Page 80 - ShowSight Express, October 27 2020
P. 80

BLUE BOOK TOYS
POMERANIAN
According to the AKC Blue Book, Pomeranian fancier Mrs. Vincent Matta was “one of the most prominent personages in ‘Poms’...representing years of careful breeding and fearless showing.” A resident of Astoria on New York’s Long Island, Mrs. Matta is described as favoring line-breeding based on several imports, includ- ing Ch. Sealand Moneybox and Ch. Little Sahib, both grandsons of Ch. Woodfield Diamond King whose progeny influenced the breed in America and Australia. In 1937, Little Sahib won Best of Breed 21 times, Best Toy 20 times, and Best in Show on three occasions. He was top American-Bred Toy for 1936 and runner-up for Best American-Bred dog all-breeds the following year. For three consecutive years, he was Best of Breed and Best Toy at Morris and Essex. “The record of this orange Pomera- nian establishes him as one of the greatest Toys of all time,” the 1938 book reports.
ENGLISH TOY SPANIEL
Information is scant on the Celamo Kennels of Rochester, New York, owner of the English Toy Spaniel Ch. Bridegroom of Celamo. What is clear is the handsome dog that appears in the AKC Blue Book is a Blenheim, one of four accepted colors of this “comforter spaniel.” Named for the English country house of the Duke of Marlborough in Oxfordshire where a line of red-and-white Spaniels had been bred, this variety wears deep red or chestnut markings that are evenly spaced against a pearly white ground. The Blenheim’s soft and appealing expression is accented by red ears and cheeks, and the blaze of white that extends from his well laid-back nose to his high and well-domed skull gives the variety an aristocratic look. It is unclear, however, if this early American champion possessed the attractive “Blenheim Spot” atop the center of his skull that is still coveted by admirers of his breed today.
YORKSHIRE TERRIER
The progeny of the outstanding Yorkshire Terrier, Ch. Petite Byngo Boy, deter- mined that he would have enormous influence in the American Toy Group. His breeder, Mrs. Goldie V. Stone of Columbus, Ohio, was an early proponent of Yorkies in the US. Her Petit Kennels was established on the pairing of the homebred Byngo Boy to Madame Be You, a bitch produced by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Shannon of Fox River Grove, Illinois. So sure was Mrs. Stone of this combination that she undertook the pairing on five separate occasions, producing five AKC champions. Two sisters became multiple Group winners; Ch. Petit Baby Jill won nine Groups and Ch. Petit Wee Wee earned 14 Group Firsts. A brother, Ch. Petit Magnificent Prince, became the first American-bred Yorkshire Terrier to earn an all-breed Best in Show. More than four decades after this win, it was reported in the press that Mrs. Stone passed away at the venerable age of 105.
AFFENPINSCHER
Another notable dog from the Etty Haven Kennels of Mrs. Henrietta Proctor Donnell Reilly, the Affenpinscher Niki v. Zwergteufel made his show debut in 1938. The German import’s name translates to “dwarf devil,” and the little “monkey-like Terrier” wasted no time be-deviling American judges. For six consecutive years (1938-1943), this little black dog introduced the breed to fanciers at Madison Square Garden. An imported kennelmate, Ch. Everl v. d. Franziskusklause, was breed win- ner each of the four years that followed. The Affenpinscher was just beginning to gain notoriety in the US before the Second World War halted additional importa- tions from Germany. Perhaps this explains why no records exist of these Etty Haven Affens producing in America. It would take another half century for the fearless and friendly “monkey dog” to gain its rightful place among the nation’s top Toys.
The 1938 AKC Blue Book of Dogs offers today’s preservation breeders a depend- able blueprint for managing a breeding program and promoting purebred dogs. The only difference between today’s participants and the fanciers of yesteryear is the soci- ety in which dog shows are held and kennels established. Gone are the days of 100 dog operations and four-dollar entry fees. Gone too is a general public clamoring to see purebred dogs in person. In its place is a computer literate society that embraces dogs that appear online—not necessarily in person. For the future of purebred dogs in America to be assured, today’s breeders would do well to find inspiration from the dedication of breeders of yore, even as current technologies are embraced. Though they may have had greater means, 20th century breeders did not have what today’s breeders have—a sense of urgency.
  Ch. Little Sahib
(Sealand Career x Little Rajah’s Pearl)
  Ch. Bridegroom of Celamo (Bucks Boy x Fanda)
  Ch. Petite Baby Jill and Ch. Petite Wee Wee (Ch. Petite Byngo Bay x Madam Be You)
  Niki v. Zwergteufel
(Osko v. d. Franziskusklause x Dolli)
 


















































































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