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.
AmericAn chAmpion Silvermorning’S QueSt forvictory
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
*
**
*TNT breed stats as of 1/31/16 **TNT all breed stats as of 1/31/16
5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
Grand Champion Brylee’ s Heavenly Walkin’ On Cloud Nine
Owned By: DR. DUNCAN SIMMONS & BONNIE SIMMONS
Bred & Owned By: MICHELLE ABELS
Presented By: HARRY BENNETT & S. D. ROWAN, JR.
© LORRAINE SALEM TUFTS
Moves in Space with
MINIMUM WASTE MAXIMUM JOY &
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
No Need to Ask...
#1 HAVANESE! * LOVER BOY “ WALKER ” IS A SMOOTH OPERATOR & THE
© LORRAINE SALEM TUFTS
“ W A L K E R ” I S C U R R E N T L Y R A N K E D A S # 1 H A V A N E S E B R E E D 2 0 1 6 * & # 1 G C H H A V A N E S E 2 0 1 6 * *
© LORRAINE SALEM TUFTS
*TNT BREED STATS AS OF 2/29/16 **AKC GCH STATS AS OF 2/29/16
5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
B E S T I N S P E C I A L T Y S H O W | M U L T I P L E G R O U P P L A C I N G
BISS GCH EDGEWOOD’S ACTION JACKSON
Owned by: JAMIE BENNETT & CYNTHIA HILL Bred by: CYNTHIA HILL Presented by: JAMIE BENNETT
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
Y O R K S H I R E T E R R I E R *
*TNT all breed stats as of 2/29/16
© In Focus by Miguel
Jackson has been all action since the New York Specialties. After receiving an Award of Merit under Judge Jason Hoke at our most prestigious YTCA show of the year, Jackson was then awarded a Group 4 under Judge Mrs. Delores Burkhold at the Maryland Kennel Club and a fantastic Group 3 under Judge Al Ferruggiaro at the York, PA cluster. Thank you jud ge s for these hu ge wins!
5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
“Valentino” exCeptionAl younG Silver GCH Fleur de Passy ™ Dauphin & Dr. Anita Lopker
# 1 BrEEDEr-OWnEr-HAnDLED JAPAnESE CHin ***
Deepest appreciation to all judges for this great honor— Milles Mercis
Judges Carolyn Herbel & Brad Jenkins for awarding these Group 3 Placements
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
“Valentino” Silver GCH Fleur de Passy ™ Dauphin & Dr. Anita Lopker
# 1 BrEEDEr-OWnEr- HAnDLED JAPAnESE CHin
#3 Breed * #5 All Breed ** Exclusively Breeder-Owner-Handled
*TNT breed stats as of 2/29/16 **TNT all breed stats as of 2/29/16 ***Per Owner/Handler Stats
• Multi-Group Placing Exceptional Young Silver GCH • Group Placing Puppy • Eukanuba 2014 BOB • Begins 2016 with Dr. Lopker earning 13 Big BOB Wins and 2 Professional Group 3 Placements “Valentino” is loVingly Breeder-owner-Handled By: dr. anita lopker & Valentino’s Award of Merit: Deepest appreciation to Diego Garcia’s beautiful handling & Valentino’s Award of Merit at Westminster 2016
5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
FENDI CHAMP ION H&H
Thank you Judge Ellen Fetter.
CH H&H Fendi is Hotrod’s first Champion and she finished at 10 months of age.
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
HOTROD BI SS BRONZE GCH CH H&H HOTROD
LONG COAT CHIHUAHUA IN AMERICA* #1
#2 Owner-Handled ** #4 All-Breed ***
HOTROD IS ALSO THE SIRE OF THESE WINNING CHIHUAHUAS! H&H Red Hot ‘57 Chevy is now showing H&H Sparkling Porsche is now showing H&H Hotrod Lincoln is now showing
Winning his first group placement. Thank you Judge Ellen Fetter.
*TNT breed stats as of 2/29/16 **AKC owner handled stats as of 3/15/16 ***TNT all breed stats as of 2/29/16
H&H Red Hot ‘57 Chevy H&H Sparkling Porsche
H&H Hotrod Lincoln
Michelle Herod, Breeder/Owner/Handler & Todd Harris 9625 N Oak Meadow Lane | Prescott, AZ 86305 www.chihuahuaacres.com
5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
*
*TNT ALL BREED STATS AS OF 2/29/16
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
C H F OU R S OME ’ S Quite Lovable
HANDLED BY: JENNIFER KREIGER
BRED & OWNED BY: INGELA GRAM
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
ODIN
5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
AmericAn chAmpion Silvermorning’S QueSt forvictory
On the cover: AMERICAN CHAMPION SILVERMORNING’S QUEST FOR VICTORY Papillon, Owned by Monica Palmero 20 FROM THE EdITOR-IN-CHIEF 22 TOY TALK by BONNIE GUGGENHEIM 52 10 FUN QUESTIONS with dr. jOHN IOIa 54 TOY BOX 56 LIVING wITH SHIH TzU by jO aNN wHItE 58 THE dENVER dOG SHOw CANdIdS photos by tHE wINNING IMaGE 60 THE dELIGHTFUL BIEwER TERRIER by MyrNa tOrrEs 67 SHIH TzU BREEdER’S FORUM 69 CHINESE CRESTEd BREEdER’S FORUM 70 EPILEPSY—IN CHINESE CRESTEdS? by karEN fIscHEr-sMItH 73 TAILS YOU LOSE by rIcHard PaqUEttE 75 BARBARA’S TALE OF THE TAILS by BarBara BEIssEl 76 YORKIE TAILS: AN INTERVIEw wITH FRANK LARRIEU by Mark BENsON 77 jAVI CHANGES OUR wORLd by dr. MEGaN l. rHEINGaNs MIcHaEl 78 TNT TOP TwENTY 78 TNT ALL BREEd SYSTEM 79 TNT BREEd SYSTEM 80 TNT OwNER-HANdLER SYSTEM 81 AdVERTISING & SUBSCRIPTION RATES 82 INdEX TO AdVERTISERS
AmericAn chAmpion Silvermorning’S QueSt forvictory
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
Here’s to you, CJ , for taking home top honors at Westminster. Thanks for making Purina® Pro Plan® SPORT® Performance 30/20 your nutrition of choice. And for helping us set a new record: 10 YEARS IN A ROW. 10 BEST IN SHOW CHAMPIONS. ALL FUELED BY PURINA PRO PLAN * . CONGRATULAT I ONS GCH VJK-MYST GARBONITA’S CALIFORNIA JOURNEY
®
®
brand DOG FOOD
NUTR I T I ON THAT PERFORMS ®
*The handlers or owners of these champions may have received Pro Plan dog food as Purina ambassadors.
5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
Silvermornings Proudly Presents VICTORY ON T H E COV E R AMERICAN CHAMPION SILVERMORNING’S QuEST FORVICTORY Sire: Lindatorps Kristoffer (Imported from Sweden) | Dam: Silvermorning’s Majestic Queen
VICTORY finished his American Championship under Toy Expert Melanie D.Williams at Santa ClaraValley KC, February 20 th taking Winners Dog, Best ofWinners and Best of Breed Owner/Handler and then Owner Handler Group 2 under respected authority Mr. Randy E. Garren.
I thank the judges for appreciating my homebred dogs, and also my fellow competitors and ringside friends for their compliments. I look forward to an exciting year!
Victory just turned one year old. Born March 6, 2015, his show career started on his 8th month birthday, November 6, 2015 and he was awarded a 5 point major, Best of Winners, Best Puppy and Best Owner Handler at the Northern Papillon Club of California Specialty in Napa, November 6, 2015. He completed his Championship on February 20, 2016 at 11 months old. Since 1997, I have strived to do justice to this wonderful breed.Victory is the culmination of my efforts to bring the very best of Swedish bloodlines to the United States. My seven imports to date have had the unique qualities with excellent temperament and a tradition of being known producers of quality Champion offsprings. I am very proud of the unique look of Silvermorning’s Papillons and 2016 is the year in which I am breeding the best of the best offspring to offspring, doubling up on structure and other fine qualities. The result is “Victory” and the other young Papillons we are proud to present to the fancy in shows coming soon.Victory will continue to pursue further accomplishments in the show ring and I expect him to distinguish himself as a sire. I strive for strong structure, temperament, head type, coloring, body coat, fringes, ears, tail set, the whole package for what we strive for the Papillon breed to represent themselves for who they are said to be. Silvermorning’s Papillons are bred to not only win in the conformation ring in American and international competition, but also to compete in any performance events offered including Agility. Based in California, I look forward to working with dedicated Papillon lovers worldwide.
SILVERMORNING’S PAPILLONS | registered with Svenska Kennel Klubben; approved by FCI 1997 | Member of the Papillon Club of America BREEDER/OWNER/HANDLER | MONICA PALMERO | 408-500-6625 | www.silvermornings.com | Breeder of Merit
5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
TOP NOTCH IN TOUCH
by BONNIE GUGGENHEIM TNT Advertising Director & Associate Editor
R emember when you had to wait for a phone call from a home phone to find out who won what and where? Remember waiting by the phone for your handler to call and let you know what happened? Remember when call waiting didn’t exist and you kept the entire family off the phone so your handler or dog friends could reach you? Remember when you had to actu- ally wait for your exciting win photos to arrive in the mail? Dog show pho- tographers always sent a couple proofs, you picked what you preferred and you paid from an invoice when the pho- tos arrived. Remember when you had to mail us your photos and hand writ- ten instructions because there was no email? (Not sure how the magazine functioned in those days!) In today’s world, cell phones and the internet make it possible to have almost instantaneous results from your friends or handlers and you could be anywhere—including on the way to another show. Social media is another method of communi- cation that allows for instant knowledge of who won, where, how many points, who went Best In Show and who won what groups. You have access to wins from all over the world and not just all over the country and since our dog show world is more international than ever it important to all of us. Want to purchase a dog from out of the country? You can access history of the dog, discuss on line details with the breeder/owner and even negotiate contracts prior to pos- sibly flying to pick up your new “star”. The availability of information is nearly unbelievable for those doing research. Your ad in TNT could be a part of that information.
Top Notch Toys has kept up with the times and instant results! We can add a flash or make a change in your ad almost up to the date of publication! So while yes, TNT is a gorgeous coffee table magazine that is kept for reference, utilized by pro- visional judges and breeders who read our featured breed articles… we are much more. In addition to the printed magazine, check out Top Notch Toys Facebook page where all the ads are posted during the month of publica- tion. This allows everyone to see who is winning—friends, family and fan- cy alike! Your ad can be posted and shared for friends or interested parties. Last month alone we had over 24,000 hits. Wow, talk about world wide exposure! You should celebrate your success with an ad to represent you in TNT . Plus, at www.dmcg.com, we make our online issue available to anyone
wishing to peruse the magazine on your computer, laptop, tablet or smart phone. There is no requirement to join or give your email and no charge for this easy way to stay informed. You can look through back issues or the current issue or even check out a breed featured in a previous issue. Perfect for permit judges and judges looking for additional information as well as potential pur- chasers of show dogs looking for previ- ous winners. National… beautiful… and a part of the Toy Dog world for 34 years! Stay in touch, inquiring minds want to know—everything! Call, email or text to reserve your page or just to talk about Toys! Bonnie bonnie@dmcg.com | 863.738.8848
Photo by Misti Cook
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
CH DEVILS OF YORK LET’S DANCE
Danny
Randy Garren & Stephanie Hedgepath
Owned by JUDY BUCCI ÝÛ Bred by KATALIN SZAKACS
5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
New York, New York
BLUE AMULET ONLY THE BEST AT JUSTUS Bred by: NATALJA KAMISAROVA FROM LATVIA Thank You Judges ~¤~ Û:dYkkÛÝf\ÛGdY[] Gjg_j]kkan]ÛAm\_]Û>]gj_]ÛDadmlafgna[` PK:8ÛJo]]hkÛÝÛ~¤~ Û:dYkkÛÝf\ÛGdY[] Am\_]ÛBajkl]fÛD[>j]_gj PK:8ÛÝÛf\ÛGdY[]ÛÝÛAm\_]ÛAYkgfÛ?gc] PK:>EPÛJo]]hkÛÝf\ÛGdY[]ÛÝÛAm\_]Û;Yna\Û=alrhYlja[cÛ Û~klÛGdY[]ÛÝÛAm\_]ÛBYl`d]]fÛBgdZ]jl
SILVER POISE LADY REBEL Bred by: SANTIAGO MONTILLA FROM SPAIN Thank You Judges ¤~Û:dYkkÛÝÛ~klÛGdY[] Gjg_j]kkan]Û>]gj_]ÛDadmlafgna[`
PK:8ÛJo]]hkÛÝÛ~klÛGdY[] Am\_]ÛBajkl]fÛD[>j]_gjÛ PK:>EPÛJo]]hkÛÝÛf\ÛGdY[] Am\_]Û;Yna\Û=alrhYlja[c PK:>EPÛÝÛl`ÛGdY[] Am\_]ÛBYl`d]]fÛBgdZ]jl
9]Ymla^mddqÛJ`gofÛZq BARBARA BEISSEL ÝÛ Fof]\Û¬ÛCgn]\ÛZq JUSTUS | BARBARA POLEN
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
D L C K @ G C < Û 9 < J K Û @ E Û J ? F N Û Ý Û 9 < J K Û @ E Û J G < : @ 8 C K P Û J ? F NÛ
GCH RUSSIAN, GCH BELARUS, GCH AZERBAJIAN, CH LATVIAN, CH LITHUANIAN, CH ESTONIAN, CH BALTIC, CH FINLAND, CH RKF MINI SHOP SHARMAN II
Bella
9<JKÛF=ÛN@EE<IJÛÝÛPK:ÛF=Û>EP
Respected Breeder Judge Mrs. Kathleen Kolbert
Owned by NATALIA SMIRNOVA ÝÛ Bred by ANNA BABAEVA ÝÛ Handled by FRANKIE LARRIEU
5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
Reba &
F a m i l y a F F a i r
Einstein
platinum am GCH DaR-RiCH EinStEin V REDBaRnS
SilVER GCH KEnDaZ RumOR HaS it
Einstein
Reba
Look for Einstein at upcoming Canadian Show Proudly Owned by: JUDYWARD
Proudly Owned by: JUDYWARD Co-Owned & Bred by: Ken & DonnA SPAnGLeR
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
Nitro top 20 2 0 1 5 * SiRiuS’ nitRO
*TNT breed stats 2015
OUR THANKS TO THE JUDGES WHO HAVE RECOGNIZED AND REWARDED THE FINE TYPE AND QUALITY IN OUR DOGS. A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO JOYCE STANDISH FOR PRESENTING OUR DOGS IN THE MOST BEAUTIFULWAY POSSIBLE.
Bred by: JUDYWARD | Handled by: JoYce StAnDiSh
5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
Z H E N C H I N E S E C R E S T E D S — W H E R E T Y P E , T E M P E R A M E N T & M O V E M E N T C O M E T O G E T H E R
G C H Z H E N ’ S T H A T ’ S W H O W E A R E
Rebe l
8H;:8O Carol Clouse, Amy Thompson & Bill Thompson EMD;:8O Carol Clouse (Zhen) & Kristina Karraker (Koridawn)
2015 NATIONAL WEEK M:%8EM999DIf[Y_Wbjo H;IM:FejecWY999If[Y_Wbjo M:7999DWj_edWbIf[Y_Wbjo I[b[Yj:e];kaWdkXW
2016 WESTMINSTER 7EC
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
B I S C A N A D I A N C H A K C G C H S T A R S A T S E A P U T T I N G T H E P I E C E S T O G E T H E R A T Z H E N
Shown very lightly...watch for his babies hitting the ring in style!
8H;:8O Carol Clouse, Dr Dennis Eschbach, Debbie Eschbach & Polona Blatnik EMD;:8O Carol Clouse & Dr. Dennis Eschbach
5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
SBIS, GCH. C’S ENVI MI ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Reggie is No.1 Breed 2016 * AOM MPCA National Specialty
*TNT breed stats as of 2/29/16
M r . r o b e r t H u t t o n , A K c J u d g e M s . s H e l l e y g u t H r i e , H A n d l e r J u d g e M s . P A t P r e l l w i t z , b r e e d e r J u d g e
o w n e r s : K A t i e w i n t e r s , J A M i e b e r g b r e e d e r : c H r i s s t A l l H o o d
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
Reggie
w i n s t H e t o P 2 0 !
5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
Lucy Champion FALLING STAR’S LUCY LU
YOU GOT SOME SPLAININ TO DO
Owned by: MIKE & CATHY HOLMES Shown by: MIKE HOLMES IMTECGROUP@AOL.COM
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
FALLING STAR’S I’M IN THE JAILHOUSE NOW Paris Bronze Grand Champion
Owned by: MIKE & CATHY HOLMES & TROY CLIFFORD DARGIN Ű Shown by: TROY CLIFFORD DARGIN & MIKE HOLMES
5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
B I S S G C H E N G A ’ S K I N G K O M P I S
KOMPIS
THANK YOU JUDGE CHARLOTTE MCGOWAN
Breeder/Owner: ANITA BAKSETERSVEN, NORWAY Handler: BARBARA BEISSEL, AKC REGISTERED HANDLER | BARBARABEISSEL@AOL.COM • Sponsors: MARK BENSON & JAMES DILLMAN
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
GC H C H A n d A l i l A R e n He’s Still the One
Beau does it again with back-to-back wins!
This fantastic Group 2 was awarded to Beau by Judge Mrs. R. Ellen Fetter
FlaSH! Beau wins Group 3 the next day under Judge Mrs. Darle Heck Many thanks to these judges for recognizing Beau’s soundness and beauty.
He iS lOvingly SHOwn by: Shellie Juden bred by: Andrea Meloon (Andali Papillons & Phalenes) & Janis McLaren (La Ren Papillons)
CO-Owned by: Andrea Meloon, Cheryl Conley-Maass & Shellie Juden andi@centurylink.net | papreezi@cox.net | elidaswhip@aol.com
5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
C H I N E S E C R E S T E D S
A C C O M P L I S H E D & E X Q U I S I T E
M A K E I T A “ S U N N Y ” D A Y
Ch . Ace ’ s B l a c k Go l d o f G i nge r y SPRING IS COMING AND
IT’S GOING TO BE “SUNNY” AGAIN!
Breeders: Cindy Lackey & Arlene Butterklee
Owner: Arlene Butterklee
Handler: Victor Helu
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
G C H . C H . Hy l an Ac r e s S t e p by S t e p Richie
Br e e d e r : Ann e wy l i e | Own e r s : Ann e wy l i e & Mary k e e l i ng | Hand l e r : Dar on N ewc omb , S e nat o r twh@yaho o . c om #8 Breed * * T N T br e e d s tat s a s o f 2 / 2 9 / 1 6 5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
YINGSU Shih Tzu & P R O F E S S I O N A L H A N D L I N G S E R V I C E S M I C H E L L E M . J O N E S & M A C K E N Z I E S . J O N E S | Y I N G S U @ E A R T H L I N K . N E T “ Connor ” “ Miranda ”
B I S S G C H Y I N G S U ’ S KEEP THEM KISSES COMIN
C H Y I N G S U ’ S DON’T MESS WITH THIS GIRL
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
GRAND CHAMPION Valcopy Pipin Hot Niklby
Top Ten TFT with Limited Showing *
s Select Bitch at the 2015 Eukuanuba Show at 8 months old s BOB at NYC Progressive Toy Dog Show
s Youngest Toy Fox Terrier in the History of the Breed to win Best of Breed at Westminster at 10 months old s Group 3 at the Edison Progressive Dog Club in a strong competitive group
Watch for this dynamic duo in the Specials ring at a show near you!
Handled by: Ashley & Betty Cuzzolino Bred & Owned by: Betty Cuzzolino, Dana Plonkey & Michelle Starry
*TNT breed & all breed stats as of 2/29/16
5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
m
l t
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THOSE JUDGES WHO RECOGNIZE JACK’S TRUE BLUE COLOR AND WATCH FOR HIM THIS SPRING.
OWNERS | TENA TANNER & ALLISON WILSON HANDLERS | TRISH KULESSA & KEN LAMBERT
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
The ideal Havanese topline is straight with a gentle rise.
Does your boy naturally rise – and shine?
Rosehaven Havanese is searching high and low for a confident, beautifully built male, between 8 months and 4 years old. Structure ma ! ers more than titles – and playfulness ma ! ers more than anything. A finder’s fee is possible, and our intent is to purchase.
Can you help us? Please send his photo to Jo@RosehavenHavanese.com
Engineering for a better breed.
5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
© 2016 ROSEHAVEN HAVANESE
W I N N I N G B OT H S I D E S
in Canada
S OU T H F O R K ’ S S T Y L I S H FA S H I ON
Chaquita
FIRST TIME IN CANADA BOB & BEST PUPPY Wildwood Kennel Club
Thank you Judge Mr. James Frederickson
© Dogs in Design
American Champion S OU T H F O R K ’ S S MA R T MOV E
Tiana
BEST OF BREED Woodstock Kennel Club
Co-Owned by: Alida Bender Thank you Judge Dr. Michael Woods “Chiquita” & “Tiana” are always Breeder Owner Handled by: MJ Held 1442 ORCHARD PARK RD WEST SENECA, NY 14224 716-675-4497
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
SteLin Silky Terriers
Gracie AM GCH & INT BIS CH SteLin The Amazing Gracie
With limited showing Multiple Group Placing
BRED/OWNED BY: LINDA & STEVAN GROSS SteLin | 541-751-0971 EXCLUSIVELY PRESENTED BY: ANGELA SMITH Blackrange | 918-740-3647
5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
T h e n e w k i d o n T h e b l o c k
l a c a s i T a s G i r l o n F i r e
PhoTo crediT: sTeven ross
ch shabri’s Montanya de osito x Gch ch Genbrook’s Playin’ with Fire
loved & owned by: Gary & vicki sTiles handled wiTh care by: Gary sTiles, akc reGisTered handler
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
Annie GCh D’LiLaS SentimentaL Journie N e w g r a N d
C h a m p i o N
Owner/Handler: Kathleen Connelly
Breeders: Lila Pontius & Carlene Snyder
Photo © Lisa Goins/Fotoxpressions
5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
FUN QUESTIONS 10
with Dr. John IoIa
1. Funniest thing that ever happened at a dog show? I am usually a serious person. One embarrassing thing that comes to mind. About 9-10 years ago I was about to show a great puppy at a Long Island show under the late and great Rey Burgos. Rey and Viola later became dear friends. As I walked in the ring and bending over to brush my puppy, I brushed against one of those MB-F ring supports. There must have been a nail projecting from it and it caught the seat of my pants with disastrous results. Well, the show had to go on. My bitch may not have given a show but I certainly did. 2. Your Favorite time oF Year? Spring in the Hudson Valley is just beautiful and my favorite time. It is so full of hope for a new year after what is usually a harsh winter. 3. Favorite vacation spot? Cape Cod, but we love Disney. 4. Favorite Food? Anything Italian, especially if made by Barbara. Her lasagna is fabulous.
The Magnificent Seven , Dr. Zhivago , all the Bond flicks, just to name a few. 7. whY do You live where You live? Just good luck. We love the Hudson Valley. 8. Favorite dog show oF the Year? The Adirondack Circuit, Ballston Spa, Saratoga, NY. It has become a homecoming reunion. The grounds have improved so and we can always count on our friends being there I would say that the late Bob Sharp taught me much about handling a dog and learning my way around the ring. I have been blessed to be in the ring for over forty years and have had so many people teach me. I’m afraid that naming these great people would simply seem like name dropping. 9. who was Your mentor in dogs? 10. aFter saturdaY at a dog show, what do You do For entertainment? If showing, we groom dogs for Sunday.
5. is there a sport You participate in? I was a real disappointment to my Dad, since all my male relatives were good ball players. I started training in Martial Arts in 1968. I currently hold an O-Dan (5th degree Master Black Belt) in Tang Soo Do which is a Korean form of Karate. I am training for my Yuk Dan (6th degree) and teach as much as possible. 6. Favorite movie oF all time? Just one? I spent much of my youth watching movies and have so many favorites. I guess my favorite of all time is Ben Hur . I probably have memorized most of the dialogue. I also watch Roadhouse , the Pat- rick Swayze flick about once a month. Jeff Healey on guitar, Swayze doing Kung Fu, and Sam Elliott—wow! Other favs include; The Godfather (Part II) ,
“I have been blesseD to be In the rIng for over forty years anD have haD so many people teach me.”
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
M u l t i p l e G r o u p W i n n i n G s
Gch Avatar Made You Look
Thank you to the judges for recognizing our wonderful dog! Breeders: Johann emedi & roxanne roBertson presented By: Joey arrigoni owners: suzanne o’Brien & roxanne roBertson seoBrien37@gmail.com | phone 651-600-3155
5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
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.
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
BEST IN SPECIALTY SHOW
ANGELHEART’S THE STEEL CURTAIN AT LOS FELIZ
2016 AKC WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB BEST OF BREED WINNER
OWNED BY : LISA SOARS | BILL & PAULA FRAZIER | VICKI STEINBERG | BOBBIE MANN BRED BY: BILL & PAULA FRAZIER HANDLED BY: ASHLEIGH RUTZEL
5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
LIVING WITH SHIH TZU
by JO ANN WHITE
I got my first Shih Tzu in 1967, before the breed had been grant- ed full recognition by the Ameri- can Kennel Club. In fact, my first Shih Tzu was also the first Shih Tzu I had ever seen, and most people I knew had never even heard of the breed. I had grown up with medium-sized dogs and was looking for “a big dog in a little package” well suited to life in a small New York City apartment. I did not want a dog that was fragile, nervous, high-strung, aggressive or yappy. In this breed, I found what I was looking for— a small, even-tempered, sturdy dog to share my life. I also found breeders who taught me to groom and encouraged me to go to dog shows, but that is a story for another day. A Shih Tzu’s expression is almost human. When a Shih Tzu with the proper large, round head, broad high- set, short, well-cushioned muzzle and
(Photo by Susan Kilgore)
full dark eyes looks up at you it is easy to see whether he is feeling happy, sad, loving or mischievous. We caution new owners, however, that they need to train their dog rather than let their dog train them. Training a Shih Tzu can be a challenge, because it will try to charm its way out of doing anything it doesn’t like. It will look up at you and wag its tail after misbehaving as if to say, ‘How can you be mad at me when I am soooo cute!’ At the same time, this is a breed that is very intelligent and eager to please. In terms of training, scolding elicits stubbornness. Patience, consis- tency and almost over-the-top praise for good behavior will eventually win the day, with perhaps a dollop of imp- ishness thrown in. I will never forget a Shih Tzu I worked with in obedience at an outdoor show on a very hot day. Trying to keep cool, she heeled in my shadow and inched on her stomach into the shade of the table during the long down. She also broke at one point to go over and say hello to a friend at ringside
(Photo by Alyce Kotze)
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
(Photo by Barbara Cunningham)
(Photo by Kathleen Snyder)
before returning to complete the exer- cise. Because Shih Tzu are such hams, when people laughed she just wagged her tail more. The Shih Tzu was developed in the Manchu court in China strictly as a com- panion dog. Shyness or aggressiveness is NOT characteristic of our breed and should never be excused in the ring or in a breeding program. I think a Shih Tzu would give a burglar a guided tour. Everyone, young or old, is a friend; as are other dogs, large and small. This is one of the qualities that makes a Shih Tzu a great therapy dog, a willing trav- eler and very adaptable to a new home at any age. While there are not a lot of sex-related temperament differences, many of us find males to be more affec- tionate than females. A friend once said that the boys snuggle up and say, ‘Love me please,’ while the girls toss their heads and say, ‘Of course you love me!’
In any case, this is an easy breed to live with. When you are ready to play or go for a walk, your Shih Tzu is delighted to join you. If you want to work or eat din- ner or chill out, he will not pester you. Instead, he will amuse himself or curl up and go to sleep, probably with his chin on your foot. The breed standard calls for Shih Tzu to weigh between 9 and 16 pounds and be solidly boned with good spring of rib. Slab-sidedness and fine bones are a serious fault, and there is no such thing as a special “teacup” or “imperial” Shih Tzu. While a reputable breeder might get an occasional tiny puppy, it may well have health issues. If you want a tiny toy easily carried around in your purse, you should get another breed. The biggest issue with this, or any other coated breed, is grooming. This is a double-coated breed that has hair, not fur. Like you, a Shih Tzu will lose
a little hair every day rather than shed- ding seasonally, and its coat will turn into a mass of mats if you are not will- ing to brush it daily down to the skin and bathe it often. Dirty coats mat. If you brush often enough so that mats do not form, grooming will be a pleas- ant time for you and your dog to bond. Even more importantly, if you want to keep your Shih Tzu in full coat like you see in the show ring, you must start with the nice sturdy coat texture that used to be very common in our breed but is becoming increasingly rare. It is almost impossible for a novice to keep up with a soft, cottony coat that mats if you look at it cross-eyed. However, there are many very cute clips that will make your Shih Tzu easy to maintain, and drinking water from a rabbit bottle will help keep the face clean and dry. For more information on our wonder- ful breed, go to the American Shih Tzu Club website, www.americanshihtzu- club.org. If you decide to share your life with a Shih Tzu, be aware that you will probably eventually share it with more than one. We often joke that Shih Tzu are like potato chips, so delightful that it is almost impossible to have just one! About the Author Jo Ann White is past president of the American Shih Tzu Club and the Shih Tzu Fanciers of Central Florida and currently serves on the board of both clubs and the Manatee Kennel Club. In addition to writing The Official Book of the Shih Tzu and several other books on the breed, she maintains the ASTC website and has been the breed columnist for the AKC Gazette since 1978. Jo Ann has bred and/or owned many champion Shih Tzu, including the winner of the 2010 ASTC specialty.
5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
THE DENVER DOG SHOW CANDIDS denver, colorado | february 11-15, 2016 | photos by the winning image
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
M E A D O W L A K E
GCH CH Meadowlake Licence to Kill
Meadowlake Stella
CH Meadowlake Texas Ranger
DOROTHY@MEADOWLAKECAVALIERS.COM HOUSTON, TEXAS 281-398-9907 MEADOWLAKECAVALIERS . COM
All Photos by Grapevine Memories
5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
The DelighTful BIEWER TERRIER by Myrna Torres
The Biewers were admitted to Foundation Stock in April of 2014. They were assigned to the Toy Group.
“ T hat is the cutest dog I have ever seen”! Com- ments such as this are constantly heard by Biewer Terrier owners. Then, almost immediately, come the questions. How do you pronounce the name? Is it a Yorkie? Where did you get him? What breeds make up your dog? Or, just, “What kind of dog is it?” These are just some of the questions Biewer Ter- rier owners are constantly asked. With its friendly, self-confident attitude and striking coloring, the Biewer is truly a show stopper. TemperamenT The Biewer Terrier is a new breed that is making a big splash in the dog world; its personality sets it apart from all other breeds. It was developed for nothing more than to be a fluffy little frou-frou companion dog, to amuse and bring joy and happiness to its owner. Never the less, being Terrier-like, many of its energetic qualities will keep you on your toes. As puppies they are aggressive chewers and love their toys. As adults it is not uncommon to find them running around with a toy, stick or whatever prize they have claimed, in their mouth. My intrepid little adult male, Bugsy, loves to bring me giant leaves, branches, flowers or what- ever he can manage to work through the doggy door. He then proceeds to prance around showing off before he presents me with his gift! They enthu- siastically enjoy going on long walks and naturally strut their stuff whether they are kept in the long flowing show coats or the easily managed puppy cut. Some owners have entered their dogs
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
“The hisTory of The Biewer Terrier, pronounceD Bee-ver , is sTill unfolDing anD will hopefully, one Day Be fully revealeD.”
in agility competitions where the Ter- rier comes out full force. Biewers are also up to the challenge of being secure enough to work as therapy dogs since they are habitually very calm when being held. They will however demand attention and will pat you until you pick them up or you let them know that they are loved. CharaCTerisTiCs The Biewer Terrier has a straight, soft silk coat that is neither curly or woolly. Considering they do not have an undercoat, shedding is virtually non-existent. The head should be tri- colored, white, black and gold/tan. The body should be white on the legs, stomach and chest/chin and tip of the tail. The back is level being either solid black/blue or stripped with white giv- ing it a beautiful layered appearance. Other than a few brown hairs around the rectum, there should be no gold/ tan anywhere on the body. The ears are small, V shaped, moderately wide set, erect on a slightly rounded head. The weight range is from 4 to 8 pounds. The personality is friendly, curious and out- going—it should never be aggressive. hisTory The history of the Biewer Terrier, pronounced Bee-ver , is still unfolding and will hopefully, one day be fully revealed. As far as the legend goes, the first Biewer puppies, Schneeflock- chen and Schneemann were born in 1984, as more information is coming to light, there will be clarification on the
breeding program established by Mr. and Mrs. Biewer. The breed became popular in the United States in 2003. Originally called the Biewer Yorkshire Terrier by Mr. and Mrs. Biewer, the “a la Pom Pon” was later added by Mar- got Eskens, the famous German singer. The dog arrived on our shores with the name Biewer Yorkshire Terrier a la Pom Pon, now that’s quite a mouthful. York- shire was dropped from the name, after two years of extensive genetic testing with an internationally renowned com- pany, that proved the breed was not a Yorkshire Terrier but a purebred with its own distinct genetic marker. Since “a la Pom Pon” was not a name originally used by Mr. and Mrs. Biewer, it also was dropped. The Biewer Terrier Club of Amer- ica co-founded by myself and Gayle Pruett, received the blessings of Mrs. Biewer to continue on the path cho- sen by the club and its members in further developing and breeding for beautiful healthy dogs. Although the Biewer has very few health problems, Biewer Terrier breeders are working diligently to eradicate any issues that may arise in this breed. As with most breeds, there are other clubs that have formed, but none of them has done the extensive research or represents the purebred Biewer Terrier. As with any- thing else, each person must find their niche and where they feel their needs are best suited. The Biewer Terriers have found their way to both breed- ers and pet owners in countries where the dog is an accepted breed such as
South Africa, Brazil and the Bahamas. Currently there is an effort to supply the UK Kennel club with the informa- tion necessary for the purebred Biewer Terrier’s acceptance. In 2007, in order to maintain a reg- istry free from political complications, the BTCA, Inc., opted to hire an estab- lished independent firm to maintain and issue all pedigrees and registrations for the Biewer Terrier. Meticulous records were kept on pedigrees and registra- tions along with DNA and genetic test- ing. Only those dogs that were proven to be pure Biewer Terriers were allowed to be registered with BTRA (Biewer Ter- rier Registry of America). Through our diligent efforts we were rewarded with acceptance into the AKC/FSS program in 2014. This was a great achievement since we had only begun applying in 2006. As of this January 2016, the Biew- er Terrier has full recognition with the UKC (United Kennel Club) and is able to show and earn points towards champi- onships. Only BTRA registered dogs are allowed in both the AKC/FSS and UKC registries. BTRA is open to all Biewer Terrier owners that are willing to genet- ically test their dogs to prove purity of the breed. The Biewer Terrier Club of America is willing to work with anyone interested in registering their dogs, regardless of club affiliation. The main interest of the BTCA is to further the development of this happy-go-lucky little dog that easily wins the hearts of everyone. They are definitely irresistible with their beauti- ful faces and hilarious antics.
5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
THE DENVER DOG SHOW CANDIDS denver, colorado | february 11-15, 2016 | photos by the winning image
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
P R E S E N T S . . .
GCH. AKC, CH. UKC & CH. CKC EAGLESDARE WICKET’S GOT THE TICKET “Wicket” joined his brother “Ewok” in finishing his
Canadian Championship. At the Pug Club of Canada’s Nationals, “Wicket“ received his Canadian Championship in one weekend. Recently at the Windsor Dog Show in Canada, “Wicket” was awarded three Best in Breed and a Group 3.
Regina Wolicki & Mary Wolicki
Elaine Paquette
CH. AKC & CH. UKC EAGLESDARE WONTON WITH THE TAUN TAUN Eaglet “Taun Taun’’ awarded two Winners Dog at the Winsdor Dog Show in Canda.
EAGLESDARE PUGS | 1-248-650-5152 | WOLICKI1234@SBCGLOBAL.NET | WWW.EAGLESDAREKENNELS.WEEBLY.COM 5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
P R O F E S S I O N A L H A N D L E R S J essy and Roxanne Sut ton Greater Philadelphia Area 215-778-1253 | 215-919-2099 Artofhandling@hotmail.com jessysuttonandroxannesutton.com
PHA
Lisa Curry, Esq. 59 Gristmill Rd. Randolph, NJ 07869 201-400-7407
LCurry@lawfordogs.com www.lawfordogs.com
Your Dog’s Portrait
Varsity Kennel boarding & grooming
allan M. Chambers owner 8447 Winter Gardens Blvd. Lakeside, Ca. 92040 619-561-3037
varsityamc@aol.com www.varsitykennel.net
From your photo... Pup Portrait Studio Watercolors by Judy Thompson +VEZ5IPNQTPO0)"!BPMDPNt www.PupPortraitStudio.com To an original work of art
BONN I E GUGGENHE IM P H : 8 6 3 - 7 3 8 - 8 8 4 8 F A X : 8 6 3 - 8 5 3 - 3 6 2 4 E M A I L : B O N N I E @ D M C G . C O M
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
YORKSHIRE TERRIER NATIONAL RESCUE, INC. http://www.yorkshireterrierrescue.com We do more than rescue Yorkies. We also have information and support groups for dog owners whose dogs are afflicted with Liver Shunt and Collapsing Trachea. Please visit: http://www.livershunt.com or http://www.collapsingtrachea.com Browse thru our Rescue Boutique where we have many upscale items, including beautiful hand knit Dog Sweaters by Charlie. www.yorkierescue.com We accept donations. We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
BREEDER’S FORUM Shih tzu by Janet danner
1. Tell us Three conformaTion characTerisTics you consider criTical in your breeding program. Head type, density of bone and pleasing personality are most important to me. 2. WhaT dog ThaT you bred have you been mosT exciTed abouT? BIS BISS GCH Dancee Moonlight Fashion ROM and her daughter, MBIS BISS GCH Dancee I’ve Got A Secret At Purple Jade. The proof is in the consistency. 3. To daTe, WhaT has been your high poinT as a breeder? To have finished an entire litter (5) and almost not being able to tell them apart! 4. WhaT is your peT peeve in The shoW/breeding World? Gossip and envy among competitors. 5. is There a grooming secreT you Would like To share? Brush, brush, brush bodies and wash, wash, wash faces!
6. do you inbreed, linebreed or ouTcross? I tend to linebreed most of the time and occasionally outcross. 7. Where do you house your dogs and Whelp your biTches? Puppies are born in my bedroom and stay there the first week. My grown and cutdown dogs live in the kitchen. 8. your ThoughTs on selling peTs versus shoW prospecTs? I would prefer to sell pets as I know they will have a pampered life. 9. aT WhaT age do you reTire your breeding biTches? I do not breed after 6 years of age, then they are spayed. “the proof is in the CONSISTENCY.”
by riChard paQUette
1. Tell us Three conformaTion characTerisTics you consider criTical in your breeding program. Many may not consider TEMPERAMENT a conformation characteristic, but it is the most essential component of Shih Tzu breed type. Without the outgoing personality and friend- ly demeanor you do not have that tail wagging disposition or the correct Shih Tzu style of a proud arrogant dog going around the ring with tail and head held high. Secondly would be the HEAD. Large, broad, round with large round eyes, strong square muzzle with strong wide underjaw and good teeth. Third would be SOUNDNESS. Not only will it result in great effortless movement but will contribute to a healthy dog that will live a long life whether it be a top show dog or family pet.
Sorry I must also add a fourth, TAIL, the characteristic high tail set with typical tea cup tail. Too many dogs have a flat tail with little or no arch. 2. WhaT dog ThaT you bred have you been mosT exciTed abouT? There have been so many over the years. In the 80s, it was “Chase”, Ch Wenrick’s Chassen Rainbows. In the 90s, it was “Woody”, Ch Wenrick’s Hollywood Hit. Both these dogs were not only multi Best In Show and Specialty winners but they were amazing producers and helped stamp the look of Wenrick Shih Tzu. More recently, it was “Clark”, GCh Wenrick’s Hol- lywood Memories; and of course “Panda”, GCh Wen- rick’s Don’t Stop Believing—both are American National Specialty Winners.
5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
7. do you inbreed, linebreed or ouTcross and Why? We have done all over the years. Linebreeding is the best approach to get consistent results. Obviously long time breed- ers can easily accomplish this. Novice breeders can also by simply obtaining a dog from a well established breeder and working with them to select dogs to use in their program. Never ceases to amaze me how many new breeders never seek the advice of top breeders and mentor under them. You do need to outcross occasionally to introduce new genes. Choosing a healthy line of dogs with the same pheno- type as your dogs will bring better results when outcrossing. Inbreeding is not for the faint of heart and should only be done by longtime breeders who have an established line. 8. Where do you house your dogs and Whelp your biTches? All of our dogs are in the house. Of course show dogs in coat are separated from other dogs. Our whole house is ceramic tile floors which is not too hard on the coat and easy to clean. All of the cut down males and females are together, separated by sex. There are very few squabbles even amongst the males. 9. your ThoughTs on selling peTs versus shoW prospecTs? It is a lot easier to sell pets. We agree to take back any pet dog lifetime if there are any challenges, no questions asked. Few have ever needed to be rehomed. Shih Tzu have great temperaments and are easy to rehome at any age. We have sold many dogs to breeders as show dogs and many have gone on to great success. 10. aT WhaT age do you reTire your breeding biTches? Usually around 6-7 years of age. A lot depends on how many litters they have had. For the most part, we do not breed any bitches under 2 years of age. abouT The auThor Richard Paquette has had Shih Tzu since 1971 and along with his ex-wife Wendy Paquette and now daughter Jody Garcini continue to breed Shih Tzu under the Wenrick prefix.
3. WhaT are your ThoughTs on im- porTing and exporTing? We have not done a lot of importing but have exported dogs to over 20 countries around the world who have become foundation stock for many breeders. One advantage we have is that as All Breed Judges we have had the opportunity to visit with many of the breeders before sending the dogs to be sure they would be properly cared for. 4. To daTe, WhaT has been your high poinT as a breeder? I guess “Panda” winning the Toy Group at Westminster this year has to rank pretty high up there! 5. WhaT is your peT peeve in The shoW/breeding World? Please do not get me started; but with all due respect, that element of the dog world that is jealous of the success of others and fail to realize if they would put in the same passion and dedication to what they do, they too could be having the same fun and success. And those who are success- ful who have no respect for their competition and constantly besmirch other great dogs. And finally judges who are intimi- dated by various exhibitors and make ‘easy’ decisions and do not judge the dogs in the ring on the day—just my opinion. 6. is There a grooming secreT you Would like To share? Hard work and dedication. You have to develop a strict routine and follow it even on those days where you are chal- lenged to let it slide till the next day. “YoU have to develop a STRICT ROUTINE and follow it...”
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
BREEDER’S FORUM Chinese Crested by Carol Clouse Zhen Chinese Cresteds
1. Tell us Three conformaTion characTerisTics you consider criTical in your breeding program. Rectangular body, level topline, correct movement with good reach and drive. 2. WhaT dog ThaT you bred have you been mosT exciTed abouT? At this time I have three—GCH Zhen’s That’s Who We Are (“Rebel”), BIS Canadian CH and AM GCH Stars At Sea Putting The Pieces Together At Zhen (“Puzzle”) and GCH Stars At Sea Walk This Way At Zhen (“Player”). I’m also very excited about a young bitch coming out that is a daughter of Puzzle. 3. WhaT are your ThoughTs on imporTing and exporTing? I have imported several dogs and bitches to incorporate into my breeding plans and been very pleased with the pro- cess, quality and relationships. I have exported a few, unfor- tunately, the exchange rate for many Europeans is making it more difficult. I believe it’s a very good thing to import, as it has been very helpful to fit pieces together in my pedigrees and I cherish all my new “family”. 4. To daTe, WhaT has been your high poinT as a breeder? The BIS on Puzzle in Canada, 2015 ACCC National WD, and Bred By BIS; but, what really makes me proud, is see- ing the second and third generation being even better than the previous. 5. WhaT is your peT peeve in The shoW/breeding World? Not sure I have just one! Probably kennel blindness. 6. is There a grooming secreT you Would like To share? I do, but then they wouldn’t be secrets. 7. do you inbreed, linebreed or ouTcross? I haven’t inbred and probably won’t, I feel that you need to be breeding much longer than I have to do that intelligently. I do linebreedings and outcrosses with a lot of thought.
8. Where do you house your dogs and Whelp your biTches? My attached three-car garage is my kennel and grooming room, with heat and air. All are in 3x3 or 4x4 raised pens. They are outside all day when possible or running around the kennel when I am grooming. I also travel with ALL my dogs in an RV to shows. I have two house dogs. I whelp my bitches in my living room where they stay until puppies are about 6 weeks old. I do not work and I’m with my dogs most of the time. 9. your ThoughTs on selling peTs versus shoW prospecTs? I love selling beautiful, happy puppies to show homes. It does have some stress and difficulties. I try to not be con- trolling and if they choose to not finish the dog and keep as a neutered pet, it is their decision. It disappoints me, but I’m happy to have a good home first for the dog. Pet homes are nice when needed and always makes me smile to find a happy home. 10. aT WhaT age do you reTire your breeding biTches? It depends on the bitch, but usually two or three times. If the bitch is exceptional and whelps easily with no problems, I might do four. “...BUT, WHAT REALLY MAKES ME PROUD, is seeing the seCond and third generation being even better than the previous.”
5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*- t
EPILEPSY— in Chinese Cresteds? by Karen FisCher-smith Crest-Vue Chinese Cresteds | Apache Junction, AZ
D id you know that Epilepsy is one of the fastest grow- ing health problems our breed now faces? After 13 years of breeding I found out that a dog I bred, finished and later sold was diag- nosed with Epilepsy (EP). How could that be? I did not even know that sei- zures or EP was a problem in this breed and I surely had not seen any problems before. Of course over the years, I had heard of “dogs” having EP or seizures— but not Chinese Cresteds. When I received this news, to say I was dev- astated, would be an understatement! I, as a responsible and caring breeder, have always done more than my share of health testing and did all I could do to breed happy, healthy dogs. Where did I go wrong? First of all I want to make it clear that I am, by no means, an expert on Chinese Cresteds, Epilepsy, or anything else for that matter. I am just one per- son who was faced with a major health problem in a dog that I was responsible for bringing into this world—and I now felt obligated to find some answers. What I have found out is quite shocking and I would like to share some of this new found information with anyone After the initial shock wore off and the tears stopped, I was faced with a choice of what to do now. Do I quit breeding? Do I spray and neuter every- thing related to the dog with seizures and later diagnosed with Epilepsy? What would everyone else do? One of the first calls I made was to my own vets whom I trust and respect. They both told me that I shouldn’t panic and that little was known on the mode of inheri- tance of EP in dogs—or humans for that matter. Okay, well how could that be? I know many dog people and spent hours upon hours on the phone and comput- er with people who had other breeds that also “deal” with seizures or EP. who cares to read this article. Where do I start?
Many seemed to think that this was ok and even acceptable. Acceptable? Not in my world! I wanted answers and swore not to breed another lit- ter until I learned everything that I could about the problem in this breed, Chinese Cresteds. The first thing I did was take advan- tage of the Internet and share this prob- lem with the hundreds of Facebook dog friends that I had. To my amazement, people started sending me private mes- sages and telling me that they too had either faced this problem themselves— or knew of other Cresteds that also had seizures. So the next thing I did was start mak- ing a “list” of dogs that I was told about and if the information was not given to me by the breeder or owner of the dog—I started tracking down the owner or breeder. Of course, as you can imag- ine, I ruffled a lot of feathers along the way. But I would not quit just because my feelings got hurt and because others choose to bury their dogs—and their problems with them. I was on a mission for answers—and truth. Let the research begIn! The next thing I needed was a pedi- gree program to keep and sort informa- tion. After looking through programs, I contacted Susan Miller and she gra- ciously not only shared with me what program she had used to track health problems for the past 20 years—but lis- tened to my concerns, answered many questions and shared all the work of health, title and pedigree data she and her mother, Jackie Miller, had gathered for all these years. What a blessing and an asset this information has been! (Thank you again Jackie and Susan!) For many months, I spent hundreds of hours staring at the computer look- ing at pedigrees of Chinese Cresteds that have been shared with me that had seizures, confirmed EP (by vets), or unconfirmed EP. For each dog that I learned about, I printed a 5 generation
pedigree—and I filed it. After I had col- lected about 50pedigrees anobvious pat- tern started to emerge. Could Epilepsy be hereditary? As time went on and my inquiring mind—and big mouth—continued to talk to other long time breeders, I knew something had to be done, but what? I stared at pedigrees so long my head hurt! Was what I was seeing on paper really so easy to understand and obvi- ous? I just had to have more answers and someone suggested that I contact Lisa Shaffer, PhD at Paw Print Genetics to see if maybe they would be interest- ed in looking at the pedigree data I had been able to gather and sort. So this was my next step. I sent Lisa an email and within a short amount of time, she replied that she would be willing to look at the pedigree information I had gathered. I then mailed her the pile of pedigrees (about 85 dogs at this point) for her to study. Within a few months, I received a reply and Lisa was very interested and eager to take on this project. Thank you Lord—someone else seemed to care about this as much as I did! This is how our research project started. What next? Now that there seemed to be some kind of hereditary link proven on paper, we needed DNA samples to begin research. I again went to Facebook and made a plea for people to willingly send in DNA from dogs with seizures/EP, their parents and full and half siblings. Of course we knew that blood samples were best, but I knew that most people would not be willing to go through the expense of taking their dogs to a vet to have blood drawn and then more expense to have blood shipped—espe- cially from foreign countries! So Paw Print Genetics agreed to accept cheek swabs for DNA collection. It didn’t take long to realize that most people could not find acceptable swabs, so I started off buying a box of 100 swabs (4 swabs
t5 01 / 05$) 5 0:4 " 13*-
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84Powered by FlippingBook