Question of the Week

Pat Trotter

Carmel, CA

Ellsworth Gamble because he was the greatest dogman ever, IMHO. Not only was he the ultimate purist, he was the most knowledgeable of judges. Because he was a student until the end of his life, he was my icon and the example I still follow today.

Mr. Gamble was a continuing inspiration to breeders and judges. I think of him often and long for the opportunity to revisit him.

 

Terry Hundt

Sandy Hook, CT

I really miss Pat Laurans. We had a 63-year friendship. This began in college. When I started to judge, Pat was my mentor. We spent many hours talking dogs, judging procedures and  how to relate kindly to the exhibitor. I miss her mostly because she a wonderful person, always willing to help someone who needs it.

 

Mallory Cosby Driskill

Goode, VA

I would love to revisit with my mentors in Tibetan Spaniels, Herb and Betty Rosen (Bet R). I had never shown a dog except in obedience, and I met Herb and Betty at a Virginia Rare Breed show.  From that point, they took me into the world of showing dogs and breeding.  Would love to revisit them to see what they think of the current Tibetan Spaniels being shown. 

 

Barbara Miller

Old Brookville, NY

That’s easy.. I would love to have another doggy conversation with Carol Reisman who recently passed. Carol had humor, knowledge, and love of all animals.  Another I’d love to have a conversation with would be Matt Stander.  Matt was brilliant in all areas of politics, AKC, baseball, canines and above all, people.  He was my most often early morning telephone call.  When certain people touch your heart they remain there forever.

 

Bobbie Wood

Cranford, NJ

The first person I would love to revisit would be Marianne Nixon, San Jo Lhasa Apsos, who was my friend and mentor for most of my involvement with the breed. She was always willing to share her knowledge and I always felt a conversation with her gave me insight that enriched my understanding of my breed and dogs in general.

The other person would be Dr. Sam Draper.  Sam was a friend of genuine happiness. He always made me feel good about decisions I had made and was always encouraging me to go forward. He was such a positive person and that is a trait to be cherished always. Loved the time spent in his company and will never forget him.

 

Mary G. Guthrie

Canadensis, PA

Karl Stearns. He was one of the nicest people in dogs. We miss him so much. Our hearts go out to his wife Helene. You should do an article on him.

 

Jinny Nealon

Plymouth, MA

I wish I could sit and share a glass of wine with my of friend and mentor Dot Simberland of Fieldfine Kennels German Shorthaired Pointers. When I was just a "kid" of 23, Dot entrusted a male show quality puppy with me from her top producer "Fieldfine's Tascha". Dot instructed me on how to groom and condition for the show ring, to take handling classes and was always there with recommendations of judges who she thought would like this puppy and guided me on ring procedure and etiquette. "Fieldfine's Lord Byron" went on to become the first of many Champions over a 50 year career in dogs. Dot was not only a cherished friend but the mentor I needed in the beginning of my time in dogs especially since I did not come from a Dog Show Family. I have bought puppies over the years from many breeders in other breeds and never been given the support or mentorship I received from Dot. I went on to produce a National Specialty Show BOB winner and Best In Show winners have been produced by dogs from my lines. Thank you Dot for your friendship and mentorship along the road of life in dogs.

 

Mary and Scott Olund

St. Helena, CA

We have two that we would want to revisit with. Dr. Harry Smith and Dennis McCoy. The main reason is just "because they are missed."

 

Jay Phinizy

Acworth, NH

There are loads of folks! For starters, Doug Bundock who handled my mother’s Cairns, and who was one of the first persons responsible for the Australian Shepherds. When we first got a Deerhound, Malachi, we went to him at a show. Sired by AM, Can, Mex Ch Liath Ian of Dalmahoy, we asked him how we could get a red, brindle coat. Patient but busy, he replied while he was grooming Ian suggesting that we “brush” -  every day - Malachi’s coat. Years later at dinner at my mother’s in Sonoma, I said to him “...Doug we never did get a red, brindle coat, but you were clever. We got one of the harshest coats ever…” He just chuckled. The other handler was Martha Covington Thorne who wrote what I called  The "Joy of Cooking" of Dog handling books, “Handling Your Own Dog." Published by Doubleday; Martha wrote that book pretty much at our house. Both were greatly responsible for our success in the show ring. They were what “showing dogs" was all about, caring and helping others! Old time professional handlers, really!

 

John Savory

Keswick, VA

This question of the week is certainly well planned being on the heels of the question raised a couple of weeks ago on favorite dogs that we greatly admired owned. This week’s question is certainly an easy one for me, being a  long-term Irish Setter devotee. My old friend and mentor Ted Eldredge was known to many of you and his name still is mentioned in glowing terms although it is now some 40+ years since he departed to the Elysian Fields, hopefully filled with glorious Tirvelda-type Irish Setters. Tirvelda was Ted’s kennel name derived of course from his own name, Edward Irving Eldredge.

Ted certainly did come into this world with a silver spoon in his mouth. He was the only son and heir to a wealthy family and was born in Brooklyn and raised on a luxurious property on Long Island. As a young boy he was sent away to boarding school, The Millbrook School, where he was lonely but got some solace from the school’s biology teacher who he helped to establish a Zoo, the Trevor Zoo named after the teacher. This Zoo is still in existence as far as I know. At an early age, Ted started a life-long attachment to Irish Setters and was most superbly steered into breeding and showing by a highly successful breeder, Lee Schoen whose Kinvarra Irish Setters greatly influenced the breed. The type of Irish Setter that Ted developed was similar but not the same as what came out of the Kinvarra Kennel, similar but distinctively Tirvelda. Also Ted took pride in maintaining his type and often said that what he produced in the 1930s was similar to those in the 1980s -typically Tirvelda.   

Ted was tall in stature but not authoritative. He was always kind and courteous and keenly interested in imparting his vast knowledge of Irish Setters to anyone who wanted to learn, and there were lots of those who fell into that category. When I was still in my formative years as a dog breeder he went to some effort to ensure that I learned structure especially front assembly and movement. One of my favorite memories was when I was visiting him in the early days and we were walking up the hill from the kennel area to his house  with several Irish Setter accompanying us. Just above us a Concorde aircraft, a highlight of modern engineering’ had taken off from Dulles airport and was banking to get on the correct flight path. I made some inane comment which Ted did not hear since his focus was on his dogs. All he said was “Just look at the rear action of that bitch and what lovely front movement she has” – typical of a top level dog person. Ted went on to a stellar judging career and wrote extensively about Irish Setters. He judged at Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show including Best in Show. He died in 1985 and is buried at the lovely Trinity Episcopal Church in Upperville, VA; and his headstone bears the silhouette of his beloved Irish Setter Girl, Ch. Tirvelda Nutbrown Sherry, and the words of Samuel Taylor Coleridge are etched in stone – “He prayeth best who loveth best all creatures great and small”. After the ceremony my dear friend Connie Lyons, a long time Irish Setter devotee, embraced. We were unable to speak and we shed many tears. We are both still involved with Irish Setters as nonagenarians (surprisingly for such an outgoing breed). My life in dogs has not been the same without my mentor and true friend, Ted Eldredge -Mr. Irish Setter

 

Lynda Lamensdorf    

Memphis TN

I would love a chance to speak with Ann Stevenson (Mrs. Santa Barbara). A wonderful judge , so smart and funny (one on one) out of the ring. I learned so much just watching her, and I always understood what she was doing in her placements, and why. AND FAIR! She always was.

 

Edy Dykstra-Blum

Ocala, FL

I would love to revisit with Jean Fournier. When I started out judging she was a great mentor and became a friend. We shared many similar ideas and she also loved Jazz music, the music I was fed to with my baby bottle.  I still miss her such a wonderful person she was.

 

 

Amy Kiell Green

Flemington, NJ

Chuck Winslow

If you know, you know.