Page 220 - ShowSight, March 2020

to say about every dog. And one who can tell you the faults on their own dogs as well.
The largest health concern facing my breed today? My breed being Cocker Spaniels, I would have to say eyes; cataracts. Also bad ears as people just don’t understand that keeping them dry is the most important part.
Any trends I see that I believe need to continue or I’d like to see stopped? Too many ads and not enough emphasis on the actual quality of the dog. I wish dog shows would go back to be being about the dogs and not the people and the money.
I owe the most to Marty Flugal, who was my mentor. I looked up to him in so many ways. He was a great Cocker Spaniel handler as I was growing up.
The biggest pitfall awaiting new and novice judges? I think they fault judge more than judge the total package. Too much emphasis on parts instead of the overall form equals function.
The most amusing experience I’ve ever had at a dog show? I’ve seen many skirts drop to the ground while people are going around the ring. But I remember showing my Best in Show winning dog, “Shiner” in Canfield, Ohio. It was muddy. We were entering the Group ring and the judge told us all to be careful. As I was going around, I slipped and fell. Then doing my down and back, I slipped at the end of the down and went down again! Third time was a charm. I was a mess to say the least. I did end up with a Group 3 that day—and a new pair of cleats!
I’d also like to share that I feel with AKC 4-6 puppy being such a popular part of “the new match” for training puppies, they should make it breed-related.
For instance, 4-6 should be before each breed listed at the show. Therefore, 4-6 dog, 6-9 dog, 9-12 dog, bred by...etc. They all go in for Winners, but the 4-6 is not eligible. It gets the exposure of a regular show within its own breed. And then they go in before variety to be chosen for Best Puppy.
KATHY LORMIS
I have been involved with dogs since the 60s and 70s. About 13 years ago I met my first Wirehaired Vizsla and from that moment I knew I wanted to have one. We imported one dog each from three different kennels in Hungary to develop our breeding program. We strive to go over and above what the parent club requires for health testing and are not mass producers
of puppies. Until recently, we bred and owned the youngest Wire- haired Vizsla to obtain a championship and grand championship. We have the first Bronze Grand Champion Bitch and have won the Best Bred-By Exhibitor four of the last five years at the Royal Canin National Dog Show in Orlando. Over the past three years, since it’s inception, we have won the AKC Royal Canin National Stakes Wirehaired Vizsla Puppy of the Year!
I live in Lonedell, Missouri. I have been involved with dogs since the early 70s. I work full time for Joyce Meyer Ministries and love what I do reaching the incarcerated around the world. We like to fish and hunt and spend time with family.
The current overall quality of the Group? We are seeing better quality in most breeds.
How do I think Sporting Dogs have adapted to living indoors? Some breeds are not fulfilling what they were bred to do and so those traits are being bred out.
Any particular challenges Sporting Dog breeders face in our current economic/social climate? People are looking more towards
smaller dogs which makes having the larger Sporting breeds harder to place in companion homes.
What makes a Sporting Dog the ideal companion in these 21st- century times? Their loyalty to their owners.
What advice would I give a newcomer to the sport? Do your research thoroughly. AKC has many helpful tools. Go to classes with your dog and practice, practice, practice. Go to a show and watch people in the ring and know the proper etiquette for going into the ring.
The largest health concern facing my breed today? Lack of com- munication about health problems amongst breeders.
Any trends I see that I believe need to continue or I’d like to see stopped? More consistency in coats in the Wirehaired Vizsla. Breeding for smaller, finer boned dogs that cannot work in the field as they were bred for.
I owe the most to Diane Parry and Janis McManigal.
The biggest pitfall awaiting new and novice judges? The current standard is confusing for judges as we have been told by several judges over the years. Lack of entries for judges.
The most amusing experience I’ve ever had at a dog show? Watching the very young junior handlers in the ring with Judge Johnny Shoemaker. He is the best when it comes to helping the next generation come along.
MARJORIE MARTORELLA
Marjorie was born and raised in Brooklyn New York and she is a retired New York City teacher. Her first dog was an Irish Setter. She became involved in the show world via an obedience class which the Irish Setter desperately needed. Soon after she acquired a Pointer and has not been without one since 1968. She breeds under the Marjetta prefix and has bred over
158 Pointer Champions with many also earning performance and companion titles, National Specialty winners and 9 Best in Show winners including Ch. Marjetta National Acclaim who was Best in Show at the 1986 Westminster Kennel Club show, handled by the late Michael Zollo for Mrs. Robson. He is also the All-Time Top Pointer Sire in the US.
Her judging career began in 1981 and she is currently approved to judge three Groups: Sporting, Hound and Working as well as Bichon Frise, Dalmatians and French Bulldogs. She has judged at many of the top shows in the US including Westminster, The AKC Centennial and also the AKC/Eukanuba Show where she did the Sporting Group in 2005. In 2020, she judged the Hound Group at Westminster Kennel Club.
She has judged the Pointer, Irish Setter, Vizsla, Brittany, Ger- man Wirehaired Pointer, Sussex Spaniel, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever and Mastiff National Specialties. She has also judged in the following countries: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, the Domini- can Republic, Mexico, El Salvador, Canada, Spain, England, Ire- land, Finland, Sweden, South Africa, China, New Zealand, Swit- zerland, Italy, South Korea, Japan and Australia.
I live in Millstone Township, New Jersey. My first dog was in 1966, an Irish Setter. I am a retired NYC teacher. I am very involved with several dog clubs: New Brunswick KC, Staten Island KC, American Pointer Club. These clubs take up a majority of my free time. I am also an avid reader. In the summer I love spending time in my pool and in my perennial garden. I have always loved traveling and despite the challenges of air travel these days, I still enjoy visiting new places.
SPORTING GROUP Q&A
218 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, MARCH 2020