basset hound Q&A WITH JOAN GOLDSTEIN, CELESTE GONZALEZ, SYLVIE MCGEE, RICHARD NANCE, ROBERT OPEKA, HAL PYBUS, JOANE RUSH, SUE NELSON SMYTH, CLAIRE “KITTY” STEIDEL AND DOUGLAS C. TAYLOR
the dogs and our property doing gardening. We each spent years on the board serving the BHCA members and our breed. This is our 55th year exhibiting Bassets, we were encouraged by local exhibitors to show our first young bitch who we received from my husband’s boss. His wife needed help with the three boys and a Basset while she was recuperating from major surgery. Since I was expecting our third child (all under three years old), I thought it best to help with the dog, I soon learned they will take back the kids but not the dog! After our first show we realized if we wanted to remain in the sport we had to find knowledgeable mentors/breeders to help us understand the Basset. We were fortunate when we found a lovely Tarzen son and a great friend in Mary Meredith of Arizona. Shortly after acquiring our special boy, we transferred to Ohio and had the help of great mentors and friends in the breed. We met and learned from some of the best in the breed: the Patterson’s, Betty Kinslow, the Brandt’s, Mary Jo Shields, Chris Teeter, the Martin’s and the Braun’s to name a few. I was approved to judge the Basset Hound in 2007. SUE NELSON SMYTH as the #614 Nationally Certified Educational Diagnostician in the United States. I was born into dogs. My grandfather had a beagle kennel and was a founding member of the Garden State Beagle Club. As a child, I observed many beagle field tri- als from horseback and was encouraged to work at the trials. When I was 10 years old I purchased a black and tan standard dachshund and was encouraged to show her by a neighbor who showed whippets. She took me under her wing and thus my dog show life started. I joined our local all-breed ken- nel club in the 1980s, by then showing and breeding Basset hounds and in the late 1990s, I was encouraged to apply for my judging license. CLAIRE “KITTY” STEIDEL I live in Scottsdale, Arizona with my husband, Chuck, 7 year old Tiger, Basset who retired, and Gilbey, Grand Basset Grif- fon Vendéen, who will be in ring when he is fully ready. I do little outside of dogs I guess, as I write and read about them, judge them and do presentations on Bas- set, PBGVs and GBGV. My husband and I like to travel but I have lived in New Jersey for most of my life and in my current home since 1984. I worked in the field of education for 34 years starting as an elementary teacher, then as a guidance counselor and for the final 10+ years as a Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant for the Child Study Team. I ended my career
often we plan the trips in US, such as Nationals for three breeds and we travel with our daughter and son-in-law nationally and internationally. It seems I always have a dead- line though, so I am always thinking about how to present a subject, often a subject not scintillating in itself in an inter- est way. Two articles that I loved writing because I learned something about other animals were the one on Coonhounds, when I delved into the habits of the raccoon, and the article on Elkhounds, when I learned so much about the moose and its environment and made a new friend on a moose author- ity in Norway. I have been in dogs since 1968 with our first Basset. I attended shows for two years before embarking on showing. After observing Bassets for two years, I decided our Basset, though purchased from a well-known breeder, had some good features but was not show quality. I investigated pedigrees and photos and offspring of stud dogs from the pedigree. It was after raising two litters that I felt I had one worthy of the show ring. Primarily, exhibiting in Bred By for about 16 years, until I was approved for the hound group. I have been judging since 1984. I also bred and showed PBGVs. DOUGLAS C. TAYLOR I live in Roeland Park, Kansas. I am a retired Prof. of The- atre Technology, most recently at the University. of Missouri/ Kansas City. In retirement I do dogs. Been owned by Basset Hounds for 48 years, judging for 26 years and showing my own Bassets for 36 years.
1. Describe the breed in three words. JG: Heavy boned, long and wrinkled. CG: Achondroplastic, long, low and doleful. SM: Substantial, deliberate and sensitive. RO: Temperament, movement and structure.
RN: Three words that come to mind is recognizable, low-key and patient. The Basset Hound characteristics make the breed very easy to identify, long ears, low to the ground and sad expression. The Basset is very patient, which makes him a great pet where there are children in the household. HP: The breed in three words: gentle, willful and determined. JR: Wrap front, balanced, deliberate mover. SNS: Versatile, pack and scent hound (yes, that is more than three words). CKS: Noble, sturdy and dependable. DCT: Long, low and Houndy. 2. What are your “must have” traits in this breed? JG: Heavy bone, level topline, prominent sternum with well sprung ribbing extending as far back as possible and proper, effortless movement. Right after those must haves, would love to see good wrinkling and long ears set properly on a classic head. CG: 1) Type without exaggeration 2) correct proportions 3) correct shoulder placement, assembly and angulation 4)
S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , O CTOBER 2018 • 255
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