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.
B I S M B I S S I N T C H A M G C H S Z U N T A ’ S H A I M A G R E E N V A L L E Y
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BRED, OWNED & HANDLED BY: SUSAN & PETER COLCORD Candy
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GCH CH L UV I N POMS Y E S I KNOW I ’ M E Y E CANDY
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# 1
AFFENPINSCHER * ALL BREED
F A C E T H E F U T U R E . . .
ALL BREED BIS WINNER MULTIPLE RESERVE BIS WINNER MULTIPLE GROUP WINNER
2020 WILL BRING NEW OWNERS: Doyle Girouard & Laura McIngvale Brown
THANK YOU JUDGES DR. DANIEL DOWLING & MRS. LORAINE BOUTWELL
*TNT all breed stats as of 11/30/19
Owned by Doyle Girouard & Laura McIngvale Brown Bred by Tamarin Kennels | Presented by Alfonso Escobedo & Ashlie Whitmore
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GCHB TAMAR I N TATTOO T op N otch T oys , J anuary 2020 • 7
T O P T W E N T Y A L L B R E E D *
M U L T I P L E B E S T O F B R E E D S
| B E S T O F O P P O S I T E S E X R E G I O N A L S P E C I A L T Y
EXPERTLY PRESENTED BY ANDREA CARTER
BREEDER/OWNER PATRICIA RUST
|
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Dominique
GCHB D'ANGELIS DIAPHONOUS MORNING M U L T I P L E G R O U P P L A C E M E N T S
*TNT ALL BREED STATS AS OF 11/30/19
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CONTENTS TABLE OF
ARAMEDIA
AJ ARAPOVIC President 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 SAMANTHA ADKINS Production Co-Ordinator Advertiser Relations samantha@aramediagroup.com 512-686-3466 ext. 103
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MAILING ADDRESS PO BOX 18567 TAMPA, FL 33679
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TNT
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69 69 70 72 73 74
16 From the 30 Toy Talk 32 Toy Box
Yorkshire Terrier Club of America Foundation Inc.
Yorkie Survey Nancy Hafner
Editor-in-Chief Joe McGinnis
BONNIE GUGGENHEIM Editor/Advertising Director 512-971-3280 bonnie@aramediagroup.com DANIEL CARTIER Director, Social Media & Web Site daniel@aramediagroup.com JOSEPH NEIL McGINNIS III Executive Editor Emeritus Chief Media Consultant editor@aramediagroup.com
Yorkshire Terrier Breeder Interview Vicki Edwards
Yorkshire Terrier National Rescue, Inc.
Bonnie Guggenheim
Yorkie Rescue 2019 MaryElizabeth Dugmore, Patricia Kushnir
TNT Breed System
34 Judging in Moscow Gene Sisneros 40 Why Do People Stop Volunteering? Kyle Potts 44 Officiating and Instant Replay Walter Sommerfelt 48 Making Our AKC Shows Less Scary for Novices Jacquelyn Fogel
Judging the Yorkshire Terrier Jim Hupp
National Owner Handled System Top Toys
TOP NOTCH TOYS is published twelve times per year by AraMe- dia Group, Inc. PO Box 18567, Tampa, FL 33679. Postage paid at Omaha, Nebraska. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the express writ- ten permission of the editor. The opinions expressed in this publica- tion either editorially or in advertis- ing copy are those of the authors and do not necessarily constitute endorsement 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. Inquiries to: Michael R. Veras, COO, AraMedia Group Inc., PO Box 18567, Tampa FL 33678512 686 3466 ext 105 or michael@aramediagroup.com.
Insights on the Yorkshire Terrier Various Guest Experts
Advertising and Subscription Rates
TNT Top Twenty Toys
Index to Advertisers
TNT All-Breed System
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PEKES TAKE THE CAKE IN ORLANDO
Joseph Neil McGinnis III EXECUTIVE EDITOR EMERITUS
THE AKC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP has evolved from an upstart, kind-0f-scary undertaking to an in- ternational juggernaut spreading goodwill to the world from the fancy, here, and around the globe. I’ve been fortunate to attend all nineteen events so far and have watched closely and proudly as it became the celebration it was intended to be. There are way too many to recognize for this success but I wanted to run this photo with Paula Spector, AKC Director of Travel and Convention, without whom I’m not sure what we would do. Love you Paula. You are the best.
The Toy Group is always a major attrac- tion to the ringside and TV audience at AKCNC. Entries this year were more im- pressive than ever: TOY BREEDS 12 AFFENPIN 1-2- 5-4 24 BRUSS GRIF 3-7- 8-6 82 CAV KING CH 20-23- 26-12 1 VETERAN BITCHES 36 CHIHUA LONG 11-7- 13-5 26 CHIHUA SMOOTH 1-11- 7-7 49 CHIN CREST 11-12- 13-13 6 ENGTOYSP B&PC 0-0- 6-0 8 ENGTOYSP KC&R 1-1- 4-2 37 HAVANESE 8-13- 11-5 26 ITAL GRYHND 3-7- 6-10 13 JAP CHIN 5-1- 4-1 1 VETERAN DOGS 1 VETERAN BITCHES 34 MALTESE 12-10- 7-5 33 MANCH TERR-TOY 5-8- 15-5 21 MIN PIN 3-4- 5-9 63 PAPILLON 14-14- 25-10 30 PEKINGESE 12-5- 10-3 73 POM 28-21- 19-4 1 VETERAN DOGS 16 POOD TOY 2-2- 3-9 37 PUG 7-9- 14-6 1 VETERAN BITCHES 26 SHIH TZU 8-5- 8-5 10 SILKY TERR 0-5- 2-2 1 VETERAN DOGS 20 TOY FOX 6-3- 6-5 55 YORKSH TERR 15-18- 15-7 611 TOTAL TOYS 5282 TOTAL DOGS David Fitzpatrick and his young Peke “Wasabi” ascended to the throne of the largest show ever held in the U.S by going BIS under Dottie Collier. The Pekingese Club of America also won BEST TOY BOOTH at AKC Meet The Breeds®.
This marks the first time that a Toy of any breed has topped the tremendous entry that AKCNC always attracts. In addition, the event is more of a family reunion every year, as tra- ditions are set and people plan their year to include this ultimate show. I will see you there again next year.
Right: David Fitzpatrick and Wasabi; below, AKC BOD and sponsor ROYAL CANIN present the hon- ors and the $50,000 check! Bottom: Bri’Elle Ishtar, Booth designer, with the winning Toy entry in the BEST BOOTH CONTEST.
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CHAMPIONS ARE BORN. THEN MADE. WE’LL SEE YOU AT THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Stay updated on all things NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Download the app now! - Interactive maps - Build your own schedule - Pro Shop online & promotions
© 2019 ROYAL CANIN SAS. All Rights Reserved. T op N otch T oys , J anuary 2020 • 17
FROM THE SHOW CHAIR
The 19th AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin was a signifi- cant undertaking at which we once again showcased and honored breed- ers. Within the 1 million square feet of Orlando’s Orange County Convention
A highlight of every National Championship is the Breeder of the Year recognition as well as the inaugural Posthumous Breeder of the Year to Sunny Shay, the legend behind Afghan Hounds of Grandeur. The BOY ceremony coupled with the annual AKC Humane Fund ACE Awards are a fun- damental way in which we honor our own. Six days of streaming on AKC.TV allowed our core con- stituency and the public an opportunity for more engage- ment with our mission, history and traditions. I appreciate the Board of Directors’ confidence bestowed on our Event Committee. Congratulations to Royal Canin for presenting this canine extravaganza which culminates in
Center we offered numerous events for our constituents. The aggregate entry was 11,008 which included 5,284 in conformation, 1,382 in stakes, 1,148 BBE, 791 NOHS, 704 in Agility, 408 in Obedience and 339 Juniors across our sports plus 1,007 in Diving Dogs and 40 Temperament tests. As a result, this became the largest event in AKC’s 135-year his- tory with great appreciation to the breeders, exhibitors, judges and Delegates. Proudly every recognized breed was entered including dogs from each of the 50 states, Washington, D. C. and 27 foreign countries. Meet the Breeds was once again an educational and public relations success thanks to the expertise of volunteers from Parent Clubs and their local specialties.
the crowning of America’s National Champion. As Chairman William Feeney states AKC ROCKS!
—Dennis B. Sprung
Ed. note: If I have one regret about this year’s AKCNC, it is that I didn’t get to make my annual photo with Mr. Sprung...so I couldn’t resist re-run- ning this picture taken at one of the very early shows (2003, I think). Pres- ident Sprung is presenting an Award of Appreciation from AKC to my co-chair, the late Duane Doll, myself, and all the others who made up the Have-A-Heart team. We raised funds for DOGNY (Search & Rescue) and also for TAKE THE LEAD. We are very, very grateful for the recognition and also for the support shown for the caause by the fancy in general. Nothing tops dog people when it comes to kindness and caring. And nothing tops a dog show for fun and frolic. At least, that’s the plann for 2020 where we can see clearly what a wonderful year it will be. n HERE’S WISHING HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL, FROM EVERYONE AT TNT
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It’s not about luck; it’s about Lucky! 2018 & 2019 Top 20
Multi-National AOM
©Teddy’s Pic 19
Owner: Grace Sette & Rosemary Facchin Handler: Victor Helu GRCH Silver Sette’s Fortunato “Lucky” Come il Numero Sette
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AOM at the AKC Nationals!
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*
* TNT breed stats as of 11/30/19
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*TNT all breed stats as of 11/30/19
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W O L P E R T ’ S Y O R K S H I R E T E R R E R S
Tommy
CH WOLPERT’S TOM FOOLERY
Tommy is shown winning BOW at the YTCNC Specialty under breeder judge Susan Sandin. He was also WD at the OVYT Specialty under breeder judge Jim Hupp. Carrying on the family tradition, Tommy’s 2 sons: Wolpert’s Tom Hardy and Wolpert’s I’m the Real Deal, have already won WD at 3 specialties.
Breeder/Owner/Handler: Fred & Marcia Wolpert mwolpert2004@verizon.net
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Dealer W O L P E R T ’ S Y O R K S H I R E T E R R E R S C H W O L P E R T ’ S T O M F O O L E R Y X W O L P E R T ’ S E X T R A K I S S E S WOLPERT’S I’M THE REAL DEAL
Dealer was WD at the WMYTC Specialty 4/7/19 from the 9-12 month puppy dog class under breeder judge Mrs. Jamie Bennett (pictured). Dealer was also Grand Sweeps winner 2/9/19 under breeder judge Mrs. Kathy Weems at the YTCGNY Specialty and Grand Sweeps winner 2/10/19 under breeder judge Mrs. Claudia Pierro at the YTCA Specialty.
Tom Hardy C H W O L P E R T ’ S T O M F O O L E R Y X W O L P E R T ’ S E X T R A K I S S E S WOLPERT’S TOM HARDY
Tom Hardy was WD at the DVYTC Specialty 8/24/18 under Judge Mr. William DeVilleneuve, and WD at the DVYTC Specialty 8/23/19 under judge Mrs. Joan Scott (pictured).
BREEDERS/OWNERS/HANDLERS: FRED & MARCIA WOLPERT | MWOLPERT2004@VERIZON.NET
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Penn Top Ballroom Hotel Pennsylvania -February 7 th - PROGRESSIVE TOY DOG CLUB DISTRIBUTED AT MAJOR SHOWS FROM JANUARY TO FEBRUARY
FEBRUARY 2020 EDITION FEATURED BREED CHINESE CRESTED
YORKSHIRE TERRIER SPECIALTY
New Yorker Hotel -February 7 th & 8 th -
-February 8 th & 9 th - 11 TOY SPECIALTIES FOLLOWING PROGRESSIVE
SENT TO
AKC Toy Judges International Judges Our Global Subscribers Our Vast Email and Online Membership Ads posted and shared
repeatedly on SOCIAL MEDIA
DEADLINE JAN20 th
1 FULL PAGE 2 FULL PAGES
$ 425 $ 750 Prices Include Custom Design and Unl imi ted Photos To reser ve your prefer red pages contac t Bonnie Guggenheim, bonnie@aramediagroup.com, 512-971-3280
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Harris Calvin
ON THE COVER
#1 YORKIE IN BRAZIL 2017 #2 YORKIE WITH LIMITED SHOWING IN USA *
OUR GREATEST APPRECIATION AND THANKS TO JUDGE DANA PLONKEY FOR HONORING CALVIN WITH THIS FANTASTIC WIN AMONG GREAT DOGS! 2019 YTCA NATIONAL WINNER MULTIPLE BEST IN SPECIALTY | BEST IN SHOW WINNER RESERVE BEST IN SHOW WINNER | MULTIPLE GROUP WINNER
B I S M B I S S I N T C H A M G C H S ZUNTA’S HAIMA GREEN VALLEY
HANDLER DARON NEWCOMB
BREEDER OWNER MICHAEL ZUNTA
CO-OWNERS JUDY MARKSBURY & BARB RORIE KING
*TNT BREED & ALL BREED STATS AS OF 11/30/19
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The extravaganza in Orlando! TOY TALK ETCETERA by Bonnie Guggenheim, TNT Advertising Director & Associate Editor
T he AKC National Championship show in Orlando, Florida has so much to see and do includ- ing many nightly events; Dock Diving, Agility, National Owner Handlers finals plus another awe- some MEET THE BREEDS event that draws thousands of Spectators. With 28 acres of dogs and dog re- lated happenings it is a show every- one should attend at least once. Wear comfortable shoes! Royal Canin did another incredible job promoting the dogs in competi- tion on the red carpet that seemed to make every dog stand out along with the hard working owner and profes- sional handlers. This is the largest AKC dog show with entries from many countries outside the USA to- taling over 5,000 dogs in the beauti- ful Civic Center that is attached to the Hyatt Regency and the Renaissance Center. All with a covered walkway to eliminate weather issues and easy access getting dogs into the building. The best things about the show was meeting so many of you. I appreciate your taking the time to chat with me and make plans for 2020!
Progressive and the Specialties in New York will be the next exciting show so be sure and check out the Aramedia Group table at Progressive or pick up a magazine at one of the hotel lobbies where you can also see lots of the specials advertised in this issue and Show Sight as well. TheNew Yorker will be the site of The York- shire Terrier Specialty which is a do not miss show with fantastic Yorkies from puppies to Specials! Be sure you email candid photos from any of the NewYork shows for publication in the February issue. Have lots of success at the shows around the country including the huge Florida Circuit, Palm Springs and many other shows in January. Email your exciting news to me at TOP NOTCH TOYS because “in- quiring minds want to know”. Warm wishes, good health and lots of wins in 2020! Bonnie bonnie@aramediagroup.com 512.971.3280
“The best things about the show was meeting so many of you.”
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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. 32 • T op N otch T oys , J anuary 2020
GCHP Dartan Diamonds Are Forever at Viva Tiffany
Best in Show Multiple NOHS Best in Show
© PHY L L I S E NS L E Y
Happy New Year Celebrate Pure Love and Joy
BR E D BY DAR TAN CH I HUAHUA S
OWN E D & E XC L U S I V E LY HAND L E D BY C E C I L I A BO Z Z O
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JUDGING IN MOSCOW by Gene Sisneros
H aving grown up in the 1970s and 80s, there has always been a cer- tain mystique about Russia. I was always fascinated by and won- dered what life was really like in this vast expanse on the other side of the planet, so when I was invited by the Russian Kynological Federation to judge in the Russian capital of Moscow in November and to present a seminar on my breed, the Pomeranian, I could not have been more excited to accept the assignment! The trip planning was very organized, and even the daunting visa applica- tion went smoothly. I tried to study up on Russian custom, reading things like “don’t look people in the eye, don’t talk to people, and don’t go anywhere alone.” Needless to say, I looked at people, spoke to people, and went around alone. I tried to learn a few Russian words and phrases, because I find that wherever I travel, if I at least make an effort to communicate in the native language the people are much more responsive and friendly. It was a seven day trip, and I arrived early Thursday, October 31 to snow and was met at the airport and taken to the beautiful Crowne Plaza World Trade Center, with a gorgeous view of the river and one of the Seven Sisters across the river. As I don’t sleep well on planes, I was exhausted and spent most of the day in bed. Friday morning I went on a private tour of the Moscow metro sys- tem, in which I was told about the his- tory of Moscow and the development of the underground system under dif- ferent leaders. As a way of giving to the people, many of the stations are works of art and incredibly ordered and punc- tual. After the tour, I walked around Red Square in the snow, had lunch at a Georgian restaurant, and shopped a lit- tle. That evening was the welcome din- ner for the 47 judges from around the world. All but fellow American Bruce Schwartz were FCI judges, and it was an honor to be included with such an
amazing “family” of judges. There were three days of FCI CACIB shows, as they added a show on Mon- day because it was a holiday, National Unity Day. The shows were held at the huge Crocus Expo Center, the site of the 2016 World Dog Show. Saturday, November 2 was “Russia 2019” with an entry of over 3,400 dogs. Upon arriving at the show site, I was met by a transla- tor who would help me in the ring each day along with two rings stewards. I judged over 70 Pomeranians and I was very happy with the quality of the en- try. The Russians have done very well with the breed. The organization of the show was impeccable and everything was timed pretty much to the minute, especially the group competition and the various bests in show, with com- petition from best baby puppy and best junior to the Russian breed show- case, all overseen by RKF President Vladimir Golubev. Sunday, November 3 was “RKF Presi- dent’s Cup 2019” with over 3,100 dogs entered. I had very nice entries of Poo- dles and Chinese Cresteds, with my stunning medium black Poodle bitch winning Group 9 and BIS 3 andmy Chi- nese Crested finishing behind her with a group 2. The day was capped off by a wonderful gala dinner at the host hotel. Monday, November 4 was “RKF Cup 2019” with 2,600 entries. I was privi- leged to judge Brussels Griffons, Eng- lish Toy Spaniels, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and had a few stand- out dogs in each breed. From watching other breeds and the groups, I saw that the quality of the toy breeds was quite high. The show ended with Supreme Best in Show being awarded to the AlaskanMalamute. I took Tuesday off to rest and see some more sights. Wednesday, I attended seminars presented by fellow judges in the areas of canine reproduction and preservation breeding, which has become a topic worldwide and one im- portant to the future of our sport. I was
honored to be able to present a seminar on behalf of the American Pomeranian Club on the Pomeranian, it’s history, standard, breed concerns, and judg- ing. Many Pom breeders attended, and I was thankful for the opportunity to share our educational program. My first FCI judging assignment could not have been better. I foundMoscow to be a great placewithwarmand beautiful people. The shows were incredibly or- ganized and the hospitality top-notch. The quality of the dogs was high, and the exhibitors were friendly and respectful and made my job rewarding. I hope to have an opportunity to return. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. Geno Sisneros acquired his first Po- meranian in 1998 and began showing and breeding in 2001 while attending the University of Alabama at Birming- ham School of Optometry. He has since bred or finished over 30 AKC champi- ons, with multiple best in show all-breed, specialty, bred-by exhibitor and owner handled Poms. He currently serves the American Pomeranian Club as Vice President and AKC Delegate and assists with Judges Education. He is also Presi- dent Elect of the Montgomery Kennel Club (AL), serves as Vice President of the Kuvasz Club of America, and is a mem- ber of the Swedish Pomeranian Club, Pekingese Club of America, and Morris & Essex Kennel Club. He began judging in 2015 and hopes to soon complete the Toy Group.
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JUDGING IN MOSCOW
Photos by Gene Sisneros
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CH MARLEX SUNSPRITE DREAM MAKER
Dreamer finished the year with back to back breed wins. Dreamer and Larry are pictured above receiving BOB from Mr. Juan Miranda and Ms. Erika Moureau at Conroe Kennel Club. Thanks to all of the judges who appreciate his beautiful movement and type. See you soon In Texas and Louisiana.
Owned and Handled by: Larry and Penny Dewey and Armando Angelbello Bred by: Armando Angelbello and Marcia Tucker
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JUDGING IN MOSCOW
Photos by Gene Sisneros
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gold grand champion Moose ANGELHEART N ADORABULL’S MOOSE ON THE LOOSE Exclusively Owner Handler By: KAREN MARIE DUPRAT Assisted By: BRIELLE MARIE DUPRAT Bred By: BILL & PAULA FRAZIER Co-Owned By:
KAREN MARIE DUPRAT, BILL & PAULA FRAZIER & JANE CHAVEZ Candids by: BRIELLE MARIE DUPRAT
As we start the New Year, we would like to thank all the Judges who honored us by giving Moose multiple Best of Breed, Group wins and all his Owner Handled placements in 2019. It was our honor to share your rings. INVITED TO 2020 WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB SHOW. We are looking forward to working our way up to Top Honors in 2020. Keep your eyes open for the little wandering Moose as he brings excellence in outline, structure, movement and personality to the ring in 2020. RECEIVED FIRST AWARD OF EXCELLENCE AT THE 2019 AKC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
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WHY DO PEOPLE STOPVOLUNTEERING?
by Kyle Potts
W hy do people stop volunteering in dog clubs? Why is it so dif- ficult to find people to help out, even on the smallest task? The answers will vary from “I just don’t have any time”, to “I’m not showing any more so I don’t have the interest”, and then there is one that I was given very recently;” I don’t want to be beat up like I see happening to the board”. That last onemademe sad to hear, but there is a ring of truth to it. The election of officers and board of directors is becoming more and more difficult each year. I see the Nomi- nating Committee calling for volun- teers and encouraging people to step up. My own experience may serve as something to think about for those contemplating stepping up in the club. Thirteen years ago I made the de- cision to run for a board position. I heard the current members speak of wanting to get off the board. They said they had done their time and they were tired. I accepted it as a fact and I thought that I had enough free time that I could help out. I did not come onto the board with an agenda in mind, and I had no thoughts of chang- ing the club in one direction or the other. I really knew very little about what the board did, but everyone
around me told me it wasn’t difficult and didn’t really take up much time. Now, either they weren’t doing “it” correctly or they flat out lied to me, because it is difficult and it does take time, if you do it correctly. When I first was elected to the board, the board meetings were fairly quiet, we didn’t have a lot going on in the club, and the biggest issue to hit to- wards the end of my term was the BreedStandard revisionballot.While there was some controversy swirling around that, it wasn’t enough to cause me great concern because I was not in charge and it affected me minimally. Under the leadership at that time, the board operated with little or no input from themembership. Decisions were made and not questioned, and no one complained about it. If there were members who were unhappy with the direction of the club, they didn’t voice it much. After four years on the board, I was ready to run for President. The Presi- dent was stepping down and I was told that I was the next logical candidate for the job. I knew going into the role of President that there was one thing I wanted to see happen. I wanted to shift the bulk of the decisions that af- fected the club, back to the members
and out of only the board’s hands. It wasn’t a shift of power per se, but more a concentrated effort to get more of the membership involved and to allow them more ownership in their club. It didn’t take long for the members to start taking that owner- ship, and the results were for the most part, very exciting. The club moved forward in leaps and bounds with new avenues of giving time and talent, new opportunities for competition, and suggestions for new ways to increase the coffers of the club. Putting the reins back in the mem- ber’s hands would also bring a nega- tive result to the table at times though. The people who stepped up and vol- unteered for the Board or for Com- mittee Chair positions seemed to be under scrutiny at all times by a small group of members. Many times, ev- ery move was questioned, and Board members or Chairs were criticized publically, often on the internet on public forums. Some quit, choosing to not be subjected to the harassment. Others grew silent, so as to not draw any undue attention to themselves. As I watched this happen, it made me sad, and angry, and weary. I understand why so few are willing to step forward. Praise is almost >
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VISTA LAFLEURS LOTUS T'SEAS MI S I L V E R G R A N D C H A M P I O N
HAPPY NEW YEAR! #7 IN ALL-BREED POINTS *
AKC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW BEST OF OPPOSITE AND BEST BRED-BY THANK YOU TO MR. RICHARD MILLER OF FAMED MAR-RICH CHIHUAHUAS FOR THIS WONDERFUL WIN.
Deborah Long, T’Seas Mi Chihuahuas | Stephanie Schultes, Vista Chihuahuas *TNT all breed stats as of 11/30/19
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“For those who are contemplating stepping up, good for you. Be strong. Be confident. Don’t hesi- tate to speak up when something is not right. Speak for all of the membership, and for the good of the club.”
formed to encourage and promote quality in the breeding of pure-bred dogs and to do all possible to bring their natural qualities to perfection. For those who chose not to step up, it’s okay. You have your reasons. There is something you can do though. Don’t be so quick to jump on the bandwagon of disdain towards those working. Be positive. Tell them whenever they do something that enhances your ex- perience at a dog show. Praise them for a job well done. Offer to help out on the show weekend. You would be surprised how just the smallest thing can be a huge help when just a small group of people are responsible for every detail of the weekend. The show doesn’t’ just happen. There is a year of planning and work that goes into each weekend. It takes a team of people to pull it off. If you have the chance to be just a small part of that team, take it. You will be glad that you did. If you can keep what is best for the club as your goal, you may not be the most popular, but you will be doing “it” the right way.
and they lay low—and the club suffers. Over the last thirteen years I have spoken with many, many club mem- bers who used to be involved but aren’t any more. They all tell me the same thing. They are weary of being beaten over the head and they just want to go back to enjoying their dogs. I didn’t understand then, but I do now. I amnot a person who has ever quit on something I started. I won’t do that now either. But I do hear you, and I do understand. For those who are contemplating stepping up, good for you. Be strong. Be confident. Don’t hesitate to speak up when something is not right. Speak for all of the membership, and for the good of the club. Don’t get pulled into acting on something just for the good of a small group of people. Each and every decision the board makes must be made while doing what is best for the club. No individual or group of individuals should benefit directly from changes made to the club. It is a tough line to hold. You will be pulled in many directions. Your club was
nonexistent. Helpful suggestions are not shared. Criticism flows freely and it can get quite ugly. Being President or on the Board of a National Parent club is a tough, tough job. It is not one for the faint of heart. You are every- one’s friend when you first come on board. Everyone thinks that you will be the one to fix the (perceived) prob- lems. Then after a little while, people start to figure out that they can’t ma- nipulate you to do things their way. They realize that you aren’t going to look the other way when they act out. They don’t like it when you are direct with them. They don’t like it when you stand up for the little guy. All of a sudden you are the bad guy. You are the problem. Factions start working against you and fingers get pointed. Cliques start forming and misin- formation is spread. The average member who is not involved in club leadership sees this, and they stay away. They don’t want to have the fin- gers pointing at them, and they don’t want to hear the angry rhetoric being thrown around, so they stay quiet,
42 • T op N otch T oys , J anuary 2020
M U L T I - G R O U P P L A C I N G GOLD GRAND CHAMPION GINGERY'S HIGH VOLTAGE WESTMINSTER SELECT AND NATIONAL BEST OF OPPOSITE
THANK YOU TO ALL THE JUDGES WHO APPRECIATE ELLIE’S BREED TYPE AND MOVEMENT.
handled by VICTOR HELU
owned by JACQUI DIPIETRO & ARLENE BUTTERKLEE
bred by ARLENE BUTTERKLEE
T op N otch T oys , J anuary 2020 • 43
OFFICIATING AND INSTANT REPLAY by Walter Sommerfelt
T he human element has always been a part of our sports culture. Officials are human; they make instant split-second decisions based on what they see and how they interpret the rules. Don’t take this the wrong way but I do see the value in the replay system in some sports and I think it does work especially in the major sports. But there are a lot of sports where implementing it would forever change those sports. Gymnas- tics, figure skating, competitive cheer and dance are just examples of events where the judge’s interpretation of the event is significant, and they score accordingly. The scoring by judges has long been an area of controversy in the international sports world and was especially talked about during the cold war years. But the great thing about sports is that with all its warts and imperfections it still thrives all over the world. Here in the sport of pure-bred dogs of- ficiating also has always been and will always be an area of controversy. It is not only in the conformation world but also in every type of competitive events from obedience, agility, flyball, dock diving, and any other competi- tion where there is a person or per- son’s doing the judging or evaluating. Some obedience judges are known to
it help? How many cameras would we need? How many angles would we see? Could the camera pick up things like dentition, eye shape and color, muscle tone, coat color and texture, and so many other things that are in- cluded in the standard for the breed? Often, judges will ask someone to move their dog again sometimes be- cause they can see that the handler does not have the best control and they are not seeing what their hands have told them to expect. At the same time what judges see in the stack is not being presented properly. There are so many variables in the judging process and all judges have their own views, preferences, and various levels of how much importance is placed on the different areas of the standard. Like the officials in the sports world, dog judges are also subjected to train- ing and evaluation by the American Kennel Club. Some judges are out- standing in some breeds and lacking in others, while some are above aver- age and some below average in all the breeds, they officiate in. But one thing all judges and any type of official have in common is that they are all human, and no human is perfect. When exhibiting please remember that judges are human beings mak- ing “at that moment” decisions. Those
be more lenient than others, Similarly for agility and other venues. Every as- pect has rules and guidelines, but the judges all can apply themas they see fit within the established rules. In the conformation world, the judges alsoareofficiatingwithinasetof guide- lines. They are interpreting the writ- ten standard for the breed and how, at that moment and under those condi- tions, they see the exhibits in front of them. There is a lot that goes into that judge processingwhat they see and feel in the ring and between the competi- tors in each class. The judge does not have the ability to see the exhibit in an environment like a back yard where the dog without a lead looks fantastic andmoves like a dream. Or standing in a perfect natural posewithout any out- side help. He or shemakes the decision based on a limited time frame inwhich the human counterpart the handler presents the exhibit to him hopefully to its best advantage. Having stood in the middle for the past 34 years I can tell you that is not always a simple task. I believe all judg- es try to do the very best job they can. We unfortunately do not have the use of an instant replay or even the time it would take to go back and reviewwhat we have seen presented to us. Even if we did have instant replay how would
“JUST LIKE WITH ALMOST ALL SPORTS COMPETITION WE HAD UMPIRES, SOME GOOD, SOME BAD, AND MOST WERE JUST VOLUNTEERS TRYING THEIR BEST.” 44 • T op N otch T oys , J anuary 2020
2019 #8 PAPILLON BREED* 2019 #9 PAPILLON ALL BREED** MULTIPLE GROUP WINNING MULTIPLE OWNER-HANDLED BEST IN SHOW 2019 #2 OWNER-HANDLED PAPILLON*** CURRENTLY 2020 #1 OWNER-HANDLED PAPILLON 2018 AND 2019 BEST OF BREED PAPILLON OWNER-HANDLED SERIES FINALS 2020 #4 OWNER-HANDLED TOY GROUP****
OWNED BY: J. ELIZABETH & JEFFREY J. ABATE | EXCLUSIVELY HANDLED BY: J. ELIZABETH ABATE BRED BY: FORREST G. JOHNSON *TNT breed stats as of 11/30/19 **TNT all breed stats as of 11/30/19 ***NOHS stats 2019 ****NOHS stats as of 12/7/19
T op N otch T oys , J anuary 2020 • 45
for the world-renowned St. Jude Chil- dren’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN, but also raised awareness of the many activities for people with their dogs as well establishing a voice for dog people in the Memphis area with regard to legislation. Many aspects of today’s AKC Royal Canin show can be traced back to the St. Jude event. Along with Carol his wife of 36 years they have bred well over 90 AKC Champions including Group, Best in Show and Specialty Winners, dual Champions and multiple performance titled dogs. During the past 40 years Mr. Sommer- felt has been active in a number of dog clubs and is currently the President of the Tennessee Valley Kennel Club. He is recipient of the AKC outstand- ing Sportsmanship Award and is also a career agent and financial planning specialist with Nationwide Insurance. The Sommerfelts’ have two grown chil- dren, both former Junior Handlers and they are still active breeders and exhib- itors of the Vizsla breed.
choices have been formed through their training and interpretation. You may not agree and maybe that video you took with your phone will sup- port your view or that of the judge but, either way, the decision is final, and we must accept it and move on. I, for one, could not imagine using instant replay in our sport. I understand the frustration of ex- hibitors. You have spent your time, money and hours of training and con- ditioning preparing for your moments in the ring and you’re not happy with the outcome. But you are no differ- ent than the gymnast, figure skater, Drill Team, Cheer Team, or any per- son that competes. All competitors train, travel, exert time and expense to compete in what they enjoy. Have you ever looked at how much time and money many individuals spend to just compete in some amateur and Olympic events? Or how many hours high school, college, amateur and pro- fessional teams spend in training and practice? Even with all that practice not all teams reach a high level of suc- cess and it’s not for lack of trying. If you’re one of those exhibitors that simply cannot enjoy our sport for what it is than maybe its time to look for something else. But, if you can accept your wins and losses, learn to be objective, practice to improve your dogs and your skills you will be able to enjoy a sport filled with many friends and great experiences. Special moments between you and that dog that is hopefully your best friend are very exciting. Remember that no matter what the outcome of the day, your dog loves you uncon- ditionally and that alone makes it all worthwhile.
BIO Walter Sommerfelt of Lenoir City, TN has been involved in the sport of pure- bred dogs since acquiring his first Old English Sheepdog in 1972. He is a for- mer professional handler as well as a breeder, and exhibitor of breeds in all seven groups, most notably Vizslas, OES, Pointers, Bearded Collies and Weimaraners. Judging since 1985 he is approved for All Sporting, Working, and Herding breeds and groups, Ju- nior Showmanship and Best in Show and has had the honor of judging on four different continents. Mr. Som- merfelt has judged many of the most prestigious shows in the United States including the herding group at the 2014 Westminster Dog Show in New York City where he has judged on three separate occasions. Mr. Sommerfelt was the founder and chairman for the St. Jude Showcase of Dogs from 1993 until 2009, a unique event showcasing the world of purebred dogs. This special event was the largest collection of various dog events in one location, featuring an AKC all Breed Dog Show, AKC Obedience and Rally Trials, AKC Agility trials, (prior to AKC adding agility NADAC trials ) One of the largest Fly ball tournaments in theU.S.A., Herding and go to ground demonstrations, A main stage featur- ing performances by Canines from Television and the Movies, Freestyle, Demos by drug and various therapy dogs, A full room of booths for meet the breeds, over 50 AKC judges seminars annually, Lure coursing, A fun Zone for Children, and other dog related fun ac- tivities for the general public and their dogs. Over the years the event not only raised hundreds of thousands of dollars
“Remember that no matter what the outcome of the day, your dog loves you unconditionally and that alone makes it all worthwhile.”
46 • T op N otch T oys , J anuary 2020
SEE WHAT ALL THE BUZZ IS ABOUT
RBIS MBISS MULTIPLE GROUP WINNING
ROYAL CANIN BOV WINNER BEST IN SPECIALTY SHOW CCA REGIONAL SPECIALTY IN CONJUNCTION WITH ROYAL CANIN 2019 #1 SMOOTH COAT CHIHUAHUA BREED POINTS * GCHG DESTINY’S TO INFINITY AND BEYOND
OWNED BY JACKIE AND ALEXIS PARISEK AND MISTI COOK PRESENTED BY ALEXIS PARISEK
*TNT BREED STATS AS OF 11/30/19
T op N otch T oys , J anuary 2020 • 47
MAKING OUR AKC SHOWS LESS SCARY FOR NOVICES by Jacquelyn Fogel
show world today. Where do you start? We don’t have fun matches anymore, and all of our shows are point shows. Go to the tiniest show in the Midwest and there will be at least two or three handlers with trucks full of well-groomed, well-trained show dogs. Buy a beagle thinking it’s a no-groom breed, and imagine your surprise when you find out it takes as long to groom a beagle for a show as it does to put up a Bedlington. If you think there is any breed shown to- day that does not require some level of ring-ready grooming, or training to perform in a breed-acceptable manner you’d be wrong. Sure, there are a few short haired breeds like a Manchester that require very little coat preparation, but even they re- quire some level of training to be able to compete with a flashy Maltese, Shih Tsu or miniature poodle in the group. Is it any wonder that people gravitate toward the newer AKC breeds? Nobody knows what they’re supposed to look like yet, so a nov- ice can compete on a level field with other novices. I think this intimidation factor is a very real problem. Terriers, known for their extraordinary grooming re- quirements, are all becoming rare breeds. It’s true that many people don’t want to spend the time on end- less grooming, but it’s also true that they don’t know where to go to find out how to do the work. There is no grooming school that teaches the art of rolling a hard coat or the intricate detail of a scissored Bedlington trim. It’s a learn-by-doing environment with few good teachers. It took me three years of grooming a Bedlington
to finally master a trim that was not embarrassing, much less beautiful. It took another 10 years to get to a mas- ter level, and I still modify my trims. About 6 months ago I had an epipha- ny. If I wanted new people to join the ranks of Bedlington breeding and showing and help to preserve this breed for posterity, I was going to have to reach out to people > and of- fer to train them in at least the trim, and hopefully add in a little about the breed standard. I knew there was an interest in this breed among com- petitive groomers because I had been loaning dogs to several of them and had done some minimal training in the trim. I was never happy with the bichon-like styles they put on their competition dogs, and one competitor actually told me it would be impos- sible to win a grooming competition with a dog in my breed-appropriate pattern because it wasn’t what the judges were looking for. That was an- noying on two levels. First, who were these judges who knew so little about my breed that they thought gobs of hair was a good thing, and second, how would this novice groomer know she could not win with my trim since she had never actually learned it. I do know that one of the top-ranked competitive groomers won a Best In Show with a Bedlington I had just finished a championship on at our National Specialty a fewweeks before her grooming competition, so I was pretty sure the pattern that I had put on the dog was not so far gone that she dramatically changed it for her best- in-show grooming performance. My aha moment (actually it was an aha period of time that stretched
W e’re scary. We are so good at what we do that anybody who thinks about competing with us gets scared. How can they breed, buy, groom, train and show a dog that looks anything like ours? Where do they start? How do they learn? How much money will they have to spend to even come close to having a dog that looks and acts like ours? Do they even want to try? I believe the AKC groomers, han- dlers and trainers are the best in the world. Nobody in any other region of the world is as proficient at present- ing dogs as the people who regularly compete in AKC shows. We take our competition seriously, and we are the best. It is no secret that handlers and groomers from all over the world want to come here to learn how our AKC professionals manage their trade. They come here to learn how to breed, groom, train and present their dogs. We are the masters of the uni- verse—and it’s scaring novice exhibi- tors away from our shows. Think about breaking into the dog
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C H A N N A B E L L E X I I
Kiss me, I'm yours!
OWN E R S : J O H N O B E R M E I E R J R & G I N A S E L L E R S O B E R M E I E R
B R E E D E R : K R I S S C H E R R H A N D L E R : V I C TO R H E L U
T op N otch T oys , J anuary 2020 • 49
over a few months) continued as I thought about the AKC dog show people I knew who had ventured slightly into the world of competitive grooming, and came back to AKC shows. That included my daughter who got a beautiful standard poodle ostensibly to compete in grooming competitions, but decided she would really rather compete in AKC shows where more than the hair was being evaluated. She felt much more satis- fied when the competition was about more than a beautiful coat finish and the dog was adjudicated by people who were actually familiar with the poodle standard. I also recall the hours of siting in pro- fessional handlers’ set-ups marveling at the level of skill I was seeing on a daily basis. I learned to pull hair on a wire dachshund to compete with Car- los Puig, and groom a Brittany that could compete with Kellie Miller. I learned to prepare the coat and trim a Cavalier so it looked completely natural to compete against Laura King, and I learned to shave, scissor and chalk a beagle. I learned enough about rolling a Westie coat from Jan Parcel to know I did not want to do a lot of that, and just recently picked up a most amazing tip about stripping a wire coat from Susan Atherton as we chatted at dinner after Montgomery County. There was so much knowl- edge out there in the AKC world, and so little of it was being shared with newcomers. I began to formulate a plan to change that. My first step had to be with Bedling- tons—because I have a bunch of them sitting around needing trims. I also knew that if a groomer learned the intricate details of a Bedlington trim on their ridiculously soft coat, they would become better over-all groom- ers in general. Every groomer that has worked for me has had to learn basic Bedlington, and all have toldme it has made them much better groomers. I have the dogs, I have the place, and I have the training to teach the trim, so I decided to start here. I consulted a few people in the com- petitive grooming world to ask how
their seminars were structured, and what they thought an appropriate fee would be for an intense, hands-on seminar where each person would be able to do a guided groom on a dog I provided. All of them said this was something that was not done. Their seminars involved an instructor with a dog they groomed, talking their way through the trim. The average duration of those seminars was 2-4 hours. That was an impossible time- frame for me. It takes me 2.5 hours to put a Bedlington in pattern for a show, so I knew beginners would need a lot more time than that. Plus, I wanted the seminar to include some background on the breed and its stan- dard, canine anatomy, basic dog-han- dling skills, and demonstrations of corrective grooming. Finally, I settled on a 1.5-day semi- nar. The first day would be talking about the breed, and a demonstration of grooming. The second day would be grooming their dogs with me pro- viding on-going commentary, cri- tique and suggestions. Because this was a new concept and I was asking the groomers to spend a night near my facility, I opened our empty-nest home to accommodate a sleep-over. We had done this for several groups of Russian visitors hosted by my Rotary Club, so I was confident they would be comfortable, and would appreci- ate not having to rent a hotel room. We provided lunch the first day and breakfast the next morning. I lim- ited the seminar to 5 participants and charged $250/each. This seminar exceeded my expecta- tions in ways I never imagined. Four of the participants are pet groomers, and one is a first-time Bedlington owner who does mostly performance work with her dogs. All of them were so grateful for the ability to work on a real dog and be guided and critiqued in real time. Even the groomer who is an award-winning creative groom- er was thrilled with the outcome of the seminar. But a real unanticipated benefit of this seminar was the commentary that flowed when we were wrapping
up and putting tools away. Three of the groomers asked if it would be pos- sible for them to accompany me, or someone else I might know, to AKC shows and be their “bucket-bitch” (their terminology, not mine), and two expressed an interest in breed- ing Bedlington terriers. All three said they were so intimidated by AKC shows that they were not sure how to become involved, but after this semi- nar, and my obvious enthusiasm for the breed and AKC competitions, they wanted to try going with some- body and learning more about it. Be- fore the seminar they were too scared to participate, but after they felt much more comfortable about venturing into the AKC world. Now I was hav- ing a Eureka moment! I am planning to schedule at least 4 of these level 1 seminars a year (Bed- lington hair needs time to grow), and these groomers and other exhibitors have asked if I can do a one-day level 2 seminar for people who have learned the basics, but need additional guid- ance on detail. At least 12 people have already expressed an interest in be- ing invited to one of the upcoming seminars. We’re calling them Beyond- The-Basics Seminars, and I have been mulling around ideas for recruiting other AKC exhibitors who are experts in breeds used in grooming competi- tions to do something similar. They’re “doing the math” and thinking they can give up a couple of weekends a year to earn $1,000 and encourage new people into our sport. I am also asking the AKC to consider supporting this concept and add AKC certification of completion for the seminars, and keep track of a calendar of seminars around the country. It’s a work in progress, and I think the rewards for everyone are substantial. These Beyond-the-Basics seminars will also be critical for capturing the expertise of the current group of highly skilled professionals and own- er-handlers whose knowledge will be lost If it is not passed on to the next generation. I think this is a winning idea for everyone in our sport, and for those who want to join us.
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*TNT ALL BREED STATS AS OF 11/30/19
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52 • T op N otch T oys , J anuary 2020
YORKIE SURVEY
NANCY HAFNER
What about the breed is most miss un- derstood by the general public? Coat and color. What advice would you give to a newcomer? Go to several dog shows, watch the breed, talk to those who show and ask questions. Look online for those who have bred them for years for advise. Do not buy fromwebsites online. Attend Nationals and/or Specialties and ask lots of questions. Find a Mentor or two to help you in your quest to own, show a Yorkshire Terrier. Are there traits in this breed you feel are becoming exaggerated? Coats too long that causes them to tangle up when moving—especially if shows are outside in tall grasses! Do you think the Yorkies you see in the ring today are better than when you first started judging? Many have improved in top lines, but
our numbers have decreased as we lose breeders, owner and handlers in the breed. When I judged a Sweepstakes early on before I was approved to judge them, I had an entry of 38 or so. Today in regular classes at most shows we never seen these numbers in the classes. Do you have a specific “please don’t do in my ring” for the Yorkshire Terrier? Do not race your dog around the ring and use bait only after I have gone over the head, and do not run up on dogs in front of you! Do you see size to be an issue? Too Big or small? Not really. Looking for a balanced blue and tan drop coat, compact York- shire Terrier, high head carriage with confident manor, vigor and with self importance entering my ring. It puts a smile on my face.
Describe the breed in three words? Drop coat—blue and tan, compact Toy Terrier and self importance. What are your must have traits in this breed? Head carriage, level top line, vigor, confident and compact well- proportioned silhouette. What makes this breed an ideal companion for those wanting a Toy dog? Toy breed, outgoing confident tem- perament, healthy and weight not to exceed seven pounds. What about the breed makes it a great show dog? Its self importance in a toy breed and in the toy group.
“Find a Mentor or two TO HELP YOU IN YOUR QUEST TO OWN, SHOW A YORKSHIRE TERRIER.”
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