Recently, I was asked to pay a kennel visit and review a litter of puppies of a rare – and newly recognized – breed. Then again, this story began in 2016, when this breeder-owner-handler walked into my ring during an Open Show for Foundation Stock and Miscellaneous breeds.
Dalmatians debuted there in 1931. This historic assignment was judged by Dr. T.D. Buck and he was consistent, choosing Tally Ho Teetotaler as Reserve Winners Dog, and Tally Ho Sonia and Tally Ho Nitwit respectively Winners Bitch and Reserve. His BOB decision was the day’s surprise, ten-year-old Ch. Tally Ho Last of Sunstar.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines “stream of thought” as a literary style in which a character’s thoughts, feelings and reactions are depicted in a continuous flow uninterrupted by objective description or conventional dialogue. This is what happens to your brain after several hours of sitting in a duck or goose blind. Actually, it starts before you even crawl into that blind, or at least it does for me mainly because my competence level at 0400 hours is somewhere south of complete ineptitude. And, if I should happen to mutter any of those uninterrupted continuous flow thoughts aloud, even the dog looks at me like I’m more than a full bubble off plumb.
The flashy red Min Pin Ch. Rebel Roc’s Casanova V Kurt didn’t need imposing size or glamorous coat to make his mark in group and BIS competition.
Shows are starting up again, hallelujah. Entries of more than 3,500 at the recent Canfield shows puts an end to speculation about the end of our world.
Recently I encountered the most beautiful Pointer bitch when going for my usual morning beachside walk. She greeted me in a typically enthusiastic style, placing two sandy paws on my chest, and giving me a wet lick across the face. Her red-faced owner came rushing up and offered her profuse apologies.
My desktop, iPad, and phone are ready…I wiggle my fingers, loosening them for the upcoming challenge…the seconds tick down…I wipe the sweat from my brow, take a deep breath…5…4…3…2…1…Click!
Wayne Ferguson, President of the Kennel Club of Philadelphia has been busy working with County Health Officials and NBC Universal to work out the necessary details to hold their 2020 Dog Show on the regularly scheduled date of Saturday, November 14th (the Philadelphia Kennel Club normally holds a second show on the following Sunday).
We are happy to announce that another cluster of shows will precede the Hunt Country Cluster in Doswell, VA on 10/28-11/1, 2020.
Competition comes in many forms and on different levels, and while not everyone is looking to compete at the highest level, I believe it is important to find some level of competition in conformation–or in the companion or performance events–for everyone that wishes to participate in the sport of purebred dogs. Competition on any level is healthy; it gives our training purpose and structure, and leads to positive results.
