Hoganschiest, The Invisible Dachshund

Reported to be the hit of noontime activities at September's Golden Gate Dachshund club specialty was Hoganschiest, the invisible Dachshund.  Bill Nix (left) did judging honors, including thorough examination on table (Hoganschiest had two!) and observation of gait.  Mel Cutler brought Hoganschiest back from Germany and also handled during lunchbreak of regular class judging.  Most exhibitors ate at ringside in order not to miss this hilarious performance.  Photo by Bill Francis.

via the American Dachshund magazine, November, 1972.

Is there a Dachshund there, or are we just blinded by Mr. Nix's choice of blazers?  

Stella, the GRAND Champion

Excuse us while we bask in her beauty - it's 'Stella,' the first dual champion longhaired Dachshund female to attain the grand champion title in the United States. Apparently, according to the Post Crescent, to honor those dogs that are super examples of their breed, the AKC started the grand championship program in 2010; previously the highest award was champion. Stella's human, Anne Schmidt, who operates a small hobby kennel at her home in the Town of Center, Wisconsin says:  “I’m very lucky. It took me 30 years to get there, but I got there."

Congrats all around!

Let's hear it for Boone!

Wow Boone, look at the size of those ribbons!

We couldn't be happier to report that Helen Paradise, who has submitted many stories over the years here, has her first AKC Champion of Record in one HANDSOME red smooth named 'Boone.'  Way to go Boone and Helen!  She writes:

Hi Joey and Maggie

Love your blog, read it everyday. I wanted to bring some exciting news to you and your readers. On Saturday June 11th, my 16 month old red smooth male, Boone, officially became my first AKC champion of record. He won a 5 point major and was awarded Winners Dog and Best of Opposite Sex at the famous Greenwich Kennel Club (GKC) dog show in Norwalk, CT. From the GKC website: ‘The GKC is one of the oldest all-breed dog clubs in the tri-state area of Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. Its membership is comprised of area dog enthusiasts with interest in conformation, obedience and performance events. GKC held its first annual all-breed dog show in 1930. Today, this well-established outdoor dog show is one of the largest held in the New England area.’

Boone’s official title is now Ch Tecklewood Huntin’ For Fun Ms. He has brought nothing but joy to me this past year and is now living with an awesome family in Queens, NYC along with another male black and tan dachshund, Brownie.

Thank you and all my best.

Boone in his new home, just chillin' after his recent victory

Wirehairs in History: A Presidential Presentation

It's Wirehair Wednesday, and boy have we got a special treat today.  It's not too common for a Dachshund to take Best in Show, and it's even less common for a President of the United States to present the trophy.  But it happened 35 years ago, when President Gerald R. Ford presented the BIS trophy to Ch Spartan's Sloe Gin Fizz MW.  Via the American Dachshund magazine, May, 1976:

A historical moment for the Dachshund fancy.  At Northeastern Indiana Kennel Club's 52nd All-breed Dog Show, May 2, 1976 out of a total entry of 1533 dogs in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
President Gerald Ford presented the Best in Show Trophy to Ch Spartan's Sloe Gin Fizz MW, Miniature Wirehaired Dachshund.  Shown by Jerry Rigden for Christy Ann Gordon-Creed, Oldland Kennels in Camden, South Carolina.
Left to right - Judge Edward W. Bracy; President Gerald Ford, Handler Jerry Rigden and Ch Spartan's Sloe Gin Fizz MW; Mr. George Bruning, President of Northeastern Indiana Kennel Club; Mr. C.J. Boudreaux, Show Chairman; and Mr. Leland W. Nitzsche.

Related:  Dachshunds in the White House

Scenes From IKC 2011

Congratulations to the International Kennel Club of Chicago, who held their 150th show last weekend at Chicago's McCormick Place Complex.  Over 10,000 dogs were in attendance over several days.  Always a great time.  Here are some Dachshund-centric (Dachcentric?) photos by Joey and Maggie.

Friday Dachshund Fun: THE CHAMPION As Only Three Judges Saw Her

(click image to enlarge)

Rounding things up this Westminster week, enjoy some dog show humor as illustrated by Sheila Dolan for The Dachshund Club News (England) some time in the late 1950's or early 1960's.

Have a great Friday!

Westminster 2011: One, Two, Three.....You're Out!

As nearly expected, the Dachshund failed to place in the Hound group at the 135th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show last night in New York City.  Smooths:  You're Outta Here!  Longhairs:  See Ya Later!  Wirehairs:  You made the initial cut, but better luck next year!  Regardless, night one of the event was exciting to watch, and congratulations to all the stunning Dachshunds who strutted their stuff in the prestigious show.  Catch Best in Show tonight 8-11 p.m. (ET) live on USA Network after the Sporting, Working, and Terrier groups. 
Enjoy the 2011 Best of Breed videos for the Smooth, Longhair, and Wirehair Dachshund - such Champions!


Relive the Dachshund (Smooth) breed judging at the 2011 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.


Relive the Dachshund (Longhaired) breed judging at the 2011 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.


Relive the Dachshund (Wirehaired) breed judging at the 2011 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

Westminster Starts Today: Disappointing Dachshund Lovers For 135 Years

One Hundred Thirty Five Years on, not a single Dachshund Best in Show.  Oh, Westminster, so much to answer for.  Will this be our year?  Don't hold your breath.  According to NBC Sports, a terrier is expected to take the crown this year, as they have done 46 times:  According to Johnny Avello, the famous Las Vegas wizard of odds who has correctly predicted the winning breed for the past five years, a Smooth Fox Terrier is likely to take the top title in dogdom.
However, this year, there will be a further battle within that breed, as Smooth Fox Terrier contender Dodger will go leash-to-leash against a fellow Smooth Fox Terrier named Adam to take the breed title before the battle to win the terrier group even begins.
Avello has a Smooth Fox Terrier ranked at 6-1 to win, a Pekingese named Malachy listed at 7-1 and a Boxer named Scarlett ranked 8-1.

Sigh.  But we're still rooting Dachshund!  We haven't even taken the Hound group since 1998 - and there's always hope.  Keep up with all things Westminster at the official site. 

Catch the Hounds live tonight:

NIGHT 1:
Monday, February 14
Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding Groups
8-9 p.m. (ET) live on USA Network
9-11 p.m. (ET) live on CNBC

NIGHT 2:
Tuesday, February 15
Sporting, Working and Terrier Groups, Best In Show
8-11 p.m. (ET) live on USA Network

Dachshunds To Watch Out For: It's Raylene!

Katherine Dettmer nuzzles up Monday to her 6-year-old Dachshund 'Raylene' in her back yard in Gilroy, California.  Raylene, whose show name is Champion Wagswells Ray of Cambria, will compete in the upcoming Golden Gate Kennel Club All-Breed Dog Show at the Cow Palace in San Francisco this weekend.  Go get 'em Raylene!  Read all about the Dettmer family, who have several Dachshunds and a 140-pound bullmastiff(!) at the Gilroy Dispatch.

The Dachshund Holds Firm as 8th Most Popular Dog in United States of America

Yes, Me!

The American Kennel Club has released its registration statistics for 2010, and the lovable Dachshund retains its spot as the 8th most popular dog in America, same as 2009.  The Dachshund was the 4th most popular dog in 2000, 6th in 2006, and 7th in 2007 and 2008.  Of course, these are registration statistics, and heaven only knows how many Dachshunds aren't registered with the AKC each year.  The Dachshund seems to have lost popularity in many major cities across America, most notably New York, where we were in the top 5 for the past 6 years, but fell to 7th in 2010.  Read all the stats at The American Kennel Club.

Related:  Dachshund Domination Continues: Dachshund Makes UK Top 20 For First Time

Dachshund Domination Continues: Dachshund Makes UK Top 20 For First Time

Who, Me?

The UK's Kennel Club trumped the US' AKC by releasing their 2010 registration statistics early this year (we are expecting AKC's any day now) with interesting results: a huge increase in the number of registrations for what they term Handbag Dogs - or dogs carried in bags as fashion accessories.  While we would never consider ourselves a fashion accessory - Dachshunds never go out of style - the Pug, Chihuahua, and Dachshund made huge strides in registration numbers. 

For the first time ever, the Miniature Smooth-Haired Dachshund made it into the top 20 with 2,802 registrations, 12 percent up on 2009 and 72 percent up on 2005.  It's also interesting to note that UK's Kennel Club counts the Dachshund as 6 different breeds - smooth, mini smooth, longhair, mini longhair, wirehair, mini wirehair - and the AKC doesn't do this in their statistics.  In fact, if you add up all the Dachshund registration numbers, the Dachshund as a whole rises to number 12 in popularity in the UK, with 5,483 total registrations. 

Of course, we don't feel that this is the best news for the Dachshund breed as a whole:  popularity leads to irresponsible breeders and owners.  But we're so stinking cute, how can we not be popular?

See The Kennel Club's stats at their official site.

Dachshunds To Watch Out For: Tug, the No.1 Smooth Dachshund in the United States

Swoon!  Did someone say handsome?  This is 'Tractor Tug,' or just 'Tug' for short.  He was born and bred in Washington Island, Wisconsin, and is the No. 1 all-breed smooth Dachshund in the US.  He will be heading to the next Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in February.  We're rootin' for ya Tug, it's time for a Dachshund Best in Show!  Read all about this big guy at the Green Bay Press Gazette. 

The 2010 Dachshund National Specialty Best of Breed

It almost feels like we were there! The Dachshund Club of Santa Ana Valley (DCSAV) was the host club for the Dachshund Club of America (DCA) 2010 National Speciality September 28th - October 2nd. Congrats to the champ and all the beautiful dogs who competed.  We don't want to spoil the surprise, you'll just have to watch the video to see who won Best of Breed.  Via youtuber purebredstudios.

We're Tired of Being So Pretty

We'd really rather just roll in something stinky.  Owners and their dogs take a break at The 78th Greenwich Kennel Club's All-Breed Dog Show at Taylor Farm in Norwalk, Connecticut on Saturday June 12, 2010.

Photo: Stamford Advocate, Kathleen O'Rourke / Stamford Advocate

Wirehair Wednesdays

With the exception of jaw, eyebrows, and ears, the whole body is covered with a uniform tight, short, thick, rough, hard, outer coat but with finer, somewhat softer, shorter hairs (undercoat) everywhere distributed between the coarser hairs. The absence of an undercoat is a fault.  AKC Wirehaired Dachshund Standard.

Vintage 1940's photo source unknown.

Dachshunds and Dogs at Chicago's International Kennel Club 2010

Over 10,000 dogs showed up 2 weeks ago for the 2010 International Kennel Club of Chicago. Once again we didn't get to go. Dad took about 50 photos though, (he FINALLY got them uploaded, ahem), and there were some beautiful Dachshunds and dogs.

Great Westminster Dachshund History: Judging Dachshund

Judging Dachshund by Samuel Falk - click it to enlarge

 

"Woof."  Judges rate this the best feature picture of 1937.  It won first prize in that division at the Press Photographers' association exhibit in New York.  It is a "spot" news picture of a judge in action at a Madison Square Garden dog show.  Its show title is "Judging Dachshund."  Source:  Chicago Daily Tribune; Jan 30, 1938.  Photo:  Joey and Maggie's personal collection.

The original text on the back of the photo read: 

CANDID CAMERA SIDELIGHTS OF WESTMINSTER DOG SHOW

NEW YORK CITY - On Feb 10, 11, and 12 thousands of dog lovers jammed into Madison Square Garden to witness the sixty-first annual exhibition of the Westminster Kennel Club.  The 3,144 dogs entered, representing 96 breeds from all parts of the world set a record.  The Wide World Service has already brought you general views of the show and its champions.  In this set of pictures, made by a staff photographer working with a candid camera, Wide World now brings you some of the scenes visitors saw in the judging ring and at the benches of the blue ribbon event of the canine world.

A dignified Englishman takes his judging seriously, getting down on his hands and knees to evaluate a Dachshund, one of the most popular breeds in the show.

February 13, 1937

It Should've Been ME, It Could've Been ME, Everybody Knows, Everybody Says So

Handler Jeani McKenney, from Putman, Connecticut, holds 'Joey,' a Smooth Haired Black and Tan Dachshund belonging to Jim and Gail Andreyka, of Monroe, CT, at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, at Madison Square Garden, NY, on Monday, February 15, 2010.

After missing the cut, Joey barked and ran deliriously in circles as his handler directed a red laser beam along the floor.
"He loves to chase laser lights," McKenney said of Joey.

Read about some more Dachshunds who didn't make the cut at the Danbury News-Times.

Oh Westminster, so much to answer for. 

Westminster 2010: One, Two, Three, and the Dachshunds are OUT

Congratulations to the Whippet, 2-year-old Ch Starline's 'Chanel,' for taking the Hound Group at the 2010 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.  It looked as though wirehair Dachshund Ch Gleneagle's Who's Famous Now had a great chance at taking the spot after making the initial cut and being THE crowd favorite, but ultimately the crown went to the Whippet, followed by the Greyhound, Scottish Deerhound bitch Ch. Foxcliffe Hickory Wind, and the seven-year-old Australian-imported PBGV dog Ch. Rokeena Carte Blanche.

Just wait 'til next year!

Westminster 2010 continues through today:

NIGHT 2:
Tuesday, February 16
Sporting, Working and Terrier Groups, Best In Show
8-11 p.m. (ET) live on USA Network

Breed judging highlight videos are available throughout the day on the Westminster Web site.

2010 Westminster Breed Judging: Hound Group: Dachshund: Wirehair

Relive the Dachshund (Wirehaired) breed judging at today's 2010 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

Best of Breed

Ch Gleneagle's Who's Famous Now

Breed: Dachshund (Wirehaired)

Sex: Dog

AKC: HP 21619803

Date of Birth: May 31, 2006

Breeder: Lisa Kennell & Carol Leggat

Sire: Ch Scoshire Famous Amos

Dam: Ch Knight's Kiss Me Kate MW

Owner: Ann Bischel & Chris Erickson

More Wirehair results at Westminster.