Showsight Interview: Milan Lint, Pouch Cove...
BY ALLAN REZNIK continued
associated with club membership and participation. I would, of course, like to see great- er participation in local kennel clubs by breeders, exhibitors and, frankly, professional handlers who make their living from these events. To that point, I was both pleased and proud when Michael and Michelle became actively involved in the Westchester and Mor- ris & Essex clubs. Great events don’t just happen—it instead takes the time, effort and energy of many. 9. The sport has changed greatly since you began as a breeder-exhibitor. What are your thoughts on the state of the fancy and the declining number of breeders? How do we encourage newcomers to join us, and remain in the sport? On this topic I may differ from many others in the sport. While I have a healthy respect for the past and very much enjoy discussing breeding programs and dogs of historical signifi- cance, my focus is much more on today and tomorrow. Despite what many dog people profess, “the good old days” are too often remembered as much better than what they really were. Relatedly, there is no greater turn-off to a new- comer than suggesting that our better days are behind us rather than ahead of us. For one, I don’t believe it. And even if I did, it is hardly the pitch I would use in getting others involved in purebred dogs. All in all, I am buoyant about the future given tremendous progress in overall education, advancements in dog health, gene markers, sophisti- cated breeding practices and greater geographic access to alternative blood- lines. Simply put, we know so much
As timing would have it, our young PWD special was not going to be quite ready for the big leagues in 2018, and I had by chance spotted Elsa in the breed ring at a show in 2017. While I am in no way an OES expert, it didn’t take a genius to recognize her as a great one. Ironically, Elsa lost the breed that day, instead taking BOS, yet I was unde- terred. At dinner that evening Heather and Colton discussed their hopes and dreams for the coming year. My sense was that, given their enthusiasm and confidence, a financial boost would enable Elsa and Heather to get on the road, making terrific things happen. That has been great to see and to be a small part of. Going forward, I have no plans to present breeds other than PWDs and Affens, and even if I did, working with the “right team” is paramount for me. That is not surprising, once you are accustomed to the Helmings, Scotts, Truesdales, Johnsons and Ernesto! 8. You have been a longtime club offi- cer in several organizations. Why is this important to you and how do you respond to breeder-exhibitors who do not belong to their local kennel club? I am currently the Treasurer for the Kennel Club of Philadelphia, the Vice President of the Morris & Essex Kennel Club, and, until recently, President of the Hatboro Dog Club. Longtime pure- bred dog enthusiasts typically enjoy well-planned events. That planning and execution requires time and effort, and I feel something of an obligation to do my part—as appropriately instilled in me over many years by David. Plus, I very much value the camaraderie
more about dogs of interest—not only the phenotype, but the detailed under- lying genetic map. And for those breeds where markers are not yet available— get moving! While my fellow PWD enthusiasts can be highly (and some- times overly) passionate regarding these issues, our collective efforts have made a tremendous and positive differ- ence in overall breed health. Regarding number of breeders, we are indeed increasingly dependent on smaller-scale programs and that isn’t changing. It is therefore incumbent on me to learn about, visit and assess puppies from multiple breeders vs. one larger facility. We are doing our best to make that adjustment, as it is highly unlikely that we will experience large scale programs—especially in a breed such as PWDs that don’t do well in those settings. 10. Finally, tell us a little about Milan Lint outside of dogs... your profession, your hobbies. As previously mentioned, Mitch and I have lived in New York City for 25 years, though we are originally from Ohio, and are both graduates of the Ohio State University. Mitch is a longtime (20-year) partner at Ernst & Young, leading a large business that requires global travel. I am a Manag- ing Director at BlackRock Investments and will shortly celebrate my 22-year anniversary. We have been fortunate both personally and professionally, perpetuating the addiction to pure- bred dogs, vintage autos, and exten- sive personal travel. That said, our favorite moments are invariably with friends, Affens and PWDs in beautiful Bucks County.
Milan and Mitch Berlin, Christmas 2017 in Brooklyn, NY.
Milan and his Affenpinschers
48 • S how S ight M agazine , J uly 2018
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