A May “Fall” in Brisbane

After I was asked to judge the Sweepstakes at the 13th Australian Dachshund Specialty, to be held on the May 25-28, 2023, and accepted the assignment, my son, Will, decided to accompany me there and he also went on my first Australian trip when I judged the Dachshund Show in Adelaide back in 2003 when he was nine years old. We hoped it would be a fun journey and indeed it was, for us, anyway. We met at the Indianapolis Airport on Monday, May 22, and had a long journey ahead of us. After that day long trip, we arrived in Brisbane, Australia on Wednesday, May 24 at about 4 AM and was picked up, as usual, by one of the great Show Committee of the Queensland Show Grounds, Rob Harrison These are dedicated Dog Show People who really take charge of running the show and doing it very well. They ALL did a great job. He delivered us to our hotel, Royal on the Mark Hotel near the city to make it convenient for us which was another great idea they came up with. We rested and then went sightseeing around the area. The city was a joy to be in and we took advantage of the little places to eat some cuisines we do not get at home and so had a great couple of days. Ian Magnusson who was my main contact for the Club took me and Will out to dinner Thusday and we had a fine time. The next morning it was Friday and so my day to judge finally came so I was eager to start seeing the entry and the quality there for the 13th Australian National Dachsund Show. We just heard the entry numbers and I guess it was a great report as I had about two hundred sixty entries to judge in one day, starting at 10:30 AM which was going to be a very full day for me.

Anyway, as most of you realize, there are certain things that I know my Dachshunds had to have to be succesful in the Show Ring and that, basically, was a well-made front with a great neckset, shoulder angulation and topline that, when well constructed, made that dog look like what I wanted to see going around the ring. I wanted a nice head, well arched neck, lots of forechest and well placed shoulders. I wanted that upheaded look that always catches my eye and I wanted the neck that went along with that. I wanted a typy dog or bitch that again drew my gaze and with that a nice topline and a great underline and I wanted a great rear leg set as well as covering ground with the Dachshund style that said they owned the land they stood on. I wanted absolute soundness, coming and going, and from the side I wanted to see that effortless reach with ground covering movement. This is what I wished to see when I started judging the Dachshund breed thirty five years ago and was STILL what I wanted when the great ones were brought into my ring today. My thoughts about the breed have not changed, but are still about what I consider what a Dachshund had to have to indeed be a great one. I was anxious to get started.

When I arrived at the show, Bill Smith, the Show Chairman, and Melissa Stalker, the great Ring Steward who really kept me on track all day, introduced themselves to me while the DC of Queensland Judge ,Colin Simu from Romania, finished up his assignment from Thursday on this Friday morning. When he got finished, I went over to the ring side and got ready to do my first Sweepstakes assignment in a LONG time. Actually, when I saw the numbers, I was glad they were all shown together and were in coat and size divisions. My first Sweepstakes class was an entry of Baby Puppies of 32 and there were some very nice ones in it. Right off the bat, there were a couple of Miniature Smooths who caught my eye immediately as they went around the Show Ring and they looked like they had exactly what I wanted to find in conformation and style. These two looked like they owned the ground they were standing on and had the style that I always am on the lookout for. If things were starting out this good, it would be a great opportunity to see the Continent’s breeders and what they were producing for this National Show.

I soon decided to divide the class, which was both sexes and with all Standard Longs, Miniature Longs, Rabbit Longs, Standard Wires, Miniature Wires, Rabbit Wires, Standard Smooths, Miniature Smooths and Rabbit Smooths all in order from the numbers in the catalog, into groups of ten dogs which I went over and pulled a few for more consideration. I then started judging these entrants and soon found several to pull out for a more lengthy, closer look. At the end, I wound up with the same two Miniature Smooths who HAD the great front and terrific free flowing movement that fills my needs and shows that Dachshund style that they all should have. I truly loved both these entrants and so had to really look at WHY they were the best. They both had the conformation that made me smile to myself and had everything that a great Dachshund had to have and so they were very close in that department. One, the dog, was a little heavier in style, but still was within the type that I always picked out for my winners and the bitch was a little slighter in body but still had the look that I loved. I thought about this a little and decided that the dog had just a little stronger front than the bitch, even though I loved them both a lot and would have taken either one home with me as, to me, they were JUST what I wanted to see in the Show Ring and they set a high standard as to what I had in store coming into the Ring that day. First place was the Min Smooth dog, SONDERBAR SAVE THE LAST DANCE, owned by Mr R & Mrs J Matwijow and seond place was the Min Smooth bitch, ALMARJO EMMA VON SCHNITZEL, owned by Mr. M Yardley. I told them then as to how close the decision was for me and to congratulate their good fortune in having such nice puppies. They got my day off to a great start. Third place was a Standard Smooth bitch who caught my eye immediately on entering the Show Ring and her name was MARKWELL MADELIEFJE and she was owned by R Manning & N de Vries. Her outline truly caught my attention and I was very happy to have her filling this spot in this very fine class. What an outline she had!

Next was the Minor Puppy (6-9 months in the USA) and it had 13 entries and yet the winners were very much on the money to provide me with what I wanted to see and make me a very pleased Judge. When they came in, a couple of the entries caught me eye with the way they moved around the ring and so I was anxious to go over them and see how they stood up. I was hoping I would not be disappointed and, in fact, I wasn’t at all. There were again many nice ones here and they were an absolute joy to go over and I was happy that the type and style of the Australian Dachshund was hopefully always going to be here for me to discover. First in this class was a Standard Smooth bitch who moved so resoundingly around the ring and was an absloute joy to put my hands on. She was TISCHAMINGO DREAM CATCHER, owned by J & F.Walker and I could look at that profile picture all day long as she was just that good. I really was an admirer of her and they should be very happy to have her coming along. She was a joy. Second place was SONDERBAR YOU AR EVERYTHING, owned by Mr W Hardie, a Min Smooth bitch and had the most gorgeous outline and was, as I demanded, a great mover as well. She was another, to my mind, great one and should be always among the Top Ones. She was so very nice and had to have many admirers in her corner. Third Place was another beautiful Red Min Smooth bitch,KAMAHI LIL MISS PANTS ON FIRE, owned by Ms B J Howell & Ms M L Cooper, who had a terrific outline and she again caught my eye immediately upon entering. She looked great stacked or moving, but was perhaps not as good as the first two in covering ground with the outline that I always went for in the Show Ring, but she still had so many great qualities that demanded the placement. These were three VERY nice Dachshunds that I was glad to see in this nice line up. I liked them all a lot…along with several others who were not in these placements. This was another wonderful class to go through here.

Next was the Puppy Class (9-12 months) of 16 entries and it, too, was filled with some very nice ones as well. I divided this classs into two groups and, after they all went around together, I started going over them individually. After looking the whole class over, I picked out a few that had the movement, conformation and style that the great ones should have and I gave first place to an exquisite, B&T Mini Smooth who had such a beautiful outline that I, for one, could not resist her Look at the strong points she had and hope that she can pass them on to that next generation as she was such a joy to look at. She was RUSTYPLAINS CHASINGPAVEMENTS, owned by Mr B Whyte & Mr S Robson, and was a treasure to find her. She was presented well and had the look that always captures my eye. Second place was a B&T Standard Long, BRIARMIST DECADENCE, owned by RE & CJ Armatys & J & L Black, who had that length of neck and great neckset that I always want my top placers to have and he was a great mover, too, beeoming another choice I was happy with and was another great one with another top placement. Third place was RUSTYPLAINS ONE AND ONLY, owned by Ms Lisa Marsh, who again had that look that really fills my eye, but was just a little heavier in type although that conformation could not be denied. Again all three were nice ones indeed.

Next was the Junior Puppy Class for 12-18 month Dachshunds and it had 28 entries. This was a class that the Mini Smooths had so much quality that they were hard to deny and sort of filled my eye as they entered the ring and all did that first go-round together. There was quality in that line up for sure. After I went over the whole class individually and made some cuts out of each grouping, I settled down and started comparing the ones that really captured my eye in movement and in profile as, to me, that is what I want my great Dachshunds to have for the ones coming after them. Remember, this is not just one day of winning, but should, in the long run, be about moving on and making each coming generation a little bit better. I hope that is the message my judgments are recieved as that is surely what I mean by them. After looking at them and comparing them, my first place was AUST CH BEDIDASH GOLDEN GIRL, owned by Mrs C Irvin, who was presented beautifully but with the outline and movement she had, she certainly did not need any help. I again loved her profile and she truly filled my eye. Second was a fantastic brindle Mini Smooth who had another outline that could not be denied as it looked almost faultless to me anyway. She was CH LOWENHYTE GLADYS (AI), owned by MISS SHERRI WIGHTMAN. Her handler, again, had her looking over the moon and with her motions, she was another that could not be denied her placing in this fine class. She was another knockout. Third place was yet ANOTHER Mini Smooth, a red bitch, who was almost equal with the ones placing ahead of her. Her outline was superb and she was again a great mover and was GERSNDACH FLAUNT IT, owned by Robyn Gersbach. The handling in this class was terrific and seeing them all flaunt their wares made me so happy as a Judge. The quality down here was amazing and, to me, it just was so much fun to judge that I almost had to pinch myself. Fourth place was, I hate to say it, another red Mini Smooth bitch, LOWENHYTE GIGI, owned by Ian Cross, and she too was another stylish bitch who commanded my attention when she first made her appearance in my ring. She also was so full of herself that I had to place her and she also possessed that ground covering movement that I know all the great ones had. Fifth place was something diffferent, a B&T Standard Smooth, NICHOLYEV THE GOBLET OF FIRE, owned by Mrs S Kelly & Mr J Bower,and was another with what I consider to be hallmarks of distinction in the Dachshund Breed: conformation, movement and Dachshund style. She again was another top quality entry that made me wish I had more ribbons to give out as the quality here was just that high. Any of these dogs would be competitive around the world in my opinion.

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Then came the Champions Class of 58 entries which seemed to be what everyone wanted to see how they would place and it made me wonder why the competition would be so much better in that class. As they came in, I immediately saw the quality there and I realized that this class was going to take a litte time and I was very glad to have that great Ring Steward to mark absentees and make me keep moving as there were many I could never watch enough as that style oozed out. There were so many that caught my eye and made me want to know more about the bloodlines that produced them. I immediately sent the whole large group around the Show Ring and started that first group and there were many that caught my gaze immediately and I wanted to spend some time going over them. After I made my cuts in each group, I spent some time looking at them and comparing the things that I know are important in showing a great Dachshund and I wanted anything that placed in this class to be one of the best because that quality was present in each Variety shown here. After I did that, I was ready to make my placements and it was an honor to have such type and soundness to choose from. First place was a B&T Smooth Standard, CH.TISCHAMINGO ARE YOU READY, owned by J & F.Walker, who was a long stylish dog who carried himself so well and moved with that effortless ground-covering movement with that beautiful neckset, shoulder angulation and a lot of forechest and a great topline and underline. What a dog to find here and he made me very happy indeed. He was one I would steal away from the owners. Second was another B&T Smooth Standard, CH.TISCHAMINGO IS WHO WE ARE, also owned by J & F Walker, owners of the winning dog. It is rare to get such quality in a couple of litters like that, but they did it. She was just as gorgeous as the dog and a great mover,but just not quite as long as the male, but equally as full of quality. Again, I wanted to take her home and congratulations to the breeders as they are the ones who really deserve it. In third place, I placed the red Standard Wire, CH DACHDOTCOM WIRY RUMOUR HAS IT (AI), owned by J & T McDonald, and another one who would always be winning classes under me as she was so typy, smoooth-moving and great to look at. In fact, her type and style made me think of Gina Leone’s Legibach wires who I have admired for a very long time here in the United States and I felt she was a real boost to the Standard Wires I had seen so far in this assignment. The quality in this class is making me very happy so far. Fourth was a Red Standard Long male who presented me with quite a picture of what we used to have in the US with that up headed, long neck that really covered ground with all their own beautiful conformation. His name was CH KEATON FROZEN (AI), owned by E Soti & W Schnitzer and he sure presented a picture with all that coat and that up headed look that I loved to see in the Breed if only he moved a little faster with that head up owning the space he was using. Fifth place was a Wild Boar Standard Wire maale who had the correct topline and head and neck and who was called CH. EX SENTIA (FCI) SGT. LARVEL JONES (IMP POL), owned by Mrs B Gale and was a stunner when he first walked across the Show Ring. He had the presence you can feel as he had so much style that he looked like he carried the day and was deserving of whatever he won in the Show Ring. Sixth place was a red Standard Smooth male, CH. KAMAHI LISTEN TO YOUR HEART, owned by Ms B J Howell & Ms M L Cooper, who again had the outline that I am always looking for and was a terrific mover as well. I loved looking at his profile and, to my mind, would be a great winner as well. Another joy to go over and judge as he was great one. Seventh place was NERRICKY MANNING SKYLAH, owned by Nerida Gilfillan, who was a very well-made red Min Smooth bitch who had the profile that I always want to see and she also had that look from the side that catches my eye. Eighth Place was CH. TIKAL RED WINGS, owned by Ms S Harvey, was another nice moving bitch with a great outline who looked great going around the Show Ring . Ninth place was a red Standard Long dog who had the look that really makes me notice him with the beautiful head and long neck that sets it apart. He was SUP CH. DACHYCLAN TYRONE OF BRIDEE, owned by Miss T. Kelly & Miss E.Graham and had the outline and movement that demands my attention. Tenth place was a Wild Boar Standard Wire bitch, CH IDYLEWINS TERRIFIC TREACLE, owned by Melissa Purich, who also had the outline that was always there when I walked down the line and she was a great mover as well. She looked like I wanted them too from the side. In all, this was a GREAT class I always will remember judging and these winners will always be in my mind. They were some very good ones indeed.

My next class was Non Champions and it had 29 entries in it and I was glad to get it started. As I am looking at the dogs, I do not go all over their bodies as I can tell what I like as I see them moving around the Show Ring and, when I do have them on the table, I check bite and testicles, but then spend most of the time on the front as I feel, after having some success breeding Dachshunds, that is where most problems start. I want to know WHY they are built this way and I can tell where they are wrong by watching them move and where the legs are going, rightly or wrongly. I am all over that front and want to know where they are corrct or incorrect. Anyway, I watch them go around together and then divide them into groups of ten. Then I make a couple of cuts and get down to the ones who had the style and movement that I wanted the Dachshunds to have. First place was a B&T Min Smooth bitch, LOWENDER COCO CHANEL, owned by Mr P F P Bevins, who had the outline and smooth movement that I want in my winners. I especially liked her look and style that made me smile. Second place was a red Min Smooth bitch, ANNARIC JEWEL OF THE SEA, owned by Mr PJ & Mrs AJ Howie, who again was pleasing to the eye with a great forechest and shoulders and a great neckset. She was a joy to have in the Show Ring. Third place was a red Standard Long bitch, KIMSCOTT AINT SHE TIPSY, owned by Kim Howard, who had that length of neck that I like to see in the Breed as well as a great looking body that had all the bases covered. Fourth Place was AASHEERDAC UNSER YAMIL, owned by Mrs A D Johnson, who was a Wild Boar Min Wire dog with another great outline in profile. He was a joy to look at and his movement got better the longer he was in the ring. Fifth place was a red Min Smooth female, USHERIN LA GRANDE ILLUSION, owned by Mrs. Courtney Faamita & Mrs Melody Darragh, who had an attractive outline and kept that same profile on the move as well. All of them were very nice indeed.

I then began judging the Neutered Sweepstakes and had 9 entries for this class and it was interesting for me to see the Show Dogs that were neutered and how great they still looked to my eye. In First Place, I placed a red Min Smooth bitch, CH ALMARJO GRETA VON SCHNITZEL, owned by Miss A Carius, who looked like she had led a full life and still had all the items that I want to see in the profile she presented, as she had that great forechest and good angulation that I want to see in every entry. I loved her profile and her great temperament and she was a nifty little mover as well. Second Place was a B&T Min Smooth, CH BERGHETTE TIGER LILLY, owned by Nerida Gilfillan, who was a more elegant version of the Winner, but she had an outline that made me place her in this strong class. Her profile, as usual, was great and she kept that outline on the move as well. Third Place was a B&T Standard Smooth dog, SUPREME CH, NEUTER CH TISCHAMINGO HUDSON HORNET,owned by C Baker, J & F Walker, who presented such a great outline and looked very full of himself in the Show Ring. He was another standout and again showed that great outline that everyone knows draws my eye to it. He was just a little off in movement and yet that profile certifed that he was another placer in these hot classes.

After that came the Veteran’s Classes and, as usual, it was an honor to go over these older Show Dogs and see how well they stood up to the test of time. It turned out there were lots of good ones left to go over. First, there was a Veteran Class for dogs over 7 yo and under 10 yo and it was a class of 12 and so I kept the whole class in to give the entries a long look. After going over them all, I soon picked GCHG CH PRAMADA’S CAN’T TOUCH THIS WITH DYNASTY (IMP USA), owned by J & L Black, M Peat & T Sikor as First Place. I admired the way the dog was groomed and showed that up-headed look that I always want to see in my winners. He was a nice mover and had the outline that I always want to see in the Show Ring and the Dachshund style he had made up for any failings he had in profile. To me, he was the obvious winner. Second Place was CH ALMARJO GRETA VON SCHNITZEL, owned by Miss A Carius who again showed the same virtues she had in the Neuter Sweeps class and was nice one to see again. Third Place was AM CH AM GR CH GRAND CH JOY-DENS ROCKIN ROBIN SS (IMP USA), owned by R Gersbach/ J Neal/ S Wheatley who was another grand looking Veteran who had that outline that I can NEVER overlook. I really loved this one and, if he kept that outline moving, he would have placed higher. This was a nice class and I was happy to judge it (although if I knew I placed two American imports…..). Here was another special class that made my day.

Next was the other Veteran Class of dogs over 10 yo and I had four nice ones to go over and enjoy. First Place was a B&T Min Long bitch, GR CH ADADACH BUTTONS N BOWS, owwned by BK & YJ Shawn, who had a lovely outline and smooth movement and looked like a happy little camper. Second Place was a red Standard Long dog, NZ.CH.CH KERNOEL EYES OF A WARRIOR (IMP NZ) , owned by Kim Howard, who had a very nice outline and looked pretty good moving around the Show Ring as well. Third Place was a red Min Smooth bitch, CH ANNARIC WEE WILLOW IN THE WIND, owned by Mr PJ & Mrs AJ Howie, who had a great outline and was a nice mover. Again these were three very nice dogs to place in this oldest Veteran Class and so I was ready to finish up with the Group Classes.

Starting out with the Team Class, which consisted of three Dachshunds shown by one handler and I gave the Smooth Standards owned by Mrs R Gersbach the win for having such nice quality and really working together. Second Place was owned and shown by J & T McDonald who was showing her red Min Longs with Third Place going to Mr B Whyte & Mr S Robson who had a gorgeous set of three Min Smooths and were red and B&T. Hard going in these classes for me!

Next was the Brace Class which had 18 entries and made it a little harder to judge. After looking at each entry, I gave First Place to the red Min Long , CH SHASDIN ROYAL ULTRA SIENNA, owned by Linda Stevens, who were very typy and had that fluid movement as they moved so nicely together around the Show Ring. Second Place were dappled Min Longs, CH. DANSN JUST DANCE DANCE DANCE, owned by Ms J Lobato, who again were nice in conformationband great movers tat moved like another nice little team. Third Place was another set of B&T Min Longs, CH. RHONE MIGHTNPOWER, owned by Mrs L Stevens & Mrs R Privett, who were a little typier but just not as good a team as the ones placing before her. Fourth Place was an entry of B&T Standard Smooths, APANINA NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN, owned by Anne Ifield who again were great in style, but just not as smooth on the go-round. All were very nice indeed.

Next were the Produce classes and I started out with an entry of 9 in the Get of Sire Division and these classes were difficult to place for me as the entries were really close together in conformation and movement and, after all, isn’t that what we want to see in breeders moving forward? I think it is. After seeing them all individually, I compared strengths and weaknesses in the sire and their get and came up with some interesting conclusion and could see the progress that is being made in getting better Dachshunds in the Ring. First place here was a red Standard Long male, SUPREME CH BRIARMIST BREAKING THE RULES, owned by RE & CJ Armatys / J & L Black whose get were longer in neck, up-headed and with better necksets than the others in this class and should be proud of this win. Second Place was a red Standard Long, GCHG CH PRAMADA’S CAN’T TOUCH THIS WITH DYNASTY (IMP USA), owned by J & L Black, M Peat & T Sikora, whose entry was so close to the top, but just a little lacking in the style of the winner’s get. However, seeing the owners, congratulations to the J & L Blacks for making a difference in the Long Variety and trying to make each generation better. Great job, indeed! Third Place was a red Min Smooth,CH. ASSUANA SULTAN, owned by Ms Lisa Marsh, whose offspring made a huge leap for the owners and became much higher in that Variety and that difference made him the winner in this very strong Class. It was very interesting to get this quality so late in the day!

Next was the Produce of Dam class of 6 entries and
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it, too, was full of quality and was a lot of fun to judge and, after going over them all and then comparing details, I chose for First Place a Min Smooth bitch, CH. SYNJAZ DREAM OF THE SIOUX, owned by Mr R & Miss M Gallaway, who had a nice entry of gorgeous Dachshunds with great movement and Dachshund style that always draws me in. Second place was another Min Smooth, CH LOWENHYTE ANNABELLE, owned by Ian Cross , who had a beautiful lineup of min brindles with great conformation and style and it was a very close decision. I would love to show any of these anywhere as they had so many great qualities that all should recognise! For Third Place, I gave to a red Min Long bitch, CHIPAL EXCESS OF KNOWLEDGE, owned by Mrs S Kelly & Mr J Bower, and her produce were a great step forward and made them much more competitive. Comparing offspring with their dam and the other competitors really made this a fun way to end this rather long day.

Last class of the day was the Breeders Team class of 6 entries and, after giving them all a close look, I gave First Place to a Min Smooth team of Ian Cross who really had everything I liked to see in a group of Dachshunds who had conformation, movement and Dachshund style that I always demanded to see in the Show ring. Second Place was a red Min Smooth who had a lot of style and conformation as well as being great movers and they certainly deserved this award. They were owned by Robyn Gernsbach whose dogs had always been in contention for the top placings in the Min Variety. Third place was owned by J & T McDonald and were a sterling group of Min Longs who always were at or near the top of each class and, I must say, I loved their style and conformation. They were a treat to find again in this last class. After going over this whole bunch of Dachshunds in the Sweepstakes, there were a few things that helped me find the best ones and also a few things that were just lacking and made me overlook many of them for having that same problem that, to my mind, was being a drag on that Variety.

As for this entry, I found many of them to be Top Quality and I loved going over the best and discovering why I liked those the most. I have always liked the same combo of conformation (with that big forechest and great shoulder angulation), ground-covering sound movement and that hard-to-discover Dachshund style since I started judging back in ‘the early ’80s, and I am always on the lookout to find the dogs that will do well for me as producers and Show Dogs. That is why I still do this and am always happy when I find it in the dogs I am judging. I often look cranky out there and am always wanting to find the best ever, but, trust me, I am always happy when I am judging and trying to find the best. In this Sweeps, I liked how the dogs were divided among coats and sizes and, as I found by the third or fourth class, you could see where some of the problems arose and WHY some of the Varieties were not getting the top ribbons. When you see the same problems, it is easy to see where they needed help and what needed to change. Despite the faults, there were some outstanding specimens that I would have gladly taken home and the Smooths, both Miniature and Standards and a few Wires were where the quality was even though there were some very fine specimens of each coat and size. Judging them will be a memory that I can keep in my heart for a long time as your best Dachsunds, down in Australia, can win anywhere around the World and the best will aways be competitive when great Judges decide the winners.

After the show ended, there was a get together held where the exhibitors could meet the Judges, myself and Colin Simu from Romania, and ask us questions. This was probably around 7 PM and so we had a nice chance to talk and I met a few people such as a young exhibitor (and remember, I AM old, so everyone is young to me!), Masato Ueyama,from Japan, who showed me pictures of his very nice Miniatures. I was impressed. The Kitchen Staff made some refreshments and, in fact, one drove us home after the meeting here. When I got back to the room, Will told me he had been sight seeing all over Brisbane and had a great time He went to a Koala Farm and went rock climbing and was so tired he was in bed already and , after that day of Judging, I was ready as well.

The next day, Saturday May 27, I went back to the show to watch the National, with the UK Judge Dawn Norton presiding, and see the dogs another time, because that is what I do! I love to watch each class and see the differences in the dogs. Anyway, after the Judge was brought out in a very nice carriage, pulled by two great looking Draft Horses, she started the National Judging with Standard Longs being the first to go under her gaze. While she was judging, I wandered around and spoke to a few exhibitors and then went under the tent, and made a good friend with the announcer, Ulla Greenwood, where we talked Dachshunds and her own Whippets all day and really enjoyed ourselves, even with all the announcing she had to do. I told her my Whippet stories and we talked Dachshunds and had a great time, with her husband stopping by with cake to keep her warm in this Fall season! After the long day, I put on my seminar after the kitchen fed us yet again, after the usual wonderful lunch that they fed to officials each day. My seminar was put on with help from the member of the IT, Shane Yates, who got my pictures on the screen for all to see and I sure thank him for it. In looking back, I think I tried to give too much info on too many dogs, so I apologize to those seeing my program, but what I wanted to teach at the Australian National was that THE DCA NATIONAL is where I wanted to win and all my breedings were built on winning there and all the improvements were to make them the best I could breed and show. As for judging, I hate to say it, but I am very plain and simple in always going for the same things: great conformation, ground-covering movement and that elusive Dachshund style. I will always go after that trio in breeding and judging. As I said, I love this Breed and and will always try to help it out, despite where it goes on its own and with some help. I also will try to shorten this program’s length the next time I am asked. There was a short Q&A session afterwards where I hoped to set some people on the right track. I think, hopefully, I made some progress.

Then I was taken back to the Hotel and discovered Will there, after renting a car and seeing the rest of Brisbane, going to the Rain Forest and having great meals from the listings on his computer. Again, he was tired and so was I and we went fast asleep really quickly. As I said, Will was having a wonderful time and that pleased me as well.

The next day, we went out for breakfast and found a great place not far from the Hotel with great food and we stayed in town most of the day until they came and picked up me and Will and took us back to the Show Grounds for the Club Dinner. It was a great experience and I got to see the big winners of the day and all the members who actually put on the Show and did a great Job indeed. At this point, I do have to thank the National Breed Council and the Queensland Club for being the most gracious hosts and always giving the Judges everything we needed (even before we knew we needed them!!). These people really know how to put on a great show and, to me, made me wish each club in the USA had such a group to provide the hospitality they did, so hats off to them for being great DOG People who made me happy without even thinking about it. You guys were the best.

At the dinner, with great food provided by the kitchen, Will and I sat with Ulla Greenwood and her husband, along with Colin Simu and the Show Chairman, Bill Smith, where we all had a woderful time. After dinner, they brought out gifts for the Judges (which were great, BTW) and then the wonderful trophies for the big winners who all were so happy with the big, useful prizes and, as usual, everyone was so gracious about the results. I never saw such a gracious bunch of exhibitors and, with serious exhibitors from all over the country, I never heard a cross word from any of them and all were so happy for the winners. I sure wish we had that back here in the USA and that is another thing that I will bring back from this great weekend: the true sportsmanship on display . The Australians were all so great to be around and that certainly shows in how they are breeding their dogs to make the best ones even better.

We all were having a great time and so it was soon time to head back to our Hotel as we were heading back to the USA tomorrow about Noon. I said good- bye to most of the people that helped me judging (especially Melissa Starkey, my great Ring Steward, and Bill Smith, Show Chairman) Ian Rasmussen and one of my new friends , Ulla Greenwood. who was a lot of fun to be around It was a great weekend.

The next morning, Rob Harrison took us to the airport for our long ride home and, again, we had a great time and always love the climate we have seen Australia. Thanks again to the National Dachshund Council for the gifts and especially to President Mark Yardley, Vice-President Ainslie Carius and Carolyn Ryan, President of the Board of Directors, for providing such a great show for the Australian Dachshund Breeders. I hope it was appreciated. You guys did a great job in providing a great place with active dog people taking care of all our needs. It was appreciated by me, anyway.

When I got home, I waited to get the pictures of the winners in Patric Berger’s photographs and, as you can see,I used a lot of them to show the quality I had in each class. ( I hope he doesn’t mind!!) While writing, as I said, when they all come in together in their coats and sizes, it was very easy to see where the strengths were and where the help was needed and so I will say that, to me, the strengths are there for all to see and I point them out when describing the dogs, but in some instances, there are things that are lacking in each variety that almost the whole entry has and should be what we are trying to overcome, like lack of neck, arch of neck and poor coat that we should try to get in each new breeding so, I would ask, look at the whole variety and see the fault that is there and try to add that when you can. That is how I always made the difference in breeding better dogs and trying for better really fulfilled me and made me have better dogs. Anyway, that is my advice to improve, but, with the great ones you have now, you are truly getting better in each variety now so keep doing what you are doing, but think what else is needed in that coat and size when you are planning your next breedings.

Again, thanks for having Will and myself over as we had a fantastic time. I always learn something whenever I go and judge the Breed that I love the most: the Dachshund

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