TONY HOWSON
I personally find it very interesting and informative when I read similar articles in various Shepherd publications. It is sometimes surprising what you find out about people you have known for a considerable time in the breed, and even about those you don't know so well. It also provides an opportunity of informing relative
newcomers to our breed about the many and varied personalities connected with it. I am sure some newcomers wonder sometimes where the information, knowledge and experience in all of the various aspects of our breed exists amongst the body of people at our Shows and Training clubs. This kind of article therefore is an important part of our education programme within the German Shepherd Breed. I am delighted to take part.
Q1 WHEN DID I FIRST BECOME INVOLVED IN THE SHOW SCENE?
Having literally been born into the breed, because my father, Allen, was a Police Dog Handler and also breeding and exhibiting German Shepherd Dogs, I was attending shows before I could walk (while still in nappies!)
Q2 HOW I FIRST GOT INVOLVED IN HANDLING?
From the age of ten I was entering child handling classes at OPEN SHOWS, something which is missed these days. I then handled some of my father's Shepherds in classes at shows. My first serious handling came through a friend of the family who had a bitch off my father who won regularly at OPEN and CHAMPIONSHIP SHOWS. I then followed on with a daughter of hers. It was 3 years of great fun for me handling and competing with the likes of Johnny Stokes, Ray Sullivan, Stan Gillon and Marjorie Williams, and occasionally (too often for them I think) beating them.
Q3 WHAT WAS THE FIRST CC I EVER WON?
This was one of our own dogs REMO of MOORIDGE. I was aged 16 years and the Judge was Percy Elliot, at the City of Birmingham CH Show. (I felt as if I had won the Lottery!)
Q4 FAVOURITE DOG AND BITCH I HAVE EVER HANDLED?
This is a very difficuit question for me to answer. I have been privileged over many years to be associated with what I consider many of our best GSDs. For all round type and showmanship it has to be the great CH ARIOMWOOD HIGH & MIGHTY. The feeling I used to have whenever I entered the ring with him was "Beat That"
Then there was CH MUSCAVY ROCKY, the best moving dog I have seen or handled in my time in Shepherds and we will be lucky to see him again. CH ROCKY destroyed his opposition with his immense length of stride and superb co-ordination. When gaiting out in front I occasionally glanced back to find the rest of the class, especially in large rings, 20 or 30 yards behind and starting to 'gallop' in their attempt to keep up with him.To be honest it was more of a case of holding the end of the lead and having a long stride myself to go with him. Yes, a most exhilarating experience I will never forget.
Then came CH ALF vom QUENGELBACH a top class import whose record still stands to this day for an import: 5 Shows - 5 CCs - 5 Best of Breeds - some record. It was a privilege to be asked to handle this dog for Malcolm Griffiths but not without its pressures, for 2 reasons. Firstly the dog was an import and I believe people's expectations outside the ring are higher and secondly because his owner happened to be, in my opinion, by far the best handler of a Shepherd in the country over the past 20 years.
Another of my favourites, not just for sentimental reason, but because he was an outstanding dog in his own right, CH VORLICH AMICUS. This dog made my name as a handler. Handling him from six months of age right up to the time he left for Australia, that was a tear jerker. Winning along the way 12 CCs and approximately 20 RCCs, no mean feat considering we always battled it out with CH AMULREE HEIKO and CH ROYVONS RED RUM and we all know what they achieved. One of Ch Amicus's last shows was Kent CH Show. There were just three dogs in the Open Dog, CH AMULREE HEIKO, CH RED RUM and CH AMICUS. Handlers were Judy Nevins, the late Roy James and myself. While waiting for the class to be judged we were discussing each other's dogs, which we all had the greatest respect for. We counted the number of CCs between the dogs and it came out at 86 at that time. Three different dogs but all possessing their own qualities. Yes, Ch Amicus or Zorro, his pet name, had a bond between us, we were a team, uncommon these days with all the chopping and changing with handlers. It is a bond that I personally have only found once since then and that is with CH QUANDO. This develops with handling a dog throughout its show careerThen not forgetting Mick Docherty's CH VORLICH JUSTICE, full brother to Amicus from a repeat mating. He also gained 12 CCs I think. Last but not least CH ROTHIK INVICTOR - outstanding dog but didn't always perform.
Regarding Bitches, having won over 100 CCs during my time, you may find it hard to believe - I do myself sometimes - I have only ever handled 1 bitch to her Title, so my favourite bitch has to be CH EMMEVALE LAURA.
Q5 FAVOURITE GERMAN SHEPHERD I NEVER HANDLED?
Well, I have to split this question between the sexes. Dogs it has to be for me CH
DELRIDGE ERHARD, bitches CH VORNLANTE CATJA.
Q6 THE MOST DIFFICULT SHEPHERD I HAVE HANDLED?
VIDEX YASSO is my emphatic answer to this question. He was an immensely strong dog for starters, who if leading the class was no real problem at all, but if he wasn't when it came to walking and gaiting his sole intention was to bite the tail of the dog in front so it was a case of keeping just enough distance from the dog in front but not too much to suggest to the judge that the dog in front was moving better, heaped on top of keeping him balanced and co-ordinated. I certainly found out that it's not just through the ageing process that you start to go grey!
Q7 MY FAVOURITE MALE AND FEMALE, HERE AND ABROAD?
Unfortunately never having been abroad to see their Shepherds, I can't comment at first hand on this part of the question, but from many photographs and videos my choice would be the magnificent ODIN vom TANNENMEISE, who has also proved his producing abilities, and the beautiful NATALIE von der WIENERAU. In this country it would be CH ARIOMWOOD HIGH & MIGHTY and CH VORNLANTE CATJA.
Q8 ADVICE OR TIPS I MIGHT WISH TO PASS ON?
To the younger element of handlers, especially now that I am privileged to judge at Open and Championship Shows, they should pay more attention to the animal they are handling and somewhat less attention to looking at the Judge.
To Breed Club Committees, as I mentioned at the beginning of this article, it would be nice to see CHILD HANDLING CLASSES at Open Shows. This definitely gives the kids encouragement and experience in handling dogs in a show environment and it is also good for our breed. We all get older.
Having read this, and realising that this article just highlights some of my numerous experiences during my time with Shepherds, I hope the readers will understand when I
say that if I never handled another Shepherd I have some fabulous memories which will
remain with me forever.
Tony Howson
MOORIDGE
