Patsy Wood – The Grand Dame of Montgomery County
by Geoff Browne
Anyone who knows Sealyham Terriers and Dandie Dinmonts knows the name Patsy Wood. Beyond her fame in these breeds, she holds one more distinction. Patsy is the oldest member of the Montgomery County Kennel Club.
At 92 years young, she attended her first Montgomery in 1929 at the tender age of 9. Patsy said, “I showed a Sealyham Terrier for Russell Johnson who was the President of the Montgomery County Kennel Club. The show was held at the Fortside in Fort Washington, PA.”
Patsy began showing her own Sealys and Dandies in the early 1960s and she has been a member of Montgomery County Kennel Club since 1971. She has watched as Montgomery evolved over the years. She says, “They are trying to hold on to the show being held at an outside venue in Montgomery County, PA. The catered luncheon and open bar with the silver and crystal are no longer part of the show. Before the days of being held at the Temple show site, it was held at the Frazier Estate, where they were a very personal host. Exhibitors would receive a silver memento for attending. There were no RVs, only big station wagons. All the dogs would go home to kennels at the end of the day. There were old big kennels such as Pool Forge, Barberry Knowe, Lickin Run to name a few. The attendees were mostly from the east coast with a few from the west coast. You do not see the large kennels of the old time breeders as the dog world has changed. It was very much known as a Breeders event in the day.
Patsy Wood has enjoyed numerous successes with her breeding program at Montgomery as well as internationally. Patsy has bred or owned over 45 Sealy champions and 5 Dandie champions. Her favorite Sealy that she has bred is Am/Eng Ch Penllyn Proper Bloke II. “Eddie” was Winners Dog at Montgomery. He went on to become the first American bred Sealyham to finish in England. Her most memorable moment at Montgomery occurred in 1971 with her first Best of Breed win with her foundation bitch, Ch Ramona of Surgen Pride at the old Penllyn Polo Club site. Patsy’s favorite Sealy that she did not own was the famous Ch. Dersade’s Bobbys Girl, “Binny” who ironically never went Best in Show at Montgomery County. Patsy’s dog, Ch Penllyn Permanent Press sired the Montgomery Best in Show winning Sealy bitch, Ch Goodspice Tarragon.
Patsy commended on how Dr. Josephine Deubler was so sensitive to detail and trying to make everyone happy who was a part of Montgomery County Kennel Club. Patsy attributes the modern day success of Montgomery to the hard work of Dr. Deubler and reflects, “To me it is the greatest place for Terriers to be seen”.
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