Showsight - May 2022

ANNE HIER AMPIRION BULLDOGS BREEDER INTERVIEW BY ALLAN REZNIK

Where did you grow up? I was born in Flint, Michigan, and grew up in the country near Hadley, Michigan. We had some Morgan horses that I showed in 4-H. Do you come from a doggy family? And if not, how did the interest in breeding and showing purebred dogs begin? No. We became a “doggie family” after I purchased my first Bulldog to show in conformation and obedience in 1975. My dad then became interested in the showing. He purchased a half-sister to my bitch, and we started from there, finishing both with specialty wins. My real interest in purebred dogs began in junior high school. In the heyday of Howell Book House, there were dozens of breed books available at our library. I read them all. At that time, I also purchased my first dog book, which I still own. It was a large- format book, Dogs of the World , by Sheila Balch, with additional information on show- ing dogs by Laurence Alden Horswell. I was so impressed with all the hand-drawn illustrations in this book, particularly of the Bulldog. When I saw it at the pharmacy, I just had to have it. However, it cost $3.00, and I only had a dollar in my pocket. I was so afraid someone else would buy it that I asked the pharmacist if I could put it on layaway. I realize now that he must have been amused that a child would go to so much effort to buy a book. After high school, my boss had a Bulldog named Prudence. When he went on vaca- tion, he asked me to apartment sit. The first night, Prudence jumped up on the bed, put her head on my chest, and began snoring loudly. I was petrified but then realized what a sweet, fun dog she was. No one will believe that I was ever shy, but when I walked Prudence down the streets of NYC, people would stop to pet her and talk to me. That is when I decided to someday get a Bulldog.

116 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, MAY 2022

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