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
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