Really "Nutty" About Merles ? ?
The first time I saw a blue merle Collie was at a horse show in Bucks County, PA. With the bravado of a teenage boy, I asked the people if they planned it or if it was an accident.
Interestingly the first champion I finished, which was co-owned with my mother, was the blue Ch. Windsong Dealer's Choice. He was bred by Ginnie Benderly and a double grandson of Ch. Gaylord's Mr. Scalawag (a CC of A winner) being by Ch. Cherrivale Darn Minute out of a blue Scalawag bitch. He probably would have finished more quickly, but I was a young, inexperienced dinosaur back then!
At the CC of A at Rochester, NY in 1976 I won with the blue merle, Ch. Gingeor's Indelibly Blue, in what was to be my last dog show weekend. All this will let you understand that I do not have a prejudice against blue merle Collies. "Hair" as Ch. Indelibly Blue was known, was the first blue to win the CC of A in years and may have been the first American bred blue to do so.
Blues were a somewhat rare commodity when I got started in Collies. Mrs. Browning of Tokalon had a line of blues and Mrs. Illch's Bellhaven had success with some as well. Edith Levine of Glen Knolls and several others showed some blues, but sable and tris were the big winners as a rule and stayed that way for years.
There were blues out west as well. Glen Twiford, Billy Ashenbrenner, and Hilda Richebauch all showed some blue merles with success. Hilda offered the Blue Banner Trophy to promote more interest in the color. During those years, however, the sables and tris were, for the most part, the dogs who won and consequently were used for breeding. People like Steve Field (Parader) or Fred, Madge, and, later, Oren Kem (Lodestone) did not keep blues at all. For one thing the public (like the teenage dinosaur) didn't think they looked like Collies and there was also concern in some quarters of the affect of dilute genes on the health of the breed.
For years the Collie standard described whites as being marked with sable or tri, because of the problem of sorting blue marked whites (perfectly sound) from the double-dilute blues which often had hearing and/or vision problems. The same concern may exist today over sable-merles being bred to other merles (either blue or sable) resulting in serious health issues. Collie rescue groups sometimes get these sad dogs when people no longer wish to put up with the problem.
In the Collie standard under color it plainly states that there is no preference between sable, tri, blue merle or white. It also says that under white-sable, tri and blue shall be preferred as markings, but doesn't mention any other choices. So why suddenly do we have a yearning for blue merles? Why do we want them badly enough to breed to a blind dog (in a breed trying to overcome vision problems) so we can get a whole litter of blues? Do some folks fail to realize that our goal should be to produce litters of quality starting with good health and good temperament not color-coordinated puppies?
I suspect that blues appeal to show going folks because they need less makeup than sables and tris. That may be wrong, but we can breed blues without going off the deep end to do it. Blues from a tri to blue mating can be just as lovely as from any other combination and sound as a rock health wise. Why would anyone wish to chance sacrificing the well being of part of a litter to get a certain color when our standard says there's no preference? Perhaps what we really need are more good tricolors who are so useful. Besides being used in breeding blues the tri can also intensify the color of your sables thus saving on makeup.
If you think I'm on a crusade against blues or out to get someone, guess again. My days as a breeder ended long ago so I have no puppies to sell or studs to promote. My need for speaking engagements is long since passed. Having turned down several good judging assignments recently there's nothing to motivate me there either.
My motivation is really quite simple. I love the Collie and have for over sixty years. If I can do anything to benefit this breed and cause people to think carefully about how they approach breeding, showing, or any aspect of the dog game, it's my pleasure to do so.
Think About It!
Monday, March 19, 2012
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Where Have All The Breeders Gone? March 14, 2012
Before we decide where these people have gone we must decide what constitutes a breeder. What sets them apart for all to recognize? Remember as I said earlier what you get is my opinion and you need not agree, but perhaps it will set you thinking. It's easy to say you're a breeder just as it's easy to say you're a Christian, or Muslim or Jew or anything but talking the talk doesn't mean you walk the walk.
A breeder must have as a goal trying to make the Collie breed better than it would have been without his/her efforts. This person will likely show dogs to measure their progress, but the shows are not the most important goal. I used to tell people that they might be able to buy the best show prospect from a litter, but not the one the breeding was made to produce. Of course, it helps to recognize a good one, to understand what the Collie standard really means, and to have enough time invested to know what the dogs in a pedigree represent in terms of their likely contributions not just how many champions are in four generations.
Years ago I wrote an article entitled "A Breeder or a Builder?" The point was that breeders accomplish their goals by knowing how to select and mate Collies to achieve the desired results. Builders on the other hand resort to some rather artificial aids in the attempt to accomplish what they consider success. The question to ask yourself is which one will help our breed in the quest for perfection. Surely you can tape and manipulate puppy ears, color dog's faces orange, and draw masks on them as needed. Instead of breeding proper coats we can use all kinds of products to make them seem correct.
When I started in Collies (dinosaurs were plentiful) everyone loved the breed and seemed to remember a Collie around when they were kids. Collies were always in the top ten in registrations and though they surely were helped by Terhune's books and Lassie, they had other endearing characteristics as family dogs. Today we find Collies have lost their top ten position and some might say that's OK, but people need to look at what is being bred for some answers. We must decide if a dog that can only be maintained by a professional handler rather than kept as a loved family pet is what Collies are about. Please pardon me if I digress, but some things are close to my heart and affect my writing.
In Minnesota one year, when scheduled to do the specialty, I attended a seminar the day before. One of the speakers was a vet who also bred Greyhounds. After listening to him speak about how to render a bitch most likely to conceive by a series of exams and injections I could stand it no longer. Waving my arms like a pelican taking flight I finally got his attention and asked how he, as a breeder, could recommend such claptrap. Your goal as a breeder is for stud dogs who breed normally and controllably, bitches with normal heats who conceive and bear healthy puppies. Your bitches need ample milk and the ability to care for a litter with reasonable care not abdication of all her responsibilities. As a real breeder you honor health, good temperament, and being able to perform normal functions as priorities.
Obviously we've covered a lot in this short time and more can be said. In no way to do I infer that there are no breeders left, but I certainly question some of the methods and motives seen today. As a breeder your skills and integrity are your most important offerings. They should never be compromised by the need to fuel your ego by filling up the trophy room. Records are made to be broken and it will always be so. The contributions of people like Steve Field will go on forever for "he was a breeder."
For those who weren't around when I was breeding and showing in the 1960's and '70's and are asking "who is this old has-been with so much to say?", I'll just say this - for those years I was competitive at all levels without artificial aids. Foo-Foo Powder and plain water, lots of elbow grease, and good Collies, well trained who won their share. It's much better to be a has-been than a never was and if I was young, I know it would work today. Do things for the Collie not the AKC, C.C. of A., and not for yourself.
Next time unless something else takes over my thinking we'll talk about the "Merle Craze" and associated problems. The other future topics will include but not be limited to some discussions of "The Standard as I see it," Grooming without "Cheating," and "How Breeders Attack Problems by Breeding Not Building." Until then dedicate the time and effort needed to deserve the title of "Breeder."
Think about it!
Before we decide where these people have gone we must decide what constitutes a breeder. What sets them apart for all to recognize? Remember as I said earlier what you get is my opinion and you need not agree, but perhaps it will set you thinking. It's easy to say you're a breeder just as it's easy to say you're a Christian, or Muslim or Jew or anything but talking the talk doesn't mean you walk the walk.
A breeder must have as a goal trying to make the Collie breed better than it would have been without his/her efforts. This person will likely show dogs to measure their progress, but the shows are not the most important goal. I used to tell people that they might be able to buy the best show prospect from a litter, but not the one the breeding was made to produce. Of course, it helps to recognize a good one, to understand what the Collie standard really means, and to have enough time invested to know what the dogs in a pedigree represent in terms of their likely contributions not just how many champions are in four generations.
Years ago I wrote an article entitled "A Breeder or a Builder?" The point was that breeders accomplish their goals by knowing how to select and mate Collies to achieve the desired results. Builders on the other hand resort to some rather artificial aids in the attempt to accomplish what they consider success. The question to ask yourself is which one will help our breed in the quest for perfection. Surely you can tape and manipulate puppy ears, color dog's faces orange, and draw masks on them as needed. Instead of breeding proper coats we can use all kinds of products to make them seem correct.
When I started in Collies (dinosaurs were plentiful) everyone loved the breed and seemed to remember a Collie around when they were kids. Collies were always in the top ten in registrations and though they surely were helped by Terhune's books and Lassie, they had other endearing characteristics as family dogs. Today we find Collies have lost their top ten position and some might say that's OK, but people need to look at what is being bred for some answers. We must decide if a dog that can only be maintained by a professional handler rather than kept as a loved family pet is what Collies are about. Please pardon me if I digress, but some things are close to my heart and affect my writing.
In Minnesota one year, when scheduled to do the specialty, I attended a seminar the day before. One of the speakers was a vet who also bred Greyhounds. After listening to him speak about how to render a bitch most likely to conceive by a series of exams and injections I could stand it no longer. Waving my arms like a pelican taking flight I finally got his attention and asked how he, as a breeder, could recommend such claptrap. Your goal as a breeder is for stud dogs who breed normally and controllably, bitches with normal heats who conceive and bear healthy puppies. Your bitches need ample milk and the ability to care for a litter with reasonable care not abdication of all her responsibilities. As a real breeder you honor health, good temperament, and being able to perform normal functions as priorities.
Obviously we've covered a lot in this short time and more can be said. In no way to do I infer that there are no breeders left, but I certainly question some of the methods and motives seen today. As a breeder your skills and integrity are your most important offerings. They should never be compromised by the need to fuel your ego by filling up the trophy room. Records are made to be broken and it will always be so. The contributions of people like Steve Field will go on forever for "he was a breeder."
For those who weren't around when I was breeding and showing in the 1960's and '70's and are asking "who is this old has-been with so much to say?", I'll just say this - for those years I was competitive at all levels without artificial aids. Foo-Foo Powder and plain water, lots of elbow grease, and good Collies, well trained who won their share. It's much better to be a has-been than a never was and if I was young, I know it would work today. Do things for the Collie not the AKC, C.C. of A., and not for yourself.
Next time unless something else takes over my thinking we'll talk about the "Merle Craze" and associated problems. The other future topics will include but not be limited to some discussions of "The Standard as I see it," Grooming without "Cheating," and "How Breeders Attack Problems by Breeding Not Building." Until then dedicate the time and effort needed to deserve the title of "Breeder."
Think about it!
Friday, March 9, 2012
March 9, 2012 Introduction
From the Desk of the Dinosaur - by George Horn
Now I do know that to be a dinosaur you need to be extinct and gone from this earth. Though I'm not quite into that exact category it has been some time since I did much writing. Starting in the 1950's and 60's for Ken Martin's Collie Cues, then on to Murray Drucker's Collie Review, a stint as AKC correspondent for the CC of A and finally for some years with Collie Expressions.
In addition it was my pleasure to contribute to the stud dog section of The Complete Collie, even though what was submitted to Isabelle Butler did not subsequently get into the book. Gayle Kaye and I worked together on the book about Steve Field's Parader Story. When asked to chair that committee, I made one of the conditions that Gayle be my co-chair and co-editor. In addition to sharing my admiration for Steve's accomplishments Gayle had access to info. thru the archives and possessed expertise of the computer which was priceless.
So you see I've been at this for some time. My hope is to share some experiences and opinions with those who love the Collie as I do. Though it is not my intent to stir up any controversy, there may be things that some will take exception to and not take kindly. Anything that I may cover will reflect one man's opinion backed by over sixty years in Collies. My success in Collies will be judged by others, not by myself. My basis for this endeavor is to share some experiences and perhaps to get folks to think carefully about some things that need to be questioned not just blindly accepted. I hope it proves to be enjoyable for all of us.
Watch for..."Where Have All The Breeders Gone???"
Now I do know that to be a dinosaur you need to be extinct and gone from this earth. Though I'm not quite into that exact category it has been some time since I did much writing. Starting in the 1950's and 60's for Ken Martin's Collie Cues, then on to Murray Drucker's Collie Review, a stint as AKC correspondent for the CC of A and finally for some years with Collie Expressions.
In addition it was my pleasure to contribute to the stud dog section of The Complete Collie, even though what was submitted to Isabelle Butler did not subsequently get into the book. Gayle Kaye and I worked together on the book about Steve Field's Parader Story. When asked to chair that committee, I made one of the conditions that Gayle be my co-chair and co-editor. In addition to sharing my admiration for Steve's accomplishments Gayle had access to info. thru the archives and possessed expertise of the computer which was priceless.
So you see I've been at this for some time. My hope is to share some experiences and opinions with those who love the Collie as I do. Though it is not my intent to stir up any controversy, there may be things that some will take exception to and not take kindly. Anything that I may cover will reflect one man's opinion backed by over sixty years in Collies. My success in Collies will be judged by others, not by myself. My basis for this endeavor is to share some experiences and perhaps to get folks to think carefully about some things that need to be questioned not just blindly accepted. I hope it proves to be enjoyable for all of us.
Watch for..."Where Have All The Breeders Gone???"
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