From the March 2021 Canine Chronicle Archives 

By Lee Canalizo

During the ‘70s there was a whole new wave of young judges trying to find their way in the dog show world. We all studied standards, watched the AKC breed videos (remember them?), went to Nationals, Specialties, and were focused on hitting seminars/symposiums everywhere we could! It seems, looking back then, there was a judges workshop around every corner!

I headed up one for the Long Island crowd and knew firsthand how difficult it was to coordinate getting quality presenters and a suitable attendance. One of the very best of these judges groups was the Tri-State group started and maintained by Eleanor (Ellie) Rotman. Now Ellie was not a shrinking violet, and I’m still mystified about how she did it…but she brought in the best of the best for her presentations.

She was a physiologist by profession, working with children, predominantly in a school setting. She had a big outgoing personality and wonderful good looks to go with it. She was also exuberant and energetic to boot! Her charm secured some of the areas preeminent breeders, together with their dogs, for our programs. It was not an easy task to get them mid-week somewhere in the middle of New Jersey. It was always a late night with endless questions and much knowledge shared.

Ellie started her career in dogs with obedience, with her first Poodles. This led to her applying for her obedience approval. She enjoyed judging obedience for many years before branching out to the conformation ring. She was a very popular judge due to her sunny disposition and her friendly manor with dogs and exhibitors alike. One of her efforts was forming the Non-Sporting Group of the Garden State association, which was one of the first group clubs and is still active today. I know she did all Toys and all Non-Sporting and was one of my favorite traveling companions to the many shows we judged together.

Ellie was married to Bert and they had one son, Scott, who was the light of their lives. She and her husband loved playing golf and one of the highlights of her judging career was being invited to judge the prestigious Windsor Kennel Club Show in England. Being in the British Isles was, of course, a wonderful opportunity to hop over to Scotland and play golf on the fabled St. Andrews Course. She didn’t break any records, but it was a dream come true for a dedicated golfer.

A close friend of Ellie was Desi Murphy and he sends me what he wants everyone to know about our dear friend:

“There are so many wonderful memories of Ellie. In all the years of showing to her I do not remember the wins or loses, just the fun of showing to her. She had a way of making everyone who entered her ring that they were at a Garden Party! She made the novice feel they were on a par with the old pros. She would not allow anybody not to enjoy the time in her ring. Even the spectators outside her ring were drawn into party mode. She had a way of making a starting novice feel they were an important part of the show.”

Most people never saw a very serious side of Ellie. Because of her profession… click to read more 

By Lee Canalizo

It may still be winter here as I write this…but Spring-like weather will be just around the corner, at least here in Florida, when you are reading this month’s little ditty. And to me, spring means everything bursting out in color…lots of color! And if you’re in dogs and are thinking about those most colorful characters, the legendary Dorothy Nickles comes to mind first!

On paper, one might be surprised Dorothy would be our poster child for all things bright and beautiful. Many would fondly say she was more of a pin-up girl than a poster child; she had that obsequious innocence that cast off a hint of sultriness and sex appeal. She was born in 1910 as one of seven siblings. Her upbringing was rooted in the heart of Texas and she was a perpetual student who went on to be a lifelong educator in many areas yet still managed to find time for sports. Her slight frame didn’t keep her from playing on a women’s basketball team, or taking up roller skating as a professional. Are you getting the feeling that Dorothy might be able to do whatever she put her mind to?

Forget that she was almost always known as “MISS” Dorothy Nickles. She happened to have a long marriage to Mr. Charles Wehrung, who we can all thank for her introduction to the sport from his ownership of a purebred Boxer. Dorothy would add Poodles at some point and found interest in both conformation and obedience, having titled a few in both areas.

Was she a high volume breeder of generations of champions? No she was not. Was she a high level competitor with countless Best in Shows? No she was not. Was she one of the greatest judges that legions of fanciers sought out at every opportunity? YES SHE WAS!!!

How can that be, one might ask. I didn’t have an answer to that until she began to judge Hounds and I had a chance meeting with her. We developed an ongoing relationship on a personal level. Our paths crossed at shows in Houston back in the day when Afghan Hounds had triple-digit entries at almost every major event. (30 to 40 were needed just to make a 3-point major at one time… it took 90 for 5 points at the breed’s peak. It’s hard to imagine that now… but I digress.) I was judging a Specialty with Tom Stevenson and was able to sit through all the bitches and Specials with Dorothy. This was long before mentoring was a “requirement” and Miss Nickles put her educational expertise in gear and spent hours asking, questioning, and sharing what she knew and what she would need to know in preparation for applying for the breed. She had seen some of my breeds great ones and it was clear she had their image in her head. That’s easy to say and much harder to apply. It didn’t take long for me (and the rest of the Afghan Hound fancy) to figure out she mastered the breed. She had a very dramatic manner in her examination of a breed. Her fingers would just barely tap or touch the parts needed and not much more…unless there was something she wanted to be sure you realized she was aware of…ever so fleeting but oh could that last flick of the finger poke a hole right through a dog if she wanted to make a point. Did I mention that most of her fingers were bedazzled with jewels that any man, woman or child would kill for? Even her glasses had little works of art on them…I did say she was “colorful” in case you forgot.

Dorothy so loved the dogs and the people. She was unabashed about finding a novice with a good dog and give them the moment they deserved, something often overlooked by others.

I was with Michael when he started to judge and she sought him out to share some of her words of wisdom with him. It went something like this:

If you want to be a good judge, you must never judge with your hands in your pockets! Always be doing something with them…be nice to everyone…make sure you look past those rich and famous dogs to be sure there isn’t one better, you might be surprised! And her closing words were, “ALWAYS go to the judge’s dinners. The clubs like to see those they pay to come, and Honey pretty soon you’ll know Show Chairman’s names like you know dogs in your pedigrees!!! Once you get past the humor in her words, I have to admit she had it spot on. If she ever judged for a club, they received a handwritten note. If you ever sent her a photo, you received a handwritten note. If you were sick, you received a handwritten note. Those notes were special, and you knew she was sincere.

Dorothy shared her talent throughout the world. She traveled the world over much to the delight of exhibitors who marveled at her flamboyant elegance and charm. I got to know her sister, Lucy, during some of her travels with her and she forged some very close bonds with a few gentlemen that she considered her kids. Irv McQuerry and Steve Keating were never far from her in every way, shape or form.

Miss Nickles made it into her 99th year and still could radiate more brilliance with one diamond encrusted pinky finger than many half her age! I loved when she would grab the arm of a high-level AKC Official brandishing a huge rosette and make him walk around the BIS ring with them on her arm in defiance of all things “politically correct” to the point where one could see the “color” rising in their cheeks from the overt display of her parade.

When they say “the One and Only Miss Dorothy Nickles”, no truer words were ever spoken!

To Read The Complete Article Click Here

EDITOR’S NOTE:  Dr. Quentin LaHam was a noted teacher and lecturer in the field of canine structure, movement and function. He and his wife, Betsy, were very popular judges of multiple groups in the ‘80s and ‘90s. He wrote numerous articles for The Canine Chronicle regarding the state of the industry. We thought we would share this one with you. This article may be more poignant today than it was when he wrote it.

Preface

It has been my experience over more than forty years of presenting seminars and clinics on canine anatomy and movement, meeting breeders and exhibitors, and judging dogs that most of us involved in the sport conscientiously strive to improve our chosen breeds, exhibit them well and judge them to the best of our ability. It is little wonder then that all of the participants are eager for information that gives them a more subtle and complete understanding of their animals.

During and after my seminars and clinics many have expressed to me how difficult, even frustrating, it has been trying to obtain the education they desire. While this is a most unfortunate fact, I think the reasons for it are not difficult to understand.

It is my opinion that our inability to acquire more knowledge is directly related to the burgeoning of our sport. One only has to look at the number of purebred dogs registered with the American Kennel Club at the end of World War II to the present to see how many times these numbers have doubled and redoubled from 296,978 in 1945 to 1,422,559 in 1993. The same is true for the number of shows and trials. In 1946 there were 254 Shows and 46 Independent Obedience Trials and 168 Field Trials. Where dog show entries were numbered in the few hundreds, now they commonly number in the thousands; where there were a few well-established kennels in breeds, now there are hundreds of less experienced breeders active in most breeds. You cannot increase the number of dog events unless you have persons to exhibit and to judge them. Thus, we went very rapidly from a limited number of truly professional breeders, handlers and more experienced judges to a much larger number of them. The result is not unlike what happens in the military when one compares the number of officers and non-commissioned officers needed in peace time with what happens in a state of war. Thus, it follows that some of our handlers and judges have a more limited background than may be considered ideal and have to learn under fire instead of in training exercises. A sad commentary is that the American Kennel Club finally had to act to force many clubs to offer Sanctioned Matches and to show proof of providing some form of education to its membership and/or the general public. Were that it could do more as too many clubs have taken too lightly their responsibility to educate their members. Fortunately, others continually offer educational programs and seminars.

Lest I be accused of over-generalizing, let it be clear that some with lesser experience have proven to be good breeders, judges and handlers despite their shorter time and experience due to their innate ability, but it is a rare gift.

As a result of some of what has been stated above, we have witnessed the rapid demise of the benched shows much to the pleasure of most current exhibitors and as a practical necessity for most show giving clubs. Today, there are only a handful left in the United States and almost none in Canada. Although it may be necessary, it is to some of us an unfortunate necessity for the benching days were school days. As we had no other choice, we talked to one another; visiting other benches learning about other breeds, breeding programs, successes and failures, attributes and problems from outstanding breeders and handlers. Today it is like saying since we are so overwhelmed with pupils that rather than building more schools, we’ll progressively close the ones we have! I can say, with nostalgia, that there were days when I would have given almost anything not to be benched but by the same token, I remember with a warm glow, like a fine cognac, some of the great conversations and friendships established in those dear old golden school days.

As lifestyles have changed so too has the role of dogs in our lives. Man’s best friend, to most of us, is a loyal companion who gives us so much love, devotion, joy, protection and finally heartbreak when an all too short life comes to an end. No longer do many of our Herding dogs herd, our Nordic breeds go in harness, our Terriers go to ground, our Sporting dogs and Hounds give chase, flush, point and retrieve, nor do our Bulldogs bait, our Poodles retrieve, on goes the list.

Happily, since I started writing this book, there has been a revival of interest among breeders to determine whether their dogs have retained their basic instincts and desire to work. We are seeing an increasing number of working trials of all types taking place in conjunction with Specialty Shows or as independent events and they are rightfully receiving the enthusiastic support of the governing bodies. May they continue to flourish for they are a welcome beacon upon a scene which has been dominated for too many decades by many only interested in the external appearance of their dogs rather than with the underlying structure and character so necessary for utility and purpose.

From our dog’s wolf ancestry, down through the ages, mankind has intervened to develop the many breeds and breed types within breeds. That intervention assures that dog evolution continues at a far more rapid rate than would ever occur in nature where genetic change is always a very slow process.

Since we choose to play God it behooves us to learn all we possibly can, not just about our breed, but about all dogs and it is time we start questioning what we hear and take a critical view of what we read. There are too many misconceptions rampant in our sport and there is too much misinformation disseminated, albeit often innocently.

So, I beg of you, starting with this book adopt the attitude of the “Show Me State” and to everything you are told and to everything you read say – Show Me or Prove It.

In the final analysis the truth can come only from the dogs themselves so let us pose our questions to them, then watch and observe what they do and how they do it – only then will we find the correct answers.

]]> https://caninechronicle.com/current-articles/from-the-cc-vault-the-anatomy-of-movement/feed/ 0 https://caninechronicle.com/current-articles/looking-back-with-lee-remembering-the-top-dogs-of-the-past/ https://caninechronicle.com/current-articles/looking-back-with-lee-remembering-the-top-dogs-of-the-past/#comments Fri, 28 Jan 2022 12:54:13 +0000 Alex http://caninechronicle.com/?p=46303 Click here to read the full article in our digital edition.

From the archives of The Canine Chronicle, April, 2014

By Lee Canalizo

I may not be out in the trenches every week like I used to be, but I still know everything that is happening in our little world. Sorry, not going to chat about anything gossipy or titillating… that’s not what I care about. What brings a smile to my face is when I look at today’s top dogs vying for their little piece of history.

I think there is a larger percentage of the top dogs being shown now that have a closer relationship with their respective breeders and owners than in the recent past. And if they are not directly owned by/or with a breeder, the principle owner has achieved a firm position within the sport over the years.

It has to be noted that while a few of these high rollers are not in ownership with their breeder, they are under the guidance of professionals that have a long association with the breed. Sometimes that relationship has forged an understanding of the breed that comes as close as having their names on the actual registration papers. The days of major breeding kennels are long gone. Back in the day when a prominent enthusiast housed a kennel with 50 to 100 dogs, they would also have a kennel manager to oversee every aspect of that operation. That included the breeding decisions. It was more than part of the job description… they had a vested interest in the success of what was produced. Their winning depended on it. Those seasoned professionals also had the luxury of knowing the backgrounds of their stock and could always plan for future stars as the years went on. They also didn’t have to shop for a “sponsor” or “backer” in those days…there wasn’t a “Team So and So”… there was an association and assumption that came with the job. There was always a fierce sense of loyalty between those stockmen and their bosses.

I see red every time I hear about a handler who veers from their commitment to some of these generous patrons. But I’m not going into someone else’s business decisions because there will always be conflicting accounts of what really happened. However, when a (up-and-coming) handler with his first top dog hits a wall with an “owner” late in the last quarter of the show season, and makes the decision not to see the dog to the end of the year at the behest of the breeder and owner who leased the dog out, that decision did not sit well with the outside observers within the breed. Trust me, I heard very few of those sorts of situations back a few years… it wasn’t always just about money.

Of course, the sport benefited when an established patron was active. The ilk of a Mrs. Cheever Porter, Mrs. Jane Firestone or Mr. Sam Lawrence made great positive contributions to the breeds they had a close affinity toward. (Another article on them may be in the offing) They also had longstanding and often personal relationships with the handlers they chose to exhibit their dogs. To those naysayer’s that take issue with those who “campaign” a dog to these lofty levels, remember every one of those dogs has a great breeder involved in their success. If it weren’t for those clever breeders who knew what they were doing, some of these wonderful examples of the breed would never have shown the fancy much of the best that breed has to offer. When my son Michael had the Number One Dog of All Breeds, I would hear lots of bitching when he would pop up somewhere. It was another top breeder who chided those critics with this astute comment, “ be thankful he’s showing dogs of such correct type… imagine how much trouble we’d be in if they bred ugly, incorrect dogs!” He went on to mention that judges in all parts of the country were at least recognizing dogs in other areas that shared a desirable make and shape to that of some of the top winning dogs he exhibited. And there were many entry-level exhibitors across the nation that had a great thrill to do a “meet-and-greet” with the “Big Winner” in their neck of the woods!

Back to the current cast of stars… At least two of the highest-ranked dogs are breeder/owner/handled and/or owner/handled, two more are shown by professional handlers with an established relationship with the respective breeder. Most of the balance are being shown by professional handlers that have had great success in the same breed in previous years. All of which makes for opportunities to see breeds shown to perfection and within accordance of their breed standard(s). This is important because we know whenever a top dog is being shown, many will breed to him or buy from that line. This has an impact on a breed. When a breeder is so closely involved in the showing of a breed, it sets the bar a bit higher not only for those in direct competition in the ring but also with regard to presentation, conditioning and grooming. It shows those on the sidelines how the breed should be presented correctly. And many of those lining the rings for a glimpse of the great ones are judges, owners and future judges of these breeds. Those first impressions are lasting ones. I can name many dogs that at first sight left an indelible mark in my mind; and to this day I use them as a template when assessing another of that breed. As you can tell, there is more to these top dogs than just collecting awards, these dogs contributed to the breed and to the sport.

I will wager that a few of you got your first Bulldog after seeing “Fearnaught” or your first English Setter after being at a show where “Rock Falls Colonel” was first seen.

If you own either of those breeds and those names don’t ring a bell…you’re either much younger than me or need to google their names and see what all the excitement was about!

Click here to read the complete article

text and illustrations by Ria Hörter

Melting Pot

For many ages, the country of Hungary, situated in the heart of Europe, was the melting pot of Huns, Slavs, Teutons and Turks who lived together in this part of central Europe. During the so-called Great Migration – between the fourth and the sixth centuries – different types of dogs arrived on the Great Hungarian Plain of the Carpathian Mountains. The majority were sheepdogs kept by herdsmen who travelled with their flock and originated in Asia Minor. The Magyars (the original name of the Hungarian people) kept sheepdogs from the end of the ninth century, but pedigree breeding and classification of dogs only started in the second half of the 19th century. Before that time, Hungarian sheepdogs were simply divided into two categories: large and small. When breeding, the small dogs were divided from the big ones (Kuvasz, Komondor), but the small ones were interbred. Therefore, the early history of the Mudi is more or less the same as those of the Pumi and the Puli.

‘Third type’ sheepdog

Count István Széchenyi (1791-1860) was the founder of the Hungarian Academy of Science and The Pest County Greyhound Society, and one of the first promoters of Hungarian dog breeds. Another important man in the history of Hungarian dogs is Dr. Emil Raitsits, a professor at the Veterinary Clinic in the city of Budapest. In the early 20th century, Dr. Raitsits travelled around the country looking for good examples of Hungarian sheepdogs, but seemed more interested in Pulis and Pumis than in the so-called ‘third type’, the Mudi. Nevertheless the Mudi is probably the oldest of the Hungarian sheepdogs, although ‘the great unknown’.

This ‘third type’ of small sheepdogs was and is known in almost the whole of Hungary. It is said that in ancient times this little sheepdog could be found in the lowlands of Pannonia, now parts of Hungary, Austria and former Yugoslavia. Some others believe that he came from crossings between the Puli and the Pumi. And last but not least it is believed that he has derived from crossings between local sheepdogs and the Alsatian or German Spitz. It’s unverifiable, of course, but the last explanation is tempting, especially considering the shape of the head and the expression of the eyes.

Canis ovilis Fényesi

Around 1930, a certain Dr. Deszö Fényesi, director of the museum in Balassagyarmat, was one of the first breeders to become involved in separate breeding of this small sheepdog. He is also the one who named the breed Mudi. Why Mudi? Unfortunately, I have never found a good explanation for this name. (The breed’s name in Latin is Canis ovilis Fényesi.)

A new breed standard was written by Dr. Zoltan Balassy in 1966 to apply for FCI recognition. This standard was based on only a handful of Mudi’s and the main differences between the original standard were accepted sizes and colors.

The F.C.I. approved the breed standard in 1966, but very few people were involved in breeding then and this is still the case today. A new standard was written in 2000 and the present FCI breed standard dates from 2004.

As there were 80 years ago, there are many different types in the Mudi; they form a heterogeneous company, resembling the Spitz dogs in head and the Croatian sheepdog in body.

The Mudi is a real working dog – a farmer’s dog – even more so than the Pumi or the Puli. Today, most of them live on the farms in Hungary and very often the litters are not registered. The Mudi is multi-functional – he drives the flock, guards the house and is an extremely good exterminator of small vermin. He is an expert with ‘difficult’ cattle and has also proven to be a good tracking dog. It is a blessing for this young breed that there is no separation between working lines and show lines. Since the ‘70s, a small number have been exported, especially to Sweden and Finland. There are about 70 Mudis in The Netherlands, and worldwide their number is about 1,500-1,750.

A Curly-coated Small Spitz

The distinction between the Mudi and the Puli and Pumi is relatively small, but there are various significant differences. First of all, the eyes are oval, dark and set obliquely, while the eyes of the Puli and Pumi are roundish. His ears are pricked, like those of a Spitz. The coat is not corded like the Puli’s, but short or half-long and curly. Sometimes Mudis are born without a tail, or with a natural stump tail; this is not regarded as a fault. In general, the Mudi gives the impression of a curly-coated small Spitz. He is not as boisterous as the Pumi and that makes him appreciated as a companion dog in the house. Still, the Mudi is not a dog for beginners. He needs a firm hand and a lot of exercise, especially if there is no real work to do. In Sweden and Finland, Mudis are used as tracking dogs, rescue dogs, for agility, and driving sheep.

In Hungary, these dogs are organized in the Hungarian Puli-Pumi-Mudi Club. A second breed club is named after the man who was the founder of the modern breed: the Dezsö Fényes Mudi Club.

Today there are several breed clubs outside Hungary, for example in the Czech Republic, Finland, Sweden and Canada. The Mudi Club of America was founded in 2004 and “strives to promote, protect, and preserve the Mudi as a healthy versatile working breed, of sound temperament, and proper breed type, while educating fanciers on responsible Mudi ownership.”

Information:

Mudi Club of America – www.mudi.us

Mudi Association of Canada – www.mudi-canada.ca

FCI breed standard – www.fci.be

From the archives of The Canine Chronicle, Feb, 2011

It all began with a 10 year-old boy practicing handling techniques in his family’s yard after school. Most junior handlers probably would have focused on their own skills – taking even strides, mastering the smooth transfer of the lead from hand to hand. For Charles “Corky” Vroom, the practice sessions had a deeper purpose. He wanted to understand the dogs – their structure, how they moved, and how their minds worked. Could he make one of his family’s Boxers into a Siberian? A Pointer? These exercises didn’t have a direct application to the show ring – he’d never be asked to make a Boxer move like another breed. However, even as a child, Corky wanted to understand what made a breed unique, so that he could present each to its best advantage.

As with many great dog men, Corky was born into the fancy. His grandmother had bred Pekingese; his father, Henry “Red” Vroom was a handler and the Vroom family bred Boxers and Miniature Pinschers. There was never a question of another career and Vroom apprenticed with successful handler Harry Sangster. With the exception of a tour of duty in the U.S. Navy, dogs were his life’s work.

Sue Vroom, his widow and handling partner, credits Sangster with much more than honing Vroom’s handling skills. “He taught Corky to be a strategist – how to make a dog’s career,” she recalls. “He learned how to campaign – when to travel, when to stay home, when to go to a specific judge.” After Sangster’s death in an automobile accident in 1966, Vroom went out on his own, one of the last of the all-breed handlers licensed by the AKC.

Impressive Statistics…

and Much More

His record in the ring is legendary – many victories at National Specialties and more than 1,000 All-Breed Best In Show (BIS) wins and several thousand Group Ones. He was twice named Fido Dog Handler of the Year and the Kennel Review Dog Handler of the Year. Though BIS at the Garden escaped him, he had seven Westminster Group One wins in five groups – Sporting, Hound, Toy, Working and Herding. Working with clients Gloria and Nat Reese, Vroom brought three dogs to the top of the all breed rankings – the Doberman Ch. Galaxy’s Corry Missile Belle in 1973, the Greyhound Ch. Aroi Talk Of The Blues in 1976 and the Bouvier Ch. Galbraith’s Iron Eyes in 1990. The partnership between the Reeses and Vroom was extraordinary – “Gloria Reese was like a mother to him,” Sue Vroom says. Corky was a great supporter of the Professional Handlers’ Association, serving as its president for five years.

The statistics are impressive, but they don’t reveal how Vroom accomplished what he did. “It’s hard to encapsulate a life that was lived with so much passion,” Sue Vroom says. “He was gifted, brilliantly talented, driven and an intense competitor. He was not, at times, the easiest person!”

Sue Vroom also grew up in dogs, attending shows from the age of four. She first met Corky in the early ‘70s, when he asked handler Walt Schellenbarger to introduce them. In 1980, they met again. Both were divorced. Impulsively, Sue invited him to a barbecue at her home after the Kennel Club of Beverly Hills show. “He never left!” she laughs, and they married in 1982.

They made a formidable team. Based in El Monte, California, Corky planned and supervised the dogs’ conditioning and, “I was in charge of all the hair,” Sue says. “He used to say that if he hadn’t married me, he would have been showing all smooth-coated breeds!”

Everyone Has a Chance

Every month, the Vrooms sat down with their assistants and the AKC Gazette to plan the next quarter’s show schedule. “It was never built around a single dog,” Sue states. “We went where it was best for the most dogs, and everybody had a shot. That is the key to keeping clients – they understood that their goals were the same as Corky’s.” Their string generally included class dogs as well as specials; however, it was not uncommon for half the dogs in their truck to be ranked number one in their breeds or groups.

“Corky believed that, at the start of the day, every dog in his truck had a chance to get into the Best In Show ring,” Sue explains. “His goal was to get as many into the groups as possible. If his top dog lost the breed at 9 a.m., he moved on to the next dog at 9:05. Some handlers just focus on the top dog in their truck, and Corky never did. He used to say ‘If I’m beaten with my top dog, that’s just the beginning of the day.’” In addition to handling high profile dogs for clients who could afford to campaign them, the Vrooms showed for many clients with nice dogs that they wanted to finish and bring home as companions. Corky often showed for breeders, who he called “the wind beneath the wings of the sport.” He was rigid in his belief that it was a conflict of interest for professional handlers to breed and show their own dogs.

“Corky used to say that there are really two dog shows – Dog Show A, with breeders and owners who want to finish champions, and Dog Show B, for owners of the top-end specials. Each has different motivations and goals, and Corky understood that,” Sue continues.

While Corky Vroom was a fierce competitor, Sue is emphatic that he never believed in winning at all costs. “For him, it was ‘win for the right reasons,’” she says. “He never did anything to a dog that would insult the intelligence of the judge. The chickens come home to roost when you breed the dog, and it does a disservice to the entire premise of dog shows – evaluating breeding stock.”

Corky’s wins came from his ability to understand a dog and plan and execute a campaign. When he entered the ring, he had an uncanny talent for evaluating the competition and adapting his technique to present his dog to its best advantage against that day’s competition. When a new dog arrived at his kennel, Corky observed him for a week. He’d watch the dog move at liberty before he designed its conditioning program. No dog was fed until Corky had seen it – “he could tell if a Pug were half a pound over or under ideal,” Sue says. There were never more than 20 dogs living with the Vrooms – all specials being actively campaigned. Each was given time in the house as a pet, and Corky often worked on his computer with a half dozen dogs of various breeds at his feet.

Retirement and Reinvention

It was hard when a campaign ended, and a special went home. Often, Corky would have tears in his eyes as he said good-bye. “You understood intellectually that each dog will go home, but every moment while you have him, you invest 100% in the dog, and he invests 100% in you. Corky got into the mind of each dog, and they would do anything for him,” Sue remembers. When a dog retired, its show lead retired with it, and Corky would present the lead to the owner, with the request that it never be used on another dog.

In 2005, Corky retired from handling. The Vrooms considered their options, and decided to relocate to Texas where the AKC had offered Sue a position as an Executive Field Representative. Corky “reinvented” himself as what he’d really always been – a teacher. Many top handlers started as the Vrooms’ assistants and Corky was often approached by junior handlers seeking advice as he sat outside his van after a show. He’d always been free – if sometimes stern – with his advice and handling seminars were the natural progression of his career.

Corky gave seminars throughout the country, as well as classes on popular “K-9 College” cruises. Sue had the chance to observe one of his cruise lectures, and “I was in awe of what he could teach,” she says. Characteristically, his last seminar, in Alaska, was the month before he died. The cancer that had begun in his lungs had spread, and he should not have traveled. He’d committed, however, and Corky would not consider cancelling his trip.

When aggressive treatment was no longer an option, the only way that Sue could get Corky to agree to palliative care was to present it as “alternative treatment.” He was ill for 10 months and fought every step of the way, finally telling his oncologist “you may have given up on me, but I haven’t!” Corky died at home on May 21, surrounded by the people and dogs he loved. He was 68. His best friend and fellow handler, Bruce Schultz, and his wife, Tara, had driven from a show in Northern California to stay with the Vrooms and help Sue with Corky’s care. The Vrooms’ son, Aaron, and daughter-in-law, Lori, were there from California, as well as Sue’s friend Christa Townsend from Kansas City.

Corky’s dogs were on his bed – 13 year-old Tibetan Terrier, Gracie, and the Bouvier, Conner. Gracie wasn’t a show dog – Corky always said she was fulfilling the most important function on the planet by being his friend. Conner, Ch. Vanleighof’s Eyekhan, was the son of the great Iron Eyes, from a frozen semen breeding. Both are with Sue in Texas, and she says that they mourned for Corky just as she did.

A Remembrance

Corky Vroom’s legacy isn’t just his outstanding record of wins. It is the wealth of knowledge that he shared with all who worked with him or asked for help. Jaki Clute of Williamston, South Carolina worked for the Vrooms for three years after she asked for a job when she was 19. “He kept me in dogs,” Clute says. “I was so inspired by what he taught me. He put his whole heart and soul into dogs.” Now handling with her husband, Jamie, Jaki examines each dog before feeding and adjusts the meal accordingly just as Corky taught her.

Tiffany Saxon, another former assistant, is an all-breed handler based in California. Her sentiments echo those of Jaki Clute: “Corky was a passionate man and a man with integrity. He was a great teacher and a legend with a big heart and a strong desire to win. Many others who have been fortunate enough to mentor under him have gone on to become great handlers… Thank you Corky, for being you, teaching us never to quit, always making us laugh and for sharing the passion and inspiring us all to be the best that we can be in this great sport of showing dogs.”

It’s impossible to imagine a finer tribute or legacy.

Click here to read complete article

234 – July, 2011

Before the advent of four-day clusters and the widespread use of air travel as a means of moving from dog show to dog show, a quiet, even shy, man was setting records in the Midwest. “We used to call him ‘Three-State Cooper,’ for Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin,” former assistant Ken Murray recalls. “He didn’t have to chase Best in Show wins – they came to him.”

Like many of the great handlers of his generation, Richard “Dick” Cooper was born to train and show dogs. His parents, Jack and Ethel Cooper, owned Aragon Kennels outside Chicago in Barrington, Illinois. Dick and his brother, Fred, grew up working with their parents’ show and hunting dogs. Ethel Cooper bred Beagles and Miniature Pinschers, while Jack Cooper one of the country’s top Irish Setter breeders and handlers. He taught Dick how to handle a show dog, and then competed with him in the ring. Since Jack Cooper naturally handled the top winners himself, it was a considerable challenge to his son’s skills. However, Dick’s first Best In Show win wasn’t with one of his father’s Irish Setters, but rather a Gordon Setter. He wasn’t far into his twenties when he handled Ch. Downside Bonnie of Searleway to this win – the first of the 1,000-odd BIS victories he would accumulate throughout his career. Not long after, he went Best In Show with the American Water Spaniel, Ch. Mahoney’s O’Toole, a first for that breed. Read more http://www.onlinedigitalpubs.com/publication/?m=2330&i=74413&p=252&search=Joan%20harrigan&ver=html5

Click here to read complete article

234 – July, 2011

242 – April, 2017

By Joan Harrigan

Elliott Weiss remembers when he first met Julia Gasow. It was 1967, and he was handler Ted Young, Jr.’s apprentice. Gasow, known as “Julie” to her friends, had been breeding her Salilyn English Springer Spaniels for three decades. Weiss, Young, and Gasow met at an airport, where they were booked on the same flight. “I was just a kid,” Weiss recalls. He was in awe of her—“she was a brilliant breeder—one of the best of the century”—and he was content just to listen to her conversation with Young.

 Twenty-five years later, Weiss, who had retired from handling in 1993, was in his first or second year as an AKC judge. He was asked to participate in a panel discussion at the Detroit Kennel Club, and was seated between Julia Gasow and Ruth Cooper. Looking at the two women, Weiss said, “What the hell am I doing here—I’m the junior varsity!” His voice catches as he remembers Gasow’s quick response— “you have a lot to offer, and you don’t even realize it!”

Julia Gasow lived a long life—she passed away at age 94, on April 10, 1999. Her kennel, Salilyn (named for her daughters Sally and Linda) lives on the record books and the pedigrees of today’s Springers. Her Ch. Salilyn Condor (“Robert”) won Westminster in 1993, handled by Mark Threlfall. Ch. Salilyn Aristocrat (“Risto”) is still the top-producing sire of all time, in all breeds, with 188 champion offspring. Aristocrat’s son, Ch. Chinoe’s Adamant James, was the last dog to win successive Westminster Bests in Show, in 1971 and 1972. Robert’s daughter, Ch. Salilyn ‘N Erin’s Shameless (“Samantha”), owned by Carl Blaine, Fran Sunseri, and the Gasow estate and handled by Kellie FitzGerald, won Westminster in 2000. And another Aristocrat descendant, Ch. Felicity’s Diamond Jim, was BIS at Westminster in 2007, also handled by FitzGerald.

Gasow was the first female delegate to the American Kennel Club, representing the English Springer Spaniel Club of Michigan. She was the president of the Detroit Kennel Club. She literally “wrote the book” about her breed—The New Complete English Springer Spaniel was published by Howell in 1984. Three years later, she was the first inductee to the Quaker Oaks Ken-L Ration (now Pro-Plan) Hall of Fame. She won many other awards, and qualified as an AKC judge. However, the mere listing of the awards that she won for her breeding program and that her dogs won in the conformation ring doesn’t do Julia Gasow justice. As impressive as her accomplishments were, the person behind them is far more interesting. And, as her friends remember her, Julia Gasow represented the kind of “doger” (her word) who is hard to find today.

Click here to read the complete article

242 – April, 2017

]]> https://caninechronicle.com/current-articles/julia-gasow-salilyns-gracious-lady-2/feed/ 0 https://caninechronicle.com/current-articles/the-history-of-the-maltese/ https://caninechronicle.com/current-articles/the-history-of-the-maltese/#comments Sun, 05 Sep 2021 12:00:24 +0000 AnthonyA http://caninechronicle.com/?p=211351 Click here to read the complete article
298 – September, 2021

By Lee Connor

Malta is a sun-soaked rocky island that sits in the crystal-clear blue waters of the Mediterranean. With over 7,000 years of history, this intriguing island is home to some of the oldest free-standing temples in the world and (over that huge span of time) it has played host to the Phoenicians, Romans, the Knights of St. John, Napoleon and the British Empire. All have left their mark in the form of phenomenal fortifications and breathtakingly beautiful architecture.

But does Malta have yet another long-lasting legacy?

Did it also gift us one of the world’s most exquisitely beautiful toy dog breeds?

Of course, the breed’s name implies a very convincing link to the Mediterranean Island; however, it appears that there is no positive evidence on which to base that assumption.

Certainly, the Maltese derives its name from the ancient isle of Melita (or Melitia – taken from the Greek word for honey, ‘meli’) however, in ancient history there were a number of islands that went under these names.

Topsell (writing in 1607 and quoting from Strabo, AD25) says, “There is a town in Pachynus, a promontory of Sicily called ‘Melita’ from whence are transported many fine little dogs called “Melitei canes”. They were accounted the jewels of the women, but now the said town is possessed by fishermen, and there is no such reckoning made of those tender little dogs, for these are not bigger than common Ferrets or Weasels, yet they are not small in understanding, nor mutable in their love to man.”

So, could the Maltese actually be Italian?

Click here to read the complete article
298 – September, 2021

From the archives of The Canine Chronicle, December 2010

By Amy Fernandez

Great handlers understand the fine line that separates expert presentation from sharp salesmanship. Careers and reputations hinge on the ability to showcase a dog without crossing that line. Handlers often cultivate a distinctive personal image to reinforce the impact. Very few have done it as successfully as Clara Alford.

Born in Oklahoma, Clara ranks among the few Native American professional handlers in the history of our sport. Petite, slender and dark haired, she enhanced her unmistakable look with distinctive sterling and turquoise jewelry inspired by her Cherokee heritage. Although she got a late start as a professional, by the mid 1950s she was regarded as one of the country’s premier Toy handlers.

She first came to prominence owner/handling her Alford’s Chihuahuas. Her breeding program was noted for successfully perpetuating type and quality with historically important bloodlines like Perralto.

Her technical expertise and uncanny rapport with her dogs made her a natural for this profession. Her natural talent was coupled with almost supernatural determination to accomplish her goals. America’s interstate highway system barely existed when Clara started campaigning dogs. Standardized routes, accurate maps, and paved four lane highways were as rare as motorhomes back then. Typical dog show transportation was a plain old car, without air conditioning or hermetically sealed windows. But long drives weren’t optional for serious exhibitors west of the Mississippi. There were far fewer shows back then and convenience wasn’t a major consideration for clubs that staged them.

Clara clocked thousand of miles as a professional. She showed all Toy breeds. Her reputation was built on her remarkable success with Pekes, Poms, Min Pins, and IGs. But she didn’t shy away from complicated drop-coated breeds and challenges like black Pugs She could spot star quality a mile away and willingly took on a diamond in the rough. However, she refused to exploit her talent by promoting inferior dogs. Nor did she hesitate to return dogs to clients when they were close to finishing. She saw no reason for them to continue paying for her services when they could easily complete the project.

She was first and foremost a breeder. From that standpoint, some of her practices made perfect sense, even though they seemed contradictory to business strategy.

Her big break as a handler came in 1954 when she took over Ch. Tejano Texas Kid, a Smooth fawn Chihuahua dog bred and owned by Myrle Roberts. The Kid was just over a year old. His soundness and incredible ring presence compensated for his lack of maturity. The Kid was eye-catching, but he was a Toy. And back then, Toys were not considered serious contenders for Best in Show, especially Chihuahuas.

Percy Roberts had followed Clara’s career from the get-go. Her consistently good Chihuahuas initially caught his interest. He got more interested when she began to handling The Kid. From 1954-56 she campaigned him throughout the country, achieving a breathtaking record.

Clara showed him 37 times in 1954, 67 times in 1955, and 13 times in 1956. This total of 110 shows resulted in a record of 108 BOV wins, 102 Toy Group placements, including 51 Firsts, exactly half of his total placements. Clara showed him to back-to-back national specialty wins in 1954 and 55, and he ranked as the #1 Smooth Coat Chihuahua for 1955 and ‘56.

The following year Clara took over the legendary Peke, Ch. Chik T’Sun of Caversham. Known as Gossie, he was whelped in 1954. In 1957 he was imported from Britain by Nigel Aubrey Jones who showed him to several Bests before selling him to Mr. and Mrs. C.C. Venables in Atlanta, Georgia.

Quoted in Popular Dogs, Percy Roberts described Gossie’s show campaign as “fearless.” Clara showed him to every judge from coast to coast for two years. He called her, “the dog’s devoted slave” emphasizing his incredible coat and condition throughout this grueling campaign. Clara was a meticulous groomer, and her presentation of Gossie set the trend that made the Peke a glamour breed.

She showed him 173 times. Highlights of Gossie’s career included a string of 14 consecutive BIS wins, back-to-back Bests at the Chicago International, and Westminster Group First’s in 1957 and 1959. Westminster 1958 remained his only defeat in breed competition. He had been America’s top ranked dog for three years when Clara took him back to that ring in 1960. It was quite possibly the toughest Toy Group in the show’s history. Judged by famed Maltese breeder, Dr. Vincenzo Calvaresi, second went to Ch. Rebel Roc Cassanova von Kurt, and third went to Ch. Cappoquin Little Sister. Her handler, Anne Hone Rogers, had won Westminster in 1956 and ‘59, and would take Little Sister to the top of the dog world the following year. Fourth went to Ch. Rider’s Sparklin Gold Nugget, the record-breaking Pom that had racked up 41 Best in Shows and 119 Groups.

Although Pekes have done it several times since then, Gossie was the first to make it to the top at Westminster. In his show report, Gazette editor Arthur Frederick Jones called it, “one of the greatest tributes ever accorded the Peke in his record breaking triumphs, for to win under a top Terrier judge such as Mr. Hartman, the Toy had to have soundness and flawless gait. …it had to be a great dog under that coat for this judge to send it to the top.” Clara’s cool professionalism crumbled when Hartman gave her the nod. She impulsively swept Gossie into her arms. He responded with a big sloppy kiss as tears streamed down her face and cameras flashed.

Gossie was retired after this historic win. His phenomenal record of 166 Groups and 126 Bests stood until the 1980s. Clara continued to make records, campaigning famous winners like the Pom, Ch. Bonner’s Peppersweet Red Pod, and the Min Pin, Ch. Bo-Mar’s Drummer Boy. After retirement as a professional handler, Clara went on to judge. Her ability to spot quality was an accepted fact. Win or lose, breeders wanted to show to her. She remained one of the era’s most popular Toy judges until her untimely death from cancer in 1972.