Summer Party and Starting Box Practice

News from The Metropolitan Atlanta Whippet Association
June 2008
Summer Party and Starting Box Practice
MAWA held it’s summer party at the home of Les Pekarski and Shirri Peak on Saturday, June 21st. A great time
was had by all, especially the whippets and other Sighthounds that attended. A few photos below of the new
starting box and some of the group that attended. MAWA hosted a great dinner as well following an afternoon of
fun and we would like to thank David Thomas, our guest chef at the function.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Southern Specialty
Weekend
September 18-21, 2008
The new starting box was completed last month and our membership will now be able to enjoy more activities for
their whippets. Les Pekarski did a great job at building the box which is state of the art construction designed for all
of the sighthound breeds. It was great to see whippets, borzoi, and greyhounds released from the box at our
practice. We are in the process of making applications with both WRA (Whippet Racing Association) and NOTRA
(National Oval Track Racing Association) for MAWA to become members of these organizations. The club is also
interested in hosting LGRA events for the other Sighthound breeds.
The starting box will be used for the AWC National here in Atlanta next year with two racing events hosted on the
last weekend of the national show. We will be hosting more box practices throughout the summer for our
membership as well.
GANG ASFA Lure Coursing
Calhoun, GA
July 4-6, 2008
MAWA Website
www.atlantawhippet.com
New Starting Box
Julie Poole & McGuire
Upcoming Events
The MAWA Board and Officers
National Hotel Booking: MAWA members who plan to attend the 2009 American Whippet Club
President: David Howton
Vice President: Chris Durance Watkins
Treasurer: Regina Howton, DVM
Corresponding Secretary: Shirri Peak
National Show in Atlanta should book their reservations as soon as possible if you plan to stay at the host
hotel. The hotel has already received about 200 reservations for next years event which is expected to draw
the whippet fancy from around the world. Information regarding the hotel can be found on the 2009 AWC
website at http://www.awc2009.com
Board Member: Shirri Peak, David
Howton, Chris Durance Watkins,
Jan Lucree
Committee Volunteers: We hope to have many of our club members assisting on committees for the 2009
AWC National. Many of our members will be heading up the committees and we are looking for volunteers.
Hospitality: Contact Julie Jenkins, [email protected]
AWC Raffle: Contact Jan Swayze Curry, [email protected]
Grounds: Contact Howard Bayerle, [email protected]
Hotel Setup: Contact Jan Swayze Curry, [email protected]
Lure Coursing: Contact Les Pekarski, [email protected]
NOTRA/WRA Racing: Mike Fitzgerald [email protected]
For other committee assistance, contact David Howton [email protected]
Rescue Contact: David Howton
770-345-2120
Southern Specialty Weekend
2008
MAWA Specialty
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Judge: Tracy Hite - Tivio Whippets
Sweeps Judge: Harriett Vincent
Cottonwood Whippets
More photos from MAWA Summer Party
Friday, September 19, 2008
Douglasville Kennel Club
MAWA Supported
Cliff Thompson
Saturday, September 20, 2008
AWC Southern Specialty
Judge: Molly Rule Steele
Taejaan Whippets – Australia
Sweeps Judge: Deann Christianson
Chelsea Whippets
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Newnan Kennel Club
Judge: Mary Beth Arthur
Marial Whippets
Host Hotel: Atlanta Airport Hilton
Rates $109 per night
Summer Photo credits
Neil Copeland, Tennessee
Patience Renzulli
Author of Mama Pajama Tells A Story
The story is copyrighted at http://patience-please.blogspot.com/
and shared this short excerpt with MAWA from her new novel that will be released in
next spring.
She was lying in the sun next to her litter-brother Proper. They were in the grass leaning against the picket fence. Kind of a cliché that picket fence, but they
couldn’t help it. And anyway, it fit. This was home – safe, comfortable, familiar. Everything a picket fence stood for. Home.
The Woman was talking to someone over the fence. Their voices made a buzz that harmonized nicely with the summer bees and the background traffic from the
Interstate. You had to listen for the traffic noise to notice it, otherwise it was simply there, five miles or so away, just in the trunk of your consciousness, humming
Interstate traffic background music.
Proper stretched and curled his toes to deepen his appreciation of the lazy sun.
The little whippet looked at the Woman, blabbing away with the person on the other side of the picket fence. She wondered if it was worth her energy to figure out
what they were talking about. Listened for a moment, but didn’t hear the good words: “dinner”, "car”, ”walk”, ”Jake”, ”cookies”, or ”OK”, so she lay her head back
down in the grass, worshipped the Sun God, closed her eyes and felt the soothing medicine of peace creep over her.
She was running. Making a path through the wheat, which felt like whips beating, “faster, faster, go faster” and then disappearing into the rows of corn, the running
lanes, cool and dark. Little cries of running joy crowding into her breathing in time with her strides.
Run.
For the sheer joy of feeling every muscle reaching to its absolute capacity. Fast oh my God she was going so fast. The corn stalks passing in a blur of
insignificance. Go go go go there was nothing faster in this world. She was a heat-seeking missile, soaking up her speed. Chasing what? The illusion of some
prey? Just chasing; that was for sure, not being chased. For the running was the joy. No fear. Just symmetry of perfect athleticism and grace and rhythm.
Run.
The cornfield ended abruptly and she dreamed she was back in the sun. Back with Proper in the grass by the picket fence. She felt that glory of pure physical
exhaustion. She felt her heart beating so hard that it must be a foot in diameter. Felt her breathing so deep that it hurt in a great way. She felt it all, as she felt the
comfort of her brother’s nearness and the warmth of the sun and the thirst. The good, honest thirst from the long run. And she felt the heat from her exertion. She
thought she better find a shaded spot with a cooling breeze, where she could still see Proper. Still hear the Woman in the background buzz. She opened her eyes.
Read any good stories lately?
Go to http://patience-please.blogspot.com
take a moment for yourself, then tell your friends
Meet long time member Chris Durance Watkins
Reprinted from the AWC Whippet News with permission from the editor
Chris Durance-Watkins, CHERCHE’ Whippets
Hull, Georgia; www.cherchewhippets.com
Introduction by Crystal McNulty of Hycks Hollow Whippets:
There are many gifts we all receive from the whippet angels. I would like you to meet my gift Mrs. Chris
Durance-Watkins. She is generous, respectful, funny, supportive, tireless, gracious as a winner and looser,
loving whippet mom, dear friend and partner.
Chris is always pushing to raise the bar of excellence in every aspect of her breeder’s career. She has made a
life long commitment to preserve and continue the successful Cherche' line of Whippets.
If you ask Chris for her support she will reach out and grab your hand and pull you into the
wonderful world of Cherche' Whippets. She took my hand long ago. I can't imagine Hycks Hollow Whippets
without her. Enjoy her thoughts . . .
Tell us how you got involved in Whippets and about your beginning, showing and breeding.
My start in dogs came through a 4-H project working with my mother's pet Maltese in obedience. This is where I
was introduced to someone with Afghan hounds. She participated in conformation as well as worked in
obedience. I purchased my first show dog, an Afghan hound, from her when I was 12 years old. I worked in her
grooming shop one summer to pay for the dog. I met the Whippet breed while at a field trial with my Afghan and
fell in love. I purchased a Whippet from a breeder, who got her start from the Kirklea/Elysian/Hound Hill lines.
This Whippet became supported SBIS, Group winning Ch. Shaman Sherry on Ice, CGC, LCM. This breeder got
out of the breed and introduced me to Dr. James R. Gray of Elysian Whippets and Larry Shaw of Kirklea
Whippets. Dr. Gray took me under his wing and gave me his best...the rest is history.
Please tell the “history". You had some fantastic Whippets that you showed to fantastic wins. Tell us how it feels
to have had such successes at the Nationals.
I have been extremely fortunate and blessed with the quality of whippet that has crossed my path. I don’t think it has much to do
with my handling ability; I’ve just been blessed that select breeders have graciously entrusted me with some exceptional
whippets over the years. Here is a little information on the dogs I am most proud to have owned and/or bred:
My first whippet was Supported SBIS, Group winning & Top 20 Ch. Shaman Sherry on Ice, CGC, LCM. Sherry was a Supported
SBIS winner defeating 208 whippets and winning the Hound Group at the Ravenna dog show (one of the largest dog shows in
the country at the time) when I was only 16 years old. She was also a Top 20 Lure Coursing and Conformation Whippet for two
years in addition to her Supported Specialty win.
Elysian Like the Night, LCM 7, ROM is a dog that we co-owned with Sean and Elaine McMichael and Dr James R. Gray. “Bo”
broke many lure coursing records and was an awesome producer. He was the Number One ASFA lure coursing dog in, I believe,
1990 and was in the Top 10 ASFA Rankings for several years. He is also in the ASFA Hall of Fame. Thanks to the McMichaels
for their assistance at field trials we were able to run and show dogs. Without their support early on we would not have been able
to have the success in both venues simultaneously.
National SBIS, 4x Regional SBIS, Group Winning and Top 20 Ch. Elysian A-Few Perrier, CGC, LCM, ROMX, a once-in-alifetime dog. Dr. James R. Gray gave “Perry” to me for my 16th Birthday. I have Jan Swayze and my mother to thank for
talking Dr. Gray into allowing me to have one of his all-time best. Perry continued to wow us at age twelve by winning the
AWC National Specialty in St. Louis under Betty Stites as a veteran, presented beautifully by Jan.
Ch. Cherche’ Touch Me, FCh was the 1988 Best in Futurity winner. “Skeeter” was from my first homebred litter. Six of the
seven puppies finished their bench championships and completed their ASFA lure coursing titles.
And of course, National Specialty Best of Opposite Sex, SBIS and Group Placing Ch. Innuendo’s Peaches and Cream, FCh.
In my opinion, Peaches was the “ideal” whippet in every way. She was near perfection in one red hot package with mascara
dripping from her eyes!! She had it ALL!!! Unfortunately her time with us was limited … She was tragically killed, chasing a
cat that got into her backyard, when she hit a tree stump in the chase.
Then there was “Jacob”, aka, “The Fang Man”. National Specialty Best of Opposite Sex, 2x SBIS and Top 20 Ch. Cherche’ Wizard of the Wind, Jacob is believed to be the
first 2x SBIS winning BLACK whippet in the U.S. His BOS AWC National Specialty win opposite Thelma in San Diego under Bud Gutilla was a very exciting win. He
LOVED the bunny but was not allowed to chase it, because his co-owner didn’t want him to get injured. He was out of his running prime by the time he was retired from
Specialties. Jacob did very well at producing really nice performance dogs . . . not only in the field but great agility and obedience dogs. We expect that he has earned his
ROM title but have not checked into it. He was bred on a very limited basis.
Most recently the well-known 2x NSBIS, 4x Regional SBIS, National Specialty Best of Opposite, Group Placing, Top 20 Ch. Whippletrees Icy Affire, FCh, ROM. “Thelma”
at the time of winning the National Specialty in Atlanta under Mary Beth Arthur was only the second whippet to win a National Specialty from the classes. She was also the
first Whippet to win back-to-back National Specialties the second time under Bud Gutilla in San Diego handled by Claire Newcomb for the final line-up. Thelma followed
these two spectacular wins by going Best of Opposite Sex at the next National when Perry went National Specialty BIS under Betty Stites.
Thelma never ceased to amaze. She has won two Best Veteran in Sweeps at National Specialties as well as numerous Regional Specialties over the years. I’m proud to
say that at 12 years of age she is still OFA cardiac clear. Thanks to Cora Miller, Thelma’s co-owner (Hound Hill Whippets), who helped us immensely and supported
Thelma’s career. Without Cora’s commitment the late Sharon Kirley’s (Thelma’s breeder, Whippletree Whippets) vision and dream would not have been realized.
I can honestly say that I have been blessed. I could leave the dog show world and never look back! I have also been extremely lucky!! After I won the National three years
in a row, a good friend of mine came up to me and said they were going to get a life insurance policy against me, because they felt that if I won another National, someone
would hire a hit man to take me out. Well, that hasn’t happened, and if I never win another National or Specialty, I can at least sit back, smile, and say I’ve had my day.
Who are the people who have been most important to you as mentors and/or collaborators? In which specific areas and why?
My mentors... other than my mother who has stood by me in the shadows allowing me to bask in the glory of my accomplishments, there are many. First, the late Dr.
James R. Gray of Elysian who educated me about the breed and graciously entrusted me with the Whippets that are the foundation of what Cherche' has become today;
Jan Swayze of Longlesson, who taught me how to show a Whippet; the late Sharon Kirley for her knowledge of the breed and for allowing me to be a part of one of her
best; Cora Miller of Hound Hill for entrusting me with Thelma's career and breeding; then there is Sean and Elaine McMichael for their expertise and non-political ways in
Lure Coursing (...it's all in the way you slip!); and my breeding partner in crime … Crystal McNulty of Hycks Hollow Whippets. She keeps me balanced, we can agree to
disagree, and without her we would not continue to have the beautiful dogs we have today.
What are your goals in breeding Whippets? How do you decide on a breeding?
I begin by writing down a bunch of top stud dogs on a piece of paper, throw their names in a hat, and breed to the one I pick out just kidding. Over the years, I have bred my dogs two different ways. So far, I don’t prefer one approach over another. I've bred
phenotype to phenotype (as long as they compliment one another) and I've bred to a type I prefer that in my mind’s eye would
right the things my bitch needs corrected without disturbing much else. I basically sit down with the Whippet standard in one
hand and write out the things my bitch needs improvements on compared to the breed standard. Then I put in a side note - the
things I believe my bitch would be strong in producing. I prioritize the things I wish to accomplish with the breeding and then
begin my search for a stud dog that I believe will improve the faults I have targeted. I always consider at least 3 generations of
ancestors for both the stud dog and the bitch. I also try to research their littermates. There is more to a dog's genetics than just
their physical attributes. When I find a dog that I think will improve upon my bitch’s faults I study what faults this possible stud dog
might bring into my program as well as the benefits he may offer. I generally speak with numerous people with stud dogs over
several years before making a clear decision. My final decision is often a last minute decision but has been thoroughly
researched and mulled over in advance.
Tell us what your idea of a Whippet is.
My ideal Whippet . . . to start with type is priority . . . that is the beautiful "S" curves a Whippet is supposed to possess. Without type you could have a Whippet that looks
like a rat terrier (or a more realistic example - a greyhound). Whippets should be elegant, possess nice bone and be balanced in both the front and the rear without
exaggeration. My ideal Whippet should be sound coming and going, as well as balanced on the move from the side. In my opinion a Whippet on the move should appear
to reach out, gently grab the earth under its feet, and slowly sweep it under - low and free moving without seeing the top of the withers jarring up and down. The handler at
the end of the lead should have to look down to see that there is indeed a dog on the other end. I'm a front nut, without a nice shoulder layback and return of upper arm
you have nothing. I love those big beautiful eyes with correct heads that actually have a wider back skull than muzzle. I will admit that as a breeder, I have not
concentrated on getting those big beautiful eyes but I do love them so.
How did you decide on your kennel name?
My mother and I were up late one night trying to decide on a kennel name and we got so tired we were silly. We got the dictionary out and decided that the first name we
pointed to was going to be our kennel name. That word was Cherche' (pronounced cher -shay). The meaning of the word was in search of, looking or researching for
perfection. It sounded PERFECT to us since one continues to learn throughout their lives and we as breeders are always searching for that perfect dog.
How many dogs do you keep, and how do you keep, feed, condition, and train them?
I live with my husband, David, on 5 acres of land. The property is completely fenced and we have a small paddock area fenced off our house with a dog
door. We currently have 4 Whippets and a Chihuahua. I'm personally not a kennel person and do not care to keep my dogs in kennels. Because we prefer to share our
space with the dogs, 5 is really our upper limit other than the occasional visitor. Our dogs sleep in the house wherever they wish (except on the furniture). The Chihuahua
sleeps with us. I currently feed Natural Balance, and we add cooked or raw meat to their food as the budget will allow. Every evening, weather permitting...it's one-on-one
time for everyone. We let them out one at a time into the field so they can chase the ball, chase the lunge whip, or catch low flying Frisbees.
You do quite a bit of lure coursing with your dogs. How do you divide the time between coursing and conformation?
I love to run my dogs as well as show them. We are spending more time in the conformation ring lately, as it typically takes more time to finish the bench championship as
compared to finishing their field titles. I run the dogs because they love it. It's only fair if they perform for me in the ring, that I allow them to do something they love to do. I
really don't show much at all breed shows as I concentrate on mainly going to the Whippet Specialties. I feel that specialties are where you find the best dogs in the breed.
As a breeder you have to see and lay hands on dogs from various areas of the country in order to improve upon your breeding program. I probably go to about 6 weekends
of all breed shows that are not connected to a specialty each year. I participate in roughly the same number of lure coursing events each year. So I really don't show that
much. I enjoy handling dogs for others, but I don't care to handle for a living day-in-and-day-out.
What are your thoughts on the future of the breed?
I think health should be our number one priority when breeding. To those breeders that don't think so...HELLO...What are you going
to do, when the breed has a widespread problem like the Cavaliers with mitral value disease, where approximately 50% of them have
it by the time they are 5 years old? I guess the theory with those who don't test (and you know who you are) is... it's not an issue with
your line because you don't have dogs dropping dead at an early age... and my reply to you is... YET! We should be proactive with
our breed and for me, I don't care to have anything to do with those lines that don't test the basics... minimally, eyes, ears and heart.
I think the biggest problem I see with the breed at the moment is... type, where the heck have our shapely Whippets with their
beautiful "S" curves gone? Most of the Whippets in the ring today look more like Greyhounds... heck, come to think of it; most
Greyhounds in the ring have more shape than our Whippets!
On another note, a trend I am starting to see in the breed is a side gait people think is "flashy" and it is actually winning in the ring.
These dogs have a springy gait with unnecessary exaggerated flinging of the feet... that's the best way I can describe it. It's definitely
an improvement from a hackney gait but incorrect nonetheless. While I'm talking about side gait, this brings up another thing I saw at
a Specialty recently... I actually saw a few Whippets moving like some Afghans... a springy gait with more rear drive than reach YIKES!!
While I do believe that we as breeders are producing a better overall front-end assembly, there are still some issues with pasterns
turning out and feet turning in. Even side gait as a general rule has improved.
Do you have any thoughts on temperament in addition to health and type.
Temperament is a very important issue for us. I have been very fortunate that my mother and I live with whippets with awesome temperaments. Most of my whippets are more
hound-like than terrier-like, in fact, I didn’t get my first barker until Thelma came to live with me . . . she is our burglar alarm. Don’t get this confused with separation anxiety,
as that is not what I mean by a ‘barker’. All of our whippets run up to the door wagging their tails, when someone knocks, but Thelma typically stays where she is and barks.
Separation anxiety, from what I hear, is an issue in whippets; however, I have been fortunate that I have only had one dog I’ve placed that had what I consider to be an SA
issue. The anxiety was readily solved by adding a second whippet to the household. This dog was only ¼ of my original breeding program and the other ¾ outcrossed. I
never had an issue with this dog when she lived with me, only after she was placed in a one-dog home did it become evident. I keep my fingers crossed that I not experience
this issue again, but I am mindful as I explore more outcrossed breedings. At this point I’m very happy with the temperaments I have produced.
Anything else you would like to add?
Thanks for the honor of asking me for an interview.
Chris was interviewed by Eva Engvall. For comments or suggestions, please contact [email protected]
Volunteers needed for to assist with hospitality with the MAWA Specialty Show in September
Contact Elizabeth Gearhart at [email protected]
Don’t forget the Southern Specialty Weekend
Thanks to the members who have
Contributed to the 2008 trophy fund
For the Southern Specialty weekend.
Justin Smithey
Ruby Sipper
Ray & Barbara Parsons
Ellen Craig
Peggy Hodge
Janet Phillips
Dr. Ken Latimer
David & Regina Howton
Claire Newcombe
If you would like to contribute to the fund
Please send checks to:
MAWA Trophy Fund
Regina Howton Treasurer
155 Forrester Lane
Canton, GA 30115
Member News
Luther
Jackie
From Chris Durance Watkins: Brags, Cherche' had two littermates earn their AKC FC titles . . . CONGRATS
to Dr. Ken Latimer owner of "Jackie" Cherche' Sexy Plexi and to Chuck and Mallory Ballard who own "Luther"
Cherche' Arborlea Upside Down! Luther also only needs a few points for his ASFA FCh. title.
From Tonya Macrae and Debra Johnson....Select CH. Delacreme Southern Reign and Ch. Soques Spies Like
Us are the proud parents of TWELVE puppies born yesterday.....nine girls and three boys!
Julie Poole Photography
http://www.juliepoole.com/
http://www.juliepoole.blogspot.com/
http://theartsydog.com