Question of the Week

Milwaukie, OR 

I feel fortunate to have grown up with several of the mid west power players: our first handler, Dougie McLain, my first employer Jack Funk, and just plain being around Larry Downey, George Ward, Charlie Prager, Bob Condon, Stan Flowers. The mid 60's to mid 70's were incredible for learning Dog Show 101!

 

Howard Beach, NY

Carol Reisman was a truly influential mentor in my life in the dog fancy, and many of her perspectives on life in general were equally inspiring.

She was the first judge I ever exhibited under who took extra time to make a “newbie” like me feel comfortable in the ring. Her kind hands on my dog and the genuine joy she showed in her role as judge made a lasting impression. She gave just that little bit extra— and that extra care meant everything, something that encouraged me to keep showing. That feeling never left me.

Years later, I was fortunate to come to know Carol as more than a judge during the search for Vivi, the Whippet who went missing from JFK Airport after the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. As time went on, we became dear friends.

We shared a deep love for all animals, and Carol taught me so much—not just about dogs in general, but about sighthounds in particular. I hung on every word, valuing both her knowledge and her openness in encouraging me to form and express my own opinions.

Her advice for me to “stop touching and fussing” with a dog in the ring and to “just let them be a dog” — though not something I always heeded — will forever stay with me.

Much of what Carol taught me now lives on through the training of my own students. I hope to pass along that same love of dogs and of showing them to the fancy that she so generously shared with me.

Dearly missed and forever loved.
 

Joppa, MD 

Who influenced me the most. . . O'Neill Wagner!! He and his wife Beverly owned "Bowag Bulldogs" in the 1970's and 1980's. I managed his show, boarding and grooming Kennel for 18 years. O'Neill had an impressive show record with some of the top Bulldogs in the country. The people I connected with were because of O'Neill.  He opened the door to becoming a founding member of Northeastern Maryland Kennel Club. His family is still my family even though O'Neill is no longer with us. I honored his memory with my kennel  name "Moore Bowwag."

 

Monson, MA

The breeder of my first Great Dane puppy who told me I wouldn't be able to do anything unless I hired a professional handler.  Loved her for the perfect motivation for me and told her so before she passed.  We had a very good relationship.  As they say, the rest is history!

Watertown, NY

As I have been involved since 1954, there is no one person and I’m having difficulty naming just five.

Alphabetically, I would have to say-

Leonard Brumby

Ted Eldredge

Betty Hyslop

The Labrador Ladies- Carol, Kendall, Lisa, Connie and Betty

Tom and Ann Stevenson

And this was not an easy task.

 

Hurlock, MD 

Without a doubt, Eve Ballich, of kennel Evewire, was the most influential person in my dog life!

She taught me how to groom, show, breed, Wire Fox Terriers, and how to not only survive but thrive in the dog world!

“Mrs B” was my dog Mom for sure, I am always thankful that she shared her info with me!

I am a proud “Eve Kid” 

 

Princeton, KY

There are many people in the Fancy to whom I still look for advice and counsel (Rita Biddle, ESQ, Marjorie Tuft, Dr. Carmen Battaglia come to mind) but I treasure the memory of my first and perhaps greatest mentor: 

Dr. Theo Kjellstrom, DVM, AKC Judge, prolific writer of pithy articles (many for Dog News), world traveler and both teacher and eternal student.

I met Ted when I was rawly new to the entire world of purebred dogs and AKC and, despite his nearly 50 years at all levels in the Fancy, he was still fascinated by all things Dog. He loved to judge and to travel, loved to learn different breeds or customs, loved the well-placed word, had a startingly scatological sense of humor and was understandably well-respected all over the world.

From Ted I learned patience, I learned to appreciate the validity of different approaches to problems and i learned to laugh and say "oh well" when things didn't go my way.

In the end, I learned that everything ends up simply being a great story best told late at night over many a sip of single-malt scotch.

 

Fort Hill, PA 

A woman I knew was riding in a car with her mom, and she saw me and my dog standing along the road waiting for their car to go by. They stopped and we talked for a bit, and then she leaned around her mom and said “Hey, your dog is pretty nice. Shows are opening back up next year. Do you want to take him to the show? That was in 2020. 

We have been going to shows ever since. We went to Westminster once, the National Dog Show, several times, and last year I took him in for the breed at Morris and Essex. He is a GCH, working on his bronze, in addition to being an Elite Champion in NACSW (scent detection). The list of Flat Coated Retrievers who have done that is pretty short.

The ironic thing about this is that I had taken my dog out for a run at the park that day, and when I got him out of the truck I looked at him and thought: “Wow, he’s pretty nice. He should go to a dog show. But, I don’t know the first thing about it. Well, it’s probably never going to happen.” That was about ten minutes before that car went by us, standing by the road. So my biggest influence is Jen Wager. 
 

Raymore, MO  

When people see my name, they will automatically think my answer would be my wonderful husband David Scheiris.  While that holds true for the last 25 years, prior to that the person who influenced me most brought me to the point where I met David.  I started in dogs with Bichon Frises.  I had no breeder support which is a reason I make sure we are there for all of our puppy people.  I would go to shows and pick up the free magazines.  As I was teaching myself to groom, I found myself drawn to the same dogs and handler, though I didn't know it at the time.  I had my first show dog out with another handler, Lynette Spitzer, who was wonderful and taught me more than I can put into words, but one weekend at her house, I had the opportunity to meet him, and his #1 Bichon Frise - Sterling Rumor Has It.  Yes, the incomparable Paul Flores. We laughed and bonded over the fact that I was teaching myself to groom my dogs using the advertising photos of Rumor.  Over the years we emailed (remember dial-up), called, and we met up at shows.  He taught me so very much.  We laughed a lot, one time over what another exhibitor said to Paul "Did you teach her to groom?" He and his photos of Rumor definitely did. Then that led to me breeding my bitch to Rumor, producing Chilleykings Magic Touch.  After finishing Magic from the BBE class, that led me to David.  What was I going to do now that he was finished and still really a bit young to special, my friends asked?  Go to Canada they said.  I had a real job, I said.  Hire this guy, he does a great job, you'll love him.  That was David Scheiris.  He did, and still does, a great job.  The dogs love him and so do I.  Then I imported David to the US and we have been together ever since.  So Paul Flores was my greatest influence for my first chapter, and David Scheiris for my second and last chapter.  
 

Glenmoore, PA

My first breed was Bouvier des Flandres and I was fortunate enough to have wonderful mentors in Carl and Gladys May, pictured.  They bred under the kennel name Majeune Bouviers.  Carl was an AKC judge and, at the time, the only AKC judge who had actually judged Bouviers in Belgium.  His thoughtful comments about a ‘good’ dog really influenced what I bred and what I kept from a breeding.   He also wrote excellent articles for the Review about breeding, judging and evaluating puppies.   Gladys, while also a wonderful mentor regarding the breed, was the best mentor in actual breeding.  She guided me through the breeding actually doing some of the breeding herself, whelping and teaching me the best way to evaluate the puppies from the time they were a day old through watching them move as they played in the yard.  When I watch Bouviers in the ring, I still find myself hearing Gladys in the background with her sage comments.  My favorite was always “That dog has a hitch in his gittle.”
 

Acworth, NH

The ladies in Great Britain. Nora Hartley, Anastasia Noble, Agnes Linton, and Marjorie Bell. They all “worked” their Deerhounds and were a valuable link to earlier breeders. Perhaps Miss Noble the most. She bred Justina of Ardkinglas, a bitch, who many consider the best working, coursing Deerhound of all time. Tina was a lovely dark coated bitch, seriously under appreciated in the show ring! In the states, Babbi Tongren (Afghans), both Mary Jane Ellis and Sam Ewing (Wolfhounds) and Cora Miller for her lovely, very high quality Whippets!

 

Wimauma, FL

There are very many. Dr. Harry Smith, Lester Mapes, Jane Forsyth, Annie Hayworth Hoch.  Breeders Douglas Johnson OES, Leslie Dove, Mary Burke (Goldens), and Bruce Schultz (handler). 

 

North Fort Myers, FL

Having owned flat-coated retrievers for over 34 years the two people that influenced me the most are Joan Dever, who we lost in 2010, and Dr. Rachel Hill, an AKC Platinum breeder of merit.  Joan guided me and helped get our first flat-coat who finished her AKC championship in 1993.  Joan was an amazing mentor and provided guidance regarding all types of issues.  I got my first flat-coat (Quinn) from Rachel Hill in 2010 and Rachel has been nothing less than amazing.  Without her tutelage I would never have become a breeder.  I now enjoy watching her great grandsons and great granddaughters competing in several different AKC venues.  

 

Green Valley, AZ

There were many individuals who greatly influenced me in my life with dogs but there is no question in my mind that the greatest one was Grant Mann.

 Mr. Mann was one of the foundation breeders of GSDs in the U.S. His Liebestraum kennels produced many Champions,  National Specialty winners and top winning German Shepherd Dogs  in the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s.  He was also a dog show judge.  At the first dog  show I went to in 1957, his dog Ch.Luxi v Liebestraum was Best of Bred.  I wanted to meet him and tell him that my puppy came from his kennel,  but he was not at the dog show.  So several days later I gathered up enough courage to call him.  He was a very pleasant man on the phone and invited me to visit him and his dogs.  That evening I told my father that I was invited to meet Mr. Mann and visit his dogs so he had to take me there.  My father called Mr. Mann and the following week we went for a visit.  Dad liked Mr. Mann and thus he became my mentor and we kept in touch for many years.   

The best advice he gave me was as follows:

“Study and examine as many examples of the breed as possible, talk to as many successful breeders as you can, read as many books and articles about the breed as you can, get your hands on as many dog as possible, study genetics and get a feel for how traits of conformation as well as temperament are inherited and passed on through succeeding generations, and most of all keep learning and studying throughout your whole life with dogs as well as your horses. If you do this faithfully you will learn something new and useful throughout your career as a future veterinarian as well as a breeder."

He wrote this paragraph in a letter to me the year before I was accepted into veterinary school. He was a wonderful person and a great mentor.  He was the same age as my father and we kept in touch with each other for over 20 years until not too long before his death in 1980 at the age of 78.  As a breeder, exhibitor and judge he was certainly  one of the pillars of the breed.    I still miss him….    

 

Wall Twp, NJ

Peter Green influenced me the most In dog world! Peter was my handler for years, I learned so much, as an exhibitor, about movement, structure, coats. Peter never tired talking about dogs, and I never tired of listening. 

 

Albany, OR

Ralph and Mary Roberts were incredibly helpful to us as we were getting started back in the 70s. You couldn't ask for a more knowledgeable or friendly couple. They truly loved the German Shepherd Dog. I traveled with Mary whenever she came to the Midwest. They were two exceptional people who referred to us as their Kansas City kids.

Loma Rica, CA

Karen Staudt-Cartabona is without a doubt my the person who influenced me the most. I was very fortunate in my journey. After beginning in Borzoi with local breeders I decided to research pedigrees, history, etc to get the best start possible for my own breeding program. In doing so I kept finding that the dogs I felt best represented the breed repeatedly throughout every magazine, yearbook, and website were almost always at least half Majenkir. I gathered my courage as a rather shy person at age 18 and emailed Karen asking if I could possibly come to learn from her at her kennel. She graciously said yes and my life was forever changed. I spent a month at Majenkir the first time and was Karen’s shadow. She had around 35 dogs at the time, a litter or two of puppies,and we also attended a show. The education I received during that month was of immeasurable value. For the next ten years I made many more visits. She began in the breed in 1963 and has won all the awards someone of her stature is due: AKC Hound Breeder of the Year and Dog News/Pro Plan Breeder of the Year among others. My fiance, Stuart McGraw, had started in Borzoi in other bloodlines but he quickly joined me in learning from Karen. We purchased two adult bitches from her after my first visit and are now on our fourth generation. We have now bred three generations of all breed BIS Borzoi and two generations of #1 Borzoi all systems, all heavily influenced and some co bred by Majenkir. Karen is an artist and has an amazing ability to teach those wanting to learn about form and function while maintaining correct type as given to us by the early Russian stock brought over by Joseph Thomas in the early 1900s. I was very lucky that Karen shared so much of her time and knowledge with me, I am grateful for her influence.

 

Meridian, ID

We were lucky to be referred to Paul Booher, a very knowledgeable all-breed handler who live in Reno, not too long after we purchased our first Min Schnauzer in 1974.  He was one of those men “who had forgotten more than most people knew.” Paul was good to us, having great patience when we remember how clueless we were. When he called to tell us our first girl had won the Terrier Group, our reaction was basically, ‘Oh that’s nice’. (LOL!!)  He started teaching me coat work for the second girl, and by the third, he was mostly repairing my mistakes before taking her out.  Owen and I then decided to start handling our dogs ourselves, but Paul remained our best mentor, resource and friend. We look back over the years, amazed at how the world of dogs has shaped our lives, loving the dogs and puppies, our wonderful dog friends, the success at dog shows, the experience of judging, even the bonus of judging overseas, and always thank Paul.  We wouldn’t have made it without his help and guidance at the beginning. 

Jacksonville, FL

The person who influenced me the most during my early dog show career was George Heitzman. George was a handler campaigning one of the top-winning Siberians of the early 1970’s who was owned by one of our first true friends in the breed, Leslie Haggard. I was still a teenager when we attended George and Barbara’s wedding at the home of one of his clients and we remained close with both of them through their careers handling and then during their careers judging. George was a very skilled handler and taught me so much about grooming and presenting the Siberian Husky that I carried throughout my show career and it was a an unforgettable honor to be awarded one of our Best in Show awards by George many years later. Dog shows and handlers are so different today and true dog people are becoming a thing of the past. I recall a friend who was always saying “these are the good old days” while we were working so hard to make our mark and to be successful in our breed, and he was right. 

 

Temple City, CA

I was fortunate enough to be involved in dogs at a very young age in the mid 60’s. The days of influential breeding kennels, camaraderie, communication and commitment. Sure, everyone wanted to win, but it was a different vibe than what we see today. My mother, Beverly, was one of the early “bucket bitches” in our sport for Frank Sabella, so I was lucky enough to spend my childhood in Granada Hills at his kennel. He was very kind to me as I was so enamored with all of these beautiful dogs, and literally became a sponge trying to sop up every moment. He was a very glamorous man surrounded by wonderful people, which is where I met my true mentor… Gary Wittmeier. The years with Frank were so special, and the dogs I was able to see at such a young age were mesmerizing. But Frank retired in my early teens, and Gary was there to fill the void in an extraordinary way. He not only provided a plethora of knowledge, but he also became my best friend and traveling companion for over 40 years of absolute joy. He was a true master breeder in Poodles and reached unmatched levels of success in our sport, while always being kind and generous to all. I miss him so much, but I will always be grateful to have been so fortunate to have had him to shape my vision and my life in dogs. 

 

Brooksville, FL

I must say that my mother and father shaped who I am in this world. "Please and thank you" and to be grateful for what you have and share with others if you can. They have also imprinted in me what dog breeding is all about. That quality comes before quantity and to be the most critical of your own dogs and what you produce. 

Michael Canalizo and Roger Rechler taught me how to really create a breeding program, and, of course, show dogs at the utmost level of competition. 

 

Cranford, NJ

Thinking back, I have had two wonderful people with whom I have collaborated. The first was breeder judge Stephen G. C. Campbell. We became very good friends, attended many dog shows together and bred many litters under the Anbara Rimar prefix.  It included two Best in Show dogs and a couple of National Specialty winners. We are still good friends even though he switched breeds. 

The other person was breeder judge Marianne L. Nixon of San Jo Lhasa Apsos. Marianne was a wonderful teacher with a thirst for knowledge and the ability to understand what that knowledge offered in the evaluation of dogs. Even though she lived 3000 miles away our nightly phone calls were always filled with insight that always advanced my growing knowledge of the breed and dogs in general. If she didn’t know something she researched it until she found the answer. We talked structure , pedigrees and type endlessly.  She was always positive and encouraging.  I accomplished what I did in the breed because of these two people and my partner in dogs Sarah Fitzgerald who always was there to help with breeding and raising puppies. Pups went from my house to hers on a weekly basis so they became good car riders. Nobody does this game alone and I am very grateful for the people I had guiding me.

 

Laurel, FL

Ned and Sue Kauffman!! They helped me learn afghans thoroughly, answered tons of questions for me, and introduced me to others who were very helpful in my growing into our sport!!  I was educated not only on dogs, but also all about dog shows and how they are run! I was blessed to have them mentor me!

 

Appleton, Wisconsin

Over the course of my life there have been many who have been of significant influence: high school teachers, college professors, close friends and family members.  But, considering the fact that my interest in and love for dogs has dominated the past sixty years, I have to say that there were two people who have had the most influence on my life in dogs. 

The first was a retired Samoyed breeder who had moved to San Diego from Pennsylvania, John Butler.  John and his wife, Anne, conducted conformation classes on Thursday nights, year-round.  He ran them in eight-week sessions that we paid for in advance.  There was always a full class and a waiting list to get into the next one.  It became almost like a club or a family, if you will.  The only reason I got into my first series was because a friend with a Great Dane had signed up and changed his mind about attending.  Ralph gave me his spot.  That was in the very early 1960’s.  I did not miss a single “class” until John gave the classes up many years later.  He turned them over to me and another long-time student, Joe Ciaccio.  We ran the classes for another ten or so years.          

John knew dogs, and each meeting he conducted a training session, a discussion during which he lectured and answered questions and made coffee available to all attendees, and then another training session.  John talked about everything from the shoes we should be wearing to what to do during the hour before our class was called at dog shows.  What I learned from John provided the foundation to begin to learn about what made each breed unique.  Notice I said “begin to learn”, because the learning never stops.  I could name names of all the judges John mentored over the years.  The earliest I knew of were Bob and Dolly Ward. 

The other figure who was a tremendous influence came much later: Darrell Hayes.  Darrell was a Viet Nam Veteran, a gifted musician, an accomplished dog handler, an AKC Field Rep. and Vice President of Judging Operations; and he loved dogs.  I sat next to him at a major show whereat awards were being made during Groups.  A service dog was being honored and was being presented by his uniformed handler.  As we sat there, Darrell was wiping away tears that streamed down his face.  Darrell was a sensitive and gifted dog man through and through.  He loved dogs, and he loved the sport.  He hired me as a Field Rep and trained me.  There was never any doubt what his priorities were for himself and every member of his department.  His mantra was: “They deserve better than that.”  And it applied to all matters relating to the dogs, their breeders and their exhibitors.  It was not all about judges and judging.  It was/is about the Fancy: “They deserve better than that.”