SANDRA MORGAN
1. Where do you live and what do you do outside of dogs? We live in a rural setting outside of Seattle near Puget Sound in Washington state. I have a dog-related home business, StarWalker Canine Solutions. I mainly sell Life’s Abundance pet products and some items for breeders, including custom linens, mostly for puppy pens. My reproduction specialist sends me clients who have special needs for their puppies, and I make things to suit the situation. 2. Number of years owning and/or showing Pugs? We got our first Pug in 1994; over 20 years. We did Obedience and Agility with her and several rescue dogs we had, and went to an AKC dog show to watch the Obedi- ence classes. I ended up spending the time at the Pug Conformation ring—I was hooked! Her sire was a show dog, so I contacted his breeder to find out about breeding her. I first showed my first home bred girl from my first litter in 1997. She was the only Th e current obsession judges seem to have with clear pale fawn coats, which has led to a lack of pigment. Now we’re seeing less head wrinkles. I don’t think the sport itself has changed. I think the participants have tighter budgets and less time. Th is leads to less fun being had, and more pressure to finish dogs quickly, or not at all. 4. Describe the Pug in three words: Happy, loving and stoic. 5. What about the breed makes it a great show dog? Th ey enjoy being with people, and playing to the crowd. 6. What advice would you give a newcomer? Do your research. Don’t expect to have a perfect dog, or to walk into the ring and win every time. 7. What is your funniest experience at a dog show? Th e time we took our van and a giant silver tarp we were using as a shade cover. Th e wind came up and because we’d clipped the tarp to the top of the expens, the pens lifted and one of the dogs escaped. She was running around and under the van, while we were trying to catch her and man- age the tarp before more Pugs escaped. We still laugh about that one. We bought a motorhome before the next show. ELOIS VELTMAN 1. Where do you live and what do you do outside of dogs? I live in one of the most beautiful areas of North County San Diego—Fallbrook. Outside of the dog world, I refurbish homes, and spend time with my family and grandchildren. 2. Number of years owning and/or showing Pugs? I bred and showed Beagles with my mom for over 30 years. My husband and I had wirehaired Doxies that we bred, showed and participated in tracking events on Camp Pendleton. When my daughter was about 10, she wanted her own show Pug so she bought her first one, Ch. Blaques Mr. Twiggins, from Blanche Roberts. As family, we were all taken in by his loving personality! When my daughter went to college, I ended up with four grieving Pugs in MY bed. 3. What is di ff erent now about the sport from when you started? I feel quite confident that one of the changes in the Pug breed is improvement in their ability to one in her class, and I was so thrilled with her blue ribbon. 3. What is di ff erent now about the sport from when you started? freely breath with larger nostrils. 4. Describe the Pug in three words: Pugs are truly “multum in parvo.” 5. What about the breed makes it a great show dog? Pugs make great show dogs because they will do anything for a “reduced diet kibble”—i.e. RDs. 6. What advice would you give a newcomer? I think the best advice for newcomers in the breed is to buy the best bitch they can a ff ord from a BREEDER whose reputation stands out. 7. What is your funniest experience at a dog show? Th e funniest thing that I witnessed at a show was when Joe Watermann was kneeling down to set up our “Gatekeeper”. Th e judge gave the signal for all to go around. Joe began to rise and Gates jumped up and grabbed his tie throwing Joe into the ring! Th ank goodness, Joe has a wonderful sense of humor!
202 • S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , M AY 2015
Powered by FlippingBook