Center Stage with Ken Sinclair – Araki Tibetan Terriers

322 – October, 2010

In 1954 a true Scotsman was born and little did his friends and family know then, but he was a star in the making and a true breeder, enthusiast and judge of our time today in which we are grateful. Born in East Kilbride Scotland in 1954 was Ken Sinclair, later known for the world famous Araki Tibetan Terriers. He became fond of the Tibetan Terrier after leaving school and becoming a full-time kennel boy for a kennel in Sussex for Anne Matthews (Hardacre), then aged 18 years old. Growing up as a child and with his family they did own a few dogs as pets including a black miniature Poodle called Pepe. It was the day he went along with his family to collect Pepe that he was mesmerized by the beautiful set up of kennels and grooming area of this place that Ken stood there and knew that this is what he wanted to have for himself. Before Ken owned Tibetan Terriers, he enjoyed great success at Championship shows with Afghan Hounds back in the day when the entry in the UK was in the 300 to 400’s, and it was from the experience, knowledge and understanding of having this breed that he had an idea of what to look for in a Tibetan Terrier.

We interview Ken Sinclair at his country home in Malvern, Worcester and find out all the details of how the Araki kennel has become so famous for today.

Ken with 2 Afghans early ‘70s

KR: Have you anybody in the dogdom world who has influenced you over the years with the dog fancy, or do you have a mentor that guided you from the early years?

KS: Marion Spavin of Dialynne Kennels is my ultimate mentor.

KR: What advice did Marion pass on to you, and has it worked for you?

KS: Marion told me in the earlier years to breed the best and only show a quality specimen. If you do not have anything that is not of quality then wait until something does. For this you gain consistency of quality dogs that shine and represent your hard work of breeding some of the best in history.

KR: Going back to the earlier years, it was the eye of the Afghan Hounds that took your sight and you began showing dogs to top honours. What lines did you start with?

Ken with Araki Gauriba in the early ‘70s

KS: My Afghan lines were started based on Candidcasa, Izmar, Khamora and the Davlen lines. These lines led me on to breed and own a total of 6 Champions. This was back in the early to mid-80s, back in the day when it was a tough challenge to win a CC, never mind breed 6 Champions. I imported a dog from Finland named UK Ch. Punapaulan into Araki; this boy was a black mask and gold and he was shown at eight shows and was a UK Champion before the age of 2 years-old. He went on to produce many UK Champions for the breed.

KR: OK, so tell us about your early life with Tibetan Terriers. What year did you first encounter the Tibetan Terrier and when did you buy your first?

KS: Leaving school I went to work as a kennel lad full-time and it was the kennels that I was working at in which I first caught sight of the wonderful breed. My first dog was taken under my wing in the late ‘70s early ‘80s from Anne Matthews of the Hardacre kennel.

KR: For many kennels there is always a meaning, reason or sentimental value for the kennel name chosen for each breeder. What are the origins of your affix, and are any other members of family involved in the breeding programme?

KS: ARAKI consists of the other family members’ first letter of their names which are Ann, Robert, Alan, Ken and Ian. My mother Ann has been a keen individual for the Araki team over the years, and she was a Championship show judge for Tibetan Terriers before her retirement.

KR: From receiving your first Tibetan, how long was it before you bred your first Champion?

KS: Ch. Araki Sudi Shan became my first Champion, and impressively a Champion before his own father, who became Ch. Alilah Konkerah of Araki. Konkerah himself excelled in progeny as he is for certain the most successful sire noted for producing a larger number of CC winners, Champions and group winners. He is still the Top Champion producing sire in the breed.

KR: From all the dogs you have bred to Champions around the world, name some of the most successful.

KS: Ch. Araki Freesia Assets became the first bitch to hold the CC record in the UK with 33 CCs and she is still the only BIS all breeds championship show winning bitch,  although she was bred in the purple. Unfortunately she was never bred from, but her litter sister Champion Araki Ashtoreth was mated but sadly produced poor specimens. Several years ago I imported a bitch from the USA called Am. Ch. Atisha Passion for Magic in whelp to a dog called Am. Ch. Mark of Excellence. She produced several UK Champions – one of these dogs was Ch. Araki All American Boy who was the youngest group winning TT at just 13 months and won accoclades such as Top Dog and Top Sire. He is still probably one of the top producing sires ever known for CC winners and Champions all over the world. Ch. Araki Hank the Yank was also a top winning boy. He won All Breed Best In Show in the UK at Paignton, BOB at Crufts and Group 2. He was well-known for producing Champion offspring, Group Winners and Best In Show winners. To date, UK Ch./Am. Ch. Araki Fabulous Willy is the UK breed record holder with 45 CCs, multiple Best In Show wins including 2007 Crufts BIS handled by American handler Larry Cornelius, UK’s Top Dog All Breeds, American Champion and also producer of multiple Champions. His kennel mate, Ch. Araki Pick Up a Penguin at Afterglow, produced some top winning dogs also including the youngest Tibetan Terrier Champion to date, Ch./Am. Ch. Araki Tinckle Winkle of Dialynne aka Gizmo. He was successfully campaigned in US and Canada after his UK victory and returned to Dialynne. Ch. Araki Blue Dhimond is one of the top UK winning bitches and also the mother of Ch. Araki Striking Dhimond who was the top TT bitch for 2009.

KR: As we look into 2010, you have now bred and/or owned over 100 Champions worldwide. What is it that you have achieved to have been honoured with this status?

KS: Araki Tibetan’s are well-noted throughout the world for their exceptionally good style, movement and, to the eye, fabulous coat. This has made many Araki dogs win top honours such as Best In Shows, Group Wins and more.

KR: Have you introduced any new lines into your breeding programme that has played a huge part for the dogs you have produced?

Zena Thorn Andrews awarding Crufts Top Honors - Best In Show to the Tibetan Terrier, UK Ch. & Am. Ch. Araki Fabulous Willy Handled by Larry Cornelius

KS: I have imported many dogs from all over. From America I have imported a few dogs from the Atisha’s kennel, and in Scandinavia I have also brought in a dog called Ch. Serbalchierroin Izar of Araki who became a champion in five shows and also won the Group at Southern Counties. He went on to sire some Araki Champions. I have also introduced some dogs from the Falamandus kennel from Finland. Many pedigrees of today and yester year can be seen in the Araki pedigrees falling back to these imported dogs to produce some of my top quality Tibetan Terriers.

KR: Has there been a certain type that you have been aiming to work to in the breeding programme, and have you managed to get close to your goal?

KS: I would never say that you could crack your goal but get close, yes. All I can advise is for a novice person to come into a show and see a lineup of Tibetan Terriers in the ring and, from the outline, style, charisma and elegance, you should be able to see if it is Araki bred.

KR: For most dog fanciers, they are always guided by mentors, or handlers, breeders, etc. As you have mentioned earlier, your mentor is Marion Spavin of Dialynne kennels. What other kennels have influenced you over the years and why?

KS: Dialynne, Dicarl and Drakesleat. My reason being Marion’s advice of showing good quality, and with advise from a lady who has made a kennel world-reknowned for her generation after generation of Champions bred by herself. Not many breeders of today can sit down and brag the fact that in a five generation pedigree each dog is a Champion.

Zena of Drakesleat is also a key example. Her hardworking, self- taught, and determination of good breeding consisted of top quality dogs in which made a standout in the show ring and those dogs were then bred from to move on with for another generation. Drakesleat are known also for their generation after generation of UK Champions in a five generation pedigree. Dicarl has always been such an honest, clever breeder of superb Great Danes. To achieve this is an ultimate goal and needs recognizing by young upcoming enthusiasts.

KR: From all that you have achieved over the years of breeding and showing, winning Best in Show at Crufts with Ch./Am. Ch. Araki Fabulous Willy in 2007 must be your best thrill yet. On the other scale, what has been your biggest disappointment in the dog game and why?

KS: My biggest disappointment has to be the other breeders who do not appreciate other people’s dogs. As a breeder who spends all my time with my dogs, one is always aiming to breed some of the best dogs. Inbreeding gives you type, once you have the type, then you need new blood to come into the lines you have to expand the gene pool. Many disgruntled breeders frown upon new blood coming into a breeding programme because of jealousy, persons involved, etc. But when you are a breeder and you have introduced new blood, it can be disheartening to have negative response, as all you are wanting to achieve is betterment for the breed.

KR: You are now a Championship show judge of several breeds, groups and all breed best in show. Do you have any exciting appointments coming up?

KS: I regret that no exciting appointments are planned now as I have retired from overseas judging. I am, however, honoured to judge All Breeds, Best In Shows, Groups and the breeds that I am already passed for with CCs. I do not wish to be passed for more breeds for CCs.

KR: What would be your dream judging appointment? – I think we know the answer on this, for any aspiring judge.

KS: Well, of course, it would have to be Best In Show at Crufts.

KR: You have just awarded Best In Show to the Chinese Crested, UK Ch. Vanitonia Unwrapped, at City of Birmingham. Nora is leading the way to Top Dog All Breeds UK for 2010. As she is such an outstanding individual, has she got to be one of the most incredible dogs you have ever judged? Or are there others that you have awarded to top honours before now that you greatly admire?

KS: Nora is for sure one of my all-time greats purely for her true breed type, exceptional outline, presence and, of course, movement. Another of my all time greats is Ch. Jafrak Philippe Olivier, the Black Giant Schnauzer, who also went on to win BIS at Crufts. He is at one with his handler, covers the ground well with his movement, he is true in body and form and an exceptionally good specimen of the breed. Another BIS winner of mine was the well-known Hungarian Vizsla, Sh. Ch./Aus. Ch Hungargunn Bear It In Mind, Yogi who also went onto win BIS at Crufts 2009.  He is a quite outstanding dog who excelled on the move.  As a keen breeder and judge of horses, it is my penultimate determination to see good movement! Well, have you ever tried selling a horse that is not completely sound?

KR: Apart from breeding showing and judging dogs, you have a great involvement with horses, please tell us more.

Ken with the Cob Araki Mackenzie

Ken with one of Araki’s homebred Minitaure Appaloosas

KS: Yes, for as long as I have been involved in the dog game, I have worked longer in the horse industry. From the age of 17, I worked full-time with horses and now I am honoured to be a breeder of Miniature Spotted Horses, and I also breed Irish Draughts and Norikers. With my Miniature Spotted, I have bred generations of Champions over the years in which I am truly honoured with the merit. I have imported horses from Austria over the years and bred on with. My biggest achievement with the horses has to be taking Best Miniature at the National Spotted Show just last year and also four years ago.

KR: Is there anything in your life right now that you have not achieved but would like to?

KS: I have always wanted to lose three stone! But this is one thing I have not managed to achieve. I have always been an honoured achiever with my goals in life I guess, but I suppose I would love to have complete contentment in my life, then I suppose I have done it all.

KR: In today’s day, you currently breed and show Tibetan Terriers jointly with Suzy Roffey. Suzy herself has her own credibility in which she is a past UK Junior Handler of Year winner and a very honoured and respected owner of Irish Setters. With this great partnership you have, what is it that Suzy brings to the team that makes your kennel a great success?

KS: Style and elegance – she is a great part of the kennel and will continue with the Araki line later on. Suzy spends a lot of time at the kennels with the puppies and she is the one that ring trains them. We talk, argue(!) in great depth about breedings, pedigrees and forceable dogs in which we aim to work together to produce some of the best. She has an excellent eye when overlooking the youngsters for the show ring and, for the past ten years, she has been a great asset and I could not have continued without her.

KR: For up and coming enthusiasts of the breed, and other breeds, do you as an experienced person have any advice to pass on to the younger generation about the breeding/showing spectrum of this dog fancy?

KS: You have to be enthusiastic in what you wish to achieve or aim; learn to appreciate other dogs and bloodlines. As a judge, you need to be honest and true to yourself, and be confident to know that you are there to do your own thing. On the day, it is your opinion that counts.

KR: Finally Ken, for everything that you have done for the betterment of the breed in TT’s, how would you like to be remembered?

KS: I would like to be remembered as a breeder of great winning TT’s.

Ken & Neil With The Gang - photo by Johnson

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Posted by admin on Nov 19 2010. Filed under In The Spotlight, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.