SCENTHOUND Q&A
Most of the Scenthounds are bred for endurance rather than speed. They should give the impression of effortless movement that could go on for long periods of time.
there have been nine different Scenthounds that have been awarded a Group First in the Hound Group. Is there a funny story that I can share about my experiences judging the Scent hound breeds? I was judging the Dachshund Club of America Field Trial in Ladonia, Texas. The weather condi- tions were brutal, with freezing rain and sleet, and the ground had sheets of ice. The brace was called up, and shortly, a rabbit was flushed. The rabbit hit the lane trying to hop away, but slid on the ice. There was a Wirehaired Dachshund in hot pursuit that hit the ice patch, and both the dog and the rabbit were sliding down the lane desperately trying to get their footing. I have a funny story to share about one of my own dogs. My wife was running a Miniature Wirehaired Dachshund where the field was flooded, plus there was a pond in the field. A large swamp rabbit was flushed for his brace. When the rabbit hit the pond, the Mini Wire dove right in after it. The swamp rabbit was a much faster swimmer, but the Dachshund made it across and was hot on the rabbit’s trail. That was the day he won first place and became a Dual Champion. POLLY SMITH
Show Hound and the first American Foxhound to win a Best in Show outside the South. He won four Bests in Show. His name was Hazira’s Samir. He won over 40 Group Firsts. We bred and showed four generations of multiple Best in Show hounds, and all of our Foxhounds were shown by us. Can I speak a bit about breed-specific presentation in Scen- thounds? Yes, Scenthounds should never be shown with their head held high on a tight lead. They move with their head extended, sometimes even dropping down. Their reach and drive can be best evaluated while moving on a loose lead. Most of the Scenthounds are bred for endurance rather than speed. They should give the impression of effortless movement that could go on for long periods of time. Hounds that are hunted can stay out for five to eight hours. What about breed character? How do I assess this in the Scen- thound breeds? In my opinion, you can find the breed character within the headpiece of the hound. It is in the eyes and the struc- ture of the head; also in his stance. You want them standing on their own. Many Scenthound breeds have been popular in the US. What has made them American icons? Many of these Hounds were an early part of the American homestead. Every farmer would keep a few hounds around to hunt game—from rabbit to bear. They make excellent pets for children. Can I speak to the value of hunting and performance titles among the Scenthounds? There is great value with the hunting titles and the field trials for the Scenthounds, as you never want the ability to hunt to vanish. Have I attended Field Trials for Beagles, Basset Hounds or Dachshunds? Coonhound Events? Ridden to Hounds? I have attended Field Trials for Beagles and for Basset Hounds, and I have ridden to hounds and hunted with Foxhounds at night. I have also judged the conformation show at some of the Beagle Field Trials, and I have done Earthdog Trials with my Welsh Terriers and I’ve seen Dachshunds work. How would I assess the current overall condition of the more newly recognized Scenthound breeds? They are in the process of developing type. The Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen is in excellent condition. This is an old recognized breed that has been shown at some of the bigger hound shows in the East for many years. Which Scenthounds from the past have had the greatest influ- ence on the sport? There are two Hounds I would name. The first would be the great English Foxhound Ch. Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Winslow, ’81. He was bred by Nancy PennSmith Hannum and owned by Emily Latimer and Suzy Reingold. George Alston han- dled him to the Quaker Oats Award in 1983 and won the Hound Group at Westminster. He was retired back to Plum Run Hunt. The second Hound would be the great Black and Tan Coon- hound Ch. WyEast Why Not (AKC CKC UKC Champion). “Boomer” won 12 AKC All-Breed Bests in Show and 65 Group Firsts, all breeder/owner-handled, and two Canadian Bests and two National Specialties. He hunted bear in Alaska for two years before his life as a show dog, and then remained with the Corbetts as a beloved family pet. Is there a funny story that I can share about my experiences judging the Scenthound breeds? None that can be told.
I was born in Howard County, Maryland, where I grew up near Elli- cott City. I now live in St. Stephens Church, Virginia. I attended Mary Washington College in Fredericks- burg, which had a riding depart- ment—so I took along my horse. The first dog I showed as a child was a Chow Chow. Our first breed that I showed after
school was a German Shepherd Dog. But soon after moving to Kalamazoo, Michigan, I got Bob an American Foxhound. This was the beginning of our show activity. I have judged all over South America, Australia, Sweden, Chi- na, Japan, Thailand, and Canada. My many judging assignments include the Hound Group at Westminster, and Groups at the AKC/ Eukanuba National Championship. I had the honor of doing Best Bred-By in Show and Best in Show at AKC/Eukanuba. My late husband and I co-authored a book on the American Foxhound. I have been a member of a number of kennel clubs, both obedience and conformation. Where do I live? How many years in dogs? How many as a judge? I live in the town of St. Stephens Church, Virginia. I have been in dogs all of my life, and I have been judging for 45 years. Do I have any hobbies or interests apart from purebred dogs? My hobbies are gardening; I am a Master Gardener. My field is native plants and Iris. I am also a great fan of college basketball. Can I talk about my introduction to Scenthounds? I was intro- duced to Scenthounds as a child and started hunting then. I also took my horse to school with me in Virginia where the students were allowed to hunt with the nearby hunts. Have I bred any influential Scenthounds or shown any notable winners? Not really, we were breeder/owner-handlers. My husband showed our first American Foxhound, who was a multiple Best in
270 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, JULY 2021
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