Editorial: September 8, 2023

The sport of purebred dogs lost one its great champions last week with the passing of David Helming. A long-time friend of these pages, Dave was well known to all, along with his wife Peggy, as a very successful Newfoundland, Portuguese Water Dog and of late Norwich Terrier breeder and exhibitor under the Pouch Cove prefix. Certainly one of the highlights of that success was the 2004 Westminster Kennel Club Best in Show win with Ch. Darbydale’s All Rise Pouch Cove, co-owned with Carol and Bernard Bergman under judge Burt Yamada and handled by Michelle Scott. The kennel’s great successes over the years are well documented and known — for example, the American Kennel Club’s 2005 Breeders of the Year. And as the saying goes, “Behind every great man there is a great woman” — Peggy. But little known is the unique individual, Dave, who was always eager to help and give to the sport that he so dearly loved, whether it was the layout of the show grounds, meeting with county officials about securing the grounds, answering questions they might have about the logistics of hosting a dog show or just pitching in with a helping hand at the show. He was a member of the Kennel Club of Philadelphia, Somerset Hills Kennel Club, Westchester Kennel Club and Morris & Essex Kennel Club, and on becoming a member of the Westminster Kennel Club he was elevated to show chairman, a position he held until his passing. In those above-mentioned clubs he held offices that included chairman, cluster chairman, treasurer, director and head of various committees. Never wanting praise or public recognition for all his good works, he volunteered his time to help any club that might ask for assistance. Heavy were his shoulders from the many hats he wore all at one time. From his youth as an Eagle Scout to his service to our country in Vietnam, he was no stranger to giving and volunteering. A man with humility, looking for no reward of any kind. It was for all those attributes that on behalf of Purina® Pro Plan® and Dog News that Dog News publisher and editor Gene Zaphiris was honored to induct David Helming into the Anne Rogers Clark Hall of Fame in 2021. He will long be lovingly remembered in the hearts of those who knew him. Few like him come along in lifetime; we have lost a great champion. Rest easy, my friend.