Showsight Interviews…
Connie Gerstner Miller, Malagold Golden Retrievers BY ALLAN REZNIK
Connie relaxing after a show...
1. Where did you grow up? I was born in Kentucky but grew up on a farm in Stough- ton, Wisconsin. My family had horses, sheep, cattle and farm dogs. I was an active member of our local 4-H club, show- ing sheep and cattle at the local fair, as well as participat- ing with my horses, and earned the title of State Champion Barrel Racer. I also participated in the first 4-H dog program started in our area. This began my serious interest in dog obedience training. 2. Do you come from a doggy family? If not, how did the interest in breeding and showing begin? I did not grow up in a dog family. Our family had farm animals, not necessarily family pets. My interest in show- ing dogs began after I was married. My then husband had a Golden Retriever and we initially concentrated our efforts in obedience events. After a divorce, I was a single mother with a baby daugh- ter, and had to make a living for the two of us. Fortunately, I could incorporate my love of dogs into a career. This was the start of Malagold Kennels in 1964, which included a breed- ing program that encompassed both the Golden Retriever and the Alaskan Malamute, hence the formation of the Malagold name. Eventually, concentration on the breeding of quality Gold- en Retrievers became the primary drive for me, which has continued through my current tenure at Malagold. I feel that a true family of Golden Retrievers exists at Malagold due to the focused effort in breeding a consistently high-quality dog that properly conforms to the long-established standard of the breed. 3. Who were your mentors in the sport? Please elabo- rate on their contributions to your early life in dogs. I was fortunate to come into the dog show world at a time when people from all breeds generally worked together, and respected breeders were generous with their time and the sharing of their deep knowledge. The first and most impor- tant person in my Golden Retriever life was Ludell Beckwith, of the famed Beckwith Golden Retriever line. It was from her that I learned the importance of studying and under- standing the breed standard of the Golden Retriever. She wanted me to know the total of the dog—history, purpose, structure, temperament—everything that is the complete
“Big Buff” and Connie winning Best of Breed at the 1970 Golden Retriever National Specialty
“I WAS FORTUNATE TO COME INTO THE DOG SHOW WORLD AT A TIME WHEN PEOPLE FROM ALL BREEDS GENERALLY WORKED TOGETHER, AND RESPECTED BREEDERS WERE GENEROUS WITH THEIR TIME AND THE SHARING OF THEIR DEEP KNOWLEDGE.”
106 • S how S ight M agazine , D ecember 2018
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