Question of the Week

Steven L. Klein

Laveen, Arizona

My most prized possession is my hound grooming mitt, which I received when I got my first Whippet in 1965. A friend gave it to my mother, who gave it to me, as it was my responsibility to groom my dog.

It is still in use today. 

Richard F. Sedlack

Middlefield, Ohio

I call it the Richard F. Sedlack Dog Museum: I have Michael Hagen’s wood tack box, two of Mary Dukes’ crates, two of Bobby Peebles’ wood crates, and two of Jane and Bob Forsyths’ wood crates. Reminders of people I knew in my 54 years in the dog game.

Peter A. Gaeta

Iron Station, North Carolina

It is a tie between two things: I have an inconspicuous copper cup the size and shape of any ordinary coffee mug that I have kept on my desk full of pencils, pens, scissors and a letter opener for nearly 60 years. It was the trophy my first Great Dane won, placing second in a puppy class at the Del Sur Kennel Club “B” match. It was our first time in the ring, and Art Carter was the judge. 

Rivaling that is the memory of a particularly naughty young Bedlington Terrier that was a nightmare to control, but he kind of behaved for me. Terri and I bred him and kept him. I was his person, and I was the only one who could successfully walk him on a lead. He was quite a good young dog, and won several breeds from the classes. On one occasion when he was nearly finished, he won the breed and, in the group, moved straight ahead without fighting me or the lead. He placed in a highly competitive Southern California group that day. I was practically in tears as I left the ring, because it was the first time he ever moved on a lead with his head directly in front of his “sselerator.” He is also in my office in a special little box. 

Lorraine Bisso

Metairie, Louisiana 

My family gave me a small engraved Reverie bowl when I finished my first Irish Setter in 1968. I loved it then and I treasure it now 55 years later.
 

Bob Urban 

Greenwich, Ohio

My hand-built, redwood-stained wooden crates I received from Jerry and Elaine Rigden when they retired from handling. They were great mentors of mine when I was just starting out.

Meg Reidy

Ranger, Georgia

My first AKC certificate title. 

Ann Moore Schultz

Joppa, Maryland

Sentimental is the Delta Wings pin that O'Neill my Biewer Terrier earned on our flight to the Bahamas Kennel Club dog shows. Our international flight was delayed for more than three hours because of a fueling issue. It didn't take long before other passengers realized I had a dog with me under the seat. O'Neill ended up being passed around throughout the long delay. Of course, the stewards all came over to me (I'm thinking I'm in trouble) to explain that all the stewards have to agree on the recipient [of the Delta Wings] and that they all chose O'Neill because of his friendly nature and of course no accidents. The stewards told me that they usually give the Delta Wings pin to children, and that O'Neill was their first dog recipient. 

Mark Francis Jaeger

Mason, Michigan

This is a tough question to answer. 

Karin's is a gold ring that Margie Simon had made of a head study of her Brussels Griffon Ivan, who had been on the cover of the AKC Gazette. We met Ivan when we were in Houston in 1992 for the ABGA Specialty. I can't top that.

Kendall Lake 

Arlington, Texas

I have two pieces of jewelry: One is a small amount of cremains in a vial of my first Cairn, Fiona. The second is a nose print in silver of my top-ranked Cairn, Fergus. They are very precious to me.
 

Nancy Russell

Walsenburg, Colorado

The trophy for BIS presented to Int/Am/Can/Mex Ch. Glaciers' Storm Kloud CD, "Bear," by Prince Rainier of Monaco in May 1973 along with a photo that arrived later from the group judge, Mr. M. Swedrup of Sweden on which he had written these words: "The Malamute absolutely dominated." 

We were with a group of dog people that Peggy Anderson had organized to go on the 1973 Mediterranean circuit: San Remo, Italy; Monaco, and Nice, France. Most were judges but a couple of other people brought dogs to show. The first show was San Remo. When Bear went BIS, the spectators swarmed all over him, as he was the first Malamute to be shown in Italy. The next day a long article in the newspaper about him traced his heritage back to the Romans! 

The next show was in Monte Carlo, and the show chairman was Princess Antoinette, sister of Prince Rainier. For those readers old enough to remember movie star Grace Kelly, she was married to Prince Rainier. Princess Antoinette was not just the figurehead for the show, she actually ran it. She came over to the benching area, sat down next to Bear, and gave him a hug and kiss. She said he was the first Malamute to be shown in Monaco.

In the group ring that day, Bear trotted down and on the turn to come back he looked at the crowd and went "Woo, Woo, Woo." The crowd loved it. We won the group, and we were led by flag bearers to the area of the ring in front of the Royal Family to be presented with the group trophy. As we passed the BIS platform, Bear did a flying leap up on it and pulled lead right out of my hand. I was so embarrassed, but he loved the crowd's laughter and applause. 

Each group winner sat or stood on his own white circle in the ring while the rest of the groups were judged. We were the first group so with nine more to go, I had Bear lie down on the circle and I sat beside him. When the winner of the next Group was applauded, Bear jumped up and went, "Woo, woo, woo." He thought he had won again. After about the fourth group win, he figured out the applause wasn't for him and lay quietly until BIS judging. 

But he had convinced the crowd that he should be the winner, and when he gaited for BIS he was definitely the favorite. When the judge pointed to him for BIS, the crowd went crazy. We were led to the BIS platform and Prince Rainier presented us with the BIS trophy. It was like a fairy tale: How many dogs can claim they were petted by a prince and kissed by a real princess.

Bo Bengtson

Ojai, California

Probably the little silver cup that I got and still have for winning a class of two at the first dog show I ever attended, in April 1960. I had a SHOW DOG and I could prove it! Sixty-three years later and half a world away, it still means a lot to me.

Kassi McLaughlin

Texas

Most sentimental thing for me is my leather show lead. I’ve made every champion and grand champion I’ve ever had on this lead. Over 25 years of dogs.  

Dana Read

Hillsborough, North Carolina 

A drawer in my dresser that holds the cremains of my dogs. It is my wish that their cremains and rosettes be added as mementos to my coffin prior to my cremation. Perhaps this is a bit of a morbid "favorite," but that drawer is so full of memories that I tap each container on its lid every time I open the drawer!

Sue Lackey

Covesville, Virginia

A custom-made corduroy kennel coat ordered for Greyhound Ch. Just Breezing by her breeder, Joseph Batten. The pattern of that coat taught me everything I needed to know about correct Greyhound outline. 

Allan Reznik

Eureka Springs, Arkansas

My books, magazines and artwork. Many of the books are signed by their authors who were also dear friends, now gone, among them Thelma Brown, Ed Gilbert, Conni Miller, Sue Kauffman, Rick Beauchamp, Joan MacDonald Brearley, Anna Katherine Nicholas and others. I miss them all, and think of them often. The artwork provides a sentimental connection to talented Afghan Hound artists/friends like Kay Finch, Lee Canalizo, Marcia Van Woert and Betsy Treharne.

Barbara Burns

Freeport, Illinois

I received a bronze piece made by Bob Winship at the Gordon Setter National by going Best of Opposite in Sweepstakes. The donor of the trophy requested that the artist destroy the mold after making it, so now it is a "one of a kind," as with all the other bronze pieces offered as trophies. It is of a Mother Goose with her wings spread out protecting three goslings on a maple stand. I plan on passing it down to my heirs.

Wayne Ferguson

Broadway, New Jersey

That's an easy one, my first BIS trophy. It was at the Greater Miami Dog Club on January 22, 1978, with my Smooth Saint Bernard "Dexter," handled by Alan Levine under the iconic Anna Katherine Nicholas. 

Len Reppond

San Leandro, California

I have three objects that I hold dear to my heart. None are valuable, but all were gifts from dear friends who are no longer with us. Richard Hammond gave me a Miss Piggy mug for Christmas one year, John Shelton a small stained glass plaque of Whippets, and Ann Katona gave me a friendship statue for my garden. I miss all three friends greatly, but feel an immediate connection when I see any of these objects.