Page 193 - ShowSight - May 2020

before. That being said, at many of the agility trials I compete in with my Sealy, other exhibitors don’t know what breed she is and they are quite amazed at her athleticism.
What special challenges do breeders face currently? With the current COVID situation, veterinary care is a challenge as many practices, including my own, are not allowing clients inside the clinic. I have adapted, doing repro work on the weekends when my staff is off, and doing litter checks outside at people’s vans. It is just stressful now, not knowing how to plan ahead.
At what age do I start to see definite signs of show-worthiness? I attended a Pat Hastings seminar a few years ago and I believe that she is correct with her idea to evaluate puppies at eight weeks of age. Usually I have a good idea of the top picks in my litters at six weeks, but I make the final decisions at eight weeks. I will con- fess though that sometimes I let my emotions and attachment skew my decisions.
What is the most important thing about my breed for a new judge to keep in mind? Two key points—coats change, but struc- ture does not. Also, the word power is in our breed standard seven times. These dogs are determined, powerful, and were bred to hunt in packs.
What’s the best way to attract newcomers to my breed and to the sport? You have to mentor newcomers and help them become successful.
What is my ultimate goal for my breed? I would love for more people to recognize a Sealyham terrier when they see one and to realize that they are healthy, well-tempered, non-shedding dogs that make wonderful companions.
What is my favorite dog show memory? Winning Best In Show at the Chesapeake Dog Fanciers Association show in 2009 with Ch Rosemont’s High Society, a Sealy that I bred and groomed and handled myself.
ANNETTE HALL
I started out with Kerry Blue Terriers about 40 years ago then acquired my first Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier in 2000. Both are wonderful breeds. I had, over the years, been interested in the “wire coated breed” (that I could learn to groom) so, in 2014, I acquired my first wire coated breed, my Sealyham Terrier, “GCHG Thunder Road’s Little Deuce Coupe (Cooper) with the help of Sally George and Margery
Good, and his breeder, Sally Hawks. He has been a loving compan- ion with a true Terrier personality and spirit... and has offered me a true “grooming challenge.”
In 2018, Cooper won Best of Breed at “the Big Three”—West- minster Kennel Club, Montgomery County All-Terrier Specialty, and the American Kennel Club Championship in Orlando, Florida.
He has been #1 Sealyham Terrier, Breed (in competion among his Sealyham peers), in 2018 and 2019. He has won Best of Breed at Montgomery Co. 2016 and 2018 and Best of Breed at the Westmin- ster Kennel Club in 2018 and 2019.
Cooper has been a delight to live with, and always one step ahead of me!
I live in Benicia, California, and am a retired nurse administra- tor, but will always consider myself first and foremost an Operat- ing Room nurse, my first and favorite, nursing specialty. I continue participating in medical missions internationally where we provide teaching and surgical intervention to people with cleft lip and pal- ate anomalies—I have worked in Peru, Myanmar, Bangladesh and China over the past 15+ years. I love to travel for pleasure with my husband and friends, and have traveled to over 50 countries
over the years. I enjoy working with my hands, so I quilt, and have enjoyed the challenge of grooming my dogs, of various breeds, over the years.
Am I happy with the current ranking of my breed? I am happy with the current AKC ranking of my breed—Sealyham Terrier. It is my opinion that when a breed becomes extremely popular, they begin to become indiscriminately bred by people who are not mind- ful of the science of breeding with the aim to maintain the physi- cal, temperament and health standards of the breed. The limited numbers of Sealyhams being whelped each year in the United States have helped dedicated Sealyham breeders, who are able to employ a variety of vetting processes with respect to prospective owners, with the aim of protecting the breed from falling into the hands of “backyard” and “puppy mill” breeders. Since the number of breed- ers is small, we are able to maintain a communication network that allows us to place Sealyham puppies into the correct “forever homes” whose owners understand the importance of protecting the integrity of this special breed, both here in the United States and abroad. Our dogs’ genetic material is shared world-wide with other dedicated Sealyham breeders.
There is an increasing collaboration between Sealyham breeders in the United States and abroad with the aim to increase our current gene pools while safeguarding the health and established standards of the breed.
Does this ranking help or hurt my breed? In recent years our numbers have increased somewhat. However, whether there are enough being bred to sustain the breed is questionable. Under no circumstance should there be compromise between “numbers” and “quality” of any breed.
What are the characteristics that make my breed an ideal com- panion? The Sealyham is a wonderful, compact dog of substance, possessing a charming, lovable temperament, and friendly person- ality making him the ideal companion. They are intelligent with a “true terrier spirit”—never timid, ready to protect and defend “their family.” Their “big dog bark” would discourage most, if not all, would-be intruders! Their size allows them to adapt to both city and/or country living as well as travel.
They do require regular exercise, mental stimulation and human contact, so daily walks out and about “with their family” are a much anticipated part of their daily routine, before relaxing with their family on the sofa.
My breed’s weather-resistant coat? The Sealyham’s coat is a wiry weather-resistant coat—comprised of a soft undercoat that protects the dog from wind and rain, and a wiry, coarse, top coat. Even the furnishings possess a texture when felt. The coat should be straight or have a very slight wave... it should not be silky in texture, nor should it be curly.
What is the biggest misconception about my breed? I think the biggest misconception about the Sealyham Terrier is its size. People are surprised at the weight of this well-muscled dog of considerable substance. The Sealyham is built like the “canine equivalent” of an American football linebacker! A lot of dog in a small package!
Does the average person recognize my breed? I do not think that there are sufficient numbers of this breed in the United States to make it an easily recognizable breed to the average passerby on the street.
What special challenges do breeders face? One of the biggest challenges to breeders is the ongoing push in many states to dis- allow purebred dog breeding with the premise that there are “too many unwanted dogs being bred in their state, the United States, the world in general.”
Currently, there are organizations that are importing “street dogs” from around the world to the United States for adoption. Though the intent is noble, it should not be allowed due to the possibility of the importation of unknown diseases into the United
SEALYHAM TERRIER Q&A
SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, MAY 2020 | 191