betterment of their breed. The results of that loss show up more frequently than in shows 15-20 years ago so we do not have the level of quality that we had then. Of course, one of the obvious reasons also is the “dilution factor” with so many shows having been added over the years. 2. Have there been any shifts in the balance of popu- larity among breeds? All breeds have peaks and valleys in conformation and we see that in the Working Group as well. Some breeds are strong, while others are not. 3. Are there any particular challenges Working Dog breeders face in our current economic/ social climate? All breeders are challenged today in our economic climate. In years past, breeders could breed and house many dogs whereas today that is an economic impossibility. Because Working breeds are large, space also becomes a roadblock to Working dog breed- ers. The only drawback for pet Working dog owners is space, but as far as being household pets, they have no equal. DR. ANTHONY DINARDO Sheila and I have been in dogs for approximately 45 years. Most of that time was the exhibiting of Great Danes, Dober- man Pinschers and Bichon Frises. When asked about my hobbies I state: work, dogs, bowling and exercising. I began exhibiting dogs in 1970 and became an AKC judge in 1980. I am approved for all Hound, Working, Non-Sporting breeds, many Sporting breeds, and various Toy and Herding breeds. I include among my judging highlights the DPCA nationals, the Rottweiler Club of America’s Top 20 and judging Best of Best in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I am the founder and past president of the Connecticut River Working Group Associa- tion, the first AKC working-dog member club. 1. Give an overview of the Working breeds. The Working Group is what I enjoy judging the most. I believe judges need to have an ideal template of the breeds in their mind; then form can be coupled with function. This is a challenge. 2. What is the current overall quality of the Group? The breeds that I love the most still have exceptional specimens, but most do not have the depth of quality. However, when the individual breeds have depth of qual- ity this creates a real challenge. the working group Q&A
3. What changes have you seen during your tenure as guardians of these breeds? I will hold this comment to the Great Danes and Doberman Pinschers breeds. I believe the Great Danes decreased in quality when they were bred taller, produc- ing less soundness resulting in loss correct function. As for the Doberman Pinscher, if a Doberman Pinscher had most of attributes listed in the general appearance for the Doberman Pinscher Standard, they it would look unique in today’s show ring. 4. Have there been any shifts in the balance of popu- larity among breeds? I do not believe that there is any change in the popularity of the most desired breeds. Boxers, Doberman Pinchers, Samoyeds and Siberian Huskies are very popular. 5. Are there any particular challenges Working Dog breeders face in our current economic/ social climate? With the decrease in the large breeder kennels and anti- breed legislations, etc., this hobby has become more in the hands of individuals. I believe that the Parent Clubs try to maintain the breed purposes if practical. 6. What attributes make these breeds suitable as household companions despite their size and original breed purpose? In my opinion, the original function of a breed does not keep the general public from owning such breeds. Dogs adapt, people adapt, society changes, the purist may hope to have a dog function as they were bred to do. However, dogs are great and give unconditional love to their owner. 7. Anything else you’d like to share? As I originally stated when asked why did I get so involved in the sport of dogs, Sheila and I wanted a hobby to share with our children. We would not change our experiences in this hobby for anything. CAROLYN HERBEL I am a native-born Kansan, now living in Oklahoma for 28 years. I was married to Norman for 52 years and together we bred registered Hereford cattle, with particular emphasis on an inbred strain developed by the United States Range and Livestock Research Stations. My involvement in dogs start- ed in 1956 when we bought our first AKC registered dog, a German Shepherd named Tabu, a breed which at that time competed in the Working Group. The German Shepherd was
178 • S how S ight M agazine , F ebruary 2017
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