The Yearbook 2014

The Yearbook 2014

We have a new yearbook and once again my congratulations to Michelle Esch Brooks for getting the book out on time.  We had gotten used to yearbooks being late for so long, that it came as a real shock when Michelle took over.  It seems to be a case of the apple not falling far from the tree.

This old dinosaur must admit to being confused by some of he contents of the yearbook.  Obviously some guidelines have changed over the years.  The number of different titles and awards for which dogs are eligible are staggering.  In the Parade of Stars apparently the same dog can be shown on numerous occasions for various wins.  It used to be one picture and you picked the win that you valued most.

The titles for things not related to conformation are seemingly endless.  Not everyone dotes on conformation or even understands our standard and obviously we have folks with other interests.  Proving that Collies have a brain is not a bad thing, but how many degrees do you need to make that point?  Apparently some titles can be awarded posthumously since one therapy dog shows being whelped in 1990.  (This may be a typo)

The dogs themselves, as usual, are a mixed bag of good and not so good.  Since pictures can be misleading we know this doesn’t come as a big surprise.  Too many dogs show the neck and front that Steve Field called “a cobra waiting to strike!”  Some photos show dogs with legs that look like Clydesdales.  Hardly what you would call lithe and active with no useless timber.  Some heads with under jaws that look grotesquely strong.

Lest you think all I do is criticize, I call your attention to Kathy Moll’s committee on Breeder of the Year.  Many have long felt that awarding things like Breeder of the Year, Top Stud, and Top Bitch need to be done on a percentage not just by raw numbers.  Raw numbers encourage breeding lots of Collies and don’t hit the target we wish to recognize.  Please give this your support so even small breeders can get recognition. 

One thing that really tickled the old dinosaur’s fancy was to find an award for Collies that hunt rats.  Now sheep, ducks, agility, therapy, good citizens and all the others were no big surprise just a bit overwhelming, but rats are another matter.  When I was a very young dinosaur my first registered Collie was a granddaughter of Ch. The Duke of Silver Ho.  Apparently the Duke was a Collie rescue by Ameera Croakman,  a noted breeder and handler.  His granddaughter who I owned was a terrible speciman from a show point of view, but was my  pal.  My constant companion, she went on horseback rides and roamed the woods with me.  She learned to hate rats when she sniffed one I had caught in a trap and was bitten on the nose!  No rat that she encountered after that lived more than a few seconds.  If the AKC in their infinite wisdom had only started rat hunting back then, I would have finished another champion.

I’m looking forward to my judging assignment for the Midwest Collie Club in May.  Though many of our current titles and degrees may be a bit overwhelming, the Collie standard and Conformation judging are old friends.  Since it’s getting on toward mowing season and we have about three and a half acres my blogs may be a bit scarce.  My new baby chicks arrive in early May and the old dinosaur takes longer to do chores than he used to.  Steve Field stopped writing when he realized how much he didn’t know.  I know there’s a lot I don’t know, but still love sharing ideas with you.

If you dig around long enough you’ll know what I believe in is what I write about and what I always hope is that my ideas may somehow benefit this breed of ours.  The comments from a vet on line about our breed tells you how some people might feel about where we’re taking our dogs.  He also mentions Cocker Spaniels as another breed that’s lost it’s way.  A good article in “Dogs In Review” show the dog that made Cockers popular, Ch. My Own Brucie.  He doesn’t look much like Cockers today!  Think about where we’re going in terms of the breed not titles or awards.

Think about it!

Winter Is A Female Dog!

Winter Is A Female Dog!

Recently I did a blog which said we should understand our limitations.  The Michigan winter has brought that idea home to us in spades.  Now I know much of the country has felt winter’s bite this winter and many live where people are ill-prepared to deal with it.  In Michigan winter doesn’t just come for a visit, but actually sets up housekeeping.  Between blowing snow, shoveling snow, putting out birdseed (the deer and turkeys love it!) and changing layers of clothes one gets a bit weary.  Van Dyck used to tell the story of a man with a litter of unwanted puppies who put a sign on the lawn for “bitches and sons of bitches.”  Michigan winters can fit either category.

The TV viewing of the Westminster show provided a bit of interest to break the ugly grip of winter.  We applauded the choice of the beagle for several reasons.  She looked like a really good Beagle, she was a niece of “Uno” who won a few years back, and she was a breed without a lot of mess to groom up for the show ring.  Long ago I decided that men have made a mess of many dog breeds by turning them into dependent freaks.  You lucky folks will now hear how I got this way.

When I was ten two books arrived for Christmas, which molded a lot of my thinking about canines.  They are still part of my library and still good reading.  One was “Lochinvar Luck” by Albert Payson Terhune, which kindled a lifelong interest in Collies.  The other was “White Fang” by Jack London which not only started me thinking about what dogs got from wolves, but also started me on a quest to better understand wolves and why men have so persecuted these creatures.

The story of Lochinvar Luck follows a Collie puppy accidently lost in the woods and how he not only survives, but thrives.  It is based on a true story about a dog from Mrs. Lunt’s Alstead Kennels who was lost in the Canadian wilderness.  While not every Collie might thrive under these conditions just as some might not duplicate Lassie’s historic journey some certainly can.  Years back a very lovely puppy on his way home from the CC of A was lost in the New England winter for several months.  Tim had a tough time and lost some weight but he did survive.  When Les Canavan and Verna Allen got him back he became Ch. Royal Rock Gamblin’ Man who was an excellent dog and the top sire at Royal Rock.

My own experience with a bitch puppy who was out for a stroll with the other dogs and frightened by a truck which backfired.  By the time I got the others kenneled she had disappeared across the street into the woods.  For two weeks I hunted and called alone and with other dogs.  There were ads put in the paper and on radio to ask for info about her.  Tracks in the snow seemed aimless and gave no clue.  After two weeks when sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner after a prayer for our lost puppy, there was a knock at the door.  There was a dear lady with the little lost puppy who had come into her yard to play with the children.  She became Ch. Gingeor’s Love Pat at Wayside.

White Fang is a story of a creature more wolf than dog who after a rough start in life finds a master who shows him the love needed to make him a dog.  Most of you may be more familiar with the work of Albert Payson Terhune than Jack London.  Let me assure you that in White Fang Jack London shows a knowledge of not just wolves, but of their place in the scheme of life in the far north.  The book is beautifully written and much more realistic than the movie of the same name.

Over the years we humans have molded wolves into dogs of many shapes and sizes.  A number of these were modified to do particular tasks which we found beneficial.  That type of man sponsored evolution has some merit.  Terriers that hunt vermin, dogs that hunt birds or other game, herders that help man control his livestock, and dogs which guard and protect men and their possessions all came about with a purpose.  It makes sense that to fill our needs the wolf had to undergo some modification.  What breaks my heart is to see breeds that are so modified that they become completely dependent on very special care. 

The wolf is a magnificent creature in his place in nature.  He kills to live because he doesn’t go to the supermarket.  He lives in extended families called packs and they all care for the young and defend their home.  If you teach him to go to the supermarket he sounds a lot like us.  He doesn’t take to training and housebreaking so we do need dogs.

As you know by now I like dogs that are not only fun to live with, but that can function.  Males who know when to breed and bitches who are capable of breeding normally and raising healthy puppies.  As we continue to raise Collies for show, let’s make sure we never lose sight of what makes a good dog.

Think about it!

Know Your Limitations

Know Your Limitations

One of Life’s lessons that isn’t always enjoyable is to not have expectations beyond your abilities.  The very act of admitting you can’t accomplish something can be very irritating.  I often tell my three sons that wisdom comes with age because it’s built on life’s experiences.  They always look at me and just smile.

When I was a teenager I had a horse and loved to ride whenever possible.  Riding in all kinds of weather either alone or with friends was great stuff.  Since the horse was pretty much bomb-proof we went everywhere.  It was cool to do an over the rump flying mount and the thought of injury never occurred to me.  With experience comes wisdom and limitations that go with aging.  Today my present horse and I have a much more limited agenda.

As a judge it’s been my pleasure to officiate at shows all over our country as well as Brazil and Canada.  There have been some scary plane rides and interesting trips to the airport to judge or speak at symposiums.  Here in Michigan, which can feel like the North Pole, winter travel can be a challenge for anyone.  As much as I enjoy judging Collies and knowing that most specialties take place in the winter, it’s still something I will no longer attempt.  Some younger braver judges will have to pick up the slack.

Back in the 60’s and 70’s when I was involved in breeding and showing the kennel housed 10-12 dogs plus puppies.  The grown dogs were thoroughly groomed each week generally all in one day.  There’s no way yours truly could accomplish that today.  My limitations have diminished and I hope I’m wise enough to know it.

During that part of my career in Collies I had a reputation as a superior groomer.  An old friend in Cincinnati, Lyman Wine, once wrote he wished he could “groom a Collie like George Horn, show a Collie like John Buddie, and judge a Collie like Gus Sigritz.”  I told Lyman that I though I showed a Collie as well as John, but wouldn’t challenge Gus as a judge!

Once at the Central Jersey Specialty held with Trenton K.C. I ended up with seven Collies to groom and show.  Some were dogs which were owned by others, but which I unwisely agreed to help out because they were my breeding.  Even back in those days of my youth it was a nightmare!  Specialty shows were my preferred arena for showing because of two reasons.  The judges were generally more knowledgeable  and the competition was top drawer.  You don’t learn to breed, train, or groom better by competing against wimps.  After that my preferred limit at shows was three dogs – a class dog, class bitch, and a special was ideal.  By carefully selecting the classes you had time in between to work on the others. Of course, if you took winners there was need for a friend to help with the overflow.

Having a litter (I seldom had more than one at a time) was a time consuming task.  Once the whelping room was ready the bitch required observing and temperature taking to guess when she would whelp.  The bitch needed to be introduced to the whelping area at least a week before due date, earlier if at all possible.  Though my preference was not to interfere unless needed it was still necessary to observe the whelping just in case.  At times it was whelp the litter, shower, shave and go to work.  Guess who couldn’t do that anymore??

There are folks who breed good Collies, but don’t have the time and/or skills to groom and train them well.  This is not, by the way, a grievous sin, but a fact of life.  Even though my preference was to show my own dogs it does not mean those who don’t are considered sub standard by this dinosaur.  Asking for assistance is much preferable to doing a lousy job just because you’re too stubborn to admit your limitations.  This is why we have handlers, isn’t it?

Life is full of decisions and many involve an honest appraisal of your own abilities.  Though we discuss things relevant to the dog game it certainly goes far beyond that sport.  Perhaps while we are appraising our ability to accomplish goals in dogs it would be apropos to remember it is just a sport.  It’s very easy to get so caught up in something (dogs are just one example) that we make it a matter of life and death.  Keeping things in perspective are one more of life’s lessons we all need to remember.

Setting goals is always a good idea.  Knowing what it takes to accomplish those goals is likewise very important.  You need to accept help if you need it or perhaps it’s necessary to modify your goals.  Just don’t forget to honestly appraise your abilities and be honest in knowing your limitations.

Think about it!

ADA GIULIANO

ADA GIULIANO

The Collie world has lost the gentle lady of Bellbrooke Collies.  Her light, like her voice, was soft, not bright and overpowering.  She was the quiet one of the Bellbrooke duo, allowing husband, John, to do the talking, to show the dogs, and later to be the judge.  Ada was eminently qualified to judge Collies, but could never bring herself to do it because she couldn’t bear to hurt people’s feelings.

Ada’s world revolved around family, friends, and Collies and she was careful to keep them in that order.  Bellbrooke did not finish the most champions or win the most shows, but their efforts spawned the likes of Marnus, Wayside, Gingeor, Tartanside, and all the lines that descend from them.

During the past holiday season we received our annual Christmas card from Ada.  I’m sure that next Christmas will seem poorer from not having that reminder of a friendship that spanned so many years.  Like her idol and mine, Steve Field, Ada Giuliano will have a place in my mind and my heart forever.  She and Johnny helped a young friend from South Jersey acquire a nine month old puppy who would become the stuff dreams are made of and the rest would be history.

Like one of her favorite Collies Ada will always be our “Bellbrooke’s Lil Darlin.”  Those of you who have been in the dog game a while know it speaks volumes when I tell you that I never heard any person speak ill of Ada Giuliano.  Rest in peace, dear friend.  You leave this world a poorer place for your passing, but a richer place for your having been here.

Things Do Change - Are Things Better?

Things Do Change – Are Things Better?

Back in the dark ages when I was breeding and exhibiting with some success it was my pleasure to be invited to speak at a number of symposiums.  Among them was Acconeus Collie College and parent club symposiums.  For some reason the interest in learning from successful people was stronger then and it gave people a chance to compare notes and ideas without being hampered by taking care of dogs as they did at shows.

It was normal for me to be asked to do grooming demonstrations or to speak about stud dogs.  No big surprise here since my dogs were always well groomed and my stud force headed by Ch. Gingeor Bellbrooke’s Choice ROM and his sons were among the best in the country.  As time went on and I was no longer breeding my topics slowly changed to things like “yesterday and today” as something more fitting toward a dinosaur.

My experiences at these events was a much a student as an instructor.  The people who I was privileged to hear included Steve Field, Gus Sigritz, Bobbee Roos, and Dorothy Long as well as many others with impeccable credentials.  Glen Twiford gave a great presentation at one national symposium showing the Wind-Call Collies herding sheep.  I heard an animal behavior Prof. from Purdue University named Eric Klinghammer, do a great presentation on wolves and how their behavior shows up in our dogs.  Long before being well known enough to be asked to participate as a speaker, I attended many seeking wisdom.

The folks you saw at these events were often people who you knew and had shared the stage with before.  Ted Paul was often the one chosen to be master of ceremonies.  Ted had a fine command of the Queen’s English and was always dressed in dapper fashion and did his homework.  He always had some stories about speakers he was introducing and in my case it was always something that pulled my chain.

Now Ted and I had known each other for some time and shown against each other as well.   When I was invited to speak at a national symposium in Jacksonville, Fla. and saw Ted was to be the moderator it was time for revenge.  I carefully prepared my remarks to fit my planned “Ted Paul Roast.”  Unfortunately my work went down the drain when Ted’s introduction made me sound like a cross between Sister Teresa and George Washington.  Oh well, win some and lose some.

A number of things that were part of my stud dog views may not be relevant today.  Things do change and you can judge whether it’s better or not.  Some things, however don’t change much in spite of the march of time and methods.  When selecting a stud prospect it still would seem appropriate to look in a family of quality.  Van Dyck used to say show me the stud and if I like him, I’ll look at his pedigree.  Do value a good background, but it’s hard to get a “silk purse from a sow’s ear!”

To be worthwhile as a stud you’ll want something good enough to appeal to other breeders.  To be used as a fairly young dog he has to be good enough to win or people won’t use him until his puppies are out winning.  The final judgment on a stud dog does revolve around his get, but if his quality is high, his chance of getting off to a good start increases by leaps and bounds.

It helps to have a stud with outgoing personality and good health history to go with the other prerequisites.  Years ago I read that one should never let a young stud prospect exercise with any dog that can dominate him.  Back then it was standard practice to do natural breedings and if a stud wasn’t well trained and eager you could spend a lot of time waiting for the mood to strike him.  It took some time, but I learned how to bring young studs along and my boys loved their work.  Ideally you would hope to start a young dog at about 9-10 months of age when he started to feel like a man and might hope to have an experienced bitch as a partner.

Today many breedings are done with A.I. using chilled semen or even frozen sperm of dogs long gone.  It may be a great way of preventing the spread of disease, but I don’t know how you judge a dog’s libido in such a case.  All my mentors fancied dogs with bold fearless demeanors who bred bitches with no hesitation.  They also fancied bitches who bred normally and willingly and carried litters of healthy puppies and nursed them after normal delivery.  It’s always been my opinion that we can change things about an animal’s appearance to suit a written standard, but when we fool with the basic functions needed to exist and reproduce we’re fooling with something best left alone.

Van Dyck used to laugh about people’s over-rating stud dogs by saying “who’s he by.”  Today with the use of multiple breedings sorted out by DNA it may be even more appropriate.

Think about it!

I'm Back!

I’m Back!

It’s been a long time since my last blog, so I thought I’d better surface or be considered extinct.  We got an early dose of the Michigan winter, but the snow melted and it’s been balmily above freezing lately.  We know there’s plenty of winter left, but any respite is welcome.

As mentioned earlier the judging assignment in Omaha, Nebraska was great.  It was my first assignment in several years due to some health and accident issues.  I’ve had to cancel some assignments and refused some others because of the fear I might have to cancel.   Getting older is not so great, but judging is a joy even to this old dinosaur.  Since I’m feeling great there are a couple of additional assignments I’ve accepted and we hope the weather and my old body allow them to happen.

The Collie Standard has come up often in these blogs.  There

is a really good reason for that.  The standard is the blueprint for all we do in breeding or judging the Collie.  Though some folks think just being able to read it or recite it from memory is all that’s important,  that’s not the case.  Do you really understand what it says and can you form the actual picture that The Standard’s words direct.

When Doris Werdermann was president of the CC of A I chaired the education committee.  Doris asked us to create something to benefit those wishing to judge Collies and that could also help clarify the standard to all Collie fanciers.  The Judge’s Guide to the Collie Standard was born from that request.  The guide had a cover beautifully illustrated by Mary Kummer and went thru each section of The Standard with thoughts on what it really suggests.  The summation at the end of this guide points out the importance of things above and beyond being able to read the standard.

This old dinosaur had been involved with Collies as an avid reader, breeder, exhibitor and judge for many years.  It might be easy to say I know the Collie standard – case closed!  In truth I do think I know the standard and even more important understand it.  In spite of that it’s an old habit to review it periodically and always before each judging assignment review the standard, the Judge’s Guide, and Lorraine Still’s Illustrated Standard.  The perfect Collie has never been whelped and the perfect description of the perfect collie may never have been written, but dedication to acquiring better understanding is seldom a waste of time.

Years ago when I belonged to the South Jersey CC we set aside at least one meeting each year for discussing the Collie standard.  It was a great time to go thru one paragraph at a time and state opinions or ask questions.  You can gain some important food for thought by listening to others.  Understanding the meaning of the written word can be clarified when you see how others differ in their interpretation and sometimes you realize some tweaking of the language is in order.  Don’t ever consider yourself above such review and if you can use some live dogs as in a judges education program, please do so.

Let’s change direction for a moment and talk about dog show attire.  To be honest I find some of the clothing in show pictures a bit bizarre.  Whether it’s the judges or the exhibitors we seem to have lost track of what the focus should be on – the dogs!  We have judges wearing tuxedos or evening gowns depending on the gender as though it’s a people show not a dog show.  There are photos of Jr. handlers dressed as though for a high school prom not a handling competition.  Pardon me, but I was always taught that the really talented handler blends into the background letting the dog take center stage.

Many years ago at a National where I judged bitches, there was a talented young lady getting ready to show an exquisite male special.  She was well groomed as was the dog and he obviously liked his handler and showed well for her.  The problem with the picture was her shoes, which while stylish, were not made to show a free moving sound young special.  I remarked on the potential problem and she changed shoes.  The dog went BOB and might have anyhow, but why make things harder than they should be?

There is a talented couple in Collies who I’ve known for years and I’ve judged their dogs often.  Sometimes they go up and sometimes they lose, but they never beat themselves.  The dogs are always groomed and trained to perfection and the people likewise dressed appropriately and handle in a professional manner.  If they lose it’s because they encountered a Collie I believe better fits our standard.  Groom well, train well and dress appropriately so the dog is the focus.  Oh yes, one more important factor – have a good Collie!

Think about it!!

So Many Ideas - So Little Time

So Many Ideas – So  Little Time

As we grow older some of us get concerned about having the time to accomplish all our goals.  Some, of course, just look for a rocking chair and let the world go by, but not this dinosaur.  Setting goals has always been part of my make up whether at work, breeding and showing dogs, or way back to school days.  I won’t lie and say all my goals were attained, but having them shaped my life.  Many of my goals have been things that involved sharing with others, hence the blogs.  Since I’m not the only one with good ideas, I enjoy giving credit where credit is due.

The current issue of Dogs In Review has an article on page forty two entitled “Camelot is Crumbling.”  It deals with the current status of dog shows with declining entries and the desperate attempt to entice people to show by having something for everyone.  It makes one think of sports like children’s T-Ball where you supposedly don’t keep score so everyone wins.  What incentive that gives you to improve is beyond me.  It was competing with people like Trudy Mangels, Pat Starkweather, and Bobbee Roos that drove me to breed better dogs and show, groom, and be a realistic judge of quality without kennel blindness.

You must start off the learning experience at a reasonable level which used to be match shows.  The same is true of developing as a judge, but match shows seem to be going the way of the Dodo Bird.  As you hone your skills whether as a breeder or judge you can move up the food chain, but if we reward even insignificant efforts what’s the point?  Van Dyck used to say Reserve was the best of the losers.  Perhaps reserve Best in Show, Award of Merit, and Selects are too.

In the Oct. 25, 2014 issue of blood horse on page nine is an article called “What’s Going on Here?”  It’s a weekly article which in this issue discussed rules of life as outlined by champion golfer and horse breeder, Gary Player, of South Africa.  He gave his ten rules and while all are relevant, a couple really speak to me loudly.  Number six is “work.”  Explanation is “the fox fears not the man who boasts at night in the bar, but the man who rises early in the morning.”  Number nine is similar and quotes Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.  “The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, but they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night.”

I got good grades at school, but probably didn’t work as hard as I should have.  Junior and Senior Class President were honors probably due to personality more than hard work.  When I started into the world of dog breeding and exhibiting and later in my career with Owens-Illinois, Inc. a light bulb went off.  I wanted badly to succeed in both areas and drove myself relentlessly to be the best I could be.  As goals were attained the bar was constantly raised and it worked.  I’ve always felt that we all have different talents that are born in us.  Just having the talents, however, is not enough.  If you really wish to excel at something, you must work hard to polish and refine that God given talent.  Some have an eye for a dog and can visualize what the Standard means quite clearly.  Others can be involved in dogs for twenty five years and not have a clue.  We must be honest in evaluating our talents and use what we’ve been given wisely.  I always wanted to play the piano, but can’t play a note.  Perhaps a knack with animals (not just dogs) was my special talent and the world had enough piano players.

Finally my thanks to Larry Willeford for his kind words and giving me credit as a mentor.  He continues to breed good dogs, but more important has been a friend for years and is a great ring steward.  The picture he used on line of me and Ch. Jadene’s Breezalong has fooled some people into thinking I’m still a slender, dark haired heartthrob.  Boy are they in for a shock!

Finally, just a word of praise for the folks at Houston Collie Rescue.  The job they did with over one hundred rescued Collies many of whom had terrible skin issues was outstanding.  The before and after pictures bring tears of happiness to the eyes.  Please don’t think they don’t need any more financial help.  The work they did and continue to do, costs lots of money and is helping the breed we love.  Keep up the support so they can continue their good work.

Think about it!