount of involvement we had in the learning. We tend to remember only about 10 percent of what we read.

Our memory increases when we hear and see something together—like watching a movie or going to an exhibit. We remember about 90 percent of what we say and do, like practicing what we learned.

Much of the reason for the latest change in the judge’s approval process was to ostensibly provide more/newer judges for clubs and exhibitors. As I stated previously, I think a very positive synergy could be formed by allowing smaller shows to hire provisional judges with new breeds, to judge those breeds - and maybe even the group before approved. AKC Field Representatives could really be helpful at these shows and with these judges - which is one of their very important functions. These judges 76 Dog News

would charge less than the more experienced multi-group judges now used by these clubs. The clubs would save money. The judges would gain experience.

And the exhibitors would not have to show their dogs to the same judges over and over.

Problem-based learning is an instructional strategy that encourages critical thinking and problem-solving skills. When it comes to learning to judge a breed, each attendee should explain his or her reasons - the trade-offs if you will - for their placements. This is a learning experience that is best done in a hands-on setting - not on a computer where the judge cannot feel the spring of rib, feel a poor coat, or see some of the important breed nuances.

We all know that good groomers can change angles on the dog. A judge can feel this artistry, but may not see it on a computer screen. Proper movement is more than where the feet are placed. Proper pace and timing of footfall is important. This is very difficult to see on a screen. Who will determine who the breed experts are that will pass judgment on those taking the computer class? Who determines which dogs to use?

The Parent club, you say? What are the odds of finding three people that can agree on ten dogs? What about the graying judging population that is not necessarily computer savvy?

Are they just cast aside?

Discussion is a prototypical teaching method for active

learning. Discussion encourages students to develop critical thinking abilities, which certainly should be used by judges. This type of learning is very difficult to do on a computer. Computers have their place and can be useful tools, but they should not be the significant part of learning.

Learning to judge dogs on a computer is a lot like Sheldon (Big Bang Theory) learning to swim by watching a computer.

Of course, he never actually went into the water.

I am not at all against spending money to improve our judges, breeders, and exhibitor’s knowledge. Just the contrary.

We need to do much more in educating our entire fancy. But the money should be used wisely. First we should require all Parent Clubs to provide an educational power-point at the very least.

After breed education presentations are improved, AKC and Parent Clubs should combine to pay the costs to send qualified mentors around the country to put on seminars. Almost every year AKC offers educational opportunities at the Eukanuba show, but how many people can afford to go there? We should be bringing education to various regions across the country, where it is more likely that people could attend. For example, many years ago Douglas Johnson, Donald Sturz and Kathy Lorentzen held hands-on seminars and discussions that featured the differences in Retrievers and Spaniels. It was a great learning experience and could be a great “road show.”

I am sure that there are many other ways that better education could be provided across the country. Wanna-be judges should not have to wait for the one National Specialty a year where education is offered. Not everyone can get to these venues at those specific times. AKC seems to find the money when it wants to hire any number of IT personnel. And if the AKC website is representative of this, it is not money well spent, and does not give us a warm and fuzzy feeling about how their computer-based education will function. I think it is past time that the AKC has a significant department devoted to education.

What do you think?

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Dog News 77

Rare Breeds of the World Continued FROM page 52

hound and the Beagle as the breeds with the best sense of smell, but curiously today the Internet may be mistaken. The Best Sniffer goes to the recently “manufactured” Russian breed:” the Sulimov, a breed of dog specifically created as a last line of defense against terrorism. Although they are unlikely to announce how many terror plots have been foiled by the super sniffers, there have been only prizes about their performance from Russian airport officials.

The Sulimov dog also known as the Shalaika is a Russian jackal-dog hybrid originating from an initial breeding between two Lapponian Herders and two Turkmen golden jackals. It was developed by Klim Sulimov for Aeroflot* airline security. Mr. Sulimov is the Senior Research Assistant at Russia’s D.S. Likhachev Scientific Research Institute for Cultural Heritage and Environmental Protection.

During the breeding process, male jackal pups had to be fostered on a Lapponian Herder bitch to imprint the jackals on dogs.

Female jackals accepted male dogs more easily. The half-bred jackal-dogs were hard to train and were bred back to Huskies to produce quarter-bred hybrids (quadroons). The jackals were chosen to produce this dog because the jackals are known to have a better sense of smell than domestic dogs. If your diet is carrion and you don’t live with messy humans, you need a very strong sense of smell to find food.

Since the beginning Mr. Sulimov (also known for his work on National Geographic Explorer (1985) and Universum (1987) decided to create a golden jackal hybrid to make a super sniffer dog. Their breeding program dates back to 1975, but was not applied to bomb detection until 2002.

To build and rebuild the required abilities jackal-dog hybrids were bred together for seven generations, and to improve trainability, other dog breeds were bred into the line: a reindeer herding hound, a fox terrier, and a Spitz. The result was an easily trainable dog with a superior sense of smell. They are trained from puppyhood to recognize twelve components of explosives. Unlike more common sniffing dogs, they take the initiative in searching. The final product was baptized Sulimov dogs after their creator and may one day be registered at the Working Breed group of dog.

Only about 40 of these dogs are actively working at the airports of the country, and are the property of Aeroflot Company.

The animals are the product of a Russian scientific research project, launched over four decades ago, with the finality to produce the ultimate sniffer dog. Mr. Suli-

78 Dog News

mov claims that they are much more effective than any other dog breed commonly used for the same finality in other countries. “They can sniff out certain explosives that machines can’t trace,” continues Klim Sulimov, today Aeroflot’s chief dog breeder.

The Aeroflot-run kennels situated in Moscow raise the dogs and send them to airports where they will patrol the travelers, and the travelers’ bags.

The primary and most important use of this breed has been accomplished, i.e. to aid airport’s security as unparalleled sniffer dogs.

Quoting Sulimov, “My dogs combine the qualities of Arctic reindeer herding dogs, which can work in temperatures as low as -70°C, and jackals which enjoy the heat up to +40°C. They’re perfect for our country climate.”] *Founded in 1923 and based in the Sheremetyevo airport (Moscow, Russia), Aeroflot – Russian Airlines, JSC is Russia’s largest long haul and domestic carrier 18 May 2006 Published by the company; Five Years Of Aeroflot’s Sniffer Dogs Service Aeroflot – Russian Airlines, JSC celebrates the five-year anniversary of its dog breeding and training department at the aviation security service, to enhance passenger security and counter terrorism.

Aeroflot’s dog detectives check out around 500 company’s flights, and over 4,200 buildings and facilities in technical and public premises of the Sheremetyevo airport, and operate over 30 urgency field examinations for explosives onboard on on-land every year.

The sniff dog’s efficiency is over 95%, and apart from the unique sense of smell the dogs serve as a psychological weapon, discouraging terrorist bombers.

The Aeroflot’s sniffer dogs service currently employs 40 hounds, with 20 patrolling various airports premises and checking out flights, and the other 20 honing their skills in training. Four-shift 24h patrolling duty is performed by 16 detectives and their dogs.

The sniffer dogs are an additional security measure, used along with metal-detectors, and all other security devices installed in the airport. However, where technology may fail – the dog’s nose is always up to the task, as this specially trained dog is more mobile and can squeeze in places normally hard to reach. The specialists believe that detecting explosives, in particular plastic explosives, remains an issue: that is why bio-detectors, that are sniffer dogs, are an essential weapon to detect any danger.

There are no major Kennel Clubs officially recognizing the breed yet, and also not many people have even heard, or seen a Sulimov.

These factors don’t make any difference for the airport’s officials interested in their dog’s work doing a good job. Maybe sooner than later this breed will obtain the recognition they deserve becoming accepted by the dog world as the dedicated and trusted disaster detectors they were bred for in the first place.

I could not accomplish my research without some excellent sources, as wiki.dbpedia.org www.NewDesignerbreedRussia’s secret weapon http://books.google.com www.aeroflot.ru

Dog News 79

The Gossip Column

By Eugene Z. Zaphiris

T

he WESTMINSTER WEEKEND is always filled with excitement that can’t be found surrounding any other dog show. The weather over the weekend had its own excitement as it changed from near record-breaking cold to snow to rain to 50 degrees. Saturday night was the PURINA PRO PLAN SHOW DOG OF THE YEAR AWARDS DINNER with DOGS IN REVIEW. American Kennel Club president DENNIS SPRUNG was inducted into the Hall of the Fame in recognition for his many years of service and devotion to pure bred dogs. Sunday, art lovers could be found at BARKFEST AT BONHAMS viewing the art that was auctioned on the following Wednesday. Monday night, TAKE THE LEAD held its annual cocktail party following the Monday night group judging. This year the party was moved to a restaurant across the street from the Garden. I’m told that it was too expensive to hold in the Garden as in years past. The WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB has made several changes under the progressive leadership of SÉAN MCCARTHY. First there was naming DAVE HELMING as the new show chairman. In the office there is the addition of GAIL MILLER BISHER, LISA PETERSON and CATHERINE WRIGHT. CATHERINE recently moved to Manhattan from London and she is the daughter of GEORGE & ENID WRIGHT and granddaughter of LOIS & CLIFF HALLMARK, so she knows a thing or two. Congratulations to HARRY STILES and LEE WALKER, who are celebrating their 47-year relationship with their 2nd year wedding anniversary.

80 Dog News

This was DAVE FREI’S last year announcing the dog show. DAVE grew into that job, and with the international power of the Westminster name, some fame.

He is going onto other announcing gigs and he’ll be around. So as he cleans out his desk all of us at DOG NEWS wish him all the best. P.S. DAVE, don’t forget to take MARY CARILLO. So with the Garden behind us, many are packing for the CRUFTS DOG SHOW that starts on March 10th. Nearly 22,000 dogs are competing at this year’s event. GEIR FLYCKT-PEDERSEN is the only judge from the States. We hear that the Monmouth County Kennel Club located in New Jersey has disbanded. HANS LEHTINEN, certainly Finland’s most respected and knowledgeable judge whose opinion was sought by breeders and exhibitors worldwide, has passed away. What a great loss to our sport and to his family and many friends and admirers around the world. DON DAVIS, the concession king, will be celebrating his 91st birthday at home, while he recuperates from recent surgery. We wish a Happy Birthday and speedy recovery. Also celebrating Birthdays MATTHEW PERCHICK, MICHELLE LEWIS, ALEX WHEELER, TOM DIGIACOMO, JANET YORK, DAVID BOLUS, TAYLOR JOHNSON, TARA MARTIN ROWELL, LEONARDO GARCINI, LUKE BAGGENSTOS, PETER KUBACZ, SUSAN LOWDER, TUNI CONTI, JOE WATERMAN, LOIS DEMERS, LETISHA WUBBEL, CHERYL LENT & LESLEY POTTS. Those three Great Dames, TOOTIE LONGO, CAROL GROSSMAN & JUDY HARRINGTON of Great Dane fame, are donning their bathing costumes for a weeks holiday in Florida.

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The White House Guards Continued FROM page 67

limited to protection sports. There are also a few herding judges who, in my opinion, have a double standard when a Malinois is herding versus when it’s some other herding breed. One thing you have to be aware of with this breed, however, is that they are just too smart to repetition after repetition. They will figure out a ‘better way’ to do something and that ‘better way’ may just not be the way you want it performed.“ One problem that Van Eseltine encountered was the breed’s enthusiasm for just about any work. This desire to work sometimes results in over-the-top enthusiasm and that can be counter-productive especially in agility where the dog has to be focused enough to keep the bars up and balance the delight of sheer speed against the need to make quick turns. However, I have found that the more time you spend with the dog doing agility exercises, the more they realize that the game is more fun if they play it ‘my way.’ Of course, I also spend a lot of training time working on specific skills to help the dogs learn to use their body better and by that I mean something like more bending exercises. In the end, I love agility because it is a tremendous amount of fun both for me and my dogs. While a lot of training goes into a successful performance, those 40 to 60 seconds of your actual run are pure adrenalin, excitement and happiness.”

The breed’s increasing popularity is creating some real problems for Malinois people. Albert said, “The popularity of the breed has definitely increased due to the publicity given to Cairo, the Malinois that was part of the SEAL team that took down Osama bin Laden and also to the popularity of the movie ‘Max.’ This sort of publicity, or any publicity for that matter, on the Malinois is a disservice to the breed. The analogy I use is that giving an adult Mal to an uneducated and inexperienced dog owner is like giving a loaded gun to a child. They are way too much dog for anyone other than an experienced handler. This is NOT a breed for a novice handler! There are many of us who are truly passionate about ‘our’ breed and their future. There are also, sadly, many unscrupulous breeders out there just wanting to capitalize financially on the traits that make the Mals so desirable and it is unfortunate.”

Van Eseltine agreed. “Popularity is the biggest challenge the Belgian Malinois faces today. People have become familiar with the breed as a result of ‘Max’ and Cairo which makes them think favorably of the breed and perhaps mistakenly think it would make a nice family pet. However, any dog that is capable of being a war dog can easily be a problem when under-trained and under-exercised. Breeders are challenged with the task of matching puppies with appropriate homes.

The number of Malinois in rescue shows that not all puppies are placed as carefully as they could or should be.”

Zenith (Ch OTCH MACH2 UOCH NATCH ATCH Carousel’s Pole Star UDX3 OM3 VER RAE TDX MXG MJG MXP2 MJP2 MJPB FTC1 MFC TQX MFP T2B2 CA), one of Barb Benner’s Malinois, searches for the correct article in a utility trial.

Bijou (GCh OTCH UUD Carousel’s Southern Cross UDX2 OM3 BN GN GO VER RA TDX MX MXJ MJB MXF MFS T2B2 CAA), another of Benner’s Malinois, does the weave poles on an agility course.

When Carol Schields had problems moving with the sheep, watching her dog, Clyde (Ch U-Ch U-CD Clyde du Hameau St-Blaise CD RE PT NA NAJ TT CL1-R CL1-H CL1-S CL1-F CL2-R CL2-H CL2-S CL2-F CL3-R CL3-H) and walking at the same time, she switched to herding ducks which Clyde, unlike some dogs, does recognize as livestock.

The increasing number of Malinois in rescue is a serious issue for Malinois people. “On almost a daily basis, Malinois and Malinois mixes are showing up in shelters or with rescue groups,” said Silvestri. “The dogs are, in general, young dogs. People looking for Malinois need to know the energy and training requirements of this breed. They are not dogs you can stick in a backyard and they will be happy. A Mal can easily clear a six-foot fence with little effort and if they don’t get the needed amount of exercise, they can get very creative. When they are young dogs, they can be hard to live with if you don’t put the necessary amount of effort into exercising them both mentally and physically. When they become too much for those people who didn’t realize these needs, they end up at shelters. The American Belgian Malinois Rescue and Woof Project are stretched thin with the numbers we are currently seeing.”

Benner also expressed concern that as the breed becomes better known, breeds can lose sight of the critical qualities of the breed. “It is important for breeders to focus on temperament, working ability and structure in order to maintain the Belgian Malinois as an intelligent, stable, athletic dog that is capable of being an outstanding companion and partner in dog sports and working activities.”

Dog News 89

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