Ch. Tejano Texas Kid Puts Chihuahuas On The Map

Ch. Tejano Texas Kid handled by Clara Alford

By Amy Fernandez

Many breeds surmount the hurdles of AKC recognition only to become non-entities in their respective groups. Very often, they languish in this limbo until one particular dog comes along with the star power to break through this glass ceiling. Almost overnight, fanciers discover its competitive potential and group judges begin giving it long overdue consideration. Chihuahuas endured a particularly long sentence. The breed entered the Toy Group in 1903.

In 1938, Ida Garrett, the Chihuahua breed columnist for the AKC Gazette, voiced her frustration with this situation noting, “In Toys we stand third from the top in registrations,” and contrasting this with lackluster Chihuahua entries at shows. She admonished breeders for showing infrequently and rarely staying to compete in group when they did. Their discouragement was understandable. Despite the breed’s tremendous popularity as pets, Chihuahuas really didn’t catch on as show dogs until the 1950s. Although worthy competitors appeared on the scene, for decades Chihuahuas were left banging on the door in the group ring.

That change finally arrived in the form of Ch. Tejano Texas Kid. The Kid wasn’t the first Chihuahua to score Best in Show wins. But there is no question that he made the breed a serious group contender with a show career fueled by 50 years of pent-up Chihuahua energy.

A fawn smooth coat bred and owned by Myrle Roberts, he was whelped May 24, 1953 at her Tejano Kennel in San Antonio. He started as a promising puppy, but his early show career certainly didn’t qualify as spectacular. After winning the puppy class at the San Antonio specialty that year, he was turned over to Captain A.C. Berry and his wife. They campaigned The Kid for several months until he was appointed to replace Major Bryant Godsol as AKC’s second West Coast field rep. Berry covered all shows in the West and Southwest until 1968.

At that point, The Kid’s show career was put into hands of the indomitable Clara Alford. A longtime professional handler based in Oklahoma, Alford not only specialized in Toy breeds, she had a personal stake in this one. Sired by Ch. Tejano Texas, The Kid was out of Alford’s Little Tan Theresa. This proved to be one of those unbeatable dog/handler teams that transcends all expectations.

Clara Alford pictured with Judge Maxwell Riddle

Alford showed him to BOS at the 1954 Chihuahua Specialty in Houston. From there, she campaigned him throughout the country for the next two years. Shown 110 times, he was defeated in variety competition only twice. But that wasn’t the most remarkable part. His 108 trips to the Toy Group resulted in 102 placements, a win percentage rarely managed by the most competitive specials. Even more impressive, exactly half of these were Group First wins. Along with 51 Groups, The Kid’s record included 15 All Breed Best in Shows and five specialties including back to back National Specialties under Mrs. Sherman Hoyt in 1954 and Mr. Maxwell Riddle in 1955.

In 1957 he retired to an equally successful stud career. His show record remained unchallenged until it was surpassed by Ch. Jo –El’s Drummer Boy exactly 30 years later.

Ch. Chik T’Sun of Caversham

That year, Alford began handling the English import Peke, Ch. Chik T’Sun of Caversham exclusively. Her accomplishments with The Kid proved to be just a warm-up for this brilliant campaign. The top dog all breeds from 1957-59, he took the Group at the Garden three years consecutively, and retired after going Best there in 1960. His record of 126 Best in Shows wasn’t topped until 1984.

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Posted by admin on Jul 27 2013. Filed under Current Articles, Dog Show History, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.