Showsight - October 2021

Showsight - The Dog Show Magazine: October 2021 Edition, featuring articles, tips, and information provided with help from breeders, owners, handlers, club members, and judges who have agreed to share their expertise with us.

GCHS. MARTIN’S TIMEBOMB PUFF

GCHS. MARTIN’S TIMEBOMB PUFF

GCHS. MARTIN’S TIMEBOMB PUFF

MULTIPLE BEST IN SHOW WINNER A TOP TWENTY TOY DOG 2021 * MULTIPLE AMA BEST IN SPECIALTY SHOW WINNER WESTMINSTER BEST OF BREED WINNER 2020 AMERICAN MALTESE ASSOCIATION TOP BREED WINNER 2020

A BREEDER'S KEY TO LONGEVITY, IS GENERATION AFTER GENERATION OF CONSISTENT QUALITY!

BRED OWNED AND HANDLED BY DARYL MARTIN OWNED BY ROY & JO-ANN KUSUMOTO

MALTESE

AKC STATS AS OF 8 / 31 / 21

• B E S T I N S H OW W I N N I N G

OUR S INCERE APPRECIATION TO JUDGES

M R S . L I N D A H U R L E B A U S • M S . P E G G Y B E I S E L - M C I LWA I N E

• M U LT I P L E G R O U P W I N N I N G

M R . H A R R Y “ B U T C H ” S C H U L M A N • M R . R O G E R G I F F O R D

M R . D O U G L A S J O H N S O N • M R . J A M I E H U B B A R D • M S . C A R O LY N A . H E R B E L

• M U LT I P L E B E S T I N S P E C I A L I T Y S H OW W I N N I N G

A N D N O T P I C T U R E D

• T O P 2 0 G O L D E N - A L L S Y S T E M S *

M R . J O N C O L E • M R S . C H R I S T I N E E . C A L C I N A R I

M S . H E L E N E N I E T S C H • M R S . E L A I N E J . L E S S I G

• G R A N D C H AM P I O N S H I P

B R E E D E R J U D G E S

• S H OW D O G H A L L O F FAM E

M R S . B A R B A R A G . P E P P E R • M I S S C O L L E T T E J A Y N E S

PRESENTED BY G I NNY K I NCER ETHOSGOLDENS . COM

BIS MBISS AM.CH GCH STARRISE DOWNBOUND TRAIN RN CGC SDHF

RETRIEVER (GOLDEN)

Kincer v2.indd 1

T I T CH

*ALL SYSTEMS AS OF 8 / 3 1 / 2 1

OWNED & BRED BY ELAI NE KANDZAR I STARR I SEGOLDENS . COM

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SAMOYED

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We are pleased to welcome SUZANNE ACEVEDO to Team Jade!

MU LT I P L E B E S T I N S HOW • MU LT I P L E B E S T I N S P E C I A LT Y S HOW

Huge appreciation to Best in Show Judge Dr. Steve Keating and the nod from judges Mrs. Wendy Maisey for the group and Mr. Gary Anderson for the breed wins.

1 GSP NO. ALL - BREED *AKC STATS AS OF 8/31/21

Katie Gochev GRAPHICS

Owners: Carley Simpson, Suzanne Acevedo & Yvonne Hassler-Deterding • Breeders: Claire Malcolm & Mariah Dupuy Owned And Presented By: Valerie Nunes-Atkinson • Assisted By: Antonio Vidmar

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POINTER (GERMAN SHORTHAIRED)

GCHS CLARITY REACH THE SKY VJK-MYST

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*

*AKC STATS AS OF 8/31/21

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BRIARD

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POODLE (STANDARD)

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MULTI PLE GROUP WINNER MULTI PLE SPECIALTY WINNER • MULTI PLE GROUP PLACEMENTS

3 X B E S T I N S P E C I A LT Y W I N N E R 2 0 2 1 &

I R I S H T E R R I E R *

THANK YOU JUDGE MRS . ROSAL IND KRAMER

THANK YOU FOR CONAR’ S SUMMER WINS

I TCNY SPEC I ALTY WI LL IAM DEVI LLENEUVE BRYN MAWR KC J ENNI FER A. MOORE LYDIA COLEMAN HUTCHINSON N I TA NEE KC JACQUEL INE STACY (G2)

BALD EAGLE KC BRIAN BOGART DR . STEVE KEATING (G2) HUNTERDON HI LLS KC CINDY VOGELS (G2) HUNTERDON HI LLS KC

MARCIA FELD (G4) SUSQUE-NANGO KC CHARLOTTE PATTERSON (G4) T IOGA KC RODNEY HERNER (G4) NEWTON KC CAROL J EAN NELSON (G1 ) PAMELA PEAT SCHOOLEY ’ S MOUNTA I N KC WI LL IAM DEVI LLENEUVE (G4) DR . GERALD PENTA CHESAPEAKE I R I SH TERR I ER CLUB DR . ANDREW KRAMER (B I SS) CHESAPEAKE I R I SH TERR I ER CLUB MRS . ROSLYN KRAMER (B I SS)

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IRISH TERRIER

B R E E Z Y ’ S C H A R M I N G C O N A R T I S T gold grand champion

G C H G M E R R Y M A C Z T R I K I N G X C H B R E E Z Y ’ S H O T T O P I C

B R E D B Y : T E R R I VA N D E Z A N D E

H A N D L E D B Y : J A M E S D I C K S O N

OW N E D B Y : N I N A WA R R E N

©JOHN ASHBEY

*AKC BREED & ALL BREED STATS AS OF 8/31/21 4 X B E S T I N S P E C I A LT Y W I N N E R 2 0 2 0 & NUMBER ONE I R I S H T E R R I E R I N 2 0 2 0

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SPANIEL (IRISH WATER)

Sloane BISS GCH CH

Poole’s Ide Sargeant Sloane CD RN MX MXJ XF

NUMBER ONE

Irish WaterSpaniel * Sporting Dog * A TOP Presented by Joanne Thibault Owned by Stephanie O’Reilly and Gregory M. Siner Bred by Gregory M. Siner and Samuel A. Jenio

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*AKC STATS AS OF 8/31/21

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DOBERMAN PINSCHER

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FINISHED HIS CH AT 7 MONTHS UNDER HOUND EXPERT ED HALL BRED BY EXHIBITOR GROUP 1 UNDER DAVID HADDOCK JUGGY NEW CH DAGOBA’ S UNSTOPPABLE MOMENTUM

OWNED AND BRED BY KIM BROWN

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BASENJI, SLOUGHI

AAFIQ ALMABOUB IN AAF IQ – DNAd 100% PURE SLOUGHI * EUROPEAN STOCK: INT. CH AND AM. CH QALB ELSSAD BAGIR EL QAMAR X CH KAMEA MAHANAJIM

AAFIQ’S SHOW CAREER JUST BEGAN IN MARCH. HE HAS ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE MULTIPLE GROUP PLACING, MULTIPLE NOHS GROUP PLACING, AND WINNER’S DOG AT THE SLOUGHI NATIONAL SPECIALTY FIRST SLOUGHI IN AKC HISTORY TO WIN BEST OF BREED AT MORRIS AND ESSEX

#1 #2

SLOUGHI NOHS *

SLOUGHI BREED & ALL BREED ** *AKC STATS AS OF 8/31/21

OWNED BY KIM BROWN AND NANCY LOVELADY BRED BY NANCY LOVELADY

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THANK YOU TO ALL JUDGES FOR RECOGNIZING PHELPS. WE ARE GRATEFUL.

IN LIMITED SHOWING HE HAS BECOME THE #6 AMSTAFF. *

PHELPS. WHERE BEAUTY AND SOUNDNESS MEET.

THANK YOU JUDGE JOHN CONSTANTINE FOR THIS GROUP 1

BREEDER/OWNER/HANDLER: ROBERT ELLIS BREEDERS: ROBERT ELLIS & LINDSEY V. ELLIS OWNERS: ROBERT ELLIS, LINDSEY V. ELLIS, LISA MCGONAGLE, CHRIS K. ELDER

* AKC all breed stats as of 8 / 31 / 21

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AMERICAN STAFFORDSHIRE TERRIER

GCHG CH PLK’S GOING FOR THE GOLD BCAT MULTI BISS , MULTI GROUP WINNING, MULTI GROUP PLACING

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GCHG Lyonnese Blueprint Of A Legend BEST IN SHOW • RESERVE BEST IN SHOW

Group First

MS. JOANNE M. BUEHLER MR. JOHN P. WADE MR. JON COLE

OWNED BY NICOLE DAVIS, MAUREEN TAUBER & DEBBIE HOLLY BRED BY DEBBIE HOLLY & MAUREEN TAUBER EXCLUSIVELY HANDLED BY FRANK MURPHY

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RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK

Samburu

BIS MR. BENSON E. RAY

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FLASH SARASOTAKENNEL CLUB 6/16/2021 JUDGE: Mrs. Barbara Dempsey Alderman | OS/BOBOH JUDGE: Mr. Gary L. Andersen | SEL/BOBOH GREATER VENICE FLORIDADOG CLUB INC (2) 6/18/2021 JUDGE: Michael Canalizo | BOBOH MID-FLORIDA CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL 6/19/2021 SWEEPSTAKES JUDGE: Gwendolyn Wells | SEL/BOBOH

Owned by Michele True, Co-owned with Dawn Stevens-Lindemaier Bred by Dawn Stevens-Lindemaier candid photography by©SueBee Photography

“Beautiful exhibit with a compact body and good spring of rib. Pretty face with kind expression and large round eyes with a well- cushioned muzzle. Excellent movement both coming and going. This gal has so many good things going for her!” Dr. Margaret Reed Thank you judge

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CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL

GCH Legacy Chenin Blanc with Evera

Our sincerest appreciation and gratitude to Judge Mrs. Evalyn Gregory for including Bliss in the cut at Westminster Kennel Club. Congratulations to Best of Breed Winners and Westminster Kennel Club for putting on an extraordinary event.

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PARSON RUSSELL TERRIER

*AKC BREED STATS AS OF 8/31/21

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M B I S S B I S N B I S S G C H B FLINTCREST FIVE STAR GENERAL

# 1 TOP 35 IWS BREED * SPORTING DOG *

© Roberts Photos

© Kathy Adams

© Gondolin Photography

*AKC Stats as of 8/31/21

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SPANIEL (IRISH WATER)

G R A N T MORE THAN JUST A PRETTY FACE

© Gondolin Photography

Breeders: Colleen McDaniel & Stacy Duncan Owners: Stacy Duncan & Cat Shelby Handler: Stacy Duncan

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PORTUGUESE WATER DOG

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*

*ALL SYSTEMS AS OF 8/31/21

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AIREDALE TERRIER

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AJ ARAPOVIC CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & PUBLISHER 1.512.541.8128, AJ@ARAMEDIAGROUP.COM HANIFA ARAPOVIC CO-OWNER & PUBLIC RELATIONS 1.512.686.3466, HANIFA@ARAMEDIAGROUP.COM MICHAEL VERAS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 1.512.893.6906, MICHAEL@ARAMEDIAGROUP.COM ALEXANDRA GEBHARDT CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER, HEAD OF DIGITAL BRANDS 1.908.288.7733, ALEX@ARAMEDIAGROUP.COM DANIEL CARTIER INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION CO-ORDINATOR 1.512.686.3466, DANIEL@ARAMEDIAGROUP.COM SAMANTHA ADKINS EDITORIAL & PRODUCTION DIRECTOR 1.512.893.6908, SAMANTHA@ARAMEDIAGROUP.COM ADVERTISING AJ ARAPOVIC CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & PUBLISHER AJ@ARAMEDIAGROUP.COM, 1.512.541.8128 BONNIE GUGGENHEIM BONNIE@ARAMEDIAGROUP.COM 512-971-3280 MEEGAN PIEROTTI-TIETJE CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGER MEEGAN@SHOWSIGHTMAGAZINE.COM 512-593-5517 CONTRIBUTING EDITORS BJ ANDREWS LINDA AYERS TURNER KNORR ANDREA BRADFORD ARLENE CZECH KARL DONVIL CHRISTINE ERICKSON CELESTE GONZALEZ STEPHANIE SEABROOK HEDGEPATH ALLAN REZNIK DAN SAYERS WALTER SOMMERFELT LEE WHITTIER SOCIAL MEDIA ELMA BEGIĆ MANAGER, SOCIAL MEDIA & CREATIVE CONTENT ELMA@ARAMEDIAGROUP.COM, 1.512.686.3466 INSTAGRAM | @SHOWSIGHTMAG FACEBOOK | WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SHOWSIGHT/ TWITTER | @THESHOWSIGHT GENERAL INQUIRIES: INFO@SHOWSIGHTMAGAZINE.COM SUBSCRIPTIONS: SUBSCRIPTIONS@SHOWSIGHTMAGAZINE.COM THE FROST TOWER 401 CONGRESS AVE SUITE 1540 AUSTIN, TX 78701 | 1.512.686.3466 WWW.SHOWSIGHTMAGAZINE.COM PROUDLY DESIGNED & PRINTED IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA USA

GCHS. MARTIN’S TIM

A BREEDER'S KEY TO IS GENERATION AFTER G CONSISTANT QU

GCHS. MARTIN’S TIMEBOMB PUFF

BRED OWNED AND HANDLED B OWNED BY ROY & JO-ANN

MALTESE

AKC STATS AS OF 8 / 31 / 21

Kusumoto Maltese FC v2.indd 1

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*AKC BREED STATS AS OF 7/31/21

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WIREHAIRED POINTING GRIFFON

GCH

CONTENTS

IS G

GCHS. MARTIN’S TIMEBOMB PUFF

AKC STATS AS OF

40

Message from the Publisher AJ ARAPOVIC

Kusumoto Maltese FC v2.indd 1

42

Dan Nechemias & Lois Claus Breeder Interview ALLAN REZNIK In Search of the Last Shetland Sheepdog Breeders in Shetland KARL DONVIL

163

Ring Ready VARIOUS GUESTS

74

175

Candids: Paper Cities Kennel Club RON DUBERSTEIN

90 Form Follows Function STEPHANIE HEDGEPATH 104 Show Chairs Never Sit PHILIP BOYCE 116 Stand Alone or Cluster? WALTER J. SOMMERFELT 130 Preserving the Wild Wolf BJ ANDREWS 136 You’ve Got ShowSight VARIOUS GUESTS 142

177

Candids: Cranberry Cluster JEAN EDWARDS

216

Poem VICKI HAVICON Boxer VARIOUS GUESTS Coonhound VARIOUS GUESTS

217

221

238 Samoyed

VARIOUS GUESTS

Candids: Bonneville Basin Kennel Association APRIL BRUCE

242 Schipperke

VARIOUS GUESTS

148

Bonneville Basin Kennel Association Red Carpet Junior Showcase CANDI HESS

248 Wirehaired Pointing Griffon VARIOUS GUESTS 254 Coming Attractions

150 The National Dog Show DAN SAYERS

256 Index to Advertisers

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Proudly Presented By: Klayton harris & nicola higgins Owned by: Nicola Higgins bred by: nicola higgins & Carol Onstad

© HAN 2021

CAIRN TERRIER

A M E S S A G E F R OM T H E P U B L I S H E R

WHY I DO WHAT I DO

When I was first welcomed into the dog show community 12 years ago, I started learning, making friends, and understanding all of the things that needed to be done in order to make our community a better place. More than a decade later, here’s a partial list of what’s already been accomplished: • 2017—Purchased Doll-McGinnis Publications, Publishers of SHOWSIGHT Since 1992; • 2018—Launched SHOWSIGHT’S Website and Branding Design Agency to help Dog-Related Small Business; • 2020—Launched a COVID-19 Fund in April and Donated $284,473 to those in need; and Helped (79) Small Dog Show Businesses get PPP; • 2021—Launched Ring-Ready Magazine, Home of the Owner Handler; • 2021—Launched an Educational Breed Magazine for Every Single AKC Breed (197 and Counting); • 2022—Coming Soon! First-Ever Custom-Built Professional Handler Directory (Every Handler will receive their own full-page site). What is prompting me to write this message to you are the many longtime dog show people who tell me that I must do so as it is a positive story, and to clear any confusion with those who aren’t sure why SHOWSIGHT has become so much more than just The Dog Show Magazine. They’ve told me, “AJ, if you want to grow the community by building platforms that give every- one equal opportunity and enhance the beauty of dog shows even more, then why wouldn’t you share your knowledge, secrets, and strategies with others?” I’ve learned that many people tend to think that if you selfishly keep knowledge to yourself, then you will be able to prosper even more. This is based on the belief that the more people know about a great opportunity, the more difficult it will be for one person to achieve success. The skeptics love this way of thinking, but it’s never been a part of my reality… and I’ll tell you why. If you are ready to learn why I do what I do, you’ll want to read my answer in our November Issue. But here’s a hint:

“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” —Pablo Picasso

Yours Faithfully,

AJ ARAPOVIC, OWNER & PUBLISHER

Est 1992

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Bred and Owned by: Nicola Higgins & Carol Onstad Proudly Presented By: Klayton harris & nicola higgins

a big Thank to you Esteemed Judges: Mrs. Karen Wilson Mrs. Louise Hooper Mr. Clint Livingston Mr. edd e. bivin

CAIRN TERRIER

DAN NECHEMIAS & LOIS CLAUS DAWA TIBETAN MASTIFFS

BREEDER INTERVIEW BY ALLAN REZNIK

Where did each of you grow up? Lois grew up in Bedford, New York, and Dan in Cincinnati, Ohio. Do you come from doggy families? If not how did the interest in breeding and showing purebred dogs begin? Neither of us came from families that were involved in dogs. Dan’s family had a cockapoo, but Lois had a Golden Retriever that came down from Cum- mings Gold-Rush Charlie, and a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. We are not sure there was a specific epiphany, but the combination of visiting an influential breeding kennel to purchase our first Tibetan Mastiff, “Maya,” and then taking Maya to a National Specialty developed a strong desire to participate in the preservation of this ancient breed. We researched the breed and breeders for a year before acquiring Maya and it would be almost five years before we successfully bred our first litter. Who were your mentors in the sport? Please elaborate on their influence. We tend to be “gatherers,” so we were always trying to acquire tidbits from anyone we could in the early days. From a breed history and type perspective, Richard Eichhorn of Drakyi Tibetan Mastiffs was very influential. There were several other breeders we drew from as well, as we felt it was important to have a diversity of perspectives. There is very little consensus as to what makes a his- torically correct Tibetan Mastiff. We befriended and visited breeders in Europe and China as well. We just wanted to see as many dogs and puppies as possible.

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As of Stats 07-31-21

As of Stats 07-31-21

bred and Owned by: Nicola Higgins & Carol Onstad Proudly Presented By:

LUTRA KENNELS: LUIZ, TRACY AND NICOLA HIGGINS

© HAN 2021

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CAIRN TERRIER

*

*AKC BREED STATS AS OF 8/31/21

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VIZSLA

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M U L T I P L E B I S S | R B I S | M U L T I P L E G R O U P W I N N I N G GCH Rima Siham Sahara CA BCAT AMER ICA’ S RIMA

SLOUGHI A L L S Y S T E M S *

*AKC STATS AS OF 9/17/21

SLOUGHI I N US HI STORY

P H O T O S B Y L E N N A H

I M P O R T E D F R O M M O R O C C O J U LY 2 0 1 9 P R E S E N T E D B Y H O L L E Y E L D R E D & E R I K A W YAT T OW N E D B Y E R I K A & A N D R E W W YAT T , O C E R I C O S L O U G H I S B R E D B Y M A R I A N A R A P O S O , E L J A D I D A , M O R O C C O

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SLOUGHI

ITRI

M U L T I P L E G R O U P P L A C I N G CH Itri Ocerico

AMER ICA’ S

SLOUGHI A L L S Y S T E M S *

*AKC STATS AS OF 9/17/21

I M P O R T E D F R O M M O R O C C O J U LY 2 0 2 1 P R E S E N T E D B Y H O L L E Y E L D R E D & E R I K A W YAT T OW N E D B Y E R I K A & A N D R E W W YAT T A N D E R M I N E M O R E AU - S I P I E R E B R E D B Y M B A R E K O U B E L A I D , C H I C H AO UA , M O R O C C O

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BREEDER INTERVIEW: DAN NECHEMIAS & LOIS CLAUS

“Valensia”

have never tightly linebred and have taken advantage of the genetic diversity available to us. We strongly believe that this is one reason why TMs do not face as many genetic maladies as many other breeds do, yet. Lastly, you can spend all the time and money in the world on breeding philosophies, but that plan- ning is wasted if you cannot evaluate the litter cor- rectly. Early on, we made every effort to see as many litters as we could, get our hands on the pups, and listen to their breeders’ thoughts. How many dogs do you currently house? Tell us about your facilities and how the dogs are maintained. We currently have 10 TMs and they split their time between our home and our kennel building. When we designed our kennel building, we tried to keep flexibility in mind, so it is a 32' x 48' steel pole building that is a three-horse stall design. We adapted it to have five indoor/outdoor runs, a bath- ing station, and two exercise yards. Our outdoor runs are covered, which is necessary as there are really only two seasons here in Oregon, wet and hot/ dry. This has met our needs well and though it does not have space for more dogs, we think that’s a nice, self-limiting benefit. The dedicated grooming area is especially important as coat care is not an occasional pastime. About a year ago, we hired our first ken- nel assistant. In the past, we had eschewed this in favor of attending to every last detail ourselves, but it has been a tremendous help. They only work one day a week as well as taking care of the dogs when we travel. Who were/are some of your most significant TMs, both in the whelping box and in the show ring? Without question, our most impactful TM was Seng Khri Bartok of Dawa, “Bart.” Eleven years after his passing, he remains the record holder for Best in Show wins and for several years he also held the record for number of champions sired. Though he was only bred twice, his second breeding produced very influential sires and dams for us, including Sier- ras Folly Loves Fame at Dawa, ”Gaga,” and Sierras Taco Flavored Kisses at Dawa, “Lopez.” While both Gaga and Lopez have produced many AKC and international champions, their contributions of type and temperament are what is most outwardly evident when someone sees a “Dawa” TM.

“Bartok”

“Gomez”

With respect to the purebred dog world, and learning to navigate campaign- ing a dog, people, maintaining balance and perspective, Allan Reznik and Tom Bradley come to mind, as well as Dorothy Collier with regard to what it’s like to have a rare breed. Learning to keep perspective and joy is so critical to longev- ity, and Allan, Tom, and Dorothy certainly helped us with that. Lastly, Ed and Karen Thomason of Alpine Falls American Staffordshire Terriers were our first handlers. There were so many things they shared with us at the same time that they were growing themselves; handling skills, campaigning strategy, breeding philosophy, litter evaluation, etc. The Dawa Tibetan Mastiffs are widely known, highly successful and well respect- ed. What breeding philosophies do you adhere to? Balance in everything. We tend to approach each breeding as a compensa- tory opportunity to advance our next generation towards our ideal. That said, we really do not strategize more than a generation at a time. As preservation hobby breeders who produce only a single rare-breed litter a year, our priorities have always been type, health, and temperament. The opening up of China in the last 20 years presented some unfortunate overbreeding, but it also created an opportunity few breeds ever have, a fresh gene pool. Given this scenario, we

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Huxton RBIS BISS GCHS CH POLAR MIST X’S AND O’S FDC DCAT HANDLER RAYGEN BEST OWNER

AJ FLYNN BREEDERS LYNETTE BLUE & CRYSTAL BENSON

© PHOTOS BY LISA HENSLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

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SAMOYED

BREEDER INTERVIEW: DAN NECHEMIAS & LOIS CLAUS

“Black”

“Blake” and “Fenster”

“Jory”

“Mooskie”

“Lillie”

“Paula” and Pup

“Sasha”

“Angelica”

“Roux”

“Blake”

“Pala”

“Toga”

Please comment positively on your breed’s present condition and what trends might bear watching. Internationally, the TM is in a great place in terms of type. There are exceptional breeders and examples of great TMs all over the world. Opportunities for collaboration abound and the future is bright. Domestically speaking, the TM is better struc- turally than it was in 2006/AKC recognition. The challenge for the TM breed is keeping the balance. There is a strong tug-of-war between the hyper type of too much hair, lip, and droopy eyes, and too generic a look; too short and low, and lacking a correct head and expression. Tibetan Mastiffs are a large and primitive breed. What are the challenges of retaining the aloof, guardy nature of the breed while still ensuring they can be amenable to showing in the AKC ring? The answer to this is you cannot have it both ways. If we bred solely to produce TMs that were amenable to showing, we would destroy correct temperament. What we do means that sometimes the “pick” puppy from a type and structure standpoint will not have the right temperament for showing. We still keep that puppy and hope to compensate in the next generation with a more ame- nable disposition. That same litter likely has an extroverted pup as well that hopefully has good type, too, but that does not mean we will take an extroverted pup with insufficient type and show it just because it likes to show. Not every TM litter will produce an excel- lent candidate to campaign and that is part of the breed. Of course, socialization and training are key components as well. What are your thoughts on the current state of the fancy and the declining number of breeders? It’s important to ask questions. Why is the sport thriving in Europe, Asia, and South America? Why is dog ownership in the US at an all-time high, but the AKC registry is shrinking? The AKC has been on defense to the Animal Rights community for years and needs a proactive approach to “brand building” the pure- bred dog. Probably a structural reorganization is needed to change

the organization from a club of clubs to a member-driven advocacy organization like the AARP. We have got to create value, both real and perceived, in purebreds and the registry. How do we encourage newcomers to join us and remain in the sport? With patience and kindness. Understand that there will always be generation gaps in communication and when an opportunity to be helpful presents itself, seize it. Be there for someone, even if they made an ignorant post on Facebook, got their first dog from a puppy mill, or said something that scrunched your brow. Sure, after all your hard work, it is offensive when some prospective pup- py buyer just asks, “how much?”. But that is today’s Amazon mar- ketplace and they do not know any better. Yes, 75% of those types of inquiries might not be a good home. Some of them are. Some of them might become fanciers. Some of them probably became Whatchamadoodle breeders. Treating them with ire and arrogance is not good for the sport and it represents missed opportunities, however few. Pushing for structural change at the AKC is important as well. All of us continuing to tolerate their failures because we are too complacent to speak out or act will only perpetuate the status quo. We really need to allow for day-of-show entries. The dog show entry rules were made decades ago when people sent entries by mail and there was no social media. Where do you see your breeding program in the next decade or two? Hopefully, in the capable hands of the next generation. We do our best to offer our best dogs and insight to any seekers. Finally, tell us a little about Dan and Lois outside of dogs... your professions, your hobbies. Dan is a partner in a small wine software company and Lois is a credit operations manager for a national bank. Dan enjoys cooking, traveling, and anything outdoors. Lois enjoys working on their property, gardening, photography, traveling, and most activi- ties outdoors in nature as well.

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H O U N D G R O U P W I N N E R GCH . HAREH I L L’ S I I NS I ST

SE L ECT B I TCH AT THE 202 1 I HCUS NAT I ONAL SPEC I ALTY. THANK YOU, HOUND AUTHOR I TY PAT TROT T ER

# 1 I B I ZAN HOUND AL L BRE ED * *AKC ALL BREED AS OF 8/31/21

PRESENTED BY PHIL & AMY BOOTH

BRED BY BRADLEY PHIFER & WENDY ANDERSON

OWNED BY BRADLEY PHIFER SIROBE KENNEL

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IBIZAN HOUND

Toby

M U L T I P L E B R E E D & G R O U P W I N S BISS GCHS CH WYNDBRAE'S TRAILBLAZING TOBIAS

OUR SINCEREST APPRECIATION AND THANK YOU TO ALL JUDGES WHO HAVE RECOGNIZED TOBY’S FINE TYPE AND QUALITY.

OWNED & LOVED BY NANCY A. RASOR

PROFESSIONALLY PRESENTED BY JORGE & SUSIE OLIVERA

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WEST HIGHLAND WHITE TERRIER

Available for Stud

no. 2 W E S T I E 2 0 2 0 * *AKC BREED STATS 2020

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*

*ALL SYSTEMS AS OF 8/31/21

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MINIATURE SCHNAUZER

SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, OCTOBER 2021 | 57

WENSHU IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR SKYLAR IS THE FIRST-EVER BLACK SHIH TZU TO WIN THE NATIONAL SPECIALTY!

HIS SIRE, CODY, (CH KRISSY’S DREAM LOVER) WAS THE #1 SHIH TZU IN 2009.

HIS DAM, TYRA, (GCH PEKING’S MIDNIGHT VISION AT WENSHU) IS THE TOP-WINNING BLACK SHIH TZU IN THE HISTORY OF THE BREED, DOG OR BITCH. SKYLAR’S CAREER HAS TAKEN HIM TO CONFORMATION SHOWS AROUND THE WORLD. HE WAS BRED BY L. SARAH LAWRENCE AND DONNA M. GERL, WHOSE FRIENDSHIP AND BREEDING PARTNERSHIP BEGAN IN 1975.

“I FEEL THAT PART OF SKYLAR’S (AND TYRA’S) CHARM IS THAT THERE IS A CERTAIN LEVEL OF BEAUTY IN A BLACK SHIH TZU, A BEAUTY THAT MOST PEOPLE OVERLOOK.

THEY ARE HIGHLY INTELLIGENT AND ELEGANT IN WAYS THAT I HAVE NOT SEEN IN OTHER VARIETIES IN THE BREED.”

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SHIH TZU

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OWNER HANDLED # 4 # 1 BREED * AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DOG *

BREEDER CONN I E HAYES H I REDHAND AUS TRAL I AN CAT TLE DOGS OWNER HANDLER KENT WE I NHE IMER HOLDEN , MA FLS TC2 00@YAHOO . COM CAND I D PHOTOGRAPHY BY © MI A S PEC I ALE

*AKC STATS AS OF 8/31/21

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AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DOG

Biss gchS hiredhand smokehouse

B e s t i n S p e c i a l t y a n d M u l t i p l e G r o u p W i n n i n g A C D

SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, OCTOBER 2021 | 61

Bred by MELANIE STEELE RINDI GAUDET

Owned by DEBORAH BAHM ASHLIE WHITMORE

Handled by ASHLIE WHITMORE ALFONSO ESCOBEDO

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GREYHOUND

CHAMP ION GRANDCRU LE P IN I I

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BEAUCERON BREED & ALL BREED *

MOST WINNING FEMALE BEAUCERON IN AKC HISTORY! # 17 HERDING DOG *

Thank You To AKC Judge Mrs . Pat M. Jenkins , Handler Judge Mrs . Karyn Cowdrey, and Breeder Judge Mrs . Jal ien Watson THANK YOU TO THE TOP 20 JUDGES

MAîTRISE WINS THE NATIONAL SPECIALITY FOR THE 3 RD TIME

Thank You Judge Mr. James S. Albrecht

Thank You Judge Ms . Joyce A. Vanek

Thank You Judge Mrs . Mur rel Purkhi ser

*AKC s t a t s a s of 8/31 /21

64 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, OCTOBER 2021

BEAUCERON

FCI International Champion * | Puerto Rican Grand Champion | Latin American Champion | Pan American Champion | Canadian Champion MULTIPLE BEST IN SHOW, MULTIPLE BEST IN SPECIALTY SHOW & MULTIPLE RESERVE BEST IN SHOW WINNING

GCHP MAITRISE DU CHATEAU ROCHER C G C A T K A R A T N T T C A R N C G C U * *

THANK YOU JUDGE MRS. SHEREE MOSES COMBS

THE FIRST AND ONLY FEMALE BEAUCERON TO EARN BIS, RBIS & GRAND CHAMPION GOLD, AND NOW THE ONLY BEAUCERON EVER TO ACHIEVE PLATINUM ! * *

PRESENTED BY TONY CARTER AND AMIE MCLAUGHLIN BRED BY KARLA DAVIS OWNED BY KAREN MULLER

*FCI CH Pend i ng Document a t i on

* *Pend i ng AKC conf i rma t i on

SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, OCTOBER 2021 | 65

Grandeur... FOR THE RECORD BOOKS!

There Have Been Only 7 Afghan Hounds In Breed History To Garner Over 30 All-Breed Best In Shows: Three have won Best in Show at the Historic Westchester Kennel Club CH. TRYST OF Grandeur – 161 BIS (c. 1990s) BIS WKC 1994 Owners: Roger, Gregg, Scott & Todd Rechler: Handler: Michael Canalizo CH. TRIUMPH OF Grandeur – 87 BIS (c. 1980s) Owners: Roger Rechler and Michael Canalizo: Handler: Michael Canalizo CH. KABIK’S THE FRONT RUNNER – 76 BIS (c. 1980s) Owners: Chris & Margarite Terrell and William & Archy Clot: Handler: Chris Terrell CH. KABIK’S THE CHALLENGER – 54 BIS (c.1970s) Owners: Chris and Margarite Terrell: Handler: Chris Terrell CH. HOLLY HILL DESERT WIND – 38 BIS (c.1960s) BIS WKC - 1966 Owner: Mrs. Cheever Porter: Handler: Mrs. Jane Forsyth GCHG. CHARTEROAK TRAXX OF Grandeur – 33 BIS (c. 2020s to date) BIS WKC - 2021 Owners: Evelyn & Bill Rechler, Gene & Michelle Vaccaro and Michael Canalizo: Handler: Teri Tevlin CH. SAHADI SHIKARI – 32 BIS (C.1960s) Owner: Dr. & Mrs. E. F. Winter: Handlers Frank Sabella & Jack Funk 3 have been Bred and Owned by Grandeur … Triumph is one of the seven and the sire of two of the others. “Windy” was sired by CH. KHABIRI OF Grandeur “Shikari” was sired by INT. CH. SHIRKHAN OF Grandeur “Pepsi’s & Runner’s” lineage carries over 5 crosses to INT. SHIRKHAN OF Grandeur

*AKC stats as if 8/31/21

Grandeur – est. 1941 Evelyn and Bill Rechler - Owners

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AFGHAN HOUND

GCHG CHARTEROAK TRAXX OF Grandeur

The Nation’s Number One Hound* and among the Top Three of All Breeds* Best in Show at the Westchester Kennel Club 2021 Judge: Mrs. Victoria Seiler-Cushman Group First: Mr. Jon Cole Best of Breed: Dr. Steve Keating Simba

WORLD WINNER CH TRYST OF Grandeur

Tryst

The Top Winning Hound of All Time Best in Show at the Westchester Kennel Club 1994 Judge: Mr. Edd Bivin Group First: Mr. Lou Harris Best of Breed: Mrs. Margaretta Patterson-Kauffman

Grandeur – est. 1941

Evelyn and Bill Rechler - Owners

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G R A N D C H A M P I O N B R O N Z E Brookstones Vanilla Bean

as always loved by OWNER LINDA TRESVANT & BREEDER JENE ANDERSON, BROOKSTONES SCOTTISH TERRIERS

*AKC STATS AS OF 9/30/21 CANDIDS BY DIANE PATTIE PHOTOGRAPHY SCOTTISH TERRIER

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Beanie 2021 Top 20 SCOTTISH TERRIER *

#1 WHEATON SCOTTISH TERRIER BITCH * #2 BREED & ALL BREED FLORIDA CIRCUIT *

"This Blondie" is well on her way to SILVER... To make Terrier history. SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, OCTOBER 2021 | 69

M U L T I P L E G R O U P W I N N E R

Looking For Top Gun

GCHB Bon Idèe’s Quantico

T H A N K YO U J U D G E M S . G LO R I A K E R R

B R E D A N D OWN E D BY A N G I E MOT TA A N D B R E N DA WAT S O N P R O F E S S I O N A L LY P R E S E N T E D BY C A R LO S C A R R I Z O A S S I S T E D BY S O N O H O YA M A DA

B O N I D È E B O U V I E R S B O N I D E E B O U V@ YA H O O . C OM

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BOUVIER DES FLANDRES

# 1 B O U V I E R B R E E D * # 2 B O U V I E R A L L B R E E D * * *A KC B R E E D S TAT S A S O F 8 / 3 1 / 2 1 * *A KC A L L B R E E D S TAT S A S O F 8 / 3 1 / 2 1

SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, OCTOBER 2021 | 71

SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE TELEVISED ADS EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE GET MAXIMUM EXPOSURE IN ORLANDO!

2021 AKC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Presented by

We’re offering our clients the opportunity to have their dogs broadcasted repeatedly on giant video monitors, all day, Tuesday through Sunday, for the entire Orlando Circuit & AKC National Championship The two 70", high resolution TV displays will be overlooking all show rings – AKC and Royal Canin Booth. They will be overlooking one of the areas with the heaviest traffic during this event, guaranteeing that your dogs will be seen. All present specials will be featured on one screen and breeder-kennel showcases on the other which will ensure each and every single ad to run no less than 100 times per day. Limited Availability! Book your live display ad before we run out of space. TWO-PAGE SPREAD ONLY $475 INCLUDES Custom Design — Unlimited Photos & Dogs Per Page

To book your spot or get more information please contact our team today! AJ ARAPOVIC, OWNER

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Call Or Text 512-541-8128 Aj@Aramediagroup.com

72 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, OCTOBER 2021

Exclusively Handled by: A BBEY M OORE Show Dog Synergy L.L.C. Owned by: R OBIN P HINNEY & G EORGE B EDNAR S IMON T IEN H ANSEN Bred by:

“ G ENERAL APPEARANCE IS ONE OF GRACE, POWER AND SPEED. THE PHARAOH HOUND IS MEDIUM SIZED, OF NOBLE BEARING WITH HARD CLEAN-CUT LINES-GRACEFUL, WELL BALANCED, VERY FAST WITH FREE EASY MOVEMENT & ALERT EXPRESSION.”

number one B R E E D * *AKC stats as of 8/31/21 number two A L L B R E E D *

Special thank you to Judges MR. JAIME HUBBARD, MS. KIMBERLY ANNE MEREDITH, MRS. EVA E. BERG, MR. WILLIAM G. DAUGHERTY, MRS. LINDA M. RIEDEL AND MRS. PAMELA S. LAMBIE FOR RECOGNIZING COPPER’S OUTSTANDING QUALITY.

BAZINGA COPERNICUS THE STARGAZER S C B C AT C G C R B I S M U LT I B I S S G C H G D C

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PHARAOH HOUND

In Search of the Last Shetland Sheepdog Breeders in Shetland

AN ADVENTUROUS QUEST FOR THE ORIGINS OF THE SHELTIE

ARTICLE BY KARL DONVIL PHOTOS COURTESY OF KARL DONVIL

A fter a journey to the Faroe Islands in 1998, I fell in love with the scenery offered by the Atlantic coastline and its islands. And as a dog lover, I decided to put Shetland on top of my list for any future exploration. Those islands are similar, though less dramatic, and I could turn my visit into a search for the last Shetland Sheepdogs, a breed that I like very much. Flying to the Shetlands from Belgium is not that easy, as there are only flights from Aberdeen in the north of Scotland. So, I had to go via Prestwick with Ryanair, and from there to Glasgow airport to Aberdeen with British Airways. Flight schedules were not fitting nicely and I had to book a night in Prestwick. But this offered a way to climatize a little, though the weather was still good for September. I was only wondering if it would also be good enough in Shetland. The climate in Shetland is not the sunniest, and the weather can easily ruin your whole trip. Winters can be harsh, mainly due to the winds that make the temperature feel a lot worse than it is,

in fact. In reality, temperatures are rather moderate. Winters are rarely very cold, and summers are never very hot either. This is thanks to the milder influence of Gulf Streams. Anyway, you have to be prepared for every possible scenario, whether you go in sum- mer or winter. The islands can be very foggy, sometimes for days in a row. And if there is no fog, most of the time this is thanks to the winds, which can blow you off the cliffs if you are not careful. But in general, the climate is much milder than certain people tend to believe, with an average of 2°C [35°F] in winter and 14°C [57°F] in summer. Locals say that you can have four seasons in one day. Luck traveled with me and it all looked very promising when I arrived with a small propeller-operated aircraft at the airport of Sumburgh. It was sunny, and the contrast of the green rolling hills with the dark blue ocean (edged with foaming waves like lace bor- dering a royal blue robe) was all topped with a blue sky with bright white dots formed by the clouds. It was 4 p.m. and it would stay clear significantly longer than in Belgium, as the islands are situat- ed as high as Bergen in Norway. I had booked a hotel for a night in

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TOY FOX TERRIER

AJAX

Thank you judge, Mrs . Arnecia ‘Arnie’ Eckenrode

Thank you judge, Mrs . Linda Riedel

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DOBERMAN PINSCHER

Owned by: Kay Backues , DVM 918-521-2965 Perfectly Presented by: Teresa Nail & Ray Lively 817-454-7417 Bred By: Cecilia Martinez & Gwen Myers , DVM I N T C H B I S M B I S S G C H G Pengwen’s Southernwind Trojan War Triumph C D X , G N , R A , N A , C G C A , R O M SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, OCTOBER 2021 | 77

AM E R I C A’ S N UM B E R ON E Giant Schnauzer *

NUMB E R E L E V E N Working Dog *

*A KC S TAT S A S O F 8 / 3 1 / 2 1

Handled by A L F O N S O E S C O B E D O & A S H L I E WH I TMO RE

Owned by HO L LY & CH R I S RE E D , L AUR I E & M I K E MA S O N

Bred by HO L LY & CH R I S RE E D , MARYAN N B I S C E G L I A & M I K E RE E S E

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GIANT SCHNAUZER

MULTIPLE BEST IN SHOW WESTMINSTER 2021 BREED WINNER GCHG LAGNIAPPE’S From the Mountains to the Bayou SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, OCTOBER 2021 | 79

THANK YOU JUDGES OLYMPIC KC 08/21 BOB JUDGE JOANNE M BUEHLER

OLYMPIC KC 08/22 BOB JUDGE RANDY GARREN

SIMMI VALLEY KC 08/26 BOB JUDGE MR. CHARLES (SKIP) HERENDEEN

SIMMI VALLEY KC 08/27 BOB JUDGE MRS CINDY VOGELS SANTA BARBARA KC 08/29 BOB JUDGE MRS POLLY SMITH ELECTRIC CITY KC 09/19 BOB JUDGE WENDY MAISEY

OWNED BY: CHANNE COLES, MAUREEN TAUBER AND DEBBIE HOLLY

BRED BY: DEBBIE HOLLY AND MAUREEN TAUBER

HANDLED EXCLUSIVELY BY: ANTONIO VIDMAR

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RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK

*AKC STATS AS OF 8/31/21

CONTINUING THE LEGACY AT THE RRCUS NATIONALS THI S OCTOBER

NUMBER SEVEN RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK BREED *

NUMBER TWELVE RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK ALL BREED *

BEST IN SPECIALTY SHOW WINNING • GROUP WINNING

THATCHER B I SS GCHB LYONNESE I RON LEGACY

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IN SEARCH OF THE LAST SHETLAND SHEEPDOG BREEDERS IN SHETLAND

On the walls of the stairway to the rooms were heads of tigers and antelopes, and on the floor was the skin and head of a bear. The walls of one of the rooms were completely decorated with prints, cut out from old magazines from the late 19th century. The bed, furniture, and bathroom were also in the very same style, as if I was thrown back into time. It was all very promising. It was the former children’s room that I was in, and the prints on the walls showed many lovely old pictures of children with dogs, the ones you could find on old tin biscuit boxes. I was asked to be on time downstairs for dinner. As the Shet- land Islands, and certainly the more remote places, don’t have res- taurants at every corner, I wisely had chosen to rent a room all-in, and this proved to be a wise decision. The lady of the house was an excellent cook. After dinner, I had a lovely and entertaining evening around the old fireplace, talking with them along with another couple of residents about my plans for the coming days. Hermaness National Nature Reserve was high on my list, and the Edmonstons offered to bring me to the entrance and stressed to me to be on time for dinner in the evening. The reserve was a project of my host’s forefather, Dr. L. Edmondston, a botanist who started to protect the Skuas (called Bronxies here), which were as good as extinct. This was back in 1831. Nowadays, around 100,000 seabirds are nesting here. It is now managed by the Scot- tish Natural Heritage, but the reserve is still the property of my host. I planned to go back walking, no need for them to come and pick me up. The reserve itself reveals a lot of the terrain that is common on these islands. Peat is omnipresent here. Grasslands on rocks are intersected by numerous little streams that sometimes, suddenly, disappear underground and reemerge often hundreds of meters away. If you wander around here without knowing the ter- rain, you can unknowingly end up in real danger and fall in an earth hole, right into such an underground stream. Those gaps can sometimes be deep too, and fatal for small dogs. Our small Shelties would probably take no such chance, and I start to doubt if the little companions, like we know them today, would make it here. As a working breed, I seriously have my doubts. From west to east coasts, none of the islands are wider than 16km [9 miles] and it did not take very long before I ended up at the western cliffs of the reserve, the northernmost point of the UK. This stunning coastline offers spectacular cliffs where thousands of seabirds are nesting. Unfortunately, the cute and funny-looking Puffins were already gone. At a certain point, the cliffs were cut downwards, and I was treated to an enormous spectacle; thousands of Gannets were nesting, flying on and off to feed the chicks that were almost ready to fly out to the sea. The Hermaness Reserve hosts around 12,000 of these birds. I know how dangerous these places can be, but I could not help but go as near as was safe to the edge, taking my time to take some stunning pictures and enjoy the numerous birds sailing right in front of me, 170 meters [557

“The Inn on the Hill” in Whiteness. This hotel is situated between Sumburgh and the capital, Lerwick, and its pub proved a popular meeting place for the locals from far around. While checking in, the hotel manager, who was also the barkeeper, inquired about the intentions of my visit to the islands, and I told him about my plans to search for the last breeders of the Shetland Sheepdog. He looked at me as if he’d never heard about a local breed named after the islands. I also asked him about the possibility to see the Northern Lights that could be seen from September on, if you were lucky. Some of the customers frowned at me and told me that they never saw it. But the manager contradicted them and claimed to have witnessed it a few times, but it was a matter of luck. After dinner, I mixed it up a little with some locals who were shooting pool, when suddenly the manager called me and asked me to come outside. “Sir, you wanted to see the Northern Lights, no? Well, come and see outside.” My heart bounced with enthusiasm. “I was taking some crates of beer out of my trunk and looked up to the sky and there it was,” he said, obviously sharing the same enthusiasm as me. I looked up to the sky as all the other locals followed me out too in disbelieve… and a minute later, we were all breathless and silent, overwhelmed by the spooky spectacle above our heads. Like endless stage curtains, the lights moved fluently, rolling like waves from green to yellow and to blue. The hotel manager closed down all the lights inside and outside on the parking lot, and the only thing we were missing was a Peer Gynt symphony playing in the background. This is one of the experiences that follows you for the rest of your days, like meeting whales or a group of elephants, or discovering a huge waterfall in a jungle. I felt so lucky that on my very first night on the islands I was experiencing something the majority of people would envy me for. The next day, still excited about what I’d witnessed the previ- ous night, I took off towards Baltasound on the island Unst, the highest situated island of the Shetlands. I was welcomed by my hosts, the Laird and his wife, and David and Jennifer Edmondston and their dog in their manor, Bunnest House, which looked even more promising than it appeared on the Internet. It was not the most strategic place to discover the islands, but it certainly offered the best way to experience them. The house was located near a bay, and it was rather misty when I arrived. After the customary introductions, I was shown my room. Apparently, the owners were descendants of a noble family with a tradition of exploring nature.

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BASENJI

IN SEARCH OF THE LAST SHETLAND SHEEPDOG BREEDERS IN SHETLAND

feet] high above the sea, including the spectacular flight of Skuas, the largest predatory gulls, attempting to steal away the catch of other Gulls and Gan- nets. Proof again that this is no place to bring around a pet Sheltie; not just for the cliffs, but also for the Skuas that would not hesitate to attack them, dive-bombing them, claws and beak open, if the dogs should wander near the nests hidden in the grass. It was such a fascinating sight that I forgot about the hour, and I suddenly realized that I had to hurry to be on time for dinner in the guesthouse. Suddenly, I started to realize that distances are very rela- tive. Darkness started to fall and there was nobody to ask for the direction, or even a house or phone around. Mobile phones were not common then, and if so, it was not certain that there was any reach. Suddenly, a car stopped and the other guests of the home stepped out. My guests were very worried and had started a search. If they would not have found me, a search and rescue team would have been formed to look for me. I was very embarrassed to have caused all this trouble. The next day, they took me to a place where there would be a chance to see sea otters in real life. It was a spot without cliffs, but instead, a small, golden sand beach. I say a “golden beach” and this it really was. Two giant rocks of silicate stood aside from the beach. They were losing flakes of sili- cate in the sand and these reflected their oily-colored shades. Mixed with the sand around, it looked like the beach was covered all over in golden glitter; a brilliant sight. The beach was covered all over with paw prints, ending in a hole nearby. Clearly, they were paw prints from a sea otter family, but unfortunately, no otters to be seen. I was then brought to another place for a nice walk along an elliptical bay. The starting point was at an old abandoned graveyard facing towards the sea. What an amazing last resting place, prob- ably the most beautiful spot to be buried. I checked the names as far as they were readable, and it was fascinating to find out that it was merely people from around 1900 and somewhat later. But what surprised me most was that the average age of their death was very high, almost as high as nowadays, and this was unusual for that time. It’s probably proof that the harsh life on the islands was not necessarily life-shortening. Walking along the cliffs, I met some cormorants. And while looking out over the water, I suddenly spotted a few porpoises. A little further, I heard the blowing of a whistle, and when I looked up, I saw a man on the hills, direct- ing his Border Collie to collect the sheep that were all around. The dog was running high speed, and it was dawning on me again that this would not be the work for a Sheltie. Fog surprised me again, suddenly, but this time I was right on time at the meeting point to be picked up again by my hosts. The morning of my last day in Unst threatened to end, literally, into a misty cloud. But Mrs. Edmondston advised me to walk to a tiny reserve nearby… where a flower bloomed, unique in the world. I quickly found it. But not being a botanist, I did not know what to look for as there were many sorts of beautiful, tiny flowers all over. As the area was no larger than a foot- ball field, I stepped over the fence and continued for a walk. Mist and cliffs are never a good combination, and I was aware of the danger. My senses were on edge. Not far from the fence that I’d climbed over, I heard the sound of the sea, and so I slowed down my pace and approached carefully until the sight cleared in front of me and I found out that I was very near to the edge of a cliff. Curious to see how high I was, I layed down on my belly. At least 50 to 100 meters [164 to 328 feet] below me, three seals were lazily lying on a flat rock that stood out of the sea. Fascinating! A few photos later, I was on my way again along the edge of the cliffs. They were going down, but it was easy walking and the weather seemed to clear up a little. At some point, it felt like I was being watched, but I waved away the thought until I looked into the sea and spotted the head of a seal in the water, following me with prying eyes. How funny was that?! Suddenly, he was gone, and so I proceeded with my walk. Not far away, he was back, his piercing eyes pointed at me. He dove again, only to reappear a little further, but this time he must have called for his friends as I saw not one pair of eyes following my steps, but three! They followed like this for almost a kilometer long. What a lovely meeting!

84 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, OCTOBER 2021

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