Page 248 - ShowSight - August 2019

Foundation Stock Service Q & A
room for her senses to take over. “Rabbits don’t crinkle and flap like that—that’s just a plastic bag! Pfft. Bags aren’t what I ever chase.” She slowed down as the bag whipped through the center of the bow tie shaped course where the event photographer was stationed, and she trotted over to greet the photographer instead! No lure coursing legs for Juno! I still laugh watching the video my friend took of her run as she is heard saying softly “Oh, Juno—noooooooo....”
DEBBIE DALES
My husband, Art, and I live in Deroche, British Columbia, Canada. We are both retired now and primarily show and breed Pugs but are now showing and Appenzellers too. Because CKC does not recognize Appenzellers at this time, we have started showing at AKC Open Show events.
As you may know, Appenzellers are still only in the AKC Foun- dation Stock Services Registry (FSS). It will likely be some time before they can be moved up to the Misc. classification because there is simply not enough of them at this time in North America that are show prospect dogs. Most owners prefer to have them on farms or for hiking companions. We have a way to go yet to get the numbers up enough to have them moved up to the Misc. group and then to the Herding group. Definitely a work in progress.
I believe there will be a lot more interest in Appenzellers once they are exhibited more regularly in the show ring as they are a very attractive breed. Not unlike a lot of other breeds, Appenzellers are not for everyone and every lifestyle. They are primarily a cattle dog and require a lot of exercise. They can also be very vocal which is not ideal for city or suburban living. There are a lot of mixed feelings about recognition because, as a small group, we adhere to the AMDCA (Appenzell Mountain Dog Club of America) Code of Ethics for breeding. We do not breed an Appenzeller until it is old enough and has passed its certified hip and elbow x-rays We also do not breed them if they have even the slightest Patella issue. We do feel that if/when a surge in popularity happens, that our Code of Ethics for breeding may not be adhered to in the same manner allowing health and conformation issues to increase within the breed.
There are a handful of breeders and Appenzeller fanciers that are dedicated to having our breed recognized. It definitely is a work in progress getting more breeder/handlers on board exhibiting Appen- zellers. Because I reside in Canada, I would like to also have Appen- zellers recognized with CKC (Canadian Kennel Club). When I got my first Appenzeller five years ago, there were so few AKC Open shows that I did not know they even existed. AKC FSS has done a lot to increase the number of Open shows so rare breeds can par- ticipate and we can show our dogs under judges to ensure they are meeting the breed standard. It is better now that we do not have to travel so extensively so far and wide to show our rare breed dogs. I am hoping this effort by AKC FSS will help increase the numbers of Appenzellers being shown throughout North America.
I am breeding so the Appenzeller breed numbers will increase enough that they can be fully recognized at some point. The more Appenzellers there are, the more will be exhibited in the show ring. Although I am breeding for the purposes of recogni- tion, my first priority is the health and welfare of my breed. So my answer to the question ‘would I breed more’ is that I will con- tinue to breed responsibly for the sake of the breed. I will and do give priority to show prospect homes so they can help in our effort towards recognition.
I would have to say the funniest thing I have experienced at dog shows is the reaction, or no reaction, from handlers when their dogs do something out of the ordinary or are not performing the way they are expected to in the show ring. Most of the time handlers notice unexpected behaviors right away and can correct the behav- ior before it gets out of hand but there are times when this is not
the case. I have seen a Great Dane totally unexpectedly and sudden- ly put his front paws on a judges shoulders and lick his face when completing her down and back...the judge handled it eloquently but the handler had the most stunned look on his face...a priceless moment. I have seen a Pug pee on a handlers leg and proceed to do a beautiful self stack in front of the judge...the handler did not react, I think, because the judge was looking at the dog stacking and did not notice the Pug had peed. One of my own funniest moments I have had is was when my Appenzeller completed his down and back and then proceeded to sit on the judges foot and did not want to move. I still not sure if the spectators were laughing at my dog doing this or laughing at the stunned look I had on my face.
CJ HAMMOND
I live in Oregon, just south of Portland. I work with dogs profes- sionally, and in my spare time, I like to hike, camp and travel with my personal dogs.
Kishu are slowly plucking through the tasks required to reach full recognition. I don’t expect the breed to achieve full recognition anytime soon, however—we need that time to focus on importing dogs and growing the breed in the USA.
Recreationally, we hike, camp, and road trip. We try our hand at any and every sport we can: lure coursing, barn hunt, weight pull, bite sport and conformation.
Do I show in other registries? I show with UKC and show in NIPPO-style conformation shows.
Would I breed more litters if we were fully recognized by AKC? No, the issue with Kishu Ken is not full recognition, but not having enough qualified homes interested in the breed.
I’m not sure what the funniest thing we’ve experienced at a dog show is. When comfortable, the Kishu are natural clowns, though, and like to enjoy themselves. I’ve had to interrupt my dogs from slow-wrestling and scent-rolling before ring times—but dogs will be dogs.
MIRJAM HOFMAN
I live in Linden, Alberta, Canada. My husband and I are chicken farmers. We produce baby chicks for the broiler farmers in the prov- ince of Alberta.
How is my breed faring in its quest for full recognition? Appen- zellers are still a very rare breed with only a small handful of dedi- cated owners and breeders.
I believe when Appenzeller are fully recognized more families will consider this beautiful dog breed as they are an amazing versa- tile breed for active families.
Showing will not hurt the breed as long as the breeders and own- ers and exhibitors are active and understand their behavior and the breed needs. Lots of training and exercise.
Do I believe there are enough workers to go around to get my breed recognized? There are only a handful dedicated owners and breeders in North America right now. Most people have never heard of, or have seen an Appenzeller before.
Would I breed more litters if we were fully recognized by AKC? Absolutely. I am very interested in showing my older Appenzeller. And my future puppy as well.
The funniest thing that I’ve experienced at a dog show? I have not been in the show ring with my Appenzellers because until more recently we did not have AKC Open shows available to us within a reasonable distance.
ANN KIM
I live in the San Diego area of California. I moved over to a 565 MW power plant a couple years ago, and one of my tasks is balanc-
246 • ShowSight Magazine, auguSt 2019