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.
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
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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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2021 3RD OVERALL Top Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in CKCSC USA *
GCH CH Legacy Chenin Blanc with Evera
Owned by Michele True Co-Owned & Bred by Dawn Stevens-Lindemaier candid photography by ©SueBee Photography
*CKCSC 12/28/21
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© Fritz Clark
Bred & Owned by Dawn Stevens-Lindemaier Co-owned with Michele True
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*
*
*AKC STATS AS OF 12/31/21
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WHISPERING WATERS HAVANESE Owned by Pat Tschohl, Sandy McCabe, & Wade Koistinen Handled by Wade Koistinen
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ON THE COVER Platinum Grand Champion HEARTLANDS R I PP IN T IME
BIS, RBIS & BISS WINS
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CONTENTS TABLE OF
TNT
AJ ARAPOVIC CEO & Publisher aj@aramediagroup.com Office 512-686-3466 ext. 102 Cell 512-541-8128 HANIFA ARAPOVIC Vice President hanifa@aramediagroup.com 512-686-3466 ext. 104 Cell 512-541-8687 MICHAEL R. VERAS Chief Operating Officer michael@aramediagroup.com 512-686-3466 ext. 101 ALEXANDRA GEBHARDT Chief Marketing Officer, Head Of Digital Brands alex@aramediagroup.com 1-908-288-7733 SAMANTHA ADKINS Production Co-Ordinator Advertiser Relations samantha@aramediagroup.com 512-686-3466 ext. 103 DANIEL CARTIER Director, Social Media & Web Site daniel@aramediagroup.com ADVERTISING DIRECTOR/EDITOR AJ ARAPOVIC Publisher Customer Relationship Manager meegan@showsightmagazine.com call/text: 512.593.5517 SOCIAL MEDIA ELMA BEGIC Manager, Social Media & Creative Content elma@aramediagroup.com 1-512-686-3466 aj@aramediagroup.com call/text 512.541.8128 MEEGAN PIEROTTI-TIETJE
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14 Toy Talk 16 Toy Box
44
Living with the Pomeranian Victoria Oelerich
Bonnie Guggenheim
Submitted by Michelle Jacobs 48
The Truth About Trimming Christine Heartz
22 Is Your Identity Part of a Puppy Scam? Susan Thibodeaux 26 The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly George Milutinovich
51 54 56 60 62 64 66
Judging the Miniature Pinscher Pamela DeHetre
The Russian Toy Jennifer Grebinoski
28 The Newbie
Historical Photo Collection Mari-Beth O’Neill
Carolyn Horowitz
32 False Pregnancy or 34 Toy Group Interviews
Bred-by-Exhibitor Cecilia Resnick
Pseudopregnancy in Dogs Ernest Ward
MAILING ADDRESS PO BOX 18567 TAMPA, FL 33679
Candids: Atlanta Dog Show Photos by Tom Weigand
Mark Kennedy, Peggy Lloyd & Darryl Vice
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.
38 Head Hints
Protect Your Local and Specialty Clubs Bonnie Guggenheim
Anne K. Catterson
40 Breeding the Chihuahua for the Show Ring Virginia (Jenny) Hauber
Index to Advertisers
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International Champion GINGERBRED OLYMP IC GOLD CM3 , BN, CD, RE , CGC , TKN
Loved and Owned by GRI SSELLE FRE I JO-CANTRELL Bred by ELOI SE RAYMOND Handled exclusively by JESS ICA HERZON
WE ARE EXCITED FOR WHAT 2022 WI LL BRING NOW THAT RUSS IAN TOYS HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED . KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THI S DYNAMIC DUO.
AFTER ACHI EVING THREE CERTI F ICATES OF MERIT AND WINNING BEST OF BREED AT ROYAL CANIN UNDER ESTEEMED JUDGE CHARLES TROTTER WHI LE STI LL IN MI SCELLANEOUS . THE POSS I B I L ITI ES ARE ENDLESS .
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F ebruary will be the start of 35 years for TOP NOTCH TOYS and I want to thank all of you who have contributed advertising, articles, and breeder forums as well as those who’ve supported the fabulous Toy Group through the years—but in particular the last year of very tough times. The com- petition in Toys is very steep and getting more so each year. Call me and let’s talk about Toys! If you are planning to campaign your Toy dog and need a plan and a budget, I can help with both… plus great ideas on how to succeed in the world of our dynamite Toys. Generation after generation of Toy dogs that reach top-dog status speaks well for the dedicated breeders with extensive knowledge of their respective breeds. They study pedigrees, carefully plan litters, and show their best to celebrate winning Toys as both Specials and Class dogs. The Royal Canin National Championship Show was an awe- some, fun-filled and exciting show with lots of surprises in the ring, and with the events associated with this fabulous show— what an undertaking for the Show Chair and Committees… and they continue to host it! What an awesome venue to see beautiful dogs you may not have seen at shows or even in this country, which is an excellent reason to attend next year! Over 20 countries, with WELCOME TO THE NEW YEAR! TOY TALK ETCETERA by Bonnie Guggenheim, TNT Advertising Director & Associate Editor
many languages spoken, made it eye (and ear) candy for the serious “dog person” which includes judges as well as those just starting out. See you soon at a show somewhere! Let me know about your exciting wins, new puppies, and ideas. Inquiring minds want to know! Bonnie bonnie@aramediagrp.com 512.971.3280
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INTRODUCING OH GROUP WINNING
CH B LUE H I L L S ’ E T ERNAL LY YOUR S 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
K E N N E L C L U B O F PA L M S P R I N G S O H TOY G R O U P 1 @ 9 MO S O F AG E Thank you Judge Rick Blanchard
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TOP NOTCH TOYS
TOYBOX
SUBMIT YOUR CUTE PHOTOS TO OUR TOYBOX DEPARTMENT. Any clear photo will do—black & white or color, regular photo or digital. (If sending digital images, send high resolution 300 DPI for best quality.) Please submit your name and the name of the dog. 16 • T op N otch T oys , J anuary 2022
SMALL DOG MAKES A Big Splash
FLASH: GCHB SUCCESS HEADY SNOW AVALANCHE WON A GRP. 3 UNDER JUDGE SANDRA BINGHAM-PORTER AND HANDLED BY BARBARA BEISSEL IN OCALA, FL
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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Biewer von Fritz wants to thank all 5 days of Esteemed Judges All 5 wins were in supported entry (>40 entries) Mr. Ray Filburn for recognizing CH Chantilly Cream Golden Dream Girl von Fritz with WB & BOW at the first Breed Specialty. Mr. Eugene Blake for WB & BOW: Billy Idol’s Rebel Yell von Fritz (Handled by Zoey Porter) and Reserve WB Chantilly Cream Golden Dream von Fritz. Ms. Janet Turnage Nahikian for WB & BOW Chantilly Cream Golden Dream von Fritz. Owner handled by Rob Wehrfritz CHChantilly Cream Golden Dream Girl von Fritz Shanti
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Skylar Thank you to Mr. Timothy Catterson for recognizing GCH Opulent Mikimoto Black Pearl Von Fritz as Select Bitch at the AKC National Championship Dog Show sponsored by Royal Canin & Ms. Jan N. Paulk for recognizing GCH Opulent Mikimoto Black Pearl Von Fritz with BOS. Owned by Debi and Terry McCormick Biewer von Fritz: Breeder Rob and Bobbi-Michelle Wehrfritz “Skylar” would not have had this opportunity without professional handlers Pam Laperruque & Tara Martin Rowell GCH Opulent Mikimoto Black Pearl Von Fritz
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ALL TOYS, ALL THE TIME! GROUP 5. PURE DYNAMITE.
Featured Breeds: Brussels Griffons • Toy Poodles • Pugs Spotlight on: Lakeland Winter Haven shows • Toy Dog Fanciers of North San Diego Florida All Toy Breeds Club • Mo Kan Toy Dog Club Delaware Valley Toy Dog Fanciers New Specials • Owner Handlers • Veterans • Bred-By Exhibitors 1 Full Page $425 2 Full Pages $750 Deadline February 18 PREFERRED PAGES AVAILABLE CALL FOR PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
No charge for ad design! Contact AJ Arapovic or Meegan Pierotti-Tietje AJ Arapovic aj@aramediagroup.com • call/text 512.541.8128 Meegan Pierotti-Tietje meegan@showsightmagazine.com • call/text: 512.593.5517
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PA P I L LON S
PA R A S O L
P O L A R I S P LY U S I S O L DA ( S O P H I A & K AY )
BO S T HAN K YOU J U DG E M S . MA R I E ANN FA LCON E R
T HAN K YOU J U DG E MR S . T E R RY L . B E R R I O S
BREEDER: LARISA POPOVA HANDLER: KAY PALADE LOVINGLY OWNED BY: DOROTHY ANDERSON & CHANDI HEFFNER BLOOM LITTLE ROSEBUD
“ B E L I E V E I N P O S S I B I L I T I E S ” DO R OT H Y AND E R S ON | DAD E C I T Y , F L | WWW . PA R A S O L PA P I L LON S . COM
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IS YOUR IDENTITY PART OF A PUPPY SCAM?
by Susan Thibodeaux
Y ou’ve heard of identity theft. You guard your social security num- ber, your driver’s license infor- mation, your credit cards—but would you be surprised to find out that puppy scammers are stealing your dog identity too? Puppy scams have been a problem on the Internet for some time, but the scammers are becomingmore sophis- ticated. First, let’s talk about the typi- cal online puppy scam. A puppy seeker decides to look for a puppy. Gone are the days when they simply looked in the classified section of the newspaper. Craigslist has a few ads for commonly found breeds such as Pitbulls, French Bulldogs, Chihua- huas, and Labs, as well as for mixed puppies. Many locations have banned the sale of puppies in pet shops. The puppy seeker wants a specific breed of dog and doesn’t knowwhere to look for it, so they go to their favorite re- search location—Google. The buyer types the name of the breed they are looking for into the Internet search engine and a plethora of glitzy websites pop up. The buyer begins to click on the various links. The sites have pretty puppies. They have pictures of the parents. The site says they have the proper shots. They promise “family raised” and “regis- tered.” The puppy searcher sends an email through the site to the breeder. The pet scammer asks for a deposit and promises a delivery date. The breeder might send some cute puppy
puppies, sometimes even before the puppy seeker hits “search” on Google. In their current schemes, the puppy scammer makes a false identity on Facebook by setting up a page and then joining Facebook breed groups. These groups are generally made up of mostly pet people, who love or own that breed, and some breed fanciers. Often, a person wanting a puppy of a specific breed will join various Face- book groups for that breed. When they post that they are looking for a puppy, they receive a private message through Facebook’s Messenger that another group member just happens to have puppies available. The scam- mer will send photos privately, and the dance begins. As of late, the scam- mers are so bold that they often just paste their website link into the com- ment sections, even in groups that don’t allow puppy sales. As it’s just a web address link, it doesn’t trigger the group admins into action—and unsuspecting people are drawn into the trap. The scammers are bold. In a group that I frequent, they recently posted that they had puppies for sale by copy- ing and pasting text, and adding Toy Fox puppy pictures. However, they forgot to change the wording. So, in the paragraph, it stated that the pup- pies all have the “true Boston Terrier colors.” They do this scam on Face- book across many breeds, to catch as many unsuspecting puppy buyers as possible.
photos, but the buyer never gets to ac- tually see the live puppy. As the date draws close for delivery or pick up of the puppy, the “breeder” asks that the remainder of the mon- ey to be sent to PayPal. They may ask for gift cards or ask for payment through untraceable cash apps such as Zelle, Google Pay, Cash App, Ven- mo, and Apple Pay. Once the buyer has sent money, the seller often tells them there is additional paperwork and delivery requirements that will need additional money. The scam- mer might say that the shipper or airline is requiring a special crate, shipping insurance, another vet visit or shots, etc. Sometimes, they even set up additional email accounts, websites, etc., to look like an airline or shipping company. Generally, the puppy buyer is out thousands of dollars by the time they realize there’s no puppy and the seller is a fraud. The Better Business Bu- reau statistics for 2021 show 3,328 reports of online puppy scams. You, as a real breeder, are probably wondering how this affects you. These scams have been increasing and now the criminals are stealing your pho- tos, your kennel names, and in some cases, even your websites to camou- flage their schemes and look legiti- mate to the prospective puppy buyers. The chicanery is no longer restricted to finding them through web search engines. The scammers have deter- mined how to find the folks looking for
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“THE SCAMMERS ARE GETTING MORE SOPHISTICATED AND becoming better at camouflaging themselves, and pretending to be you.”
thing that looks suspicious. If you have a web presence on the Internet, do some general searches occasional- ly just to ensure that your information hasn’t been stolen and is being used to sell invisible puppies. We need to be visible to the public, but we need to be aware and constantly on our guard for fraudsters who will use our good reputations to further their crimes.
might need to give the warning fre- quently. I post warnings on our breed and kennel clubs’ public Facebook pages, as well as in groups and on my personal page frequently. Finally, if your information has been stolen (photos, website, pedigrees or anything they can use to illegally sell invisible puppies), let everyone in the group know and tag the administra- tor so that the admin can block them. If your website is copied and used as a counterfeit site, use a resource such as https://lookup.icann.org/ to tell you who the host domain is for the repli- cated illegitimate website. Once you find that domain, send an email with the information to: abuse@ that do- mainname . Also, send the information to: https://petscams.com/report-pet- scam-websites/ . They only investigate website domains. Additionally, report the scam to: https://reportfraud.ftc. gov/#/ . And finally, report it to the FBI, as they investigate and track cyber scams at https:// www.ic3.gov/ . You can report it to Facebook if they posted there or if they’ve misappro- priated your photos from your pages. However, so far, Facebook just keeps sending us messages that they haven’t violated any “community standards.” I’ve announced several times in my groups that we’ve reported the po- tential scams to the FBI, and some newmembers immediately disappear from the group. The scammers are getting more so- phisticated and becoming better at camouflaging themselves, and pre- tending to be you. Work with your social media groups and your breed clubs to be pro-active and warn peo- ple of the dangers. Look out for each other’s information and report any-
This is where the theft of your identity lies. The information on the Facebook pages, puppy pictures, and kennel names are quite possibly yours. In a recent example, the scammer’s Face- book page profile had my bitch Spar- kles’ photo. The website was copied completely from one of our national club member’s sites, with just the “Contact Us” information changed as well as a few photos swapped out. The kennel and website name used was another kennel from overseas, with the domain name extension changed. They didn’t even change the breeder’s name in the “About Us” they had sto- len from the legitimate website. To the puppy buyer, it looks com- pletely legitimate. You are ignorant to the fact that someone is using your kennel information (and maybe even your name) to steal someone’s money by selling them a non-existent puppy. So how do we fight this fraud? First, we need to market our breed clubs to the public, and direct people to our puppy referrals and breeders’ listings. When contacted by a potential puppy buyer, don’t ignore it just because you don’t have puppies or because they are all spoken for. Re-direct them to legitimate sources. If you are on Face- book or other social media and you see suspicious identities, Facebook pages, comments or websites, inves- tigate them and report them to the group and page administrators. Ad- vise people when they state that they are looking for a puppy that if they get a private message, they should verify with a breeder or kennel club that the person is legitimate. We need to edu- cate the peoplewe interact with on so- cial media about the dangers of puppy scams. If you are in a breed group, you
BIO Susan Thibodeaux began showing dogs in 1978. Ten years ago, after years in the Sporting Group showing pri- marily Vizslas, Cockers, and English Cockers, she made the decision to segue to the Toy Group and now has Toy Fox Terriers and Toy Manchester Terri- ers. Susan is Vice President and Breed Education Chair for the American Toy Fox Terrier Club and on the Board of the Brevard Kennel Club. In addition to showing, Susan can be found hav- ing fun in various events such as Rally, FastCAT, and Barn Hunt as well as stewarding and judging sweepstakes and match shows.
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Ruby
I N T R OD U C I N G N E W C H A M P I ON DiLusso's Ruby B R E D , OWN E D A N D H A N D L E D B Y M A R I N A K R I V O L A P O V A
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by George Milutinovich THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY
A s we enter the first months of 2022, let’s take a minute or two to reflect on the world of pure- bred dogs and the sport that we all profess to love! It is imperative that we look ahead to our involvement and ask ourselves what we can do to be a better ambassador for our breed, the American Kennel Club, and the fancy in general. Many of us wear multiple hats in our lives. For example, in addition to judging purebred dogs since 1999, I amcurrently the Vice President of the CCSPCA in Fresno, California. We have a monumental task of attempt- ing to find forever homes for tens of thousands of unwanted dogs and cats each year! Unfortunately, many wind up being euthanized. Education here is key in teaching each generation about responsible dog ownership and stopping the cycle of indiscriminate breeding! Change hats, and I become a committed advocate for the pur- poseful breeding and preservation of purebred dogs. This goes far beyond the sport of showing dogs. It goes to the very existence of our breeds and the original purpose for which they were bred! As with almost everything today, it becomes an “us versus them” scenario and solutions rarely come to fruition because not enough people arewilling to step across the aisle, get involved, and help to educate. Often, reputa- ble breeders are demonized as being the root of the problem! We must do our part to dispel this myth to avoid unrealistic government bans and re- strictions that could decimate our sport. Get involved! Are you willing?
Toy breeds comprise an ever-grow- ing segment of dog shows. More and more fanciers are flocking to the Toy Group and, honestly, competition for a Group placement in any part of the country is intense, with many wor- thy exhibits exiting the ring without a ribbon. Judges coming from other Groups face new challenges evaluat- ing Toy breeds. The AmericanKennel Club National Owner-Handled Se- ries has provided judges who are per- mit or approved for at least one breed in the Toy Group or an entire Group to judge the NOHS Groups and Best in Show. It is a wonderful learning experience for the judge, but he or she must be vigilant in learning correct examination techniques of a Toy dog before the assignment! This applies to Bred-By-Exhibitor and Puppy Group judging as well. Show Chair- men must confirm the judges desire to judge a particular Group before the assignment is approved by AKC and is published. It is imperative that aToy judge is light- handed. “Knowing” hands can gently feel without poking, prodding or be- ing intrusive! The table is the place to evaluate the fine pointswithin a breed, but toplines must be evaluated on the ground and on the go-around! Bites and teeth can be a bone of contention between judges and exhibitors of Toy breeds. Judges must follow each par- ent club and AKC directive regard- ing the proper way to evaluate a Toy mouth! Many a worthy exhibit has been negatively impacted by a careless examination. Inexcusable! Sportsmanship at dog shows is in desperate need of resurrection. True
competition is a cornerstone of our sport. To all judges, handlers, photog- raphers, superintendents, exhibitors, and vendors; there is plenty of roomfor all of us in dog shows! No one has ever advanced themselves by ridiculing their colleagues. (At least not for long!) The original purpose of dog shows was to evaluate breeding stock and that ob- jective should remain today. Given the current political climate in our coun- try and the divisive rhetoric coming from all directions, let’s all strive to be the individuals that make our sport great. Have respect for one another, admire quality and talent, congratu- late one another, and keep personal attacks out of our sport! And finally, I recently attended a se- ries of shows in an attempt to finish my young dog. There has always been two schools of thought regarding judges showing their own dogs, and the perceptions and biases that might be created. Without getting into that controversy, I am certain, after that cluster of shows, that I walked away with a renewed respect for the own- er-handler! It had been over 25 years since I had entered a ring as an exhibi- tor. Literally, I was a nervous wreck; I was sweating profusely through my sport coat in 60-degree weather and did a mediocre job at best of show- casing my dog’s attributes! Friends and colleagues watching ringside would certainly confirm my account. I came away from the experience of those four days with the sincere belief that all judges should be required to change hats and “become the exhibi- tor” from time to time, to reconnect with the beginnings we all share!
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B I S S G C H S K A L L M E E T H E A E R I A L I S T FLYER 2 0 2 1 # 1 T O Y F O X T E R R I E R A L L S Y S T E M S * A L W AY S B R E E D E R / O W N E R H A N D L E D
*ALL SYSTEMS AS OF 12/31/21
2021 NATIONAL SPECIALTY BEST OF BREED! 2020 AKC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BOB 2021 MORRIS AND ESSEX BOB FOUR GROUP 1’S,
MANY GROUP PLACEMENTS MULTIPLE SPECIALTY BESTS
We are humbled by Flyer’s successful first year as a special and we are truly grateful to the judges who have rewarded this beautiful young dog. To Flyer’s many fans – we appreciate your support – thank you!
SUSAN AND STEVE THIBODEAUX KALLMEE—HOME OF EXCEPTIONAL DOGS SINCE 1978, COCOA, FL
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THE NEWBIE JUST DO IT! by Carolyn Horowitz “Y ou should go for your license.” “You would make a great judge.”
Those were nice compliments that I heard from attendees at Judges Education seminars I’d presented on behalf of the American Man- chester Terrier Club. Despite two decades in the breed and a success- ful breeding program, judging was not something I seriously considered until the second half of 2020 as dog shows began to open up following the COVID-19 lockdowns. Since I wasn’t traveling abroad for work, I was going to more dog shows. I had always had an exit strategy as a breeder, but the “what next” question had also always been on my mind. Be- ing able to attend more shows made me realize howmuch I wanted to stay active in the fancy, and I assessed what I needed to do before applying to become a judge—match judging assignments. I was able to complete those in February and I started the New Applicant process inMarch. By June, I was approved for Permit status in Manchester Terriers. The process that seemed so daunting on paper went smoothly, with my appli- cation filed, tests taken, application published in the AKC Gazette , and an Executive Field Rep interview passed, all within a matter of months. By October of 2021, I had contracts for three assignments in Manches- ters, plus a Papillon Sweepstakes for 2022. It all happened so fast thanks to great support from the Judging Operations team and with encouragement from friends who are judges. I was now a new breeder-judge. The rules literally changed for me overnight. I was very familiar with
“IT ALL HAPPENED SO FAST THANKS TO GREAT
SUPPORT FROM THE JUDGING OPERATIONS TEAM AND WITH ENCOURAGEMENT FROM FRIENDS WHO ARE JUDGES. I was now a new breeder-judge.”
the AKC’s Ethics Policies, etc., but the Basic Institute andWebinar series I’d attended last fall really drove home certain realities about judging in gen- eral, and about being a new breeder- judge who is still actively breeding and showing in a low-entry breed in particular. What do I do? How do I manage actual or perceived conflicts? I have lived in three states andworked with so many people in the breed over the last two decades. Manchesters are a small breed, and my husband and I started showing in California before moving east. I literally know every- one. I was aware that with a low-entry breed I could get Regular status with six assignments, regardless of en- tries… but I want entries. I want to be observed. So, I did the following:
• I reached out to several long- time judges who were still active breeders, and I received some very sound advice. • I reached out to people with whom I have actual conflicts (co- ownerships, puppies from me or back from breedings within the time limit, etc.) and I explained the rules to them. • I explained the rules to several people who thought they had conflicts, but did not. • I changed settings for tag- ging in social media based on Tim Thomas’ advice at the Basic Institute. • I started saying “no” to certain requests, to avoid new conflicts.
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two months earlier and I re-watched the AKC Weighing and Measuring video four times. I planned how I would run my ring, the instructions I would give my steward, and exactly how I intended to examine and gait the dogs. If that seems excessive, my job title is literally “controller,” and being prepared is in my DNA. The next morning, as I looked around the lobby restaurant at my hotel, I saw a sea of familiar faces—judges I had shown to or stewarded for over the years were chatting amiably over breakfast. Then I joined some of them on the judges transportation bus to the Polo Grounds. “Wow,” I said to myself. “This is really happening.” Arriving at the show grounds, my nerves were overcome by nostalgia. My foundation bitch had won her first major at this remarkable show with my late mentor. I have 20-year- old photos of the hot-air balloons taken from RV parking. I knew this place, and the sheer beauty and scale of the show was comforting rather than overwhelming. After checking in with the Field Reps, I had two hours until my assignment. Both the working club members and the accommodations in Judges Hos- pitality were remarkable. The judges I sat with were kind and encouraging, particularly upon learning this wasmy first assignment. I even received some wonderful advice from judges I admire on how to proceed from a single breed.
When entries closed for my first as- signment in both varieties at the Kennel Club of Palm Springs, I had 19 Standards and 16 Toys. I was genuinely humbled and grateful to see the trust my fellow fanciers and parent club members put in my judg- ing of the regional specialty. It was my first assignment and a really wonderful experience. THE FIRST ASSIGNMENT On January 7, 2022, I flew to Palm Springs from Knoxville, Tennessee, to judge both varieties of Manchester Terriers for a Designated Specialty. My flights were easy and uneventful— the best kind of trip. As I deplaned, though, I thought to myself, “Ok, tomorrow I judge my first regular assignment as a newly minted judge with Permit status in a single breed with an entry of 35 at a specialty at the Kennel Club of Palm Springs!” I wasn’t worried about actually judg- ing the dogs—this was my breed, after all, but procedure that becomes auto- matic for experienced judges was new to me. Since receiving Permit status in June, 2021, I had judged FSS/ MISC and 4-6 Month Beginner Pup- py at an event as a last-minute substi- tute for a judge who was quarantined in late September, but this was my first “regular” assignment. I studied that night—a lot. I re-read all the procedural materials from the AKC Basic Institute that I had taken
As my ring-time approached, I said to myself, “You can do this.” I did successfully complete the as- signment while being observed. I had a great ring steward in Hans Kabel. (As a frequent steward, I recognized just how good.) What surprised me was that the actual judging of dogs was harder than I’d expected. I had large, competitive entries in both va- rieties, which is a great problem to have, but comparingManchester Ter- riers is second nature to me. While judging, though, I was also conscious- ly thinking about procedure and time. I knew going in that this would be a challenge, but it was harder than I’d expected despite all the preparation. Overall, it was an amazing experience and I heartily thank the members of the Kennel Club of Palm Springs for allowing me to be on the 2022 panel for one day, with just two varieties of a single breed.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Carolyn fell hopelessly in love with Manchester Terriers in the late 1990s and has been breeding under the Rustic Lane prefix ever since. She is also the Global Operations Controller for Dura-line, Inc., responsible for 16manufactur- ing plants on four continents.
“What surprised me was that the actual judging of dogs was harder than I’d expected. I HAD LARGE, COMPETITIVE ENTRIES IN BOTH VARIETIES, WHICH IS A GREAT PROBLEM TO HAVE, BUT COMPARING MANCHESTER TERRIERS IS SECOND NATURE TO ME.”
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Group Winner • Multiple Group Placer • Bronze Grand Champion
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COBAIN BISS GCHS Silhouette’s Seeking Nirvana ROM CHIC
We are proud to announce Cobain has officially earned his ROM Thank you to everyone who bred to Cobain and showed his kids. (pictured below)
Sire: BISS GCH Mythical Easy as Heck ROM • Dam: CH Silhouette’s Stormin the Castle Cobain is bred by Elizabeth Heckert and owned by Deborah Snow and Elizabeth Heckert
BISS GCHB Dee Little I Am Groot
BISS GCHS BallOFur’s Happiness is a Warm Pom
GCHB BallOFur’s Maybe I’m Amazed
CH BallOFur’s Snuggle Bear Sheehan
CH Montefino’s Everything I Wanted
CH Dee Little So What! photo by ©Melia
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FALSE PREGNANCY OR PSEUDOPREGNANCY IN DOGS
By Ernest Ward, DVM
may vary from one cycle to the next in the same dog. Behavioral changes of pseudo-preg- nancy include nesting, mothering ac- tivity, restlessness, decreased interest in physical activity, and occasionally, even aggression. Some affected dogs will show signs of a false labor and then protectively guard toys or other small objects. WHY DO THESE SYMPTOMS OCCUR? Mild cases of false pregnancy do not require treatment, since the symp- toms will subside in approximately 14 to 21 days. If the dog appears physically ill or the behavioral changes are severe enough to cause concern, treatment is indi- cated. Treatment is symptomatic and may include tranquilization to relieve anxiety, treatment with diuretics in order to reduce the milk production or relieve fluid retention; in rare cases, hormonal treatment may be required. If the female will not be used for breeding, ovariohysterectomy is recommended to prevent future episodes. Ideally, this surgical ster- ilization should be performed after all symptoms have resolved. If she is surgically sterilized while she is experiencing signs of pseudo-preg- nancy, symptoms may continue for several weeks despite the fact she has been spayed.
WHAT IS MEANT BY FALSE PREGNANCY? F alse pregnancy, phantom preg- nancy, pseudo-pregnancy or pseu- docyesis are all terms that refer to a display of maternal (mothering) behavior combined with the physical signs of pregnancy following estrus (heat) in a female dog that is not actu- ally pregnant. A false pregnancy may occur in a dog, regardless of whether or not she was mated. The majority of intact female dogs will show some signs of false pregnancy after an estrus cycle. WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF FALSE PREGNANCY AND WHEN DO THEY OCCUR? Symptoms of false pregnancy usu- ally begin four to nine weeks after the previous heat period and mimic the symptoms of a true pregnancy. The more common signs of pseudo- pregnancy include mammary gland enlargement with or without the pro- duction of milk, lethargy, periodic vomiting, and fluid retention. The fe- male often has a decreased appetite but seldom appears to lose weight, probably due to the amount of excess fluid she retains. These symptoms can occur at any age and do not necessarily follow every estrus. The severity of the clinical signs varies between individuals and
“SYMPTOMS OF FALSE PREGNANCY USUALLY BEGIN FOUR TO NINE WEEKS AFTER THE PREVIOUS HEAT PERIOD...”
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WYNSON ITALIAN GREYHOUNDS WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE
WYNSON’S TIGHT JEANS
Ch Wynson’s Dashing In Denim “Dash” x Wynson’s High Finance “Penny”
Special thanks to handlers Michael Lobinske and Rhett Bockman
BILL AND DIANA CHAPMAN, WYNSONDOG@HOTMAIL.COM
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TOY GROUP THE
1. Where do you live? Howmany years in dogs? Howmany as a judge? 2. Do you have any hobbies or interests apart from purebred dogs? 3. Can you talk about your introduction to the Toy breeds? 4. Have you bred or shown any influential Toys? Any other breeds? 5. What are some breed-specific details that are a “must” in the Toy breeds? 6. How important is the breed-specific presentation/ handling of Toys? 7. Can you speak to “breed character” among the Toy breeds? 8. Why are Toys a pleasure to judge? How are they a challenge? 9. Which Toy Dogs from the past have had the greatest influence on the sport? 10. How has your knowledge of Toys influenced your understanding of dogs in general? 11. What can non-Toy fanciers learn from exhibitors of the Toy breeds? 12. Is there a funny story you’d like to share about your experiences judging Toys?
purebred dogs since I was in my early teens. I have been judging for 43 years, and I was one of the youngest judges to be approved by the AKC. Can I talk about my introduction to the Toy breeds? My introduction to the Toy breeds came a few years after com- peting in Junior Showmanship and in the Non-Sporting Group with my Bulldogs. We participated in the same tri- state area shows as Evelyn Shaffer, George Heitzman, Bar- bara Alderman, and Jerry & Elaine Rigden. They always handled some of the top Toy breeds in the country. A few times, I would help Evelyn handle some of her dogs when she was short-handed. At that point, we’d decided to pur- chase two Pekingese from a successful breeder in Ohio. I handled and finished both Pekes from the Puppy Classes. Most of the time, I ran into a time conflict with showing the Bulldogs and Pekes. I was fortunate to always havemy Peke breeder at the same shows to help me get them groomed properly and ready to be shown. It was difficult to hand the Pekes off to a stranger. Usually, the tails would drop. Over the years, I was privileged to see many great Toy dogs shown in my area: Dotty White’s “Jewel,” Tom Glassford’s Papillion, Elaine Rigden’s and Edna Voyles’ various Pekingese. How important is the breed-specific presentation/han- dling of Toys? After learning how to groom the Pekes, I have a much better understanding, and I appreciate all the preparation work that is done for all of the coated breeds shown today. WhyareToys apleasure to judge?Howare theya challenge? Judging the Toy breeds is like judging any other breed, ex- cept for having a softer, gentler approach and examination technique. Preparation and training are as essential in the Toy breeds as it is in all breeds. The Toy breeds have a lot of courage and stamina, and they can hold their own on the table and on the ground. Showing a dog in today’s environ- ment is very much a challenge. How has your knowledge of Toys influenced your under- standing of dogs in general? I appreciate and respect every exhibitor who’s showing a dog. Having prepared and shown my own dogs, I will never lose this important concept.
MARK KENNEDY
Where do I live? How many years in dogs? How many as a judge? I reside in Murrysville, Pennsylvania, a town of approximately 25,000 people. It’s where the first commercial gas well was founded in 1878. Do you have any hobbies or interests apart from purebred dogs? My family and I have been involved in
34 • T op N otch T oys , J anuary 2022
THE SUN IS SHINING, PEOPLE ARE SMILING AND JOJO IS WINNING BOTH DAYS
G C H G J O L I R E I G N O N J U S T K I D D I N G - L W E S T M I N S T E R W I N N E R
Thank you Mr. Ken Murray and Mrs. Elaine Lessig for these prestigious wins and to Valerie Nunes-Atkinson and Antonio Vidmar for Jojo’s flawless presentation.
Owners: Lois Magette and Pamela Magette
Breeders: Lisa Knop, J. Moses and J. Lange
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I BELIEVE, AT THIS TIME, THE TOY GROUP IS IN THE BEST OVERALL SHAPE OF ALL THE GROUPS.
1. Where do you live? Howmany years in dogs? Howmany years as a judge? 2. Do you have any hobbies or interests apart from purebred dogs? 3. Can you talk about your introduction to the Toy breeds? 4. Apart from size, how would you define this Group? 5. Do you personally categorize the Toy breeds into any “subgroups?” 6. How important is presentation in the Toy ring? Conditioning? Expression? 7. Is it acceptable to reward a Toy Dog with a bad bite? 8. Can you speak to the current overall quality of the Group? 9. Why do you think so many Toy breeds are popular today? Why have others become a rarity? 10. Are there specific challenges presented when judging the low entry breeds? 11. Do you have any advice to impart to new Toy judges re: the table exam? 12. Any comments regarding judging Toys outdoors versus indoors? 13. What have you found to be the greatest challenges as a judge of this Group? The greatest rewards? 14. Can you name one or two of your all-time favorite Toys? What makes these dogs so memorable? 15. Would you encourage exhibitors to enter their Toy dogs in Companion events? 16. Is there a funny story you’d like to share about your experiences judging Toys? PEGGY LLOYD I live in Round Top, Texas, and have been in dogs for 50+ years. I have been judging for 20+ years. Do I have any hobbies or interests apart from purebred dogs? In conjunction with my partner, Denny Mounce, we raise and showMiniature Horses. Can I talk about my introduction to the Toy breeds? I had always loved all the smaller breeds, but when I saw a Mal- tese at a training class I knew I had found the breed for me! I went to the person’s home and bought my first Maltese that very night!
Apart from size, how would I define this Group? Toys are companion dogs, as opposed to other breeds that have “jobs” to do. Do I personally categorize the Toy breeds into any “sub- groups?” No, I don’t. Is it acceptable to reward a Toy Dog with a bad bite? In my opinion, a bad bite is a fault and must be considered as such in the overall evaluation of the dog as compared to the standard. Can I speak to the current overall quality of the Group? I believe, at this time, the Toy Group is in the best overall shape of all the Groups. Why do I think so many Toy breeds are popular today? I believe Toys are so popular because of their small stature and the diversity within the breeds. People want a com- panion that they can take with them. Coated breeds have become rarer because coat maintenance involves so much work and time. Are there specific challenges presented when judging the low entry breeds? I don’t think so, I just judge them against their standard. Do I have any advice to impart to new Toy judges re: the table exam? I prefer to ask the exhibitor to show the bite themselves and, if they are struggling with the dog on the table, I back away and give the exhibitor [an opportunity] to regain control of their dog. Any comments regarding judging Toys outdoors versus in- doors? I think show dogs should be trained to show indoors or out. The exception would be trying to judge movement in tall grass. However, most clubs will mow the grass prior to the show. What have I found to be the greatest challenges and re- wards as a judge of this Group? Since I started in Toy breeds, I don’t find any challenges in judging this Group. Can I name one or two of my all-time favorite Toys? One of my all-time favorites was Ch. Snowy Roxanne, a Maltese shown by the late Peggy Hogg. I felt that she had a perfect coat texture for the breed, which wasn’t so easy to find back in those days. Would I encourage exhibitors to enter their Toy dogs in Companion events? Sure, anything that inspires interac- tion with your dog is a good thing!
36 • T op N otch T oys , J anuary 2022
I DO BELIEVE THE GROUP IS IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE, IN MOST BREEDS. JUDGING ACROSS THE STATES, THE TOY GROUP IS USUALLY ONE OF THE STRONGEST GROUPS.
animals—it is very difficult having large breeds in some cit- ies and counties. Why do I think so many Toy breeds are popular today? As for more popular breeds to breed, people seem to be staying away from the longer coated breeds because of the care of the coats. The larger numbers seem to be in smooth-coat- ed dogs, i.e., Pugs, Miniature Pinschers, etc. A lot of times there are only one or two of the coated breeds in the ring. Advice I would give a new exhibitor? When putting a Toy breed on the table, PLEASE train them. This is something you can practice at home on the kitchen table, having a child or someone practice going over them. The second thing is when putting them on the table, place their feet close to the edge of the table. Most new exhibitors will put them in the middle of the table. This makes the judge lean over and to- ward the dog, which makes the dog back up. Most dogs do not like you to lean and hover over them; this is especially true with Toy breeds. By putting them towards the edge, the judge can just walk up to the dog without leaning into them. Any comments regarding judging Toys outdoors versus in- doors? Judging the Toys outside is similar to any breed. If the grass is longer, all dogs seem to look shorter in leg. How- ever, the Toys can really look short; coated breeds look even worse. So I have always said, examine on the table but judge them on the ground. However, outdoors you must pay more attention to the balance of the dog; the height, the length of leg, etc. while on the table. This is when a trained dog on the table is an advantage to the dog and exhibitor. Toy breeds, inmy opinion, should be indoors as much as possible. If not, the grass should be cut fresh and as short as possible. Of course, this would be up to the show committee. Can I name one or two of my all-time favorite Toys? It is always great to find a great dog in any breed; the ones that give you chills and you just can’t take your eyes off them. It is a wonderful feeling, going over any breed, when every angle and every muscle just flows together. These excep- tional dogs don’t come to every show, but when they do it’s a prize for all. There have been great ones in many of the Toy breeds, but I will stick to my breeds. To name a few that stand out in my mind; two Griffons, “Zorro” (Rough) and “Lincoln” (Smooth), and aMin Pin, “Ivan.” These dogs were well-balanced and very typical of their breed, and they fit their standard as close as possible. Toy breeds are so loving and easy to live with. Like all breeds, they want to make us happy. I’ve lived with many different Toy breeds for over close to 40 years, and I’ve en- joyed them all.
DARRYL VICE
I started in dogs in the late seven- ties. I started breeding Miniature Pinschers and Brussels Griffons. I am now owed by a Kerry Blue bitch. Along the way, I also had some Working breeds, but never bred them. I started judging in 1993 with the two breeds I bred. I now judge four Groups and a cou-
ple other breeds. I was introduced to Toys when I tried to have a Shih Tzu bred that I bought in a pet shop. When I met the person who had the stud dog, she talked me into going to a show. I started going every weekend with her and realized why she wouldn’t breed my little pet shop Shih Tzu. That’s when I fell in love with the Miniature Pinschers. She helped me find one and that was the start of my dog showing career. Apart from size, howwould I define the Toy Group? If I was to define the Toy Group, I would separate them into two groups: the lap/companion dogs and the ratters. The lap dogs at one time were owned by royalty. These were the Pe- kinese, Shih Tzu, Maltese, Pug, etc. All they needed to be was pretty and love their owners, thus the [many] long-flow- ing coats. Then we have the ratters. These would be the Af- fenpinscher, Brussels Griffon, Toy Manchester, etc. These breeds weremostly brought up in the barns to keep themice and rats cleared out. Of course, they were in the homes also, but were expected to do their jobs—and they did. How important are presentation, conditioning and expres- sion in the Toy breeds? I do feel conditioning and expres- sion are very important in the Toy Group. Expressions and conditioning are what attracted royalty to them. If the ratters weren’t conditioned with good muscling and body structure they might not have been able to keep up with the barn creatures. Can I speak to the current overall quality of theGroup? I do believe the Group is in pretty good shape, in most breeds. Judging across the states, the Toy Group is usually one of the strongest Groups. But as in any breed in any of the Groups, this depends on the breeders and how much they pay attention to their standard when breeding. I believe that’s why some of the Toy breeds are very popular, be- cause they are small and you can havemore in your home, if breeding. With all the new regulations—even having intact
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by Anne K. Catterson HEAD HINTS
T he salient points of the Brussels Griffon head need to be firmly imprinted in the mind of the judge, because therein lies the es- sence of the breed. Some of these very features are, or have been, in danger of extinction, which makes rewarding the correct type, and therefore ignor- ing some current trends, of utmost importance. Because the head can be a mystery for a new judge, especially a judge unfamiliar with brachycephal- ics, I have compiled some landmarks to look for. Starting at the top, the ears may be cropped or natural. In either case, they should enhance the headpiece and not detract from general appear- ance. While there is a growing trend to refrain from cropping ears, there seems to be no complementary trend to breed correct natural ears—at least not in this country. The natural ear should be small, with the tip reaching no farther than the outer corner of the eye, and break forward evenly at or just above the topskull. They should not resemble weather satellites in search of a signal. Natural ears that are set on the corners of the head and break correctly forward do much to enhance the impression of head size and dome. The dome of the head is also a mea- sure of type. It is prominently round- ed in the forehead area, with the frontal bones gently curving back to meet the superior orbit rims above a deep stop. The eyes are large, round, dark and face forward. The nose lays
back so that a dog standing in the rain might get a snout-full. The top edge of the nose should lie on a plane with the bottom rims of the eyes—or higher. It is possible for the nose to be so dra- matically placed as to be higher than the top rim of the eye. This is infinite- ly more desirable than a nose placed too low. Looking at the head in profile, one should see a numeral “III” lean- ing backwards, or for those of us who still remember cursive writing, a capi- tal “E” leaning forward. This is easier to see on a rough-coated dog, but is a bit distorted on a smooth where the lack of beard will make the lower loop of that visual smaller than the upper arc. Upsweep of jaw is crucial. The prop- erly finished mouth is black-rimmed, with a prominent lower lip sitting on a wide lower jaw. A lower jaw lacking six incisors is most likely too narrow. Digging into the mouth, however, is not encouraged. Everything you need to know about the mouth can be seen with a gentle lift of the lips. Never lift the upper lip straight up in the front, as it may block the nostrils and cause the dog to panic. Rather, lift one side at a time or feel with a thumb for the required undershot alignment. The line of the closed lips viewed straight on shouldbe awide, shallowcurve and bring to mind the gentle arch found under a graceful Parisian bridge—not the sharp ones seen in front of Mc- Donalds. The line of the closed lips should also be scrutinized for sym- metry. A lip set that appears to be off-
center may be your first indication of a wry mouth. Because puppies are not born with the dramatic upsweep of jaw, the Griff face goes through some drastic changes. During this process, it is common for the lower incisors to show between closed lips. Between the ages of six months to a year, this small glimpse of teeth is forgivable, provided it is only the lower incisors. The lower canine(s) should never hook over the upper lip. The breed is, or has been, losing some of these important head features. For several years, eye size was diminish- ing. This has been, to some extent, corrected by conscientious breeders. Judges play a large role in encourag- ing breeding trends, so please reward the large, dark eye and ignore the small or light-colored eye when pos- sible. The pout—that prominent lower lip that gives our Griffs that “just try and make me” look—has been slip- ping away of late. A “Grinch” mouth is undesirable. Regardless of coat color, eye rims and lips are black. The Brussels Griffon is considered to be a head breed. I have concentrated on the features of the head because it is the essence of the breed, and often the hardest concept for the new judge to “get.” I would not like this discus- sion to promote head-hunting to the exclusion of all else. The selection of a sound dog of type is preferable to choosing a spectacularly dramatic headpiece that sits on a rectangular body lacking in bone.
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