The year is 1947. A loving husband gives his wife a silver blue Afghan Hound for their 25th silver anniversary. Thus begins the extremely successful tale of the Crown Crest Afghan Hounds under the guidance of the lady receiving the gift, the fabulous Kay Finch.
I want to “Look Back” to a close friend that we lost a few years ago whose level of participation had been limited for a number of years before his passing. Many will have memories of R. Stephen Shaw. Many of those memories will be decidedly different and I can say that does not surprise me for one second.
Over the past 20 years our knowledge of the canine species has exceeded all of the cumulative information amassed in the previous two centuries. Researchers have improved tools and protocols, along with far more efficient ways to glean significant facts from the resultant mountain of data.
His skeleton was mounted by his last owner, Luke Turner, a dedicated Fox Terrier breeder who wanted to ensure that future Fox Terrier breeders understood the proportion and symmetry that Belgrave Joe transmitted to the breed.
Averell Harriman faced many tests and triumphs during his long, varied career. Surprisingly, he considered a 1936 retriever field trial one of his most challenging ordeals. At AKC’s request, it was held at his posh Sands Point estate on Long Island’s gold coast. The Great Gatsby perfectly portrayed its aristocratic cachet during that era. The trial was organized by Harriman’s brother-in-law, Charley Lawrence, and his friends Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Field, which indicates the exclusive nature of the 1930s retriever world.
Although the modern media does its best to distort the fact, purebred dogs stem from a long tradition of the form follows function concept. And that concept had ironclad credibility by 1492 when legions of them began landing on these shores to reunite members of a species that had gone separate ways at least 15,000 years earlier. Like every other aspect of this invasion, European breeds came out on top. However, in many cases, it wasn’t exactly a conquest.
In the dog show world, we can all recall many mistakes of our own, and of others. Luckily, only a few on live television (bloopers). We are fortunate that we are not running for high office and many of our personal “oops” moments are secreted in our memory. The other more visible ones still cause amusement, ridicule, or shock in our small doggy world. It does, however, give me the opportunity to recite just a few of the minor “oops” of which I have heard about, witnessed, or been involved.
AKC policymaking has always been a mysterious process. The decisions emanating from that boardroom often stray far outside the boundaries of the organization’s official stance.
Quite a few breeders have the resources to buy the best and do things on a grand scale. That approach typically ensures instant recognition and transitory success, but rarely translates into a lasting contribution. That requires an element that money can’t buy, an uncompromising focus on quality. Barbara Fallass and her daughter Susan Mason made historic contributions to the development of Smooth Fox Terriers, Greyhounds, and Welsh Pembroke Corgis.
Therefore, it’s amazing to realize the AKC’s first skirmish on this front was quick and clear. Of course that was way, way back in 1924, and AKC had a unique advantage that time around. Its president, John Emmons de Mund M.D., had already been around the block with AKC and lawsuits.
