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.
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WHERE ROCKY AND HARRY RE I GN THEY WALTZ AND CHASSE AND TWI RL !
OWNED BY : D r . Du n c a n S immo n s & Bo n n i e S immo n s • PRESENTED BY : Ha r r y Be n n e t t & S . D . Rowa n , J r . TOY GROUP TWO Mr s . S t e p h a n i e He dge p a t h Heavenly's Flying High Rocky
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CURLS I N A F L I CKER I NG SKE I N , THAT WI ND AND WI SK AND WHI RL !
TOY GROUP TWO Mr s . Me l a n i e Wi l l i ams
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*
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*TNT ALL BREED STATS AS OF 4/30/18
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Yeager # 4 YORKSHIRE TERRIER ALL BREED * BROOKVIEW C H A M P I O N BROOKVIEW’S GENERAL YEAGER Multiple Group Placing
CHIC #119302
*TNT all breed stats as of 4/30/18 **AKC NOHS stats as of 5/16/18
Much Appreciation to respected Toy Judge Mr. Rodney R. Merry for this exciting win!
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YORKSHIRE TERRIERS
r
# 4 YORKSHIRE TERRIER NOHS ** Yvari G R A N D C H A M P I O N CH BROOKVIEW'S EVERDEAN YVARI Multiple Group Placing
GCHB CH Tapyoca’s Yancey At Brookview (YTCA TOP SIRE 2017) x MBISS GCHG Brookview’s Rebel Yale, ROM (YTCA TOP DAM 2017)
CHIC #123019 Proud participant in CHIC for a healthy future.
Always Breeder-Owner Handled by: Matina E. Johnson AKC Breeder of Merit, YTCA Top Breeder 2017 BKC Breeder of the Year | Brookview Yorkshire Terriers www.brookviewyorkies.com
©Miquel Betancourt
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RANKED # 3 CAVALIER *
BISS, Toy Group Winner GCHS CHWynDancer Silver Lining
Ms. Shalisa Neely | GROUP 2 Santa Clara KC
Charlotte Patterson | GROUP 2 Coyote Hills KC
Mrs. Shelly Hennessy | GROUP 1 Oregon Trail KC
* TNT breed stats as of 4/30/18
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BISS, Toy Group Winner GCHS CHWynDancer Silver Lining
Mr. Desmond Murphy | Columbia River Specialty BEST IN SPECIALTY WINNER
BEAUTIFULLY PRESENTED BY MR. LUKE SEIDLITZ & TEAM OWNED BY SUSAN BARRETT, DVM • WynDancer Cavalier King Charles Spaniels • wyndancercavaliers.com BRED BY DR. SUSAN BARRETT, DVM • www.wyndancercavaliers.com • wyndancercavaliers@yahoo.com
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TNT TOPNOTCHTOYS JUNE 2018 • VOLUME XXXIV, NUMBER FOUR
AJ ARAPOVIC President aj@aramediagrp.com Office 512-686-3466 ext 102 Cellular 512-541-8128 HANIFA ARAPOVIC Vice President hanifa@aramediagrp.com michael@aramediagrp.com 512-686-3466 extension 101 SAMANTHA ADKINS Production Co-Ordinator Advertiser Relations samantha@aramediagrp.com 512-686-3466 ext 103 MAILING ADDRESS PO BOX 18567, TAMPA FL 33679 512-686-3466 ext 104 Cellular 512-541-8687 MICHAEL R. VERAS Chief Operating Officer
Lawrence Front Cover.indd 1
5/31/18 1:25 PM
TABLE OF CONTENTS 6 COVER STORY 12 THIS MONTH IN TOP NOTCH TOYS 14 FROM THE EXECUTIVE EDITOR EMERITUS Joseph Neil McGinnis III 24 TOY TALK Bonnie Guggenheim 26 TOY BOX Candids of our Group Five Darlings 38 HONOR by Jackie Fogel 42 AMERICAN SHIH TZU CLUB NATIONAL SPECIALTY Candid Photos by Kristie Miller
46 A FRESH PERSPECTIVE ON CONFORMATION by Carrie Fletcher 52 SELECTING A JAPANESE CHIN PUPPY by Dale Martenson 54 PROBIOTICS by BJ Andrews 56 THE TOY FOX TERRIER by Sheryl Irwin
TOP NOTCH TOYS Editor/Advertising Director BONNIE GUGGENHEIM 512-971-3280 bonnie@aramediagrp.com Director, Social Media & Web Site DANIEL CARTIER
58 TNT TOP TWENTY TOYS 58 TNT ALL-BREED SYSTEM 60 TNT BREED SYSTEM 62 NATIONAL OWNER HANDLED SYSTEM TOP TOYS 64 TNT COMING ATTRACTIONS 65 ADVERTISING & SUBSCRIPTION RATES 66 INDEX TO ADVERTISERS
DANIEL@ARAMEDIAGRP.COM _______________________________ EXECUTIVE EDITOR EMERITUS since Volume 1, Number 1 Chief Media Consultant JOSEPH NEIL McGINNIS III EDITOR@ARAMEDIAGRP.COM _______________________________
TOP NOTCH TOYS is published twelve times per year by AraMedia Group, Inc. 221 Indigo Lane, Georgetown, Texas 78628. President, AJ Arapovic. Postage paid at Omaha, Nebraska. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the editor. The opinions expressed in this publication either editorially or in advertising copy are those of the authors and do not necessarily constitute 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@aramediagrp.com.
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Sonny Indigo Shih Tzu
B E S T I N S P E C I A L T Y S H O W W I N N I N G B R O N Z E G R A N D C H A M P I O N INDIGO’S THE SON ALSO RISES
Best of Breed Regional Specialty Trinity Valley Shih Tzu Club | Judge Clyde E. Shaw
Award of Merit National Specialty American Shih Tzu Club | Judge Wendy L. Paquette
Bred & Owned by Catherine Garretson
Exclusively Handled by Angela Cooke
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TOP NOTCH TOYS FROM THE EXECUTIVE EDITOR EMERITUS Joseph Neil McGinnis III
When I saw this photo my heart just sang. And I decided there weren’t words I could add to make more of an impact than did this image captured by the incomparable Sharon Carvalho, for here we have three superstars of the current dog show world, Houston & Toddie Clark and Gabriel Rangel, lending their support to, hopefully, an even- tual long time member of our sport. I cannot elaborate the depth of feeling this brought out in me, but I do want to say this: ISN’T THAT WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT? As always, all my Best.
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At ROYAL CANIN ® , we obsess over purebred dogs—and the perfect nutrition for each of them. ROYAL CANIN ® formulas are developed with your breed’s unique needs in mind for superior muscle tone, coat health and digestion. As a breed expert, you know the right nutrition can unlock the magnificence inside your dogs, and so do we. A Major Win for Breeders Join the Crown Partners Rewards Program Today! my.royalcanin.com THE FINISHING TOUCH.
© ROYAL CANIN ® SAS 2017. All Rights Reserved. Image used with permission.
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Willis CH BONITOS COMPANEROSWHAT'S UP L i v i n g t h e g o o d l i f e s i l v e r g r a n d c h a m p i o n 16 • T op N otch T oys , J une 2018
n e w
Wesscott CAVALLO’S IMAGINARY DREAM c h a m p i o n
CAVALLO’S PERFECT SNOW STORM c h a m p i o n
CAVALLO’S EMERALD ISLE c h a m p i o n *
* C h P e n d i n g A K C C o n f i r m a t i o n
C a v a l l o
C a v a l i e r s
O w n e d
&
B r e d
b y
C a t h y
C o u t u r e
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SONDRAS OVERDRIVE WITH OUR HOT ROD LINCOLN AT KYLIN
LINCOLN & MY GIRL ARE BOTH BRED & OWNED BY LINDA DAVI & TAMMY LODIEN | SHOWN EXCLUSIVELY BY TAMMY LODIEN Lincoln FIRST TIME BACK IN THE RING. BACK-TO-BACK MAJORS! REPEAT OF “DOVE” THANK YOU JUDGE MRS. PAULA HARTINGER 18 • T op N otch T oys , J une 2018
KYLINS LEXUS MY GIRLS TEMPTATION AT SONDRA ROSE
My Girl 2 WEEKENDS BACK-TO-BACK MAJORS FROM THE PUPPY CLASS! REPEAT OF “DOVE” THANK YOU JUDGE MR. HOUSTON CLARK T op N otch T oys , J une 2018 • 19
“ Timeless Perfection ”
T H E TOU C H E C H I N
owned by KATHY JURIN, JANE MARTENSON & DAN PALANTINO
bred by DALE MARTENSON & ALY BELL
exclusively handled by DAN PALANTINO
©photos by JANE HOBSON
WE E X T R E M E LY A P P R E C I AT E A L L T H E J U D G E S WHO H AV E R E COG N I Z E D T H I S E XQU I S I T E YOU N G TOU C H E BOY !
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Miyagi C H AM P I ON TOU C H E - KA R I X KA R AT E K I D
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ETCETERA
by BONNIE GUGGENHEIM TNT Advertising Director & Associate Editor THE TERRIFIC TOYS OF TNT
T oy dogs are more than spe- cial…they are fabulous show dogs, wonderful com- panions to loving owners, outstanding service dogs and house- hold protectors that think they are much bigger than they actually are. It is that big bark! They are smart, clever, funny, spoiled, darling, beautiful and totally terrific. Our wonderful Toys are also in a very competitive group, strong competition in the Best In Show Ring! Check out the ratings published in Top Notch Toys. Are you one of the “old guard” that used to write a breed column for the AKC Gazette? It would be great to hear from you and have you submit an article for Top Notch Toys or send photos for publication in our TOYS ONLY, national publication. I’m sure you have some stories we would all enjoy hearing and I know you are still out there still show- ing or maybe judging. Does your breed have a publication or newsletter? I’m very familiar with some but let me hear about yours. My goal is always to promote Toy Dogs with comprehensive articles and continue
every time they leave a local area and you should too. As a former judge and successful owner/handler with years of experi- ence in most aspects of the dog world, I’m here to assist you. Together we can create winning ads, plan effective cam- paigns and show off your new cham- pions as well as your Group and Best In Show Wins. Don’t forget to include those exciting up and coming class dogs in your ads as they will be the stars of the future. Won’t you join us with an ad to celebrate your success in your special Toy breed? Call, text or email with your questions or you exciting news. I always want to know About your wins. Have a fabulous Summer and remember INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW! Bonnie bonnie@aramediagrp.com 512.971.3280
to make TNT even more important in the world of Toys. Check out our Face- book page where all our ads rotate and note we are fully online for the world to see. Many Breeders and exhibitors out- side the US look at the Top Notch Toys Facebook and comment on wins and breeds they are interested in. A new exhibitor questioned me why some breeders and show people have more than one breed. There was a time I felt strongly if you specialized in your particular breed, truly studied and focused on that breed it would lead to success. That concept works to a large degree but to truly learn about dogs you will benefit by becoming familiar with other breeds. You will pick up bits and pieces of wisdom from a wider group of friends and exhibitors and last, do not leave after breed judging but stay and watch groups and Best In Show. You can learn a lot by listening and watch- ing. Attending shows in other parts of the country will give you an opportu- nity to see regional differences with an eye to the strengths and weaknesses of that geographical area. Judges see it
Breeder/Owner/Photogra
pher Dale Martenson
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SILVER GRAND CHAMPION ONE OF ONLY 73 PAPILLONS IN THE USA TO ACHIEVE THE TITLE OF COQUINA’S ROI SOLEIL PCD RA CGCA BCAT TKN ACHIEVER DOG
Loved, Trained & Presented by JUDY THOMPSON
A SINCERE THANK YOU TO ARLENE CZECH AND MARY JO KORPI FOR THE GIFT OF THIS AMAZING PAPILLON AND TO ALL THE JUDGES WHO RECOGNIZED THAT HE WAS BRED TO THE STANDARD.
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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.
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V a l y r i a n h a v a n e s e g r and c ham p i on honor ' s ro s au r a ' s B r i an s m i l a
G C H R ank i ng Havan e s e i n Or e gon
B a r b a r a A l d e rman , C h r i s t i e Ma r t i n e z , J ame s F r e d e r i ck s and s and r a r e e v e
c u rr e n t ly
i n Na t i ona l Own e r Hand l e r *
* AKC NOH S s ta t s a s o f 5 / 1 5 / 1 8
A lway s Own e r Hand l e d b y Va l e r i e S c ha p p e l l
" p r i d e , d e t e rm i na t i on , p r e s e n ta t i on & e xc e l l e nc e - va ly r i an havan e s e "
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Little Guy bronze grand champion LaCas itas Keeper of the Flame
C H S H A B R I ' S MON TA N Y A D E O S I TO X G C H G E N B ROO K ' S P L AY I N ' W I T H F I R E
Bred , Owned and Loved by : Gar y & Vi cki St i l e s
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candid by © Jacqueline Myrick
Best In Show Reserve Best In Show Multiple Owner Handled Best In Show
GCHP Dartan Diamonds Are Forever at Viva
BR E D BY DARW I N D E L AN E Y & KAT HY S AWY E R 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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Oakhurst Spanky SILVER GRAND CHAMPION OAKHURST ’S GOOD MORNING CAPTAIN AMERICA
Spanky is awarded Best of Opposite Sex at the Watchung Mountains Yorkshire Terrier Club morning Specialty, by Ms. Diane Ondo. He also received an Award of Merit at morning Specialty from Mr. John Constantine-Amodei. Thank you for the lovely compliments on my special boy! OAKHURST | BREEDER/OWNER/HANDLER MAR I BETH MI TCHELL BOPP | BREEDER OF MER I T | 412 - 310 - 5499
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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 I E R S FUN AT THE WATCHUNG MOUNTAINS YORKSHIRE TERRIER CLUB SPECIALTY
Pickles E X MOO R ’ S E X T R OV E R T X WO L P E R T ’ S OO P S - A - DA I S E Y WOLPERT’S PICK-A-DAISEY
Winner’s Bitch (5 pt. Major) Judge Ms. Diane Ondo
TomHardy WOLPERT’S TOM HARDY
C H . WO L P E R T ’ S TOM F OO L E R Y X WO L P E R T ’ S E X T R A K I S S E S Best Junior Sweepstakes | Judge Ms. Dierdre Petrie
BREEDERS, OWNERS, HANDLERS: FRED & MARCIA WOLPERT • MWOLPERT2004@VERIZON.NET
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Alicia KRISPIN ALL THE BUZZ
RESERVE WINNERS Trapp Falls Kennel Club Thank you Ms. Dorothy Taylor
RESERVE WINNERS Heart of New England Chihuahua Club Thank you Judge Mr. Bradley Jenkins B R E D B Y J A C K I E B R E A Z E A L E , D A I L C O R L & B E T H O V E R S T R E E T
IN HER UNDERWEAR OUT OF THE 12-18 MONTH CLASS
WATSON’S GINGER MAY
Troy Kennel Club Thank you Judges Mrs. Jacqueline Rayner & Ms. Dorothy Taylor
B R E D & O W N E D B Y B A R B A R A W A T S O N
B O T H D O G S A R E L O V E D A N D H A N D L E D B Y M J H E L D | 1 4 4 2 O R C H A R D P A R K R O A D | W E S T S E N E C A , N Y | 7 1 6 - 6 7 5 - 4 4 9 7
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EXEMPL I FYING THE BREED.
BEAUT I FUL TOY FOX TERR I ERS
Frankie
Shimmer GCHB JUSLYN’S
CH STARFOX LET ’S HANG ON
STARFOX SHIMMER N SHINE
GCHG BARBARY ’S GOLD N J EWELS RATN
Sparkles
Outstanding show careers. The real proof is in the progeny and we’re hugely excited to introduce Sparkles’ and Frankie’s puppies:
Glamour
These two exquisite puppies will be shown this summer in the 6-9 and Bred By classes.
KALLMEE GL I TZ N GLAMOUR
Glamour’s first weekend in the 4-6 baby puppy class earned her a Baby Puppy Toy Group 1 under Randy Garren
KALLMEE A PREC IOUS GEM
Precious
SUSAN & STEVE THI BODEAUX | KALLMEE KENNEL HOME OF EXCEPT IONAL DOGS S INCE 1978 | COCOA, FL
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Donatela MEXICAN AMERICAN GCH DREXEL DOLCE DONATELA G R O U P P L AC I N G
UNDEFEATED IN BREED FOR THE MONTH OF MAY. A TOP YORKIE * owner CHARLOTTE PARRISH handler DARON NEWCOMB breeders ADRIAN GARZA & DENISE DREXEL
*TNT breed & all breed stats as of 4/30/18
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BECOMING HONOR by JACQUELINE FOGEL
I ’ve written about sportsmanship in the past. I’ve defended and criticized judges and breeders, professional handlers and dog show magazines. I’ve wondered about the future of our sport, and I’ve won- dered about what the AKC is doing to keep breeding alive. I’ve questioned programs like Junior Showmanship and the National Owner-Handler competi- tions. But I haven’t written about honor among us dog show people. I haven’t addressed the necessary bonds of trust, we must have for each other, and what it means to act honorably. We need to talk. Officially, honor as a verb means to regard with great respect or fulfill an obligation or keep an agreement. It doesn’t specify conditions like “If I have enough time,” or “if something more interesting doesn’t pop up on my list of things to do,” or “If I remember it.” Hon- or is unconditional, and it’s pretty much a dichotomy. You either behave honor- ably or you don’t. You either fulfill your obligations or you don’t. In short, you do exactly what you say you are going to do. This issue came up for me in a recent puppy sale I made to a buyer in Korea. I sold the Korean buyer an AKC cham- pion bitch, and made all the arrange- ments to fly her there. About two weeks after she arrived in Korea I heard from the buyer who said he was checking AKC records and discovered that the bitch I sent only had 13 points. I was as shocked as a person can be. I very closely monitor all of the points on my dogs, and the AKC web site has made it increasingly easy to do that. I knew I had finished her championship. I had not even entered her in a show for 10 months because I was so sure she was finished. Well, I was wrong, and the dog I sent to Korea still needed two points to become an AKC champion.
I am not at all sure what happened, though I suspect there was a record- ing error somewhere along the line. A bitch I was showing at the same time is recorded as having 27 points—an unusually large number and quite a few more than I usually put on a dog even when looking for that elusive second major. The Korean bitch had started her winning early with a 3-point major at a Terrier specialty, under a breeder judge. It was not hard to put points on her— she is a beautiful, elegant dog with a fabulous head and graceful movement. Her second major came quickly—the day before our National Specialty under a renowned Terrier judge. I stopped showing her just two months later because I thought she was finished. Unfortunately for me I did not keep a written record of her wins because I always rely upon the AKC records. Nei- ther do I take photographs of single- point wins. I didn’t know I was going to be selling her, so I was not as diligent as I could have been. And because I manage a large number of breeding dogs in two breeds, I did not notice that her cham- pionship certificate was not among the others I was receiving around that time. It was a comedy of small errors that led up to this point. So when I got the mes- sage from the Korean buyer I was abso- lutely devastated. I spent one sleepless night ordering win records, verifying points and fretting about the situation. The next morning it became clear that I really only had one option open to me. I would have to bring her back to the States, put two more points on her, and send her back to Korea—at my expense. I had sold a champion. Honor demand- ed that I fulfill that obligation. Honor demanded that I would assume all of the expenses of correcting the error. Honor demanded that I act quickly and decisively, and apologize profusely for my mistake.
“HONOR IS UNCONDITIONAL, AND IT’S PRETTY MUCH A DICHOTOMY. YOU EITHER BEHAVE HONORABLY OR YOU DON’T. YOU EITHER FULFILL YOUR OBLIGATIONS OR YOU DON’T. IN SHORT, YOU DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAY YOU ARE GOING TO DO.”
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Bimmer G C H B O N E L O V E J U S T C A N ' T D R I V E 5 5 M U L T I P L E B I S S , G R O U P W I N N I N G & P L A C I N G
# 5 A L L B R E E D * * T N T A L L B R E E D S T A T S A S O F 4 / 3 0 / 1 8
“ T H E R E A R E N O S P E E D L I M I T S O N T H E R O A D T O S U C C E S S ”
Bred, Owned & Loved by Tina & Bi l l Bregman, OneLove Chihuahuas Handled by Michel le Scott & Tina Bregman
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designed to mislead and obscure. There is no dishonor in mistakes and poor decisions or bad judgment. Yet the end results are often the same wheth- er they are the product of intentional misdeeds, or unintentional poor judge- ment. People end up getting dogs that are not as good as they are represented to be. However, uninformed breeders are simply making poor choices. They are not trying to deceive, and they are not falsifying base information. The integrity of the stud book remains intact in spite of their poor decisions. Anyone can easily see which dogs con- tributed to the mediocrity in front of them. The people who intentionally deceive are damaging the integrity of an entire system based upon an expec- tation of honor and truth. Those actions are far more serious and destructive in the long run. I know the dog-show stories as well as anybody. I know some people have finished less than worthy dogs by entering a good dog with the lesser dog’s number. I wonder why someone who knows better would do that just to put a title on an unworthy dog. I don’t understand how that benefits the breed or breeding programs. Find it a nice pet home and move forward. It’s not the end of the world if your dog or bitch does not achieve a ROM, a Grand Championship or top-twenty invitation. The future of the breeds relies upon an accurate stud book, and that requires that people do not lie. I think our popular culture is enter- ing a new, unsavory era where lying is expected and tolerated more than in any time I can remember. I’d like to bring back the idea that we are only as good as our word. I made a mis- take when I sold the unfinished bitch to a Korean buyer. And that mistake cost me a lot. But it did not cost me the relationship with people I hope will take a beautiful bloodline into the future. Mistakes will happen, but the true measure of a person is how they handle the corrections. Ultimately all we as breeders really have is our repu- tation, and I want mine to include the concept of honor. Our stud book also requires that we all act honorably. If we care about our legacy and the future of our dogs we must treat each other with respect and honor. It’s the only way to build trust, and the only way to move forward.
“LET ME BE CLEAR: THERE IS A DEFINITE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN UNINTENTIONAL BEHAVIORS THAT RESULT IN
MISTAKES AND POOR DECISIONS, AND INTENTIONAL BEHAVIORS DESIGNED TO MISLEAD AND OBSCURE. THERE IS NO DISHONOR IN MISTAKES AND POOR DECISIONS OR BAD JUDGMENT.”
Then we finished the bitch—for real. We checked points, made sure every- body was entered in the right classes and the win was recorded accurately in the judges’ books. We did not move her up to Best Of Breed on the second day so there would be “insurance” points if she won again, and she did. I sent immediate word to the Korean buyer that she was, indeed, finally a real champion. It was an expensive les- son for me (always make sure wins are recorded accurately, and don’t assume anything until the certificate arrives). I thought that would be the end of my tale of woe, but to my surprise there has been an interesting sequel. As I was taking the win—New Champion photo, I was telling the judge the story of my mistake. The judge turned to me and said, “Well at least you did things the right way. I know of a well-known breeder in another breed who simply entered another dog under the unfin- ished dog’s registration number. I guess he didn’t think we could tell the differ ence between a cream-colored really nice dog and a red, not-so-wonderful
dog.” I must admit, that solution to my problem had not even occurred to me. It certainly would have been a lot less expensive, and everybody knows all Bedlingtons look pretty much alike. That could have worked. Even the peo- ple I travel with sometimes hand me the wrong dog to show in the classes. If I had the entire breed entry, who would ever check or know who the actual dogs were? The AKC relies upon the honor sys- tem, so how would they know which dog was actually attached to the registration number? The honor system. The AKC relies on the honor system to keep its stud book accurate. That means all of us who participate in the system are expected to behave honor- ably. There are no qualifiers here. You don’t get to opt out of behaving honor- ably because it’s too expensive, or too much trouble, or because other people do it. Let me be clear: there is a definite dif- ference between unintentional behav- iors that result in mistakes and poor decisions, and intentional behaviors
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“NIGHT” Champion PARADISE COLLECTION BLUE AMULET
A M / I N T C H : P O L A N D , L I T H UA N I A , E S T O N I A N
Thank you Judge Carolyn Herbel Thank you Judge Brad Jenkins - Yorkshire Terrier Club of America, Winner’s Dog 2018, (5) point major. Thank you Natalia Kamisarova for this beautiful Special.
BARBARA BEISSEL, AKC REG HANDER, OWNER: BARBARA POLEN, BREEDER OF MERIT
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SHIH TZU NATIONAL MIDWEST CIT Y, OKLAHOMA | MAY 24 -29, 2018 | PHOTOS BY KRI STIE MI LLER
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Sidd AZTEX MARCH-ON BUDDHA AND THE CHOCOLATE BOX ALL BREED BIS & MULTI BISS Grand Champion
SIDD WINS BACK-TO-BACK MPCA NATIONAL SPECIALTIES 2017 & 2018
SINCERE THANKS TO BREEDER JUDGE MRS. ANN D. HEARN, WHO IS PICTURED ABOVE, FOR THIS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD.
OWNER HANDLED BY LARRY & PENNY DEWEY BRED & OWNED BY CHRISTINE SMITH & DAN BAYLESS
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Centennial Farms Catch Me If You Can p l a t i n u m g r a n d c h a m p i o n
Owner: Eugene Bellamy Jr., centennial Farms Handler: jon Rawleigh
Watch for our exciting team of upcoming players: Centennial Farms It’s a Home Run, Centennial Farms Got the Bases Loaded and Centennial Farms Winning run.
Gene and Jon wish everyone at the Toy Fox National Specialty a fun time.
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A FRESH PERSPECTIVE CONFORMATION SHOW PARTICIPATION
by CARRIE FLETCHER
T hemes that are discussed frequently at most Confor- mation shows include the lack of participation, inabil- ity to gain majors and/or simply points towards championships, declining numbers and most importantly, lack of interest in new participants. Rarely does this discussion address why is this happening or how to improve the situa- tion. Most treat this growing concern as someone else’s or AKC’s problem, fail- ing to consider every participant can improve the situation. This is the story of a Southern Californian newbie, hope- fully the take-away will be how each of us can improve participation. In October 2017, I purchased my first AKC registered dog—a Toy Fox Terrier puppy named Jamboree’s Key to my Heart, call name “Kekey”. Kekey was purchased to fill the void left from the unexpected and traumatic loss of the family’s rescue Terrier mix. Little did I know that this decision would start me on the path to the rewarding experience of Conformation Showing. It has been a very steep learning curve, that initially I was unsure I was willing to take on. Conformation showing was not part of my purchase decision nor did the thought even enter my mind. I was simply looking for a pet. So, what
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grand champion MARCHWIND SWEET VICTORY
OUTSTANDING WINNING FOR A YOUNGSTER WHO STARTED HER CAREER LATE IN THE YEAR
Thank you Judge Mrs. Elaine Lessig
Thank you Judge Mrs. Rosalind Kramer
#1
elegant & feminine with correct lift & topline!
OWNED BY Lois March
PROFESSIONALLY HANDLED BY Justin Smithey
*TNT ALL BREED STATS AS OF 4/30/18
ALL BREED I TA L I A N G R E Y H O U N D I N T H E U S *
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happened to change my mind? This is where Ed and Carol Fernandes of Toy Fox Terrier Jamboree enter the picture. Like many, I looked for a reputable breeder close to home but found none with puppies available. Ed and Carol had puppies due on my birthday and my decision was made to purchase. While waiting for Kekey to grow enough to come to her forever home, Ed and Carol stayed in touch with frequent pictures, words of encouragement and tips on getting prepared for the new puppy. As our relationship progressed, it became clear that they thought this puppy was special. Multiple times Ed let me know, it would not be a problem if I changed my mind or was unable to pick up the puppy. When it was time to pick up Kekey, Ed planted the seed that this puppy has excellent conformation show potential. I did not even know what this was, other than Westmin- ster Show broadcast on television. This was my catalyst to further investigating this possibility. Shortly, after bringing Kekey home, Susan McCoy of Westgate Toy Fox Ter- riers called indicating she had pup- pies available. After a few awkward moments, I explained I just brought home a puppy that the breeder was encouraging me to show. Sue gener- ously offered to look over the puppy and give her opinion on suitability
for showing. We made plans to meet at a future show. However, I was still unsure and lacked knowledge about conformation showing. In the meantime, through social media and the breeder, I had met Wendy Howard and arranged a puppy playdate. Wendy shared her experience being new to conformation while showing Ultra Quest Go for the Gold, call name Oliver. Still not knowing much about conformation show, I asked Wendy to mentor me. Wendy was honest about lacking experience and shared that Susan McCoy mentored her. Wendy has become a friend, a valuable sounding board and a great resource for sharing my experiences and concerns. So, I attended my first live confor- mation show with the plan to meet Susan McCoy and obtain an unbiased opinion on Kekey’s suitability for show. She took one look at Kekey informing me she is built well, self-stacks and is not afraid of the table. To be honest, I had read about these things in the show books but didn’t really understand what this meant. Sue patiently took me out to the show rings and explained the process. She helped me get a proper show lead and explained how to use it. Most importantly, Sue agreed to mentor Kekey and I, should I choose to show. Additionally, Sue introduced me to a professional handler, Allan Chambers.
Allan, also, noted what a nice bitch Kekey is and inquired if I was going to show her. Fast forward a couple of months, Susan and I meet at another show. Sue looked over how Kekey had grown and helped with techniques to walk her on the show lead. We talked some more about showing and Sue gave me the best advice I have received. She told me I will not know if I can/like to show unless I give it a try and you should try since you have a very nice show bitch. With that advice, she helped me fill out the paperwork for our first show—Feb- ruary 2018, Del Mar Kennel Club in San Diego. Ed and Carol were delighted that I had decided to enter Kekey in a show. The first show, unknown to me, happened to be a Toy Group Specialty show. This was quite the confidence builder, since there were only two of us in the Toy Fox Terrier breed—one dog and one bitch. Those of you who have shown for years may know what is coming but I did not. After a short spin around the ring and a quick stand on the table, we were being given this “huge” impressive ribbon that at the time was bigger than Kekey. I must be honest, until Allan explained I really did not understand exactly why we received this awesome ribbon. The next day of the show, I must have done something very wrong in the ring; the
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ASLETT TESSIER COWBOY CASANOVA
SILKY TERRIER CLUB OF AMERICA 2018
PUPPY SWEEPSTAKES WINNER • JUDGE PAM RICHARDSON
STCA SUPPORTED ENTRY MATTAPONI KC
OWNERS/BREEDERS :
JANET ASLETT JANETASLETT@AOL.COM
SANDY MESMER SANDY@SMESMER.COM
BEST OF WINNERS MAY 19, 2018 JUDGE ROGER HART INGER
WINNERS DOG MAY 20, 2018 JUDGE PAULA HART INGER
ASLETT SI LKY TERRIERS HOME TO BEAUT I FUL SI LKYS SINCE 1970
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H A N D L E R : MICHELLE PAULIN
OWN E R : JANNA P. MORGAN
B R E E D E R S : MAXINE FOX, JANNA P. MORGAN & LOU A. NOVOSAD, DVM
P H OTO B Y K I T
EVRMOR INXS OF BLACKWOOD B R O N Z E G R A N D C H A M P I O N
B N R A B C A T
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professional handler to keep things moving correctly in the ring and a well experienced handler trainer. If a few seasoned participants start to reach out, many more newbies can have a positive experience and learn to love to show. In summary, everyone can choose to help make conformation showing friendly to new participants or continue to face the declining numbers. This newbie’s final thoughts on how everyone can make a difference at little to no cost, other than a few kind words and a little time: Breeders – when a novice is inter- ested in your pups, evaluate interest and educate client about conformation show; introduce them to sports avail- able to registered pups; encourage participation; when possible, help new owners with identifying people in their area with the same breed; and finally, patiently answer the questions to the best of your ability. Conformation Show Partici- pants – be friendly, we are all people first; if someone is struggling, ask if you can help; embrace good sportsman- ship attitudes—win or lose with grace and class. New Owners – social media can be a good sounding board and way to iden- tify local people with the same breed; look into a mentoring program; check out shows and talk to people; check out local kennel clubs; form a support team include breeder, mentor, professional handler, trainers, other show people both within and outside your breed; most important—Don’t give up. Mentors – reach out, be encourag- ing, make the time, facilitate introduc- tions and a big thank you for volunteer- ing your time. Professional Handlers – under- standing this is your livelihood, a few kind words and tips can go a long way, you don’t have to give away all your hard-earned secrets to make a difference. Trainers – just do your thing and help prepare the newbies for their successful showing. Suggestions to AKC – reach out to those that have never registered a dog by sending them a package including dog standard, local contacts for kennel clubs, registered mentors, summary of activities to consider (i.e. conforma- tion, obedience, agility, scent work, barn hunt, etc).
© Bergman Photos
judge, though he was kind, suggested handler training. This judge was not the only one that noted my short comings in the ring. Set up next to me was Shelly Juden of Elitist Papillon & Whippets, waiting to show her Papillon. She mentioned that she saw us in the ring and wanted to know if I was looking for handler training. She knew of a very good handler train- er and introduced to Arvilla White of Whitestar Papillons. Arvilla confirmed she does training at her home and only takes on a few students at a time that are committed to learning, willing to spend the time to learn and willing to put in the practice time with their dog. I was asked to call her the following week. It took most of the week to make the call. We worked out a schedule for the initial training session. Arvilla’s training is very straight forward and full of all the insight of her many years of show- ing and raising different dog breeds. Not only has Arvilla trained on what to do in the ring, she has made sure I understand the “code of the ring” including how to dress, responding to various judge instructions, how to be a courteous handler. Every training
session, I learn more and build my con- fidence. This training was so valuable and successful, that after two sessions, Kekey and I completed two back-to- back 3-point majors. During one, I had become confused about when to re- enter the ring and Allan had my back and made sure that I was in the ring when required. Ed and Carol, Wendy, Susan, Allan and Arvilla became my teachers, sup- port team, cheerleaders and most importantly, my friends. I was very for- tunate to establish this solid support team early. Surrounding yourself with a well-balanced support team, including breeder, mentor, professional handler, trainer and friends, will help build your confidence, answer your questions, validate your readiness and celebrate your successes. I have been told over and over that my experience is not the norm for most new participants. It is like the “stars aligned” for me from the breeder hon- oring his commitment to selling Kekey even knowing I most likely would not show, happening upon someone who previously had been a success- ful newbie, gaining a mentor, having a
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SELECTING A JAPANESE CHIN PUPPY by DALE MARTENSON
T he first step to breeding and recognizing the desired qual- ity of Chin is to be familiar with the breed standard. With the first two descriptive words
being “A small” and the multiple ref- erences to fine boned it is clear the desired traits are with the smaller dog. Our desired size in addition to the eight to 11 inches would be five to
seven pounds as an adult, roughly trans- lated that puts a seven pound adult at no more than two and a half pounds at 12 weeks. The 12 week size can be doubled with one additional pound
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“THOSE DARK LUSTROUS EYES SET THE CHIN APART FROM ALL OTHERS.”
Alignment with a reverse scissors bite can be easily checked by touch and visual inspection, if you touch the tongue and the Chin can retract it, there is an acceptable bite. So many times in the ring you will see a judge left to put up a lesser quality Chin after offending the better quality dog with an invasive oral exam. There are many acceptable versions of facial markings with the symmetri- cal hourglass pattern being most desir- able. Eyes should be large and dark, the lustrous or liquid eye gives the bright, inquisitive and intelligent expression the standard calls for. When the eyes are perfectly round and large, there will be a small amount of white show- ing in the inner corners, adding to the look of astonishment. The better heads will have the largest, wide-set eyes from the start to the finish of the maturing process with eyes being larger than the nose as gage to size and quality. Round best describes the shape of the Chin's eyes, top skull and forehead. There are no sharp edges on this soft oriental expression and, personally, I prefer the whiskers left to protect the eyes and add even more detail to the face. How the Chin stands on its front totally dictates the shape and move- ment of a puppy and how it keeps the desired shape. With the elbows tight to the chest, having a full rounded rib- cage, the shoulder placement should allow for the high head carriage of this oriental aristocrat. In my experience, the fine-boned Chin is a bladed bone leading to the lovely hare-shaped foot. If the bone is heavy and round, the toe is usually short. Moving straight, front and rear, the Chin with the most desirable round- ed rib and hare shaped foot will stop at 11'' and 1'' for balance. Often times the inexperienced will fault this. On the rear, angulation is the key, avoid the puppy that is straight in
stifle even if it appears straighter in the hock. A puppy with angles will usually muscle and tighten up ending up with the sounder rear and more extension in movement. So many times the straight rears will appear to knuckle over and even cause the entire croup to be at a slant. The crowning glory of the Chin's outline is the tail. Flowing on the mature dog, it is a direct indicator of the Chin's mood and outlook on the day. I prefer a longer tailbone free of any kinks with good flexibility. The set is high off of the croup and with length to drop below the line of the spine and in a perfect world, on the judges side. Sometimes standing around, the Chin will drop its tail (on lead) in boredom (shame on you for allowing your Chin to be bored!) but on the go it should be carried over the back on either side. The texture of the Chin's coat along with the pattern of longer and shorter hair is equally if not more important than the amount of coat. Straight, single and silky with no undercoat you should be able to part the hair with two fingers to the skin. More profuse and standing out around the neck, shoulders and chest to form the mane or ruff with the longer coat in the rear making culottes or pants. Chin do not have side skirts like a Shih Tzu and the amount and texture of their coat is part of the charm of this low upkeep companion dog. With puppies and intact females, look for the desired pattern of coat and correct texture but only expect full coats on the adult males, primarily in the winter months. This breed is no less ancient than the dogs of Malta and it is up to the integ- rity of the breeders to maintain this centuries old type. Many Chin of the 1800s would still be desirable to show and breed today. This is the heritage we must strive to honor.
for a fine boned dog and two to three pounds for a heavier boned puppy. Well balanced is the key, check the size of the head to the circumference of the ribcage as they should be close to the same. Many of times I have heard “This one had the biggest head.” That could be a statement of quality, if only it were on a small specimen. A 10+ pound Chin with a big head is nothing more than a big dog, there is no stylish, aristocratic movement or presence. When looking at a Chin puppy or adult standing or moving, there should be the appearance of a one piece dog that demonstrates the lively movement in a square package. Next is the expression, the hallmark of the breed and those dark lustrous eyes that set the Chin apart from all others. Where the Pekingese standard calls for “massive” and “bold” features rather than “prettiness, daintiness or delicacy”, Chin are all about everything pretty, dainty and delicate. No ropes, wrinkles or folds obscure the wide eyed open look of the Chin's astonished oriental expression. The amount of cushion should be in propor- tion to the age and gender of the Chin, the Chin is a work in progress that will mature three years before full develop- ment. Too much too soon can be a fair indication of the old adage “early ripe... early rotten.” Nostrils should be open with clear air exchange, dog’s “mouth breathing” when temperatures are not high, could be a sign of concern. In my opinion, any person qualified to evaluate a Chin should be able to easily check the bite without having to subject a Chin to the indignity of a oral exam, unless there is evidence of a wry mouth. The standard makes mention of their sensitivity, with eyes/nose/mouth area easily the size of a human thumb. No dog would like it and to a Chin it is just rude.
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PROBIOTICS FOR YOUR DOG?
by BJ ANDREWS
N o, I’m not kidding. If you want a healthy producer and show dog in tip-top glossy condition, you need to know the importance of live probi- otics which carnivores would naturally get from the intestines and stomach of their prey. Modern day dogs, lacking real probi- otics, often eat dirt, feces, stools, grass or certain plants. If your dog has devel- oped yucky dietary cravings, check your current dog food ingredients and consider changing his diet. What’s the difference between pro- biotics and prebiotics? I knew you’d ask. Probiotics are “good” bacteria that eat up bad bacteria and keep the gut healthy. Prebiotics are non-digest- ible carbohydrates that serve as food for probiotics. Premium pet food brands usually list probiotics. If in doubt, check their web- site to be sure the probiotics are live. Either way, it is perfectly safe for you to provide natural prebiotics. One practi- cal, highly nutritious way is with yogurt and buttermilk which contain both pro- biotics and prebiotics. Most dogs will readily lap these up (real) yogurt and buttermilk because they “know” what’s good for them.
The fermenting process produces the same gut-healthy bacteria. Now you know why people eat fermented foods like sauerkraut, kefir and kimchi. Your dog will reject those sour-tasting foods but he will eat “cultured” yogurt and buttermilk. So why are probiotics important? Once again, when you or your dog con- sume probiotics the intestines turn it into good bacteria that eats up the bad bacteria. Really! The beneficial bacte- ria helps with digestion but they also manufacture nutrients. In both people and pets (1) good bacteria help pro- tect against food-borne pathogens and get this, they can help regulate body weight. Right. In you and your dog. You probably know this but just in case, take note. Probiotics are killed by anti-biotics. They can also be wiped out by other drug therapies, colonics (ene- mas) or even a bad case of diarrhea. It is important to quickly replace them in the diet. Gail kresky cresci, Ph.D, a gastroen- terology researcher at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Division, stresses the impor- tance of prebiotics (called long-chain carbohydrates) as food for good gut bac- teria. In other words, lots of prebiotics equal happy probiotics.
Bananas are an excellent source of prebiotics that dogs seem to naturally like. (1) You may remember the top- winning Bulldog handled by Carroll James? He baited for bananas… Hard on the handler but like any good dog- man, Carroll kept his charge happy in the ring. Dogs will also eat asparagus and gar- lic will do them no harm. Onions are out of favor for dogs but my dog-stew always contained onions. Raw carrots, berries and apples are a great source of prebiotics and I never met a naturally- reared dog that wouldn’t sample them. Bite-size apple pieces are one of my dog’s favorite treats. So are grapes but after the “poison grapes” scare, I do wash them because like most of today’s fruits and vegetables, grapes are over- sprayed with poison and unlike apples, potatoes, oranges, etc. we don’t peel away the protective “skin” on grapes. Can you get probiotics from supple- ments? Well of course you can but be sure they are the real thing. For you or your dog, it’s best to skip the flavored yogurt which usually con- tains high amounts of sugar, which causes inflammation. While there’s no set amount for a dai- ly dose of probiotics for you or your dog, a happy target is at least 1 billion with a “b”. It has been suggested that since your dog has a comparatively shorter digestive tract, the good bacteria may not survive the trip from the stomach to the colon so if you’d rather give a pill than feed the real stuff, it is best to use a time-release capsule.Lastly, I should mention gas, unpleasant in people and a significant risk in large breeds. I’ve cov- ered why big breeds are more prone to bloat—type “TheDogPress bloat gastric torsion” in your search engine. Oh, and for more on bananas, query “TheDog- Place bananas mood food.” Your dog’s gonna thank you!
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VINMARS CALIFORNIA JOURNEY @ ULTRA QUEST grand champion
2 nd IN BREED STANDINGS * *TNT BREED STATS AS OF 4/30/18
THANK YOU PAUL CATTERSON FOR HANDLING THIS SPECIAL LITTLE GUY
BREEDER MARY REDENBACH
OWNER LILA FAST
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THE TOY FOX TERRIER
by SHERYL IRWIN
T he Toy Fox Terrier is an American breed that was developed by dog fanciers in the 1930s. It is said that this was achieved by crossing ‘runt’ Fox Terriers with Toy breeds such as the Miniature Pinscher, Italian Greyhound, and Chihuahua to create a diminutive dog while retaining Terrier gameness, courage and animation.
Relatively new to the AKC, the Toy Fox Terrier was only accepted as Foundation Stock in 2001 and eligible to fully participate in conformation events in 2003. From 2003 to 2017, a mere 14 years, there has been a signifi- cant improvement in the overall qual- ity of the TFT. Limited only by height parameters and not restricted by weight allowed breeders to develop a dog with both strong bone and good substance even in those dogs at the higher end of the breed standard for height. Tall wil- lowy TFTs on spindly legs are seldom seen in the AKC show ring anymore. The Toy Fox Terrier displays his Terrier-like self-possessed and spirited attitude as he enters the show ring with both his head and tail carried erect. His smooth and flowing movement, coupled with good reach and strong drive, shows no hint of a bounce or
hackney gait. A properly moving Toy Fox Terrier literally owns the ground he walks on. He is a well-balanced ath- letic little dog with his grace and agil- ity equaled to his strength and stamina. He’s all about Structure and Movement! While the TFT is a natural ‘show off’ and enjoys strutting his stuff in the show ring he does not necessarily like the table and that should be understood by the judge. The first step in making this a positive experience for both the dog and the judge is to give the dogs some space. In an effort to avoid the dog being crowded and stepping back from the judge the exhibitor can set the dog slightly further back on the table leaving plenty of room for the judge to approach and conduct the exami- nation. Many exhibitors train their show dogs to move into different posi- tions by using a ‘crowding their space’
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