Page 206 - ShowSight - June 2020

THE
ENGLISH SETTER
1. Where do you live? What is your occupation? How many years in dogs?
2. Do you have any hobbies or interests apart from breeding and showing dogs?
3. How did you come to choose the English Setter?
4. Is “style” an important aspect of type in the breed?
5. How does the breed’s head differ from those of its Setter cousins?
6. How does the breed’s silhouette differ from that of its Setter cousins?
7. Is there such a thing as too much feathering on an English Setter?
8. Do you see any preferences for color or markings in the show ring?
9. What is the English Setter like at home? In the field?
10. In your opinion, does the future look bright for the English Setter?
11. Is there anything else you’d like to share about the breed? Please elaborate.
MELISSA NEWMAN
Setter Ridge has been work- ing with English Setters for more than 39 years. We special- ize in Dual English Setters. They both Show and Field Trial their English Setter as well as hunt, field trial, show and compete in performance events.
Here are some of Setter Ridge’s more notable accom- plishments: Melissa Newman won the first Sporting Group Breeder of the Year given by the American Kennel Club; Breeder of over 250 American Champi- ons, plus many Champions in many other countries; Breeder of the #1 English Setter Sire of
all time; Breeder of seven All-Breed Best In Show dogs; Breeder of multiple Best In Specialty winners; Bred, owned, handled and trained the eighth and twelfth Dual Champions in the history of our breed; Breeder of National Specialty winners including Best of Breed; Breeder of multiple High in Trial dogs; Owners of multiple top-producing stud dogs.
I live on an island in the Puget Sound off Washington State. I started professionally boarding dogs 48 years ago and professionally training dogs 44 years ago. I bought my first English Setter in 1981.
Do I have any hobbies or interests apart from breeding and showing dogs? I have always ridden horses, and was thrilled to get involved in the sport of Field Trialing (hunting upland birds com- petitively with pointing dogs, while riding a horse).
How did I come to choose the English Setter? I started hunting upland birds with my dad when I was eight years old. He had many Sporting dogs. I wanted a beautiful dog that could win at Westmin- ster and be a fabulous hunting dog. Thus, I chose English Setters.
Is “style” an important aspect of type in my breed? Style when competing in Field Trials is very important. Type is very important for our breed.
How does my breed’s head differ from those of its Setter cousins? English Setters are the moderate Setter. They are smaller than the Irish and Gordon and not as extreme. Their heads are to be brick on brick.
How does my breed’s silhouette differ from that of its Setter cousins? The English isn’t as much dog as a Gordon and not as tall and extreme as an Irish.
Is there such a thing as too much feathering on my breed? Eng- lish Setters originally did not have the heavy coats they have today. It is really incorrect to have the heavy, long coats. Everything about an English Setter should be moderate.
Do I see any preferences for color or markings in the show ring? The orange beltons win the most.
What is my breed like at home and in the field? Once they mature out of the puppy stage, they become calm, quiet house dogs, amazing with kids and other animals. In the field, they are to have the balance to hunt all day every day; endurance and effortless movement.
Does the future look bright for the English Setter? I believe there is always room for improvement, but I think we are making good strides to keep the breed healthy and keeping our type.
Anything I’d like to share about the breed? English Setters are the Gentleman’s Gun Dog. They were the first breed inducted into the AKC Stud Book. They were a very popular upland pointing dog back in the early 1900s, especially in the South. They have lost popularity due to the Pointer being used as a gun dog and never having a famous movie made about them. The bonus to this is the breed is in much better condition than breeds that have reached popularity at a very fast rate.
JOHN FABELO
John Fabelo, AIA born in Cuba in 1962, moves to Spain in 1963 and to USA in 1964. Graduated Clemson University with a Bachelor’s in Architecture, and Miami University with a Master’s in Architecture. Working as a partner at LWC, an architec- tural design firm in Dayton, Ohio. I live with my wife, Barbara Fabelo, in Fairfield, Ohio. I have three children: Bittny Klyne, Daniel Fabelo and Corrie Fabelo.
We live in Cincinnati, Ohio. I am one of two owners in an archi- tectural design firm and am Director of Design. We own English Setters and Miniature Wire-haired Dachshunds.
Do I have hobbies or interests apart from breeding and showing dogs? I love to build things, anything creative: painting, gardening, house remodeling and designing.
How did I come to choose my breed? My wife and I owned Afghans and when we lost our first Afghan at 15 years old we decid- ed it was not a good time to get another dog. However, within 18
204 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2020