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.
MULTIPLE BEST IN SHOW WINNING
BACK in the GAME
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It’s show time
Due to my re cent health issues, I’ve been out of the ring for quite some time. We are picking up where we left off in the company of the nations finest. Thank you to judges Mr. Larry C. Abbott, Mrs. Vicki L. Abbott and Mrs. Terry L. Berrios for consecutive group placements out of the gate. I’m so happy to be back!
Bred & owned by Xeralane Kennel & Bonnie Prato
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# 1 Maltese *
B AC K - TO - B AC K TOY G RO U P S P E C I A LT Y W I N S
Our many thanks to judges Mr Robert Hutton, Mrs. Barbara Alderman and Mr. Raymond Filburn for recognizing Harry’s Maltese type, correct movement and beautiful condition.
*AKC breed stats as of 9/30/21 **AKC all breed stats as of 9/30/21
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Harry
Harry wins another Specialty and Toy Group Show! Flash!
2 Reserve BIS and 4 Group Ones at High Desert Cluster Flash!
GCHG SEABREEZE THAT ONE PARTICULAR HARBOR MULTI PLE RESERVE BEST IN SHOW, MULTI PLE GROUP WINNING NATIONAL SPECIALTY WINNING, MULTI PLE BEST IN SHOW SPECIALTY A TOP 20 Toy **
Presented by Rachael Sawyer Bred and Owned by Sandy Bingham-Porter
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MBISS BIS GCHS REH-PIN’S I AM CHARMED FOR CHERISTAR
WHAT A YEAR MY CHARM HAS HAD. IN THE CHERISTAR TRADITION, SHE CONTINUES TO EXCELL IN THE BREED AND GROUP RING. AT 17 MOS OF AGE, THIS TYPEY GIRL IS
OH 2021**
BREED 2021*
*AKC STATS AS OF 9/30/21 **AKC NOHS STATS 2021
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BREEDER/OWNER/HANDLER: CHERIE MCDANIEL CHERISTAR MINIATURE PINSCHERS
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GCHS. MARTIN’S TIMEBOMB PUFF
BRED OWNED AND HANDLED BY DARYL MARTIN OWNED BY ROY & JO-ANN KUSUMOTO
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MULTIPLE BEST IN SHOW WINNER
A TOP TWENTY TOY DOG 2021 *
MULTIPLE AMA BEST IN SPECIALTY SHOW WINNER WESTMINSTER BEST OF BREED WINNER 2020 AMERICAN MALTESE ASSOCIATION TOP BREED WINNER 2020
AKC STATS AS OF 9 / 30 / 21
A BREEDER'S KEY TO LONGEVITY, IS GENERATION AFTER GENERATION OF CONSISTENT QUALITY!
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*AKC breed stats as of 9/30/21
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*
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CONTENTS TABLE OF
TNT
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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 BONNIE GUGGENHEIM Advertising Director/Editor bonnie@aramediagroup.com 512-971-3280 SOCIAL MEDIA ELMA BEGIC Manager, Social Media & Creative Content elma@aramediagroup.com 1-512-686-3466
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14 Toy Talk 16 Toy Box
34 38 40 44 47 48 50
The Seven Secrets of Show Success Michael & Cathy Dugan
Bonnie Guggenheim
Things I’ve Learned Arvind deBraganca
Cecilia Bozzo
17 Morris & Essex
What’s In a Name? Jude Daley
18 Candids: Morris & Essex Jean Edwards 20 Living With a Chihuahua Virginia (Jenny) Hauber 24 Candids: Junior Handlers Chihuahua National Donna Bledsoe
Back to Basics: It’s Time Jacqueline L. Stacy
MAILING ADDRESS PO BOX 18567 TAMPA, FL 33679
The Russian Toy Dog Nona Dietrich
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.
What Attracted Us to the Biewer Terrier Renée Popkey & Robert Young
30 Chihuahua Survey Stephanie Schultes
Index to Advertisers
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by Bonnie Guggenheim, TNT Advertising Director & Associate Editor TOY TALK ETCETERA NATIONAL CLUBS & FABULOUS BREED FEATURES
P lanning for our BreedFeatures begins two or three months prior to the date that we have dedicated toward making your special breed a focus in TOP NOTCH TOYS . National Boards are contacted with a phone call and/or a letter explaining what TNT is planning and to request Board-approved articles. Please encourage your club to participate. Most important to many of us are those articles from the Judges Education Coordinator. You can find the JEC for each Toy breed listed on the clubs’ websites or fromAKC, and since these positions do change, please be sure that you have included the name of the cur- rent author. Permit Judges rely on the clubs to provide meaningful information on each Toy breed, to enable them to become great judges in the future—and those under whom you want to exhibit. Secondly, we also like to include articles and pho- tos from the Club Historian or from breeders with the knowledge and years of experience that can pro- vide this important part of our Breed Feature. Often, they’ll include photos of the big-winning, top produc- ers as well as the winners from the past. The further back you go, the more it’s appreciated. If you want a map to see where you are going, you need to know where you have been. This saying certainly applies to the art of breeding beautiful and correct show dogs, per the written standard. Review pedigrees and use them as a road map to success. See as many of the dogs in those pedigrees as possible while search- ing for the attributes that you want to include in your breeding program.
The next itemhas to dowith grooming. All the long-coated breeds have wonderful examples of dogs in cute, cut-down clips that make living with them easier, and the clubs offer articles on their websites related to show grooming. Prac- tice makes perfect! If your breed is great in Agility, why not promote it? There are many new opportunities to have fun with and enjoy your dogs, from Barn Hunt and Trick Dog to Fly Ball, Dock Diving, andmore…Would you be interested in a sec- tion on these fun sports for Toy dogs? Please let me know! When your club is contacted, I hope you will encourage them to participate, to promote your breed and to help in- terested people learnmore about them. I amalways happy to assist and make it easier for participants to submit ar- ticles or ads. TOPNOTCHTOYS is the “go-to” place for judges, history buffs, and anyonewho is interested in your breed as a show prospect or house pet.With your help, your breed’s feature can become one of the best-ever in our Group Five, All- Toy, National Magazine—Dynamite in a Small Package! Wishing you continued success with your Breed Clubs and with your Breed. Remember, inquiring minds want to know, so stay in touch and win lots more!
Bonnie bonnie@aramediagroup.com 512.971.3280
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MULTIPLE GROUP PLACING • MULTIPLE NOHS BEST IN SHOW AND RESERVE BEST IN SHOW GR. CHAMPION MARJA-TU CHU SINGULAR SENSATION
A HUGE THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING JUDGES FOR THE HONOR OF GROUP PLACEMENTS FOR OUR YOUNG SPECIAL: DANA CLINE, THOMAS DANIELS, MARGE CALLTHARP, KATHLEEN KOLBERT, SANDRA WALKER
TU CHU SHIH TZU • Kathy Kwait
MARJA SHIH TZU • Mark & Jackie Stempel
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TOP NOTCH TOYS
TOYBOX
Submitted by Cecelia Bozzo, breeder/owner
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.
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2021 Winners
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MORRIS & ESSEX KENNEL CLUB DOG SHOW
Somerset, NJ . October 6, 2021 photos by Jean Edwards
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LIVING WITH A CHIHUAHUA
by Virginia (Jenny) Hauber, WynJyn Chihuahuas
F ORGET IT! I want you to forget every preconceived idea you have ever had about the Chihuahua. Why? Because they are every dog wrapped up in one. Discover- ing this tiny little dog is pure joy and enlightenment. As a SPORTING dog, the Chihuahua is naturally active and alert. They en- joy all types of exercise, even swim- ming and hiking. Hunting you ask? You bet! These little dogs will relent- lessly hunt and even point a butterfly as it flutters between those gigantic ears, almost landing on their tiny nose. These loveable dogs are well- rounded and make a great companion
that will happily accompany you any- where you want to go, doing anything you want to do. They will bay in unison like a HOUND when you are late with their dinner. A favorite squeaky toy is relentlessly run down like a prized quarry. Their stam- ina is exhausting to watch when they make up their mind they are going to have something that is just out of reach. These little guys are not quitters. It is well-known the Chihuahua is a great watch dog. They mimic the WORKING dog as property protec- tors and no one will enter your prop- erty without first being announced by theChihuahua. Theyarequick to learn
and very intelligent. Those big heads have big brains and they know how to use them. One must be smarter than the Chihuahua, otherwise they will conquer and control, and ultimately youwill be a slave to this tiny little dog. With this in mind, training is a neces- sity. These little dogs, do not think of themselves as the smallest of all dogs so their owners will need to protect them from themselves and those giant canines they think they resemble. Long coated and smooth coated Chi- huahuas have distinct differences be- sides the length of their coat. They are as diverse as the NON-SPORTING dog. Livingwith smooth coats requires
IT IS WELL-KNOWN THE CHIHUAHUA IS A GREAT WATCH DOG. THEY MIM- IC THE WORKING DOG AS PROPERTY PROTECTORS AND NO ONE WILL ENTER YOUR PROPERTY WITHOUT FIRST BEING ANNOUNCED BY THE CHIHUAHUA. THEY ARE QUICK TO LEARN AND VERY INTELLIGENT. THOSE BIG HEADS HAVE BIG BRAINS AND THEY KNOW HOW TO USE THEM. 20 • T op N otch T oys , O ctober 2021
DEBARAH BILLINGS BREEDER OWNER HANDLER WWW.WINDSONGBIEWERS.COM
BRONZE AKC BREEDER OF MERIT
#1 ALL BREED *
*AKC STAT AS OF 9/30/21
THANK YOU JUDGE MRS. ELAINE LESSIG AND HANDLER SUSAN GILES A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO LOIS DEMERS AND RACHAL MCKEE SAGER
GCHB CH WINDSONG’S SOMETHIN’ TO TALK ABOUT
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MOST CHIHUAHUA OWNERS JOKE THAT, “WE ARE OWNED BY OUR DOGS.” THERE IS DEFINITELY SOME TRUTH TO THIS WHIMSICAL STATEMENT. MOST OF US HAVE OWNED OTHER BREEDS, BUT IN TIME, WE FINALLY FOUND OUR WAY TO THIS FABULOUS LITTLE CREATURE KNOWN AS THE CHIHUAHUA. ONCE OWNED BY ONE OF THESE LITTLE DOGS, YOU WILL NEVER BE WITHOUT ONE IN YOUR HOME, THE MORE THE MERRIER.
the more energetic personality, while the long coats frequently appear to exhibit a more laid-back tempera- ment and might be [better suited] for those who prefer a more relaxed life- style. The smooth coats will shed a little more than the long coats, but they love to be groomed and will jump for joy when they see the brush come out. The two-pound tiny little dogs are highly sought after as pets to be car- ried in designer bags, to the delight of onlookers, while those three-to-six- pounds can be seen in the show ring and are more common. They vary in size, temperament, and looks. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and ev- eryone has a different interpretation, which explains the question, “Is that a Chihuahua?” As a pack, these little dogs prefer the company of other Chihuahuas. They band together and will even HERD each other when it’s time to go in for dinner or spend time inbedwithmom- my and daddy. They are truly dedicat- ed to their family, both two-legged and four-legged. They enjoy caring for each other and exhibit a respect toward one another that is amazing. They know their personal beds, but will gladly in- vite a friend or two (or three or four) to share theirs. The Chihuahua makes an excellent companion, and contrary to belief, they respond beautifully to training and exercise. They are always eager to please and enjoy showing
off with an innate desire to outshine all others. The AKC Chihuahua Standard states the Chihuahua should have TERRI- ER-like qualities. This doesn’t mean they are going to hunt down a live rat for the kill. It suggests they are a frisky and energetic dog. These little dogs are engaging in every way and are eager for a spirited argument. They are deter- mined to have it their way, so one must take charge early in ownership or you will find yourself at their beck and call. They require owners who have deter- mination tomatch their lively character and dramatic flair. Chihuahuas are a TOY dog and they definitely embody sheer delight. Their life’s desire is to please their owner, showing so much loyalty and love that you feel they are a special gift from above. Toys were developed for com- panionship and these little dogs take their job seriously. They don’t require much space and prefer full body con- tact 24/7 if possible. The cost of feeding these littledogs is reasonableandclean- up is easy to control. They are great city dwellers, since they don’t need a lot of space to exercise. What’s not to love about these little darlings? Most Chihuahua owners joke that, “we are owned by our dogs.” There is definitely some truth to this whimsical statement. Most of us have owned oth- er breeds, but in time, we finally found our way to this fabulous little creature
known as the Chihuahua. Once owned by one of these little dogs, youwill nev- er be without one in your home—the more the merrier. They (the smallest of all dogs) are tuned in to us, and at times we think theymust possess a human gene. They are so intuitive they appear to feel our feelings, and at times when we are sad, you can literally see tears running down their face. The Chihuahua can be unrelenting when they bring you their favorite squeaky and leave it at your feet. When you refuse to notice, they will perform the most endearing antics, rendering you helpless to resist their appeal. Their wish is your com- mand. They just seem to know when YOUneed to play. These faithful little friends will charm you, cheer you, and warm your heart. The beauty and grace of theChihuahua is a pleasure to watch as they master amazing feats that keep you enter- tained most of the day. When siesta time comes around, these “energized” angels will find a sunny spot and lie there for hours, absorbing the sun as if they were recharging their batteries. Surely this gives themtheir special abil- ity to spread sunshine in every room in the house. So forget all of your preconceived notions about these little dogs and know that living with the Chihuahua is the ultimate definition of “man’s best friend.”
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SPECIALTY WINNING GCHG JOLI REIGNON JUST KIDDING
“JOJO” SELECT WINNER AT THE PRESTIGIOUS MORRIS AND ESSEX FABULOUS SHOW. THANK YOU JUDGE MRS. BARBARA DEMPSEY ALDERMAN
JOJO IS BEAUTIFULLY PRESENTED BY VALERIE NUNES-ATKINSON
Owned by Lois Magette and Pamela Magette
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JUNIOR HANDLERS CHIHUAHUA NATIONAL
St. Louis, MO . October 16-17, 2021 photos by Donna Bledsoe
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M U L T I P L E B I S , R B I S , & B I S S GC H S C I N - D O N D E A R E VA N H A N S E N
Fabulous Best of Breed win at the prestigious Morris & Essex show Thank you Judge Elaine Lessig
Owned by Beverly Merritt
Bred by Beverly Merritt, Joyce Wall & Scott Toney
Expertly handled by Alan Waterman
Assisted by De Angelo
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- International Judges - Over 5K Toy Exhibitors - Shared on social media DISTRIBUTED AT ALL MAJOR SHOWS NOVEMBER THROUGH DECEMBER!
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Tiffany GCHP Dartan Diamonds Are Forever at Viva
CHIHUAHUA CLUB OF AMERICA NATIONAL SPECIALTY BEST OF BREED
THANK YOU BREEDER JUDGE LINDA GEORGE FOR THIS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD AT THE NATIONAL AS A VETERAN Keep Some Room in Your Heart for the Unimaginable
OWNED & EXCLUSIVELY SHOWN BY CECI L IA BOZZO
BRED BY DARTAN CHIHUAHUAS
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CHIHUAHUA SURVEY
by Stephanie Schultes
I have been showing and breeding dogs since 1986. I acquired my first Chihuahua in 1992. Two months later, I had to have another. My first show Chi was a blue tri spotted girl bred by Barbara K. Smith (BK’s) and Brooke Kaye (Genbrook). That girl taught me to love Chihuahuas of every color. I have finished dogs in every color, even six merles. Wonderful people have helped me along the way. Because of them, I have had top dogs in America, Mexico, Argentina, and Russia. I live in Mesa, Arizona, and I’m a pet groomer. I’ve been involved in dogs for 40-plus years. Any hob- bies outside of dogs? Dogs are my life, but I love watching movies. I have had lots of different breeds, but never had a dog more devoted and loving than a Chihuahua. The breed is very intense with its people. Saucy Expression: A little twinkle in their eye of naughtiness. Apple Dome: Think Macintosh (big and round). Sickle Tail: Perfect tail should go up, and the tip should sickle (point) towards their head. The correct proportion for the breed is off-square and slightly longer than tall. Big coats on Longs can be very deceiving. You need to get your hands on them before you decide if they are too long. The key differences between Smooth Coats and Long Coats are that Smooth Coats are more Terrier-like in temperament. Long Coats have a softer temperament. My preferences for solid, marked or splashed coats when judging Chihuahuas? You should never judge color. All colors are equal and allowed! Fawn and black tri are the most preferred. A dependable showdog—sometimes. And then, at other times, it’s all fun and games. Chihuahuas are the ultimate companions. They love to go anywhere that their people need to go. Some of the challenges of breeding and keeping the world’s smallest purebred dog are that the breed can have issues with hydrocephalus, hypoglycemia, slipping stifles, and heart and eye issues. However, I have been blessed with a very healthy line of dogs.
The breed is a joy. I love everything about them. Plus, they live a long time. I know of quite a few 18-plus-year- old Chihuahuas. My favorite funny Chihuahua moment would be when Paula Murray and Miss Mary were in the BIS ring in Flagstaff. The Bulldog did his down and back, and Mary turned it on; she barked and was spinning around. Paula’s face told it all. She didn’t know what to do. Mary was al- ways perfect and she had something to say to that Bulldog! Everyone’s eyes were on the Chihuahua because she was being a Chihuahua. Final Thought: Chihuahuas are small, but should still be sound. They should be able to move. The Standard calls for swift. Remember, they were street dogs and needed to be able to get away from predators. They also need a good bite and strong teeth for the same reason. Just be- cause it’s a Chihuahua doesn’t mean it should be less than other breeds.
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Introducing
G C H S U C H E N O M E G A M A N A T O H M Y
OMEGA
TOP TEN O W N E R H A N D L E D S H I H T Z U * Multiple Owner Handled Group Winning
*AKC NOHS STATS AS OF 9/30/21
BRED BY: P. SUSAN CHENEY OWNED BY: CHR I ST INE PAUL , J EREMIAH PAUL & P. SUSAN CHENEY
Our sincere appreciation to Judges Cameron Riegel & Barry Leece
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GCH Legacy Chenin Blanc with Evera Our sincerest appreciation and gratitude to Judge Mrs. Evalyn Gregory for including Bliss in the cut at Westminster Kennel Club. Congratulations to Best of Breed Winners and Westminster Kennel Club for putting on an extraordinary event.
Owned by Michele True, Co-owned with Dawn Stevens-Lindemaier Bred by Dawn Stevens-Lindemaier candid photography by©SueBee Photography
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FLASH SARASOTAKENNEL CLUB 6/16/2021 JUDGE: Mrs. Barbara Dempsey Alderman | OS/BOBOH JUDGE: Mr. Gary L. Andersen | SEL/BOBOH GREATER VENICE FLORIDADOG CLUB INC (2) 6/18/2021 JUDGE: Michael Canalizo | BOBOH MID-FLORIDA CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL 6/19/2021 SWEEPSTAKES JUDGE: Gwendolyn Wells | SEL/BOBOH
“Beautiful exhibit with a compact body and good spring of rib. Pretty face with kind expression and large round eyes with a well- cushioned muzzle. Excellent movement both coming and going. This gal has so many good things going for her!” Dr. Margaret Reed Thank you judge
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THE SEVEN SECRETS OF SHOW SUCCESS BE A GREAT OWNER OR HELLO POMONA, GOODBYE PARIS!
by Michael and Cathy Dugan
I used to think that when I thought of a vacation, I was getting ready to go to the City of Light—Paris. One of my favorite places, I got to know it well over the years, going there as often as I could. When Cathy and I spent our honeymoon there, she remarked that I knew my way around Paris better than I did Sacramento. Taking a car- riage ride in Versailles, lounging around in a café enjoying a great aperitif was how life should be led, or so I thought. BUT:WhenCathy and I got married several years ago, I fell down the rabbit hole of dog shows; many, many dog shows. Now the vacation is more likely to be at the Los Angeles County Fairplex in Pomona for the five grueling days of the Mission Circuit. Instead of the famous “mistral” winds in Provence, I got to experience the Santa Anawinds of south- ern California. Ah, the life! THE ROOKIE DISCOVERS A SECRET WORLD: Like most people who have one of the 80 million dogs that inhabit this country, I grew up with dogs as pets and en- joyed the simple pleasures and devotion that comes from a canine companion. Feeding them, brushing them out once in a while, bathing them when they got too close to a skunk, playing fetch; that was pretty much as complicated as it got. I considered myself a dog person, a perfectly good owner who took responsibility for the animal in my care. I mean, of course I had heard of dog shows andWestminster and wondered who those crazy people where who took that kind of stuff so seriously. I had no idea what the business of dogs was all about, but I do now. Cathy has been breeding dogs successfully since 1987 and when we were seeing each other I got a glimmer of what the show universe was like. One of the first shows I attended with her was in Pleasanton, California, a pleasant simple enough place east of San Francisco. Wandering around a county fairground on a hot weekend, I began to think, “What the hell is this all about?” There were people, dogs, vendors and officials everywhere all working with deadly focus and concentration while dogs and handlers swept in and out of a show ring in some kind of incomprehensible
"Ace" in water performance work
order. I tried to follow and understand what was happen- ing to no avail. Cathy tried to fill me in on the rules, classes, standards and judging rules, why some dogs got ribbons and others did not. She had a dog named Olivia who won sweepstakes and winner’s bitch out of the 9-12 puppy class, whatever that was. I was appropriately pleased and im- pressed even though I didn’t why. I thought, “Wait a min- ute, I’m a lawyer with anMBA and a masters in psychology, how tough can this be to understand?” I was clueless. I was a long way from being a good show owner, much less a great one. Cathy had been breeding dogs for many years and prior to that had bred and trained horses. Aviator Kennel fin- ished several champions every year, almost always shown by Cathy or a friend of hers. She went to dog shows almost every weekend competing with good dogs and winning the occasional big championship. She rarely used a profes- sional handler and was considered a successful breeder and owner of show dogs. She did virtually no marketing and had a small workmanlike web site. She spent a lot of time on her dogs and genuinely enjoyed the experience. Still, looking back over the last few years, we both realize that Cathy wasn’t a great show owner yet, even with her ex- perience. Now, the trend is breeder-owner-handlers in the ring; something that changes almost everything – we’ll talk about that later.
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Believe or not, the second model was actually less expensive than the usual practice. More important, our dogs finished faster, allowing Cathy the luxury of better planning about when dogs were actually ready to go into the ring. She had always care- fully planned breedings; generally looking three years out to think about what she hoped to get for a particular breeding. Next, we started finishing seven to ten dogs per year, instead of two or three. That gave us a larger pool of champions and expanded the opportunities for breeding our own dogs in the future. Cathy now typi- cally has ten bitches in the queue for breeding, allowing her to plan what the optimum time and best stud will give us what we want for competition. We also began to look at market- ing, beginning with our web site AviatorKennel.com . We had had a perfectly suitable static website as do most small businesses. What we did not have what a “portal”, that is, a large up-to-date website that offers a huge amount of information about us, the dogs, the kennel, PWDs, shows, health links and articles. We started to think about advertising and devel- oping better links and contacts with our owners, our customers. As with any business, your customers are your best source of positive marketing and sales. A happy owner walking around San Francisco with an Aviator dog is your best billboard. An owner in- vited to attend a dog show with you and watch as their pup wins a ribbon is very happy, indeed. At some of the big shows like the Golden Gate show in San Francisco, we started bring- ing as many as 17 dogs for competi- tion and nearly 30 owners there for the party. With a formal set-up thirty feet wide with banners, photos, dogs on the bench and owners, Aviator pre- sented our best face forward to the 20,000 people that attend that show every year. Even with the move to the next level, we still weren’t fully prepared for what it takes to be a great show own- er, prepared and willing to advance a unique dog like Ladybug. We had to
SO… WHAT IS A GREAT SHOW OWNER? Once we got married and I was fully committed to the life of dogs and shows I began to look at the business of pedigreed dogs and the world they live in. From my legal and business back- ground, as well as a stint as an CAO of a web development start up before the Internet bubble burst, I started to sort out some of the variables of the com- petition. Ever the statistician, I looked at the numbers comparing what it cost to show your own dogs every weekend, traveling all over the west coast com- peting with professional handlers and dealing with the vagaries of competi- tion judging. I noticed that hardly anybody did any real marketing of their kennels, dogs, expertise or reputation. It was so, well, casual and civilized, or so I first thought. I began to realize that be- neath all of this calm veneer of polite applause as dogs won in the ring was a caldron of fierce combat. Cathy won far more than other competing breed- ers, but she didn’t win best of breeds all the time, much less group and best in show wins. One of my first sugges- tions, carefully presented to the ex- pert was that going to dog shows con- stantly and showing your own dogs wasn’t cost effective. I had quietly compiled and compared two business models for the competi- tions. The first one was the way most people show their dogs; just as Cathy had done for years. The other model moved to a different level. At that level you hired a regular professional handler, carefully planned which dog show offered the most promise, judges and points, managed which dogs were going to compete when and developed goals and benchmarks to monitor success. In this model, you had the handler show all of your dogs except for those in bred by exhibi- tor or very young class dogs. Instead of going to shows constantly, we sent our dogs to show every weekend with the handler. We were going to shows in places like Monterey and let the handler go to Bakersfield (no offense to Bakersfield!).
AS WITH ANY BUSINESS, YOUR CUSTOMERS ARE YOUR BEST SOURCE OF POSITIVE MAR- KETING AND SALES. A HAPPY OWNER WALKING AROUND SAN FRANCISCO WITH AN AVIATOR DOG IS YOUR BEST BILLBOARD.
"Mo" in water performance work
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TO BE A GREAT SHOW OWNER, YOU AND YOUR PARTNER HAVE TO BOTH COMPLETELY COMMIT TO DOING WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN THE BIG SHOWS.... A GREAT DOG SHOW OWNER IS CERTIFIABLY NUTS.
Whenever I talked to my sister in Texas, she would laugh about where destiny had taken me. More than once, she would ask, “Did you ever think your would be in the dog busi- ness, picking up poop?” Did I mention poop again? To be a great show owner, you and your part- ner have to both completely commit to doing what it takes to win the big shows. We now make little mini-va- cations out of the many shows that we attend. When the PWD National was in Rhode Island, we added a week to go to Cape Cod. Paris will always be there, I think. Because both Cathy and I are onboard to being as good of owners as we can and are willing to make sacrifices of time andmoney, we can survive the craziness. Did Imention crazy?Agreat dog show owner is certifiably nuts. Now the movie Best In Show seems perfectly logical to me. Of course I’m going to become my local dog food store’s fa- vorite customer. Of course I’m going to singlehandedly pay my vet’s util- ity bills every month. Sure I’m going to send my dogs cross-country for a show because it’s the best place to be. It’s just fine that my entire schedule revolves around dogs and shows. And that’s not enough. Like any business or hobby-out-of-control,
total personal commitment means getting evenmore involved in the pro- cess. Breeding, training and show- ing dogs is not enough. Because you might actually have a few uncom- mitted minutes here and there, you have to start the process of being an AKC judge like Cathy, start being a ring steward like me, start attend- ing judge’s and breed seminars and training sessions, join local kennel clubs, mentor other breeders, help owners become their own kennels, get involved in helping to put own regional and national specialties, write articles, track show and judg- ing results and network in the broader world of dogs all over the world. Did I mention crazy? As with any obsessive behavior it’s therapeutic to ask yourself if this be- havior is a good thing or not. To be a great show owner, try not to ask your- self that question. Cathy and I have learned to go with the flow of the de- mands of competing at a high level in the dog world. More important, when you see one of dogs competing for Best of Show in Madison Square Garden, the spotlight tracking her movement around the ring, you know you don’t have to ask that question; you know very well that’s it worth all it took to get here.
really think about our answers to the hard questions confronting us to go to the next level. SO, TAKE THE QUIZ: First, were we prepared to make a total commitment of time, money and effort to leverage the success of Aviator to create and produce top ten dogs? We’ll talk about the amounts of money it takes to do this later in this series, but for now suffice it to say it costs a lot of money. Vacations? For- get it. Goodbye Paris, Hello Pomona. Even prior to Ladybug we had some top ten winners, but it was a real learning process even for Cathy. I had lots of time picking up poop in the kennel to think about how we could best market our dogs and our kennel. Did I mention poop? One of the strik- ing things I noticed at dog shows that there were few couples there with their dogs. Almost always the owner and handler would be a woman with a couple of dogs. As I got to know more people in the business, I fig- ured out that in a lot of cases, the husband was playing golf or at home in the woodworking shop. Cathy and I had figured out how to share the dog business duties; she handled the intricacies of breeding, training and raising pups—I was the kennel boy.
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H E A R T L A N D B I E W E R T E R R I E R S #2 IN BREED IN NOHS FINALS *
GRAND CHAMPION Windsong’s Heaven Sent To The Heartland CM WINSTON Owned by Rose Kitta and Kathy Totten *AKC NOHS STATS AS OF 10/8/21 Bred by Debarah Billings T op N otch T oys , O ctober 2021 • 37
by Arvind deBraganca THINGS I’VE LEARNED
A ll it takes is popularity to change the entire outline and essence of a breed. I guess if you keep telling them incorrect is correct, they eventually buy it? Maybe if it wasn’t celebrated or rewarded things would revert to the norm?Many have lost fo- cus and even more have no grasp nor understanding of the true purpose of our hobby. What is it you ask, simply it is the evaluation and selection of breeding stock that compares indi- vidual’s quality to a written standard. A standard set forth to promote and highlight structure for functional- ity of purpose. Most standards have a General Appearance segment that incorporates original purpose and is followed by a blueprint of perfection. What is so difficult? It takes just one highly promoted, mediocre or improperly presented, animal to ruin the years of dedication and passion of vested preservation breeders. Did I just write that? Yes, yes I did and unapologetically. We have become a society of fads, instant gratification and emotions. No lon- ger interested in the work, patience, dedication, or the journey it takes to produce a consistent and discernible quality family of dogs. Along comes a handler with some reputation, a client with considerable funds and substan- tial numbers of adjudicators whom are “well read” and not necessar- ily well versed all working together to promote a generic animal with no dis- cernible faults but outstanding show- manship. Now you add the masses of instant gratification seeking, un- informed ribbon collectors and it
becomes a veritable three ring circus! Whatever do I mean? Really. Think aboutwhat isbeing lamentedvirtually without end. A keening that is affect- ing the core of this sport. Listen to the breeders, hear them. It is a murmur at shows, a social media topic and even a discussion of roundtables all around the country. Someone has to make it so and it is. What is “IT”? Running at full speed regardless of breed. You know, run fast and be famous. Free baiting every dog to be a Doberman? Showmanship is wonderful, but when it changes the essence of a breed? Make them all generic regardless of what is correct for temperament and purpose. A personal favorite, head high, arched neck and sloping topline for all. Umm, yeah that is a thing and I guess generic is the trend. Each devia- tion to bring forth generic as a norm becomes another problematic ob- stacle for preservationist breeders to overcome and teach away from. This brings me to a solution which is so simple to state and ever so difficult to implement. You need all parties to come together for each plays a role at the demise of what is correct and true. You need mentoring without prejudice or agenda, essentially going against human nature, for the greater good. Then you need students who strive for comprehension and reten- tion of provided knowledge. Students always seeking multiple views to form strong understanding and solidify fact. Adjudicators who will do their utmost to reward quality or do what is necessary when quality is not pres- ent; those who strive to be well versed
and not “well read.” Exhibitors know- ing and bringing quality to the ring without being so self-vested they can not see beyond their leads. All work- ing together make the simple possible. At this point you may be nodding in ascension, but what is causing the dis- connect? The answer is lack of follow through by each individual party or all parties simultaneously. So the battle rages on. One can hope the breeders take themselves, their mentees and judge’s education to task. Teach hallmarks and prioritize their importance, teach functionality of purpose andwhy it is imperative for upholding the written standard and teach adjudicators how to identify and determine the latter two lessons ef- fectively in a real world setting. Adju- dicators need to stop rushing through the process, in an attempt, to gain more status. Remember that you are here to promote dogs, our sport and to do no harm. You will not always have quality or options and then you must learn how to deny awards because it is your duty nay responsibility. Your decisions, level of commitment and attitude will affect exhibitor (old and new) and the breeds you have been given the responsibility to evaluate. Our goals should always be the same; promotion of sound, healthy, pur- posefully bred specimens that adhere to their written standard and always keeping functionality of purpose on the forefront. All working together will make a difference. All together we can salvage the sport and hobby we love and to which many have dedi- cated our lives.
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I T ’ S ANOTHE R B R I T I S H I NVA S I ON !
GROUP WINNING BISS GCHS BALLOFUR’S HAPPINESS IS A WARM POM Owned by: Tracy Witz The first of the Beatles brothers to finish his championship, Johnny spent the first six months of 2021 (through 6/30/2021) as the Number 2 Pomeranian All Breed, winning a group and a Specialty in that time. J O H N N Y
P A U L
GROUP WINNING GCH BALLOFUR’S MAYBE I’M AMAZED Owned By: Bethanie Walder
CH BALLOFUR’S SNUGGLE BEAR SHEEHAN Owned By: Marci Sheehan Harrison started his career at the APC Summer Specialty and following Specialty Shows, earning Reserve Winners Dog at the APC Summer Specialty and PCGH Specialty under breed specialists Fred Bassett and Geno Sisneros, and Winners Dog for a 5 point major under Suzanne Dillin. He showed one more weekend after that, finishing with two additional majors and going WD/BOW all 3 shows in Hot Springs, AR, finishing his championship. HARR I SON Handler for a bit. He started his Specials career with his breeder Aly Bell with a huge Group Two in Tampa, with numerous group placements, recently being awarded a Toy Group One to become the second boy from the litter to be a Group Winner in the same year. Paul was the second of the brothers to finish in October of 2020, staying with his owner to play in Owner
All of these boys were bred and shown to their championships by Aly Bell. BISS GCHS Silhouette's Seeking Nirvana x Johnnylicious Down The Rabbit Hole
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WHAT’S IN A NAME
by Jude Daley
“
B reeding is not for the faint of heart. It’s for the truly commit- ted. I mean really, really com- mitted as much as the pig is truly committed in the making of a ham and egg sandwich. Truly committed. (The chicken is just involved.) Don’t even think you can “dabble” in breed- ing. Not even once. You’re in or you’re out. Once you’ve bred your bitch there’s no going back. And thework it takes just tobreedyour bitch?Yikes? I live inNewHampshire. I’ve traveled to California, North Car- olina, Montana, and Winnipeg, Can- ada. If a three or four hour drive (one way) was possible, I did it. I’ve been to New York, Maine, Pennsylvania (actually that one was seven hours), Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Mas- sachusetts for two-to-three breedings. Each breeding requires another round trip. I’ve driven through tornadoes, floods, blizzards and, in one instance, I found myself and my bitch alone on a major interstate highway that had been closed due to statewide weather emergencies. None of these trips were easy or inexpensive. Getting thebitch to the right location is actually the easiest part. Upon arrival, “The Deed” has to be done. I’ve had to restrain some girls who just want to rip the face off their future husband. Some want no part and will not, abso- lutely no way, cooperate. Other times, I have had very, very willing girls and a boy who won’t look twice at her. One boy kept snapping at the girl as if to say; “You’re not my type. At all.”
Plan B has to kick in here—AI, or ar- tificial insemination, or “assist the idiots” as I have been known to refer to the process. I am so blessed to have had the most expert advice in the art of this method. And let me just tell you, don’t think you can just “figure it out” on your own. You cannot. These are dogs, not people, and things are just a teensy bit different. Back to my mentors: Did I mention that they happen to be two very gentle- manly andpatient gaymen?Theywere awesome. I now consider myself to be an expert in the process and, to date, have had only one miss. That was due to the bitch having a medical problem (read: expensive, expensive, and time consuming to cure). Oh, and there’s themalewho suddenly became sterile. There’s a topic for a whole new article. With this Plan B, I have to carry with me all the necessary tools (customs in Canada can be brutal). I’ve used kitchen tables, kitchen counter tops, bureaus in hotels, bathroom floors, hotel beds, RV beds, living room sofas and chairs, and once I actually got to use a grooming table. And there are stories to be told about every “adven- ture,” but not now. Getting back on topic—If I can’t travel there, I have the semen shipped. I have had semen shipped from places as far away as NewMexico and Alabama, to name just two. Shipping semen is no bargain. The stud dog’s vets charge me for collection, preparation, and the actual FedEx shipping. I also have to pay for, the very very large carton
...AI, OR ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION, OR “ASSIST THE IDIOTS” AS I HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO REFER TO THE PROCESS. I AM SO BLESSED TO HAVE HAD THE MOST EXPERT ADVICE IN THE ART OF THIS METHOD. AND LET ME JUST TELL YOU, DON’T THINK YOU
CAN JUST “FIGURE IT OUT” ON YOUR OWN. YOU CANNOT. THESE ARE DOGS, NOT PEOPLE, AND THINGS ARE JUST A TEENSY BIT DIFFERENT.
”
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“
that contains a small vial, packed in newspapers and surrounded by sty- rofoam. It looks really cheap. It isn’t. One time, I actually laughed out loud when the cardboard box was deliv- ered. It was decorated with a picture of a big stork carrying a baby printed on the side. Nothing like letting the neighbors think they know what you’re doing. One time, I cried when I opened the box. The vet had not added any extender and there was nothing, absolutely nothing, inside the vial. Those of you who have been unfor- tunate enough to use this method also realize that there’s a serious time factor involved and a shipment that is useless can set a breeder back by six months. The only other time I cried over a shipment was when the shipment never arrived. Somehow, some way, someone at the vet office had addressed this precious (read: expensive) shipment to themselves, only to find it on their own doorstep in the morning. While my bitch and I sat waiting at a reproduction vet office 3,000 miles away. That was the first and only time I used a repro vet, by the way. And a good thing it was. Due to severe snow storms, which even I couldn’t navi- gate, a holiday which FedEx didn’t navigate on, and a slow rise in proges- terone/LH counts (are you confused, those who wisely don’t breed? Read: expensive blood tests, letting science take out the guesswork of the per- fect day)—we were down to the last possible day. Plan B for shipping kicked in. A sec- ond shipment was sent to the correct address and my bitch was implanted surgically. (Read here: Huge ex- pense. this operation is the same as a C-section in reverse.) Success! Two puppies. (Read: expensive c-section as these pups were huge on the expen- sive ultrasound and expensive x-ray.)
Oh, and now that puppies are “on the ground”—time to pay the stud fee. I could go on and on, but won’t. I’ll save all the rest of the breeding things for another time. Right now I’ll cut to the chase and the topic of this article—names. Yes, puppies are cute and fuzzy and smell delightful. Yes, they are somuch fun to cuddle and kiss. But the best part about puppies? They need names and the breeder gets to pick them. This is the best part. Seriously. The next time you read the names—and I mean all of the “official AKC regis- tered names”—stop and think for a moment. Someone, a breeder 99.9% of the time, had to think of that name. And they thought of it with a purpose, a reason, a definite goal in mind. (And a drink in hand, I’m thinking.) Believe me, these names are carefully worked on. Sometimes for days, months and in a few cases with folks who collect names, years. I was almost overwhelmed and ready to throw in the towel the first time we had a litter. It took me weeks. I fi- nally settled on using the alphabet as a helpful tool (crutch). We simply started with A and after we got to to Z we started all over again. Simple, you say? Think about it. Think about U, X, Y and Z. Dwell on Q, for a while. Staying away from the expected is not easy. We chose Una, Xanthippe, Yard- ley, and Zucca. And the Q pup became a gorgeous belge dog named “Q”. The most recent litter we whelped (went into debt over) landed back on the letter “E”. Easy. My parents have both recently left thisEarth, but theirmiddle names began with E. So... we’ve got an Evan- geline and a Eugene. Stunning babies with super special names. I won’t go so far as to say choosing names makes breeding all worthwhile, but I will say it can make part of it a lot of fun.
YES, PUPPIES ARE CUTE AND FUZZY AND SMELL DELIGHTFUL. YES, THEY ARE SO MUCH FUN TO CUDDLE AND KISS. BUT THE BEST PART ABOUT PUPPIES? THEY NEED NAMES AND THE BREEDER GETS TO PICK THEM. THIS IS THE BEST PART. SERIOUSLY. THE NEXT TIME YOU READ THE NAMES—AND I MEAN ALL OF THE “OFFICIAL AKC REGISTERED NAMES”— STOP AND THINK FOR A MOMENT. SOMEONE, A BREEDER 99.9% OF THE TIME, HAD TO THINK OF THAT NAME. AND THEY THOUGHT OF IT WITH A PURPOSE, A REASON, A DEFINITE GOAL IN MIND.
”
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BACK TO BASICS… IT’S TIME by Jacqueline L. Stacy
T ime? Yes, it’s time to step back and take a good, long, hard look at the Affenpinschers that are being shown in the ring today. What is being bred, shown, promoted, and rewarded today will influence the direc- tion the breed takes tomorrow.Wemust, as breed preservationists, ob- jectively evaluate that direction. All breeders, exhibitors (handlers includ- ed), and judges must have the strength and courage to maintain BREED TYPE and reverse the direction the breed is currently taking. We aremov- ing away frommoderation and forward toward exaggeration. We must en- sure that “Affens” stay looking like Affens, not caricatures of Affens. MODERATION is repeatedly stated—seven times, actually—in the AKC breed Standard, approved June 12, 2000, and the descriptions provided in the Standard set the breed type. References made include forequarters, hindquarters, chest, and front/rear angulation. The tuck-up is described as “slight.” Exaggeration is now seen frequently in these areas and is, un- fortunately, being rewarded. It is erroneous and detrimental to this breed to promote exaggeration as this corrupts breed type. Here are just a few examples to illustrate this point regarding moderation as referenced in the Standard: Chest: Is moderately broad and deep; ribs are moderately sprung. Forequarters: Front angulation is moderate. Shoulders—with moderate layback. Hindquarters: Rear angulation is moderate tomatch the front. Hind legs straight when viewed from behind. From the side, hind legs are set under the body tomaintain a square appearance. Hocks—moderately angulated. From this, one should deduce that this makes for a short LEVEL back, which can still have a barely perceptible curve at the croup. In an over-angulated front (more thanmoderate layback of shoulders), the whole front assembly moves away fromAffen type. Choosing exaggerated angles and layback for the breed allows for a longer neck while bringing the humerus further back under the body. This puts the elbows in conflict with the rib cage, and can lead to a wider front and elbows that must move out to avoid the ribs, making for unsound gate. The longer neck, coupled with exaggerated shoulder angles, prevents the presence of the “short ver- tical neck” as described in the Standard. When hindquarters are exaggerated, the dog will have a sloping topline, standing with the hindlegs stretched out behind the rear. Or they may ap- pear to be standing on their hocks rather than on their feet, moving with
Near perfection for head and expression; eye shape, color, set, nose, lower lip line. Neat but shaggy appearance.
Eyes round, full, medium size, not prominent.
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