RECENT BEST IN SHOWS (week ending June 3rd, 2013) Northern Alberta Canine Association – Alberta Friday - Pomeranian – Ch. Valcopy Jamel Sir Crystalton Judge: Glen Stark Saturday - West Highland White Terrier – Ch. Whitebriar Jaw Dropper Judge: Rene Echevaria - Cofino Sunday - West Highland White Terrier – Ch. Whitebriar Jaw Dropper Judge: Wendy Paquette Monday - Basenji – Ch. Ahmahr Nahir’s The Lost Angel Gabriel Judge: Lois Wilson Aurora & District Kennel Club – Ontario Friday - Chihuahua Short Coat – Ch. TEGS Pretty Naughty Judge: Ron Mahon Saturday - Irish Terrier – Ch. Windeire Sirocco Windbreak Judge: Thomas Burke Sunday - Alaskan Malamute – Ch. Nanuke Breathless at Howlingwind Judge: Morley Thornton South Shore Kennel Club – Nova Scotia Saturday - Doberman Pinscher – Ch. Veterias Vouley Vous Judge: Cheryl Egerton Sunday - Standard Poodle – Ch. Vetset Kate Winsit Judge: Paul Stanton
UPCOMING SHOWS this Weekend Comox Valley Kennel Club – British Columbia Yukon Kennel Club – Yukon Erie Shores Kennel Club – Ontario Club Loisirs Canin - Quebec Oromocto Kennel Club – New Brunswick
This Week's Top 10 Dogs ( All Breeds) Courtesy Canuckdogs.com Rank Dog Name Points 1 Ch Whitebriar Jaw Dropper 9191 2 Ch Ahmahr Nahr's The Lost Angel Gabriel 2000 3 GCh Roaneden's Int'l Harvester 1814 4 Ch Valcopy Jamel Sir Crystalton 1789 5 GChEx Goldgrove High Intensity 1783 6 Ch Champagne Charly V. Tani Kazari 1772 7 GCh Vetset Kate Winsit 1629 8 Ch Polo's Air Force One 1608 9 GCh NicNak's Second To None 1601 10 Ch Cinnakees Christian Louboutin 1555 (TopDogWeekly does not verify these stats - they are supplied as a courtesy to our readers from our friends at www.canuckdogs.com) !
7) Favourite dog or dogs Judged from the past? In awe of all the many WOW dogs that I have had the pleasure to judge MEET OUR JUDGE - GAEL MORRISON
8) Pet Peeve’s in your ring? Bad sportsmanship 9) Favourite way to relax? Reading 10) How do you occupy your time in travel? Wishing there was a time-machine that could get me to and from the shows faster.
1) Home city? Durban , East Coast , South Africa 2) Breed or Breed’s you have bred? Afghans 3) Years you have been Judging? All Breeds Status achieved in 1994 4) Licensed for or, on Permit for? KUSA All Breeds Judge 5) Judged in what Countries? Australia , New Zealand , Canada , Colombia , Brasil , Indonesia , Phillipines , Thailand , Russia , Poland , France , United Kingdom , Finland , Norway , Chile , Zimbabwe , Namibia 6) All time favourite assignment? RKF Golden Collar, Moscow
11) What do you think is the biggest problem facing our Sport? Certainly not many young or new people joining the dog show scene Thank you! Welcome back to Canada and to TopDogWeekly!
Patricia D. Miller Woodsmoke Kennels
hysterically I now knew exactly how Ethel felt when she was with Lucy…. We were going to have “sum splaining” to do if we got caught!!!! Pat has since sold her home she lived in for many years, and is living in a condo very near to where her home was. The hardest part for Pat was she is unable to have a dog living where she is now which was so very upsetting to her. Lynda Torrance TDW is happy to be able to share this Interview where Pam Bruce sat down and talks Shih Tzu with Pat, in addition to breeding Multi BIS Whippets under the Woodsmoke Kennel name, Pat was also very involved in Shih Tzu for many years.
Pat Miller is probably one of the people that Canadians most miss seeing out at the shows Judging and Exhibiting. There are many people who have spent time with Pat, who loved nothing more than to talk dogs, and laugh with her until you are sore. You would always see people gathering and having a good serious dog talk or roaring with laughter with Pat at shows, it made no difference whether she was Judging or Exhibiting. There are thousands of Pat Miller stories out there, I have heard about Judges having slipper races down hotel hallways, I have quite a few stories myself through the years. Pat is a great dog person and she was a very good dog Judge, She also was very good at helping new people in the sport making them feel comfortable, and helping them along the way. Pat had a very serious illness which was so rare it is indeed a miracle that she is alive today, but it took her away from Judging and all of us seeing her on a regular basis. Years ago, I had gone and visited Pat in hospital in Moncton not long after her return from the long hospital stay in Toronto where they saved her life. The first thing she said to me was “Lyd get me out of this room take me out for a ride in the wheel chair so down the hall we went… Okay Lyd lets do a donut, Lyd can we do a wheelie in the hall? Let’s sneak out and go to Swiss Chalet… I have always called her Milly, and was thinking to myself all the while laughing
When did you acquire your first Shih Tzu? I bred my first litter of dogs in 1967, I owned my first Shih Tzu in the seventies, and quite by fluke really ~ from Wendy Paquette ~ Am. Can. Ch. Wenrick’s Pocket Money. She was meant for someone else by I was lucky enough to actually acquire her, I believe she was ahead of her time structurally. When I arrived to get her at the airport – I advised the airline employee that I was there to pick up my puppy. They informed me they only had a kitten in the cargo area. I asked to see the animal and there she was! The little kitten was this wonderful Shih Tzu puppy. I named her “Puss Puss” I loved the Shih Tzu as they were cute and fluffy, the complete opposite of my Whippets! lol What is your history with this breed? Well I bred Shih Tzu for twelve years and enjoyed the breed thoroughly, I bred and owner handled over thirty Canadian and American Champions, and over fifteen multi Best In Show winners. Keep in mind that was during very competitive times both in numbers and quality of competition. Canadian Shih Tzu at that time were by far the strongest quality in the world, I am unable to have them today due to their upkeep, and the amount of work it takes to present one properly. As a breeder what do you think of the Shih Tzu today? Well the Japanese imported many of great quality from North America and bred them well. They have wonderful dogs in Japan. We are now being put in the position of buying back some of our own breeding stock as we want to
properly continue with those lines in North America. Breeders here have to be cognisant of the health issues and structure of their breed. What are the health issues in Shih Tzu? Sadly there are numerous health issues from cleft palettes, eye issues, hernias, thyroid problems, shrunken down specimens, and kidney problems. Tell me about your perspective on breeding and/or judging Shih Tzu? Well from my own perspective I bred “style to style”, I bred sound Whippets so I truly wanted sound Shih Tzu, I believe one should breed for quality not quantity. You also have to assess both dogs to ensure they compliment each other. For example ~ I bred ‘Puss Puss’ to Ch. Dashi’s My My. He was a big dog but quite magnificent really. He was a moving machine. I later bred her to Emily Gunnings Rebel Rouser son. Two different dogs but both complimented her nicely. In both litters I was quite pleased with the results but more importantly mesmerized by their character. The puppies had an air of importance about them from a very young age. Attitude is paramount as you know. Three of her offspring were top dogs in South America, Australia and Canada – quite a feat really, especially in those days. I loved watching them as they floated, Shih Tzu should be moved at their own speed, the speed that is correct for each individual dog. As a breeder you have to think three generations in advance. You have to know where you have been, and where you are going to know when you have actually arrived. We breeders struggle our entire lives to keep within the guidelines and written standards for the breed. The first two paragraphs of a breed standard should be solid in the mind of breeders and judges alike a) ORIGIN b) GENERAL APPEARANCE In too many instances breeders and judges are at odds – and at what purpose? Breeders expect a great deal from judges, after all if you strap on that title of judge then you better be prepared to know everything you can about the breeds presented to you! I truly believe that certain traits and fads are set by breeders and tolerated by judges. In some circumstances what is essentially right about a breed looks
wrong, when that correct specimen is in the minority. Many breed standards are inadequate and utterly fail to address what makes the breed typical. This short coming then leaves the inexperienced breeder and uneducated judge to essentially interpret the blueprint of the breed in their own way. I do not believe a standard should be so loose as to allow the creative juices to flow so to speak. The blue print should be explicit about a breed and it’s unique qualities, it will not be necessary to fault what it is NOT. I applaud those judges who have genuine interest and take the time to understand the breed well enough to recognize the positive. To those judges that can only find fault and do not apply the standard as a whole – Shame on them! What advice would you give a judge learning this breed? My advice to permit judges is to take the time to learn about a breed and where it came from, what their purpose was and DO NOT be afraid to comparison shop for proper information related to the breed. Ask successful breeders their opinion, but certainly be prepared to form your own, based on the knowledge you have acquired. As I have said judging is not a fault finding mission but rather an overall judgement of balance and symmetry. Seldom does one have to make a decision between two excellent movers with overall correct type and balance, that one has to make a judgement call of actual breed traits that are reflected in each standard. Specialty shows are when one is faced with that challenge and it is the highlight of one’s career to judge at specialties. It should be considered an honour to have your hands on other breeders’ dogs. As a judge you should have you hands on the dogs, paying thorough attention to what is correct about the exhibit. In doing that you do not have to totally massage the dog, destroying it’s grooming etc. I actually provided Robert Cole with six cut down ST to use for judges education. He was shocked at their structure and soundness It was great fun to provide dogs without hair for those that are hindered by covering on structure. With Shih Tzu look for big return of upper arm but do not concentrate as much on what is going on below the knee, if they turn out – so be it.
I find the dying of exhibits offensive. In mature dogs~ look for colour rings/bands down the length of the coat, that will emphasize natural colour. I have always found black coats to have the best texture. What advice would you give a new breeder of Shih Tzu? As a new comer I would encourage them to do lots of research. In order for a structure to survive, the foundation of anything must be strong, breeding Shih Tzu or any breed for that matter is no exception. I truly believe breeding dogs is an art form. You have to have an idea of what you want in your mind and what you like to live with. My dogs lived in my house and I can’t live with one that doesn’t please me to look at. I think most people these days are in too big of a hurry to get somewhere too fast instead of being patient. It takes time to build that foundation I mentioned, that will be the strength of their breeding program. As I stated earlier think three generations ahead. Never go and breed to ‘Fido’ because he won four Best in Shows last week! One has to be aware of type, and structure, nne also has to understand pedigrees behind the specimens they have. It is paramount to appreciate what will fit with what, trying to improve on the good things, and iron out the shortcomings along the way. Keeping the strength in what you already have is so important to understand and move forward. Too many people are in a big hurry to only find the big winning show dog! What do you think of today’s Canadian dog shows? Well I think it is wonderful we support purebred dogs in this country and around the world. I don’t agree with the ‘Top Dog Rat Race’ however. Maybe if there were benched shows again and we took the time as breeders and judges to learn about the breeds we would be farther ahead. The current rating system is a numbers game. It should be a supportive environment. I take issue in a system that promotes finding fault in dogs, breeders, exhibitors and handlers alike. In regards to the breed standard – you wrote the Shih Tzu standard for the CKC is that correct?
Yes it was three years of interviewing breeders and obtaining and developing words and descriptions that would require little or no explanation and interpretation. It is considered one of the best standards in the world. Origin and PurposeThe Shih Tzu was developed in the palaces of China from Tibetan Temple dogs crossed with other Chinese breeds. It was originally bred to be a companion and that remains its sole purpose today. Sturdy and surprisingly hardy, they are well suited to both city and country living. General Appearance- The Shih Tzu is an abundantly coated dog with a distinctly oriental appearanceIt is a solid, sound little dog that is rather heavy for its size. Tell me about the essence of the breed? Well in my mind’s eye I would say a “Ship in Full Sail” With no bounce on rough waters ~ just smooth and effortless. They should be moved at their own pace and not raced as they lose will their outline. Rear pads should be seen going away. In your opinion - does any Shih Tzu come to mind that exemplifies the essence of the breed? Yes~ Multi BIS BISS Am & Can Ch. Symarun’s Stevie Wonderful is the best Shih Tzu I have ever seen. He is a solid black dog, # 1 Shih Tzu here and won the Breed at Westminster under the late great Breeder/Judge Gilbert Kahn. What a wonderful name to begin with! He has a great head, eye, topline and tail. He has a correct padded front. He has an excellent coat, as I have found most black ST do. He is a wonderful mover and from what I have seen from his get – he can certainly produce! He is a Breeders delight!!!! Of the Shih Tzu you owned and bred who were your favourites? I would say Multi BIS BISS Am. Ch. Woodsmoke’s Enchantment and Am. Can Ch. Woodsmoke’s Dare to Be More. Did you have any mentors in Shih Tzu? Truly ~ no, that is mainly because of where I lived. In those days you couldn’t pop onto a computer and be a click away from anyone in the world. The internet is truly a wonderful thing in that regard as far doing research etc.
I have to say that Lynda Torrance was and is very giving of her time to both myself and those who want to learn ~ she is a wealth of knowledge in our breed. Pat thank you for providing us your insight – It is wonderful to interview you and have our ‘old Pat’ back! That my friend is Good Enough!!!! Thank You Pam Bruce for sharing this interview with TopDogWeekly
Participation Ever, Everybody joined in and had a really great time
MEET OUR JUDGES LES MORISON
7) Favourite dog or dogs Judged from the past? No favourite dog, Breeds Bernese, Doberman, Staffie & Afghan 8) Pet Peeve’s in your ring? Bad Steward 9) Favourite way to relax? Stewarding 10) How do you occupy your time in travel? On long hauls I listen to music
1) Home city? Durban, South Africa 2) Breed or Breed’s you have bred? Pyrenean Mountain Dogs 3) Years you have been Judging? 30 years 4) Licensed for or, on Permit for? Gundogs, Herding, Utility, Hounds & Terriers 5) Judged in what Countries? Canada, UK, Norway, Australia, Zimbabwe, Zambia & New Zealand 6) All time favourite assignment? Bernese Mountain Dog Specialty, Erie Shores, Canada 2006. Best Spectator
11) What do you think is the biggest problem facing our Sport? The “SPORT” has been lost by the majority!!! Thank you! Welcome Back to Canada and to TopDogWeekly.com!
today.
TDW Breeder Profile: Summerford Newfoundland Dogs http://www.summerfordnewfoundland s.com Warsaw, ON Email: sumnewfs@gmail.com This week the TDW team 'sat down' with Christina KoffmanHeard & Brad Heard of Summerford Newfoundland Dogs. Here is what they had to share with us.. What attracted you to your breed? We knew we wanted to share our home with a giant breed dog and our son was an avid lover of outdoor activities. Newfoundlands are a very hardy breed with a very deep attachment to their families, including excellent temperaments that does well in all types of weather. How many years have you been breeding and exhibiting? We registered Summerford in 1997 and have since gained Permanent Registration status. We’ve been involved with Newfoundlands since 1994, the purchase of our first dog, a fabulous Landseer named Noah. We immersed ourselves in Carting, Water Rescue and St. John Ambulance Therapy work. Our love of conformation came later and it is what we continue to participate in
What are your accomplishments in your breed? Since 2001 our dogs have been ranked #1 Newfoundland 11 times; Top Ten Working 11 times (3 times #1 Working) and in the Top Ten All Breed 5 times. Our dogs have been Winners Dog at the US National 3 times and Best of Winners twice. To date our dogs have won 2 American Nationals; 4 Canadian Nationals and 120 All Breed Best in Shows. Summerford Newfoundland dogs have won Best in Shows in Canada; the United States; Mexico; Japan and New Zealand. Did you have a mentor in your Breed? Dave and Peggy Helming, of Pouch Cove fame, and Wayne and Kathy Griffin, of Seabrook fame. Without the contributions of these two great kennels and their unmatchable pedigrees, Summerford would have still been in its infancy. Great breeders’ sharing great knowledge is the true meaning of mentoring. Do you believe Judges have a good understanding of your breed? Some do – some don’t. When we first started in this breed we were determined to have judges understand that these were not “big, fat, stinky, slobbering baffoons. A weather resistant coat does not mean unwashed and giant breed does not mean fat with no ability to do the job they were bred for.
In as few words as possible describe the essence of your Breed? Large size desirable, but not at the expense of balance (not to be interpreted as tall without substance). Effortless power. Newfoundlands are a working breed and therefore must be kept in the condition to do so.
puppies and adults used for breeding must be screened by a Board Certified Cardiologist. We have been very fortunate through tremendous hard work by the research foundations, to have found the marker for Cystinuria. Now dogs can be assessed with a simple blood test or cheek swab, prior to any participation in a breeding program. Additionally eye issues are cropping up within certain lines, so attention to this detail is important. Fault wise, currently what needs the most improvement in your breed? Newfoundlands should be strong in every sense of the word. Soft toplines with an increased amount of toeing in, in the front and weak rear ends do nothing to contribute to the working physique that is required. What do you believe to be the best dog you have bred? Hopefully the best one is yet to come!
What are the medical problems in your breed? Like most giant breeds Newfoundlands fall victim to hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. Additionally Newfoundlands carry the genetic defect for Subaoertic Stenosis. All
What dog of your breed would you have loved to own? Two dogs come immediately to mind. CH Seabrook Headmaster Tabu (Bud) and his son CH Pouch Cove’s Goliath. Both great Newfoundlands, great producers and just all around great representatives of our breed. How many dogs do you normally have in your kennel? Newfoundlands are demanding of your attention and require one on one time. Not needy,
but wanting to have their people close at hand. Currently we have 11 Newfoundlands at home: two retired spayed females (Billie and Halle), one retired male (Gilligan) and an assortment of up and comers (Gerald, Michael, Tr’Ever, Nathan, Johnson, Ruthie, Rumor and KathyLee). Our lines mature very slowly, which is what we prefer, but this also requires quite a lengthy growing up period. How many litters do you have in a year and what is the average size of your litters? We only breed a litter when we intend to keep back a puppy. Sometimes that means twice a year, sometimes that means once every two or three years. We have had litters as large as ten and as small as one. Keeping in mind, we only breed for ourselves, so if that single puppy is a good one, we are very satisfied! Are you having trouble selling or placing your puppies? Newfoundlands are not a breed for everyone and we encourage all of our inquiries to do their research. Loving drool on your ceiling is not a prerequisite to owning a Newfoundland. The very greatest thing about dogs is that if you do your research correctly there is a breed out there for everybody. How many Canadian Shows do you attend in a year ? Conformation is our combined passion and being at dog shows
every weekend is what we love to do. That being said, we will always travel to be able to show to panels of judges whose opinions we value. How many American Shows do you attend in a year? Previously, we have only shown in the USA for Specialties, Supported entries and to complete American Championships. We have started to venture stateside more often as the judging panels in Canada just seem to be being recycled and we want a broader opinion of our progeny and breeding futures. Do you attend your Canadian or American National Specialty Shows? Attending your breeds Canadian and American Nationals are a must for a continued future within your breed. Viewing what is available and the direction in which your breed is going should always be a priority if you intend to be making a valuable contribution. Thank you Christina & Brad for 'sitting down' with TDW and sharing your love of the Newfoundland Dog with the Dog Show Fancy! We wish you continued success!!
What do you see as the Canadian Kennel Club's responsibilities in the relationship with Agriculture Canada?
Purebred dogs STATUS in our Canadian communities. As for their relationship with Agriculture Canada they should NOW be demanding that ALL FCI breeds be recognized ASAP and let the chips fall where they may. Let's just move on and GET ON WITH THE FUTURE, or what we have left of it. Recognition of all the FCI breeds would be a quick start towards inclusion of desperately needed new people with new views & opinions. Caroline Thibodeau Breeder/Owner/Exhibitor
Vivienne Machen Breeder/Owner/Exhibitor How I see the Canadian Kennel Club's responsibility‌. It actually does not 'accept' much responsibility at all for anything!!! The Canadian Kennel Club as we once knew it has long since gone, We have some Directors who are blatantly self serving and have lost all perception of the real & current world and state of PUREBRED DOGS. The goals of the Canadian Kennel Club should have been to have taken way more of a stance re- establishing itself in the WORLD THEATRE OF PUREBRED DOGS. It should have modeled itself on the style of the ANKC, Australia is a country of similar size, basic culture and demographics. They are also losing popularity within the sport but nothing like Canadian Kennel Club is now experiencing, with the Canadian Kennel Club doing absolutely NOTHING to stem the bleeding. Agriculture Canada can do nothing. It is not within their mandate. BUT they can authorize and encourage the registry of all the FCI Breeds that we do not currently recognize. About 20 years ago, the Canadian Kennel Club was heading in the right direction of being a valid entity in the Purebred world, but it somehow got derailed. It needed to be a VISABLE and UNIFIED 'parent' overseeing our
I think that the role of the Canadian Kennel Club as it pertains to Agriculture Canada is very much misunderstood. I do think the Canadian Kennel Club should take a role in determining policy as it pertains to purebred dogs, but given the direction I have seen the recent leadership take I'm not sure that is something I would like to see happen at this time. I would like to think that Canadian Kennel Club would represent the PUREBRED dog and to further its development and protection, but with the introduction of recent initiatives to introduce mixed breeds and also have a program that could potentially result in the mixing of breeds supposedly for the protection of threatened breeds or who knows what, I have my doubts that the Canadian Kennel Club has the interest of the purebred dog at heart. I understand that money is an issue but I would prefer that Canadian Kennel Club remain true to its original purpose and that it serve as an advisor and guardian of the breeds that Agriculture Canada allows it to register. The referendum system needs a sober second look, it does not serve our purpose as the voting is skewed by the votes needed to pass an item and the Board Of Directors has too much influence on how people vote as they have the last say on the ballot re the proposals. I would like to see the