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PICTURE - Grishakova Kate
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f ancy?
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Interview with James Dalton Fabelhaft French Bulldogs
Fancy Judging
New York Metro Specialty 2015 by Dimitry v Raamsdonk
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next issue: SEP 2015 PRE FBDCA NATIONAL ISSUE!
f ancy beginnings
Welcome everyone to the 9th issue of the Frenchie Fancy, marking the beginning of our third year of existence. The Frenchie Fancy prides itself in uniting all Frenchie enthusiasts from all over the world.
This time around, you will find a great written review from Dimitry v Raamsdonk’s specialty judging assignment in New York City last February, along with some great pictures. You will also read a very useful article about contracts by our friend Pamela Preston, a Boston Terrier breeder and exhibitor. Anna Denisova is back with a great (and funny) article about how to train... Your partner! Our cover boy is Rocky, owned by Teddy Fagin and Jane Norris, a top ranked French Bulldogs for the past couple of years. And our interview is with the “Frenchie celebrity” James Dalton, of Fabelhaft fame. The Frenchie Fancy is a worldwide publication dedicated to all things French Bulldogs. We believe that there are no borders nowadays. Breeders are able to find ways to combine their efforts no matter the distance, and we encourage this collaboration. You can order your Frenchie Fancy magazine hard copy online, or purchase a full year subscription with a special price! For
more details, please access our website: www.FrenchieFancy.com Our next issue will be our pre FBDCA National specialty and post World Dog Show, so don’t forget to reserve your pages! Sit back, relax and enjoy some of the very best French Bulldogs of the world! See you all soon,
Fernanda Barlow, Matthew Dover, Vivianne Mello The Frenchie Fancy Team
Send us a message! info@frenchiefancy.com www.frenchiefancy.com | facebook.com/frenchiefancy
FRENCHIE FANCY Creative Director Vivianne Mello info@frenchiefancy.com
Advertising Director Fernanda Barlow ads@frenchiefancy.com
Marketing Director Matthew Dover mkt@frenchiefancy.com
Photography Kate Grishakova Lena Salmina Olga Nikolaeva Ping Ping Panda Contributors Anna Denisova Dimitry v Raamsdonk James Dalton Pamela Preston
Distribution
EUROPE
AUSTRALIA
Ana Jagtiani (Spain) Anna Denisova (Italy) Bitten Oldereide (Norway) Magnus Berglin (Sweden) Sarah Ventham (UK) Jakko Broersma (NL) Toni Saira (Finland) Daniela Akkad (Austria) Tove Rasmussen (Denmark) Mourning Chang (Taiwan)
Kelly McClelland UNITED STATES
Matthew Dover (East) Fernanda Barlow (West)
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FANCY advertisers ARGENTINA CICCALE, Romina (cimabull) ................................. 16, 17 FERREIRA, Maria Jesus (munays) .............................. 26 BRASIL MENEZES, Claudia & Alexandre (dicar) .................. 14, 15 ROCHA, Alex & Ronny (novizala) ........................ 44, 45 SLAVIERO, Augusto (slavierobull) .......................... 58 CANADA BREWER, Carey (atalaya) ................................ 60 CRAM, Karen (karendon) ......................................... 55 SAINT-AMOUR, Sophie (di oro) ........................... 68, 69 STJOHN, Shelley (robobull) .................................. 25 CHINA LUO, Viva (overtop) .............................................. 46, 47 ECUADOR SOTOMAYOR, Juan Carlos (secutor) ....... Back Cover HUNGARY AKOS, Jakab (hard black jack)
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IRELAND MALLON, lilya (celticlibrid) ................................... 42 ITALY DENISOVA, Anna (hellzapoppin) ...................... 48, 49 SWEDEN HALL, Håkan (marikarlos) ....................................... 33
UNITED STATES BERREY, Dave (homewood) .................................... 14 BROTT, Karen (chambord) ................................ 41 CICUTA, Marcelo (tuunrat) .............................. 66, 67 DALTON, James (fabelhaft) .................................... 25 DENNY, Nicole (pinnacle) ................................... 30, 31 DYKES, Sharon & Calvin (tres beau) .................... 18, 19 FORGIONE, Karen (diamond ridge) ......................10, 11 HAMMAN, Blake (la bête) .................................... 8, 9 HEARST SHAW, Patricia (diva) ................................ 8, 9 KAUFMAN, Paula (miradon) ........................................ 54 MATTINGLY, Debra & Kenneth ................................ 12, 13 MILLER, Stephen (peche mignon) .......... 12, 13. 28. 29 MUSTO, Kathy (safari) ........................................ 72, 73 NEIDIG, Dr. David & Jill (bella ridge) ................... 36, 37 NEMET, Fran (my shadow) .................................. 43 NOWICKI, S.John (adore) ......................................... 65 PETIT, Teri ............................................................ 28, 29 PHOTOS, Peter (la bête) .................................... 8, 9 RAMOS, Jennifer (dolce) ................................... 34, 35 ridderikhoff, Cretia (mon ange) ...................... 56, 57 SCHETTINO, L, L & V (shady harbor) .............. 36, 37 SCHOTT, Monica (hotschott) ................................. 60 SHAW, Nancy (txstars) ....................................... 70, 71 SIEGMAN, Elena (rockydell) ................................... 14 SMITH, Robert (peche mignon) ........... 12, 13, 28, 29 SOSA, Patricia & Luis (bandog) ................................ 59 STRAUB, Aurelia ...................................................... 32 WOLFINGER, Linda (lwolfranch) ........................... 53 WORKMAN, Gregory (adore) ..................................... 65 VENEZUELA CELIS, Diego (mokaodc) .......................................... 7
this issue’s stats - 11 countries. 74 pages.
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When and how did you start your history with showing and breeding dogs? What breeds were you involved in before you got in French Bulldogs? I started showing dogs as a child in 1974. My parents bought me a Smooth Dachshund for my birthday from an ad in the local newspaper. He was a pet but of course I thought he was a BIS winner! I used to organize dog shows with the neighborhood kids and I would judge BIS! I actually won my first real BIS at age fourteen, had my first judging assignment and bred my first BIS Dachshund at sixteen. When I came to the USA in 1990 to work I had been without a dog for seven years while I was at school and was always anxious to start again. In 1993 I purchased my first Afghan Hound in the USA, a gorgeous and now world famous Black bitch Multiple BIS, BISS Group winning Am. Can. Berm. CH.PALADIN FANCY PANTS TRINITY…”C.C.” who still holds the record as the Top winning Afghan Hound bitch of All Time in Canada with over thirty BIS, BISS awards. Her famous son from her only litter Multi BIS, BISS Westminster BOB CH. FABELHAFT ZOOT SUIT “CORBU” was the Number One Afghan hound All Systems 2004. I have bred fifty plus Afghan Hound Champions many of whom are BIS/BISS both here and abroad.
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the ancy talk interview with james dalton fabelhaft french bulldogs - usa In Frenchie world, he is practically royalty. James Dalton is the name behind the kennel name FABELHAFT. In the next few pages, get to know a bit more about the breeder, exhibitor and conformation judge. 20 frenchiefancy.com
Where did you go for your first French Bulldog? I purchased my first French Bulldog by accident… But that is a story by itself! … the short story is I was thinking of getting a Boston Terrier and I saw a six month old French Bulldog fawn puppy at a dog show owned by Ann McCammon of Justamere fame. It was love at first sight and I bought him. He won three majors that first weekend including a BOB from the classes over several specials under breeder judge Carol Hawke. Less than a month later at the Florida French Bulldog Specialty he finished his Championship at seven months old going Best in Sweeps under breeder judge Patty Sosa and Winners dog/Best of winners under Barbara Dempsey Aldermann. That was in January 1997…by the end of may he was the Number One French Bulldog in the USA while still a puppy handled by
yours truly! Multiple Group winning CH. JUSTAMERES DUNKIN F’R APPLES “Duggan”… Pedigree Award winner 1997 for the Number One French Bulldog (Breed).
Who would you say were your mentors back then? I didn’t really have any. I am a pretty quick study when I am interested in something so I read everything I could get my hands on and watched ringside at every show. I quickly developed an eye for what I liked and went from there.
When did Shelley St John (Robobull French Bulldogs) come into play? I met Shelley briefly at the Canadian National when it was held in conjunction with the American National in Niagara falls, which I believe was in 2000. I saw her first bitch CH.XCLUSIVE DE LA PARURE and two puppies from her first litter. I admired the look and type. A few months later I saw an ad advertising a repeat breeding and on a whim called Shelley. We had a great conversation and a day later I drove to Canada to see a twelve week old puppy dog. I will never forget the first time I saw him on that beautiful summer day in the tranquil setting of the Robobull garden… That puppy grew up to be Multi Group and Specialty winning American/Canadian CH.ROBOBULL FABELHAFT XCELSIOR…”ROMEO”
We all know French Bulldogs are not among the easiest breeds. In all your breeding and showing years, could you share with us a misfortune that has happened to you? I would say losing my first French Bulldog CH.JUSTAMERES DUNKIN F’R APPLES due to a tragic accident when he was only two years old. He was a beautiful dog and never had a chance to prove himself as a stud dog. I was fortunate however that Ann McCammon let me have his half brother CH.JUSTAMERES GOLDEN BUDDHA OF FABELHAFT… A cornerstone stud dog in our breeding program.
What is your general process to evaluate a show puppy? What age are they when you start looking at them for show traits? I look at them of course when they are born but do not start to seriously evaluate them before 8-10 weeks old. At this age they are old enough to evaluate movement Jun 2015
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and you can start to see outline and balance. After so many years working with our bloodline I know immediately what I like and what traits will or will not change or develop with age.
What would you say was your most successful breeding? I don’t want to sound blasé, but there have been so many it is impossible to single out just one particular breeding. Also it depends on your definition of a successful breeding. Having bred over one hundred French Bulldog Champions there have been several all champion litters and some which were big winners and some who contributed to the breeding program so each successful in different ways but equally important.
Is there a French Bulldog not bred or owned by you, living or not, that you admire? The three that come to mind are CH. OBSESSION DEL AKIRIS, CH.COLONEL TRUSARDI DE LA PARURE and the ROMEO daughter CH.DAULOKKES NORDIQUE HAUTE COUTURE. Each represents the qualities and essence of the breed that is so important to me.
What has been the Frenchie bred/co-bred by you that has come the closest to the standard in your opinion? Again this is a very difficult question. It’s like trying to choose between your children! Each of our top dogs embodies the breed standard but depending on personal interpretation any one of them could be considered to come closest.
What is your French Bulldog structure pet peeve? My personal pet peeves are poor fronts, flat toplines and high tail sets.
In your opinion, what should French Bulldog breeders in North America be working together to change? Is there a fault that you see repetitively? I think you cannot change anything until you are able to recognize what’s wrong, and in order to do that you need to really study and understand the breed standard and how to interpret and apply it to your own breeding program. My feeling is that in today’s world of social media (and let’s face it: We all love Facebook) people are lulled into a false sense of reality about the quality of their dogs or breeding
program... Why do people insist on posting insincere comments just because they like (or pretend to) the person posting? …For example, someone posts a photo of a puppy with a snout like a baby badger and turnout like a Russian ballerina and twenty people (at least some of whom should know better…) post comments like “she’s pretty”, ”congratulations!” or my personal favorite “so happy for you!”. This leads people to think that little truffle sniffer is going to win BOB from the classes at next year’s national!! This type of behavior only encourages mediocrity. At some point you need to decide if you want everybody to love you or if you want to be a top breeder. While it is nice to be kind, and we should be kind to each other, it is neither nice nor kind to see insincere and untrue comments in any venue. I recently read a Facebook discussion on excessive ticking on pieds and could not believe the excuses ranging from “I like it” to “It’s not a fault in the standard”. While the standard technically does not directly address it, common sense and your eyes should tell you that given the
choice between a beautiful clear double hooded well marked pied and a ticked half hood with a heavy black saddle, which one most people (and judges) would choose. It’s not rocket science folks. In order to go forward you must understand and interpret the standard in a reasonable way and not distort it so that Timmy Tickedallover can become your cornerstone stud dog. Although I used ticking as an example here, it could easily be replaced with bad fronts, wry mouths, flat backs, or high tailsets. The point is: Be honest and true with yourself and others whenever possible. I think the greatest danger to any breed is a lack of knowledgable breeders with a true passion for the breed.
How do you feel about collaborating with breeders from other continents? Could you name some tips for a successful partnership? The secret to the success of any partnership or collaboration is the same regardless of where it is. 1. Honesty… Be honest about your expectations, financial obligations, and achievable goals. If this is understood by both parties at the beginning, there will be less chance of problems down the road. 2. Communication… Good communication is essential for any successful partnership. Things do not always go smoothly, and when they do not, being able to communicate effectively can often save the day. 3. Compromise… In any good partnership no one gets everything they want all of the time… Believe me, I know! So, be willing to give and take. What seems like a big deal today may be not that important if you consider the big picture.
You are an AKC Judge for French Bulldogs and Afghan Hounds. Are you working on being certified to judge any other breeds? I am currently working on additional Hound, Non Sporting and some Toy breeds.
As a Judge, what is unforgivable in the ring for you? Would you award a dog that is misbehaving but has outstanding type? Yes… I have on several occasions awarded a dog that was misbehaving but not so much that I was unable to assess the good qualities of the dog. As a breeder judge, I think I am more forgiving than perhaps an all rounder who requires the dog to show well to be
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rewarded.
Apart from your top winning Frenchies, what are some of your other breed dogs that have written their name in the history of their respective breeds? Well, my three loves are the French Bulldog, the Afghan Hound and the Japanese Chin. In Afghan Hounds I have bred/owned over Fifty Champions many of whom are BIS/BISS winners. Multi BIS, BISS Am. Can. Berm. CH.PALADIN FANCY PANTS TRINITY still holds the record as the Top winning Afghan Hound bitch of All time in Canada. My current special BIS, RBIS, Multi BISS and Group winning GR.CH. AGHA DJARI’S EYE CANY OF SURA already has twenty one BISS and just turned three years old so who knows! Meanwhile, in Japanese Chin, my first acquisition Multi BIS, Multi RBIS, Multi BISS, Westminster BOB winning Gold GR.CH. PEM WE-SYNG LUCKY MI Holds the record as the Top winning Japanese Chin in the history of the breed, and is now proving herself as a producer. Just recently Multi BISS and Group winning GR.CH. DESERT JADE FABEL-MI FIREDRAGON won BIS at the the JCCA National Specialty (we believe may be the first sable to achieve this), while another young special RBIS, Multi Group winning GR.CH.GENKI’S BLUE MOON, is currently the Number One Japanese Chin in the USA… So I think the future looks good!
What has been the biggest honor or achievement with French Bulldogs in your breeding and showing life? Gosh, there have been so many magic moments over the years but of course winning BOB and then the historical Group win at Westminster, followed by BIS at the FBDCA National Specialty, and winning the Top Twenty invitational with BIS, Multi BISS Gold GR.CH.FABELHAFT ROBOBULL I’M ON FIRE... Achieving Number One status with several different dogs including Multi BIS. Multi BISS, FBDCA Top
Twenty winner Am.Can.CH.ROBOBULL FABELHAFT INFERNO and Multi BIS,Multi BISS, FBDCA National Specialty BIS Am. Can. CH.FABELHAFT TOO HOT TO HANDLE and more recently in Australia with BIS/BISS Aust. Am. CH.FABELHAFT ROBOBULL SMOKIN’HOT. Last, but by no means least, winning the FBDCA Top Twenty Invitational Four times (a record) to date with four different dogs under so many breeder judges has been very gratifying.
Everyone knows that success attracts a lot of gossip. What is the funniest or most absurd thing that you have ever heard about yourself? You are right. Success does attract a lot of gossip. I have learned to pay no attention to gossip unless it’s really juicy and involves someone else! (laugh) Good and bad it is unfortunately part of success. The funny part is that those who talk about you the most would go to hell and back to get one of your dogs or your bloodline! The haters, the copycats, and the gossips… All part of the three rings circus we call the dog show. Those who feel the need to perpetuate untruths about others are usually sadly lacking any form of success in their own mundane lives. Let’s face it, isn’t it more exciting to trash others than have to admit that after a three year campaign with four different handlers their little “Lulu” still needs fourteen points to finish?! I’m thrilled that my life helps them get through each day! So really, in a way I am like a social worker… Giving the desperate and needy a reason to live... (laugh) God bless the gossips!
With an impressive record and superb achievements, it is hard to imagine what’s left for Fabelhaft. What do you aspire to accomplish next with Frenchies? Is there a show or a win that you would like to get? If I never bred or exhibited another dog I am very proud of my accomplishments, but who knows what the future may hold. There is always more to do. I have started judging and enjoy it very much. Education is very important and I look forward to being able to make a contribution in this area going forward. Most importantly I enjoy the people and friendships I have made along the way all over the world.
If you had to give one advice for those starting out with their French Bulldog breeding programs, what would it be? Work hard and believe in your dreams. Treat others as you wish to be treated.
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f ancy judging
french bulldog NY METRO specialty - USA february 14, 2015 - fbdca
pictures courtesy of ping ping panda
PICTURED ABOVE: BEST OF BREED WINNER & BEST OF OPPOSITE SEX WINNER
Best of Breed, Best of Winners & Winners Dog
Winners Bitch & Award of Merit ROBOBULL FABELHAFT BUN FIRE
ENTOURAGE DE COUTURE
SIRE - Robobull St Elmo’s Fire DAM - Robobull Fabelhaft Fatbotmgirl
Best of Opposite Sex
Awards of Merit GCH CHAMBORD’S I’LL NOT BE A GENTLEMAN
SIRE - Ch Nero Couture De Elka Gyvybes Zyme DAM - Ch Sophia Couture Janoel.
CH IACTA ALEA EST DE LA BETE
SIRE - Elysian Fields De La Bete DAM - Ch Bow Chicka Wow Wow De La Bete
Select Dog & Best Veteran
GCH LEBULL’S NEW HOPE WOOLY BULLY SIRE - Ch Lebull’s Fargo DAM - Ch Arista Coco Chanel
Select Bitch
GCH LE BIJOU CLAIR SIRE - Le Bijou Abner DAM - Le Bijou Empress
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GCH LENA V.D. MESTREECHTENEERKES GCH FULLA BULL SOULJA BOY GCH ROCKYDELL HOTSCHOTT SIRIUS DANCER
FANCY JUDGING
O
n the 14th of February 2015 I had the honor to judge the French Bulldogs at the New York Metro Specialty in New York, USA. In the early morning prior to the show I was invited by the AKC representative Mrs. Patricia Proctor who discussed the way of judging with me. She was able to address any question(s) I might have in regards the AKC judging system since it differs from the European FCI system.
on a (too) tight leash. This “developing trend” is something I am not fond of in general and I do not encourage this at all. The Frenchie (in fact, in my opinion any breed) should be able to walk freely in order to show itself the most “natural” way possible. Besides not considering it very dog friendly, the distinct character of the Frenchie is not compatible with such strict handling. Again, just a few had to be corrected and all the handlers complied sympathetically and friendly.
I had a nice entry of 90 French Bulldogs in total. Unfortunately no written critiques had to be made. Personally I prefer judging with written critiques because I feel this is the only way to properly express your thoughts and opinion in regards to the dog in question and I always try to include weak & strong points of the dog in question. By writing a proper critique one can address the strong and weaker points in order to try and give the owner a (better or another) view/idea on the dog in question. One can only hope that this critique helps the owner to understand which ones are the stronger points and which are the weaker points and what I, as a judge, am looking for.
There were some very nice Frenchies available that day and it was a joy to judge them. To me the males were of a higher quality level than the bitches. I had a great selection of males with large impressive square heads and massive bone. Lots of masculinity and gender type. Most of them being well built dogs with correct stance and moved very well in most cases. In my ultimate Best of Breed winner, a young male, I found many of the highly desires characteristics and foremost breed type and soundness with a beautiful outline. A striking pied color with correct marking, dark eyes all features which are not easy to obtain especially in pieds.
All dogs were on time, handlers were polite and they handled and presented their dogs very well. The great sportmenship between the handlers present that day was remarkable and a joy to witness. Everyone congratulated each other after the placements properly.
However one should not forget it takes “two to tango” so it is not only the male adding his part to a combination. The female also has her share, of course. Some females were a bit longer in body, which probably makes them great brood bitches (in the future) but I would desire them slightly shorter overall. I had some very nice elegant yet sturdy bitches of high
I asked a few of them not to handle their dogs
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quality with lots of great characteristics to offer. My Best of Opposite sex was a nice compact bitch with good proportions with the desired breed characteristics. A few points that I would like to address which I find important to draw attention to: Top line - not that many dogs had the correct roach back top line, a hallmark of the breed. Another hallmark: Correct placement of the ears - mostly size and shape of the ears were ok, however the ears were set too wide apart which totally destroys the typical French Bulldog expression. A more delicate topic is the layback of the nose, also a typical French Bulldog feature. I noticed a few dogs had lack of layback and missed the necessary amount of ‘fill’ under the eyes, so they seemed a bit ‘nosey’. Tail placement and length is also a point of attention; however, this is a ‘universal’ problem in French Bulldogs. Overall, I was very pleased with the quality of the dogs which I placed. Sometimes it was a very close call and then it was all about
the (small) details. There were some very interesting young dogs which I expect to have a bright future. The winners in the classes were extremely pleasing and a pleasure to judge. My final line up all had lots of the desired breed specific characteristics and it was great to choose from such selection of nice specimen. Needless to say, I was happy to pick all my “Best of” and finally, the apotheosis of the day: The selection of the Best of Breed. A few dogs clearly “stood out” and caught my direct attention from the moment they came in the ring... Goosebumps. It was a pleasant day and I hope the committee, members and French Bulldog lovers present that day had the same memorable experience I had. I wish to thank the very competent committee for the great event they put together. Furthermore, a big thank you for all exhibitors, owners and handlers for presenting their dogs in such professional manner and exposing such great sportmenship. With much pleasure and kindest regards,
-- Dimitry v. Raamsdonk
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f ancy tricks
avoiding divorce while photographing your frenchies at home
by Anna Denisova, CTC & French Bulldog breeder & Exhibitor - Hellzapoppin Frenchies pictures courtesy of Grishakova Kate - www.grishakova.com Modern Dog Lover (MDL): “Why on earth is it so hard to take a couple of pictures together?”
Both think: “If it comes down to that, then we won’t talk for a lifetime!”
MDL’s Partner (P): “ Only ‘a couple’? You meant to say a couple of hundreds or thousands maybe?!”
P: “If you are so smart, let me hold Murphy and YOU take the pictures. Hopefully that will do it...”
MDL: “That is not the point at all! We wouldn’t need that many if you did things with a bit of joy and actually tried to take nice ones instead of just pressing the shutter button again and again! At the end of the day, if it is so hard for you, I can do it by myself!”
MDL while handing P the leash: “Here you go.” 25 minutes later Murphy is finally “posing”, even if his expression is weird. MDL: “See? He is tired now. And that’s only because YOU
by Anna Denisova
haven’t learned in all these years that I can’t photograph him from this side! He looks less angulated like that... I start wondering ‘Do you live with us at all, dear?’” P: “Well, sweetheart, I bet you didn’t notice but this dog is so in in love with his “know-it-all” parent, he doesn’t even look at me!” P thinking: “What the heck is “angulated”?” MDL: “You know what? Thank you! It was such a mistake to hope for your help. We lost THREE hours and do not have even ONE good picture! Just let me do it alone, please!” The desperate Modern Dog Lover (MDL) is still somewhere out there, laying on the floor with their camera in one hand and a squeaky toy in the other, while yelling to Murphy “stay”, and hoping for solo photo-miracles. Really: Why on Earth is it so hard to take dog pictures together with our partners? Is it because our expectations are way too high? Do we expect our partners to have innate professional photographer skills and talents? As well as notorious handling ability? And lastly, possess good understanding of the French Bulldog standard and anatomy? “Of course, not” is the first reply that comes to my mind. If you are like me and aim for perfection, that statement might not be so trustworthy, though... To take lovely pictures, one actually should make sure everything is in place. And even so, they still may end up disappointed. Because any dog, no matter how lovely he is, is not perfect. It’s very humane to get upset when you notice this in the pictures and blame the closest Monsieur Malaussène* of the situation: your partner. So before you start changing things (for the better) with your photography partner, think of what you honestly expect from him or her. Value what you actually have, not what you wish you did. After our personal expectations analysis is over, let us create our goal list. Personally, I recommend setting two goals: 1. Having fun taking dog pictures together. 2. Taking the best photo you can, considering your means. Every problem has many solutions, most of which are divided into two big groups: management and training. Management solutions do not change the behavior, but may resolve the problem. There are several I may propose for the cause: “Kill the dog”** - find a professional dog photographer. Since all of us are not perfect in everything, sometimes it’s better to invest into professional help. If there is no good photographer available, you can ask your buddies or “dog
friends” to help you out. Maybe down the road you can help them out, too. If you are still convinced to do it by yourself, make sure all of the other challenges are resolved. I am talking about lighting, lens and camera you own, and the knowledge to use both to your advantage. We can’t forget the dog’s condition and mood. We already talked about how to train you French Bulldog to be a good photo model on Frenchie Fancy issue nr 2 - July 2013. There are many training or behavior modification solutions. Remember: When training animals or people, we always get what we trained (even if it is not what we thought we did). If things do not work out at first (unless you always photograph when your partner doesn’t feel good), there are reasons for it. Here are some common ones:
Very probable early bad experience We are aware that we have a problem, when we have it. So I am almost sure those of you reading this article may have had some difficulties of this kind in the past. Which means that both you and your partner were conditioned negatively to the process. To fix this, we need to do a desensitization and counterconditioning. In other words, we must reduce the exaggerated emotion-based reaction that our partner has when taking pictures and help them enjoy the process. To accomplish that, it is essential being kind, patient, respectful and understanding. Start with a strong heartfelt belief that this time things WILL go better. Think placebo effect. You will be surprised how things will change right away! Your big personal task is to keep yourself and your partner under threshold. To change their mindset about the whole
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FANCY TRICKS - Avoiding divorce while photographing your frenchie at home 4. He understands WHY it is so important to me, becoming the Hero who’ll save me; 5. He is involved in “after party” and hears the feedback of the work done; 6. We do something great together as a prize, when we are finished. Another great tip here is having an elephant memory and participate in whatever activity your partner enjoys as well. Like visiting with his friends for dinner for example, or watching the movie he wants together.
Lack of Skills It’s as simple as that. Make sure your partner understands what you need and why you need it that way, before you start. Make sure you understand it, too. process of taking dog pictures. Your partner has to feel comfortable during the entire session. The first signs of tension are your red flags.
A very simple and easy way to do that is to prepare an Inspiration Folder. Do a little research and set aside some pictures of other people’s dogs you like. Show them to your partner and explain what it is you like about them.
Low Motivation
I am a strong believer that there is nothing more important than harmony around us.
Very understandable! To increase our partner’s motivation to do something he might be not interested in, you need to first of all praise him. A lot. And sincerely. You should look for the things he does right (even small ones) and encourage your partner, not vice versa. If at the end of the day you own and breed dogs, it’s also because your partner wants you happy. Use this to your advantage. Show him you ARE happy. If there are issues you want to correct, do not criticize. Instead, propose how to do it differently. No one likes to be wrong. Create a What-Makes-Your-Partner-Happy list. Here is mine: Carlo is happy when: 1. Anna is happy; 2. He is listening to good music while doing stuff; 3. He has an espresso before we start;
Being happy with my husband is my number one priority. I wouldn’t sacrifice it for dog pictures. But, on the other hand, I do need pictures too... That is why I try my best to be efficient in training my husband and myself to find joy in this not-so-easy activity. And when it’s not our day or things don’t go as I planned, before I speak, I ask myself: “What is more important for me: To reach both of my goals or to be right?” So I change my actions and try again. See you next issue,
Anna Denisova * A scapegoat character from the book series by Daniel Pennac ** “Don’t Kill The Dog” by Karen Pryor - very recommended! DO YOU LOVE THE PICTURES FROM THIS ARTICLE? WE DO, TOO! THEY ARE BY THE PHOTOGRAPHER GRISHAKOVA KATE. YOU CAN SEE MORE OF HER WORK HERE: WWW.GRISHAKOVA.COM
About the Author Anna Denisova, CTC, is a pet and show dog trainer and councelor. She graduated with honors from prestigious Jean Donaldson San Francisco SPCA Dog Trainers Academy (USA) and succesfully completed Operant Conditioning Workshops with world famous animal trainer Bob Bailey. Anna continues her dog training education working virtually with Susan Garrett and SAY YES Dog Training (Canada). Apart from training dogs, Anna is a Frenchie breeder and breeds under the kennel name “Hellzapoppin”, exclusively owner training and handling them at shows in Italy (where she lives with her family) and abroad.
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f ancy details
by Pamela Preston
CONTRACTS: FRIEND OR FOE?
by Pamela Preston - Boston Terrier Breeder - pictures LENA SALMINA
I don’t know if you’ve noticed it, but it seems to me that the past couple years have proven to be very traumatic (and yes… dramatic too…) for many breeders. There seems to be a rise in unethical, or at least, unexpected behavior from buyers and sellers of puppies/dogs. I’ve read numerous exhortations about people being taken advantage of or their dogs used in manners they had not wanted, etc. Everything from “that puppy was supposed to have been altered and NEVER bred” to “if I’d known that person was an off-color breeder, I would never have sold them my champion male.”
So, are contracts the answer to our prayers with regards to these “shortcomings”? Well, in theory, they can be, but in reality most contracts are inadequate to properly protect all parties involved – and when I say that, I am referring to the buyer, seller/breeder, and the dog. Most contracts are not detailed, do not contain “consequences”, fail to state the jurisdiction, and are only moderately helpful. Often, contracts are so poorly written that they are actually more of a hindrance than a benefit to anyone.
I’m sure you’ve all heard it too either via word of mouth or from postings to various group lists. Now, granted some the cries of woe are due to our own failure to research or properly prepare our dogs before selling them to unknown persons. And just because someone has been breeding for 30 years or you “know the name” doesn’t guarantee the person is reputable. And it actually goes beyond that, sometimes it’s simply a matter of understanding, lack of communication, or even complete failure to discuss expectations.
Further, many people believe that a verbal contract is just as binding as a written contract, when in fact, that is only partially true. If the verbal agreement is witnessed by external parties, not involved in the agreement, it very well may be just as binding. However, if a verbal agreement is between two people and there are no witnesses to the verbal agreement and no documented follow up such as an email or letter stating something like “based upon our discussion yesterday, I
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am in agreement that ___________,” then it really is NOT as binding as a written contract. At that point, it is merely a he said – she said argument that will not hold up in court. You can obviously take it to court, but it will likely result in a huge waste of time, energy, and money as the court would likely not remove a dog from its current home (think of the old adage “ownership is 90% possession”, so whoever HAS the dog will likely get to keep the dog). In order to be beneficial, contracts should be detailed, include expectations of the seller and buyer AND have consequences in the event of a breach of contract. If the contract says “Buyer must alter the dog and never breed it”, but doesn’t include any type of consequence, then if the buyer does breed the dog, how can you enforce it after the fact. Once the dog is bred, it is bred. The contract is violated, but there’s no recovery for you or the dog. This could be terribly detrimental to a breeder or have a negative impact to a line or the breed in general. Likewise, from the buyer’s perspective and dog’s protection: If a contract has a “guarantee” in it, there should be some relief. If the agreement says the breeder guarantees the dog against genetic
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and/or congenital defects, but doesn’t state anything further, then the guarantee is useless. Be as specific as possible, when appropriate. Do you mean to guarantee against ALL genetic defects? What if there’s a defect, but there’s no negative impact to the quality of life? For example, unilateral deafness IS a defect, but there’s no significant “quality of life” impact to the dog. Likewise, a dog with a blue eyed has a defect that causes disqualification from the show ring, but again, there is no negative impact to the quality of life. And what about demodex? It can be inherited, but it can also be caused by environmental influences. These are just some things to think about. Think to yourself and identify what you feel the appropriate consequence/additional compensation should be if a portion of the contract is not honored. And contrary to what most of us would like to believe, a good contract is not unfairly slanted to the benefit of the seller. A good contract is a fair contract for all involved. It should be a wellrounded agreement that is equally fair to the buyer and the dog. When creating a contract, make sure you are familiar with your state’s laws. For example, California does have a Puppy “Lemon Law”, so
by Pamela Preston
if you don’t have an agreement that is signed by the buyer, you should at least be aware that they still do have significant rights should something go wrong with the puppy and what you are legally bound (even without a contract) to provide in the event of a health problem. Additionally, you should have separate contracts for each time of agreement (stud agreement, show prospect sale, companion only contract, etc.) rather than just one or two agreements with lots of check boxes or blanks that are filled in. Lastly, when you develop your agreements, read it thoroughly and have others read it as well. Ideally, have an attorney review it to ensure it is enforceable and falls within the guidelines of your state’s laws. When you read it, read it as if someone were asking YOU to sign it…would you? If not, then you may want to reconsider some of the terms, requirements, and consequences. If you don’t want a dog bred, then the only true guarantee that you have that it won’t be done is if you spay/neuter it yourself before placing it in a new home. Although that’s not an issue for older dogs, obviously, that is not always possible as most of us don’t keep all our puppies until they are 6 months or older, but there are other things that you can do – you can add a clause to your agreement that states if the dog is not altered by a specific date, there is some financial penalty, or you can hold on to the registration papers until you receive proof of the procedure, etc.
Most of us have internet connectivity. We should use it to our advantage. If you are contemplating selling a dog to someone that you do not know, don’t forget to do your research first. You’d be amazed at what you’ll find if you Google a name, address, phone number, or email address. You might find that Betty Sue Smith is not the stay-athome-mom just looking for a well-bred dog from champion lines, but instead is a puppymiller with numerous breeds who is merely looking for a nice dog to make herself look reputable. It’s sad, but certainly very true that the professional backyard breeders and puppymillers are getting more and more sly, are learning the right lingo, and are trying more than ever to get “our” dogs in their breeding programs. And, as painful as it is, once the dog leaves us, unless we are willing to take someone to court, there’s not much we can do about it after the fact; hence, a well-defined agreement is critical. It may not make a dishonest person honest, but it may scare them off because it may not be worth the risk of court to them. While a well-written, comprehensive, and fair agreement can help you, the bottom line is that when you’re doing dog business, it is up to YOU do protect your dogs, your name, and your reputation. Let’s make sure we’re armed with the best that we can put together! “(c) 2010 Hoflin Publishing, Inc. and Pamela Preston. Reprinted with permission from The Boston Quarterly, 4401 Zephyr Street, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, 80033-3200. Reproduction in whole, or in part, without express, written permission from HPI or Pamela Preston is strictly prohibited.”
About the Author Pamela Preston has loved, bred, and shown Boston Terriers for nearly 15 years and had Great Danes for more than 20 years before that. She resides in the foothills of Northern California in beautiful Shingle Springs and is an active member of multiple dog clubs including: - Hangtown Kennel Club where she has held nearly every Board position over almost two decades. Currently, she organizes and manages canine health clinics, and teaches conformation classes Sierra Gold Boston Terrier Club where she is an office and has held every position on the Board for over 10 years. - Boston Terrier Club of America where she is an active member and newsletter editor. Pamela is also a recognized author and member of the World Dog Press Association and an active participant and advocate for Boston Terrier rescue, health, and education.
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