The dog show magazine celebrating the Toy Group of dog breeds - featuring articles, tips, and information provided with help from breeders, owners, handlers, club members, and judges.
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Wisely
THANK YOU JUDGES Mr. Steve Hayden, Mr. John P. Wade,
Ms. Carolyn A. Herbel, & Mrs. Terry L. Berrios
Owner/Breeder: iLove Maltese Cynthia Chan Lee www.facebook.com/iLovemaltesecr/ www.ilovemaltese.com
Professionally Presented by: Rhapsody Legados Kennel
Tonia Holibaugh Cruz Edgar Cruz Guevara www.rhapsodylegadosshowdogs.com
*AKC GCH stats as of 8/31/22
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#1 Maltese *
GCHS iLove Rhapsody Always Full of Wisdom
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FROM THE STANDARD “IDEALLY, HEIGHT AT WITHERS IS 9 TO 10-1/2 INCHES; BUT, NOT LESS THAN 8 INCHES NOR MORE THAN 11 INCHES. IDEALLY, WEIGHT OF MATURE DOGS, 9 TO 16 POUNDS.”
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INTERNATIONAL & AMERICAN CH HEARTY’S WONDER BOY
AWARD OF MERIT FROM THE FEBRUARY 2020 METROPOLITAN NY SHIH TZU FANCIERS SPECIALTY UNDER JUDGE JOHNNY SHOEMAKER. OWNERS: LESLIE LEFAVE & L SARAH LAWRENCE BREEDER: PAPITCHAYA SUKONOI
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FINNICKYSKYE CAVALIERS OWNED & SHOWN BY: JIM & SHARON UTYCH Edgar MBIS CKCSC USA & GROUP PLACING RBISOH MBISS AKC GCHS CH BROOKHAVEN THE DREAM LIVES ON AW VW CGCA
EDGAR IS ON THE ROAD TOWARD HIS GOLD GCH
ALWAYS OWNER HANDLED
LEXINGTON SHOWS: NORTHERN KENTUCKY KC - SELECT DOG UNDER JUDGE JON COLE LEXINGTON KC - SELECT DOG UNDER JUDGE ELIZABETH MUTHARD NORTHERN KENTUCKY KC - SELECT DOG UNDER JUDGE DAWN HITCHCOCK LEXINGTON KC - SELECT DOG UNDER JUDGE NANCY AMBURGEY
OWENSBORO KY SHOWS: SOUTHERN INDIANA KC - SELECT DOG
UNDER JUDGE CARLA MATHIES RIVER CITY KC - SELECT DOG
UNDER JUDGE CHARLOTTE PATTERSON SOUTHERN INDIANA KC - SELECT DOG UNDER JUDGE NANCY SMITH HAFNER TAMPA FL SHOWS: HEARTLAND DOG CLUB - BEST OF BREED AND BEST VETERAN UNDER JUDGE DOUG JOHNSON
HEARTLAND DOG CLUB - VETERAN TOY GROUP ONE
GREENVILLE SC SHOWS: BLUE RIDGE CKCSC SPECIALTY - BEST VETERAN IN SWEEPS UNDER JUDGE LINDA WHITMIRE BLUE RIDGE CKCSC SPECIALTY - BEST VETERAN IN SHOW UNDER JUDGE TED EUBANK
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Lennyn
AKC CH BROOKHAVEN NUMBER NINE DREAM LEXINGTON SHOWS: LEXINGTON KC - SELECT DOG & BOBOH UNDER JUDGE NEENA VAN CAMP OWENSBORO KY SHOWS: RIVER CITY KC - SELECT DOG & BOBOH UNDER JUDGE POLLY SMITH
TAMPA FL SHOWS: GREATER DAYTONA DOG FANCIERS - SELECT DOG UNDER JUDGE CINDY MEYER
HEARTLAND DOG CLUB - BOBOH UNDER JUDGE DOUG JOHNSON
GREENVILLE SC SHOWS: PIEDMONT KC - BOBOH UNDER JUDGE SYLVIA BARKEY
INTRODUCING THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE FINNICKYSKYE TEAM ALL THE WAY FROM THE UK
Vera HARANA HARVEST MOON
OWENSBORO KY SHOWS: RIVER CITY KC - RESERVE WINNERS BITCH UNDER JUDGE POLLY SMITH SOUTHERN INDIANA KC - WINNERS BITCH & BOBOH UNDER JUDGE CARLA MATHIES RIVER CITY KC - WINNERS BITCH & BOBOH UNDER JUDGE CHARLOTTE PATTERSON SOUTHERN INDIANA KC - WINNERS BITCH & BOBOH UNDER JUDGE NANCY SMITH HAFNER TAMPA FL SHOWS: HEARTLAND DOG CLUB - RESERVE WINNERS BITCH UNDER JUDGE DOUG JOHNSON
GREENVILLE SC SHOWS: BLUE RIDGE CKCSC SPECIALTY - BEST OF OPPOSITE IN SWEEPS UNDER JUDGE LINDA WHITMIRE BLUE RIDGE CKCSC SPECIALTY - BEST PUPPY IN SHOW UNDER JUDGE JOHN IOIA
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CONTENTS TABLE OF
TNT
AJ ARAPOVIC CEO & Publisher aj@aramediagroup.com Office 512-686-3466 ext. 102 Cell 512-541-8128 HANIFA ARAPOVIC Vice President hanifa@aramediagroup.com 512-686-3466 ext. 104 Cell 512-541-8687 MICHAEL R. VERAS Chief Operating Officer michael@aramediagroup.com 512-686-3466 ext. 101 ALEXANDRA GEBHARDT
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Chief Marketing Officer, Head Of Digital Brands alex@aramediagroup.com 1-908-288-7733 SAMANTHA ADKINS Production Co-Ordinator Advertiser Relations samantha@aramediagroup.com 512-686-3466 ext. 103 DANIEL CARTIER Director, Social Media & Web Site daniel@aramediagroup.com ADVERTISING DIRECTOR TAMMI WHITE Advertising Director/Editor 512-971-3280 tammi@topnotchtoys.com SOCIAL MEDIA ELMA BEGIC Manager, Social Media & Creative Content elma@aramediagroup.com 1-512-686-3466
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14 Toy Time
48 Exploring the Japanese Chin Breed Standard Carla Jo Ryan 51 The Japanese Chin Historically Speaking Jennifer Baumer 54 Japanese Chin? In Performance????? Ronda Agrue 57 Japanese Chin Vs. Sighthounds A World Apart Cecilia Resnick 58 What Makes a Pug, a Pug? Patt Kolesar Stoltz 64 Rates
Photos submitted by Kyle Potts & Tina Bregman
16 Dog Show Scenarios
Sharon Masnick & Benson Ray
20 What If...?
Allynid “Lynnie” Bunten
22 Conformation Dog Shows Have Changed Dr. Gerry Meisels 27 Encephalitis in Dogs Susan Ritenour 30 Judging the Chihuahua Richard Miller 35 The Six Critical Elements of Havanese Breed Type Adam King 39 Judging the Italian Greyhound Lilian Barber 47 Japanese Chin Health Donna McCord
MAILING ADDRESS PO BOX 18567 TAMPA, FL 33679
65 Index to Advertisers 66 Coming Attractions
TOP NOTCH TOYS is published twelve times per year by AraMedia Group, Inc. PO Box 18567, Tampa, FL 33679. Postage paid at Omaha, Nebraska. No part of this publica- tion may be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the editor. The opinions expressed in this publication either editorially or in advertising copy are those of the authors and do not necessarily constitute en- dorsement by the publishers. The editor reserves the right to reasonably edit all copy submitted. All articles become the property of the publishers. Subscription price for third class service in the United States: $75.00. Canadian and U.S. First Class: $110.00. Overseas rates upon request. In- quiries to: Michael R. Veras, COO, AraMedia Group Inc., PO Box 18567, Tampa FL 33678512 686 3466 ext 105 or michael@aramediagroup.com.
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On the cover...
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*AKC stats as of 7/31/22
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TOP NOTCH TOYS
TOY TIME
SUBMIT YOUR CUTE PHOTOS TO OUR TOYTIME DEPARTMENT. Any clear photo will do—black & white or color, regular photo or digital. (If sending digital images, send high resolution 300 DPI for best quality.) Please submit your name and the name of the dog. 14 • T op N otch T oys , S eptember /O ctober 2022
MBISS GCHS KALLMEE THE AERIALIST
2021 NATIONAL SPECIALTY BEST OF BREED 2020 AKC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BOB 2021 MORRIS AND ESSEX BOB 2022 NATIONAL SPECIALTY BOS 6 GROUP 1’S, 23 OTHER GROUP PLACEMENTS! MULTIPLE SPECIALTY BESTS Flyer had an exceptional weekend in Tampa, FL! Thank you judges Ms. Mary Jane Carberry, Mr. Douglas Johnson, Mr. James Mitchell, and Mr. Brian Meyer for the honors!
SUSAN AND STEVE THIBODEAUX KALLMEE—HOME OF EXCEPTIONAL DOGS SINCE 1978, COCOA, FL
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by Sharon Masnick and Benson Ray SCENARIOS
W hen an exhibitor enters a dog show, they hope to be the winner. If a person thought they did not have a chance to win, they would not enter. Sometimes, one is lucky to finish a championship with a puppy that is outstanding in the classes. Sometimes, these puppy winners are moved up to compete as a special! However, one should stop and think, “Is my puppy ready to compete as a 6-8-month-old puppy in the specials class with seasoned specials that have competed for several months?” Perhaps this outstanding puppy should be al- lowed to mature and become ready a few months later… or even the next year. The risk of starting a puppy so soon could emotionally make him or her dislike showing. Sometimes, being older or mature will help the puppy to be ready. You may have a special that wins at a show where there is an entry of three male specials and two bitch specials. So, your special really stands out and is Best of Breed for three of the four shows. You are happy and excited, and plan to con- tinue. At the next show entered, there are five male specials and three bitch specials. Again, you are happy when your special is awarded BOB every day on that circuit. And so, you enter other shows. At the next show entered, there are 10 male specials and seven bitch specials. At this circuit, your dog walks from the ring with no award. You are not pleased and wonder why.
This loss does not make your dog less worthy of winning. It just so happens that the quality at this show is outstand- ing. The judge may prefer a smaller or larger dog that is still within the breed standard. The judge may prefer a dog with more of an almond eye or round eye, whichever the stan- dard requires, or better overall balance. There are many factors considered when awarding BOB, BOS, Select Dog or Select Bitch. The standard should always be the decid- ing factor—and breed type. There is no perfect dog, so one judge may prefer movement over size. Another judge might prefer overall balance over movement. As long as the dog meets the standard, the entire dog must be considered and awarded accordingly. A judge could award your dog one weekend, and a month later, judge your special and not award it. Dogs are judged “on the day” and are compared to the standard and with other exhibits. If the same dog should win all the time, there would be few exhibits to evaluate. And if a judge awards a black dog, please do not think that the judge just loves black. It might just be the exhibit that meets the standard the most on that particular day. Remember, take your wins and losses with good sportsman-like behavior.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS Sharon Masnick and Benson Ray have owned Pomeranians since they were teenagers. They are breeder-judges for Pekingese, Japanese Chin, Toy Fox Terriers, and Shiba Inu. They currently judge the Toy Group, BIS, some breeds in the Non-Sporting Group, Junior Showmanship, and Shetland Sheepdogs. For seventeen years, they worked for Doll McGinnis Publications, handling the adver- tising and editorial for The Pom Reader, The Orient Express, and Top Notch Toys until they decided to become AKC judges in 2011. Occasionally, they worked on SHOWSIGHT as well. They currently live on a small hobby farm in South Carolina near Myrtle Beach, where they still breed Poms and Toy Fox Terriers on a limited basis.
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L. Sarah Lawrence
five decades dedicated to excellence
CH Chatterbox Blame It On The Sun Best Puppy
CH Chatterbox Wish Upon A Star
CH Chatterbox Breathless Anticipation Best Puppy
CH Chatterbox Crazy In Love BIS Puppy
CH Chatterbox Here Comes Trouble
CH Chatterbox Most Happy Fella
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CH Chatterbox I Dream Of Jeanie
CH Chatterbox It’s All A Dream Best Puppy
CH Chatterbox Princess Leia
CH Chatterbox Ready For Action
CH Chatterbox She’s What It’s All About
CH Chatterbox Reasonable Doubt
CH Chatterbox The Thrill Of Being Me Best Puppy
CH Krissy’s Dream Lover The Number One Shih Tzu in 2009
CH Ming Dynasty’s Spice Girl BIS Puppy
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GCHS Wenshus Shesa Dream The Number Two Shih Tzu in 2012
CH Wenshus Mona Lisa National Specialty Winner
GCH Chatterbox My Boyfriend’s Back
GCHB Chatterbox Light My Fire
GCHG Pekings Midnight Vision At Wenshu Top Winning Black Shih Tzu, Of All Time
GCH Wenshu Leaving Me Breathless Best Puppy
CH Chatterbox A Reason To Dream
GCHB CH Wenshu Thrill Of Da Game
GCHG CH Wenshu In The Midnight Hour National Specialty Winner
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WHAT IF…? PLANNING FOR YOUR FOUR-LEGGED FAMILY TOO By Allynid “Lynnie” Bunten
A s Breed Rescue Chair of the Chi- huahua Club of America, I help to find resources for Chihua - huas in need all over the United States. Most of the time, I contact a member near the need or a respected rescue group to try to assist. Many of our local member clubs also have a system for rescue. For years, I’ve been preaching to dog owners, particularly Chihuahua own - ers, to create a plan to ensure their dogs will be cared for promptly if the owner becomes disabled or passes away. Usually the response is, “I have them in my Will.” Unfortunately, the Will is usually in a safety deposit box and won’t be accessed for many days. In the past few years, several mem - bers or former members of the parent club have died without leaving any instructions for the care of their dogs. One, luckily, had a friend who had a kennel to hold the dogs while the breeders or co-owners of some of the dogs were located and picked them up. Several remained orphans, though we managed to get them picked up and transported to a great rescue. Another person lived alone and was found deceased in her home, with several Chihuahuas. Luckily, the first responders took those dogs to a great local humane society and a mutual friend helped me contact the only family member. He had the dogs released to Texas Chihuahua Rescue and the dogs were adopted to great homes.
ill suddenly, here’s a simple idea. Have an emergency contact prominently displayed in your car, wallet or purse, with the emergency contact information on it. One commercial card that I saw read: “My pets are at home alone, please call ___ so that he/ she can take care of them.” Please find a way to plan for your family—for all members: two-legged or four-legged.
Those dogs could just as easily have ended up in a bad situation. After thinking about this for a long time, I’ve got some suggestions. PREPARE FOR YOUR DOGS’ CARE BEFORE THE NEED 1. Write out who should be called in an emergency, with phone num - bers, email, etc., and put it on the refrigerator or in another promi - nent place. Update this as needed and make sure your friends and family are made aware of it. 2. Prepare a list of all your animals and include their names, ages, descriptions, microchip num - bers, and a photograph of each animal. Keep this in a prominent place and give a copy to your des - ignee. (See Item 1.) Include vet - erinarian’s contact information and update the list as needed. 3. Make sure someone checks in on you periodically. The two exam - ples noted died alone at home. No one knew right away. So, set up a buddy system and check on your friends and neighbors as well. 4. About the Will: Go ahead and make provisions to support your animals from your estate, but please understand that it might take a while for the Will to be probated. Be sure your Executor knows what you want to do. 5. And just in case you are away from home for part of the day and are in an accident or become
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Allynid “Lynnie” Bunten is a retired educator from San Antonio, Texas. She is the Breed Rescue Chair for the Chi- huahua Club of America. She has also helped to establish a couple of rescue organizations. As a rescue person, Lynnie has been involved in helping abandoned dogs, shelter dogs, and dogs whose humans were no longer able to care for them. The latter is her current passion. She is working to help people know when to cut back, find ways to find new homes, and have emergency plans in place and available.
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Creating a Healthier Tomorrow
for dogs
The AKC Canine Health Foundation is the largest nonprofit funder of health research focused solely on dogs. We address the health needs of all dogs across their entire lifetime by focusing on all aspects of their physical, mental, and social well-being.
Support canine health research today! akcchf.org/donate
Helping dogs live longer, healthier lives. akcchf.org 888-682-9696 chf@akcchf.org
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CONFORMATION DOG SHOWS HAVE CHANGED
by Dr. Gerry Meisels
W e hear from many exhibitors and professional handlers at conformation shows that dog shows have changed. Social media are full of comments on this subject, and many of our long-term fellow exhibitors have confided that they are frustrated by the change. My family has shown for more than 60 years, and we concur: Dog shows have changed, indeed, but so has almost everything. What are the changes, what caused them, and how have they shaped the sport?
When we started out, a large major- ity of exhibitors were breeders, and professional handlers showed mostly in BOB competition. Rankings by dogs defeated were done by hand, published in magazines, and based on shows up to about two months ear- lier. Shows were smaller, with fewer entries, and there was only one show at each site. There were fewer judges, and some judges were so influential that you couldn’t get majors without them. All of that changed as a result of the Internet. Now, show results are available online, usually within hours or, at most, a day. They are made avail- able on magazine websites. Full-page advertising in all-breed magazines has increased dramatically, up to al- most 1,000 such ads every month. Professional handlers are now ubiq- uitous in both the classes and BOB competition. There are also many more judges; the American Kennel Club licenses over 700 judges to judge at least one Group, and it has licensed
“Good outcomes include better grooming and presentation BY INDIVIDUAL EXHIBITORS AND PROFESSIONAL HANDLERS.” 22 • T op N otch T oys , S eptember /O ctober 2022
MARLEX KISA ADARE
“
”
#5
LIMITED SHOWING * *
SHE EXUDES TYPE— BALANCED, STURDY, PROPER HACKNEY GAIT WITH REACH AND DRIVE, AND HAS A LIVELY PLAYFUL ATTITUDE.
GCH CH MARLEX ADARE BOLD LEGACY X GCHP CH MARLEX SUNSPRITE ROSE
Breeders Armando Angelbello, Kim Byrd & Cathy Polmateer | Owners Tom & Cathy Polmateer & Kim Byrd | Handler Kim Byrd, PHA
*AKC BREED STATS AS OF 7/31/22
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SHOWBOAT BLISS MILO, CM Breeders: Deborah Howington Gary Howington Owners: Gary Howington Deborah Howington Dakota McDaniels Elizabeth Melzer Milo
SHOWBOAT BLISS FAIRY TALE, CM Teka
Breeders: Mrs. Candace M. Mogavero Deborah Howington Owners: Deborah Howington Gary Howington
Cheryl Giffin Kylie Soafer Elizabeth Melzer
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PLK YOU'RE SO VAIN AT DEBBYS, CM Breeders: Denise Dang Cuong Dang Owners: Debra Buse Elizabeth Melzer Goldie
SHOWBOAT’S ETCHED IN STEELE @ SFR Breeders: Gary Howington Deborah Howington Owners: Shannon Rives Deborah Howington Elizabeth Melzer Kylie Soafer Steele
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about 10,000 for less than one Group. Any change has consequences. Good outcomes include better grooming and presentation by individual ex- hibitors and professional handlers. Dogs are moved to show their best gait, and judges observing them are not distracted by awkward handling. Especially for coated breeds, groom- ing of most exhibits is better now and more consistent. Workshops at shows and online have contributed to the improvement. In a nutshell, presenta- tion has become better. There are other outcomes. A greater percentage of dogs is now shown by professional handlers. They must win to keep clients; a strong motivation to prepare and exhibit their dogs well. Handlers are in the ring more than other exhibitors. AKC’s approval of large multi-show clusters and clubs’ increasing tendency to schedule them has facilitated that. Weekday shows are part of a handler’s job, but re- quire other exhibitors to take off from
income-producing work or to take some of their limited vacation time. Moreover, professional handlers can show in a much larger region. Han- dlers also become “known faces” and may develop personal relationships with some judges. Good judging that is knowledgeable of breed standards, and weighs the bal- ance of merits and faults of exhibits, is key to the future of shows. It is gratifying to see judges who make placements disregarding the other end of the lead, national rankings, and advertisements. Even a few instances when this is not the case can hurt the image of (and respect for) all judges. For example, one judge I observed recently had lengthy chats with han- dlers when they entered the ring, and these handlers then won their classes. At four successive shows with identi- cal exhibits, a different dog went Best of Breed each day. These observations are superficial and may be meaning- less, but they create the suspicion that
judges may interpret the breed stan- dards differently or that they place handlers rather than dogs. The most common complaint that I hear from both individual exhibi- tors and professional handlers is that judging is not good, that judges are not accountable for what they do, and that dog shows have largely become “people shows.” These may be over- statements, but the bottom line is that exhibitors and professional handlers may have lost confidence in judging. What can be done to restore it? Per- haps AKC could devise some mecha- nism to hold judges accountable, but how would this be done? Anything that I can think of, such as judges being asked at times to report explanations for their placements or being observed by “super-judges,” may not be practi- cal and may have their own problems. What do you think? Do you have any suggestions? Please email your views to ggmeisels@gmail.com.
“Good judging that is knowledgeable of breed standards, AND WEIGHS THE BALANCE OF MERITS AND FAULTS OF EXHIBITS, IS KEY TO THE FUTURE OF SHOWS.”
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“FANCY THAT” FOR THE LOVE OF GABBY
By Susan Ritenour, Happi Daze Chihuahuas
I t happened so fast. It started as lameness in both front and rear left legs, leaning to the right when walking which progressed to falling over onto her side, head tilt, and blindness. Eight days after the onset of symptoms, she passed in my arms. She was only 11 months old. Granulomatous Meningoencephalitis (GME) is a disease that sud- denly strikes without warning. While the disease itself does not hap- pen often, it has been seen often enough in Chihuahuas to add them to the list of breeds most susceptible. WHAT IS GME? Encephalitis is an inflammation and swelling of the CNS (central ner- vous system), while meningitis is an inflammation of the membrane surrounding the brain and the spinal cord. Both diseases are often seen simultaneously. Because of protective barriers to the central ner- vous system, both meningitis and encephalitis are seen less often than diseases to other organs of the body. There are three types of GME: Focal is limited to one location in the nervous system; Disseminated or Multifocal involves many locations in the nervous system and is the most common; and Ocular involves the optic nerves. It is not uncom- mon to see more than one type present in the same dog. What causes encephalitis? Encephalitis is considered to be non- infectious and is thought to have an immune-mediated cause. It is sometimes caused by an abnormal response to an infectious agent such as bacteria, parasites, fungi, and tick-transmitted disease. The most common cause is thought to be an overactive immune system. When this happens, the immune system attacks the brain and/or the brain coverings (meninges). This is called idiopathic encephalitis. Most cases of GME occur in Toy and small breed dogs, usually in bitches. The average age for onset is in young to middle-aged dogs, ranging from 6 months to 10 years. SYMPTOMS At the onset, symptoms shown will depend on which part of the brain is affected. Disseminated is the most common type of encephalitis and its symptoms include seizures, walking in circles, lack of balance, stumbling, head tilt, tremors, pain, changes in behavior, and blind- ness. Symptoms usually start with one or two and quickly worsen or expand to include more symptoms. Focal symptoms will depend on the area of the brain where the lesions appear, while Ocular symp- toms will include sight problems and blindness. The Focal type gen- erally has a slower onset, while Disseminated has a more rapid onset. Ocular usually shows up as sudden, and generally permanent, blind- ness in one or both eyes.
DIAGNOSIS Often when a dog is presented, first thoughts can be a bad disc or pinched nerve as well as a pos- sible brain tumor (depending on the symptoms presented at the time), especially to vets who may not have experience with GME. If the neu- rologic abnormalities are focal, other causes such as stroke and brain tumor must be ruled out. The only TRUE way to diagnose is with an MRI or spinal tap. The MRI will not only diagnose GME but will rule out other possibilities as well as let the vet know if a spinal tap is even possible for the individual. Spinal taps are only performed when all other options have been exhausted. Patients with brain swelling or a tumor have a higher risk of compli- cations from spinal taps. If intracranial pressure is elevated, the removal of any spinal fluid could cause a suction effect and cause a brain hernia- tion. A significant increase in white blood cells in the spinal fluid usually indicates encephalitis. Unfortunately for most owners, an MRI and/or spinal tap is not possible due to cost and/or loca- tion. Routine blood work, urinalysis, and a physi- cal exam are usually performed along with an ultrasound to rule out other possible infections and to help determine which medications can be used. Encephalitis is a very serious condition.
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TREATMENT Unfortunately, there is NO cure. Prognosis for permanent recovery is guarded. Shortest survival rates (which range from several days to weeks) are usually seen in dogs with disseminated and ocular forms of GME. Longer survival rates of three to six months are usually associ- ated with a focal lesion. Temporary improvements are suspected to be a result of reduction of mast cell func- tion. Continued therapy is required, with improvement for several days to months seen. However, most dogs will eventually succumb to the disease. Treatment for idiopathic encephalitis will usually involve suppressing the immune system. High doses of ste- roids such as prednisone are the usual course of action. Antibiotics are pre- scribed as well, many times, along with pain medication if the patient presents with pain. If no progress is seen with prednisone alone, more potent im- mune suppressing medications may be added. Most of these medications are types of chemotherapy and will require periodic blood tests to avoid toxicity. These other drugs may also be used with animals that may be suscep- tible to the side effects associated with long-term use of prednisone. Some dogs will respond for a time but later have relapses, causing the use of medication for extended periods of time. Other dogs do not respond to medication at all and pass away quick- ly. ANY neurological symptoms will
require immediate veterinary inter- vention if hope of survival is expected. The problem with this disease is that by the time the dog is presented to a vet (especially one who may not rec- ognize the disease on first presenta- tion) it is usually too late to save the dog. Many vets may suspect GME, but by the time the tests are done it is too late to save the dog. GME is a very fast-moving and, most times, deadly disease. I cannot stress enough that time is of the essence and ANY delay in vet care can cost the life of your dog. This article has been written with love and in remembrance of my Dear Sweet Gabby. Her death inspired me to research something not commonly heard about, yet according to many vets, appears to be a problem within the breed. While doing this research
over the course of two months, I have found six cases of GME, or suspected GME, in our immediate Chihuahua community. Of the six, two survived. One recovered completely while the other still has a slight head tilt and is blind in one eye. The other four survived from eight days to several months before passing. One of these improved greatly, but later had a re- lapse and passed. This does not in- clude the Chihuahuas in the clinical experiences of veterinarians whom I have either spoken to or who have written articles about GME. If a dog presents with ANY neurologi- cal symptoms, immediate veterinary care is needed if any hope of survival is expected. If even one dog can be helped with this information, Gabby’s death has meant something.
BIO Susan Ritenour lives in Strasburg, Virginia, in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. She grad- uated from Strasburg High School and earned two Associate’s Degrees from Lord Fairfax Community College after the age of 40. Susan has always had a love of animals, and Chihuahuas have been a big part of her life since a very young age. There was always at least one dog in the family. She has been in the show world for over 30 years.
Susan became interested in showing in Obedience after acquiring a Chinese Shar-Pei. She successfully put a CD on him as well as his CGC. During this time, she started looking for her next Chihuahua and got “Mouse” from Carolyn Mooney. From her friendship with the Mooneys and John Cipollina, the rest is history. Mouse earned his Canadian CD and AKC CDX as well as his Therapy Dog title and CGC. He also pulled a wagon for rescue and pa- rades, collecting over $900 for rescue in his lifetime. Susan’s first homebred puppy won the Sweepstakes at the first Chihuahua National Specialty she attended. She has bred and shown several Top Ten Breed and All-Breed Chihuahuas as well as BISS and other Specialty winners. Other breeds which Susan has owned and shown include the Japanese Chin and the Chinese Crested. 28 • T op N otch T oys , S eptember /O ctober 2022
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JUDGING THE
CHIHUAHUA
UNDERSTANDING THE BREED STANDARD
by Richard Miller photos provided by the author
T he author needs no introduction to the Chihua- hua world. He has known the Chihuahua since July of 1957. He has bred, shown and now has judged the breed for 28 years. He also judges four of the AKC Groups (Hound, Terrier, Toy, and Non- Sporting). He has judged extensively in the United States as well as many foreign assignments. The word “saucy” is used in the breed standard to describe expression. It is my opinion that saucy also describes temperament and body language. The dic- tionary uses several words to describe saucy. I feel the word is best described when we think of an impudent child or a defiant child. I have used photos to show this quality to the best of my ability with photographs. Both of my examples are long-coated dogs, however, a smooth should have the same bold, inquisitive self- assured posture and expression. The correct attitude for an entry in the ring is, “Go ahead; make my day.” The Chihuahua breed standard does not discuss tail set, but it does mention tail carriage. Three carriages are correct (up, up and out or up and over with the tip just touching the back). A dog that carries its tail up and out tends to make itself look longer than it really is. A dog with this carriage is often harder to finish than his competition with either of the other tail car- riages. The tail carriages of the dogs used for my dis- cussion of expression have what most breeders desire. Knowing where the bone of the tail ends is an impor- tant factor. A long coat with a huge plume may have so much coat that the tail “appears” to more than touch the back. There should be no Pug/Basenji type tails nor should we see a tail dropping over the side of the dog like a Papillon. A tail held flat in the back similar to a Pomeranian is also faulty.
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A deserving Chihuahua should possess a head that is de- scribed in the breed standard, however, an entry should not win on its head type alone. I have selected two head studies as examples of a quality head. Notice the head in profile. The muzzle does not appear too short or too long. The muzzle meets the skull in the desired perpendicular manner. Notice the underjaw of this example. The underjaw extends right out to the end of the muzzle. The eyes are nice and large and well set into the skull. The straight-on example shows the domed top skull. The correct Chihuahua head is both rounded at the stop around to the ears and between the ears on top of the skull. With regard to grooming, I prefer to see a dog present- ed as natural as possible. This is purely my preference. You will see long-coats heavily groomed with no ear fringe inside the ear. Neither of these dogs are at attention. The ears would be held much more closely to one another at attention. The wording “serious fault” is used in our standard to describe a dog with anything other than a scissors bite or a level bit. Undershot, overshot and wry bites are serious faults too often seen in the show ring. The Chihuahua is to be only slightly longer than tall. Shorter backs are preferred in males. The black and tan tri-colored male that appears in this article is to be faulted for possess- ing too long of a body. If the Chihuahua has a front well un- der itself as called for in our standard it should appear to be nearly square. The overhang of the front results in slightly longer than tall. This dog appears to have the desired level topline. This level top line should be present when standing or when moving.
Movement is described in the breed standard as swift. Swift should mean going around the ring swiftly. It does not mean a rapid sewing machine up and down kind of a movement. A judge can make several evaluations of correct movement as a class is sent around the ring. The front should reach rather than lift. The rear should be a driving rear with pads of rear feet clearly visible as the dog moves away. The standard calls for convergence as speed increases. A Chihuahua should not move with its front wide apart like a French Bulldog. Both front and rear should converge somewhat. There are some generic kinds of evaluations that a judge should make just as he/she would judging any breed. These include spring of ribs, pasterns, condition, elbows, etc. The Chihuahua is often considered to be the smallest of all purebred dogs. This is in size only. A typical Chi- huahua is often guilty of forgetting his size and will chal- lenge a dog much larger. Handlers have to be constantly aware of this problem, and not allow their Chihuahuas to go after larger dogs. The Chihuahua has personal space just like a Doberman or a Mastiff. Judges do not get into the face of a Dobe, but there are some judges that think they need to get into the space of the Chihuahua. This is a pet peeve of mine. There is no need to get right in the face of a Chihuahua and talk baby talk to it. Even the most well-behaved Chihua- hua will not tolerate such an invasion of personal space nor should it. This problem seems to happen less often of late. T op N otch T oys , S eptember /O ctober 2022 • 31
BREED * #3 #4 ALL BREED *
OUR SINCEREST APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE TO JUDGES FOR THESE SPECIAL WINS.
GLEN LEJESKI, ZELL VON POHLMAN, KEIKO SHIMIZU (CIDNEY’S FIRST TIME IN THE RING AT 6 MONTHS AT THE SCCC SPECIALTY, A 5 POINT MAJOR), CAROLINE ALEXANDER, RICHARD MILLER, MR. TIMOTHY CATTERSON, RAY FILBURN, DR. IOIA, JOHN WADE, DENNY MOUNCE, MRS. VICKI L. ABBOTT
*AKC STATS AS OF 7/31/22
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GCHB BK’S CONEMARA EL CID
OWNERS & BREEDERS: BARBARA K. (KATHY) SMITH & CONNI M. ROBINSON CIDNEY
© HOLLOWAY
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I don’t think a person has been born who can tell for sure if a dog is over the six pound limit. That is why we have scales available to the judging public. Don’t guess about size; call for the scale. A 5 lb. 15 oz. entry should be given the same consideration as a tiny competitor. As long as a dog does not exceed the six pound limit it should be given full consideration. Our stan- dard no longer says the smaller entry should prevail. There are only four disqualifica - tions. These should be considered as the dogs are being examined. Broken down or cropped ears is a difficult DQ to understand. (I have included a pho- to of a dog with broken down ears.) Handlers of a dog with questionable ears don’t usually allow their entry to look down. If you question an ear or ears, bait the dog so that the dog has to look downward. If the ear cannot be held erect while looking down, the ear(s) is/are a disqualification. The example included in this discussion has a crease at the outer edge of the ear. Sometimes a dog will have ears that bounce as the dog moves around the ring. This is not necessarily a bro- ken down ear. You will not see cropped ears in the show ring nor will you see docked tails or bobbed tails. Bareness in a long-coated entry is seldom if ever seen. My experience has taught me that bareness appears under the chin and down the throat of the dog. Here again, this is a DQ that you most prob - ably will not see in the ring. The Chihuahua Club of America has spent many long hours working with an artist and club members to cre- ate an illustrated standard. Once completed this illustrated standard should prove to be an invaluable asset to all judges of the Chihuahua. “Don’t guess about size; call for the scale.”
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THE SIX CRITICAL ELEMENTS OF HAVANESE BREED TYPE by Adam King, DVM, MS, DACVO S ince acceptance into the AKC Toy Group in January 1999, the Havanese has steadily become an increasingly popular breed.
This is a breed of moderation, and all parts should fit together harmoniously. The silhouette of the Havanese should be rectangular, with the height being slightly shorter than the length. It is important to remem- ber that the landmarks to use for the length measurement are the point of shoulder and the point of rear. While specific measurements are not out- lined in the AKC standard, the word “slightly” is important to keep in mind. This means that while the Ha- vanese shouldn’t be square, they also shouldn’t be significantly longer than they are tall. The length of the Ha- vanese should come from the ribcage and not the loin, which should be short and muscular. The Havanese outline isn’t complete without high head carriage, whether standing or moving. While shoulder layback should be moderate, suffi- cient layback needs to be present to create the length of neck required for high head carriage while moving. The neck length should complement and balance the rest of the dog rather than be a distracting attribute. This must be evaluated during the table exam, as the abundant coat can make an adequate length of neck appear too short upon first glance. The correct Havanese tail, both in set and in carriage, is critical to the outline of the breed. The tail must be set high to finish off the straight, slightly rising topline. The carriage arching forward complements the natural high head carriage while the dog is moving or standing. As the tail is loosely arched over the back, it is also completely acceptable for it to T op N otch T oys , S eptember /O ctober 2022 • 35
characteristics with this Cuban native. The Havanese is a member of the Bi- chon family, which is also comprised of the Bichon Frise, Maltese, Bolognese, Coton de Tulear, Lowchen, and Rus- sian Tsvetnaya Bolonka. Though some of the Havanese’s ancestors are shared with these breeds, the six critical ele- ments of Havanese breed type differ- entiate the Havanese from the other Bichon breeds: outline, topline, gait, expression, coat, and temperament. OUTLINE The Havanese should be recogniz- able by its outline alone, but no single aspect should stick out from the rest.
Their mischievous expression, small but sturdy body, silky coat that comes in a rainbow of colors, and charming personality have helped them not only win the hearts of many pet owners, but also have allowed the Havanese to become competitive in both the Toy Group as well as Best in Show rings. But what differentiates the Havanese from the numerous other small, long- haired dogs that are recognized by the AKC? At first glance, there are a number of other breeds that share
drop while the dog is standing still and relaxed, though it should never be tucked. The tail plume can fall forward over the back or lie to either side of the body, which can create optical illusions; either shortening or lengthening the appearance of the dog. Puppies will naturally have less coat on their tails, which can cause a slightly higher tail carriage with- out the weight of the hair seen in an adult dog. Regardless, the puppy’s tail should still arch forward and over the back and show no evidence of point- ing straight up. The final component of outline, the topline, is so important to breed type that it is its own critical element of The Havanese topline is one of the most misunderstood components of the Havanese. The AKC stan- dard calls for a straight, but not level topline, rising slightly from the with- ers to the croup. It is as important that the topline be straight as it is that the topline have a slight rise. This charac- teristic topline is a result of the bal- anced front and rear angulation and the shorter upper arm in comparison to the scapula. It is the presence of a shorter upper arm with good return that drops the front ever so slightly, causing a slight rise. The correct Ha- vanese topline must be caused by this unique Havanese conformation and not by structural faults such as short forelegs or straight rear angulation. It is important to evaluate the topline both on the exam table as well as the on the move, as the straight, slight rise should be present both while standing and when in motion. On the table, it breed type! TOPLINE
is imperative to feel the topline from the withers to the croup to ensure it is straight and only slightly rising to the high-set tail. This is most easily accomplished by gently using finger- tips to feel it in a continuous motion, starting at the withers and ending at the tailset. GAIT The spring in the Havanese gait is a result of the breed’s structure com- bined with its happy-go-lucky per- sonality. At a trot, the slightly shorter upper arm creates a slight lift in the front in order to balance the rear ac- tion. This, combined with the joy- ous nature of the breed, gives them a jaunty air and a lightness on their feet. The spring in the movement should never be so excessive that it becomes a bounce and detracts from sound- ness or the forward motion of the dog. It is important to note that the upper arm shouldn’t be so short that it restricts the front legs from reach- ing forward freely. The breed must have moderate reach and drive, with both excessive and insufficient reach and drive being equally contrary to breed type. The head is naturally car- ried high and is balanced by the tail carried arched over the back. The Havanese must carry its tail up and over the back while moving and can- not be awarded if the tail is carried down or tucked. The slight rise to the topline must be held on the move. There is minimal-to-no convergence toward a centerline of the front or hind legs when moving. While a flash of the pad may be seen on the down and back, it is not a requirement. It is more important to evaluate for sound action than to watch for a flash of the pad.
EXPRESSION Correct expression is critical to Ha- vanese breed type and is created by the sum of the individual parts of the head along with the joyful personality of the breed. Havanese should have a twinkle in their eyes as if to say they are excited for whatever adventure comes next. The almond eye shape is essen- tial to expression. Havanese is the only member of the Bichon fam- ily of breeds whose standard calls for an almond-shaped eye, thus, a round eye gives a more generic “Bi- chon” look rather than the desired mischievous Havanese expression. Similarly, the large size of the eye is critical to add the softness to the ex- pression described in the standard. As almond-shaped eyes can trend smaller, the balance between the shape and size of the eye is delicate yet crucial to Havanese type. Although not explicitly stated in the standard, the eyes should be set moderately far apart to fit with the broad skull, muzzle, and nose. Narrowly set eyes give an incorrect pinched expression. To preserve the desired expression, Havanese should also have very dark eyes. While there is an allowance for chocolate dogs to have a slightly light- er brown eye, a dark eye is always pre- ferred regardless of coat color. It is important to note that with the skull and nose, being described as broad and the muzzle as full, the Ha- vanese head should be robust to fit with the sturdy body. To achieve the desired expression, the muzzle should be slightly shorter than the skull, and it is imperative that the head planes be parallel. Every other Havanese
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*
*AKC breed stats as of 8/31/22
T op N otch T oys , S eptember /O ctober 2022 • 37
consideration as brushed coats. The presence of the desired wave in the coat with the two slightly different textures is what allows the Havanese coat to cord naturally. The slightly heavier outer coat wraps around the lighter undercoat, and these clumps are easily separated into sections that develop into cords. Havanese cords are softer and silkier than the cords of other breeds, though the cord itself will never feel as soft as a brushed coat. To best evaluate the texture of a corded coat, feel at the base of the cord where there will be a segment of uncorded hair near the skin. The corded coat is to be evalu- ated by the quality of the hair and not the length of the cords. It is important that the Havanese remain an untrimmed breed, to the point where obvious trimming is to be so heavily faulted that the offend- ing dog should not be considered for placement. Coat color and markings are com- pletely immaterial, and should never factor in decisions in the conforma- tion ring or whelping box. The only requirement is that all colors have black pigment on the eye rims, nose, and lips, except chocolate dogs, which
breed type, as it has a critical influence on the dog having the correct light spring to its gait. Regardless of the structure, if a Havanese doesn’t have the required spirited and cheerful personality, it will not move correctly. The ebullient personality means Ha- vanese should not be robotic while in the ring, and often may dance around rather than standing still like stat- ues. While Havanese are an outgo- ing breed, do not overcrowd or baby talk dogs while on the table, nor stoop down while they are on the ground. These actions may make a dog with an otherwise acceptable tempera- ment apprehensive. A slight hesitancy can be seen in puppies that are unsure of themselves, which should not be penalized as long as they recover as they acclimate to being in the ring. Shyness that results in the inability to touch the dog while on the table or the dog being unwilling to carry its tail up and over the back while gaiting should not be tolerated. There should be zero tolerance for any evidence of any ag- gression toward people or other dogs. These characteristics are what makes the Havanese unique among all of the other AKC recognized breeds and what made every Havanese owner fall in love with the breed. Each time a judge walks into the ring or a breeder evaluates a litter of puppies, these six critical elements of breed type should be at the forefront of their mind to en- sure they do their part to preserve our charming little Cuban.
standard around the world calls for the muzzle and skull lengths to be equal, so it is essential to note that a muzzle of equal length to the skull is a fault per the AKC standard. It is im- portant that the muzzle not become too short, however, as this changes the unique Havanese head to a more generic Toy dog head, often with more extreme stop than desired as well. COAT Unlike most long coated breeds de- scribed to have a silky texture to the coat, the Havanese must have a dou- ble coat. Both the outer and undercoat are relatively light, which serves an important function for the breed. As the outer coat is only slightly heavi- er, the abundant soft undercoat lifts it slightly away from the body. This gave protection from the heat, al- lowing them to thrive in their native Cuba. The untrimmed coat is plenti- ful, but should never stand-off away from the body enough to prevent the natural lines of the dog from being seen. While in many long-coated Toy breeds it is common to cultivate a coat to a length where it drags on the ground, this is atypical and un- desirable for the naturally presented Havanese. The lightness of the Ha- vanese coat causes natural breakage of the hair, allowing the underline of the dog to be seen. When lifted, the coat will slowly float down rather than fall heavily when dropped. A correct Havanese coat will cord, and corded coats must be given equal
have brown pigment. TEMPERAMENT
The temperament of the Havanese is of utmost importance. This is a cheer- ful and gregarious breed that is hap- piest when they are with people. This joyful personality is important to
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Adam King has been involved in the Havanese breed for over 20 years. He received his first Havanese as a Christmas gift from Rita Stern (Silverdale Havanese) as a teenager, and was immediately smitten with the breed. “Pete” (Silverdale’s For Pete’s Sake) would go on to be- come Adam’s first owner-handled champion before he was a year old, as well as his Junior Showmanship dog. A second Havanese from Rita, “Gracie”(CH Silverdale’s Amazing Grace ROM), was added shortly thereafter, who became the foundation bitch for Askin Havanese. In a limited breeding program, Adam has produced over 30 AKC champions (11 of which he
finished from the Bred-By-Exhibitor Class), with several more actively working on their championships, and he has been named a Breeder of Distinction by the Havanese Club of America. He is a member of the HCA Judges’ Education, Illustrated Standard, and Health Committees. In addition to Havanese, Adam has been involved in Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers, Miniature Bull Terriers, and English Toy Spaniels. Professionally, he is a veterinary ophthalmologist and practices in Chicago. Currently, Adam is approved by the AKC to judge the Toy Group in addition to breeds in the Sporting, Terrier, and Non-Sporting Groups as well as Junior Showmanship.
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