Dog News The Digest Volume 31, Issue 30
Of American Dogs $5.00
July 31, 2015
Dog News 3
Dog News Contents • July 31, 2015 10 Editorial 14 The Lighter Side of Judging By Michael H. Faulkner 18 Babbling: The Impressionist Himself By geir flyckt-pedersen 22 Question Of The Week By Matthew H. Stander 26 Irving’s Impressions BY Ronnie irving 30 The “New” Research On Canine Cognition by Sharon Pflaumer 34 Bests Of The Week 38 Ten Questions Asked of Andrew Dowling 42 A Charming Bracelet By Nick waters 48 Off The Leash By Shaun Coen 52 The FCI/AKC Meeting, Westminster’s Bold Moves, 2 Days-4 Shows... And More By matthew h. stander 68 The Gossip Column By eugene z. zaphiris 72 Click: Western Ohio Summer Cluster
By Booth Photography
76 Click: The Way We Were By Eugene Z. Zaphiris 78 handlers directory • 80 classified advertising & subscription rates • 82 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. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to DOG NEWS, 1115 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10010 4 Dog News
All advertisements are copyrighted and owned by DOG NEWS, Harris Publications, unless received camera-ready. Permission to reprint must be requested in writing.
TEAM GUS... BEST IN SHOW Number
25!
And Group First Number
102!
Team Gus thanks Judges Mr. James White for the historic Group win, and Ms. Elizabeth Muthard for the benchmark Best In Show.
Multiple Best In Show, National Specialty Best In Show
GCh. Derby’s Toast With Gusto Owned By: Rick & Sue Copeland Richmond, Texas
Bred By: Kristin Kleeman Robyn & Kenneth Toth
Presented By Scott Sommer Assisted by Connery Cole Dog News 5
C o v e r S t o ry • J u l y 3 1 , 2 0 1 5 • V o l u m e 3 1 , I ss u e 3 0
PUBLISHER
STANLEY R. HARRIS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
EUGENE Z. ZAPHIRIS CREATIVE DIRECTOR
SEAN KEVIN GAFFNEY ADVERTISING MANAGERS
SHAUN COEN Y. CHRISTOPHER KING ACCOUNTING
STEPHANIE BONILLA SALES REPS
Karen Justin dognewskaren@aol.com
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dognews@harris-pub.com www.dognews.com facebook.com/dognewsmagazine twitter: @dognewsmagazine SUBSCRIPTIONS
Ian Miller 212 462.9624 Contributing Editors Sharon Anderson • Andrew Brace Agnes Buchwald • Patricia Gail Burnham Shaun Coen • Carlotta Cooper Geoff Corish • Michael Faulkner Merry Fitzgerald, DVM • Denise Flaim Geir Flyckt - Pedersen • Allison Foley Yossi Guy • Ronnie Irving • Roz Kramer John Mandeville • Sidney Marx Linda More • Desmond J. Murphy M. J. Nelson • Sharon Pflaumer John Shoemaker • Kim Silva Matthew H. Stander Sari Brewster Tietjen • Patricia Trotter Connie Vanacore • Carla Viggiano Nick Waters • Seymour Weiss Minta (Mike) Williquette Dog News Photographers Chet Jezierski • Perry Phillips Kitten Rodwell • Leslie Simis
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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. The editor reserves the right to edit all copy submitted.
JOJO & Jack Thank you Judge Dr. James Edwards for this Group Win!
THE
H Flash
Group F i P r ov i d e n r s t Judge M ce, RI r. Ste Gladston ven e
NUMBER ONE* RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK
MULTIPLE Best in show winner • Regional specialty show winner
GOLD GRAND CHAMPION SPRING VALLEY’S JOJO Owner: Mark & Jane Hlis
Handler: Jack Secrest PHA
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The Board Review Committee For Judges
Switch For Westminster The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, a long time staple of the USA Network (which has recently shared it with CNBC) will move to Fox Sports 1 and Nat Geo Wild in 2017 under a 10-year deal. Fox Sports 1 will show the prime-time portions of the dog show: the best-in-group judging on Monday and Tuesday nights and the best-in-show final, the last segment of the Tuesday night show. The daytime breed judging will be carried on the digital platforms of Fox Sports 1 and Nat Geo Wild while Agility will be broadcast as well. The agreement also results in FOX Sports 1 remaining home to the Masters Agility Championship at Westminster, with encores on Nat Geo WILD. The Masters Agility Championship features dogs attacking an obstacle course of jumps, tunnels, weave poles and more in a timed competition. Taking place on Saturday before the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the Masters Agility Championship made its debut on FOX Sports 1 in 2014, and now continues airing on the network and Nat Geo WILD through 2026. This bit of news should excite all dog owners but particularly the pure-bred dog owner since it assures a continuation of the major vehicle for the general public to promote the virtues of purebred dog ownership at least once a year. It sure would be nice to see AKC itself in this position but for sure Séan McCarthy and his people at Westminster have taken up the slack since the AENC has failed to deliver in that area for sure.
Required Reading Charlie Olvis’s THE JUDGE SPEAKS article contained in the July 10 issue of DOG NEWS has become somewhat of a cult document for most people in the sport concerned with the future of the competitive side of the conformation world. The title is in the form of a Question asking IS THE AKC’S BOARD MORE CONCERNED WITH MAKING JUDGING APPROVAL EASIER THAN WITH PRESERVING THE SPORT? From there it is a plea to truly reconsider the basics upon which this new approval process is based. These pages urge one and all to read this document which is found in print in that issue and electronically on the DOG NEWS web site. Already “housecleaning” has begun on the language of the existing approval process and THE STANDARD the AKC Newsletter for Conformation Judges has issued a Special 13 page explanation of the new process in its Summer edition. If it takes 13 pages to explain the new process and 12 three column Board pages to print it out how long of a chance does anyone think this new process has at lasting? Indeed who but Tim Thomas and perhaps Carl Ashby and Alan Kalter the originators of the system really understand it. As Charlie opines the one positive aspect of the new approval system is that none of them seem to last very long and hopefully (the words of these pages) “the system will change again.” 10 Dog News
Disappointing is the word to describe the reaction of these pages to the Board’s decision to have only Board members who are judges sit on the Review Committee for applicants who disagree or are unhappy with the results of Staff’s approval or denial for new and/or additional breeds. True the option in forming these types of committees is the Boards but nowhere can these pages find any discussions about where or who on the Board decided to have only Board members do this job. Candidly the quality of the gene pool of judge/directors was not the greatest to choose from and one of the selected individuals had been turned down for additional breeds by three different prior committees under one or the other of the outdated old processes. And while it is true that the three Board members are only appointed til March of ‘16 and may not apply for new breeds during this time these pages would far have preferred if not insisted that at least 2 of the three members not have been Board members but from the outside judging community or even Staff. The majority on this Board had the choice to institute such a policy but choose not to do so. But who on the Board made this decision one must ask again--it just sort of arrived deus ex machina--from nowhere that is unless of course it was a hidden priority not to be shared with the fancy at large!
Editorial
An Unprecedented Expansion Of Delegate Committee Power In a letter sent to all Delegates by two members of a Delegate Committee it was announced that they together with the IT Department had established a subcommittee to iron out web site problems which have arise - since the introduction of the new web site. That sounds all good and fine on paper but who in the world could have authorized this on Staff or Board? The two IT gentlemen dealing with the this problem are Messrs. Basone and Smith, highly qualified these pages are told in their field, but hardly versed in AKC workings as both have been with the Company for a very short period of time. The two well intentioned Delegates forming this subcommittee certainly seem to mean well but is it really the function of a Delegate Committee to form a sub-Committee to work with Staff? Perhaps one could argue that this is one way to shake up the inertia which seems to hold progress back on most every level of AKC. Is it constitutional or even legal? These pages are uncertain but the one thing these pages will say is if this is okayed by the higher authorities watch out for a Delegate Committee being formed with the new CFO Mr. Buffato to review not only Board expenses but Staff salaries and bonuses as well! Indeed it would appear that this Delegate sub-committee has more of a latitude to work with Staff than has the Board itself.
Thought For The Week These pages would like to thank Mr. Menaker for expanding the Board Minutes to a level way beyond that of his predecessor--not that they are as complete as these pages would like mind you but certainly these new Minutes (when reported correctly) are far more expansive than in prior years. Now if we could only restore Press conferences after the Board and Delegate Meetings that would be an added plus for sure as well.
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Summer Escape By Michael H. Faulkner One of the most important dog show judging lessons I have learned, as I struggle with life balance and the aging process, is that there is life beyond the dog shows. Especially, during the hot summer months. It is healthy and wise to take time off to escape the competitive rat race, and to participate in family-fun activities that transcend merely pointing the boney finger. At least this is what I thought when I agreed to not schedule a dog show-related event last weekend, July 18th, in order to attend my mother-in-law’s (MOM2) 75th birthday celebration. “So what are we going to do with MUR-
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PHY FRENCH (our infamous French Bulldog)? Surely we cannot leave him here all day and night?” BIG MICHAEL asks before our 11:00 AM departure. “First of all don’t call me SHIRLEY. Let’s pack a crate and take him along for the ride. While the party is going on he can stay at your mother’s house.” While BIG MICHAEL painstakingly dries his hair, applies gel and combs each strand in place, I pack dog food, crate, leash, MURPHY FRENCH, and numerous other assorted items for the one and half hour drive to MOM2’s home. MURPHY FRENCH and I wait seven minutes for BIG MICHAEL to appear at the driver’s side door. It is already 92 degrees and I can tell without even asking that he wishes he were wearing shorts and not the slacks that are already sticking to his legs. “On our way, we have to pick up two large bags of ice, a couple bottles of champagne, and the cakes at SHYNDIGS (Richmond, VA‘s celebrated desert-only restaurant). I ordered three cakes – Salted Chocolate Carmel, Fresh Fruit, and the Red Berry Velvet.” “WOW! I am sure this will certainly throw seventy-five percent of MOM2’s seventy-five and older, allfemale guest list into diabetic coma. Not to mention the effects of the champagne on eighteen members of her prayer group. I wait in the cool car with MURPHY FRENCH while BIGMICHAEL enters SHYNDIGS. Meanwhile, DROID, with the help of Facebook, offers me a glimpse into the dog show world that I am missing on this particular hot summer weekend. An enjoyable day of judging in a bit of an informal atmosphere (judges were told no jackets and ties!). Since I lived here until 13 years ago, I saw lots of people I know and couldn’t talk to them because I was Continued on page 56
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THE IMPRESSIONIST HIMSELF aka Mr Ronnie Irving (At this point in time I am rather surprised that he is not yet Sir R.I.!) has over the last few weeks composed some very interesting articles regarding judges education, our relationship with breed standards and lately even grooming and presentation... By Geir Flyckt-Pedersen In my opinion they all make sense, despite coming from a Border Terrier person- a breed that with a good coat needs a minimum of show preparation… To make an innocent, but still nasty sounding reminder of “The Good Old Days “: Those Border Terrier people (maybe with the exception of George Leatt) were never considered real terrier people. To qualify for that category you had to be involved with Wire –or Smooth Fox Terriers, Airedales, Lakeland and Welsh. Kerries – well maybe- but Irish , Scotties and Westies- also borderline. The Wire Fox Terrier handlers and breeders naturally on top of the list while Lakeland and Welsh handlers came on a close second. If you asked any of the top handlers in the UK in the sixties about what they had achieved, if they had any WFT wins to brag about , that would come first. But time has changed- and so has popularity of these breeds- no doubt that people interested in showing and breeding seem to choose the less work intensive breeds, which also require less skills regarding presentation. I have been trying to locate an old article written for a Fox Terrier Year Book by my long time hero – and unbeknown to him at the timealso mentor, Ernie Sharpe. Much to many people’s surprise at the time the article was about how the domination of professional handlers in the breed was detrimental for the breed as a whole. Simply due to the fact that most amateurs, and absolutely no novice, had a chance in hell to “make it “ in the breed. There were of course exceptions 18 Dog News
to this rule, as to any rule, there were a number of breeder/handlers who made it. I have to mention the one and only Mrs Elsie Williams of Penda fame - and of course Evelyn Howles whose Ch Harrowhill Huntsman owner/breeder/ handled won Best in Show at Crufts. After some 50 + years in the breed it was still considered a sensation- and not necessarily greeted with lots of joy by some of the top handlers. But I think Ronnie has a definite “grasp” of reality- as we in so many breeds today see dogs judged on presentation rather than construction. I used to say about my idol Ernie Sharpe that if you gave him a Donkey with enough coat, he could make it into a lovely terrier. I also personally fell victim of being blinded by his skill. I purchased a WFT English Champion bitch after having seen her only from the ringside. When I got her home, gave her a bath and saw her dripping wet, I had a nasty shock. She was clearly a sculpture created by a very talented man. I keep hearing all the time from judges without personal experience, that the Terrier Group is next on their list. Giving the impression that it is an easy group… But they are definitely wrong. I cannot tell you how many a discussion I have had with so many self proclaimed experts about the length of head on a WFT- and that bloody head length of 7 ¼ inches , which of course in the country of origin was removed nearly a century ago as the WFT as well as the Smooth variety evolved into something spectacularly beautiful , with a long lean head- and a foreface which had to be longer that the backskull. And then of course the talk about parallel planes. Where did that come from ?? The skull should according to the current AKC as well as the KC standard be Continued on page 64
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Question of the week By Matthew H. Stander
The following is the very last sentence contained in the July Board Minutes: “WOOFtale - Michael Basone, AKC Staff, gave the Board an update on the WOOFtale product which involves a wearable for the dog as well as a website and social media about all things dog.” MY QUESTION IS: DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT WOOFtale is, how it was developed or what it has cost AKC so far? Nina Schaefer No idea at all. I do wonder why we are paying for social media development when there is so much controversy about public involvement in Facebook. We need to define and share our objectives, expectations and definition of success first. Jeff Pepper First I’ve heard of it. I haven’t a clue what it might be. Seems a silly name to me.
Mary Lou Olszewski I just tried to search for the exact description but I recall something to the affect that it is a product being developed taking advantage of GPS technology to make it easy to find lost dogs. As for the cost of development and by whom I have no idea. Now I could be completely wrong but I read something about it a while back. If you go on the AKC Facebook page and click on “shop” a page will come up about Wooftale. It is a locator tag. Check it out. As for the development cost, I have no idea. Bob Slay No, I do not know what WOOFtale is. Joe Purkhiser No idea, whatsoever. Betty-Anne Stenmark I think Dog News made mention of WOOF-something earlier this year, something to do with a GPS dog collar? I have no idea what AKC’s involvement in this might be or what it might have cost. While a GPS dog collar might be a good idea, we have a tool right now that should be mandatory for every “Breeder of Merit” and that is instilling a microchip in every puppy they breed. And AKC’s part in this is to keep the breeder’s 22 Dog News
name and contact information on that microchip registration for the dog’s life so every breeder rescues any dog he or she has bred. Real breeders of merit bring these puppies into this world and are responsible for every one of them for life. This is a simple way to separate a “Breeder of Merit” from a back yard breeder. Johnny Shoemaker I have heard of it mostly by the minutes from the Board meetings and from the financial reports at the Delegate meetings but other than that I had to go to Google to find anything about it as there is no Search engine on the new website. Unless I made a mistake in my search on Google it is a collar that keeps track of your dog and records the activity. I believe the marketing of this product should be reviewed. One thing to promote this would be to have a booth at AKC in Orlando. I would have to look back at the Delegate meeting minutes to see if the cost is there... which I doubt it will be. I would like to see how much hits on the website and if it has produced any sales. I think it is sold at PetCo but since I know mostly nothing about this WOOFtale I am not the go to person to discuss this. Pat Laurans AKC Wooftale is the AKC Facebook page. WOOFtale is a product whereby dog owners can track their dog’s whereabouts and activity. I have no idea re: how WOOFtale was developed or what it has cost AKC so far.
Jay Richardson I have a vague idea it concerns a vest or a collar of some type. I know nothing about the development or cost. Dennis Gallant I understand that it is a GPS dog collar, but don’t have any idea about the financial arrangements with the AKC. Bob and Polly Smith We have no idea what WOOFtale is or who developed it or the price. Larry Soreson Sorry, I have no knowledge of the project. Gerard Penta Sorry, I have no idea. Peggy Wampold The only knowledge I had of this prior to receiving your question was what was mentioned several times in DOG NEWS. After receiving your e-mail and the question, I went on Facebook (something I rarely do) and looked it up. According to the advertisement on the WOOFipedia shop page it is a tag that can be attached to a dog’s collar: “that allows dog owners to track activity, locate their dog, learn new training techniques, and share their most memorable moments with friends”. Being electronically challenged I am not sure how it will accomplish these claims, especially the last one. I have not purchased this product, (nor do I intend to do so) consequently I can not comment on if the product lives up to these claims. I have no knowledge on how it was developed or how much it cost, nor do I have any knowledge as to if it is producing any income from sales. I certainly hope that it generates enough income to off set what I understand is a rather significant cost of development and production. James Phinizy Well, fortunately I am sufficiently out of the loop not to know the cost or really the value of “Wooftale”. I suspect that it has some “pr”appeal and probative value combating the animal rightists; however, I’d love to see the money go into a good old fashioned, print copy of the “Gazette”. When we used to have that ‘mag’ in every Governor’s office in the nation. Best advertising we could have done. Rita J. Biddle From what I understand, WOOFtale is designed for dogs and is a GPS collar that also has a “fit-bit” device like the ones people wear to keep track of their exercise efforts, calories burned, various health indicators, etc. I guess it will allow folks to not only know where their dog is but also to know its activity level. While I am not privy to the amount invested thus far, my understanding is that substantial sums have been invested in its development. I believe the target goal for implementation is sometime this fall or next year.
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Down To The Wire!
GCh. Reignon Lutra Fastest Girl In Town Multiple Group Winner National Specialty Show Winner
Best In Show
Judge Mrs. Houston Clark Breeders/Owners James & Janet Moses Tracy Szaras 24 Dog News
Presented By Tracy Szaras LUTRA
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Irving’s Impressions By Ronnie Irving
TERM LIMITS AMERICAN KENNEL GAZETTE JUNE 2015 “AKC Bylaw Amendment - Term Limits. The Board reviewed a proposal submitted by the Clarksville Kennel Club to amend Article VII, Section 1 of the Bylaws of the American Kennel Club to eliminate term limits for members of the Board of Directors. It was reported that the Delegate Bylaws Committee voted to endorse and to co-sponsor this amendment. This will be discussed further at the July Board meeting.”
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he above is the latest attempt to remove term limits from the statutes of the American Kennel Club. It was some years ago that ‘term limits’ were introduced for elections to the Board of the AKC. Then, rather more recently, attempts were made to have them abandoned. These attempts were not successful. As a result of this rule, once someone has sat on the AKC Board for more than two terms (normally eight years) they must automatically stand down for at least one year. After that time they are free again to stand for re-election. The most recent major consequence of this policy for the AKC was that Ron Menaker, who became Chairman of the Board of the AKC in 2002, had to stand down in 2012. He left the board for two years but last year returned and this year was once again re-elected as Chairman after a period of three years away from the position. Coincidentally, in the UK a working party was tasked at the 2015 Annual General Meeting of TKC, with reviewing TKC governance. One of the subjects that it has been told to consider
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is this very issue of term limits for members of TKC’s General Committee (Board) – and presumably therefore as a result, for TKC office bearers such as Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board as well. SUPPORTERS AND DETRACTORS The concept of term limits has its supporters and its detractors. Supporters argue that the introduction of such a ‘term limit’ policy ensures that as the years go by people who are recognised as ‘deadwood’ or as being ‘past their sell by date’ can be more easily dropped than they can without the existence of term limits and without it being as a result of any kind of palace revolution. This, they say, results in a healthier turnover of participants and a better introduction of new blood to take part in the Board’s activities. Opponents of term limits on the other hand say that if, in any case, Board Members have to stand for reelection every three years and office bearers have to be re-elected annually by the Board as in the UK, there would already exist a perfectly democratic
way of bringing in fresh faces without the need for term limits. They also put forward the argument that the policy whereby everyone has to at least stand down for a period every so often, can mean the loss of certain key people when they are most needed, possibly at a time of crisis or possibly when they are in the midst of doing good things for the future of the organisation. OTHER BUSINESSES In the wider world, outside the world of dogs, there are varying approaches to this issue. In very few cases is the policy of term limits ever used in a normal corporate environment. It is very seldom that a company chairman or a company director, has to stand down for that reason. In charities on the other hand it is a much more common policy certainly in the UJK. In charitable organisations here such as the RSPCA and the Animal Health Trust, there are rules which say that council members must go every so often for at least a period of a year. In the case of the RSPCA this also applies to the Chairman but in the instance of the AHT it does not refer to office bearers, only to council members. In the UK, each member of TKC’s Board has to retire every three years but can immediately stand for reelection as many times as he or she wants to. Admittedly the momentum which the high profile of being a member of that Board gives to such re-election candidates, means that it is rare that they ever thrown out. As explained in a previous article, in the UK Kennel Club we do however have the luxury of an age limit. This requires Board Members to retire at the age of seventy-five. That would, of course be unlawful in the USA. Indeed if the KC Board Members were employees of the KC it would also even be unlawful in the UK. Such age discrimination is not permitted here under employment law. As the law now stands, it is not illegal as regards committee members. An attempt was made at a KC Annual General Meeting a few years ago to remove this seventy-five year retirement rule but it Continued on page 70
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The “New” Research On
Canine Cognition Dr. Laurie Santos, Director of the Canine Cognition Center at Yale University, plays a hiding game with “Benjamin.” He belongs to Dr. April Ruiz, Dean of Calhoun College at Yale.
By Sharon Pflaumer
B
ecause the media has focused so much attention recently on the results of research conducted at some of the Ivy League Schools, it may seem that the investigation of canine cognition is a relatively new phenomenon. In fact, much had already been learned about how and what dogs think and know about the world before those labs were established. It all began with the Russian Physiologist Ivan Pavlov and the studies he completed on dogs in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The work was carried on later in the 20th century by Austrian Zoologist and Nobel Prize winner Konrad Lorenz. In fact, mainstream psychologists studied dogs extensively throughout the 20th century. For example,
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A research the discovery of “Learned participant Helplessness” in the 1960s, patiently waits a widely accepted theory at the Canine of depression, was based Cognition on studies done with dogs. Center’s door. Likewise, “Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog” was another important study carried out by John P. Scott and John L. Fuller. It was published in the early 1960s and still is in print.
Renewed Focus
The latest “wave” of canine focused research began in 1998 in Europe with a group at the Max Planck Institute in Leipzig, Germany and another group at Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest, Hungary. In the United States, Alexandra Horowitz, MS, PhD, established the Horowitz Dog Cognition Lab at Barnard College in 2004; and Clive Wynne, PhD,
established the University of Florida Canine Cognition and Behavior Lab in 2006. The establishment of other labs focusing on canine cognition followed at Duke, Yale and Harvard Universities. In addition to being fascinating and broadening our understanding and appreciation of our fourlegged friends, the findings of the latest wave of research are valuable to owners because they provide more insight into the best ways to train dogs and how to best deal with the behavior problems dogs may exhibit. The findings also should be particularly gratifying to “dog people” because they do much to vindicate breeders and owners, who in the past often were accused of anthropomorphizing dog intelligence and behavior. Continued on page 74
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BESTS WEEK Dan Emmett Kennel Club - Saturday Marion Ohio Kennel Club - Sunday Shih Tzu
GCh. Hallmark Jolei Rocket Power
Judge Mr. Houston Clark Judge Mrs. Sharon Ann Redmer Owners Patricia Hearst Shaw, Luke & Diane Ehricht Handler Luke Ehricht Piedmont Kennel Club - Saturday Smooth Coat Chihuahua
GCh. Sonnus Filho (Sanchez) Judge Mrs. Betty-Anne Stenmark Owners James and Janet Moses and Romulo Sanchez Torres Handler Erika Lanasa
Waukesha Kennel Club - Saturday & Sunday Whippet
GCh. Sporting Fields Shameless
Judge Mr. Michael Faulkner Judge Mrs. Faye Strauss Owners Barbara Call, Jane Cooney- Waterhouse, Dionne Butt, Amanda Giles Handler Amanda Giles
Marion Ohio Kennel Club Irish Setter
GCH. Kellyglen’s Twilight Affair Judge Mr. Brian Meyer Owners Marilyn D. Title, Carolyn McKenzie, Patricia Kudla & Suzanne Walker Handler Greg Strong Putnam Kennel Club - Friday & Saturday Hudson River Valley Hound Club - Sunday Saluki
GCh. Takara The Time Is Now Judge Mr. Jeffrey Pepper Judge Mr. Garry Newton Judge Mr. Thomas Kirstein Owner Jennifer Rimerman and Pam Mohr Handled By Lesley Anne Potts Providence County Kennel Club - Sunday Bearded Collie
GCh. Classical’s My Turn
Judge Dr. Michael J. Woods Owners Wendy Marciante, Julie Kempster and Bea Sawka Handler Clifford Steele Piedmont Kennel Club - Thursday Greenville Kennel Club - Friday & Sunday German Shepherd Dog
GCh. Lockenhaus’ Rumor Has It v. Kenlyn
Judge Mrs. Ann Yuhasz Judge Mr. Desmond Murphy Judge Ms. Carolyn Herbel Owners Deborah Stern, Pamela Buckles, Patti Dukeman, Pamela McElheney, & Kent Boyles Handlers Kent Boyles
Hurricane Ridge Kennel Club Toy Poodle
Providence County Kennel Club - Saturday Cairn Terrier
Judge Mr. Robert J. Caswell Owners Toni and Martin Sosnoff Handler Tim Brazier
Judge Ms. Gale Young Owners Lydia C. Hutchinson & Victor Malzoni, Jr. Handler Geoff Dawson
GCh. North Well Vivian JP Rose Queen
GCh. Caledonian Tea Time Of Wolfpit
Burlington Wisconsin Kennel Club - Tuesday Airedale Terrier
Lackawanna Kennel Club - Saturday 15” Beagle
Judge Mrs. Robert D. Smith Owners L. Bryan, V. Rickard Handler Adam Bernardin
Judge Mrs. Dianne Miller Owner Marcelo Chagas, Marco Flavio & Alessandra Botelho and Dr. Roger Travis. Handler Marcelo Chagas
GCh. Joval Sweet Time
Burlington Wisconsin Kennel Club - Monday English Springer Spaniel
GCh. Torquay Midnight Victory
GCh. Telltale American Ride
Judge Dr. Robert Smith Owner C. Florence, D. Strong, B. Fink, R. Novack & D. & C. Van Vorst Handler Robin Novack 34 Dog News
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: 212 462-9588 Email: dognews@harris-pub.com
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10 uestions Q ASKEDOF...
Andrew Dowling
When did you start showing and how did that first show go?
Who from dogs would you like to see on the television show “Duck Dynasty?”
I was 15 when I started showing in Juniors in the Novice Class with our Collie. It went well because I won at the novice level and quickly moved up from there.
Laurie Jeff Greer.
How difficult was it to finish your championship? Because Renwich Collies gave us our first champion, we were inspired and not long after that we finished our first homebred champion. We were helped by mentors who assisted us in becoming show breeders.
Other than your own breed, what other breeds do you like? In addition to our TaraDell Collies, we also have Australian Shepherds. You could say we already own a breed other than our own breed.
Which dog person of the opposite sex would you be? Leslie Jeszewski.
How do you feel about AKC’s role in our sport? Well, obviously AKC is vital to our sport because without AKC we wouldn’t have a sport. Thus we have to support their efforts.
How many shows do you attend a year, and which three are your favorite ones? Living in Alaska certainly limits your numbers. However, I make about 20 to 25 shows a year. My favorites in the “lower 48”are Eukanuba and the Collie and Australian Shepherd Nationals. 38 Dog News
BORN: Corvallis, OR RESIDES: Palmer, AK MARITAL STATUS: MARRIED, FAMILY MAN ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: TAURUS
What things in the world of dogs bring you the greatest joy? I love the opportunity to spend quality time with my daughters and their friends. These kids are just great helping everybody at the show get all their dogs into the ring. Over the years we have enjoyed training sessions, handling classes and mock dog show games where the kids judge each others’ dogs and learn by doing. Both of my daughters (Courtney and Lindsey) have won BIS’s for my own family and for others. Living in this remote area, we truly enjoy the camaraderie that is forced on us due to the nature of our remote environment. Maybe we are the luckiest of all!
What characteristics do you admire in others and strive to emulate? People who really listen - not just hear what is being said but actually listen and process information. They are always listening and learning, and their future reflects that focus.
If you could afford to host an elegant catered dinner party, name at least three dogs and/or people you would like to invite. John Buddie, Donald and Leslie Jeszewski and Jim Reynolds.
Keilissa Kennels
30
Years of... . Type, Movement, t n e m a r e p & Tem
“China”
Multiple Best In Specialty Show
GCh. Keilissa’s No Regrets lee ann brownstein breeder/owner 908 782 3278
malissa ruchak breeder/owner/handler 908 581 0167 Dog News 39
40 Dog News
Dog News 41
A CHARMING BRACELET
42 Dog News
So it is
with this charm bracelet. It was assembled overtime by Joan Cottrell who lived in a small hamlet in middle England and who had one of the most successful French Bulldog kennels in the country. On her death it continued to be treasured by her daughter until she died when it passed to a relative and was thought to be lost to the breed. Some years later it appeared in Fellows Vintage Jewellery and Accessories sale with expectations of £500-600 and not surprisingly it attracted a lot of interest but collectors were outbid by a London specialist dealer who payed £1,000 to acquire it. The bracelet has now crossed the Atlantic and is once again with a French Bulldog enthusiast. A very autocratic lady, Joan Cottrell reigned supreme over her court. Visitors to her Quatt kennel were always welcomed and entertained by Joan, Ann, her daughter, popped in and out with refreshments and dogs and puppies as requested, whilst husband John, after initially greeting the visitors, retired to the dining room where he remained until the visitors had left. By Nick Like so many people in so many breeds, Joan came into French Bulldogs quite by chance. It began on a warm summer’s evening just after the war in 1946; two ladies with their dogs returning from Blackpool show were picnicking in a field outside the village of Quatt in Shropshire where Joan was living at the time. A lady on a horse bore down on them and told them in no uncertain terms that they were on private land, she then dismounted and made a tremendous fuss of the dogs; it was love at first sight. The horsewoman was Joan Cottrell and the trespassers just happened to be two very well-known and successful French Bulldog Breeders, Mrs. Joyce Hargreaves (Comeytrowe) and Mrs. Nutting (Olveston). That occasion was the beginning of the Quatt French Bulldogs. Shortly afterwards Joan bought her first French Bulldog from the Millner Deightons, a long established local family who bred French Bulldogs in a small way.
Joan’s daughter, Ann, became just as passionate about the breed as her mother and on leaving school joined her mother in what was, by then, a growing kennel. The Quatt kennel remained under Joan’s strict leadership until her death in 1979 and was continued by Ann until her death in 2001. A long line of successful dogs emerged, either bred at Quatt or bought in, especially clear pieds and fawns, including many champions worldwide and thirty-one British champions. The Quatt kennel was the first in Britain to breed champion French Bulldogs in all three colours. Joan had a gold link bracelet and to celebrate a Quatt champion being made up had a French Bulldog head and name tag engraved with the dog’s pet name attached. In total twelve of the thirtyone British champions are honoured on the bracelet, gold for a fawn and brindle, silver for a pied. Among those so honoured are Ch. Quatt Sno’Etta, Ch. Snowmaie of Quatt, Ch. Snowman of Quatt, Ch. Quatt Heirenas Bambi, Ch. Quatt Snoanna and Ch. Quatt Snow Clown. The bracelet was very Waters much a collaboration between two French Bulldog enthusiasts, Joan and Arthur Payton-Smith who just happened to be a master jeweller working in Birmingham’s world famous jewellery quarter and he made the heads. He and his family were French Bulldog enthusiasts, he owned three Quatt champions and his motherin-law one. Payton-Smith had a good pedigree in dogs which spanned over forty years. He was a founder member and chairman of Birmingham Kennel Association, which still runs one of the big general championship shows in the UK; a founder member and secretary of the Midland Counties Bull Breeds Club; a founder member and secretary of the Midland Boxer Club, and one-time President of the Midland and Northern Counties French Bulldog Club. This club was founded in 1958 and was the brainchild of Joan who served as its first secretary with daughter Ann acting as treasurer.
PHOTO: Courtesy Fellows.
Most long-time dog fanciers inevitably gather around artwork in the image of their chosen breed and every once-in-a-while one will help create something special and unique that gives them pleasure and continues to give others pleasure long after they have gone...
Dog News 43
h n
a report from Canada
true
ort
By Allison Foley
H
ere in the True North there seems to be a dog show urban legend. It seems that although we are still suffering in many of the major urban dog show areas with very low entries the shows that have traditionally had larger entries and attracted specialty clubs have seen their entries continue to grow. So why is it that the bigger shows get bigger yet the smaller shows cannot gain any ground? In the areas where there are traditionally fewer shows the shows continue to get larger entries and in the areas where there are shows every weekend or more than one show every weekend within four hours of each other the entries continue to decline. Do we really need a formal inquiry into how to fix this? Is the answer not right in front of us? Sitting right here in front of our faces is the answer if you want dog shows here in the True North to have larger entries have fewer shows. One every three weeks seems to do well. Fewer when during the winter but not more during the summer. You only need to look to the Prairies and Quebec to see this model work. Another topic that has come up is this, in areas that are geographically condensed (i.e. the shows are all within about four hours of each other, such as Ontario and the
44 Dog News
Maritimes) the clubs are not getting together and sharing who their judging panels are. We have seen in many of these areas, time and time again, the same judges judging at shows within four hours of each other and also within four months to a year of each other as well. Again with declining entries at shows we have seen some clubs (that happen to get the judges on their second or even third assignment within a very short time frame) have huge financial difficulties or even have to cancel a show because although their expenses stayed the same the decline in entries made it impossible to hold the show. And this in no way reflects on the knowledge of the judges but realistically if you are showing the same specials dog or similar type of class dogs and you lost under that judge are you willing to spend money on entries, gas,
motel and food as well as time off work to show to them again against probably the same competition as the first time you were defeated? Probably not, but in two years with a different special or a slightly different type you may be more willing to part with that money. There must be a way for the show-giving clubs to get together and plan their panels for the next three years so that they are not repeating judges in such a manner. The clubs don’t have to change their picks of judges maybe just shuffle them around so that it makes more sense. When the judges are repeated so often it is of course going to drop entries in an era when people have fewer and fewer dogs in their kennel and breeding programs. And of course there are many exhibitors who may only have one show dog that they are showing for the year, so they are more likely to go to a show where Continued on page 81
Dog News 45
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Dog News 47
W
hen I see the term “canine ambassador” my thoughts immediate turn to Rufus, the adorable colored bull terrier that not only captured the nation’s hearts but also top honors at some of U.S. dogdom’s most prestigious shows, The 2006 Westminster Kennel Club, the 2005 Kennel Club of Philadelphia, and the 2005 Morris and Essex Kennel Club show, which is held every five years (and will be held again this October 1). Owned by Barbara and Tom Bishop and handled by Kathy Kirk, Rufus’s (Ch. Rocky Top’s Sundance Kid) accomplishments in the ring were incredible – he was the top winning colored bull terrier of all time – but it was what Rufus did outside of the ring that endeared him to so many, making dog lovers out of countless people and helping to dissolve false impressions of the breed. Rufus was a Canine Good Citizen and a therapy dog, working for Therapy Dog International and Angel On A Leash, the organization founded by David Frei, the voice of Westminster, and regularly made appearances at schools, nursing homes, senior citizen programs as well as Walter Reed Hospital and Ronald McDonald House. “He’s a big, beautiful, burly dog that loves everybody,” David Frei told the LA Times in 2010. “When he walks into the room, the energy changes, people look at him, they smile, they get up from bed and go over to hug him. His impact with children and seniors is in the moment and may make somebody’s day at a time when they might not have very many good days.” Rufus also changed the public’s attitude about bull terriers, often confused with “pit bulls,” which are so often the target of breed specific legislation. Frei told the LA Times, “It’s a gentle loving breed and should not be discriminated against…[Rufus] has been a great representative for Westminster and for dogs in general. He’s been an incomparable representative for bull terriers and related breeds.” What better example of a canine ambassador can there be? Rufus was the embodiment of the canine ambassador (he passed away in August, 2012) but truth is, there are myriad examples of canine ambassadors in and out of the ring. Any well behaved pet, show dog, therapy dog, police K9, bomb detection dog, reading assistant dog, drug sniffing
48 Dog News
Canine Ambassadors
f O f e th e lsa h By Shaun Coen
dog, cancer sniffing dog, cadaver sniffing dog, seizure assistance dog, seeing eye dog, search and rescue dog, etc. is a canine ambassador. Observing a wellbehaved dog, such as a titled Canine Good Citizen good, a show dog or any trained dog for that matter, is often the impetus for those uninitiated in the joys of dog ownership in getting a dog. Which brings us to the topic of the American Kennel Club’s Canine Ambassador program. This program is vital for creating new dog owners, participants in AKC events, and help on the canine legislation front. For those unaware of the program, it involves expert owners and breeders visiting public schools to teach children about dogs and responsible dog ownership. It’s an invaluable tool for growing the sport of dogs but even more important for public health, as it teaches children the correct way to approach a dog and to always ask permission to touch someone’s dog. The end result of extending this program would be a decrease in dog bite incidents, as children are the most common victims, an increase in responsible dog owners, and an increase in the fan base and most likely participation in dog shows events. The AKC recently announced that Davis Alexis has been named administrator of AKC Public Education, a crucial role in forming public policy. According to the AKC’s Government Relations Department’s most recent newsletter, one of Alexis’s first projects will be to reinvigorate the AKC Canine Ambassador
program. These ambassadors aren’t direct representatives of the AKC but rather representatives of their club. Anyone interested in performing these duties must be in good standing of an AKC-affiliated club, fill out an application and have a club officer sign it. If all checks out, their names are added to a directory that the AKC sends to teachers and educators upon request at no charge. Ambassadors usually bring their dogs with them to the schools for these outreach programs. These are the types of programs that all clubs should be looking for participating in to reach new members. There’s no denying there has been a graying of the sport in recent years and the spate of the sport’s legends’ obituaries serve as a prominent reminder that if it is to thrive well into the future new recruits are needed. New programs cannot be discounted if they work, whether it’s allowing mixed breed dogs to participate in some aspects of shows, including Rally, Agility, Obedience, Dock Diving events and the like. One only has to look at the success of the Woofstock shows, which have grown exponentially in a few short years, to see that dog shows are about having fun along with comparing breeding stock. The fun element has to be played up to prove that the dog show game is not an exclusive, stodgy arena. Further evidence of this occurred this past weekend at shows on Long Island, when a major New York newspaper ran an article about the inclusiveness of the show along with a photo. Newsday’s coverage of The Suffolk County Kennel Club’s 2015 Canine Experiences stated, “There, owners new to dog shows as well as seasoned veterans offered their dogs for a handling class, a rally with an obedience test and a good-citizenship station, among other events.” Congrats to those involved who reached out to local media to receive such positive coverage of the event. The end result was that those who didn’t attend but only read about it seemed to miss out on a fun, inclusive, informative time. The canine ambassador program must be reinvigorated, as its success will be beneficial on many levels. Clubs and clusters must all be canine ambassadors to ensure not only their survival but hopefully their growth, too. One cannot overemphasize the importance of early education and a society well informed about responsible dog ownership is much better off. The bigger the pool of dog owners and purebred enthusiasts to help fight the animal rights agenda on canine legislation matters the better. Rufus was a model of a canine ambassador that most can’t come close to emulating, but all dogs and their owners can certainly do their part and strive to have a beneficial effect on our society.
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*The Dog News Top Ten List - Breed and All Breed
Dog News 49
Introducing
Gabby
“
”
Undefeated in the Variety in her first 25 shows over All-Breed Best In Show, and Top Ranked Wirehairs. As of July 19, 2015, She Has Been Awarded: 5 Group Ones H 5 Group Twos H 5 Group Threes H 6 Group Fours H
GCh. Daybreak’s Country Chic W Handling With Style:
Carlos J. Puig 50 Dog News
Watch Out Boys, There’s a New ‘Chic’ in Town!
Shown taking Winners Bitch at the Dachshund Club of America National Specialty, under Breeder-Judge Mrs. Peggy Gutierrez-Otero. Also Best of Winners at the National Host Show under Judge Mr. William Potter. Owners: Amanda Ferris and Deborah Krieg ■ Breeder: Deborah Krieg –Daybreak Wires Dog News 51
MO R And
THE FCI/AKC MEETING, WESTMINSTER’S BOLD MOVES, 2 DAYS - 4 SHOWS...
e
By Matthew H. Stander
W
ell I read in the July Board Minutes where AKC has terminated its business relationship unilaterally with the NGKC as is allegedly permitted under the terms of its agreement with them and as a result the processing of registrations, DNA, and other services has been suspended. And while AKC’s business relationship with NGKC has basically ended NGKC will remain on the list of registries with pedigrees acceptable for AKC registration. Which means as I understand it that if you buy a dog in China and bring it to the States only a NGKC registration will be acceptable. Of course this is a major blow if not the end too to the Global Services department created at AKC although I understand negotiations with some other countries are continuing. But the fact is the only real customer AKC ever had was NGKC. AKC collected through the years way over $350,000 through these services from NGKC and may still be owed some more money. I guess the aggravation of doing business with the new people after Mr. Shie et al left was not worth the money to AKC. I understand the cultural differences of doing business with China can be difficult to say the least. Nonetheless for an organization looking so hard for outside sources of income and with the possibilities of really developing and influencing the Chinese dog world I believe AKC 52 Dog News
should have stuck with the NGKC for a longer time and tried to work things out. I realize how frustrating these arrangements can be but between the CKU and the controversies over the Yuen Meat Festivals and the knowledge that the NGKC people were and are so very positively dog oriented in their attitudes about dogs health and the like AKC had a good talking point and relationship. This may now be lost for a very long time if not forever. after a solid two months of waiting a report was finally given to the Board about the FCI/AKC meeting held in Puerto Rico about the FCI’s policy of placing AKC judges who judge non-FCI shows in countries where there is an FCI club at risk of not being approved for future AKC assignments. In fact we all know what happened which is that the Asia Pacific Section of FCI enforced this longtime dormant policy towards American judges and AKC was forced to retaliate. For AKC to object to this policy because it was not applied to British and Canadian judges begs the question and while the ‘status quo’ prior to the recent “blacklist” was imposed and then withdrawn by the Asia Pacific Section nothing explicit has been agreed upon as far as I can tell. AKC’s not taking a stand on the China Shanghai situation made sense to me and I suppose returning things to normal between the two organizations appeases the American judges who judge at AKC shows and vice versa but the reality is this is a bomb ready to explode. Interesting to note that while AKC’s Board took an “apple pie and motherhood” stance on the Yuen Meat Festival there was no mention in the Board Minutes of the shenanigans which took place in Milan over selecting China as the site in 2019. That announcement came later on and was as usual a hands-off statement. However what cannot be hands off is the militant attitude of many FCI executives towards anyone who disagrees with their statements and decisions. And that’s why I say
this FCI/AKC detente is a time bomb waiting to go off since if AKC ever really decided to react to the threats to our judges from FCI I believe the militants in FCI such as Malaysia and the Philippines will really loose it entirely.
T
his week-end in North Dakota are four days of allbreeds on Saturday and Sunday -- Two shows each day!!! Rings start on Sunday after two shows on Saturday at 7am with an estimated ending of 7 to 8 pm. Is this how AKC people and shows want to be seen -- as having little or no interest in the health and welfare of its dogs? Forget about BRED BY HEART -- how about showing dogs with feelings and concern for their health and welfare -- should not that enter the picture too? I find it embarrassing for AKC to come out with its new alleged health concern breeding program and one week later hold 4 shows on a Saturday and Sunday--don’t you? Certainly Westminster’s latest announcement about its 10 year TV deal for Fox Sports 1 is an exciting and great thing for the conformation and agility worlds. It promises a national if not international growth program for both the purebred dog and the dog generally and gives a most pro-active outlook for all of us involved in the sport of the dog. Wonder whether the AENC will be televised this year and whether or not we will be treated once again to a 9am broadcast which not only received no rating whatsoever but is alleged to have cost AKC a small fortune with which to begin. The AENC seems to be in a penny pinching mood but as usual no one takes the blame for anything. The TV fiasco of last year is ignored as though it never happened and the Board is either too afraid to ask questions or knows the answers and does not wish to hear them. Perhaps a little input from Sean McCarthy at Westminster would be advisable for those running the AENC--you think?
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Dog News 53 *#7 overall All Breed, #8 overall Breed, The Dog News Top Ten List
The
Blue Crab Cluster By Damara Bolté
T
he Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Virginia was again the setting of the tandem events of the First Colony Cluster of Virginia Kennel Club on Saturday and Sunday and the Gloucester Kennel Club on Monday and Tuesday, June 20 through the 23rd. Wednesday, June 24 was a day of rest or a no-show day. This was followed by the anchor Potomac Hound Club, The Virginia Terrier Club, the Chesapeake Toy Dog Club of Maryland, the Mid-Atlantic Non Sporting Club, the Greater Washington Dalmatian Club, the Potomac Basset Hound Club, and the Great Dane Club of Metropolitan Washington all held shows during the Cluster time. The kingpin of this Blue Crab Cluster marathon is the Southern Maryland Kennel Club and it held shows on Friday and Saturday, June 26 and 27, followed by the Tidewater Kennel Club on Sunday and Monday. The main building allows for eight rings,
54 Dog News
has excellent air conditioning and vast grooming space alleviating the outdoor challenge of near 100ºF or crashing thunderstorms and deluges. Three connected buildings accommodate convenient and adjacent space for additional rings and grooming for the overall shows that topped out at 6263 entries. The Potomac Valley Standard Schnauzer Club had 143 entries at their Specialty prior to the Standard Schnauzer Club of America National that had 189 Standard Schnauzers. The Schnauzer Barn Hunt was open to all breeds and was a complete sell-out. Southern Maryland Kennel Club spearheaded by Harry & Lisa Miller, Sue Whaley and “Mr.” Vince and, of course, the ubiquitous and indispensable orange clad Site Control Team is also deservedly famous for its crab feast. This is always a big and unique draw and is held in the third connecting building where ample tables are set up and hardy folks learn to attack crab anatomy. In that same
building is a yard sale of slightly used second time around clothing and, also found there is a silent auction of vast varieties of mostly wine and assorted other libations. The proceeds benefit the Susan G Komen Fund and Take The Lead. Saturday night is a pig picking which is delicious and irresistible for all except maybe the pig and entertainment by the Rhondels and their beach music. Obedience and Rally trials were also offered inside a separate air-conditioned building. Parking spaces are endless, full hook-ups for RVs available with golf cart shuttles and golf cart rentals on-site. Let us not omit the AKC National Owner Handler Series that was included for all five days. A Junior Handling Clinic was conducted by the Professional Handlers. School was out so this year 30 youngsters participated and it was a great opportunity for the up-and-coming generation. The seminar was followed by a pizza party for the juniors. The final day a Best Junior Handler of the Blue Crab Cluster Competition from the 83 total entries was held. The prizes included a $500 savings bond & custom made lead for Best Junior and a $100 savings bond for Reserve Best Junior. CONGRATULATIONS to winners Gavin Reep, Best Jr. Handler and Samantha Almar, Best Reserve Jr. Handler. Southern Maryland K/C & Tidewater K/C members were present and available to resolve any issue and provide guidance for those newcomers and others who had lost their way. It was reassuring to see clubs working together in harmony to provide a warm & friendly atmosphere for the showing of dogs. So last but not least‌... FUN was had by many!!! Y'all come next year!! Hear?! Dog News 55
Continued FROM page 14
judging, but that’s the price I pay for loving to judge. Pattie Proctor at her post on the “Rock of Knowledge” at Putnam County show!!!! XXX wins her 18th Group 1 today in Houston among amazing competition. Many thanks to XXXXX for this win. Miracles happen! _feeling amazed. CORAL day in Putnam!!!!? Congratulations to Aaron Rodgers on winning the ESPY for “Best NFL Player”. Scanning through hundreds of posts, I marvel at the speed of delivery and the current trend of the up-close and personal win photos, with ribbons, dog, and handler that appear within seconds after the win. Not to mention the added verbiage that includes: “Amazing day for @#$*&@#$(! If she wins tomorrow under judge????????, she will finish her championship. GO TEAM??????!” A picture is worth championship points, and taking pictures “on the go” means that every Special win captures the true intent and meaning behind that win. I quietly ponder social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest and how they have ushered in visual marketing as a trend in the dog show world. Breeder owner handlers, professional handlers, and yes, even dog show judges are utilizing these visual content sites to fuel their desires for more wins, more assignments, and yes, even more dog show friends. BIGMICHAEL exits SHYNDIGS, along with the owner, carrying three cakes and three bottles of champagne. Strategically, they are placed on the seat next to MURPHYFRENCH, who patiently waits in his crate. We exit off 295 South and are within a few miles of LUCAS, the restaurant that is playing host to MOM2’s 75th birthday celebration, and just around the block from her home. BIGMICHAEL pulls into the parking lot of the local general store. “Listen, would you mind going in and buying the ice? If I go in it will take an additional thirty minutes. I know the owner and he will want to talk my ear off.” “Sure, no problem,” I chuckle. Painfully aware that BIGMICHAEL is the one blessed with the gift of gab. It takes me exactly two minutes-twelve seconds to make the purchase and load the ice. We drive to LUCAS first, drop off the three cakes and go directly to MOM2’s house 56 Dog News
to unload the ice, champagne, and MURPHY FRENCH for the after party, party. Upon our return to LUCAS, there is a line of white, blue, purple and blonde hair extending from the entrance of the restaurant into the parking lot. “What the hell, the party does not start until 2:00 PM and half of the guests are already here,” BIGMICHAEL grumbles. We exit the vehicle. “Are you going to leave our phone in the car?” BIGMICHAEL asks. “Yes, I want to concentrate on the joy of celebration and not be seduced by the all the action of my dog show friends.” I lie through my teeth. Walking up the concrete ramp to the side entrance, I offer an arm to one particular guest, who requires the support of a good-looking young man. (Me!) We enter into a side room that has been prepared for the luncheon birthday celebration. A large woman; utilizing a cane for guidance, forges ahead and proceeds unswervingly in my direction. “You must be the other MICHAEL. I have heard so much about you. I’m a hugger---get over here, right now, and let me squeeze you.” She engulfs me in her ample arms, driving my head directly into the folds for her outrageously colorful summer moo-moo. (I thought for a fleeting moment that I might be suffocated in a field of orange hibiscus.) Upon releasing me, she continues chattering. “Okay, I cannot wait to hear ALL about the dog show world. I watch it every year on television. I even watched the breed judging on my computer this year. You know… at that famous show in New York, where all the celebrities come too!” Hearing that this particular elderly woman, who is MOM2’s prayer buddy, is a YouTube-watchingdog-show-junkie, I instantly wish someone had taken a photo of my expression to share on Facebook. “Do you mind if I take a selfie with you to share with my daughter in New Hampshire, who has a friend that shows dogs?” Before I can respond, the walking cane is once again wrapped solidly around my left side. Her large right arm is projected directly in front of my face, holding the latest IPhone. “Squeeze in tight. Okay I think that looks good. Smile, Honey!” She takes two pictures and starts to edit the image to then send electronically through cyberspace to the East Coast, to her daughter and then on to her daughter’s friend who shows dogs, and then to God only knows. There is no escape! I take this opportunity to excuse myself, grab a much-needed glass of wine, and mingle with the other ladies. “Hi MICHAEL, it is so nice to see you, it has been a long time,” DOROTHY sincerely states, simultaneously offering a gentle, conservative embrace. “Tell me, what breed is MURPHY Continued on page 60
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*The Dog News Top Ten List - Breed
Dog News 57
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Continued FROM page 56
FRENCH? ROSE MARY (MOM2) talks about her grandchild all the time. Does he look like a Boston Terrier or more like a Pug?” DOROTHY asks. After a very long pause, I attempt to answer the question. Well, actually, neither,” I offer. “You know MURPHY FRENCH has his own Facebook page.” “You have to be kidding!” DOROTHY whips out her Samsung DROIDoperated hand held device, taps away and within minutes opens MURPHY FRENCH’s Facebook page, and clicks, “like.” “You’re right! He looks nothing like a Pug or a Boston Terrier. Did you bring him along?” She inquires and is thrilled at the thought of meeting him at the after party, party. There is a tap on my left shoulder. CATHI, a dear mutual friend gives me a hug and I immediately choose the vacant seat next to her as my dining location, with DOROTHY to my right and MOM2, BIGMICHAEL and CONNIE (MOM2’s oldest friend) directly across from me. “So, BIGMICHAEL tells me you are judging Westminster again this coming February. What are the exact dates? I will take the train up and join the fun, if it is okay.” “Sure thing CATHI, the dates are as follows….” I begin to share the dates and CATHI begins to add them to her IPHONE calendar, followed by a Facebook message to her good friend LANA asking if she would like to travel to NYC, February 2016 for the dog show. “Lord, does this ever end?” I silently ask myself. “MICHAEL, so tell me, where have you been traveling to lately?” CONNIE inquires from across the table. I rattle off a list of my latest judging assignment locations. “How wonderful, it must be so nice to travel and do what you love. I just returned from a cross-country train trip. We started in California, it took us three weeks and we had a blast. Here let me show you.” CONNIE pulls her smart phone from her pocket and shares the details of her cross-country train trip, including a map of the journey. Her phone buzzes in the process. “Wait a second, it’s my friend texting me. Hold on! Okay, if you don’t mind can we all take a quick photo? Great…….Here we go. CONNIE swirls around in her chair points the phone in the air and clicks. It is yet another selfie of the six of us around the table. “Wonderful, I am sending it to my friend so she knows I am not sitting home feeling sorry for myself, and maybe it will inspire her to get out and have some 60 Dog News
fun.” Laughingly, I attempt to bring reason to this geriatric social media phenomenon and to my own need to be connected. What does it all mean? It is obvious to me that many in this room are using social media as a means to stay connected and as a means to eliminate loneliness. The dog show world, on the other hand, uses it for a combination of gaining pleasure, winning, and avoiding anxiety about not knowing what is going on at every moment at the dog shows. Both of these obsessions or compulsions, appear anxiety-driven. I take a moment a look around the room. Randomly individuals extract their phones from their various purses to check message, alerts, etc. Or, just maybe they are Obsessive-Compulsive and check regularly without notification. I wonder what my NEXUS DROID has to offer me when I return to the passenger side for the after party, party. “Listen up everyone, would everyone go to the far side of the room for a group photo, please.” BIGMICHAEL ushers the crowd of ladies, including me to the wall directly behind where I am seated. He hands his phone to one of the waitresses and gives instructions. BIGMICHAEL squeezes in, the photos are taken, we return to our seats for SHYNDIGS cake, and within seconds, BIGMICHAEL shares our photo with the world. His immediate post to the cyber world is not for professional gain, not for competition (well, maybe for his Mother’s love) but for the simple pleasure of honoring MOM2 on her seventy-fifth birthday. I return to NEXUS, I click “like” on the party photo. I make a wonderful comment and I choose to share my lovely party, the lovely ladies, and the memorable festivities with the world. However, this I can promise you. I will never share an up close and personal photo of me giving you and your dog an impressive win at some impressive dog show somewhere in the world, with the hopes that some other judge will feel compelled to repeat the performance. And, posting wins on digital media, especially the same weekend that I am judging the same, group, breed, or other significant achievement, will not enhance your chance of a win under me. The feeding frenzy of media-shared-information and photos do not influence anything…conformation does not change as a result…and, you have to earn it in the ring. Alert, alert……you have six new messages from the multiple dog show enthusiast I follow….nope…that one just jumped to 8 in line…to 14…and now 22. I am getting anxious. How will I ever keep up? There is no escape! But, in the meantime, pass me another slice of the Red Velvet Berry.
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Continued FROM page 18
sloping slightly towards the eyes. Which is probably why so many of those old timers taught me to accentuate that part even by trimming , making the dog look “down”. A WFT who looks straight forward looks stupid in my humble opinion and won’t get that warm expression which is so desireable! If all of you who keep on about this head length issue had the chance to measure heads of dogs shown today with the “tool”used by the originators, you would be very surprised. And anyway- if you still persist and want to follow the words in the standard rather than using common sense , you will also know that for the 7 ¼ inch head to be correct, the dog has to measure 15 ½ inches at the withers (and remember the withers should be at back level, not half way up their neck!!) measure 12 inches from withers to root of tail and weigh around 18 pounds!! And how many without personal involvement in a breed can decide the exact measurement ??. And how many judges who have never been able to trim a terrier for show or at a higher level is able to see through the coat and discover all those little hidden issues? My friend George Ward added a new word to my vocabulary many years ago : “Dog Jockeys ! “ In other words handlers- or even breeders- showing dogs which needed no or very little coat work- And he also gave me verbally a list of the most respected and competent judges in this country and even the world- who all had a back ground as terrier handlers /breeders. Or involvement in Poodles or Schnauzers etc , which of course also requires the same type of skills. What people more and more seem to ignore is the quality of coats. Far too many dogs are shown in coat so short it is impossible to judge, the excuse used: it is because they are rolling the coat!! I think the reason why the WFT standard asks for ¾ inch on shoulders and neck increasing to 1 ½ inch on the body is because to judge the quality of the coat that’s an absolute minimum. So next time you judge a dog whose coat barely covers the skin, although it might feel harsh, be aware that the same coat an inch or so longer may prove to be nothing but rubbish ! And for those who still think Terriers are easy : This is just one breed and as you need more than one opinion- you will find a large number of WFT people who don’t share all my views. Not necessarily successful ones ! But in every breed you decide you want to try judging,
64 Dog News
there are myriads of opinions and views that when put together in many cases can help you come up with the true “picture” you want to look for in the ring . Regarding (Sir?) Ronnie’s comment regarding the value and attitude concerning our breed standards there are so many questions to ask. The fact that we in this country as judges only can measure dogs of breeds where height or lack of it is a DQ is to me completely incomprehensible. I think it would be brilliant at times to be able to do random checks of your “eyes” ability to judge height at withers- even if it of course is harder to measure length of body or back . But there are so many parts of standards that are seemingly ignored on a general basis – all those breed standards which list that over trimming should be severely penalized where today if you show a dog in the breed not “over trimmed” you would look odd without getting a second glance. And other breeds like Labradors where the standard calls for a level topline ? Or when did you see a winning Scottish Terrier of 10 inches measuring 11 inches from wither to root of tail. Well in the latter case, I certainly hope not and we all wonder who was behind that “flop” when that standard was written. Then of course there are other deviations here from standards in the country of originand just to mention Whippets. Who came up with the desire for a large eye? No mention of eyesize in the KC standard- and maybe because of the influence of Staffordshire Bullterriers in the breed at one stage- although even their standard calls for a medium sized eye, the small beady eyes occasionally turned up- and so even in Whippets. Then everything is relative, but what does a large eye on a Whippet really mean- and why does there seem to be an East/West divide in this country regarding this question?? The PBGV standard asks for a large eyeis that what is wanted in a Whippet??? There are so many questions to ask , so many answers will come up, but in the end most of them will still be topics for interesting and meaningful (?) discussions ! So wherever we are , whichever breed we are involved with as breeders or judges there will always be important discussions about vital parts of every breed registered with the AKC. And that so many of us see things so very differently is what makes this sport as fascinating as it is. Who’s right and who’s wrong?? De facto : Probably none of us!
Dog News 65
66 Dog News
Dog News 67
AKC SUMMER STREETS, to be held on three consecutive Saturdays, August 1st, 8th and 15th starting at 7 A.M. at Astor Place and Lafayette Street in Manhattan. A day of fun for the whole family whether two- or four-legged. The recently signed contract that starts with the 2017 dog show, between the WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB and FOX’S SPORT 1 and NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC WILD, brings to a close the club’s relationship with the USA NETWORK that has aired the show since 1984. The negotiating was conducted by Fox Sports executive vice president LARRY JONES and Westminster was represented by Sports Media Advisors founder DOUG PERLMAN with club president SÉAN MCCARTHY. The new 10-year contract will provide two nights of live coverage that will include the Masters Agility Championship competition. Congratulations to CARLOS CARRIZO on becoming a United States citizen on July 22nd. Dachshund fancier IRIS LOVE usually lands on New York’s society pages, but she recently landed badly in a fall, that resulted in her breaking her pelvis. So she will be spending her Birthday in a New York rehab center. All of us at DOG NEWS send her best wishes for her birthday and for a speedy recovery. Sorry to hear that BARBARA ALDERMAN had to leave the dog show in Rhode Island to rush home to see her son who was involved in an automobile accident. Hope all is well. All of us at DOG NEWS were saddened to hear of the passing in June of former judge ANNE FLEMING. A multiple group judge, who lost an arm to cancer, never let that get in the way of a successful judging career. She bred several 68 Dog News
breeds, including Dalmatians, Smooth Fox Terriers, Doberman Pinschers and Beagles under the Madurhason prefix, made up from her sons’ first names. All of us at DOG NEWS send our deepest sympathies to her family. The Skye Terrier Club of America is dedicating their next bulletin in honor of longtime member CAROL SIMONDS on the occasion of her fifty year association with the breed. Her love of dogs, which included working the canine unit of the Army in the second World War along with the likes of BOB FORSYTH and HENRY STRIECKER, has been passed down to her two daughters GISELLE & JAN who can be seen regularly in the ring. CAROL is mending a broken hip and all who know her wish her a speedy recovery. Celebrating Birthdays…VICKY HOLLOWAY, MARJORIE TUFF, ALLAN CHAMBERS and GEORGE WRIGHT. GEORGE’S birthday gift is that his and ENID’S daughter CATHERINE is moving back to the New York from England, where she has lived for several years. Welcome back home CATHERINE.
the Gossip column By Eugene Z. Zaphiris
THEIR FIRST BEST IN SHOW!
Merlin Fabulous June and July: 22 Best of Breeds out of 23 shows since June 12, 2015 June 26, 2015 - Hockamock Kennel Club Judge Mrs. Shilon Bedford - Best of Breed & Group Third June 27, 2015 - Hockamock Kennel Club Judge Mrs. Ruth Zimmerman - Best of Breed & Group First June 28, 2015 - Wampanoag Kennel Club Judge Dr. Ronald Spritzer - Best of Breed Judge Mr Eric Ringle - Group Third July 3, 2015 - Northeastern Kennel Club Judge Mrs. Cathy Daugherty - Best of Breed & Group Third July 11, 2015 - Green Mountain Dog Club Judge Mr. Kenneth Doeg - Best of Breed & Group First Judge Mrs. Danelle Brown - Best In Show
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*The Dog News Top Ten List - Breed points
Dog News 69
Irving’s Impressions Continued FROM page 26
was unceremoniously thrown out, having gained very little support. Why? Well mainly I think because of the argument put forward then that, with TKC being an increasingly complex organisation, those who serve on its managing board ought to have up to date and current skills and experience of the dog breeding world and the other disciplines needed to run what is both a sport and a business. Those who wanted it retained said that there is little point of having breeders, judges, lawyers, accountants, veterinary surgeons, business men, educationalists or show organizers sitting around the boardroom table if their experience of current practices is long out of date. The Members of the Kennel Club, perhaps unfairly, sympathize with that point of view and retained the compulsory retiring age of seventy-five. POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT Even further afield, in the realms of politics and government, there are varying approaches to the subject of term limits. In the USA of course the situation is that nowadays US Presidents are only permitted to stand for election twice and therefore they have an effective total tenure in the post of a maximum of eight years. As I understand it, it was only as late as 1947 that Congress passed the 22nd Amendment preventing a US President from taking a third term of office. Until then the two-term ‘rule’ was nothing more than a convention. Some say that the two term limit for US Presidents is a good thing. Others argue, somewhat tongue in cheek, that double term US presidents actually only have about two years out of eight where they exercise optimum influence. They say that in the first two years of their Presidency they are trying to find out what they are supposed to do. The second two years are spent trying to get re-elected and in the final two years of their second term they are ‘lame ducks’. Thus only in years five and six of their term of office are they really responsible and effective! 70 Dog News
On the other hand British Prime Ministers can seek re-election as many times as the voters and their parties will allow. It is perhaps worth noting that there have, in the past hundred years or so, only been two British Prime Ministers who have gone to a third consecutive term. These were Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair. Readers can decide whether these are good examples or bad but what is clear is that in each of those two cases, it was not actually the voters who eventually removed these people from office, but it was instead their party colleagues who forced them out. DICTATORS Many will argue that people who retain power for too long eventually become dictators who surround themselves with yes men and then become out of touch with reality. As prime examples they might well cite people such as Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe, Mao Tse Tung in China, Augusto Pinochet in Chile or Pol Pot in Cambodia. All of these politicians probably carried on far too long either for their own good or for the good of their respective countries. On the other hand some people who have gone on in charge of their countries for many years such as Lee Kuan Yew in Singapore or Deng Xiaoping in China will be mentioned by those who feel that term limits are not helpful. In the case of Deng Xiaoping, if he had been required to stand down from his position after eight years, would China be as prosperous today as it is now? Is it not rather interesting that before it became unlawful in the USA, the only occasion when a bid for a third term presidency was supported was in the case of FDR in 1940 when Europe was in turmoil and France had fallen to the Nazis? That proves that democracy at that time, due to the flexibility it had of not having the 22nd amendment to force it to do otherwise, showed that at such a time it valued continuity and ensured that the will of the electorate was supreme. So there seem to be good arguments on both sides of the debate about term limits but the ultimate test would seem to lie with the person involved, the circumstances of the time, the quality of those who are around to challenge the current leader and then also with the strength of will of the people who surround them and who do or do not vote for them.
NINE YEARS WAS ENOUGH In the case of TKC Chairmen, where no term limits have ever existed, the history of the last fifty or so years has been that one Chairman went on continuously for twenty-five years and then became Honorary President. Another remained for fifteen years and only ceased to be chairman on his death. Two went after relatively short tenures with some pressures on them to leave. One was voted out of office after four years and two went of their own volition, one after six years and the other after nine. I was the last of these examples and decided to go after nine years in the post. I went for two reasons. The first was a selfish one and that was that I wanted to get back to enjoying my dog showing hobby again without the pressures of office - and before I was too old to be able to enjoy doing so. And the second reason was that I had always said that I felt that people should not stay on in the post of Chairman of TKC too long. (Maybe some people felt that in my case nine years was too long.) I was always of the view that once things had been set up and had gone the full circle and when some policies were likely soon to have to be dismantled because of changes in circumstances, the person who had chaired the Board when the policies were introduced, would not be the best person to preside over it when some of these policies needed dismantling. Whether or not you agree with the imposition of term limits seems to depend very much upon the personal view of the individual making the choice. It also seems to depend upon the organisation involved and partly even on the quality or otherwise of the incumbents in the positions to which term limits might apply. When people are happy with the way things are going they tend to be against term limits but when they are dissatisfied, for whatever reason, they tend to be in favour of the concept. Only time will tell whether term limits will be abolished at the AKC on the one hand and whether, on the other hand, they will be introduced in the UK at TKC.
S
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Scotch’s Last Six Shows: SIX Breeds And FOUR Group Placements Our appreciation to Judges Mr. Charles Trotter, pictured, Mr. Lawrence Terricone, Mrs. Anne Savory Bolus, Mr. Joseph Gregory, Mrs. Paula Hartinger and Mrs. Christine Calcinari for acknowledging Scotch’s breed qualities. Flash h Group Fourt Club tain Dog Green Moun , 2015 July 12 s Savory Bolu e n n A . rs M Judge
Multiple Group Placing
Ch. Somerri Scotch Make It A Double SIRE: CH Somerri Samoa Super Snoop
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Handled by Laura Lewis Merrimack, NH Dog News 71
CLiCK Western Ohio Summer Cluster PHOTOS By Booth Photography
72 Dog News
Dog News 73
Canine Cognition
Continued FROM page 30
Dr. Wynne is testing the dog’s memory for location. So far, 80 dogs were put through a star-shaped maze with a 20-ft. diameter. The dogs range in age from 1 to 14 years. Initially, small pieces of food were placed at short intervals throughout the maze for the dogs to find. The distance between the pieces of food was lengthened gradually; forcing the dogs to remember where they had already been in the maze in order to find all of the “treats.”
The Canine Cognition Center At Yale
Some of the research being conducted on canine cognition currently is motivated by an interest in learning more about cognitive development in humans. The dog is viewed as an ideal model for scientific investigation in this context because it shares the same environment as children and thus its cognitive development is affected by many of the same factors. One of these studies is investigating the ways in which children and dogs learn and how that learning is affected by adult humans. “Children learn about the world from adults. Sometimes, they learn so much from adults, they tend to not explore things on their own. We’re very interested in learning if the same thing happens to dogs,” says Laurie Santos, PhD. She is the Director of the Canine Cognition Center at Yale University where the study is underway. Santos established the center in 2013. “One of our previous studies tested children using a puzzle box with several parts that each had a different affordance [i.e., one compartment made squeaking sounds when opened, another played music, etc.]. Usually, children would explore all of the compartments and eventually learn all of the different affordances. When an adult human showed the children just one of the compartments however, the children no longer explored the other compartments but immediately copied what the adult did. This finding shows that teaching can limit exploratory behavior in human children. 74 Dog News
“We want to learn if dogs also will trust the information they are given by a person and whether this trust will be enough to override the dogs’ natural curiosity. If dogs also limit their exploration after teaching, this would tell us if they learn in some of the same ways as children,” Santos says.
Therapy Dogs And A Sense Of Well-Being
Researchers at the center also are interested in learning about the role the dog plays in human well-being. “Our lab is interested in learning more about how and why interacting with a dog affects how people feel. There is a lot of anecdotal evidence to suggest therapy dogs make people feel better. We want to learn why that is and what mechanisms are at work,” she says. To that end, another study at the lab is investigating how interacting with a dog affects human well-being to see if it reduces stress. The investigation also is interested in learning whether interactions with dogs can serve as a therapy for children with developmental disorders such as autism. As yet, no results from the above trials are available because the studies only began recently.
A Theory Of Mind
The object of yet another ongoing research project at the Canine Cognition Center at Yale is investigating how and when dogs are willing to help their human companions. This
“Holly’s participation,” like all of the other dogs in the trials conducted at the Canine Cognition Center at Yale, was volunteered by her owner. She belongs to Tom Reznick. study presents dogs with an opportunity to help their owners learn about important yet unnoticed information. Specifically, a dog watches his owner read a book then place the book behind him so the dog can still see the book but the owner can’t. Next, a stranger comes into the room and removes the book. The owner can’t see that happen but the dog can. The question the study seeks to answer is whether the dog alerts his owner to the fact the book was taken. In order to do that, the dog would have to realize his owner doesn’t know the book is gone. The dog also would have to understand the missing information is relevant to its owner even though it’s not relevant to the dog. “To determine if the dog is alerting the person to missing information, we looked at a couple of things,” Santos says. “First, we tested whether the dog walked toward the door after the stranger who took the book, as though the dog was trying to fix the situation by getting the book back. We also tested whether the dog barks or vocalizes to alert his owner to the fact the book was taken.” In terms of approach behavior—whether or not the dog walks toward the door--it appears dogs do that most often when their owner’s book was taken. Dr. Santos’s latest findings suggest dogs approach the door slightly less often when a stranger’s book was taken by another stranger Continued on page 79
October 1, 2015 Some Interesting Stats on the Morris & Essex Kennel Club: 32
Specialties
89
Supporteds
78
Breed Judges
44
Sweepstakes Judges
27
Rings
46
Ring Stewards
1,870
Feet of Tenting (More than 1/3 of a Mile)
700
Rosettes Awarded
180
Silver Plated Revere Bowls (One Awarded to Every BOB Winner)
35
Golf Carts to Shuttle Everyone
40
Port-o-Johns
81
Premium List Pages – The Largest Ever Presented
3000
Parking Spaces Available
425
RV Spaces Available
7
Art Show Group Finalists including the winner from many entries
3
Mega Power Generators Providing Electric
2.3
Miles of Electric Cable (Eliminating the need for private generators)
1
Complementary Box Lunch for every exhibitor
45
States M&E KC members are from
7
Countries M&E KC members are from
1010
Combined Years the 27 M&E KC Board Members have been showing dogs
214
Combined Years the five M&E KC Officers have been showing dogs
Closing Date: Wednesday , September 16, 2015 Dog News 75
76 Dog News
Dog News 77
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Canine Cognition Continued FROM page 74
and not very much at all when test interventions to slow cognitive a stranger removed the book deterioration in both species.” himself. The dog is an ideal model for “Although the study is still this investigation because it has a underway, thus far we have shorter lifespan, which means the observed that dogs really study may be completed in years do track what humans care rather than decades, as would be about even if dogs don’t care the case if it was done with human about it themselves,” she says. subjects. “That would mean dogs track “In order to test for memory information we know about and loss in dogs as they age, we created information that we don’t know a star-shaped maze with baby Always a willing about.” gates that has a 20-ft. diameter. So The capacity to track what research participant, far, we have put 80 dogs through information is known by others “Xephos” belongs to the maze by enticing them with small is thought to be a sophisticated Dr. Wynne. pieces of food placed throughout it. ability that researchers call The dogs, which range in age from “having a theory of mind,” i.e., 1 to 14 years, were volunteered realizing that someone else knows something by their owners for the research project,” different than you. So far, there is limited Wynne says. evidence that dogs have a theory of mind. If Initially, the pieces of food were placed the final results of the study are consistent with at short intervals throughout the maze for the above however, it would hint that dogs do. the dogs to find. The distance between the pieces of food was lengthened gradually; forcing the dogs to remember where they had already been in the maze in order to find all of the “treats.” Clive Wynne, PhD, established the Canine Science “Although we are in the early stages of Collaboratory in the Psychology Department at the trial, we are already seeing differences Arizona State University in 2013. Prior to that, between the younger and older dogs he was the Director of the University of Florida despite the fact none were diagnosed Canine Cognition and Behavior Lab as already with canine cognitive dysfunction prior to mentioned. He also is the author of Do Animals the study. The older dogs do much worse Think? at finding the food than the younger dogs Although much of the current research because they make more errors. focusing on canine cognition is motivated by an “If you compare a 14 year-old dog to interest in learning more about human cognition, a 7 year-old dog for example, a 14 yearWynne views the investigation of canine old dog makes twice as many mistakes as cognition as a worthy subject in and of itself. a 7 year-old dog when looking for all of “I am interested in learning what makes dogs tick and how they function. I study dogs because I want to understand dogs better,” he says.
The Canine Science Collaboratory
The Sniffer Dog Investigation
Wynne’s research also could prove beneficial to humans within the context of Homeland Security. At the time of this writing, he is discussing plans for a proposed study funded by a branch of the United States Armed Forces. The object of the research would be to learn how long sniffer dogs are able to remember the odor of explosives and if their accuracy in detecting them is impacted by the fact they may never actually find a bomb in a civilian location during their lifetime. “Sniffer dogs outside of war zones are being asked to look for things they almost never encounter in a normal environment: terrorists’ bombs,” he says. “This leads us to wonder how long sniffer dogs can be asked to remember the odor of a bomb if they never actually find one. There also is evidence to suggest that sniffer dogs can distinguish between ‘fake’ placement of a target as in a training exercise and real placement of a target as in a bomb hidden at an airport. The concern here is sniffer dogs might not be able to accurately detect explosives in a real life situation.” To keep their noses “sharp,” other kinds of sniffer dogs are put through regular detection training exercises by their handlers, i.e., they are tasked with finding the odor of a training aid in the form of a small amount of a narcotic in the case of Narcotics Detection Dogs, human remains in the case of Search and Rescue Dogs, and contraband in the case of Customs Detection dogs. These exercises are done in civilian environments comparable to where the dogs would be tasked with detection in real life situations. Similar exercises for Explosives Detection Dogs are impossible for obvious reasons, i.e., it would be unsafe to hide a small amount of a live explosive in a civilian environment for a sniffer dog to practice detecting because of the risk of injury if the explosive was accidentally detonated. That means all practice exercises for Explosives Detection Dogs must be performed in a secured training environment.
Testing Detection Accuracy
Testing Aging’s Effect On Cognition
That’s not to say the results of some of his research won’t provide data that can be extrapolated to humans. For example, he is conducting a study currently that’s an investigation of the dog’s memory for locations with the goal of learning how the dog’s memory changes as it ages. “We have an aging human population with problems ranging between memory losses to full blown cases of Alzheimer’s disease,” Wynne says. “Dogs are one of the few nonhuman species that develops similar age-related cognition issues. By studying memory loss in dogs, it’s my hope that we can develop and
the pieces of food in the maze. This suggests there is some memory loss with age,” Wynne says. Although he has looked at dogs of a variety of breeds and mixes up to this point in the trial, he is particularly interested in looking at dogs that have very short lifespans like the giant breeds in the future. “By focusing on them, the results of the study could be determined much sooner.” He says.
Dr. Clive Wynne, Director of the Canine Science Collaboratory at Arizona State University, pictured with a wolf, the species from which dogs descend.
“The military is interested in learning if that affects the accuracy of an Explosives Detection Dog’s ability to find hidden explosives in a real situation like a mall or airport,” Wynne says. “The military also would like learn how long an explosives detection dog can remember the odor of explosives after it was trained to detect them. “While the design for the study has not been finalized as yet, it would likely involve a group of sniffer dogs that we would train to detect a particular odor. The dogs then would be tasked with detecting the odor 3-, 6-, 9- and 12-months after they were trained without the benefit of any refresher training in between times.” Dog News 79
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Continued FROM page 44
they haven’t recently lost under that particular judge. Now on the flipside of that could we also have clubs from across the country that have shows within the same calendar month or same few weeks also get together and maybe try to share a judge? Often times airfares within Canada may influence where clubs will hire a judge from, but if clubs in the Maritimes, Quebec and Ontario that have shows on consecutive weekends talk and split the expenses it could make things more feasible. Of course this same idea could work for judges coming from the USA or even other places in the world. I know that many
judges when going from here to Australia to judge are in fact staying for a couple of weeks and judging for a couple of different kennel
clubs. I think is a great idea to do in reverse and it could also help clubs by splitting expenses as well as upping entries when we see judges from across the country as well as from across the world. Now of course these are all just ideas until put into practice but I don’t think it would really be that hard. It could maybe even be done in a few private Facebook groups but after a few conference calls or a few meetings of the minds I am sure that we could have new blood judging at some new shows and maybe that would invigorate the base and get more dogs to the shows! Onto other news Purina National is being held at the lovely Spruce Meadows Equestrian facility in beautiful Calgary, Alberta and the following weekend the Edmonton kennel club shows (which I’ve heard have drawn an overload so great entries there) is hosting the annual Canadian Professional Handlers Association Top Dog Awards and Benefit on August 7, 2015. For more information and tickets to this event please go to www.canadianprofessioanlhandlers.com.
The Top Dogs according to Canuck Dogs as of July 22, 2015 are:
1 Portuguese Water Dog Ch. Claricreek Lusitano Oceano Atlantico 2 Giant Schnauzer Lowdown Remys Girl V Aerdenhout 3 Standard Poodle Ch. Dawin In Hot Pursuit 4 Papillon Ch. Marron’s Jimmy Choo 5 Standard Poodle Ch. Adessi Elemental Afterglow 6 Irish Setter Ch. Eltin’s Unequivocal Contender 7 German Shepherd Dog Signature’s Harry Nile V Kridler 8 Siberian Husky Ch. Snowmist’s Wind n’ Reigning 9 Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen Ch. Auriga’s Peter Parker 10 Giant Schnauzer Ch. Lindsayleigh’s Star of Orion Dog News 81
AS OF JANUARY 1, 2015
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* *The Dog News Top Ten List