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.
G C H C H C H A C A ’ S
O H B E S T I N S H O W M U L T I P L E O H G R O U P 1 W I N N E R Richie Love at Diamond Stars
Thanks to Judges Mr. Lawrence C. Terricone, Mrs. Pamela B. Peat, Mrs. Lydia Coleman Hutchinson, Mrs. Gloria Kerr, Mrs. Diana L. Skibinski, Mr. Daniel J. Smyth, Esq. and Mrs. Jacqueline L. Stacy for honoring our lovely ball of energy.
O W N E D A N D H A N D L E D B Y N A T A L Y A I G N A T Y E V A
B R E D B Y C A T H Y B A I L E Y
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Richie
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Zen
GCHS iLove Rhapsody Always Zen
(CH Rhapsody’s Stairway To Heaven ROM* x Multi CH Am GCHG Always Pearl ROM*)
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
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Wisely
#1 Maltese All Breed System*
GCHB iLove Rhapsody Always Full of Wisdom (CH Rhapsody’s Stairway To Heaven ROM* x Multi CH Am GCHG Always Pearl ROM*)
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 stats as of 2/28/22
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POMERANIANS & BIEWER TERRIERS T riple C rown
Firecracker #14 BIEWER TERRIER BREED *
TRIPLE CROWN AMERICAN PHAROAH FIRECRACKER FOR TNT
Fireworks for his first show at 6 months of age going Best of Breed for a major over specials!
Bred by Michele Lyons of Triple Crown Pomeranians & Biewer Terriers Owned by Michele Lyons and Theresa Tafoya Shown by Theresa Tafoya
WWW.TRIPLECROWNPOMERANIANS.COM
*AKC BREED STATS AS OF 2/28/22
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POMERANIANS & BIEWER TERRIERS T riple C rown
Monty #1 BIEWER TERRIER BREED * #1 GRAND CHAMPION ** #4 ALL BREED **
Brother of 2021 #1 GCHB Irish Jazz Dzhaga Dzhaga in Breed ** GCH IRISH JAZZ MONPLEZIR
Bred by Irena Belova Owned by Michele Lyons & Theresa Tafoya Shown by Jody Paquette Garcini Thank you to Judges Mrs. Terry Berrios, Mr. Nathaniel Horn, Mrs. Sandra Bingham-Porter, Mr. Desmond Murphy, Mrs. Nancy Lisbee, Mr. Sei-Ichiro Ishimaru, Mr. James Mitchell, and Mrs. Polly Smith.
WWW.TRIPLECROWNPOMERANIANS.COM
**AKC STATS AS OF 2/28/22
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FINNICKYSKYE CAVALIERS OWNED & SHOWN BY: J IM & SHARON UTYCH Edgar
MBIS CKCSC USA & GROUP PLACING RBISOH MBISS AKC GCHS CH BROOKHAVEN THE DREAM LIVES ON, AW CGCA SELECT DOG • PALMETTO CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL CLUB SPECIALTY UNDER JUDGE CINDY LANE AWARD OF MERIT • PALMETTO CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL CLUB SPECIALTY UNDER JUDGE LU DUNHAM AWARD OF MERIT • CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL CLUB OF GREATER ATLANTA SPECIALTY UNDER JUDGE CESAR CORTES
©SKUNKWORX CUSTOMS PHOTOGRAPHY
NEW SILVER GRAND CHAMPION Catcher
RBIS CKCSC USA & GROUP PLACING MBISOH MRBISOH AKC GCHS CH LEGENDCREST FINNICKYSKYE DREAM CATCHER, JW AW CGC
SELECT DOG MAJOR • GREATER PANAMA CITY DOG FANCIERS ASSOCIATION UNDER JUDGE BONNIE LINNELL CLARKE
OH GROUP 2 • GREATER PANAMA CITY DOG FANCIERS ASSOCIATION
SELECT DOG MAJOR • REATER PANAMA CITY DOG FANCIERS ASSOCIATION UNDER JUDGE CAROLYN I . ALEXANDER
OH GROUP 1 • GREATER PANAMA CITY DOG FANCIERS ASSOCIATION
SELECT DOG MAJOR • CHARLESTON KC UNDER JUDGE MARJORIE UNDERWOOD
SELECT DOG MAJOR • CHARLESTON KC UNDER JUDGE LINDA HURLEBAUS
SELECT DOG MAJOR • GRIFFIN GA KENNEL CLUB UNDER JUDGE LINDA HURLEBAUS
SELECT DOG MAJOR • CONYERS KC UNDER JUDGE DENNY MOUNCE
SELECT DOG MAJOR • GRIFFIN GA KENNEL CLUB UNDER JUDGE NEENA L . VAN CAMP
AWARD OF MERIT • CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL CLUB OF GREATER ATLANTA SPECIALTY UNDER JUDGE MARY HANUS
©SKUNKWORXCUSTOMSPHOTOGRAPHY
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Stevie
MBVIS AKC CH ALMEARA VISIONNAIRE, CGCA
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AT THE NORTH FLORIDA CKCSC SPECIALTY SHOWS:
BEST VETERAN IN SWEEPSTAKES UNDER JUDGE JAMIE SEIDMAN MCDONNELL
BEST VETERAN IN SHOW & AWARD OF MERIT UNDER JUDGE HAROLD TATRO I I I
BEST VETERAN IN SHOW & AWARD OF MERIT UNDER JUDGE JAMES J. MITCHELL
BEST VETERAN IN SWEEPSTAKES UNDER JUDGE CYNDI MYHRE!
BEST VETERAN IN SHOW • CKCSC USA CAVALIERS OF THE MIDWEST SPECIALTY UNDER JUDGE ANDY VELLA BEST VETERAN IN SHOW • CKCSC USA CAVALIERS OF THE MIDWEST SPECIALTY UNDER JUDGE SHEENA MACLAINE BEST VETERAN IN SHOW • CKCSC USA CAVALIERS OF THE MIDWEST SPECIALTY UNDER JUDGE TRACY FRY JACKSON BEST VETERAN IN SWEEPSTAKES • PALMETTO CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL CLUB SPECIALTY UNDER JUDGE DANNA ROBINSON SAATHOFF BEST VETERAN IN SWEEPSTAKES • CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL CLUB OF GREATER ATLANTA SPECIALTY UNDER JUDGE JENNIFER FLOWERS FOSTER Lennyn BROOKHAVEN NUMBER NINE DREAM BEST OF OPPOSITE SEX IN SWEEPSTAKES • CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL CLUB OF GREATER ATLANTA SPECIALTY UNDER JUDGE JENNIFER FLOWERS FOSTER
©SKUNKWORXCUSTOMSPHOTOGRAPHY
Vera INTRODUCING THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE FINNICKYSKYE TEAM ALL
THE WAY FROM THE UK HARANA HARVEST MOON THANK YOU TO BREEDER LUCY KOSTER FOR THIS SPECIAL LITTLE GIRL !
©SKUNKWORXCUSTOMSPHOTOGRAPHY
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“Thai” was only shown at a few shows in Januar y and Februar y of 2020 when he f inished his championship and at the end of the year at the AKC Nat ional Championship where he received an Award of Excel lence. We are look ing forward to seeing what 2022 wi l l br ing us!
From t he s t andard - “Idea l ly, he ight at w i t her s i s 9 to 10-1/2 inches ; but , not l es s t han 8 inches nor more t han 11 inches . Idea l ly, we ight of mat ure dogs , 9 to 16 pounds .”
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INTERNATIONAL & AMER ICAN CH HEARTY’S WONDER BOY
Award of Mer i t f rom t he Febr uar y 2020 Met ropo l i t an NY Shih Tzu Fanc i er s spec i a l t y under judge Johnny Shoemaker. Owner s : Les l i e LeFave & L Sarah Lawrence Breeder : Papi tchaya Sukonoi T op N otch T oys , A pril 2022 • 11
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 DIRECTOR/EDITOR DARON NEWCOMB Customer Relationship Manager daron@aramediagroup.com 512-807-0035 SOCIAL MEDIA ELMA BEGIC Manager, Social Media & Creative Content elma@aramediagroup.com 1-512-686-3466
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27
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14 Welcome Daron
42 43 45 47 48 49 50
Some Toys Are Not Safe For Toy Dogs Sharon Masnick
Newcomb to the Team Daron Newcomb
16 Let’s Go to a Dog Show Dan Sayers 18 For the Love of Children and Man’s Best Friend Walter J. Sommerfelt 27 English Toy Spaniel or Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Cindy Huggins
Candids: March Madness Cluster Jean Edwards
Judging the Toy Fox Terrier Jon Rawleigh
The “Takeaways” Gina Wieser
32 Judging the
MAILING ADDRESS PO BOX 18567 TAMPA, FL 33679
Toy Fox Terrier Susan Thibodeaux
Rates
34 The Brussels Griffon Lorene Vickers-Smith 37 Toy Poodles Need to Look Like Toy Poodles Nancy Hafner 38 What Makes A Pug, A Pug? Patt Kolesar Stoltz
Index to Advertisers
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.
Coming Attractions
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Top 5 Shih Tzu breed * Top 10 NOHS Shih Tzu *
*AKC BREED STATS AS OF 2/28/22
NOHS GROUP WINNING NOHS GROUP PLACING
Thank You Judge Mrs. Keiko Shimizu & Judge Mrs. Bergit Coady Kabel
GCH CH BLUE HILLS’ ETERNALLY YOURS AT OH MY B I S S G C H C H B L U E H I L L S ’ C O L I N K A E P E R N I C K x C H B L U E H I L L S ’ D I TA VO N T E E S E
B R E E D E R S : D I A N E B OO N E & DAV I D B OO N E
OWN E R S : C H R I S T I N E PAU L & D I A N E B OO N E
OhMyShihTzu.com
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Hi, All!
DARON NEWCOMB TO THE TEAM WELCOME
My name is Daron Newcomb and I’m excited to become part of Aramedia Group as the Cus- tomer Relationship Manager of Top Notch Toys. I’ve been involved in the world of dog shows since 2004 and have loved every minute. I’m looking forward to this new aspect of the sport and want to help our customers with their journey to suc- cess! Our goal with TNT is to enhance our cus- tomers’ dog show experience with beautiful, qual- ity advertising to assist in taking your dog to the top. At TNT, we want to welcome all dog owners, owner-handlers, breeders, and professional han- dlers, because together we make up this fabulous sport. I look forward to working with each and ev- ery one of you in the near future.
512-807-0035 DARON@ARAMEDIAGROUP.COM
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*
*
*AKC STATS AS OF 12/31/21
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LET’S GO TO
A DOG SHOW
a poem by DAN SAYERS
Morning breaks softly and all is quiet, Except for the dogs that pace to and fro, They bark with delight, sounds like a riot, Each voice pleading, “Let’s go to a dog show.” Load up the van and bring the good luck charm, Fill up the tank and head out for the day, Up in the distance, and just past the farm, A sign welcomes travelers: Dog ShowToday.
Last Group is sorted and placements are made, Fourth to a rare breed, a win well-deserved, ABred-By is Third, sure glad that she stayed, Second’s a top-dog, the handler’s perturbed. The dog in First Place sure is a standout, Cheers erupt from the crowd gathered ringside, The judge is pleased, a rosette she hands-out, Photo and thank you, just beaming with pride. A deep breath and smile, it’s now time for Best, Applause, applause breaks out from the masses, The moment is now, no time to get stressed, Look at that, Best in Show from the classes! Jumping and wagging, this dog has it all, Charm, type, charisma, style andmovement, Gorgeous, for sure, but sometimes a screwball, Even now, there’s still room for improvement
Unloading, unpacking, setting things up, Dogs are in ex-pens, the coffee’s still hot, With ring times confirmed and armbands picked-up, Just getting started, let’s see what we’ve got. Open Dogs, please, in catalog order, Time to find out if today is the day, Stand for examine, then gait ‘round the border, First place it is. A blue ribbon, no way! The entry has held, a five-point major, Better stay cool, this is no time to sweat, The judge; all business, a real old stager, Winners Dog and Breed. Wow, what an upset! Ribbon in hand and show photo taken, Back to the set-up to take off those shoes, A treat for the dog; cheese, egg and bacon, Lunch for the handler; call home with the news.
This day was 19 years in the making, Some highs and some lows, with blood, sweat and tears,
The journey was tough, truly painstaking, Today is worth every one of those years.
The dogs are all packed, time to get going, A three hour drive, should be home by nine, Dogs are asleep, the driver is glowing, Sometimes in this life, the stars just align.
Already started, the Groups, don’t you know, Time to get ready, go for a potty, The top dogs are here, and they’re all aglow, It’s anyone’s game: Peke, Chow or Scottie.
Dogs and dog people, a winning combo, Say it out loud, “Let’s go to a dog show!”
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*
*AKC stats as of 1/31/22
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FOR THE LOVE OF CHILDREN AND MAN’S BEST FRIEND
By Walter J. Sommerfelt
A few months ago, I shared with you an article I had written on volunteers and my opinion that they are indeed the backbone of our sport. I received a few very posi- tive responses from that message and one of them suggested that I should share my story to show that it was not just talk. My story illustrates that when you think outside the box and explore that seemingly impossible thought with other forward-thinking people you can make a difference. This is a true story about one man’s idea of sharing his love of dogs and a desire to do something to help the Children of St. Jude Children’s Re- search Hospital inMemphis, Tennes- see. It shows how that idea—with the help of a great group of people —de- veloped into a special event that left a small footprint on a city and a love for man’s best friend. THE ST. JUDE STORY This story started after I became in- volved in a volunteer effort for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. For those of you who may not know much about St. Jude’s, it all began with its founding by the entertainer Danny Thomas. It was founded on the prem- ise that “no child should die in the dawn of life.” The idea for the hospital was from a promise that Mr. Thomas had made to a saint many years be- fore its founding. At the time Thomas was a struggling Catholic comedian
trying to get a break in his career and living from paycheck to paycheck. When his first child was about to be born, he attended Mass in Detroit and put his last $7.00 in the offering plate. He prayed to St. Jude Thad- deus (the Catholic patron saint for lost causes) for a means to provide for his growing family. About a week later he obtained a gig that paid ten times what he placed in the offering plate. Following that Thomas believed in the power of prayer. He promised St. Jude Thaddeus that if the saint made him successful, he would one day build him a shrine. Years later, Thom- as became an extremely successful TV star and comedian and built St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as a shrine to honor his promise to St. Jude Thaddeus. In 1957, Danny Thomas—who was a Lebanese American—founded AL- SAC (American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities) the organiza- tion that would help him realize his dream. ALSAC became the fund- raising arm of the future hospital. The City of Memphis, Tennessee was chosen as the location for the project at the suggestion of Roman Catholic Cardinal Samuel Stritch, a Tennes- see native who had been a spiritual advisor to Mr. Thomas ever since presiding at Mr. Thomas’s confir - mation in Danny’s boyhood home of Toledo, Ohio.
It should also be noted that although it was named in honor of Mr. Thom- as’s patron saint, the hospital is not a Catholic hospital. Rather, it is a secu- lar institution not affiliated with any religious organization. Five years after the founding of AL- SAC, Danny Thomas’s dream was re- alized when St. Jude opened in 1962. Since that opening, many discoveries at St. Jude have made possible nu- merous changes in the way that Doc- tors treat childhood cancer and other catastrophic diseases. The survival rates for acute lymphoblastic leuke- mia (the most common of all child- hood cancers) has grown from four percent in 1962 to 94% today. Since St. Jude opened, the survival rate from all childhood cancers has risen from 20% to 80%. It is not hard to see what a wonderful tribute grew from that humble prom- ise of a struggling young father-to- be. But I guess I need to get back to my story. WHAT CAN ONE PERSON DO? After personally witnessing the daily miracles at St. Jude, I asked myself what could I do to help make a differ - ence? As I thought about it, I consid- ered my experience with the sport of dogs and wondered if that could be a source for a fund-raising event. My thoughts at the time were that our dogs are known as Man’s best friend,
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M aybelline G C H B N A T U R A L R A D I A N C E N O H S R B I S 7 N O H S G R O U P 1' S - A N D - M U LT I P L E G R O U P P L A C E M E N T S G O L D N O H S Ranked #3 I N 2 0 2 1 * R A N K E D 2 0 2 1 * top 10
*AKC breed stats 2021
Thank you to all judges who recogn i zed Maybe l l i ne i n Breed & Group . Espec i a l l y proud to have been awarded two NOHS Group 1s under respected breeder j udges Joseph Buchanan & De i rdre Pet r i e
Watch for Maybe l l ine in 2022 Owner/Handl er : Deborah Wo l f Breeders : Tom & Sharon Frampton
T op N otch T oys , A pril 2022 • 19
On June 15th of that year, thirteen individuals representing several of our concept groups attended that first planning meeting. In that meeting our agenda addressed: • The general concept of the event • Outline needs for individual subcommittees • Location for the event • Selection of a date • Possible corporate sponsorship • Introduction of Walter Sommer- felt and Sherry Webster as Chair and Assistant Chair for the event. • Association with ALSAC and The Ladies of St. Jude auxiliary as St. Jude partners in the event. • Finance • Insurance • Publicity • Various exhibitions • Special events • Competitive events • Demonstrations • Major organization participants • Breed participation • Concessions • Parking • Equipment • Gate/Admission, Etc. This initial meeting was met with great enthusiasm and all agreed to move forward with the plan. Every- one also agreed it would take at least one year to 18 months to put it all together, but all in attendance were committed to the project. It was understood from day one that we were all volunteers and that no one would be compensated for their time and talents. YOU WIN WITH PEOPLE One of my favorite books is my wife’s autographed copy of the late Woody Hayes book, You Win With People . Hayes, the former head coach of my beloved Ohio State Buckeyes, de- voted the book to the team concept of how every single member of any suc- cessful organization plays an impor- tant part in the eventual outcome of any endeavor. What I learned most through the process of putting this event on was that Woody had it right. I needed to develop a leadership style that was
and I saw St. Jude as the best friend of a child in need and thought it could be a combination that might work. Having been involved in dog shows since the early 1970s, I was curious as to why shows only held conforma- tion and obedience together when there were so many other things that could be done with our dogs. I con- templated, “If there was an event that included the many diverse aspects of competition available to dog lovers, would the public come to learn, ob- serve and participate in our wonder- ful world of dogs?” With the support and encouragement of my wife and best friend Carol, I started putting together a plan of ac- tion and possibilities. I had started my judging career in 1985 and had founded the Mid-South judges’ group. We were one of the earlier judges’ groups in the country at the time and met monthly to learn about the various breeds presented by knowledgeable breed mentors. Our members came fromWest Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and South- west Kentucky. At one of our monthly get-togethers, I mentioned my idea and asked for thoughts and feedback. Many thought it was a good idea, but thought it had a very small chance to succeed. One member, Sherry Web- ster, thought it was a great idea and agreed to team up with Carol and me to pursue the idea further. THE SPRING OF 1994 THE PROJECT STARTS By the spring of 1994, Carol, Sherry and I had given the idea a great deal of thought. We considered what types of events, demonstrations, educa- tional, and entertainment events to include (what all might be involved), and was it truly a realistic concept? At the time the AKC was still basically a Conformation, Obedience, and Field Trial club and we had this vision of so many other opportunities outside of AKC events in which dog owners could do so much more with their dogs. So, inMay of 1994, we sent out a letter to a list of possible participants in our project to gauge interest in our concept.
“I CONTEMPLATED, ‘IF THERE WAS AN EVENT THAT INCLUDED THE MANY DIVERSE ASPECTS OF COMPETITION AVAILABLE TO DOG LOVERS, WOULD THE PUBLIC COME TO LEARN, OBSERVE AND PARTICIPATE IN OUR WONDERFUL WORLD OF DOGS?’”
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open-minded—not judgmental—and appreciative of every single volunteer for it to succeed. Sherry and I agree that we could not succeed by micro-managing, and we had to let each group and individual event contribute and staff as needed. We, as leaders, would be there to as- sist and coordinate with them to make it all work as one event with each group as a sub-event. Sherry was a very valuable assistant chairman who served the event well for several years before family health matters would force her to move over to the sidelines. The contributions she made to the project, especially in the beginning, were tremendous. GETTING THE WORD OUT The committee wanted to put some type of name to the event and the title “St. Jude Wonderful World of Dogs” was selected, and Sherry created a wonderful logo of a child and dog to represent the project. Ironically just a few weeks before the event, we would learn the “wonderful world of dogs” had been copyrighted and we were in violation of copyright law putting our event in jeopardy. Fortunately, an agreement was reached along with a donation from the copyright holder and we could proceed, but the follow- ing year we would change our name to the St. Jude Showcase of Dogs. Also, we needed a way to share our event with potential groups and spon- sors. I created a script for a video and Sherry (with the cooperation of ALSCA and the AKC) secured video material that Pro-Video in Memphis built into a four-minute promotional video on our project. After the creation of the video, Sherry and I started to attend meetings with many kennel clubs and groups in the general area. Our goal was to gener- ate a diverse group with an interest in the project. We also sent the video out to every major dog food brand at the time looking for a title sponsor with some sort of financial support.
THE GENERAL PUBLIC Everyone on the committee felt that not only getting the general public to attendwas essential, but we needed to get them excited about it. We decided to allow the public to bring their dogs with them to the event so they could participate in some activities as well as learn about their breeds and their dogs from breeders and veterinarians and trainers that were participating. FINDING A SITE AND A DATE Securing a suitable site and date was next on our agenda. We researched available dates with little or no com- petition from other shows, knowing that this large undertaking would take a special site to accommodate it. We also researched the weather from the data available over the past 50 years. The Agricenter International in sub- urban Germantown, Tennessee was selected as the site and the weekend of October 7 and 8 was selected for the date, as history had shown it had only rained twice in 50 years on that week- end. The Agricenter was also adjacent to the Duck’s Unlimited headquar- ters and some aspects of that property would fit with our project. We still did not have a sponsor, but I signed the contracts to secure the site and I was now “all in” for sure as I did not want to lose everything if we failed. The Agricenter was a unique prop- erty. The indoor set-up was difficult to utilize efficiently, but the outside had 300 full RV hook-ups, a won- derful pond and numerous large and small grassy areas wheremany events could be staged. TITLE SPONSOR NAMED In January of 1995, Kal-Kan Pedi- gree dog food company stepped up and agreed to become the first spon - sor of our event. It was a big relief to all of us and a sign that we were on our way toward success.
A TRUE DOG COMMUNITY PROJECT In our meetings and outreach, vari- ous groups started to come on board. One of particular significance was the Memphis and Shelby County Veteri- nary Association. This group, with no less than 50 local veterinarians and their clinics, committed to designing and staffing a “Noah’s Ark” exhibit in which they created a mini-hospital to share with the public information and demonstrations on various vet- erinary practices regarding surgery, dentistry, ultrasound, physical ex- ams, laboratory practices, preventive medicine radiology/X-rays and all things veterinary related. The Ark would become a great success as the general public had a real opportunity to get a behind the scenes look at the veterinary profession and how they treat their dogs. The Memphis Obedience Club un- der the direction of AKC judge How- ard Gladstein stepped up and agreed to sponsor the obedience side of the project. They would host a limited obedience trial as well as do numer- ous demonstrations to introduce Obedience to the spectators. The Greater Shelby Kennel Club—of which Carol, Sherry and I were char- ter members—was hesitant to join on as a sponsor and move their show to the event, but they did agree to hold sanctioned matches on the weekend to present the conformation side of the sport. The American Kennel Club, The American Field, The Bird Dog Mu- seum and the National Field Trial Championship all agreed to par- ticipate. They would not only have a booth, they would do bird dog demon- strations on the adjacent Duck’s Un- limited properties. Agility and Lure coursing were not yet AKC events, but they were being held by other sanctioned organiza- tions and they agreed to hold a full trial at the event. T op N otch T oys , A pril 2022 • 21
“IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FILM DOGS, WE BEGAN ANNUAL VISITS TO THE HOSPITAL ITSELF TO DO THE SHOW FOR THE CHILDREN ON THE DAY BEFORE THE EVENT.”
Numerous groups agreed to do dem - onstrations during the event some of them were, Pointing dogs, Retrievers, search and rescue, Schutzhund, herd- ing, Guide Dogs for the Blind, thera- py, freestyle and dancing dogs, drug and law enforcement dogs, fox hunt- ing, Beagle field trials, coon hounds and go to ground. Many of those that attended the event can remember our herding demon- stration person using his Border Col- lies to herd a group of sheep through- out the grounds during the event. THE STARS CAME OUT One member of our committee worked hard with a trainer in Holly- wood to bring Gus, the white Siberian Husky from the film Iron Will , The St. Bernard from the film Beethoven and the Golden Retriever, Shadow, from the film The Incredible Journey to Memphis. She created a show us- ing the dogs that was presented on stage several times a day to entertain the public. In conjunction with the film dogs, we began annual visits to the hospital itself to do the show for the children on the day before the event. At first, the dogs were not permitted inside the hospital because at that time the medical profession worried about possible infections and other risks to the patients, but over the years there were many visits by canine celebrities like “Air Bud” and other TV and film dogs. This would eventually lead to a canine therapy group being allowed into the hospital as well as Ronald McDonald andTarget house to soothe and comfort the children. I am happy
to say I think our visits were instru- mental in the eventual acceptance of therapy dogs, not only at St. Jude, but also in many hospitals throughout the country. One year the Golden Retriever, Bud- dy, from the Air Bud film performed and he had a very special impact on everyone as Bud himself was also undergoing cancer treatment at the time. Many patients that year were especially moved by their interaction with this very special canine. OTHER CONTESTS We annually invited several elemen- tary schools to participate in a St. Jude Showcase of Dogs art contest and these kids did a fantastic job with their art. The winning art used on the annual event T-Shirts. Also, all the submitted art was put on display for everyone to enjoy. There was another special event we had that was open to all including the public. We called it “Super Dog” and it was a fun competition judged by local celebrities and others. At the first event, Jim Deringer from the AKC served as one of the judges. Su- per Dog was made up of events such as “Bag Your Dog”, a contest to see which dog would sit still the longest with a paper shopping bag on its head; “Get In the Car”, that determined which dog had the fastest time from the starting line to get in the adjacent car; “Call Your Dog”, where two own- ers would hide behind a structure and bet on who the dog would come in the fastest time; “The Maze”, where dogs were released into amaze and encour- aged through it with the fastest time;
“Dress Your Dog”, a race to a pile of human clothes where you would put a shirt and pants on your dog and run back to the finish line; “The Obstacle Course” for both people and their dogs—fastest time wins. There were other events as well. Each competitor earned points and the eventual win- ner was crowned “Super Dog.” KIDDIE FUN ZONE Since our event was about the chil- dren, wewanted tohave an areawhere the kids could kick back and have fun. We talked about fair-type rides, but found the financial commitments and liabilities were highhigh. We decided instead on a kiddie fun zone where we had kids’ games and various inflata - bles along with a small-scale rideable train to entertain and amuse children with their parents. I am not aware of any really large scale Meet the Breeds type of events in 1994, but we decided that we would invite every AKC parent club in the country to participate. We provid- ed them with a free 10x10 pipe and draped booth to present their breed to the general public, and to also offer them the opportunity to present their breed to judges and exhibitors in the form of breed seminars that would be provided free of charge to poten- tial judges considering judging their breed. This was at a time when there were very few seminars available in one place and way before the AKC in- stitutes we have today. BREED BOOTHS AND SEMINARS That first event would feature over 60 individual breed seminars. AKC
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BIG DOG IN A small package
THANK YOU JUDGE SANDRA BINGHAM-PORTER
SUCCESS HEADY SNOW AVALANCHE PROFESSIONALLY HANDLED BY BARBARA BEISSEL , AKC HANDLER OWNED BY KATHY SCOTT | SCOTTSBIEWERS@YAHOO.COM Bronze Grand Champion
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event getting things set up and would be there on Monday after to put the Agricenter back the way it was. Even after Carol and I relocated to Knoxville about 375 miles away in 2003, I would travel back for meet- ings as well as to spend the week of the event—from theMonday before to the Monday after—getting things done. MOVING FORWARD In the following years, the Greater Shelby Kennel Club would become the host club and started to hold their point show in conjunction with the event. Later, the Tupelo Kennel Club of Mississippi would also partner with us to make it a four-day weekend event. When hiring their judging pan- els both clubs allowed for many of the newer judges to participate by offering them the opportunity to judge their provisional breeds. Tim James and the Onofrio organi- zation became a vital partner for the shows and the event in general. Es- pecially in helping us to deal with dif- ficult moments in dealing with AKC rules and regulations. Because of the rules, any area hosting an AKC event had to be roped off with signage stat - ing no unentered dogs were allowed past those signs into the areas where AKC designated events were being held. I can tell you from personal ex- perience that most of the AKC people were understanding and helpful with the difficulties we faced. I will always be grateful to the late Dr. Robert Berndt, a special friend and the AKC Chairman of the board at the time, as well as the late Bill Bergum, also an AKC board member, for their support and guidance not only for the event, but in dealing with AKC aspects and conflicts as they arose. While most of the folks at the AKC were supportive and understanding, there were also a couple of individuals within the or- ganization that at times made it very, very difficult to put on the event. THE PAY OFF From being told by many it could not be done, a tremendous group of volunteers and organizations worked
judges Gary Doerge and Carol Som- merfelt, as well as other members of the Mid-South judges group, served as the hosts for the seminars. Over the years, many of the icons of vari- ous breeds would come to Memphis to present their breed at seminars where, inmost years, between 75-100 judges would attend. In that first year, we also had 59 indi - vidual breed booths and 24 all-breed and other organization groups partic- ipate in getting their information out to the general public. ADOPTING A POLICY There was no question that we were going outside the box when we decided to allow the general public to bring their dogs. This created many difficult issues with the AKC rules, but we felt it was important to let the public bring their dogs. We had a very strict policy that during the event no dogs could be sold, placed, adopted or traded. It was emphasized to all the breeds and other groups that if people were interested, they could follow up with them after the event was over. FLYBALL Probably no single event or demon- stration over the years was as popular as flyball. In the first year, we invited a group fromHouston, Texas to come and do demonstrations and share their sport with the public. The gen- eral public fell in love with the sport. Starting in year two of the event it became an annual tournament and when our event ended its run in 2009, the largest flyball tournament in North America was being held at the Showcase. OTHER AREAS When putting on an event of this size there are so many small details that require attention and hard work. We had to find food vendors, and we needed to find a variety of regular vendors to buy space. This gave us a chance to succeed and pay our bills. We also needed people in print adver- tising, TV, and radio to assist in the promotion of the event. We needed people to handle parking, ticket sales,
set up and tear down, a convention supply company to provide pipe and drape for booths, AV equipment, tables, chairs, and many other items. We had to find catering companies to provide lunch for the workers and volunteers as well as security for the general public. PRESS CONFERENCE By May of 1995, we were only five months away from seeing our proj- ect on display. In May of that year, the Mayor of Memphis, The Shelby County Mayor, Executives from Pedigree and myself gathered on the steps of St. Jude Children’s research hospital for a press conference to an- nounce the inaugural event to the general public. This was an important landmark in our success as it became an alliance between the dog people, the local government and St. Jude to present our sport of purebred dogs to the public. Over the following 15 years, that proved to be a great alli- ance as no dog legislation was put into effect in the city or the county. VOLUNTEERS There is no way an event like this takes place without volunteers. I es- timate that annually we would have over 300 individuals volunteer in some way to make this show work. Many of our volunteers were not dog people, but rather people who vol- unteered to further the mission of St. Jude. Many people volunteered for that first event who would continue to volunteer every year throughout our successful run. These people were so vital to our continuity and suc- cess and I will always be grateful for their contributions. Starting from year one, Traci Mathews built a connection with a group of non-violent offenders to do their community service hours. Many of these individuals would often be the labor that helped us put up tents, cut grass, park cars, keep the area clean, staff numerous areas and do a lot to assist us. Jerry Pittman and I would start on the Monday before the
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DY L A N GCH CH COACHL IGHT AFF-TER BLOWIN ’ IN THE WIND
SUPERSTITION KENNEL CLUB BIS UNDER JUDGE MS. ELIZABETH “LANI” MCKENNON
SUPERSTITION KENNEL CLUB BOB Under Breed Judge Ms. Elizabeth “Lani” McKennon Group 2 Under Group Judge Andrea Bradford M.D. BOB Under Breed Judge Ms. Carole Jean Nelson Group 1 Under Group Judge Mrs. Mary Ellen Meyer
HANDLED BY SERGIO & MEAGAN OLIVERA | OWNED/BRED BY MONTE & SHEILA WYMORE
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together to make the initial show a success. Attendance that first year was estimated at over 25,000 peo- ple and, after all the bills were paid, the event was able to purchase a very special transport vehicle for The Children of St. Jude with a cost above $37,000. The publicity from the event was extremely positive and all involved decided to make it an annual event. Over the years the event would add and subtract events and adjust to changes within the sport. The event would also hold galas in conjunction with the event and would offer individuals in some cases an op - portunity to visit the hospital. After visiting St. Jude some of those people were so moved that they made future bequests to the mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in their wills. By the time our run ended in 2009, we had raised hundreds of thou- sands of dollars for St. Jude. We had entertained several hundred thou- sand visitors to the event, contained anti-canine legislation while also introducing many new people to our sport and making a positive impact in our community. DID WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE? From 1995 until 2009, we put on a very special show. It was an event that I truly believe made a positive difference in our world of dogs. Since that first show, AKC has added agil - ity, herding, rally, and recognizes so many titles that were not available in 1995. We’ve seen the AKC build the AKCChampionship Show inOrlando into an event that has incorporated a lot of what we did way back in 1995. We now see “Meet the Breeds” being held not only by AKC in New York and other areas, but that many local clubs are now incorporating it into their weekends. We have all seen an increase in ac- knowledging our dogs as a vital part of society. There were two members of our Showcase committee that were in New York after 9/11 with their search
and rescue group following the twin towers disaster. The Memphis area has created several therapy groups, some of the Kennel Clubs have added herding and other events by recruit- ing people that had been involved in the event. ENDING OF AN ERA We all know that over time the dy- namics within clubs and groups ex- perience change. After my relocation to Knoxville, I started to see a change within some of the organizations that were a part of the event. Eventually, some people within the various or- ganizations felt that the event was a burden to their group and started to have a very negative effect on the overall mission of the event. What fol- lowed was a very difficult time in the treatment of many of the volunteers that had contributed so much over the years. All things in society eventually expe- rience change. So, for a variety of rea- sons, the St. Jude Showcase of Dogs ended its run in 2009. I imagine if the time and effort I had put into the event through those years had been put into advancing my judging career I could be an all-breed judge today. Rather, I chose to pursue an idea. With the great help of so many people through the years, I believe we accomplished what we set out to do. That was to raise money for the kids at St. Jude and show the world the sport of dogs does indeed have a lot to offer. IN CLOSING All of us know, eventually, there is a beginning and an end to most things in life. The Showcase of Dogs taught me a great deal about myself, about other people, and most importantly, the value of volunteers and the abil- ity to enjoy the experience of people working together outside of any per- sonal agendas in order to achieve something for the greater good. I would suggest that if you want to think outside the box—if you have an idea that you think has benefits—go for it. I know I did, and I am a better man for it.
“There is no way an event like this takes place without volunteers. I estimate that annually we would have over 300 individuals volunteer in some way to make this show work.”
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ENGLISH TOY SPANIEL OR CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL THERE IS A DIFFERENCE
by Cindy Huggins
M any people are unable to rec- ognize the difference between King Charles Spaniels (Eng- lish Toy Spaniels) and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. They are two entirely different breeds, and apart from sharing the same coat colors, have totally separate breed stan- dards, characteristics, and identities. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel as we know it today was not given of - ficial AKC recognition until 1996. The King Charles Spaniel or English Toy Spaniel, whose history has been documented since the 15th century, has its origins in the courts of Europe, and gained official AKC recognition in 1886. In 2006, only 161 English Toy Spaniel litters were registered with the AKC, while the litter reg - istration for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels exceeded 4,000. Themediaoften incorrectlydescribes most Cavalier King Charles Spaniels when they appear in the press as be - ing King Charles Spaniels; this only causes more confusion. It is very alarming for new owners when pre - senting their puppy to a veterinarian for examination to be told that their beautiful, well-reared King Charles Spaniel is an extremely bad specimen of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. This has happened on several occa- sions, causing the purchaser much distress, and has led to threats of legal action against the breeder. Some of the reasons quoted have been: 1. Because the dog has a domed head, it most probably has hydrocephalus.
2. Because the dog has an under- shot jaw, it may need corrective surgery in the future. 3. Because the dog has fused nails and pads, it may need future surgery. All these reasons, i.e., domed skull, undershot jaw, and fused toes, are breed-specific to the King Charles Spaniel breed standard. GENERAL APPEARANCE The English Toy Spaniel is a compact, cobby, and essentially square Toy dog, whereas the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a well-balanced Toy Span - iel. The Cavalier approaches square- ness, yet if measured from point of shoulder to point of buttock, it is slightly longer than the height at the withers. The Cavalier should demon - strate a gay temperament combined with true elegance and a look of roy - alty. He must have a natural appear- ance, with no trimming, sculpting or artificial alteration of the dog or coat.
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and close to the head. The English Toy’s eyes are large, very dark brown or black, and set squarely in-line with the nose. The Cavalier head is proportionate to the size of the dog, appearing neither too large nor too small for the body. The skull is almost flat between the ears, and the ears are set high but not close on top of the head. The eyes are large, round, and well-set-apart, with dark rims. The English Toy has a deep, well- defined stop, and the muzzle is very short, with nose well-laid-back. This breed should have a slightly under- shot bite, with a square, broad, deep and will turned-up jaw. A wry mouth should be penalized. The Cavalier stop is moderate, and the length of muzzle from base of stop to tip of nose is about 1 1/2 inches. The Cavalier has a perfect, regular scissors bite. An undershot bite, weak or crooked teeth or crooked jaw are faults in this breed. The neck on an English Toy is mod - erate in length and nicely arched. The body is short, compact, square, and deep on cobby lines with a broad back. The breed should be sturdy of frame with good rib and deep brisket. The English Toy tail is docked to 2-4 inches in length and carried at or just NECK, TOPLINE, BODY AND TAIL
slightly above the level of the back. The set of the tail is at the back’s level. Many are bornwith a shorter or screw tail, which is acceptable. The feather - ing on the tail should be silky and from 3-4 inches in length, constitut - ing a marked “flag” of a square shape. The tail and its carriage is an index of the breed’s attitude and character. The Cavalier neck is fairly long, with - out throatiness, and muscled enough to form a slight arch at the crest. The body is short-coupled, with ribs well sprung but not barreled. The chest is moderately deep, extending to the elbows. Slightly less body at the flank than at the last rib but with no tucked- up appearance. The Cavalier tail is well-set-on, carried happily but never much above the level of the back, and in a constant, characteristic motion when the dog is in action. Docking is optional, but if docked, no more than one-third to be removed. The topline on both breeds is level. COAT The English Toy is profusely coated, having heavy fringing on the ears, body, and chest, and with flowing feathering on both the front and hind legs, and feathering on the feet. The coat is straight or only slightly wavy with a silken, glossy texture. Over- trimming of the body, feet or tail fringes should be penalized.
SIZE, PROPORTION AND SUBSTANCE The English Toy’s desirable weight for an adult is 8-14 pounds. It is com - pact, square in shape, built on cobby lines and sturdy of frame, and solidly constructed. The Cavalier’s desir- able adult weight is 13-18 pounds. The Cavalier height is 12-13 inches at the withers, with moderate bone in pro - portion to size. HEAD, MUZZLE AND MOUTH The English Toy head is large in com- parison to the size of the dog, with a plush, chubby look. The skull is high and well-domed, and is full over the eyes. The ears are very long, set low
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“The English Toy Spaniel is a bright and interested little dog, affectionate and willing to please. The Cavalier is gay, friendly, and non-aggressive, with no tendency toward nervousness or shyness.”
The Cavalier standard states a pearly white ground be clear and the color evenly spaced on the head and sur- rounding both eyes. Both standards call forrichtanmarkingsover theeyes, inside the ears, and under the tail. The English Toy standard calls for rich color on the face. The Cavalier stan- dard specifically calls for rich tan on the cheeks. King Charles or Black and Tan: The black with mahogany tan mark - ings for the English Toy is called the King Charles. The same color pattern for the Cavalier is called the Black and Tan. Both standards read much the same, with the exception of the presence of a small white chest patch about the size of a quarter or a few white hairs on the chest. This is not to be penalized on the English Toy, but any white marks on the Cavalier are a fault. Ruby: The Ruby color for both breeds is a rich mahogany red. The English Toy allows for the presence of a small white chest patch about the size of a quarter or a few white hairs on the chest. For the Cavalier, any white marks are a fault. TEMPERAMENT TheEnglishToySpaniel is a bright and interested little dog, affectionate and
The Cavalier coat is of moderate length, silky and free from curl. A slight wave is permissible. Feathering on ears, chest, legs, and tail should be long, and the feathering on the feet is a feature of the breed. No trimming of the dog is permitted. The stan- dard clearly states that specimens whose coat has been altered by trim - ming, clipping or any other artificial means shall be so severely penal- ized as to be effectively eliminated from competition. Blenheim: The Blenheim color for both breeds consists of a pearly white ground with deep red or chestnut markings. The English Toy standard states it is preferable that there be red markings around both eyes. The Cav - alier standard states a clear pearly white ground and calls for the color to be evenly spaced on the head, sur - rounding both eyes. Prince Charles or Tricolor: For the English Toy, the black, white and tan color pattern is called Prince Charles, whereas this pattern is called Tri - color on the Cavalier. Both standards read the same, calling for a pearly white ground with evenly spaced black patches, solid black ears, and black face markings. The English Toy states it is preferable that there be black markings around both eyes.
willing to please. The Cavalier is gay, friendly, and non-aggressive, with no tendency toward nervousness or shy - ness. Bad temper, shyness and mean - ness are not to be tolerated and are to be so severely penalized as to effective - ly be removed from competition. RING PRESENTATION The American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club, Inc (ACKCSC, Inc.), the AKC parent club, strongly recom - mends that in the ring, the Cavalier be handled naturally and with a mini - mum of fuss. The Cavalier is normally shown on a loose or semi-loose lead and is to be self-stacked while free- baiting, with the handler standing. It is totally unacceptable to see handlers on their knees, hand-stacking their Cavaliers, and judges should instruct exhibitors who make this mistake to stand while showing their dogs. Cava - liers are not to be raced around the ring but shown at a moderate trot. The English Toy Spaniel Club of America does not specify a preference for ring presentation. These two frequently confused breeds are entirely different in ev - ery respect except coat colors. Both parent clubs are adamant that the distinctions be respected and maintained.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR I got my first Cavalier in 1969 and have been very lucky to bementored by several topCav- alier breeders from the US, England, and Australia. I have finished over 200 Cavaliers, 90 of which are homebred and include all four colors. I have been judging Cavaliers for 10 years and am committed to educating newCavalier owners/breeders and judges about our very special breed. I am currently Chair for the ACKCSC Judge’s Education Com- mittee. I have a varied background in dogs, including owning a grooming shop and work- ing as a protection dog trainer and behavior modification for problem dogs. I have owned, shown, and bred champions in Cavaliers, English Toy Spaniels, Pugs, and Japanese Chin.
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