TerrierGroup Spring 2023

TerrierGroup Editorial

Our foreign correspondent Olga Forlicz wrote about the recent death, at too young of an age, of Dan Ericsson from Sweden. Dan judged many times in the US, including best in show at the Montgomery County Terrier Show. Some of you may have shown under him.

Spring is in the air in parts of the country and everyone will be ready for a change in the weather with rays of sunshine, and the beginning of outdoor shows. As always, a reminder to keep your dogs in the shade when the sun is out and the show is hot - keep them hydrated and content.

With this issue we are very pleased to be bringing out three new writers to TerrierGroup. Claude ReMaynes, from Northern California, a longtime terrier enthusiast, has been an apprentice, handler, breeder, exhibitor and judge in his lifetime span of dogs. He is a member of the USLTC Health and Genetics Committee and actively volunteers in animal rescue. Kathy Wakefield from Oregon, who is very active in dog sports such as FCAT, Trick Dog and Barn Hunt with her remarkable Rat Terrier, Kit, who is a past winner of Performance Ratter and Super Ratter awards for Barn Hunt at the Eukanuba AKC Performance Games. DiAnn Flory is an AKC judge of many terriers breeds and a long-time breeder and exhibitor of winning Cairn Terriers. DiAnn will be contributing her wisdom and expertise on breeding terriers, the ins and outs of judging, and anything else that catches her interest. A big welcome to these additions to our staff.

The dog breeders, the handlers, the AKC judges and surely the clubs that produce the shows and their hard workers, all make a contribution to the world of dogs. In this issue, rather than writing about these individuals we have an article about a gentleman who made contributions in another way, Harold Florsheim, breeder and owner of Airedales and Wire Fox Terriers and owner of Florsheim shoes.

Our most recent Sunday newspaper had 28 ads under Dogs for Sale. I hadn’t checked these out for many years and decided to take a look. Twenty-eight ads – five for German Shepherds, plus a few other purebred breeds. The balance of 14 ads were for: Bernadoodles, Cavadoodles, Mini-Goldendoodles, Cockapoos, Goldendoodles and Morkies. In addition they also featured ACA Yorkies, Sheepdoodles plus Shihpoos AND Teddies, which were “beautiful and non-shed.” Truly, work is cut out for breeders of purebred dogs. Hopefully, we will have some articles in our coming issues stressing why purebred dogs are important and crucial for the future of dogs. However, it’s very doubtful that these articles will fall into the hands of those who think they are breeding “new breeds.”

Many years ago I was treasurer of the Minneapolis Kennel Club and the IRS sent out an agent to look over our records to see why we should be a tax exempt club. The auditor and I sat at the dining room table covered with files from seven years.

Muriel

Another year has gone by and 2023 will be a better year for many because of the easing of COVID concerns. Hopefully, dog shows, businesses and life in general will return to the pre-pandemic days.

Judge Dan Ericsson with a young exhibitor

and in the next room were a litter of Scottish Terrier puppies. He noted, part way through the interview, “what’s that noise?” and I said a litter of Scottie puppies. He made the mistake of saying, “We had a Schnauzer and bred her to the mutt down the block so the kids could see what a litter of puppies looks like.” And I said, probably loudly, “This is why there are PUREBRED dogs – dogs that are bred for a purpose, who will look like their sire and dam, have good temperaments and have traits that represent their breed.” He quickly marked our records with a plus, folded up his books and left. The public needs to understand what a purebred dog is, what its purpose is and why the advantages are to having a purebred dog.

And, of course, always a little something from England, this time, curtesy of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, here reproduced in its original form. “Honoring pets past. Animal lovers touring Edinburgh Castle in Scotland may run cross a small, beautiful garden dedicated to the dogs of regimental officers serving there. The cemetery, which can only be viewed from above, dates to 1840 and is the final resting spot for officers’ pets and regimental mascots. Look for it within the castle walls near Mill’s Mount where the One O’Clock Gun is fired.”

Another note regarding the National Canine Defence League; it was started in 1891 by doglover Lady Gertrude Stock, who gathered together a small “party of gentlemen that vowed to protect dogs from torture and ill-usage of every kind. No more – muzzling, prolonged chaining, and experimentation on dogs.” By 1902 there were 1000 members and by 1910 there were 6500 members. Today Dog Trust has around 50,000 members. The British were certainly a forerunner in looking after abandoned dogs.

Another note from the U.K. “Big dogs have their day again as owners move to the country.”

Speaking of a large breed, the article starts with the Pyrenean Mountain dog, weighing 120 to 160 pounds, which had the largest increase in popularity last year, and of the ten top breeds in popularity, six were called “large”, with the Old English Sheepdog, placing ninth, having a 66 percent increase in popularity…talk about large AND a dog that needs considerable grooming!

As usual, send us your thoughts and ideas and especially your advertisements to Reita and she will take good care of you. Keep yourselves well throughout the spring and the coming summer and may you all have fantastic wins!

Muriel Lee TerrierGroup Editor

Edinburgh Castle Dog Cemetary

Understanding “Terriertude”

A brief glance at any social media outlet reveals a concerning trend. New dog owners are acquiring terriers for their first time pets. While heartwarming to acknowledge an increase in terriers as pets, many first-time owners are not prepared or fully understand the nature of the terrier mind. Sadly, too often their posts usually end in re-homing or returning the dog back to their sources.

What exactly is “Terriertude”?

Terriertude is a self - coined phrased used to describe the general nature of terriers as a whole. Terriers are independent thinkers by nature and they meet the world on their own terms and often challenge their owners with this thinking. A quick glance at the Soft Coated Wheaten breed standard states: “The Wheaten is a happy, steady dog and shows himself gaily with an air of self confidence. He is alert and exhibits an interest in their surroundings; exhibits less aggressiveness than is sometimes encouraged in other terriers. Major faults-timid or overly aggressive dogs.”

The Wheaten was bred over two hundred years in Ireland as an all-purpose farm dog. Its duties included watching and guarding livestock, herding, and vermin control. Imagine the

character of the dog who excelled at these duties…fending off coyotes, bringing sheep to the holding pens, and keeping mice out of the grain bins. The nature of the animal depicted should have a strong sense of self and able to work independent of humans while remaining a dog of impeccable character and heart. Recently, a new Wheaten owner posted that her two dogs chased and exterminated a rabbit who had made the unfortunate mistake of residing in her garden. She expressed concern and wondered if this was “aggression” and wanted to know if there was a way to train aggression out of the two Wheatens.

Thankfully, many of the preservation Wheaten breeders explained that this is the nature of the breed and that this is acceptable behavior. The new owners were not made aware of this nature until now, and had to rethink ownership.

Likewise, a first time Lakeland terrier owner asked when will they be able to take their dog off lead and enjoy the company of other dogs at the local dog park. Unfortunately, in the case of the

Lakeland, a dog trainer coined it as reactionary and he could offer assistance with training—only to later advise the well- meaning owner to neuter the dog to “gain control.” A long time Lakeland breeder offered to discuss the true nature of the breed and felt there was no issue, except perhaps unrealistic expectations of a terrier to respond like a Golden Retriever or a Labrador Retriever.

What Can We Do?

As preservation breeders, we provide information to our puppy buyers, such as the personality and nature of the breed, but do the new owners really understand it? Many times, new owners will nod in agreement and either do not fully grasp the concept of what we are saying, or they often forget the discussion. Most breeders send home a packet of information with the necessary AKC paperwork, vaccination and worming schedules and feeding routines. However, do we provide anything to prepare the new owner for

This scenario can create a “perfect storm” of deterioration. Many times, as terrier breeders, we do not see an issue with the behaviors and deem them “just being a terrier.” However, to the new owner, who is limited by their experience, this can be a difficult period of adjustment.

understanding the terrier temperament? When problems arise, most owners do the best they can with the limited resources they have, and often it’s a request for a trainer/behaviorist in their area who can immediately assess the situation and offer some type of solution.

Often these trainer/behaviorist have very little background in terriers or their experience in the terrier breeds are limited.

Claud ReMaynes

To offer solutions to the new owners, here are some strategies to prepare them for success:

1. Check in frequently with your puppy owners. Ask questions. Do not berate. What may seem routine to you with longevity in a breed, can be overwhelming for the first time owners.

2. Explain the temperament in detail and what should be realistically expected. A highlighted copy of the AKC Breed Standard, given to the new owner at the time of purchase, of the expected temperament of the breed can mentally prepare the owners of what to expect.

3. Offer terrier based resources to the first-time owner and one book comes up frequently, Terriercentric Dog Training by Dawn AntoniakMitchell. This easy to read and understand book will help new owners to relate to their terriers in a clear manner with positive results. For those owners who need more visual learning, Pat Muller’s, Quansa Kennels: Manners in Minutes has a Facebook page

where she shows examples and the results. Muller is a former president of the United States Lakeland Terrier Club and a preservationist breeder of Airedale and Lakeland Terriers. She often explains, “ You (the owner) doesn’t speak terrier and the dog doesn’t speak English, but we have to find a way for you two to communicate effectively.”

4. Encourage - don’t discourage! As preservationist breeders we are (or should be) the first line of defense for our puppy buyers. They may sometimes frustrate us with questions and seemingly small issues, but remember to build a rapport. Encourage them to try new things. Let them know about the kennel club classes for new time owners, tell them about Pet Smart Puppy Classes, obedience classes and breeder friendly veterinarians in their area.

Hopefully, by doing these actions, there will be a change and new owners will fully understand and accept “Terriertude.”

Mr. Geir Flyckt-Pedersen

Best in Show Judge: Westminster Kennel Club

TerrierGroup is very pleased to have this exceptional interview, hopefully beyond the usual, with the Best in Show judge for Westminster Kennel Club, Mr. Geir Flyckt-Pedersen

Mr. Flyckt-Pedersen, born in Norway, along with his wife Gerd, were breeders of Wire Fox Terriers and Welsh Terriers. The awards to their kennel have been extensive, not only with Wire Fox Terriers, but also with several other breeds. They bred over 100 Wire Fox champions, that won Dog of the Year titles in Sweden and Norway the same year; they owned the Welsh Terrier top dog in Norway and Sweden, received Dog

World’s Award of Excellence, won best in show over 4000 dogs with their Wire Fox Terrier in Helsinki, in addition to winning reserve best in show with his English Cocker Spaniel at the same show! Their Louline Wire Fox terrier kennel name was known world-wide. Gerd passed away in 2916 and Mr. Flyckt resides in Peppers Pike, Ohio. What were your thoughts when you received the invitation envelope from Westminster Kennel Club, not knowing quite what would be in it. Or did you know exactly what the invitation would contain? Where did your thoughts go first? (i.e. “Wow! Me!)

My immediate reaction to this very unexpected, but flattering invite from Westminster Kennel Club to judge best in show at their 2023 event was. of

Interview with Mr. Geir Flyckt-Pedersen

WKC Terrier Group - 2016 Photo: Olga Forlicz

course. stunned disbelief, but also pride! If you had indicated to me at my first visit to the U.S. in 1979 that I would ever have the honor of judging best in show at Westminster, neither I nor anyone else would have considered that a possibility. Maybe, at most, an unrealistic dream.

WKC is one of the most prestigious judging assignments in the world of purebred dogs, maybe on a par with best in show at Crufts. There is so much important history associated with this event…so many shoes of so many famous previous judges to fill…which of course adds to both pressure and the flavor of taking this on.

The invitation came via a zoom meeting with cochairs David Helming and David Haddock, plus other board members, so when the actual invitation arrived by mail, I knew all about it.

Will you study up on all of the breeds again, or do any homework – perhaps a few jogs around the park to build up your stamina?

As to preparations, procedures, stamina, etc., all yet to be experienced! I have been a runner most of my life so think I can handle the walk into the ring- and I have also judged finals at Crufts and major shows in many other countries so there is no stage fright involved…at least not yet!

Will you study up on all of the breeds again or do any homework?

I have been interested in and actually studying all of the breeds I have come in contact with in my entire life, at least since getting involved with dog shows which started in 1959. I have also had the privilege of judging all-breed best in shows in several countries, and all breeds, many times, in a variety of classes in the UK, both at championship and at open show level and every time I come up with questions, which are followed by more studies of breed standards and special features. And with so many friends and acquaintances, in a large variety of breeds and groups, I have hopefully picked up some knowledge along the way! I surely hope I will be well prepared, but there is always more to learn and more to read up on.

What excitement to see and go over the best dogs in America, if not in the world! What do you think you will be thinking?

Judging by the selected judges for the groups, I am more than 100% confident that the seven dogs from which I shall select my winners will all be outstanding representatives for their breeds as well as their groups.

I have a huge respect for what the “founding” breeders were able to create all those years

Int. C h. Nor. Ch. Swed. Deveraus Janore - Breck handled by Geir Flyckt-Pedersen - 1974

Coco and Peter Green zt Crufts 2005 Eng/USA Champion Cracknor Cause Celebre

Interview with Mr. Geir Flyckt-Pedersen

ago and it is a serious responsibility trying to competently honor the efforts they once started and improved along the way, and often when they have had to make huge sacrifices, both emotionally and financially.

In todays world it is more important than ever to enlighten the public about the value of purebred, registered dogs. Making people aware of all the efforts, through decades, to improve health and temperament, plus attempting to eradicate any misconceptions fed to the general public by institutions with ulterior motives.

How about the media? They will be surrounding you after the judging as well as the next day. Of course, the media is important these days as we are faced with so many negative influencers:

I loved what the incredible Pat Trotter said in her speech before pointing at her winners at this show two years ago: “All Pets are not show dogs…but all show dogs are pets!” Which I think is so true. And I don’t think you will find any animals that are treated with more love and respect than the ones entered at the annual Westminster Kennel Club’s Dog Show. Or any other dog show for that matter!

I think there are similarities between animals and human beings…if you want them to shine and look special, you will have to make them feel special. And to make your presence felt in this company you will definitely have to SHINE!

Judges - Terrier Breeds and Varieties

• Kathleen J. Ferris of Holland, Pennsylvania: Bedlington Terriers, Border Terriers, Cesky Terriers, Glen of Imaal Terriers, Irish Terriers, Miniature Schnauzers.

• David J. Kirkland of Sanford, North Carolina: American Hairless Terriers, Dandie Dinmont Terriers, Parson Russell Terriers, Rat Terriers, Russell Terriers, Scottish Terriers, Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers, Standard Manchester Terriers.

• Jerry Klein of Chicago, Illinois: Airedale Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Bull Terriers (both Varieties), Kerry Blue Terriers, Lakeland Terriers, Miniature Bull Terriers, Smooth Fox Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Welsh Terriers, Wire Fox Terriers.

• Louise Leone of Franktown, Colorado: Australian Terriers, Cairn Terriers, Norfolk Terriers, Norwich Terriers, Sealyham Terriers, Skye Terriers, West Highland White Terriers.

The Best Therapy Is a Terrier

Heather Wingate of La Pine, Oregon, has officially found her calling, and her crew of Border Terriers are one hundred percent on board with it. If you know Heather, or have ever met her for a brief moment, you know that she has endless kindness (and a huge soft spot for Border Terriers). Doing Therapy Dog visits with her Borders is the perfect way she shares that kindness with others.

About six years ago she heard about a Therapy Dog program in her area and just knew that her sweet and gentle Border Terrier puppy, Jemma, might be perfect for the job. After taking Jemma to a Pet Partners seminar, Heather had some reservations about being able to train her (terrier) adequately to continue, but was determined to try.

Shortly after that, they happened to be at a Barn Hunt trial and bumped into Sue Dolezal, who is a Tester/Observer for Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD). Sue took one look at Jemma and urged Heather to get her tested for certification right away. Of course, Jemma passed with flying colors, and in 2020 Heather applied to be a Tester/Observer herself to help other dog and handler teams in Central Oregon. They work with Compassionate Canines of Central Oregon to staff local events with teams certified through Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD), Therapy Dogs, Inc. (TDI) and Pet Partners. Some of the places the teams visit often are assisted living facilities, the local airport, libraries, OSU Cascades, and the hospital.

Today, Heather and her husband Jeff have a lovely pack of seven dogs; six are Border Terriers.

Three of them - Jemma, Lily and Bunny - are certified for therapy. Between the three dogs, they have lost count of how many therapy visits they have done! Of all the activities they do, from conformation to FastCAT and Earthdog, Heather says that the therapy visits are by far the most meaningful and fulfilling thing she has ever participated in, especially the visits they have with seniors at assisted living facilities. A lot of the people staying there have had to give up their pets in order to live where they can receive the care they need. Being separated indefinitely from their pets, and sometimes not knowing where they ended up, can be heartbreaking. The residents really look forward to having even a few minutes of the companionship that only a dog can provide. Jemma, Lily, and Bunny absolutely know how to give that kind of love. It’s like their sixth sense to pick up on emotional need, and it’s undeniable that snuggling a little scruffy dog makes one feel better. The dogs don’t just help emotionally but can provide support in other ways. According to Heather, one assisted living resident has put in extra effort in his physical therapy, only because he looks forward to walking outside with the dogs one day soon.

So what does it take to make a good therapy dog?

Heather gets this question a lot, and the most important thing she wants us all to know is that it is a 50/50 partnership - 50% is having an open, stable, friendly dog who enjoys physical touch. The other 50% is the handler, supporting and advocating for the dog, being observant, and having good communication skills. Therapy visits can sometimes be stressful for both dog and handler and it is necessary to be able to read the room. When new teams are being evaluated, it is quite common to find that the handler, in fact, is not well suited to handle the environment. It takes a special dog and a special person!

What’s the difference between a service dog and a therapy dog?

Service dogs are trained to assist one specific person with specific tasks or alerts. Service dogs are protected under the Americans With Disabilities Act. Therapy dogs are trained to provide comfort and companionship to many people in many ways, and are accompanied by their handler. Therapy dogs are tested and certified.

The AKC Therapy Dog Program recognizes the work performed by dogs through certain certification organizations (a list can be found on the AKC website) based on the number of visits they complete. The purpose is to recognize dog and handler teams who work to make a difference in people’s lives. You and your dog can earn several titles from AKC for Therapy Dog they are as follows:

AKC Therapy Dog Novice (THDN) - 10 Completed Visits

AKC Therapy Dog (THD) - 50 Completed Visits

AKC Therapy Dog Advanced (THDA) - 100 Completed Visits

AKC Therapy Dog Excellent (THDX) - 200 Completed Visits

AKC Therapy Dog Distinguished (THDD) - 400 Completed Visits

Any dog with an AKC, PAL or Canine Partners number is eligible.

Kathy Wakefield

Olga Forlicz

In Memory of Dan Ericsson

When I opened Facebook on December 15 to routinely scroll through the feed, I froze at the repeated message “Dan Ericsson has passed away.” Although Dan had been struggling with health issues for some time, he recently kept telling me that he felt fine, that he was planning further trips and that he accepts invitations to subsequent shows and lectures. Just a week earlier he had sent me photos to edit and materials for advertising. However, I was starting to get a little worried because he hadn’t replied to my texts for a few days, but the news of his death absolutely shocked me.

Dan was born on April 8,1958, to a non-doggy family, although his paternal grandmother had various breeds including Giant Schnauzers and Kerry Blue Terriers. She persuaded Dan’s parents to let him have a dog and she was the one who suggested a Scottish Terrier, and that was the best decision for the Dan and the breed, as the future showed.

At the age of twelve Dan got his dream dog. He had done his research and found out that most show winners were bred by Mrs. Westerström (Ferox kennel) whom he contacted asking for a puppy. Mrs. Westerström’s top sire imported from England had sired a litter locally at the Torslochs kennel of Birgit Norman and the only female.

Torsloch Terzette, later a champion, became the foundation bitch of Dan’s Raglan fame.

From the very beginning, already as a young teenager, Dan treated his dog hobby very seriously, spending all his school holidays at different kennels, both in Sweden and England, working with dogs, grooming and showing. His work and perseverance, constant search for the best dogs, contacts with top breeders, resulted in huge successes and over 115 champions were born under the Raglan prefix. Dan himself was saying that the best dog he bred, the dog that one dreams of, was Ch Raglan Rory - World Winner, Top Dog All Breeds in Sweden in 2001 and Top Terrier of All Times in Sweden with 25 group wins.

In addition to Scotties, Dan bred Pekingeses and Labrador Retrievers, although as he realized, it was impossible to work with two coated breeds simultaneously and he stopped breeding Pekes in the 1990’s.

Dan graduated with a master’s degree in English and French, and focused on a teaching career. As a dog-person he was involved in numerous kennel clubs’ organizations and activities. He was a chairman of The Swedish Terrier Club, The Swedish Scottish Terrier Club and The Swedish Labrador Club. During the last years he was an active member of the Swedish Judges’ Association and the Swedish Cynological Academy and not to forget, Dan was a member of the U.K. Kennel Club!

In 1987 Dan started his judging career and was able to call himself an allrounder twenty years later. He had judged worldwide in more than 40 countries, including several World and European Shows. In 2016 he judged at Montgomery where he also chose best in show. Dan judged at Crufts several times and in 2019 he had the honor to award the best in show there as well.

He had an enormous knowledge of dogs that he shared with those willing to listen and learn and he had his own sophisticated way of talking to critics. Everyone who had the pleasure of talking to him will always remember his characteristic voice, murmurs of approval or, quite the opposite, when he added his rustling njaaa, njaaa (nooo, nooo).

At the beginning of this February the Swedish Kennel Club established a fund in memory of Dan with the purpose of providing an annual scholarship to breeders who, through genuine interest and commitment to their dog breed, have achieved breeding success. The fund was created to promote one of Dan’s passions...dog breeding. Anyone who is interested can contribute to the fund through the website: https://www.mittskk.se/dan-ericssons.html

Dan was, by any meaning, a true and passionate dog person who had a great and a positive influence on a number of dog people, and upon his beloved breed. He will be greatly missed by many and I do already miss him and will for a long time.

TerrierGroup Publication

Volume 8 Number 2

Spring 2023 www.terriergroup.org

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Getting to know DiAnn Flory

Terriergroup is pleased to have this interview with DiAnn Flory, breeder of Cairn and Welsh Terriers. DiAnn resides in Culpepper, VA and is currently approved to judge Cairns, Dandies, Irish, Kerry Blues, Lakelands, Norfolk, Scottish Terriers, Wheatens and Welsh Terriers.

When I was seven my family acquired our first dog, an amazing Airedale Terrier. He would pull me down the snow-covered road on my sled, and in the summer I dressed him up for tea parties with my dolls, outside under a tree. He barked at a black widow spider in the kitchen and that was when he became the family hero. He was with us until my second year of college.

After growing up with him I knew I would only be satisfied in the future with a terrier. My mother had a Manchester Terrier, but I never realized it was a breed until, in recent years, I came upon a photograph of my mother and myself with that little dog.

One day, on a whim,, seeing a sign on the highway reading “Dog Show,” my ‘66 Falcon seemed to take control on its own, turning into the show entrance and before I knew it I was experiencing my first dog show. It was a lot to take in for my inexperienced eye, from conformation to the various performance events. However, at the end of the day I thought how wonderful it must be to have a dog to show, but these special dogs must be as expensive as a race horse, and I certainly didn’t have that kind of money. I put the day behind me as a fun adventure.

For my 25th birthday I received my first Cairn Terrier puppy. We became super buddies and when he passed on, I hated it. However, in a couple of months I found another Cairn and another soon followed.

The local park authority offered lots of community learning opportunities and one class was in obedience. In an obedience class with one of my Cairns, I saw something else going on across the fence. “What’s going on over there?” The answer was conformation class. And that’s how I learned more about show dogs, an affordable activity that was within my price range.

Soon after, I went to a dog show during the Cherry Blossom Circuit where I saw these dogs that looked like my Airedale from years ago, but they were a much smaller version. After trips to the library researching different breeds, I decided on a Welsh Terrier of humble breeding to be my first conformation endeavor.

Shortly, a contact with high quality Cairns told me she had a show quality Cairn possibility for me to consider, and with my two young sons, off to the dogs shows we went. Before long, the boys became active in Junior Showmanship and I was exhibiting in conformation.

Twenty plus years later my peers urged me to consider judging terrier breeds. My bloodlines were good representatives of the Cairns and my ringside mentoring to aspiring judges of Cairns was enlightening, as I was told. Frankly, I thought the process a challenge with all the details involved with this new chapter of being in dogs.

I have been breeding and exhibiting for 27 years, and I’ve had Cairns for 45 years. My first Welsh Terrier came to me in 1996. Initially, AKC approved me to judge Welsh Terriers, Cairn Terriers and Junior Showmanship, and I am now approved to judge 17 breeds. Taking on the challenge to evaluate not only the dogs, but your peers for their presentation, is indeed

challenging and developing a relationship with AKC is another challenge.

Along the way, I have had the support of multiple breeders and judges who have counseled me on different breeds with one-onone discussions. I am feeling much more comfortable in the ring as I become more knowledgable about other breeds and ring procedures. I enjoy the travel that has taken me to different venues, meeting new people and learning their history.

Becoming a judge is a long process. Before AKC allows you to judge any breed, there are tests on the AKC breed standard, anatomy, procedure and rules. An aspiring judge must pass an online exam on each breed, have a successful interview with an AKC representative for “provisional” status and then an observation of you judging that breed with yet another discussion after judging.

During covid many shows were cancelled and opportunities to judge dried up. Now, we seem to be coming back, but to a different kind of normal and entries are increasing at current shows. However, the dog world does not have the numbers we saw 15 years ago. Sadly, many breeders are retiring and we don’t see a younger generation stepping in as we once did. The popularity of “Designer Dogs” has affected our numbers of historic purposely bred dogs and many breed clubs are concerned about the future of dog shows if we can’t attract new people into the sport.

AKC still has some glitches to work out with their online exams as I found out. Once the system would not allow me to take a breed exam as the system showed I had already taken the test and scored 100%. That took some phone calls to undo so that I could take the test and pass on my own. Another situation with another breed exam was a question that failed me, indicating I gave an incorrect answer when, in fact, it was correctthat took a phone call to Judges Operation, but the exam was corrected because of my input and the record set straight that I had indeed passed the exam.

Have we talked about the money an aspiring judge spends? Exams are not free, seminars are

costly. Add in your travel and lodging for this “education” and it can become cost prohibitive. Then when you are invited to get the needed experience on your “provisional” breeds, it usually costs you out-of-pocket again, because you, as a new judge, need to log in that needed experience, which often means sacrificing expenses to help you advance toward your goal of “regular status” as an AKC judge.

I was terribly nervous when I began judging, not knowing how some aspects would play out in reality. I have found that beyond the AKC rules, ethics come into play. There are no rules against a judge competing with your future exhibitors. A club hosting a specialty will often include a clause that precludes that judge from judging a particular breed for a certain time period before that judging assignment. However, there is no clause in a club contract or AKC rule to preclude a judge from competing against those possible exhibitors who may be showing to you at that specialty. It is better to stay clear of exposure to those who could bring you their entries. Remember, each exhibitor has spent money to bring you their exhibit and they deserve a pleasant and courteous judge. A smile with a friendly greeting goes a long way.

My final thought is that behind every judge there is a good steward who manages your ring, getting exhibitors in and out so the day flows efficiently. Armbands, ribbons and the other responsibilities your steward takes on can make or break your day. They deserve your appreciation.

Editor: Many thanks to DiAnn for the thought and

MAC Graphic Design

REMEMBERINGA Renown Exhibitor of Wealth and Fame - Harold Florsheim

Harold Florsheim of Lake Forest, Illinois, son of the founder of Florsheim men’s shoes, owned two memorable terriers during the 1950s. A colorful individual who not only had two beautiful English imports shown, but also had a stable of successful race horses and built a home in Lake Forest, Illinois, that eventually went on the national register of historic houses. He was chairman of Florsheim shoes.

Born in 1900, he and his brother both graduated from Cornell, University. He served in the World War I as a seaman and during the Second World War he was a special consultant to the military on combat boots. After the war he was decorated as a war hero in Europe. He had a love for animals and started a stable of well-bred race horses. He added dogs in the 1950s, owning both Airedale and Wire Fox Terriers. His big winners were Wire Fox Terrier Ch Travella Superman Of Harham, English bred and shown by Tom Gately. In 1954 his Airedale Terrier,

Ch. Westhay Fiona Of Harham was a 1958 Ken-L Ration winner. She won 24 best in shows and over fifty groups in two years of showing and was number two in all breeds in 1958… the first time an Airedale had placed so high in wins. Also, in the 1950s he owned the English bred Wire Fox Terrier bitch, Ch. Travell Superman of Harham, who produced six champion get, and again, was shown by Tom Gately.

Bo Bengsten in his book, Great Show Dogs of America, wrote about Florsheim, “Among the terrier kennels that straddled the war years, one of the most outstanding was Harold Fleishman’s Harham establishment in Chicago. The dogs were handled by Tom Gately and included a large number of high-profile English imports of several different breeds.”

Living grandly, he and his wife also kept a suite of rooms at the Chicago Drake Hotel, coincidently owned by well-known dog man Ed Jenner’s father. In addition, the family owned a prestige restaurant in Chicago called Maxim’s.

Muriel

Harold oversaw the production of Florsheim shoes produced in three factories employing 3500 employees. Florsheim shoes are still a popular brand of footwear.

Harold died in 2015 at his home in Palm Springs, CA, at the age of 86.

Editors note: Although Florsheim will not go down as a great dog man, he surely was a colorful and a wealthy one!

Sources: Internet-Great Show Dogs of America by Irene Khatoonian

Mary Larson

A Look at Books The Story of Your Dog

A Straightforward Guide to a Complicated Animal by Brandon McMillan.

Have you ever wondered why your terrier sometimes does what he does? Your answer may be found in Brandon McMillan’s latest book. If the author’s name sounds familiar, he is the dog trainer in the television series Lucky Dog.

Brandon begins his book with the history of dogs and how the breeds were developed to perform specific tasks: guarding, herding, hunting, vermin control and for companionship, just to name a few of the tasks. He then introduces readers, in depth, to the seven groups of dogs listed by the American Kennel Club. He focuses on key traits of each group along with information about behavior challenges and possible solutions. Lastly, the author examines a variety of breeds within each group to illustrate traits that are characteristic of that group. His knowledge of the breeds is based upon his many years of training and rehabilitating dogs. He as a child, began with training circus animals with his grandfather. During his lifetime he has trained thousands of dogs for owners, movies, television and shelters. He also uses his well- trained pack to help him train his clients’ dogs. Brandon stresses the importance of teaching the seven commands of sit. Down. stay, no, off, heel and come. Of these, the most important command to teach is ‘come’ as it can save your dog’s life.

The Story of Your Dog was a great read for this reviewer Anyone wanting to find out more about specific groups of dogs or individua breeds will not

be disappointed. The author also has another book– Lucky Dog Lessons -Train Your Dog in Seven Days, which this reviewer is going to check out as she is always on the lookout for help in training those Terriers!

Amazon - $19.99 - hardcover

Barnes & Noble - $27.99 - hardcover

The Future of Vector-Borne Disease Testing

Vector-borne diseases - those spread by fleas, ticks, flies, etc –are important in veterinary and human medicine.

Infections like Lyme disease (caused by Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria spread by ticks) and Bartonellosis (caused by Bartonella bacteria spread by fleas and ticks) can cause fever, painful joints, kidney disease, heart disease, and more in dogs, and may even be associated with cancer. Plus, new infectious organisms are being discovered to add to the list of vector-borne

diseases in dogs and people. Diagnosing these infections can be frustrating due to limitations of current testing methods. However, with funding from the AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF), investigators at Western University of Health Sciences are studying new technologies which may greatly improve our ability to diagnose known and unknown vector-borne infections.

Current testing methods –

PCR (polymerase chain reaction) is the current gold standard test for vector-borne infections. This technique tests for specific pieces of DNA from the invading organism. A positive PCR test result indicates that the infectious organism is definitely present. This test is good for diagnosing acute infections, before the body has had time to make antibodies. However, one pitfall of this test is that the exact tissue or fluid where the organism resides must be tested. So for example, it may not detect Bartonella bacteria that are no longer circulating in the bloodstream, but hiding within organ tissues.

Serology is a relatively easy and inexpensive method that measures antibodies against various infectious organisms. This test is good for detecting organisms that like to hide because even though the organism itself is hiding, the antibodies produced to fight it are circulating throughout the bloodstream for easy collection and measurement. Measuring how antibody levels change over time (for example in blood samples collected two weeks apart) is an effective way to determine if the infection is active and monitor response to treatment. Because it takes several days for the body to

make antibodies against a vector-borne pathogen, serology will not be positive immediately after infection. Serology results may also be affected by cross-reactivity, so false positives are possible.

Exploring new technologies –CHF-funded investigators are exploring the use of next generation sequencing (NGS) to improve the accuracy and ease of diagnosing vector-borne infections in dogs. NGS detects small pieces of the genetic sequence of an organism, and it processes many sequences at the same time. While the genetic sequencing is relatively fast and inexpensive to complete, analyzing the large amount of data generated requires time and expertise in bioinformatics.

Investigators have confirmed that NGS can detect one or more infectious organisms in dog blood, including unknown organisms. It can also determine the relative amounts of infectious DNA present in a sample – which may be helpful to pinpoint the most active or important infectious organism in a dog infected by multiple organisms (a condition known as co-infection). A step-by-step bioinformatics tutorial for performing microbiome assays and analysis on vector-borne infections in veterinary medicine was recently published.1

Next generation sequencing

is good for diagnosing acute infections since it measures DNA of the infectious organism. Serology is beneficial as long as sufficient time has passed for the body to make antibodies. Measuring how antibody levels change over time can also be a powerful tool to understand the infection timeline. Interpreting results from PCR and serology combined provides the most accurate diagnosis in a dog with suspected vector-borne disease. The addition of NGS to the clinical setting in the near future will improve the accuracy of vector-borne disease testing in dogs and people. A more accurate diagnosis leads to more effective treatment – helping dogs live longer, healthier lives.

Learn more and support

CHF-funded vector-borne disease research at www.akcchf.org/ticks.

1Vasconcelos,

While NGS for vector-borne infections continues to be refined, veterinarians and dog owners must remember the strengths and weaknesses of PCR, serology, and other diagnostic testing methods to accurately assess their patients. PCR

(NGS) may revolutionize vector-borne disease testing in veterinary medicine since it can rapidly detect the relative amounts of infectious organism DNA in dog blood samples.

E. J. R., Roy, C., Geiger, J. A., Oney, K. M., Koo, M., Ren, S., Oakley, B. B., & Diniz, P. P. V. P. (2021). Data analysis workflow for the detection of canine vector-borne pathogens using 16 S rRNA Next-Generation Sequencing. BMC Veterinary Research, 17(1), 262. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-021-02969-9

Flea Dirt

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