THE MISCELLANEOUS GROUP
STACY ABLE We are in Indianapolis, Indiana. Outside of Barbet, I am a full time photographer specializing in weddings, pets and food. PAULA BALLACK I live in Stratford Ontario, Canada. Outside of dogs, I am a nurse. DEB KIDWELL I live in Sweetwater, Tennesse. I work for Raytheon and I am an OSHA Safety person. Deb Kidwell has had Azawakh since 1989. She obtained her first Azawakh from breed pioneer, Gisela Cook-Schmidt (Reckendahl), from the second litter born in the US. Within the next year, she imported two males, one from France and one from Germany. The German male, Dayyat n’shat-ehad became the foundation male for the Kel Simoon Azawakh. Over the years, she imported more Azawakh from several breeders in Europe and Australia. Her dogs are known to be well socialized, healthy and are beloved family pets. Deb has traveled to Europe many times to witness and par- ticipate in the German Azawakh specialty shows and has vis- ited many prominent breeders in Germany and Switzerland. In 1995, she traveled to Niger and Burkina Faso with Ursula & Reinhard Arnold (Azawakh n’shat-ehad). Her Kel Simoon Azawakh were in the forefront of ASFA lure coursing with two of her dogs featured in the ASFA Hall of Fame and 13 included in the Lifetime Top 20 Hounds. Deb’s dogs have also won many specialties and BIS at rare breed shows. Her dogs are titled and participating in Rally, Obe- dience, Agility, Nose Work, Fly ball, Search & Rescue, Barn Hunt, Farm Dog, Canine Good Citizen, Canine Freestyle, and Meet the Breed events, just to name a few! In 1988, the American Azawakh Association (AAA) was formed to promote the pure Azawakh in the US and is the AKC parent club for the breed. Deb has had an integral involve- ment in the club since 1989. In 2011, she gave an Azawakh seminar for the AKC Judge’s Institute in Orlando, FL and has been requested to give another in 2018. Most recently, she served as the club’s Rescue Coordinator for the rescue of 17 dogs from a hoarding/starvation case in California. 1. Your opinion of the current quality of your breed. SA: We have a great start with what Barbet we have in the States. There is still much work to be done in terms of
broadening gene pools as well as having more breeding options but we are slowly getting there. PB: Could be better. There are some commercial breeders producing for money rather than health and quality. DK: I think the dogs in the US are pretty nice. I’ve attended many German Azawakh Specialties over the years and I think many of the Azawakh in the US are comparable. The AKC standard is quite different from the current FCI standard. The main difference is that color and mark- ings are immaterial. The feeling of our club is that we want to be as inclusive as possible. The FCI standard is very restrictive with regard to color and markings. This severely limits the gene pool. 2. Now that you’re in the miscellaneous class you’re involved in the actual dog show day. Does your experience so far make you encouraged, or ner- vous, to gain full recognition? SA: I would say both. I have really enjoyed our time in the misc class. Being able to show against the other misc breeds teaches you the dog show process without it get- ting overly serious or competitive. The judges, stewards, and fellow misc breed owners/handlers are all learning together and have been encouraging with each other. PB: Very encouraged. Shows have been great, people very receptive. Judges very good. DK: Many mixed feelings regarding Misc. classes. Many of the fanciers feel it’s not fair for Misc. breeds to pay the same entry fee as the recognized breeds, when we can- not compete for BIS and do not win points. 3. How is your breed club coming in its effort to become AKC recognized? SA: Since the club started they have made wonderful strides! We held our first open show last December in Florida and will have our second open show in July in Wiscon- sin. Membership has slowly grown along with interest in the breed. PB: I think we’re doing well. DK: Recognition is scheduled to occur January 2019. 4. What is the biggest difficulty you face at this time? SA: Having the time to show and breed along with my regular full-time job. I wish I had a twin as I would love to attend more summer shows but they conflict with my work schedule. PB: Numbers. Being a rare breed there are not many... Yet The AKC wants lots of dogs. How do we responsi- bly breed and take care in our practices when we are expected to produce in mass to get recognized? Should it not be more realistic (and healthier for the breed) to have
250 • S how S ight M agazine , J uly 2018
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