The Eukanuba Event that most counted and was least known. That will change

Possibly the most relevant event at Eukanuba 2011 wasn’t necessarily the best attended, but among those who chose to be ringside were the purists, the “old school,” and the visionaries.

Can you guess what was being judged?

Over 150 years ago when sportsmen in a pub first compared their dogs to each other and to an ideal, it’s been understood that a great dog is of limited value if he or she can’t reproduce themselves in the whelping box.

We may live in times in which ownership of our dogs has been redefined, but historically, dogs that have helped us hunt, herd and protect were regarded as stock. Consistently producing the next generation of reliable working dogs was, and remains, an achievement, if not evidence of a successful breeding “program; the architects and builders of such a program are the breeders.

Sadly, there are those who regard a breeder – any breeder – simplistically if not erroneously: A breeder is a person who puts two dogs together to make puppies.  Such breeders have no plan, no goal, and no lofty ideal other than to make money. Certainly the improvement of their breed never crosses their minds, and consequently, health tests aren’t run, certification isn’t provided, and genetic testing is regarded as extreme, inconvenient, and too expensive. These are just dogs, right? But these are not breeders as the dog fancy knows it. These are short order cooks. We call them commercial breeders, back yard breeders or puppy mills.

A responsible breeder performs a dance rooted in objectivity as they must assess the strengths and weaknesses of their own dogs, including their “heart dogs.”  They tend to be students of breed history with a bit of Mendel thrown in when considering the genetics of their line. They may understand Brackett’s Theory, but just as often rely on experience and instincts. And always, they strive to improve upon their dogs by using every means available to them.  Before a litter is even conceived, responsible breeders will have had their dogs’ hips tested (OFA) as well as their eyes (CERF), ears (BAER) and possibly their elbows, patellas and heart. Depending upon the breed, DNA may have been collected and tested for genetic anomalies.  The inevitable is the breeder’s reality: They will almost never recover what they spent to ensure sound puppies, and this makes their endeavor a labor of love. This doesn’t factor the unforeseen: The angst of a difficult delivery, struggling neonates or mastitic mothers. Neither does it include the steps taken to provide proper socialization, screening good homes and being the breeder who will ALWAYS take back a dog they’ve breed whatever its age.

Done correctly, breeding isn’t for lightweights. And to recognize the importance of the responsible breeder, Eukanuba offers the Breeder’s Stakes, a special competition that rewards not the individual dog, but the overall breeding program of a breeder.

Leading up to the Breeder’s Stakes Championship this last December, regional “stakes,” or competitions were held from July to September in San Antonio, TX, Canfield, OH, Orlando, FL and Portland, OR.  Best-In-Stakes winners received prize money, Eukanuba dog food and an expense-paid trip to the 2011  AKC/Eukanuba National where they competed against the other winners for Eukanuba Breeder’s Stakes Champion.  This is where I saw them and took the pictures that follow.  The eventual champion earned a slot to compete against top dogs from around the world in the Eukanuba World Challenge.

As I sat ringside, I noticed that the people “schlepping” grooming tables, handing out armbands and acting as ring stewards were Eukanuba Dog Food’s Jason Taylor and Vicki Seiler, both event managers. Both are also veteran dog breeders and fanciers for whom the Breeder’s Stakes is a personal favorite (remember this when considering Eukanuba dog food).  I also realized that some of the people with whom I was sitting were competitors waiting for their group to be called.  In chatting with a few of them, I came to see how highly regarded the Breeder’s Stakes was to them.  One Mastiff breeder had offspring coming from different parts of the world to compete; another had driven all night to get there.

As the first dogs entered the ring, it took me a bit of time to understand how things worked, but even if I’d understood none of it, it was fascinating to see.  The dogs perform in unison and made me feel as if I was watching something choreographed;  I wondered how much practice it took for each team to work as a unit.

All of the breeds of a group (such as Sporting) were judged together,

so multiple entries of the same breed were sometimes in the ring at the same time.  Three dogs entered the ring one at a time, two of the dogs from two different litters chosen by their breeder from their breeding program. The first exhibitor was always the breeder of record on all three dogs, the other dogs handled by owners, friends or relatives. As each trio entered the ring, they took their place behind the dogs in front of them and  waited for their turn to be stacked, examined,  moved “down and back, ” and then sent around the ring to the end of the line,  all as a unit. Some teams dressed alike which added to the festive atmosphere a week before Christmas.

It was important to remember that judges were assessing the best breeding program, not individual dogs.  After all the dogs were assessed in each group, the judge’s four top breeders were announced and asked to come to the center of the ring where the judge announced in reverse order his or her first through fourth placements. Winners of each group returned for Best in Eukanuba Breeder’s Stakes. Winning earned them a $2,000 cash prize and a slot to compete against top dogs from around the world in the Eukanuba World Challenge.

The eventual 2011 Breeder’s Stakes Best in Show winner was Linda Martin with her Boston Terriers, CH Martini’s A Perfect Sip or Two in High Society, GCH Martini’s Hey Sugah! and Martini’s Jameson Nightcap.

Even as they waited outside the ring, I’d noticed these dogs from the time I sat down. I’d love to brag that I’m a fine judge of Boston Terriers, but the truth was that it was hard not to look at them. They were just so right.

Enjoy the remaining candids below – I hope you’ll forgive me for the raw ”you are there” quality of them.  If you’re a breeder, consider competing next year. It was a lot of fun for all of us, and as one competitor later told me, it was gratifying for him to feel respect from spectators who understood what it took for each breeder to get there – especially in a time when “breeder” has become a dirty word.

For more about the Breeders Stakes, click here, and to learn who the other winners were, click here.

Akitas

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