Editorial: May 24, 2024

Just like a Hollywood romance movie with the requisite happy ending, in the finale of the Westminster Kennel Club we witnessed the end of a storied career in our world of purebred dogs. When judge Roz Kramer selected the Miniature Poodle as her Best in Show dog, we all witnessed the last down and back and around for professional handler Kaz Hosaka, who had announced his plans to retire, and Westminster was his last show. There were a lot of teary eyes that evening. Kaz has a great back story, which we remember quite vividly.

Madame Takada was a wealthy lady from Japan who showed dogs in the States. She owned the Lakeland Terrier “Misty,” a back-to-back Westminster Terrier Group winner handled by Eddie Boyes and at that time the top-winning Terrier of all time. An interesting side story, the Lakeland was also the top-winning dog in the country, and you can imagine the surprise on Eddie’s face when he received a letter from the American Kennel Club stating that according to their records Misty never completed her championship and so all those ribbons and trophies were to be returned as soon as possible. Imagine the cartons of ribbons and trophies accumulated by the number-one dog in the country. Eddie contacted the American Kennel Club show-records department and explained that she finished winning Bests in Show. Realizing their mistake, the American Kennel Club wrote Eddie asking for their original letter stating she wasn’t finished to be returned. To this day, Eddie still has that letter.

Back to Kaz … So Madame Takada sent Kaz to stay with Annie and Jim Clark to learn how we trim and exhibit in the United States. A limited internship turned into a lifetime, as Kaz never returned to live in Japan. Under the wings of the Clarks, Kaz became a very successful and sought-after professional handler. His win column is legend, as is his mild, gentle and polite manner. He was such a credit to his profession. His last trip around that Best in Show ring was familiar, as he handled the 2002 Best in Show winner, a Surrey Miniature Poodle bred by the Clarks. A relationship that went full circle. Dog News sends our very best wishes to Kaz and his wonderful wife Roxy for a long and happy retirement.