a forum on TOY BREEDS
with ElainE J. lEssig, DEnny mouncE & JErE olson
ELAINE J. LESSIG
married 48 years. They have the pleasure of sharing their lives with the “Roi L” Cavaliers. She is honored to be a judge and looks forward to enjoying the dogs and greeting the exhibitors when she is in the ring.
1. What is your original breed? The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Elaine J. Lessig, of Clin- ton, New Jersey, did not real- ize how much her life would change when she acquired her first Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in 1987. She has since produced cham- pions in all four colors and both sexes. She has also put obedience, Canine Good Citizen and CKCSC/USA titles on her dogs. Among her proudest achievements are two group winners, two Best in Show specialty
2. What three conformation characteristics do you consider critical in judging decisions? Head, coat and outline are critical. 3. What ring pattern do you prefer for Toy dogs? I prefer go around, table, down and back, around to the end of the line. 4. Is it your preference to have the handler show you the bite? I have no preference. 5. Can you name a dog from the past that is your ideal Silky Terrier or Affenpinscher? For Silky Terriers, Ch. Lamplighters Bingo—what a lovely bitch! For Affenpinschers, Ch. Tamarin Taser—an outstand- ing example of the breed and a showman. 6. What is your pet peeve when judging? My pet peeve is exhibitors who are too hard on their Toy dogs. DENNY MOUNCE Denny Mounce, of Round
(Photo by norcal BullDoggEr)
winners, Best of Opposite Sex at the American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club National Specialty, at the Westminster Kennel Club and a Best of Opposite Sex and Best Bred-by- Exhibitor at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship on bitches she bred and owns. In 1999, Mrs. Lessig was the first Cavalier breeder to attain judging status strictly from her breed. She has judged at AKC, CKCSC, English, Irish, Swed- ish, Korean, Thai, Australian Chinese and Canadian shows and is approved to judge Best in Show, the Sporting Group the Toy Group, the Non-Sporting Group and Standard Man- chester Terriers. Mrs. Lessig has judged the American Cava- lier King Charles Spaniel Club National Specialty and those of other breeds as well. She is president of the Meadowlands Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club and serves as president and show chairman for the Delaware Water Gap Kennel Club. Mrs. Lessig and her husband, Dr. Marvin Lessig, have been
Top, Texas, began obedi- ence work in 1954 with a Westie her parents bought for her. In 1970, she showed a German Shepherd Dog in obedience, and by 1972 she was showing German Shorthaired and Wirehaired Pointers in the breed ring. As a professional handler, Ms. Mounce finished more than 1,000 dogs for herself
“HEAD, COAT AND OUTLINE arE critical.”
(Photo and bio courtesy of akc.org)
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