Page 268 - ShowSight - January 2020

Debra Ferguson continued
I have bred Bedlington Terriers, Collies, Doberman Pinschers and Pomeranians.
My breed described in three words. Elegant, proud and intelligent.
How does my breed rank in popularity among other Non Sport- ing breeds? According to a quick Google search, the Poodle is #2 to the French Bulldog. I had expected the Poodle to be number one.
Does my breed get its fair share of attention in the Group? LOL, of course, it does! It is the ultimate glamour breed.
The biggest misconception about my breed among the gen- eral public? That this a “Foo Foo” breed, all glamour, with no vigor. Which is not true. These dogs hunt with the best of the sporting breeds.
What can my parent club do to increase awareness and popu- larity of my breed? We have a fabulous Parent Club that puts on the Award-winning Poodle Club of America National Dog Show. It is not just the green grass and white picket fences that make The Poodle Club of America unique. It is the support of junior handlers, with a major education and scholarship program, judges education, support of the Canine Health organization.
The largest health concern facing my breed today? Correct Structure.
Any trends I see in my breed that I believe need to continue? Better health. Any I’d like to see stopped? People breeding for style ignoring correctly constructed dogs with moderate angulation.
I owe the most to Mrs. Ellis, L’Dyne Brennan and Wendell Sammet.
The biggest pitfall awaiting new and novice judges is that some judges fail to understand the correct structure of a Poodle. They comment that all Poodles are U-necked and carry their head over their back. It implies that the judge is judging the Golden Retriever, the Bulldog and the Poodle by the same standard. This is not correct.
JANET HARTMANN
I have interests outside of breeding and the dog shows, when not gardening or trying a new gourmet recipe, I do charity work for the Binky Patrol. I make blankets (e.g. quilts, comforters, and afghans), hats and scarves for the needy.
I spent 34 years in the computer industry supporting large IBM mainframes and personal computers. I always told myself that I wanted to do something different during retirement. A Christmas present from Barbara Chappell (Taywyn Bichons) in 2005 brought that ‘something different’ to my life. She gave me Lily, who was my first Bichon show dog. Lily was first shown at the 2006 San Diego Bichon Specialty. At seven months old she won Sweepstakes, Best Puppy and RWB. My lifelong love of dogs and this win hooked me on the sport. After Lily earned her CH title, I wanted another show dog so I bred her.
Mission Viejo, California is my home town. This city is a planned community with a Home Owners Association. Breeding in this urban vs rural setting has its challenges, but I make it work. This is fairly easy since I breed one litter every two to three years, when I need another show dog. Seeking quality vs quantity, I am now on generation four of award-winning Bichons. Generation
five is looking very promising. Jaws and son Blade have won AKC National Awards of Merit. Blade is on his way to GCH Gold. I own the first and only female Bichon (Willow) that has earned the title GCH Gold. She has already produced five Champions.
Some Bichon breeders are looking to return to the basics of the standard. We want better movement, large round eyes to improve expression, dark pigmentation and flowing plumage on the tails. Screening OFA’s of the hips and patella’s have helped to improve the rear end structure. Improved diet and nutrition have improved pigmentation and coat.
Breeders need to make the purchase of a dog an easier, more enjoyable experience for the buyer. Some buyers are put off by multi-page questionnaires and contracts. The parent club looks to protect the interest of the breed and breeders by placing emphasis on the importance of screening and liability. The national group should also balance this position by reminding breeders that the popularity of the breed grows as more Bichons are in households as pets.
The show trim powderpuff appearance of a Bichon disguises the strong, sturdy structure of the breed. More emphasis needs to be placed on this structure to make the breed more appealing to men. Many men pick up a Bichon and are pleasantly surprised to find that there is a real dog under all the hair. Breeders should also coun- sel buyers on the ease of maintaining a pet trim to eliminate coat care as an obstacle to obtaining a Bichon.
The breed standard as written is a bit cloudy regarding size. The experienced eye can identify a balanced dog while an inex- perience eye can result in errors. In the show world sometime you win and you do not know why. Sometime you lose and you do not know why. It is important to remain focused and centered. Barbara Chappell spoke to me, when Lily won at her very first show. She said, “Remember—you will not always win!” It is the best advice I have received.
The Westminster wins of JR and Flynn have helped elevate the popularity of the breed. Winky’s performance in agility at West- minster 2019 added to the excitement. Bichons are natural clowns, happy and intelligent. Winky showed it all. Enjoy a good laugh by viewing this crowd favorite in his YouTube video.
CYNTHIA HUFF
I live in Carlock, Illinois and have been involved in dogs for over fifty years. Other interests include trav- el, writing, and snorkeling. I was a university professor for over three decades.
As a child I went to the local show in Norman, Okla- homa and quickly became hooked by participating in conformation, obedience and junior showmanship. In the 1960s the logical thing to do if you had a nice bitch was
Non-Sporting Q & A
“Breeders need to make the purchase of a dog an easier, more enjoyable experience for the buyer.”
260 • ShowSight Magazine, January 2020