Page 54 - ShowSight Presents The Golden Retriever

THE GOLDEN RETRIEVER
THE CHARMING FAMILY DOG
RICHARD ANTON
I’m from Enumclaw, Washington and have been Golden Retriever Breeder-Judge and breeder for 27 years.
My primary focus of involvement with Goldens include breeding, judging, conformation, field, performance, etc. Outide of dogs? Frankly, there isn’t much additional time out- side of dogs but I enjoy bird hunting, fishing and skiing.
LAURIE DOUMAUX
I’m from Clifton, Virginia and have been a Breeder-Judge and breeder for 47 years. My primary focus of involvement with Goldens is all-breeding, judging, conformation, field and performance. Outside of dogs my interests include: knit- ting, walking with dogs in the woods, classical music, family, cooking and friends.
ROLAND HACH HACHTEL
I’m from Olympia, Washington and have been a Breed- er-Judge and breeder of Golden Retrievers for 40+ years. Outside of dogs I like to hunt, fish, camp and play with my great grandkids.
ELLEN HARDIN
I’m from Wisconsin and have been a Breeder-Judge for 40 years. My primary focus of involvement with Goldens is multi-purpose. Outside of dogs I like to do yoga, cycling and traveling.
JACKIE MERTENS
I’m from Palm Bay, Florida. I’m a Field Trial Judge includ- ing two nationals along with over 100 trials and a breeder for 49 years with approximately 20 conformation champi- ons before focusing on performance activities with Goldens. My primary focus of involvement with Goldens is breeding,
judging, field, performance and multipurpose. Outside of dogs I travel and attend church activities.
BARBARA
GOODKIND
PEPPER
I’m from Swannanoa, North Carolina. I’ve been a Breed- er-Judge and breeder for 40+ years. My primary focus is judging and conformation. Outside of dogs, I volunteer at a Women’s Prison.
JUNE SMITH
I’m a Breeder/Judge and breeder from Alamo, California. I’ve been breeding and judging for 50 years. Outside of dogs I don’t do much but I do some gardening
GAYLE WATKINS
I’ve been a breeder for 38 years of Multipurpose Gold- ens. I live in Highlands, North Carolina. It may not count as “outside of dogs” but I head Avidog International, which provides continuing education for dog breeders and I am on the Board of the Baker Institute for Animal Health at Cornell.
BERNA HART WELCH
I’m from Massachusetts and have been a Golden Retriever breeder for 34 years. Primary focus is breeding and conforma- tion. Other interests I have outside of dogs: most sports, but particularly, baseball and reading.
1. Your opinion of the current quality of purebred dogs and Golden Retrievers in particular?
RA:I think the quality of purebred dogs overall is being chal- lenged by a greater number of back-yard breeders—and thus, the quality (breed-type and soundness) of various breeds is becoming diluted. As entries are down overall, I believe there are fewer dogs being shown that exhibit outstanding breed-type.
298 • SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, AUGUST 2017