Above: Head
study of multiGroup, MultiSBIS, FBDCA
National
Specialty BIS
GCh. Haloridge’s
Cruisin The Open
Sea, ‘Tuggy.’
Above right:
Multiple Group
and Specialtywinning GCh.S
Fabelhaft
Robobull Tresor
Noir, ‘Treasure,’
and his 8-weekold grandson
Fabelhaft
Fortunato,
‘Lucky.’
72
DIR: And how did Japanese Chin come on the scene?
JD: Once again, I had no real plan to acquire a Japanese
Chin, though I always loved how they looked. I ran into an
old friend, Nanette Wright of We-Syng, who had been instrumental in helping with one of my top Afghan Hounds, multiBIS, multi-SBIS, Westminster BOB Ch. Fabelhaft Zoot Suit,
‘Corbu.’ Nanette was a longtime breeder of Chin, and I went
DIR: As with the Afghans, you began co-breeding the
to her home for lunch. At that time she had many Chin, as she
Frenchies with partners or associates. This is still not
was taking care of some for her partner, Patricia Mushrush,
that common here in the US, but it has been a successful
who had some health issues.
formula for you. What have you found to be the benefits
Among the sea of black and white, a pretty youngster
of such partnerships?
caught my eye. She was not yet finished and had only been
JD: Although I have co-bred litters primarily with bitches purshown a couple of times. I brought her home that day. My
chased from me, I really have only one partner in Frenchies,
very first Japanese Chin turned out to be Top 5 Toy dog,
Shelley St. John of Robobull. We have been first and foremost
multi-BIS, multi-SBIS GCh.G Pem Webest friends for many years and togethSyng Lucky Mi, ‘Mimi,’ who, after a
er created a strong recognizable type
stellar career with the incomparable
and look, and worldwide recognition
It’s great to have a
Nancy Martin, became and still is the
with the Fabelhaft Robobull dogs. It’s
top-winning Japanese Chin in the hisgreat to have a second set of eyes and
second set of eyes
tory of the breed. She produced three
opinions, and someone else to discuss
and opinions, and
homebred champion daughters from
ideas with and keep it real. We have not
someone else to
her first litter, and one of them was
always agreed, and we do not have to.
multiple Group-winning Am. Can.
In fact, I think that has only contributdiscuss ideas with
GCh. Fabel-Mi Lucky Star. ‘Madge’
ed to our success in the long-term. I reand keep it real.
was the Junior World winner in Milan
ally enjoy putting pedigrees and dogs
and BOS at the JCCA National Specialtogether, and I’m still as excited by a
ty, which was won by my other dog
beautiful puppy or outstanding youngco-bred with Marsha Ballard and handled by the talented
ster as I was when I first started. Little did we know when we
young handler Tara Richardson, multiple Group-winning
started that just a few short years later BIS, FBDCA National
GCh. Desert Jade Fabel-Mi Flying Dragon. We look forward
Specialty BIS, FBDCA Top 20 winner Am. Can. Ch. Robobull
to presenting Madge to the fancy next year.
Fabelhaft Im On Fire, ‘Bru,’ in 2010 would become the first
In my first five years with Chin, we have not only the
(and only to date) French Bulldog ever to win the Non-Sportbreed record holder but the No. 1 Chin last year, presenting Group at Westminster. He was handled by Perry Payson.
and up the hallway. I was smitten. I remember thinking, “I
don’t know what that is, but I want it.” That was multi-Groupwinning Ch. Justameres Dunkin’ F’r Apples, ‘Duggan,’ whom
I owner-handled to No. 1 (Pedigree award) in 1997. The rest,
as they say, is history.
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