Leash and Collar

By Amy Fernandez

It’s often said that the sport has completely changed in recent decades, which is generally a preamble to a litany of things gone wrong. Well…maybe not so much. Old dog magazines are a treasure trove of information–and not just for historical documentation.  The editorial commentary is also remarkably unchained from any fears of libel or slander. And the long-forgotten publication Leash and Collar lived up to its motto as “The Magazine By, And, and For the Dog Fancy.”

Mainly, that seemed to be an uninhibited approach to sharing scandal and insinuation. So, to the point. The opening editorial from the December 1951 issue featured a recap of the recent Glendale Kennel Club show. The tone of the review was clear from the first sentence, which described it as the “Biannual orgy of monotheism at the Glendale City Auditorium.”  That’s enough to spark any reader’s imagination, but there was no need for that. The opening paragraph got right down to it with a gut punch to the BIS winner, Joseph Urmston’s new dog, Ch. Kearnach Faltha, under judge Forrest Hall. A sideways remark about the dog’s questionable quality was followed up with this gem, “It will be remembered that Mr. Hall sold Mr. Urmston the Scottish Terrier Wyrebury Wayfarer last year for the reported sum of $3000. By the way, whatever happened to Wyerbury Wayfarer?”

While readers contemplated that alarming tidbit, it launched straight into bigger and blacker news. Back in those days, Bea and Major Godsol were prominent supporters of that club, “and in the absence of Mr. Godsol, the Glendale Kennel Club slipped a cog or two.” That’s because, according to Leash and Collar, everyone continually nipped off to a back room to get smashed. “The judging schedule was completely upset. Three judges failed to show up for their assignments.” Boxers accounted for some massive entries in those days and this show was no exception. Unfortunately, that judge was also MIA. By the time they rounded up a substitute, Mr. Bob Troxel, it was almost 5 PM. “Best of Breed was awarded to Mrs. Breed’s B.Locket.  This was, if we are not mistaken, Mr. T’s fourth Boxer assignment this year and we believe, also, his ex-client’s fourth win under him.”   While it’s impossible to comment on that blatant implication, it must be said that Miriam Breed was a very influential AKC supporter of Boxers when the breed really needed help.

The show review then moved on to Non-Sporting where apparently, “The Keeshonden war continues. Hide and Seek is a game no longer confined to juveniles. On the rare occasions when two well-known exhibitors meet, it is greater entertainment to watch the owners than the judging.”

Based on this report, every group was rife with double dealing, incompetence, glaring conflict of interest, and apparently, no worthy winners throughout the event. No one was spared–exhibitors, handlers, judges, committee members and dogs were all put to the sword. It’s not a far cry from much of the criticism leveled at shows today–from those outside and inside the sport.  Yet, by some miracle, great dogs somehow emerge from the fray on a very consistent basis.  Just something to think about…

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Posted by Liz on Dec 22 2023. 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.