September
2000 Newsletter - Volume
3. Issue 9
In
This Issue
©2000 MB-F, Inc.
You may use this paragraph as
permission to reprint any article in the MB-F Newsletter providing 6rticles are printed in
their entirety, proper credit is given to the author and to the MB-F Newsletter, and a
copy of the publication in which it was reprinted is sent to the MB-F Newsletter, P.O. Box
22107, Greensboro, NC 27420. Opinions expressed by authors in this publication are their
own and are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher. Publisher reserves the right to
edit.
From
Where I Sit
by John S. Ward
Is it easier or more difficult
these days to finish a breed championship than it was 10 years
ago? Are we in an era of cheap championships or have these awards
become more difficult to obtain than in past years?
These questions have been in the
back of my mind for some time now because of my perception that
the number of dog shows is slowly but steadily increasing
accompanied by, I presume, a corresponding rise in the number of
dog show entries each year. Two factors are involved in this
increase, the emergence of Group dog shows and the ever more
popular back-to-back shows.
It is somewhat early for evaluation
of the impact of Group shows, but back-to-back shows have been
around for several years and their impact on the number of entries
is readily apparent to me. I belong to a moderate sized all-breed
club which converted its single-day show to the back-to-back
format a couple of years ago. We discovered to our surprise and
pleasure that not only did we have two shows instead of one, but
that the entry in the larger of the two shows was about 15% higher
than the entry in our previously held one-day show. I am inclined
to believe that most all-breed shows which have adopted the
two-day format observed a similar increase.
How does one go about evaluation of
the impact of more numerous dog shows on the task of finishing a
dog’s breed championship? The first question that has to be
answered I believe is whether the number of championships is
increasing or decreasing in proportion to the general population
of purebred dogs. A crude but interesting statistic would result
from a comparison of the overall number of breed championships
awarded in a single year to the total number of dogs registered
with the AKC for that same year. If this ratio goes up it is
reasonable to suppose that championships are easier to obtain.
Things become a little more
complicated from now on. The AKC in effect determines the number
of championships awarded each year by means of its championship
point schedule. This schedule lists the number of points available
at any show within a particular geographic division, and by the
breed and sex of the dogs in competition. The point schedule
changes yearly and is arrived at by a formula known only to the
AKC. The last information I have on the matter is that the point
schedule is set so as to provide majors at 20% of the shows held
in that year, excluding breed specialties. The formula is far more
complicated obviously than can be explained here, even if I knew
how it worked. I am sure however that in this high tech era it
should be possible to manipulate the data already collected in
such a way that we can gain greater insight as to whether
championships are easier or harder to win now than in the past. If
it has not already done so, it would be interesting if the AKC
were to develop a computer model for tracking this question and
made their results known to the dog fancy.
There is one more approach to
answering this question. Each year the AKC Gazette in its April
issue lists data on dogs in competition at all conformation shows
in the previous year. It should be possible somehow to combine
this data with championship statistics so as to indicate the
trends we have discussed above. I would like to be able to conduct
such a study myself, but it is beyond my capability at this time.
I would appreciate however hearing from any knowledgeable number
crunchers among my readers as to how this or any other approach to
answering the championship question could be carried out. You may
write me care of MB-F or send e-mail to w4ecs@mindspring.com.
Top of Page
You
Didn't Ask, But...
by Dorie Crowe
You didn’t ask, but here’s what
I think:
Every exhibitor who drives a
motorhome or RV to a dog show should have to work the parking at
their local shows at least twice.
Every exhibitor who drives to a dog
show and unloads tack, crates and dogs should have to work the
unloading area at their local shows at least twice.
Every exhibitor who comes through
the admittance gate at a dog show should have to work the gate at
their local shows at least twice.
Every exhibitor who chooses to
bathe, dry, scissor and/or clipper their dogs at a show should
have to clean up the grooming area after their local shows at
least twice.
Every exhibitor who roams the
grounds or building with their dog should have to work pick-up at
their local shows at least twice.
Every exhibitor who believes they
should let their dog lift its leg anywhere it chooses should have
to help (1) break down the equipment at their local shows at least
twice, and (2) help clean up the boxes, barrels, flowers, etc.,
after their local shows at least twice.
Every exhibitor who complains about
the stewards at a show should have to work as a steward at their
local shows at least twice.
Every exhibitor who complains about
their judging time should have to write a judging schedule at
least twice (taking into account club requests, the 27 requests to
be first in the eight rings, the 32 requests for an early time,
short-nosed dogs, black-coated dogs, meetings and lunches, judges’
planes, dogs that need much grooming vs dogs that need little
grooming, separating the varieties, separating certain breeds,
etc., etc., etc.).
Every exhibitor who complains about
a judging panel should have to work on the committee that chooses
judges for their local shows at least twice. (This does not mean
choosing judges that benefit you, but judges that will benefit the
club with a good entry and benefit exhibitors with good judges,
keeping within the club budget, working around all the various
schedules and needs of the judges and needs and wants of members
and friends.)
Every exhibitor who complains about
a substitute judge should have to try to find an approved judge
who can take 175 dogs of different Groups who can be on the
grounds by 8:30 on show morning. You should have to do this at
least twice – once beginning at 4:30 p.m. on the day before the
show and once beginning at 6:30 a.m. the morning of the show.
Every exhibitor who complains about
a show grounds or show building should have to be part of the site
committee of their local shows at least twice – once for an
indoor show and once for an outdoor show – and be responsible
for finding the ideal (or just plain adequate) site for their
shows.
Every exhibitor who complains about
the restrooms at an indoor facility should have to keep them
supplied and clean during the show and then clean up that restroom
at the end of the show - at least twice.
Every exhibitor who complains about
a typo in their entry information or their ad should have to
process entries or ads at least twice (taking into account the
entry forms that have been chewed on by the dogs or crossed out
one dog’s info and adding another, been spilled on, etc., and
the ads written in crayon on paper towels, no identification on
the photos, etc.).
Every exhibitor who stays in a
hotel/motel with their dog should have to clean the rooms of other
exhibitors at least twice.
Every exhibitor who does actually
work at their local shows, devoting their time exclusively to
helping the club(s) should be thanked at least twice.
Top of Page
Memorial
to Stuart S. Sliney
Our friend and former MB-F
Superintendent Stuart S. “Bud” Sliney passed away August 17, 2000 in
Palmetto, FL, at the age of 92. A native of Wilton, CT, he moved to
Greensboro, NC in 1970 and obtained his superintending license with MB-F
that same year. He became an Executive Vice President of MB-F in 1973.
In addition to his primary duties as a Superintendent, Bud also had the
additional responsibility of office manager and show coordinator.
Bud came to MB-F with a wealth of experience and knowledge of the dog
business. One of the purchasing agents for the Shell Oil Company from
1930-1952, Bud’s career in dogs began
in 1948 as a breeder and exhibitor of Boxers. As a Boxer enthusiast he
became a member of the American Boxer Club in 1949 (and a lifetime
member in 1974), a member of the N.Y. Boxer Club from 1950-1970 and a
member of the Newtown Kennel Club from 1951-1970.
After leaving Shell Oil, he
became an account executive for the Cook Paint and Varnish Co. of Kansas
City, until 1961, when handling became his exclusive career. He was a
licensed Professional Handler of all breeds from 1954-1970. During that
time Bud served on the Board of Directors of the American Boxer Club
from 1954-1960; was Show Chairman of the American Boxer Club for two
years (‘53-’54); Vice President of the American Boxer Club in 1959;
President of the Newtown Kennel Club for five years, and President of
the N.Y. Boxer Club for three years. He was also a member of the
Professional Handlers Association for 10 years.
He worked out of our
Greensboro offices from 1970 until 1984 when he moved to Palmetto with
his wife, Margaret (Peg). He continued to go to shows as a “weekender”
for several years and after that time kept in touch, occasionally
attending shows as a spectator in Florida.
Bud was well-known for his distinct personality, ready wit, and an
abiding love of dogs and the dog game, though he did make room in his
heart for a cat in his household in Florida. We enjoyed Bud’s tales of
the “old days,” tales of some new thing the cat was doing, and what
new book he had found. He especially liked talking about his daughters,
their families, and each of his grandchildren. His knowledge of the dog
business helped many clubs along the way and he had a hand in the
success of many a new club’s show. He will be missed by his many
friends.
He is survived by his two daughters, Frances Hemstreet of Palmetto, and
Florence Reinerman of Newton Centre, MA, and his six grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may
be made to Hospice of Southwest Florida, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL
34238.
Top of Page
A
Word From the AKCCHF
GOLF TOURNAMENT FUNDRAISER
DEDICATED TO DOG SHOW JUDGE
The First Annual AKC Canine Health
Foundation Hackers & Backers Golf Tournament will be held
January 8, 2001 in Sarasota, FL. It will be held in conjunction
with the Manatee Kennel Club and Sara Bay Kennel Club dog shows.
This year, the tournament will be dedicated to the memory of
Eleanor Rotman and will be sponsored by VPI (Veterinary Pet
Insurance) with support from Pedigree. Funds raised will benefit
the Foundation to advance the health of dogs.
The golf tournament will honor the
work of Eleanor Rotman, who passed away in May of this year. She
was a much respected multiple group and obedience judge for 25
years. Mrs. Rotman truly loved the game of golf, so it is fitting
that the First Annual AKC Canine Health Foundation Hackers &
Backers Golf Tournament is dedicated to her. “She would have
been pleased to be associated with an event that benefits the AKC
Canine Health Foundation, a cause important in her life in dogs,”
commented Dr. Sheldon Adler, event Chairperson and Director of the
AKC Canine Health Foundation.
The tournament is a scramble, and
will be held at the Legacy Golf Course in Sarasota. Tickets to the
event are $100 per person. Tickets include a day of golf and a
cart, with morning coffee and danish, a box lunch, and cocktails
and dinner. Gift bags will be given to all attendees, and an
awards ceremony will honor the highlights of the day. To register
for the tournament or inquire about sponsorship opportunities,
call the AKC Canine Health Foundation toll-free at 1-888-682-9696.
AKC CHF HOSTS 4TH NATIONAL PARENT
CLUB CANINE HEALTH CONFERENCE IN 2001
Every breed of dog registered by
the American Kennel Club, from Golden Retrievers to Shih Tzus,
Dachshunds to St. Bernards, will be represented at a conference
that will focus on the health of dogs. The AKC Canine Health
Foundation will host the 4th National Parent Club Canine Health
Conference at the St. Louis Marriott Hotel the weekend of October
19-21,2001. The Ralston Purina Company will be the major corporate
sponsor of the biennial event; additional sponsors will be named
later.
This conference traditionally is
the largest gathering of scientists and health representatives
from each breed of dog registered by the American Kennel Club, and
organizations involved in the field of canine health. Conference
sessions will feature presentations and discussions about the
latest advances in canine health research with speakers
representing the leading veterinary schools and institutions in
the country. International representatives from breed clubs are
also expected.
In the past, such notable speakers
as Dr. Elaine Ostrander of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research
Center in Seattle, and Dr. Malcolm Willis of the University of
Newcastle in England, have participated. Researchers will announce
major breakthroughs as a result of their canine health research.
The conference affords an opportunity for parent club
representatives not only to learn, but to have an interactive
exchange with the foremost scientists on canine health on a
one-to-one basis.
The sponsorship of the Ralston
Purina Company continues a partnership with the AKC Canine Health
Foundation. Ralston Purina has provided support for research
grants in canine genetics and for research and education
conferences. This conference is a unique cooperative effort
between the largest distributor of dog food in the U.S. and the
largest funder of canine health research in the world.
The mission of the AKC Canine
Health Foundation is to develop significant resources for basic
and applied health programs with emphasis on canine genetics to
improve the quality of life for dogs and their owners. For
information about the work of the Foundation and ways to donate,
contact the AKC Canine Health Foundation, 251 Garfield Rd., Suite
160, Aurora, OH 44202. Inquiries are also welcome toll-free at
1-888-682-9696. The website address is www.akcchf.org
Your dog can’t
do this, but YOU can!
Send Dollars for
Dogs
Your contribution of
$1 or more will help fund needed canine health research.
If everyone gives a little, we can do a lot!
Call toll-free 1-888-682-9696 or log onto
www.akcchf.org or www.infodog.com
Top of
Page
Morris
& Essex Kennel Club,
by Arthur Frederick Jones
(This excerpted article is
reprinted with permission from the July 1941 AKC Gazette. We hope
you have enjoyed these glimpses into the past as Morris and Essex
prepared to launch their upcoming October 5, 2000 event. We wish
them much success in their revival of this event and look forward
to an article and photos on their 2000 show.)
Some of us dream about retirement
as the Utopian state, but the only ones who ever really enjoy it
are those who were not of particular importance when active. Those
who amounted to anything in the world of affairs usually itch to
get back into the whirl.
This desire to recall the past must
have been actuating a certain gentleman hunter one day in the
middle of May. He’d been out on a short safari and had come back
with a mixed bag that should have satisfied anyone. But he was
restless. He yearned for something that had come to be meat and
drink to him.
Approaching his home, he looked to
right and left. There was no one in sight on the broad lawn.
Thinking himself unobserved, he stood still. The better to
crystallize a mirage that had appeared before his eyes, he lifted
his head and drew his well-muscled body to taut attention. Now the
scene was clear, vivid, and as close as it had ever been in the
past.
That hunter was a dog – Ch.
Nornay Saddler – the Smooth Fox Terrier whose winnings have
surpassed those of any other dog in competition since dog shows
were first instituted. Saddler had been living the life of a
country squire for eight months; since that day at the Somerset
Hills Kennel Club exhibition in Far Hills, NJ, when he had beaten
all specimens to register his 55th Best in Show victory at
exhibitions held in Canada or the United States. It was no wonder
he ached for the crowds and the competition and the spirit of
carnival. After such a career, Saddler was a confirmed trouper.
Saddler’s self-initiated tableaux
on the deserted lawn, fortunately was not unobserved. From a
window of the house sympathetic eyes noted the yearning apparent
in that classically proportioned, black-and-white, saddle-marked
body. The eyes belonged to James M. Austin, who, with young Miss
Madeleine West, owns this brilliant Smooth Fox Terrier that has
won so much in the ring and has added greater fame to the Wissaboo
Kennels through the champion sons and daughters he has sired.
Mr. Austin decided then and there
to bring Ch. Nornay Saddler out of retirement to challenge for
Best in Show at Morris and Essex, an honor that had eluded him
three times before. And this decision was not based, alone, on any
sentimental desire to let Saddler drink deeply once more of a
scene he loved. Mr. Austin was convinced that Saddler’s
unrestricted outdoor life had put him in the pink of condition and
that he might have a better chance of carrying off the final prize
at Madison, New Jersey, than he had in 1937, when he got as far as
Best Fox Terrier, and in 1938 and 1939, on both of which occasions
he had won the Terrier Group and had been an undeclared runner-up
for the main trophy.
The decision to enter Ch. Nornay
Saddler in the show that has been built to such perfection during
the past 15 years by Mrs. M. Hartley Dodge was such a last minute
one that for a time Mr. Austin doubted that the entry blank would
arrive in time. It did, and with its arrival the die was cast for
an historic day of competition – a day that was to add the final
accolade to a crown already well adorned.
It is believed that when the
catalog of this year’s Morris and Essex show is checked by the
AKC it will be discovered that Ch. Nornay Saddler went to the head
of one of the largest collections of dogs ever benched under the
miles of tenting on the big greensward at Madison. This statement
is made advisedly, despite the fact that the number of dogs named
in the catalog this year – 3,883 – was exceeded at each of the
four shows immediately preceding it. The answer is that, this
year, there was a much smaller percentage of absentees.
Everything else about Morris and
Essex was bigger, this year, than at any time in the 15 years that
the purebred dog has been glorified at Madison. There were more
cars parked, more people flowing through the entrance gates, more
luncheons served to exhibitors and also to the judges and special
guests, more hamburgers and bottles of pop and hot dogs and
bottles of beer sold at the special cafeteria tent, more catalogs
printed and sold.
More space was allotted to the
judging rings and all the aisles had been widened so that one
could walk about the great show with more ease. And the number of
chairs provided at the ringsides had been increased so that a
greater proportion of the spectators could sit in comfort to watch
the judging. The big canvas tops had grown some more, with greater
square yardage spread so that had it been necessary to judge under
them the rings would have been more spacious than in the past.
There were more dog writers in the
special reporters’ building, and it is safe to say that the
telegraphers’ “bugs” rattled off many more thousands of
words than had been sent from the grounds at any previous Morris
and Essex show. Dropping in at this busy spot one could see
familiar faces from all over the country. It was truly a gathering
of the clans.
The tremendous amount of work that
had gone forward during the past year in leveling, enlarging,
installing a modern sprinkling system, and reseeding the huge
expanse of the polo field had borne rich dividends. It had a
beautiful turf – so smooth and firm that there could not be the
possible shadow of an excuse for a dog to do anything but move in
the best fashion.
Once more Morris and Essex followed
its policy of giving the exhibitors in all the breeds – and
there were 91 benched – just what they wanted in the matter of
judges and in the way of judging. In breeds such as Cockers,
Dachshunds, and Fox Terriers, the three-judge system was employed,
but it was up to the specialty clubs as to how the work of these
men was divided.
American Cockers had one judge,
English Cockers another, and a third man decided Best of Breed.
The Smooth and Wire Fox Terriers followed this system, but in
Dachshunds, all the males, regardless of coat, were judged by one
man, and all the females came before another. The intersex
competition, all the specials, and Best of Breed were judged by a
third.
Out of the 91 breeds that came to
Madison, again the classes of 34 were listed as specialty shows.
Some of these breeds might not otherwise have been able to get
together such large collections. The overhead expenses of separate
specialty shows would be too much for the small memberships in
these clubs to bear.
With one of the most beautiful days
of the entire spring season definitely established by sunup, the
smoothly geared Morris and Essex machinery rolled into action long
before most people in this land had arrived at the breakfast
table. Everyone connected with the show was given a last minute
check-up on duties by “Mac” Halley, the omniscient
generalissimo of the forces and every man and boy was at his post
when the first station wagon sped up to the gates with its load of
hopeful contenders.
And all during the long day, there
was never a letup in the quiet flow of directed power that brought
dogs into the ring when they were supposed to be there, awarded
ribbons and trophies just as they had been listed, caused flowers
to sprout in the middle of green expanses, made small rings
disappear and other, large ones arise in their place, and that
generally anticipated the needs of dogs, exhibitors, judges,
spectators, reporters, photographers, movie camera crews, and
everyone else who came to see or be a part of the world’s
largest dog show.
So efficiently did the judging
swing along – yet seemingly unhurried – that something of a
record must have been hung up when Enno Meyer signaled Ch. Nornay
Saddler to the center of the ring as the best dog in all breeds in
the show before 5:30 in the afternoon. It was truly remarkable
that 3,883 dogs could be judged between nine o’clock in the
morning and such an early hour in the afternoon. Such a thing, of
course, could not be accomplished without the best of cooperation
among the 65 judges, their stewards, and the employees of the
George F. Foley Dog Show Organization, to say nothing of the many
permanent and special employees of Giralda Farms.
Shortly after Mr. Meyer had made
his choice, Mrs. Dodge came to the center of the ring in a wheel
chair for the presentation of the show’s major trophies and
rosettes. The sponsor of the great show thus exhibited the
splendid sportsmanship that always had characterized her actions.
Two weeks before, at the Orange Kennel Club show, she had been
bowled over by a dog and in the fall had broken her ankle.
|
Mrs. Dodge
(l), Mr.Myer (center),
Mr. Austin and Saddler.
(Photo by P. T. Jones) |
 |
Mrs. Dodge was reluctant to enter
the ring in a wheel chair, but her love of good dogs is
so great that she would not disappoint the throngs who had come to
witness the finale.
Ch. Nornay Saddler accepted the
honors with his usual natural-ness, jumping up
to kiss the hand of one who has done so much to put the purebred
dog on such a high plane in America and throughout the world. The
principal prize accepted by Mr. Austin – who had piloted his
favorite through all the classes – was the beautiful P.A.
Rockefeller Trophy.
Mrs. Dodge also presented to Mrs.
Pearl Armstrong of Long Beach, Calif., the Geraldine R. Dodge
Trophy which had been won by the latter’s Bloodhound, Ch.
Buccaneer of Idol Ours, as the Best American-Bred in the show. It
was the first time a Bloodhound had ever gone so high at this
show.
In the two previous years at Morris
and Essex the dog that went Best in Show also won the
American-Bred honor, but Ch. Nornay Saddler’s victory made the
edge 8 to 7 for dogs bred outside the United States . . .
One could write of quality among
the 3,883 dogs at Morris and Essex, but unless one became specific
regarding each dog, it would mean very little. Suffice it to say,
then, that the dogs that came up to take the major honors had been
deemed supreme by judges so experienced that no comment is
necessary beyond a listing of their placings . . .
Great honor attached to all the
dogs that scored, even in the lesser classes, because of the
tremendously large entry. But before everything else at Morris and
Essex, the perfect presentation of a show of purebred dogs is the
big and lasting thing.
Top of Page
The Shaggy Dog Stories
THE BREEZE IN HER HAIR
“I was walking along the beach
with your new girlfriend the other day, and the wind blew her hair
in her face.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, then the wind blew her hair
in my face.”
“Yes, so what?”
“Well, then the wind blew her
hair in the ocean.”
(submitted via the Internet)
A LITTLE HELP . . .
A single man wanted someone to help
him with the household chores, so he decided to get a pet to help
out. He went to the local pet shop and asked the owner for advice
on a suitable animal. The owner suggested a dog, but the man said,
“Nah, dogs can’t do dishes.” The owner then suggested a cat,
but the man said, “Nah, cats can’t do the ironing.”
Finally the owner suggests a
centipede, “This is the perfect pet for you. It can do anything!”
“OK,” the man thought, “I’ll
give it a try,” so he bought it and took it home. Once home he
told the centipede to wash the dishes. The centipede looks over
and there are piles and piles of dirty dishes that look to be a
month old. Five minutes later, all are washed, dried, and put
away. “Great,” thought the man.
Now he told the centipede to do the
dusting and vacuuming. Fifteen minutes later the house is
spotless. “Wow,” thought the man, so he decided to try another
idea. “Go down to the corner and get me the evening paper,” he
told the centipede, and off it went.
Fifteen minutes later, the
centipede hadn’t returned. Thirty minutes later and still no
centipede. Forty-five minutes and the man was sick of waiting, so
he got up and went out to look for the centipede.
As he opened the front door, there
on the step was the centipede. “Hey, whatcha’ doing there? I
sent you out for the paper 45 minutes ago and now I find you out
here without the paper! What gives?”
“Hold on a minute!” said the
centipede, “I’m still putting on my boots!”
(submitted via the Internet)
MAIL CALL
A man was in his front yard mowing
grass when his attractive blonde female neighbor came out of the
house and went straight to the mail box. She opened it and then
slammed it shut, and stormed back in the house.
A little later she came out of her
house again, went to the mailbox and again opened it, and slammed
it shut again. Angrily, she huffed back into the house. As the man
was getting ready to edge the lawn, there she was again, marching
to the mailbox, opening it, and again slamming it shut harder than
ever.
Puzzled by her actions, the man
asked her, “Is something wrong?”
To which she replied, “There
certainly is!”
(Are you ready?)
(Are you really ready?)
“My stupid computer keeps saying
“You’ve got Mail!”
(submitted via the Internet)
IT’S BETTER TO GIVE . . .
A local charity’s office realized
that it had never received a donation from the town’s most
successful lawyer. The person in charge of soliciting donations
called him to persuade him to contribute.
“Our research shows that out of a
yearly income of at least $500,000, you give not a penny to
charity. Wouldn’t you like to give back to the community in some
way?”
The lawyer mulled this over for a
moment and replied, “First, did your research also show that my
mother is dying after a long illness, and has medical bills that
are several times her annual income?”
Embarrassed, the representative
mumbled, “Um...no.”
“Or that my brother, a disabled
veteran, is blind and confined to a
Humor is a good thing.
If you have a favorite doggy laff
-- particularly a true story --
please send it in and share a good laff with fellow dog enthusiasts.
Send to:
MB-F, Inc.
c/o The Shaggy Dog
P.O. Box 22107
Greensboro, NC 27420
e-mail: mbf@infodog.com
Top of Page
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