BY DENISE FLAIM
Newsday Staff Writer
February 11, 2007
Tall, dark strangers - not.
This trio of low-riding, economically sized dogs - a Dandie Dinmont terrier named Harry, a Sealyham terrier nicknamed Ben, and a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen called Fairchild - needs no introduction to dog fanciers. Last year, they were among the biggest-winning show dogs in the nation. And tomorrow and Tuesday at Madison Square Garden, they will be among the hottest contenders at the Westminster Kennel Dog Show, even if much of the general public has never heard of their respective breeds.
“These are not dogs you see on the street every day, and they are not dogs everyone should own,” says American Kennel Club judge Patricia Cruz of Coram, noting the hound’s independence and vocalness, and the terriers’ scrappiness. “Even though they can be small, terriers are tough - they come by their reputation honestly. It’s a lot of fun to see them, but to own one is quite another story.”
No matter who wins the purple-and-gold Best in Show rosette Tuesday night, the exposure these charming little dogs get at the Garden might very well increase demand for them. And that’s a double-edged sword, Cruz reminds, as increased popularity brings with it incentive for the less-than-scrupulous to overbreed and cash in.
When it comes to winning at Westminster, perfection counts - a simple misstep can knock a dog out of the running. But so does personality. AKC judge Carol Reisman of Baldwin thinks all three dogs have built-in audience appeal, with their reputation for showmanship and clownishness.
“All three have a sense of humor, and the crowd loves that,” she says, thinking back to 2004, when a personality-packed Newfoundland named Josh charmed the audience with his exuberant bark. “There are people who say that’s when the dog won Best in Show.”
Champion Hobergays Fineus Fogg
Dandie Dinmont Terrier
“Harry,” as this Australian import is known, was the No. 1 dog in the nation in 2006. Not bad for a breed that’s so rare a whopping 84 puppies were registered last year.
The only breed named after a literary character - Dandie Dinmont was a farmer with a pack of terriers in Sir Walter Scott’s 1814 novel, “Guy Mannering” - this densely built fellow was bred to hunt vermin on the punishing terrain of the English-Scottish border country.
Six-year-old “Harry” is owned by Jean Heath of Pleasanton, Calif., a Navy colonel and veteran terrier breeder, and comedian Bill Cosby.
The two met long before Cosby was famous, when he was convalescing in a naval hospital and took a fancy to Heath’s miniature-schnauzer puppy, Clipper.
Since the mid-1970s, Cosby has financially backed dozens of Heath’s show dogs, many of them Lakeland terriers.
Heath says she persuaded Cosby to sign on to the Dandie by sending him a head shot of the wise-eyed terrier with the distinctive silky topknot, inscribed with the words, “Hi, Mr. C. My name is Harry - and I’m hot.”
Champion
Stonebroke Right
On The Money
Sealyham Terrier
Another earthdog, “Ben Low” was the No. 4 dog in the country last year, and No. 2 terrier, right behind Harry the Dandie. The top-winning Sealyham of all time, the 4-year-old captured terrierdom’s most prestigious win in October: Best in Show at the Montgomery County Kennel Club.
Originating in Wales and named for Sealy Ham, the estate of Captain John Edwards, who developed it, the Sealyham was bred to quarry badger, fox and otter. Required by its standard to be “the embodiment of power and determination,” the Sealyham is believed to have corgi, Dandie Dinmont, West Highland White terrier, wire-haired fox terrier and Bull Terrier in its lineage.
“Sealys are the sweetest, and their disposition is fabulous, especially with children,” says Ben’s owner, Linda Low of Scottsdale, Ariz., though they are often victims of mistaken identity. “People will say, ‘That’s not a white Scottie, is it?’ Or ‘The ears don’t look right for a Westie.’”
Champion Celestial CJ’s Jolly Fairchild
Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
Say this breed’s name three times fast. See? That’s why everyone just calls them PBGVs (”pee-VEE-gee-VEE”). A deconstruction of the French name provides a good description of this rough-coated scenthound: “Petit” means small; “basset” means low to the ground; “griffon” is for wire coated, and Vendéen is the area of France where the breed originated.
“Fairchild,” the nation’s No. 1 hound and No. 8 dog overall in last year, has earned her fair share of wins: The 4-year-old won the Hound group at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in California, the nation’s second most prestigious show.
Fairchild took the breed at the Garden last year, and her team hopes for a repeat this year.