Page 84 - Showsight February 2013

In recent years, he had cut back on his
assignments as a judge in this country to
expand his judging expertise to Europe
and Latin America. As is so often the case
with talented people, he was both deeply
admired and controversial; something he
always found slightly amusing. He will
be deeply missed by those in the Afghan
Hound world, as well as by so many he met
and mentored across the dog community.
From Susan and Dennis Sprung
Peter proved his reputation in the
whelping box over a period of more
than four decades, always staying true
to HIS vision of type, without com-
promise. We met Peter in the early 70s
when he owned a lovely black bitch,
Elmo’s Ahdana, and we became instant
admirers and friends. Peter lived in our
area before relocating to Kansas, so we
were able to observe his dedication to
the breed, close up and personal.
Although Sunny was loath to compli-
ment many other breeders, she always had
admiration for the dogs Peter produced,
as did Roger after her. We also recall Bob
and Babbie showing him equal respect.
Peter was a showman, perhaps a bit eccen-
tric according to many in the breed, but a
true character.
We loved him and his untimely pass-
ing was startling. What we will hold dear
are the good times. Dennis was asked to
judge the Sighthound group at the World
Show in Mexico City a few years ago and,
although many fine exhibits were shown,
it was his honor to award the group to the
lovely Elmo Afghan Hound, with none
other than Peter at the end of the lead. It is
a wonderful memory that we have of him.
We will miss you, Peter.
From Steve Fisher, Shylo
Peter’s unique flair and dramatic style
were evident in his advertising, articles,
art, and the dogs that he bred. Peter
brought color to every conversation and
situation. In a world filled with regular
dogs and people, his eccentricity was admi-
rable. Peter always had a clear vision in his
mind’s eye of what an Afghan should look
like. I think that time will show that more
than anything else this was his greatest
legacy. I can count on one hand the num-
ber of current Afghan kennels that consis-
tently produce a specific look that they are
known for. Elmo achieved this. Like his
artwork, you can usually tell an Elmo dog
from twenty feet away.
Peter managed to stay relevant after
almost 50 years in the breed. This is
remarkable. Many “experts” in the breed
“used to” breed, “used to” show their own
dogs, “used to” be involved in clubs. At 69,
Peter was still contributing to our breed
in all of these ways in addition to judg-
ing, creating his art, writing articles, and
mentoring anyone who asked. Perhaps
the most obvious proof of Peter’s contin-
ued relevance was his accomplishment as
the top Afghan breeder in the country for
2011. The most that any of us in dogs can
hope for is to have had a positive impact
on the breed and have left our mark and
had some influence in the breed’s direc-
tion. Peter did this in spades and the look
that he created and the name ELMO will
forever be part of our breed in this country.
I will miss Peter and the fancy is a little
more mundane today in his absence.
From John Roger Morton,
Jorogz’ Afghans Reg.
Peter offered the Afghan world so much
that can be learned from, revisited, and
possibly implemented into one’s own
breeding program and goals.
He was one of the very few Afghan
breeders that established a line and main-
tained it for decades, proving time and
time again that his dogs can win, have
won, and will continue to win in strong
competition. Like an art form, he per-
fected adding, deleting, and intertwin-
ing dogs within his family to continue
his line.
As a longtime breeder, I know the
importance of pedigree and how difficult
it is to maintain a line that adheres to the
standard, maintains correct health attri-
butes, temperament, and possesses those
traits that set a line apart from others dis-
tinguishable as one’s own. What a tribute
to Peter when a spectator says without
looking at a catalog, “That must be an
Elmo dog!”
When I decided to obtain my judging
license for Afghans, Peter said to me right
before one of my first assignments, “John,
you are going to judge in the ring just like
you judge your own dogs and pups in your
Canadian Ch. And AKC Grand Champion
Elmo’s the Martian Chronicles”, “Martin”. #3
Breed and #6 Afghan Group System for 2012.
Owned by Catherine Harker. Bred by Peter
Belmont and Alice and Jerry Hastings.
“At 69, Peter was still contributing to our breed
in all of these ways in addition to
judgINg, CREATINg HIs ART, WRITINg ARTICLEs, ANd
MENTORINg ANyONE WHO AskEd.”
80 • ShowSight Magazine, February 2013