The following announcement appeared in the catalog of the 1926 Crufts Dog Show: ‘Blenheim Spaniels of the Old Type, as shown in pictures of Charles II’s time, long face, no stop, flat skull not inclined to be domed, with a spot in the center of the skull. The first prizes in classes 947 and 948 are given by Roswell Eldridge Esq. of New York and will be continued for five years. Prizes go to the nearest to type required.’
Anyone delving into the rather murky history of the Bullmastiff will frequently encounter lines like this: ‘The original Mastiff of Britain is one of the country’s oldest breeds, but its descendant, the Bullmastiff, is a comparatively recent development.’
The many types of interaction and collective behavior within any fraternity of individuals is always an interesting subject to discuss and what goes on among participants in the sport of purebred dogs is surely no exception.
Aennchen Antonelli, Anne Pendelton, Michael Woff, Joanne Hesse, Richard Donovan, it was quite the cast of characters in this Maltese dramarama. The fallout eventually led to the formation of two national clubs–which AKC approved of at the time. And things just escalated from there. But getting back to our story. Less than a decade into it nothing revealed Rena’s single- minded determination more than her remarkable ability to forge unlikely alliances in pursuit of bigger goals. Storming this Maltese citadel could be called her test of fire be- cause that’s when she really hit her stride.
Shortly after I had settled into my aisle seat on the flight from Atlanta to Portland, this fortyish man in a rather rumpled tweedy suit stopped and informed me that he had the window seat. I got up and let him in. Almost immediately he told me that he had spent several days in Atlanta and was now enroute to Oregon to attend another conference there. Then he asked if I was on my way home to Portland.
On occasion it seems useful and salutary to reflect upon the state of our sport as it relates to how we act in relation to one another, how we go about the business of practicing respect, how we view the central role of sportsmanship in all of the various activities which we undertake. What beneficial effect this might have is anyone’s guess but one never quite knows, especially among newer comers into our midst. And perhaps even some old-timers might welcome a cognitive refresher in this area.
Purebred is a tricky term. I mean even AKC gets it wrong once in awhile; yeah they do. We all want accuracy but on the other hand, it’s that genetic ebb and flow that keeps breeds vibrant and evolving. The true beauty of our purebred infrastructure is that long after the forces responsible for shaping type have disappeared, that ideal remains reliably anchored to key traits. And let’s face it; most breeds eventually outlive their original function. Repositioning them in today’s canine landscape is an ongoing challenge.
It’s David Letterman’s fault. On September 18, 1985, he launched a new trend that never quit: the infernal Top Ten List. The very first was: “Top Ten Things that Almost Rhyme with Peas” and it catapulted an infinite string of Silly Top Ten Lists into the stratosphere. To be clear, I’m not talking about verified data-derived lists such as top-winning dog lists; I look forward to, enjoy, and trust those lists because they are real. I’m talking about gems like “Top Ten Signs Your Kid Had a Bad First Day at School” and “Top Ten Rejected James Bond Gadgets.”
