I have been actively handling dogs for 16 years, and for the last 3½ months I, amongst others, have not been able to work at or do what we love. Due to the fear of the CoVid-19, a lot of shows have been canceled or rescheduled for future dates which has caused so many in our sport significant hardship.
It’s believed Danish and Norwegian Vikings who organized marauding expeditions to the British Islands from the 8th till the 11th century took Mastiff-like dogs home with them to Scandinavia, as stolen goods. A dog skeleton found by archaeologists in an old Viking village on the Island of Fyn had the form and shape of the Broholmer dog of today. Because local dogs in that time were far smaller and of a Spitz type, the theory about the ‘Viking dogs’ is considered correct. Additional proof is the so-called ‘Dalbo dog’, also a Mastiff type. This type of dog lived in Sweden until the end of the 19th century – another reason the Broholmer is considered a distant descendant of the dogs the Vikings took home with them ages ago.
It’s 30 years and counting since a breeder/owner/handler worked that magic. According to Westminster spokesman David Frei… “Will it ever happen again? I believe it will …” We’ll find out on February 17th. See you there!
One thing I can say for this dog, he has good taste, wandering onto the grounds of the presidential palace where the guards immediately befriended him. That didn’t last long. He soon caught the attention of Brazil’s president, who is none too popular these days.
By Deborah Wood It’s the most famous story in the history of dog shows. It was Westminster in 1969. New York was in the grip of a horrific snowstorm. The streets had grown icy as the weather had gotten colder. Walter Goodman was stepping carefully through the ice and snow outside the brand new Madison […]
“A judge new to any breed is unable to recognize that the current winners may be of a far different type than those of another era. . . . Frequently today we hear exhibitors and judges say a certain dog is the greatest living example of that breed. Unfortunately, this dog may be very showy and sound but is not, in reality, the true type of this breed as were the winners of 20 or 30 years ago.
Many breeds today have lost their true type. . . We must realize that true type is the quintessence of any breed. A healthy farm dog trotting down a country lane has all the attributes that are found in most standards of most breeds – all it lacks is type!”
Here’s how pets can help if you’re WFH or heading back to an office. Companion animals are wonderful stress-buffers. And with millions of Americans working from home during COVID-19, it’s well-documented that pets are helpful under times of stress reports the American Heart Association. June is the perfect time to think about the psychological benefits […]
Once upon a time in the Northeast, there was a group of dog show ladies, the best of friends, who happened to call themselves the “ANJELS”. No, they were not like Charlie’s Angels, not so young or tall and certainly not crime fighters! They were all very involved in the dog world, mostly as judges or wives of judges.
The group (in ANJELS order) was comprised of Angela Popura, the “A”, Natalie Stebbins, the “N”, Jean Fournier, the “J”, Estelle Cohen, the “E”, I was the “L” and Sheila Balch was the “S”!
I am so proud of the those in the sport of purebred dogs! The hard work, adaptability, and respect for fellow exhibitors demonstrated over the past several days is heartwarming! I am beyond excited to be writing to you this week about the first shows that occurred this past weekend and into the first part of this […]
