The big news this week is the results of Westminster Dog Show held at Madison Square Gardens USA. The 150th show drew an entry of 2,600 dogs all breeds. BOB Chesapeakes and for the first time RBIS went to GCHP Next Generation’s Accelerate by GCHC CH Next Generations Have Mercy MH QA2 x GCH CH Next Generations Off The Rails JH CGC TKN, owned by Malissa Schumann, Dana Bleifer DVN, Dr Kathrine Scribner, Trevor Gerardi Miller DC & breeder owner Adam Levy. “Cota” was handled as usual by Devon Kipp Levy. BOS went to GCHB Pond Hollow Carve Your Name At Topwater CD BN RI JH BCAT CGC, by CH Tresure Lake Ray’s Red Wolf MH CA x CH Pond Hollow Skipping Stones, bred by Dyane Baldwin, owner Ann Hampson Law. Breed judge Mrs Cindy Vogles, Group judge Mr Douglas Johnson, BIS judge Mr David Fitzpatrick. This was incredible to have an American breed placed so high at the anniversary show. I cannot wait for the next ACC Bulletin where there will be lots of photos and full report of the show.
I am often asked how does one find out anything about the breed. As in all walks of life professional, occupational, hobby or passion learning takes time. General knowledge can be gained from books and videos, experience can take a lifetime. There is only so much one can learn from seminars, books, videos, talks etc – real experience takes time, effort and commitment. There is no quick fix, especially in Chesapeakes. There are many highs and lows, many turns dead ends and back tracks. It is only through breeding that true knowledge may come through. Acquiring a puppy that turns out quite nice is only the beginning. Breeding the best to the best as all renowned breeders will know will often not turn out the best, genetics and genes are a law unto themselves. Seminars, and I recommend going to as many as possible preferable given by different people, books, films, breed standard anything on history of the breed is a start. To really gain knowledge I recommend going to see as many dogs as possible, the ACC NSS and FT Specialty is where you will see the most Chesapeakes in any one place. I try to go at least every 3 years and have done so for 30 years. To say you have been to one National is neither here nor there, but it is a start. This year’s ACC NSS is in October 6 – 10 Bennet. CO. The FT Specialty is September 22 – 24 Kedil.KY. I would also recommend visiting Chesapeake gatherings in European countries, not FCI shows as usually the entries are very small. Always keep an open mind, avoid being drawn into the team, pack or tribe – your eyes will be blinkered and learning becomes a dictation. Study pedigrees and photos of dogs, also health, colour and coat. What a dog has won will never influence me – you should learn to assess a dog yourself.
Just one show result – Isle Of Ely Canine Society Two Day Show, breed judge Cara Davani. Two dogs entered, BOB & BD Mahon Hunns & Middleton’s Susqudilla Yankee Shadow (imp USA); BP Pont’s Penrose Willpower.
Less than a month to go and the Crufts entries are out. Our judge this year Mr Richard Bott has received an entry of 56 dogs, 25d 31b. There are some dogs coming from overseas, Helen Meuser from Germany is very disappointed to tell me she is not one of them as she is expecting a litter of puppies at the same time.
Very sad and disturbing news has reached me yet again, another prominent and very successful exhibitor after much thought and disgust is walking away from the show ring, saying “enough is enough. Having seen so much face judging, pack dominance, marketing of dogs and handlers, lame dogs winning, dogs with obvious faults being highly placed and most seriously being bullied by those who promote themselves as the opposite. Even reporting any or all of this to the RKC nothing is ever done. Showing has become such a cut throat expensive hobby there is no longer any pleasure going to shows where only the people are judged and not the dogs.”
Janet Morris
07739 592323
penrosechesapeakes@gmail.com