JD: I moved to the United States in my twenties. I was recruited while still in London by Reebok international as Design
Director for international tennis and golf clothing collections,
which involved designing collections for the US, Europe and
Japan and working with endorsed athletes, including then
teenagers Venus and Serena Williams. I also worked on several special projects for the company with Madonna, Gloria
Estefan and Paula Abdul.
nel. I could not help myself and ended up co-owning ‘Katy,’
multi-BIS, multi-SBIS, AHCA National Specialty BIS GCh.G
Agha Djari’s Eye Candy Of Sura, who broke the specialty record to become the top specialty-winning Afghan Hound bitch
of all time, winning 35 specialties. She is handled by Alicia
Morrison Jones and co-owned with Jamie Souza Bartlett and
Suzanne. She is now currently nursing a litter, so the future
looks bright.
DIR: How did your interest in Afghan Hounds come about?
JD: I always loved Afghan Hounds. As a child, I would run
around my bedroom to the sound of Diana Ross singing “Baby
Love,” pretending to show a black one. True story. I can’t believe I told you that! How prophetic that turned out to be! All
my invisible childhood friends were dogs, LOL.
I had my first Afghan Hound in 1984. Her name was Harlextan Goldisox. Due to college, work and a transatlantic move,
I was unable to have another until 1993, when, simply out of
curiosity after browsing the pets for sale ads in the Boston
Globe one Sunday afternoon, I went to see a litter of puppies
from “champion parents.” As it turned out, it was Michael Liss
and Christine Ingalls and the second litter from Ch. Isameh’s
Lila Of Paladin, owned by dear friend Margarete Stanski.
When I arrived, they showed me a little black bitch who,
although finished, had been returned by a previous owner. My
childhood dream had come true! I took her home. Sired by
the legendary BIS-winning Ch. Elmo’s Tutankhamun, owned
by Peter Belmont, that bitch was my very famous multi-BIS,
multi-SBIS Am. Can. Berm. Ch. Paladin Fancy Pants Trinity,
‘C.C.’ Still the top-winning Afghan Hound bitch of all time in
Canada, presented by Carol Graham.
After a number of successful years breeding and showing,
I needed a break from the breed. Honestly, I never thought I
would own another Afghan Hound, but while judging my first
specialty assignment at the Afghan Hound Club of Dallas, I
was captivated by two stunning youngsters, half-siblings bred
in Germany of American descent and with an American sire.
They were bred by Stefan Boeick, and the owner was longtime friend and breeder Suzanne Neill of the famous Sura ken-
DIR: During those early Afghan days, you had a bit of a
reputation for over-the-top ads and a rather outrageous
persona. Was that deliberate self-marketing on your
part? Did you think the American dog show world took
itself too seriously?
JD: I guess I was unaware of my persona! I only know how to
be myself. After all, everyone else is taken, and what others
think of me is none of my business. I guess you are referring
to the “controversial” ad with the naked model and Afghan
Hound on the back cover of Afghan Hound Review, the reaction to which I found quite amusing. It was not a deliberate
strategy on my par t, but it sure worked because people saw it
and are still talking about it 20 years later. That issue sold out
fast. To me it was no different than a Calvin Klein underwear
ad, without the underwear! Actually I was thinking of re-creating a calendar with top handlers and their dogs in that same
pose perhaps to raise money for a canine cause. What do you
think? Any volunteers?
Left: Alicia
Morrison Jones
and multi-BIS,
multi-SBIS,
AHCA National
Specialty BIS
GCh.G Agha
Djari’s Eye Candy
Of Sura, ‘Katy.’
Above: James
with multi-BIS,
multi-SBIS Am.
Can. Berm. Ch.
Paladin Fancy
Pants Trinity,
‘C.C.’
DIR: As successful as you were in Afghans, you ventured into another breed, French Bulldogs. Why the
breed change?
JD: I was not actively looking for a different breed but often
thought it would be fun to have a wash-and-wear dog as a
contrast to the high maintenance of Afghans. I had actually
thought about a Boston Terrier. I was at a show in the fall
of 1996 and met Ann McCammon (Justamere), a longtime
Boston breeder, and we decided to have dinner together. I
went to collect her from her room, and this chunky cream
Frenchie baby who was making his debut came running out
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DOGS IN REVIEW
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