After Kaz: Sage And Roxanne Wolf

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84 – The Annual, 2025-26

By Sarah Montague

Kaz Hosaka’s sad and untimely death in June of 2024 left behind two significant figures in his life: Roxanne Wolf, his partner/wife of nearly 30 years, and his last champion, Miniature Poodle GCHG Surrey Sage. Anyone who was at the show, or watching on television, remembers the moment of their win, announced by BIS judge Rosalind Kramer–Hosaka on his knees, bowed over with emotion, with his face buried in Sage’s coat. It wasn’t showmanship, it was love.

Their joint triumph at the Westminster Kennel Club in 2024 crowned Hosaka’s 50-year career as a handler. He began showing in Japan but was able to establish a career in the States with the help of Anne and James Clark. Anne and Kaz were the breeders of Hosaka’s first Westminster champion in 2002, Ch. Surrey Spice Girl.

Poodles also brought Wolf and Hosaka together.

She recalls, “I was learning disabled, and my mother got a Standard Poodle; and I started showing in obedience when I was 12, to keep me focused.”

From that point on, Standards remained a part of Wolf’s life. And as an adult, she had dogs showing in conformation. This, of course, put her in Hosaka’s orbit but, as in many a romantic comedy, her initial impression was not favorable:

Click here to read the complete article
84 – The Annual, 2025-26

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Posted by AnthonyA on Dec 25 2025. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.