Top Notch Toys: April May 2021

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.

POMERANIANS & BIEWER TERRIERS T riple C rown

CH OLA DE GRAS VERY WONDERFUL WINS, CM4 Win

#1 ALL BREED STANDINGS * *AKC stats as of 3/31/21

Owned by Michele Lyons, Cindi Iken, Daniel Yona, Noble Inglett and Theresa Tafoya

Thank you Judges Mrs. Cindi Meyer, Mrs. Anne Savory Bolus and Mr. Ken Murray

CH ZINAIR ROSSITA, CM Tasha

NEW CHAMPION

Bred by Daniel Konti Kennels Owned by Michele Lyons and Daniel Yona

Thank you Judges Mr. John Wade, Mrs. Fred Bassett, Mrs. Terry Berrios, Mrs. Anne Sacvory Bolus, and Mrs. Erika Moureau

WWW.TRIPLECROWNPOMERANIANS.COM

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POMERANIANS & BIEWER TERRIERS T riple C rown

#1 BREED STANDING * *AKC stats as of 3/31/21

FIRST BRONZE GRAND CHAMPION Bred by Irena Belova Owned by Michele Lyons, Theresa Tafoya, Daniel Yona and Noble Inglett Proudly shown by Tonia Holibaugh and Edgar Cruz Guevara Donny GCHB IRISH JAZZ DZHAGA-DZHAGA, CM7

Thank you Judges Mr. Fred Bassett, Mr. John Wade, Mrs. Janie Bousek, Mrs. Loraine Boutwell,

Mr. Bradley Jenkins, Mrs. Terry Berrios, Mrs. Erika Moureau, Mrs. Barbara Dempsey Alderman,

Ms. Nikki Riggsbee, and Mr. Dana Cline

WWW.TRIPLECROWNPOMERANIANS.COM

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Zen GCH iLove Rhapsody Always Zen

#1 GRAND CHAMPION SYSTEM *

#2 BREED SYSTEM *

#4 ALL-BREED SYSTEM *

Owner/Breeder: iLove Maltese Cynthia Chan Lee www.facebook.com/iLovemaltesecr/ www.ilovemaltese.com

Handlers: Rhapsody Legados Kennel Tonia Holibaugh

Edgar Cruz Guevara *AKC STATS AS OF 3/31/2021

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©HAN ‘21

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MULTIPLE BEST IN SHOW WINNER BEST IN SPECIALTY SHOW WINNER 2020 WESTMINSTER BOB WINNER GCHS.MARTIN’S TIMEBOMBPUFF

OWNED BY: ROY & JO-ANN KUSUMOTO

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Success

IS NOT FINAL;

Failure Courage

IS NOT FATAL;

IT IS THE

TO CONTINUE THAT COUNTS.

- WINSTON CHURCHILL

I took my shots and now....

We’re ready to hit the road and take our shot in the ring!

We look forward to seeing our friends again at the shows And competing against the best our sport has to offer!

BRED, OWNED & HANDLED BY: DARYL MART IN

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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 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 BONNIE GUGGENHEIM bonnie@aramediagroup.com 512-971-3280 SOCIAL MEDIA ELMA BEGIC Manager, Social Media & Creative Content elma@aramediagroup.com 1-512-686-3466

16 Toy Talk 18 Toy Box

40 48 52 54 57 58

Breeding Better Dogs Begins in the Whelping Box Not in the Show Ring Sharon Masnick, Chris & John Heartz, Brenda Segelken, David & Carlene Gilstrap, Roxie Campbell and Charlotte Creed

Bonnie Guggenheim

The Journey of Ruth Beam Christine Crane

Del Gonzales

20 The Basics of Judging the Italian Greyhound Lilian S. Barber 26 Judging the Maltese Jacqueline Stacy 28 Breed Standard: 32 Collecting Dog Show Memorabilia Pat Bullard

Judging the Papillon Angela Pickett

Maryland Blue Crab Cluster Candids Tom Weigand

MAILING ADDRESS PO BOX 18567 TAMPA, FL 33679

A Timeless Picture in Words Pat Bullard

Rates

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.

Index to Advertisers

36 The Havanese: What’s So Hard to Understand? Kathy Ambler

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GCHB Ming Dynasty’s Samurai x GCH Kylin’s Fuchsia GCH KYLIN’S KUNOICHI AT JIN LU

Thank you judges Sandy Bingham-Porter and Lee Whittier for back to back group 1’s. Three weekends out as a special and she has 4 group wins.

Bred by Linda Davi and Mark Iseki • Handled exclusively by Molly Speckhardt • Owned by Paul and Alicia Guzman

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B R O N Z E G R A N D C H A M P I O N H O O R AY H E N RY V. TA N I K A Z A R I

# 3

Bree d & All Bree d

T E A M H E N RY

Presented by Ernesto Lara AKC Registered, PHA

Bred by Mieke Cooijmans

Owned by Judith Epperson & Bradley Phifer

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E R N E STO &

H E N RY

R B I S | M U L T I P L E G R O U P W I N S

*AKC Breed & All Breed Stats as of 3/31/21

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TOY TALK ETCETERA by Bonnie Guggenheim, TNT Advertising Director & Associate Editor

News and Views

D og shows are returning with ex- citing National Specialties for Havanese, English Toy Spaniels, Manchester Terriers, and the up- coming Maltese Specialty. It is fabu- lous to see wins reported and excite- ment generated for these shows and, of course, for the Westminster Ken- nel Club extravaganza in June. Make memories at these wonderful shows! Although it has been a long, difficult year for everyone (with a few exhibi- tors dropping out from showing en- tirely as others have been breeding outstanding girls in hopes of produc- ing a show puppy for the upcoming year) with each passing month the show schedule is appearing much like it did in previous years. There are many Specials returning to the ring—which has been a true labor of love to keep these dogs not only in coat, but also maintaining a winning attitude in the ring. The drop-coated breeds are now dripping in coat and will be fabulous to see as they enter the ring looking so gorgeous.

Show your success by advertising in TNT ! We proudly feature the terrific Toys that you breed and exhibit with the hope that you will continue to make TopNotch Toys a big part of your advertising plans for 2021 and 2022. There are many reasons to advertise in a print magazine versus a digital- only publication. Top Notch Toys offers a premier niche; a NATIONAL magazine created for the Toy fancy. The magazine is a col- lectible that can be reviewed online, if you’d like. However, everything starts with a printed magazine that’s de- signed to create impact and satisfy the desire for a “second look” at the cre- ative designs and stunning Toy dogs. Branding offers a permanent refer- ence in print media and is a powerful way to build continued success. Face- book cannot do this, and neither can the digital-only magazines. Though they do have their place, virtual imag- es are not a permanent reference that

you can hold. By contrast, the printed word in TNT offers a long-term im- pact and a physical engagement with those who matter most in our won- derful world of dogs. (We do, however, offer a digital issue after themagazine is printed, and the ads and articles are posted on Facebook.) Traditional print magazines of all types and categories are a permanent reference, with an historic breed val- ue that’s based on articles provided by the parent clubs and many highly suc- cessful authors. Copies of our edito- rial are often requested by long-term and Permit Judges as well as by new- comers to your special breed. (There’s no charge for emailed copies of these excellent sources of information.) Words, pictures, and the “smell of the ink” give readers a reason to return to your ad again and again, and they are a powerful way to pro- mote your goals and showcase your noteworthy accomplishments. Email your exciting news and great ideas (as well as your adorable puppy photos) for the monthly Toy Box fea- ture that always creates lots of smiles. Remember, inquiring minds want to know! Call or text me at 512-971-3280. Bonnie bonnie@aramediagroup.com 512.971.3280

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M U LT I O H G R O U P W I N N I N G • M U LT I G R O U P P L AC I N G • O H B I S GCHS TYAVA’ S SUGARFOOTS STRIKE FORCE

Number 1 OHS YORKSHIRE TERRIER * *AKC NOHS stats as of 4/3/21 Number 2 NOHS LIFETIME YORKSHIRE TERRIER * NOHS GOLD ACHIEVEMENT LEVEL

THANK YOU TO THE JUDGES FOR FINDING THIS LOVELY DOG IN YOUR LINEUPS

BREEDER: AVA TYREE, TYAVA’S YORKIES

OWNER/HANDLER: VICKI EDWARDS, SUGARFOOT YORKIES

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TOP NOTCH TOYS

TOYBOX

SUBMIT YOUR CUTE PHOTOS TO OUR TOYBOX 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. 18 • T op N otch T oys , A pril /M ay 2021

MayBelle GCH Viva Bless Your Heart

Bred by and exclusively handled by Cecilia Bozzo

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W hen I was asked to write another article about judging my beloved breed, I thought about the questions trainee judges—and even some experi- enced ones—have asked. I decided to go through the standard and make a comment or two about each point, especially the sections that seem a little unclear to some. Here is the result: DESCRIPTION The Italian Greyhound is very similar to the Grey- hound, but much smaller and more slender in all pro- portions, and of ideal elegance and grace. Elegance and grace are hallmarks. Without these, proper type is missing. When one sees an IG with the strong, lithe look of a large Greyhound, but scaled down and ap- propriately elegant, the breed description becomes very clear. HEAD Narrow and long, tapering to nose, with a slight sug- gestion of stop. Self-explanatory, but especially look for underjaw and no snipeyness, nor should the dog be down-faced. “A slight suggestion of stop” does not mean no stop at all. SKULL Rather long, almost flat. This fits inwell with the “head” description. Keep in mind, too, when there is an exhibit that has what IG breeders call a “toy head.” Years ago, rounded skulls and short, snipey muzzles were com- mon, especially among smaller specimens. This is still seen occasionally and should be faulted according to the degree to which it is apparent. THE BASICS OF JUDGING THE ITALIAN GREYHOUND by Lilian S. Barber

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NOW DEBUT ING IN THE AKC TOY R ING ELVIS VONWEISSE ORCHIDEE

WE CAN’ T HELP FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOU

MULTIPLE OH GROUP PLACEMENTS IN HIS FIRSTWEEKS OF SHOWS

A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO ESTEEMED JUDGES: CHRISTINE ERICKSON, DR. THOMAS HOSSFELD & JANIE BOUSEK

BRED BY ELENA KONDRATJEVA

OWNED & HANDLED BY ANITA ANDERSON

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MUZZLE Long and fine. See “Head” and “Skull” descriptions. NOSE Dark. It may be black or brown or in keeping with the col- or of the dog. A light or partially pigmented nose is a fault. “Blue” IGs are actually shades of grey and almost always have a blue/grey nose. As long as that nose is in keeping with the coat color or darker (occasionally a blue IG will have a black nose) it’s all right. TEETH Scissors bite. A badly undershot or overshot mouth is a fault. Undershot bites are extremely rare, but overshot is common. Depending on the degree, it’s preferable to judge the dog on its good qualities. EYES Dark, bright, intelligent, medium in size. Very light eyes are a fault. Much of this breed’s charm and charisma comes from the sweet, loving, intelligent expression. The eyes, both size and color, have a great deal to do with this. The “bug-eyed” look of the old toy type heads still appears occasionally. EARS Small, fine in texture, thrown back and folded except when alerted, then carried folded at right angles to the head. Erect or button ears severely penalized. Ears should never be erect, even on high alert. The most inept amateur handler should know how to get his/her dog to alert the ears properly. It should not be necessary for the judge to do this, but if you choose to do so, it’s best tomake an interesting sound at the dog’s eye level or above. This is to check if the ears respond properly, not to animate the dog. Alerting each dog once during the class is sufficient. NECK Long, slender and gracefully arched. “Ewe” necks with an inelegant bulge at the front of the throat are not desir- able. Although the standard calls for a long and slender neck, this doesn’t mean the longer and/or thinner the better. Everything should be in proper balance. BODY Of medium length, short-coupled, high at withers, back curved and drooping at hindquarters, the highest point of curve at start of loin, creating a definite tuck-up at flanks. This often gives new judges some trouble. “Me- dium length” is not “square.” This being a running dog that needs as much lung capacity as possible, the rib cage area is elongated whereas the loin is short. An IG with a short rib cage and long loin looks out of proportion. Fa- miliarity with the terms of canine anatomy is important, and the IG is no exception. Compared tomost breeds, the IG is “curvy,” but the topline should not be exaggerated to

the point of appearing roached. The curves should be smooth, gentle, and flowing. Remember that the standard states, “high at withers.” An IG that is down at the shoulder and high in the rear is definitely incorrect. SHOULDERS Long and sloping. Although the shoulders should not be up- right, shoulder layback of the IG is not as extreme as that of many other breeds. Correct layback is part of the necessary elements that enable the breed’s unique gait. (See “Action.”) CHEST Deep and narrow. To the elbow, with some rib spring and not so narrow that both front legs appear to be coming from the same hole. FORELEGS Long, straight, set well under the shoulder; strong pas- terns, fine bone. The front legs should be set well under the dog, never at the corners like the legs of a card table. The pasterns are shock absorbers and, although strong, should have some give to them; so they should not be completely upright.

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ADVANCE GIFT SNOWAVALANCHE grand champion

Bred by Duoryadkin Oleg Owned by Donna Hannity Handled by Ashleight Rutzel

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HINDQUARTERS Long, well-muscled thigh, hind legs parallel when viewed from behind, hocks well let down, well-bent stifle. This gives the dog strength and drive from the rear. Although nothing is said about angulation, this should not be so extreme as tomake the rear look out of balance with the front. FEET Hare foot with well-arched toes. Re- moval of dewclaws is optional. The hare foot is long and narrow, the two center toes slightly longer than the others. Feet should never be flat or splayed. Nails should be short, but not trimmed all the way to the quick as is customary in other breeds. TAIL Slender and tapering to a curved end, long enough to reach the hock; set low, carried low. Ring tail a serious fault, gay tail a fault. The tail is typically carried below the level of the back, in a gentle curve. Puppies can carry theirs a bit high. Awagging tail is not a fault as long as it is set on low and is carried low. Length can be measured by holding it along the back of the leg to see if it reaches the hock joint. There is no need to wrap it around Skin fine and supple, hair short and glossy, like satin, and soft to the touch; self-explanatory. COLOR Any color and markings are accept- able except that a dog with brindle markings and a dog with the tan markings normally found on black and tan dogs of other breeds must be disqualified. Note that there is no pre- ferred color and no preferred mark- ings. When judging, personal prefer- ences should be ignored. Sometimes markings can fool the eye, especially on a white dog with colored markings that can make him look down in the shoulder or sway-backed. the leg. COAT

ACTION High-stepping and free, front and hind legs tomove forward in a straight line. Some people have trouble under- standing correct IG movement. This is not a hackney or even a hackney- like gait. In hackney movement there is much up-and-down travel, but little forward propulsion. Often a stiff, “goose-stepping” gait is seen, which may be high-stepping but is not free. The front legs should have lift, but also good forward movement. At its highest, the leg is approximately par- allel to the ground. There is a break at the pastern, with the foot pointing downward. The hind legs should ex- hibit drive from the rear and should land freely. SIZE Height at withers, ideally 13 inches to 15 inches. Under 13 inches or over 15 inches is not ideal. However, most IGs are between 14 and 16 inches, with males tending to be somewhat taller. Height can easily fool even experi- enced persons. A 13 inch dog in the ring withmostly 15 inch dogs can look A dog with brindle markings. A dog with the tan markings normally found on black-and-tan dogs of other breeds. A purebred IG can’t be brindle or marked, for instance, like a Do- berman, a Miniature Pinscher or a Manchester Terrier. There are many seal-colored IGs with some lighter markings in the “armpit” area; howev- er, these are not disqualifying mark- ings. To be disqualified, the dog would have to be black, seal or blue with tan markings in all of the places these markings are found on the mentioned breeds, including a tan patch on the vent area under the base of the tail. Hopefully, this has cleared up some things. The IG is a miniature sight- hound—a dog built and programmed to hunt using keen eyesight and con- siderable speed. Like other Toys, IGs are also loving companions. considerably below the ideal. DISQUALIFICATIONS

“HEIGHT AT WITHERS, IDEALLY 13 inches to 15 inches.”

Hopefully, judging them will be en- joyable. Above all, please remember the importance of seeing what is good about a dog rather than to judge by its faults. ABOUT THE AUTHOR I acquired my first Italian Greyhound in 1966 and have lived with from one to 18 of this breed at any given time ever since. I have bred more than 70 AKC champions under my La Scala kennel name. A dog of my breeding was for several years the top Toy stud in Great Britain and one of my dogs is behind many of the winning IGs in Brazil. In 1989, I was approved by the AKC to judge Italian Greyhounds and have judged breed specialties in Italy, Australia, and Japan as well as several times in the United States, including the National Specialty in 2003 and 2010. I have written four books about the Italian Greyhound, was the IG breed columnist for the AKC Gazette from 1977 through 2018, and have frequently written articles for other dog magazines. I have served on the Judges’ Education Committe for the Italian Greyhound Club of America, was one of the creators of the Illustrat- ed Standard for the IG, and am a past president of the IGCA as well as the Kennel Club of Palm Springs. After my husband passed away in 2018, I had to move from our wild and secluded five acres outside of Murrieta, California, which meant reducing my number of IGs to three. The move into a complex in a very civilized part of Lake Elsinore meant a halt to any further breeding. That, and advancing age, has also kept me out of the show ring. Most impor- tantly, I absolutely adore this breed and can’t imagine living without at least one or two of them.

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NO. 1 2020 OH HAVANESE*

2020 NO. 2 HAVANESE BREED*

BREED WINNER & GROUP PLACING AT THE 2020 NATIONAL DOG SHOW 2021 WESTMINSTER INVITEE

*AKC NOHS stats as of 3/31/21

*AKC stats 2020

Moose platinum grand champion bred by BILL & PAULA FRAZIER co-owned by BILL & PAULA FRAZIER & JANE CHAVEZ co-owned & exclusively owner handled by KAREN MARIE DUPRAT-FELDMAN MBOB, MGrp Winner, MOHBIS, MOHRBIS AKC Angelheart N Adorabull’s Moose On The Loose Thank you to judge Mark Kennedy for the win at the National Dog show. 2020 Best Of Breed winner at The Progressive Dog Club, Thank you judge Robert Hutton.

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JUDGING THE MALTESE

by Jacqueline Stacy

Thank you TNT, Bonnie, and the AMA for asking me to write this. It is always a pleasure and an honor to be invited to write about dogs, particularly the Toy Dogs, where type is defined by many, many details.

T he Maltese is clearly one of the most beautiful of the Toy dogs and also one of the most difficult to breed and show. Judges have little, if any, input on breeding pro- grams other than by rewarding the dogs presented to them in the show ring. This actually can be a bad thing for breeds because we often must award winners to dogs we really know could and should be better, yet that’s what is there for us to sort. The win- nersmay be good, but theymay also be the best of a sad lot because there are no other options. When those become champions, theymay be bred together and produce much of the same, and the cycle continues. So, please be re- minded, the biggest burden for judg- ing theMaltese correctly lies with the breeders who are in charge of the di- rection of their breed. For we can only judge what you bring to us. When judging, it is rather easy to identify a really wonderful example of the breed, yet it is RARE to have one. The wonderful ones jump out because they will be a true Toy dog, clothed head to toe with a silky, white coat and a strikingly beautiful, mod- erate head with round skull, round black eyes with black eye rims, and a black nose. They will be fine-boned, compact in body, ribs well sprung, lev- el in back with its plumed tail carried over the back, but with the tip lying to the side (not flat on the back). The correct Maltese may appear slightly longer than tall to many, be- cause the standard measures the body as being equal from the withers to the ground as from withers to the root of tail. With proper, moderate angulation, front and rear, to my eye, this appears longer than tall.

BIO Jacqueline Stacy’s involvement began over 50 years ago with a lifetime commit- ment to the sport of purebred dogs as an exhibitor and breeder. Her initial breed was Pomeranians. As a professional han- dler, her accomplishments were affirmed by her peers when voted the top female professional handler in the USA in 1987. She is credited with the management of the successful breeding programs of several of her clients, including the Skye Terriers and Maltese of Carol Fran- ces Andersen’s Sand Island Kennels. She purchased Ch. Keoli’s Small Kraft Warning from Jeff Sunde inWashington as Sand Island’s first Special. “Rickie” is well-known as the winner of the Toy Group at the AKC Centennial in 1984 over 1,000 dogs under the esteemedMel- bourne Downey, Jr. She later purchased Ch. Melodylane Lite n’ Lively Luv from Mary and Freeman Purvis from Iowa who became a multiple BIS winner. Just prior to her retirement as a handler, they produced Ch. Sand Island Small Kraft Lite who was piloted to Top Toy Dog in 1991 andWestminster Toy Group winner in 1992, by Vicki Abbott. Mrs. Stacy be- gan her judging career in 1995. She has judged many National Specialties, in- cluding the AMA andmost of the premier shows in the US, in addition to others in Canada, Europe, Asia, South America, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and, most recently, in Russia. She is approved to judge BIS, all Toy, Non-Sporting, Herding, Hounds, and Terrier breeds, and the key Sporting dogs. She judged the Non-Sporting Group at Westminster in 2014. Along with her husband, Terry, she maintains a small but highly respect- ed breeding program of Affenpinschers under the Tamarin prefix.

I am always hoping to see the Mal- tese presented so as to allow its lively and playful nature to come through in the ring. I realize it is difficult to keep the coat lying perfectly while allowing the dog to act naturally, but when a Maltese does it on its own and then flows around the ring with little movement on the topline, high head carriage and nice reach and drive, it is a sight to behold. The coat must be silky without any undercoat. It must be white, pure white. Even color on the ears is dis- couraged. It must be carried flat and silky over the sides of the body, and it should be long. The frosting on the cake is when you have all this and the dog has furnishings nearly to the floor—and a coat that hangs beyond the floor. With all the “products” that are readily available and used today, and the use of irons, seldom is the correct coat seen. This, undoubtedly, comes back to haunt, for there is little incentive to breed for the right coat. These are the details that make up type for the ideal Maltese. As judg- es, our challenge is to sort through those that are NOT ideal. Based on my hands-on experience with this breed as a breeder for Carol Frances Andersen’s Sand Island Kennels, as a Professional Handler of Maltese, and as a Toy Dog Judge since 1995, I have determined this list of priorities when judging the Maltese, in this order: • Coat Texture and Color • Overall Balance • Topline, Tail • Head, Pigment • Movement • Temperament • Size

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BREED STANDARD: A TIMELESS PICTURE IN WORDS by Pat Bullard

I t’s time to enter the show ring, but the judge is standing at the table, intently reading the Maltese breed standard. To me, that’s as impres- sive as a Maltese breeder who keeps the breed standard with them all the time and breeds to it faithfully. It is not a recipe where substitutions can be added and get the same result. We’re not trying to create a newMal- tese dog. We are trying to preserve an ancient breed that has been around for over 2,500 years. We expect show judges to know our breed standard and follow it to the letter, and we, as breeders, should expect the same from ourselves. I take lotsof tripsdownMemoryLane, watching vintage videos and search- ing through old magazines. Some- times, I findmyself so lost inwhat was, I can almost touch the Maltese from generations ago. I admire how closely theMaltese, decades ago, fit the breed standard so much more closely—and many of them could win today. The classic moderate head, and the bal- ance and soundness of structure and movement would all be as beauti- ful to see in the ring today as it was in the “old” days. Even coat texture and color were more honest before we started bleaching and flat ironing for showing. I miss the Maltese I knew and ad- mired from those days. You may think I’m speaking of the biggest winners (and I do remember many of those fondly), but it is the general population that has changed so much in the last few decades. Have we, as

project being conducted by Dr. Renee Barber at the University of Georgia (contact: rbarber@uga.edu ). It is im- possible to contemplate neurological disorders without considering the ef- fects of skull shape. We’re all aware of the neurological disorders Maltese face today. Head shape has an enormous effect on neurological disorders. The breed standard specifically describes the skull as slightly rounded on top, the stop moderate, the eyes set not too far apart, the muzzle is of medium length, fine-tapered, but not snipy. We cannot have healthyMaltese dogs without a healthy skull shape. As im- portant as structure, the head is the neurological control center of healthy life. It is in our breed’s best interest for us all to understand that the head de- scribed in the breed standard is not to be reinvented or changed in any way. We can play around with our inter- pretations of silky, pure white hair or how high the arch of the tail with its tip lying to the side over the quarter. We can breed for ultra pigment with eye halos as our preference. We can prefer the smaller side of the standard or the larger end. None of these areas of interpretation affect the health of our breed. There is so much to consider when we take on the responsibility of being breeders, but our first responsibility is to our breed standard. Always let the breed standard lead you forward. That is where we will find health and type.

breeders, taken license to deviate from the standard to the point of ill health for our breed? Have we, as breeders, caved in to the pet mar- ket and ignored the standard? Or have we decided the standard leaves enough room for interpretation that we can take liberties? The answer I give is the best advice I’ve been given from a breeding mentor: “Breed to the standard. Don’t try to improve it. Respect it.” Like some other breeds, it is the head of the Maltese that has been most affected by fad, fashion, pet owner preferences, and deviation from the breed standard. The consequences of changing skull shape are complicated and can be devastating. The Toy breeds were built using forms of dwarfism. Ateliotic pituitary dwarfism is a deficiency in somatro- pin, which results in stunted growth of all somatic cells in the body. This is the form of dwarfism that minia- turizes all parts. The two other types you will recognize are achondropla- sia, which shortens the legs, length- ens the body, and gives a larger head, and brachycephalic achondroplasia, which shortens the head by shorten- ing the mid-face and upper jaw. If either of the last two types of dwarf- ism are present in the Maltese, we have some major problems. All forms have side effects and they are all seri- ous ones. The answers for our biggest health problem, a neurological dis- ease called MUE (by necropsy can be diagnosed as GME), have yet to be discovered and there is a research

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SEE YOU ALLATTHE NATIONAL Luv Bug’s

ALL BRED BY CONNIE BANITT

GANG

MBISS GCHB Luv Bug’s Baby I’mHowlin ForYou Owned by Ari and Bob Donahue and Connie Banitt Handled byWesannTeam

GCHB CH Luv Bugs Jewel OfThe SeaAt Tribeca Owned by Rebecca Beard and CodyWright and Connie Banitt Handled byWesannTeam

GCHB Luv Bug’s DesignedTo Impress Owned by Dave and Linda Boe and Connie Banitt Handled byWesannTeam

CH Luv Bug’s Chanel Number Five Owned by Connie Banitt and Nyra Banitt Owner Handled

T op N otch T oys , A pril /M ay 2021 • 29

G R O U P W I N N I N G MU LT I P L E G R O U P P L AC I N G GCHB BALLOFUR’S Happiness Is A Warm Pom

T H A N K YO U T O J U D G E T I M O T H Y C AT T E R S O N F O R AWA R D I N G J O H N N Y T O P H O N O R S I N S U C H A B E A U T I F U L L I N E U P. W E WA N T T O T H A N K A L L O F T H E J U D G E S W H O H AV E A P P R E C I AT E D H I S C L A S S I C B R E E D T Y P E .

OW N E D B Y : T R A C Y W I T Z

B R E D A N D P R E S E N T E D B Y : A LY B E L L

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*AKC STATS AS OF 3/31/21

ALL BREED * #2 #4 BREED *

Johnny

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COLLECTING DOG SHOW MEMORABILIA LEARNING THE HISTORY OF OUR SPORT WHILE PRESERVING IT by Pat Bullard

C ollecting dog show memora- bilia started with the search for meaningful gifts for a Maltese regional show that I was working on with a friend. That’s when I caught the “time travel” bug. With each piece that I found, there was more mys- tery to solve and the research has felt much like time travel for me. It’s not the sterling silver trophies or the fine art that draws my attention. Instead, it’s the bits and pieces of our history— saved by those who came before us— that tell the story of the remembered and treasured moments of dog show history in America. From candid photos to win photos, letters, tickets, children’s books, mag- azines of the past, and show catalogs, the evolution of the sport of pure- bred dogs in our country is told. Of course, my own breed, the Maltese, is one of my favorite subjects to col- lect. However, I am also intrigued by the people who started kennel clubs and dog shows. Returning lost his- tory to the all-breed clubs for their ar- chives is part of the joy of collecting. What started as a way to fill a boring afternoon has become a mission and a passion. Historical collections don’t do anyone any good by sitting in a dusty drawer or in boxes in the attic. Collections are only as valuable as you make them; by sharing them with the younger gen- eration of dog fanciers. Many items can be scanned so that the original is able to stay with the collector. It’s also

Ladies Kennel Club Letter

Rae with Judge, 1969

San Francisco Kennel Club Exhibitor’s Ticket

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quite valuable to share what you find on so- cial media and to use the platform to promote your breed—and our sport in general. I’ve had some wonderful conversations on social me- dia by sharing what I’ve found, and by asking for help in putting the pieces of the puzzle to- gether to tell the story. One example is a letter, which I’d purchased online, that is from James Mortimer to Mr. G. M. Rundle of Danbury, Connecticut. Af- ter much conversation with others and a good deal of research, it was determined that this letter references Danbury Fair’s dog show beginnings. Making historic items available to their original clubs is also a meaningful gesture, as many are working on their histor- ical archives. Some have even written books. I’m just your average breeder/exhibitor. I’m not steeped in dog show history, but collect- ing has awakened a passion that I hope I might share with others in our sport. We can save our bits and pieces, and use them to inspire the next generation through the story of our amazing evolution.

“Some Dogs” Cover

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Pat Bullard of Sallipesh Mal- tese is a breeder/owner-handler from Nashville, Tennessee. Be- ginning in the breed in the 1980s, she has campaigned and bred top- ranking Maltese, and has served the American Maltese Associa- tion as Corresponding Secretary, Founder of the National’s White Excitement Party, and she cur- rently serves as Co-Chairman of the Education Committee.

“Some Dogs” Page 45

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DEBARAH BILLINGS BREEDER OWNER HANDLER WWW.WINDSONGBIEWERS.COM

AKC BREEDER OF MERIT

GCH CH WINDSONG’S SOMETHIN’ TO TALK ABOUT

#1 GCH Bitch * Introducing our First 5 NEW CHAMPIONS with Multiple Generations from Our Kennel Rumor GCH CH Windsong’s *AKC GCH s ats as of 3/31/21

Somethin’ To Talk About Owner Debarah Billings Hope CH Windsong’s I Hope You Dance Owners Debarah Billings & Suzanne Kline Cher CH Windsong’s Believe CM Owners Adrianne Dering & Debarah Billings Winston CH Windsong’s Heaven Sent To The Heartland Owners Rose Kitta & Kathy Totten Whiskey CH Windsong’s Something About A Tenor CM3 Owner Christine Goven

Sincerest Gratitude to Susan Giles for her handling

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DEBARAH BILLINGS BREEDER OWNER HANDLER WWW.WINDSONGBIEWERS.COM

AKC BREEDER OF MERIT

Bringing the Magic to Westminster 2021! ESSENCE OF BREED TYPE Magical

T op N otch T oys , A pril /M ay 2021 • 35

THE HAVANESE WHAT’S SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND?

by Kathy Ambler, Ambler Havanese

T he very first paragraph in the Ha- vanese Standard says it all. It de- scribes our wonderful breed in a nutshell. So, why is it so difficult to understandwhen you are actually in the process of evaluating a dog for show po- tential at home, or evaluating a class of dogs in the show ring? GENERAL APPEARANCE: The Havanese is a small, sturdy dog of immense charm. The native dog of Cuba, he is beloved as a friendly, intel- ligent, and playful companion. He is slightly longer than tall, with a long, untrimmed, double coat. The Havanese has a short upper arm with moderate shoulder layback and a straight topline that rises slightly from the withers to the croup. The plumed tail is carried arched forward, up over the back. The unique, springy gait is a result of the breed’s structure and playful, spirited personality. These characteristics of temperament, coat, structure, and gait are essential to type. The Havanese is a small, sturdy dog of immense charm. Well—your version of small and mine may be two different ideas. But the standard goes on to say, the Havanese must not be under 8.5 inches or over 11.5 inches at the withers. As a judge, you can wicket if you are un- sure. As a breeder, you should know be- fore you take your dog into the ring if it is within the standard. So, if your idea of small does not include an 11.5 inch tall dog, then you are not understanding the AKC standard. The Havanese breeders who approved this standard are telling you, point blank, small is anything be- tween 8.5 and 11.5 inches, and we go on to say that our preferred height is 9 to 10.5 inches. Easy enough, right? Not

really, because the standard goes on to describe the length of body in relation to height, and the amount of bone we want our dogs to have; all to help you understand what is meant by small. The standard uses the word “slightly”—the Havanese should be slightly longer than tall, with a rectangular outline. The standard even goes on to describe the rectangle. The length should come from the rib cage, not the loin. The loin is short! When I evaluate puppies, I want my length to be 2/3 from sternum to last rib and 1/3 from last rib to buttock. If you think a dog looks too long, put your finger on the last rib. Stand back. Does it divide the dog directly in half? Then chances are, your eye is right, the dog is longer than we are describing as slightly longer in the standard. (Could also be that the dog looks long because it is actually low on leg, creating an optical illusion). So, now you understand what the standard means by slightly longer than tall and a rectangle. So, what else makes up a small, sturdy Havanese? Bone. The standard calls for moderate bone. The Havanese should never appear coarse or fragile. The Ha- vanese that is 8.5 inches is going to be smaller than the Havanese that is 11.5 inches, but both should have sturdy, moderate bone. That 8.5 inchHavanese should not be fine-boned and the 11.5 inch Havanese should not be heavy- boned. Remember, this breed is meant to be a family companion for all ages. I would never want to have to tell a fam- ily with small children that my puppies are too fragile for their family! My ideal is approximately 1.25 to 1.5 pounds per inch tall. So, as an example, an 8.5 inch Havanese should be about 10 pounds to as much as 12 pounds. An 11.5 inch

Havanese could be 14 to 17 pounds and still be considered small and sturdy. You, as breeders, can breed to your pref- erence for size, and judges, if all else is equal, can also have a preference for size. You cannot award a dog that is un- der- or over-sized, fragile or coarse. Al- ways keep in mind that the HCA prefer- ence is 9-10.5 inches. You cannot award a poor quality, small Havanese over a good quality, larger Havanese just because you prefer small and feel the breed should be small to be in the Toy Group. And yes, I have seen it happen. So, let’s move on next to “Immense Charm.” What does this mean and how do you judge it in the show ring? How does the exhibitor show his/her dog’s immense charm? That is easy! It is de- scribed under temperament in the stan- dard! Friendly, playful, alert and intel- ligent, sweet and non-quarrelsome. Aggression and shyness should be faulted. So, why are we seeing aggres- siveHavanese in the ring?Why are they being awarded ribbons? The standard says it should be faulted. Now, luckily, we see less aggressive Havanese than shy Havanese. The standard also says that shyness should be faulted. And yet, I see Havanese with their tails between their legs, crouching away from judges on the table, simply scared to death, be- ing awarded winning ribbons. I am not telling you do not show it; they need to learn that shows are fun, and with some youngsters it may take awhile. But I personally do not care how wonderful your dog is at home; if it is aggressive or shy in the ring, it should never take home a winning ribbon. And no owner, handler or breeder should ever ex- pect one. Just consider it an expensive handling class.

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The first paragraph of the standard goes on to talk about the coat; long, un- trimmed, double coat. There seems to be a huge division of thought on what is correct when discussing the coat. First of all, age will determine the length of coat. A coat of shorter length on a younger dog should not be faulted. Even some adults that have a slower grow- ing coat may have shorter length. But, it should always be a double coat on an adult Havanese and should never be trimmed! The standard describes the perfect coat: Silky to the touch, soft and light in texture. The outercoat car- ries slightly more weight. It stands off the body, flows with movement, and is abundant and wavy. Dogs can be shown corded as well. Puppy coats can be soft- er than adults, and they also may not have much undercoat development. If the coat is flat, frizzy or curly, it should be faulted. If it is coarse or wiry it is a DQ. The standard is pretty explicit on how the coat should be and goes on to say that head furnishings can be in simple braids; simple, plain bands hold- ing the braids in place. The big issue is what can be done to the coat to comply with the sentence that states: “Natural as is consistent with good grooming.” I think it is simply stated in the standard and should be adhered to. Minimal trimming of the anal and genital area is allowed, but should not be seen on presentation. Hair on the feet and be- tween the pads should be trimmed. No other trimming or sculpting of the coat is permitted. It is to be severely penal- ized as to preclude placement. For some reason, time after time, I see obviously scissored coats being rewarded and, yes, many are also flat ironed. Why? The standard calls for a wavy coat! Flat ironing also changes the texture of the coat. It is no longer that soft, wavy, lightweight coat. When a standard says it should be severely penalized and pre- clude placement, why are theywinning? Is the rest of the entry, untrimmed and being shown naturally (but brushed!) that bad that the judges cannot “see” the trimming of the coat and the excessive shaving around the bum? The HCA has stated in their standard that they do not

want this level of grooming awarded. Another area of confusion in the stan- dard is the “part.” Most adult Havanese coats will fall down from the middle of their backs to the sides. If they do not, they have an incorrect coat. The coat should not stand off their backs like a Bichon. Remember, it is to be a long coat. Long coats will fall to either side. What the standard says, very clearly, is that the coat should not be deliber- ately parted. Meaning, not a Yorkie or Maltese part that is perfect and done with a knitting needle! And never should the dog’s coat be parted and held in place by hairspray! Yes, I have watched it being done right outside the ring. Judges, please understand that a correct coat is going to part. Time and again I have had handlers and owners tell me they were scolded in the ring for the dogs’ coat parting. And just where would those judges like the coats to fall? Even brushed straight back, the dog shakes and the coat falls to either side, naturally. The first paragraph also describes the topline in the Havanese. For a while, when I first started showing Havanese, I saw dogs winning with excessive rises. Putting my hands on them, I realized it was either they had crooked front legs, poor shoulder assembly or no rear an- gulation... or they were a bad combina- tion of all of that. But, they had a rise and so the judges were rewarding that. It seems that the breeders have gotten better about choosing keeper puppies with better front legs and somewhat better shoulders, and all should be look- ing for that short upper arm. But now, the toplines seem to have gone in com- pletely the opposite direction. We now have level toplines. Finding a slight rise is getting harder and harder. I hear it all the time from judges. They are seeing it across the country. We are losing the short upper arm, the topline, and the springy gait. I see videos on Facebook, and maybe one in five has a slight rise on the move. The well-behaved puppy with a level topline wins because the judges can’t get past that cute face and happy temperament. Please remember, this is a hallmark of the breed and is

what makes the Havanese outline dif- ferent from other breeds. While I am glad that we have less and less chon- drodysplastic dogs being shown and bred, I would hate to lose this hallmark of the breed. The plumed tail also adds to that beautiful correct outline. While I would not throw out a tight or loose tail, I would hope that breeders would choose mates, carefully, to try to breed away from those traits. We want to keep that arched tail; another hallmark of our breed. The springy gait is also mentioned in the first paragraph. This is so important to distinguish a Havanese from a Shih Tzu or Lhasa. The structure and at- titude both contribute to the gait. The Havanese should never be run around the ring. They are not a Sporting dog and should not have the reach and drive of one. They also should not have lift in the front like a Min Pin. And yes, I have seen both being rewarded. They are to be shown on a loose lead, but this does not mean the lead should be drag- ging on the ground behind the dog. The handler still has to have control over the dog. What is meant here is that the HCA does not want to see the Havanese being strung up as is so popular with other Toy dogs. Stringing them up, let- ting them run, or letting them sniff the ground all throw off the topline on the move. It is important to see the topline rise on the move, not just while stacked. So, no tight leads, but also not so loose that the dog is then controlling how they move around the ring instead of the handler controlling the dog. Yes, this is a training issue too, but keep in mind that these little dogs are happy and inquisi- tive, and letting them have too much leeway on that loose lead can lead to a disaster. Ihope that Ihavehelpedyouunderstand the hallmarks of the breed. Keep in mind that these are simply my opinions and how I personally have interpreted the breed standard. If you want to know how I evaluate puppies and adult dogs, and how I determine overall balance and quality, I would be happy to discuss my thoughtswith you.My email address is havayork@yahoo.com.

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WHISPERING WATERS HAVANESE Ripp BI S , RBI S , & BI SS OWNED BY PAT TSCHOHL, SANDY MCCABE, DEB MCHUGH & WADE KOISTINEN

HANDLED BY WADE KOISTINEN

Photo by Rob Crowder

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PLATINUM GRAND CHAMPION Heartlands Ripp In Time

Reserve Bes t In Show

T op N otch T oys , A pril /M ay 2021• 39

BREEDING BETTER DOGS BEGINS IN THE WHELPING BOX NOT IN THE SHOW RING

by Sharon Masnick, Chris & John Heartz, Brenda Segelken, David & Carlene Gilstrap, Roxie Campbell, and Charlotte Creed

the decisions they make in the show ring promote the lameness problems in our breed.” I thought, “How many people agree with this statement and how many breeds do they think that about!?” So, I decided to elaborate on this sentence. As a judge, our main consideration is the dog’s conformation or overall ap- pearance, temperament, and struc- ture. We, as judges, are looking for characteristics that allow the dog to perform the function for which his or her breed was bred to accomplish. It is the responsibility of breeders to breed, train, and show sound dogs in all breeds—not just Pomeranians. All breeders should be able to screen for the difference between a show dog and a pet puppy. So, all breeders must study and know their standard and how to interpret it. Standards list doz- ens of required characteristics. The logic here is “pet quality” means that a dog is not a candidate for breeding or the show ring. So, limited registration can be used to prevent pet quality pup- pies from being bred or shown. Again, it is the responsibility of respon- sible breeders to focus on produc- ing healthy, sound dogs that meet the breed standard. It is the job of breeders to select only show dogs to go into the ring to be evaluated by judges. If you realize your dog has stifle problems, an incorrect bite, is long in body, has

incorrect angulation, incorrect shoul- der layback or other problems, then do not enter the dog in the show ring. Not every dog meets the requirements to be a show dog. It is not a judges’ re- sponsibility to breed and grade dogs to be shown to them. Breeders must step up and only allow sound dogs to be shown. If you want to breed bet- ter dogs, do not be afraid to seek help. Always strive with every litter to im- prove the quality. We all know there is not a perfect dog, but it is our goal to try; it takes years to establish a breeding program. Judges do need to be careful in their selections and, perhaps, withholding a ribbon when necessary or excuse any dog for lack of merit. Judges are on a schedule, but maybe they can ask the person to stay around for a while and perhaps a mentor could be suggest- ed. We want to encourage people to show dogs, not discourage them from showing dogs. In closing, breeders, be proud of what you breed and show. It starts with you and the whelping box. Judges can only evaluate what is entered and shown to them. I have asked several Pomeranian breeders and judges to comment on the article in hopes of improving the dogs being bred and shown. Their thoughts and ideas follow this article.

SHARON MASNICK My name is Sharon Masnick and I have owned a Pomeranian since I was 18. I began to be interested in the en- tire Toy Group when, for 17 years, I handled the advertising and editorial for Top Notch Toys . I resigned in 2011 to pursue judging. I am now happy to say that I can judge BIS, the Toy Group, Junior Showmanship, Aza- wakhs, Shetland Sheepdogs, and sev- eral Non-Sporting breeds. Recently, I read an article in the Janu- ary 2021 issue of Top Notch Toys en- titled, “Pomeranian Structure Equals Healthy Function.” Most of the article was educational, but one sentence just stood out to me: “It is apparent to me that we have let irresponsible judging lead to irresponsible breed- ing, and that judges are unaware that

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