I recently came back from a Judging Assignment in Richmond Virginia. I wrote a critique as the Club asked me to and I am printing it here
A VERY Hot Day in Richmond, Virginia – The Dachshund History Project (dachshundhistoryonline.com)
At one point, back in the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s, many Dachshund greats worked for the American Kennel Club and were vitally important to the organization. One of the last greats was Albert “Kippy” Van Court who passed away in early 1970 and was a sterling breeder and exhibitor of his White Gables dogs until the death of his first wife, Miriam. When Miriam passed, they were starting out a new young Dachshund, CH White Gables Basil ROMX, who was very valuable to breed to when the Heyings , the Shultis’ and the Dorwards were really moving the quality along in the late 40s and ’50s. Mr Van Court was a gentleman and a true expert on what a Dachshund had to have to be a great one. Later, after marrying Ramona, he became a strong fixture in exhibiting the best as well. He truly set the tone of what a Dachshund exhibitor can do to always be vital to the cause.
Later, during his second marriage to Ramona, he and she became the head of the Kennel Club of Beverly Hills and made it one of the great stops on the West Coast. After that, Mr Van Court became an AKC Delegate and later an AKC Director as well when his great personality gave him much sway in the AKC itself. He was quite a gentleman and was a pleasure for anyone to know. He truly set the tone of how popular he was at Dog Shows all over the world.
Soon after, while a member of the Westminster KC , he took over the Show Committee and got the Westminster KC Show to be the best in the USA. He was literally quite an amazing man. Sadly, then he passed away and everyone realized what a great guy who got along with everyone could be in the dog game. His loss sort of shattered the Dachshund Fancy, the Beverly Hills KC, the Westminster KGC and the American Kennel Club.
Sanford Roberts, publisher of The American Dachshund, asked a few people to comment on Mr Van Court’s passing and so I have included that here to show just what effect it was to lose this affable gentleman. He was a great one in my opinion and so read here what others thought about the loss of such a great successful gentleman.
This was Kippy Van Court – The Dachshund History Project (dachshundhistoryonline.com)
Pegggy Westphal gave a party for CH Phalarope v Westphalen and CH Kleetal’s Raven Wing ROM, littermates form her first litter. She discusses much about the dog and how much she loved this pair. I found it very interesting and hope yo all do, too.
“Face” and “Big Boy” had ‘lively and ‘sentimental’ thirteenth written by Peggy Westphal 1971
This gentleman spent his life in the Dachshund Breed and he was an expert since the early 1950s. He was a great Breeder and Handler and so started showing some great ones in the Breed in California. Woodie soon became one of the most successful Professionals and showed his knowledge all the way into the 1980s. He still knew what great Dachshunds had to have and always kept that in mind. He was a great Dachshund man and he wrote this article in 1959 so please read about his take on handling Dachshunds right here.
Mr Spradling is one of the really grand masters of breeding Dachshunds discussing what he looks for while judging. In my opinion, he was a master at breeding, exhibiting and judging Dachshunds.
Give him a moment and see what he say and also why he says it.
I guess I had a litte time on my hands so wrote a little essay about type and style. I hope some people do read it and discover why we shoud be doing our breedings.
Is there anything better than reading that title about Ann Gordon discussing Judging Dachshunds?
As many people do not know, Mrs Gordon has been my mentor from the first time I saw her judge Dachshunds at the DC of the Great Lakes in Chicago back in 1977. She pointed and I knew that she liked everything that I did. I always wanted her to like my dogs and put them up because I felt that she (and John Cook) was the best Judge pointing at Dachshunds here in the USA. Wally Jones and I both wanted our dogs to win under her because she really KNEW what each Dachshund had to have. She was the best and instead of getting mad at her judging, we watched and learned what she wanted and realized that she was indeed right. The Boondox and Walmar dogs changed and got better and following where she pointed led us to the place we wanted to be.
I have won so much under her, but I have really worked to please her. Read this article and her love of the Dachshund Breed and what makes them great shines through. She was a mentor to me and we NEVER talked doigs at all. I just watched her and changed my dogs to be like the ones she liked becuase they were better. I learned so much from her.
Leon Warren was a Dachshund handler that started out as a breeder froom the Midwest but soon moved to California. He soon was raising all three Varieties of Dachsunds and became a professional handler. I always loved how he showed and what style he presented to the Fancy. He was VERY succesful as well and brought the great CH Robert de Bayard ROMO to spend his older years in California, too.
Seeing him show and acknowledging how his Dachshunds looked in the Show Ring, Leon was IMO one of the best and is always someone that I much admired. He was the best.
He gave a talk and answered some questions about showing and handling Dachsunds for the American Dachshund in 1970.
It is printed here: “The Training and Handling of Show Dogs” by Leon Warren – The Dachshund History Project (dachshundhistoryonline.com)
Sometimes you have to tell the story of the worst puppy you ever raised.
Read it and tell me what you think.
“The Worst Puppy EVER” – The Dachshund History Project (dachshundhistoryonline.com)
Here is an article that the Harry and Vivian Sharpe wrote back in the ’70s about potential matings and what to consider. This is one to read through if you have time. It is fascinating.