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Thank you! Dr. Knight took over judge's and foreign visitors'
I would like to thank all of you who worked so hard to hospitality this year. Mike, it has never been better!
make PCA 2006 the best National Specialty Show, ever.
The Kingsley's and Lucille Perzan – what would we
So many commented what a good PCA this was; I as- ever do without you. All that silver polishing and
sured them that it was easy when everyone knows his book sales make our show glitter in sales and tro-
job and when everyone does his job so well. The show phies. Thank you for your hard work!
virtually runs itself.
Thanks again to all.
As always the Setup committee Chaired by Dennis
McCoy did an outstanding job of getting the exhibi- Richard Lehman
tors into the building in short order. Next year we plan Asst. National Show Chairman
that exhibitors will be able to claim and enter their set-
ups on Monday evening, thus, allowing Obedience Ladies and Gentleman,
judging to begin at 8 AM on Tuesday morning or when- The PCA Clinics were a roaring success.
ever Susie wants. Thanks, Dennis, Terri, Betty, Karen, Optigen had 61 blood draws and Neonatal En-
Kaz, Tony, Gail, Penny, Katy, and Jo Ann and every- cephalopathy had 31 draws.
one else who helped. You are a great team! There were no more swabs left for
AKC,DNA,CHIC Repository and UC Davis
The year that Bill Grace decided not to attend PCA Addison/Epilepsy research. Discounts were offered
had to be one of my most difficult years in getting the for OFA, forms were given, with a sticker,providing
show running smoothly. It just isn't possible to put on a 50% reduction for being connected with PCA.
PCA without the hard work of the Graces and Brad Furthermore, there was a discount given for Von
Noyes. Most don't know the countless hours that they Willebrands testing, again, associated with PCA.
put in each day. You are indispensable! Whew................
My committee, Angela Reigert (a saint) Gayle
Patty and Alice and Doug and Sam and their workers Roberson and Fran Rubinich, have my deepest ap-
do an incredible job with raffle and silent auction. Each preciation for all their hard work.
year they raise thousands of dollars for the Club. What I missed you all desperately. However, there is
a job you do! You are incredible! always 07.

Speaking of monies raised Nancy McGee out does Barbara Green (Delegate), last time I can use that
herself each year with shirt and pin sales, and Laz and refrain.
Aileen have better and better vendors each year. The
efforts of these three ladies basically paid for the beau-
tiful sod we had this year and MANY other things. MOVING?
PCA as we know it wouldn't be possible without your Please if you have moved please email me
hard work! Thank you!
your new address so I can update it to keep
How beautiful the rings were this year. Missy your you getting the Poodle Papers. I only get
imagination and creativity coupled with Steve's inter- one update a year otherwise so your
pretation were perfect. I know that you have diamonds issues of the Poodle Papers will drop if I
in your mind already for next years' 75th anniversary don’t have an up to date address on you.
show. I love working with right-brained people! Thank
Email lnewing@earthlink.net
you for your ideas, creativity, innovation and inven-
tion! Thanks.Leslie
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DIFFERENCES IN THE VARIETIES
My experience in training all three varieties of poodles
has brought the observation that each variety is unique,
and each variety has common traits, problems, and ad-
vantages that are specific to that variety. These com-
mon traits that might be of interest to a trainer who is
trying to decide which variety to select, or one who is
trying to make the most of the poodle he already has.
There is going to be a range of personalities in every
variety, and often in every litter if the litter is large
enough. Examples of these spectrums are what one of
my friends calls “stupid-friendly” all the way to shy,
bold to cowardly, dominant to submissive, bomb-proof
to sound-sensitive, and banking-off-the-walls energetic
to couch-potato lazy. Levels of pain sensitivity vary
greatly in every variety: some dogs require the equiva-
lent of a baseball bat to get their attention, and others
respond to the lightest tug on a leash. All are present in
every variety. It is up to the trainer to find the right
individual to suit his taste, training methods, and goals.
The traits that I want to cover are not the natural varia-
tion of these types of traits, but are traits that are often
specific to only one variety. Because this is a big sub-
ject, I will only tackle one variety at a time, starting
with…
TOYS
In my experience, toy poodles are the most difficult to
train and to compete with in the performance sports.
Although toys and larger poodles of toy breeding prob-
ably are the most popular of the varieties in the house-
holds of America, they are seen the least in the perfor-
mance sports. Trainers that choose to work with toys
have a level of determination and persistence that is
common only to them! This is not because toys are
dumb. Most are very clever. But toys tend to use their
intelligence to satisfy their own ambitions, not neces-
sarily those of their trainers.
Toys are the most persistent of the three varieties as
respects working to get their own way. The toy poodles
I have owned could figure out how to get every morsel
of food present in any house—unzipping training bags,
rifling purses, burrowing under crate mats, and open-
ing cabinets and food-bin doors. No amount of correc-
tion could dissuade one for long from his mission. (This
trait also made my toy poodles the best trackers of any
The Poodle Papers / Summer Edition
of the varieties I have worked with—a half-mile of
rough terrain was no deterrent for the possibility of a
treat.) Getting the toy poodle to be quiet when con-
fined, or when told to, is not a job for the faint-hearted.
It requires enormous determination and persistence.
Therefore, arranging circumstances to avoid the start
of problem behavior is always more successful than
trying to correct it once it starts.
Put the toys’ amazing ability to focus on what is im-
portant to them, together with the difficulties inherent
in training any tiny dog, and the toy trainer has his work
cut out for him. I believe toys are physically the tough-
est of the varieties. The level of correction needed to
cause a toy to change his mind about something he
wants to do is enormous. Many people believe toys
are sensitive because they start screaming at the tops
of their tiny lungs if their ear is tugged or the leash
popped. But it has been my experience that this is a
learned behavior, not a measure of their discomfort.
Most people quit correcting as soon as the dog squeals,
so the smart little toy will start shrieking if he thinks
the trainer is ABOUT to correct him, then go right on
doing whatever he wanted to do, whether sniffing the
ground or refusing to obey a command when he had
something he would rather do. So, a set of ear plugs
might take up a corner of the toy trainer’s bag. A change
in behavior should be the sign that the level of correc-
tion was adequate--not the number of decibels created.
Poodles, by and large, are a vocal breed, but I believe
toys are the worst, or at least the hardest to discourage
from it.
Because the trachea is so delicate in a toy poodle, and
collapsed trachea is a common problem in many toy
breeds, care must be taken not to put collar pressure on
the windpipe that results in wheezing and gulping be-
haviors. If traditional choke collars or even buckle
collars are used, the untrained energetic and determined
toy may keep lunging into the collar, then start gag-
ging. Because the dogs are so light, they go sailing if
the trainer tries to jerk the leash hard enough to get a
response. Because of these problems, I have success-
fully used micro-pinch collars when training toys, even
when training them for conformation. I use a sleeve of
a nylon material to slide over the collar to keep it from
tangling in the hair. The toys will quickly learn to re-
spect this collar, and will yield to the lightest pull on
the lead, avoiding the mechanical compression of the
trachea. These collars are also great hair-savers. Ob-
cont. on page 23
 Page 23
cont. from page 22 and may not get information from arm and body move-
ments that are out of his field of vision.
viously, pinch collars cannot be used in competition,
but I have never needed one beyond the very basic level
The toy trainer must remember that toy poodles look
of training when teaching the dog to respect the lead,
like fluffy toys or vermin to larger dogs. One must
quit sniffing the floor, and pay attention. One often
keep constant vigil at trials and training classes to be
sees toys (and other varieties) gaiting in the breed ring
sure his toy does not get jumped by a bigger dog. It
leaning on the collars, then gulping air and wheezing.
might be necessary to pull a toy poodle from a stay
I use a micro-pinch to quickly teach the dog not to do
group if a large dog nearby appears too stimulated by
this.
its presence.
Toys are close to the ground. Therefore sniffing and
Many people say that toys are more distractible than
getting distracted by smells are big problems for them,
the other sizes of poodles, but I have found that toys
and much proofing has to be done to dissuade a toy
are only distractible when doing something the trainer
from sniffing the ground or the surface of agility ob-
wants. They have perfect attention and focus when
stacles. Other problems in training toys involve the
performing tasks of their own choosing, such as per-
difficulty of teaching focal points when heeling. The
suading their owner to let them out of a crate, begging
toy is looking at legs going back and forth and trying
or waiting for a crumb to drop when someone is eat-
to figure out what to watch, whereas the larger dogs
ing, removing the squeaker from a toy, or trying to get
can watch a point on the upper body that does not keep
a choice chew bone from another dog. The successful
disappearing. Many trainers, especially portly ones,
toy trainer is the one who figures out how to make his
may not be able to see the dog at all when it is heeling
goal the dog’s goal. Toy poodles often lack what is
or fronting in the proper place. Toys notice everything
called a “desire to please” (working for the trainer’s
on the floor, from dots and chalk marks that the judges
approval) and a “work ethic” (work for the pleasure of
use in obedience, to legs of agility jumps that stick out,
it). They do have an amazing desire to please them-
and weave pole bases that they must jump over. It is
selves. They need a reason to work. They might work
often hard to be competitive in obedience with a toy
to avoid a correction, or they might work to get a re-
dog, as judges often do not know how to judge heel
ward, but they usually don’t work for the sheer joy of it
position on tiny dogs, and may not take them seriously.
(a trait one often associates with border collies), or just
to win the trainer’s approval (seen more often in min-
Terrain can be a problem for the toy dogs. Wrinkled
iatures and standards). This is not to say that they will
mats, tall grass, or uneven dirt are not a distraction for
not look happy and spirited when working, but to do
larger dogs at obedience and agility trials, but can dis-
so, they need a reason that is clear and present to them,
tract and slow down many toys. Some grass at outdoor
and they need strong leadership from their trainers.
shows (or PCA) is so tall it makes trotting difficult for
the toy, and every retrieve becomes a “blind retrieve”
I have talked about the problems associated with train-
as the tiny dumbbells disappear into the grass. One
ing toys, but have not touched on the advantages and
must teach the toy to keep going out to find gloves,
pleasures. Absolutely nothing has more crowd appeal
scent articles, dumbbells, and go-out targets, even
in a performance venue than a happily working toy
though they see nothing from their vantage point. Grass
poodle. The toy poodles that I have shown each drew
can often obscure the front edge of the broad jump,
their own fan base, who oohed, aahed, laughed, and
and the toy may not know he has arrived until he steps
clapped when they performed. Obedience judges of-
on the first board.
ten got so enraptured watching the cute antics that they
forgot to call their commands. It is impossible to show
When doing agility, larger dogs readily spot the next
one without smiling. No matter how naughty they might
obstacle on the course, and head to it if the trainer has
be, they ARE adorable. When I turned over my scent
given good directional information. The toy must be
articles, that looked like tinker toys, to the ring stew-
taught to move ahead with purpose “on faith,” as his
ards, they would start carrying on like people at a baby
natural field of vision ahead may only be 8 to 10 feet,
shower.
not the 15 feet or more that is usually between agility
obstacles. The toy often sees only the handler’s feet,
cont. on page 24
The Poodle Papers / Summer Edition
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cont. from page 23
Whats in a name?
Toys’ crates and training gear weigh little and take up
How did you come up with your kennel name you
little space. Agility and obedience obstacles can be
use? That question will be asked to breeders in each
miniaturized to fit small training areas. Toy poodles
variety for the Poodle Papers . This issue we have
easily fit under the airline seat. If competing in agility,
asked
the 8-inch class is generally the least populated, and
thus it is easier to win placements than in other size Toni Sosnoff- Atalanta
classes. (However, prepare yourself to get up early or Our company Atalanta specializes in money manage-
stay late. 8-inchers will likely be first or last at each ment, and took it's name from the Greek goddess who
agility trial!) Toys are often very resilient, and forgiv- ran the race for the golden apples. The imagery seemed
ing of handlers’ mistakes. Crowding while heeling is right for the dogs. A mythological figure floating effi-
never a problem with toys. They learn early in life to ciently through space with a dog at the end of the lead
get out of the way of moving feet. sort of fits the picture of running the race for the golden
apples.
Toys often make wonderful trackers, and they certainly
turn heads when they appear at the tests alongside the Debbie West-Westsong
big macho dogs, especially attracting attention when My kennel name is Westsong. I got my first standard
their talent becomes apparent. poodle from my sister and her kennel name was
Windsong, I think from a John Denver song. When I
I have found training toys to be rewarding and fun. The bred her I wanted my own name so I came up with
protective way that one feels about them due to their Westwyn. Obviously the West part came from my last
diminutive size stirs parental instincts and intensifies name and the wyn part was a play on the word win,
the dog/owner bond. And, darn it, they’re cute!!! and it sounded good. As time went on though my sis-
ter Donna and I coowned each poodle so it made little
Joann Neal sense to have two kennel name so we put our heads
and kennel name together and came up with
.....Westsong, a merging of sorts. Now my sister has
German Shephards and I carry on with the poodles, a
CORRECTION: HUNTING POODLE better choice I think.
TURNS SNICKERS INTO ADMIRATION
While I was delighted with the article about Go Mildred Bartlett-Maestoso
From the time I was very young I loved horses
Bang published in Poodle Papers Spring 2006 there
as well as dogs. I was lucky enough to have a riding
was an error I would like to correct. In the news- instructer from the Spanish Riding School of Vienna
paper article dated January 7, 2006 the writer mis- Austria, where the horses they breed and use are the
understood what I said. I told the reporter that we great white Lipizzans. To a kid of my age,the history
would like to continue the tradition of Master of the breed and the story of the hardships the School
Hunter with Bang, now that Pie and Nambe endured during World War II was very impressive. Since
(Bang’s father and grandfather) were retired. What I had great admiration for the ethics of their breeding
the reporter said was now that “Eileen Jaskowski” program, as well as the beauty of the horses, I thought
was retired. Eileen and her beloved poodles are I'd like to use the name of one of their foundation sires
going stronger than ever and she is most certainly as a constant reminder to always do my best for my
NOT retired. It was just one small line, in an ar- animals and my breed.
After some dialog with both my teacher, Ervin
ticle of hundreds of words, but I would not want
Lustig and the head of the Spanish Riding School, Alois
anyone to think Eileen won’t be a great supporter Podhajsky, I chose Maestoso since they both felt it was
of poodles in the field and I’m sure you will see the branch of the "family" they liked the best.
her and her poodles at hunt tests for many years to This year I turned 70 and I still feel the same
come! way. The name Maestoso continues to remind me to
Thank you. "keep the faith" with my original desire to do my best.
Mia DiBenedetto Guess I'm still a kid in that respect.
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 Page 25
THE POODLE CLUB OF Allen and Janet Kingsley manage and distribute
the videotapes of the Foundation programs. Their
AMERICA FOUNDATION help in this educational extension project is appre-
ciated.
People make good things happen and during the
2006 Poodle Club of America National Specialty Barbara Green organized a great committee con-
a lot of good things happened so The Poodle Club sisting of Angela Reigert, Gayle Roberson and Fran
of America Foundation has a lot of people to thank. Rubinich to conduct the very successful blood draw
I know I'm going to miss people, but my apologies clinic. Also, a special thanks to everyone who par-
in advance to those I omit. ticipated in any of the clinics offered during PCA.

Lynn Brucker gets special mention for her multi- Other people who deserve special mention include
year effort to maintain a Standard Poodle database. Pat Forsyth who has helped write a number of im-
Lynn has annually created databases that she do- portant articles that advance the work of the Foun-
nates to the Foundation and the Foundation sells dation. Helen Sokopp, who helps in so many ways,
to interested breeders. Lynn and Kathryn Foran this year learned the art of digital photography in
volunteer throughout PCA to explain and sell the order to help in the preparation of new brochures.
databases. Lynn has made an extremely impor- Mary Lebet and Sandy Marshall offered space in
tant contribution to Poodles with her database this year's advertising mailing for a fund raising
project. request by the Foundation. Glenna Carlson, PCA
Show Chair and Richard Lehman, Assistant Show
This year the performance events offered a raffle Chair were very accommodating when it came to
to support the Foundation. Judy Leister and Char- scheduling and executing PCAF events during the
lotte Mitchell along with a great committee put on busy PCA schedule.
a fun event in which everyone could participate.
Thanks to everyone who thought of the Founda- The officers and directors of PCAF come early and
tion and donated to the raffle. Judy also continued stay late to accomplish the work of the Founda-
her Dudley haircut event that benefits the Founda- tion. Their time, talent, and advice is greatly ap-
tion. preciated. This year the Foundation's board au-
thorized donations to the University of Wisconsin
The silent auction during the conformation event to help fund a 7 year study on rabies vaccine. They
was organized by Doug Chezem, Sam Crosley and also authorized additional donations to the Uni-
Connie Green. Jan Hopper regularly helps staff versity of California Davis to continue their work
the silent auction table. Thanks also to the many on Addison's disease and epilepsy.
people who donate items to the silent auction.
Of course, everyone who contributes to the Foun-
Every year, Mary Yeakey organizes the dation makes an important commitment to help-
Foundation's educational seminar on Monday ing improve the health of Poodles. Thanks to each
evening of PCA week. This year Dr. Thomas of you. Also, a special thanks to all of the scien-
Graves of the University of Illinois Veterinary tists and health professionals who work on the re-
College updated breeders on the most current in- search projects the Foundation funds.
formation on diseases and genetic defects that af-
flict Poodles. Special recognition goes to K9TV Michael Wahlig
and Mr. John Thornton for their efforts in taping
the Foundation programs and making them avail-
able to the Foundation.

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 Page 26
Obedience and Rally report:
This year marked a banner obedience and rally entry
with a total of 244. The best part about it is that we
were able to have 4 obedience and one rally ring going
at the same time so we finished with all judging before
5:00pm. We added several non regular classes this year,
including grad open, veterans, and versitility which
were well received. And once again, the Team compe-
tition had us in stitches, with one of the teams dressing
up to look just like their dogs. Although they didn't
win the competition, they certainly took first place for
creativity, and they definitely had the most fun!
Bill Huffman, Marie Huffman, Ken Nagler, and Evelyn
Vanuden were our obedience judges this year. They
and our most able stewards kept the trial moving smooth
and calmly. Thanks to all of them!!!!!!!! Our Rally
judge, Marilou McCloskey, had the largest entry, but
still was able to finish in a timely manner. She handed
out 3 perfect scores of 100 from the Advanced B class
and 2 from the Novice B class making it the most 100's
she had ever given at one trial. Actually she said she
had never given out more than one 100 at any given
trial she had judged in the past. She said the quality of
the dogs was exceptional and this was her very best
judging assignment ever.
Ann Mandelbaum handled the duties of the chief ring
steward like the pro that she is. Many of the stewards
this year were also competing so she had alot of jug-
gling to do. But due to her expertise, every ring had a
full panel of stewards at all times. She also took the
reservations for the obedience dinner and organized that
for us.
Once again our judges and stewards were in good hands
with Holly Schroth, our hospitality chairman. She pro-
vided drinks and goodies whenever needed to keep
everyone happy.
The performance raffle was in full swing during the
obedience and rally trial with lots of goodies to win.
All of the proceeds go to the PCA Foundation so it is
for a great cause. Thank you to everyone who worked
it and bought tickets for it.
The judges had beautiful flowers and gift baskets in
their rooms to greet them when they arrived and I se-
lected a personalized all weather clip board for each of
The Poodle Papers / Summer Edition
them as their judge's gifts. As many shows are out-
doors, these special clip boards will keep their paper-
work dry in the future.
The food was exceptionally good this year at our pasta
dinner at the end of the day. And the best part about it
was that we were eating by 5:00pm. Anyone that didn't
get to taste that chocolate mousse really missed out!
The biggest thanks goes to Glenna Carlson, the Na-
tional Show Chairman, for listening to me all year long,
taking my suggestions and making them a reality. Each
year our Trial improves and that couldn't happen if it
wasn't for Glenna's understanding and willingness to
make it work. Thank you Glenna!!!!!!!
The High in Trial winner was:
#17 OTCH Ridgewood Quintessence UDX, owned by
Tatiana M. Negro, with a score of 198++ from the Open
B class and winner of the 3 way run off for HIT. Tatiana
retired the Helene Whitehouse Walker Memorial Tro-
phy, established in 1972, by winning High in Trial for
the third time. She has graciously offered to donate the
next challenge trophy for us.
The High Combined winner was:
#17 OTCH Ridgewood Quintessence UDX, owned by
Tatiana M. Negro, with a combined score of 396.
The second highest scoring winner was:
#112 Sanew's Abundance of Energy MX MXJ CD,
owned by Shirley Barkan, with a score of 198+ from
the Novice B class. She was the second place winner
of the 3 way run off for HIT.
The highest scoring AKC breed champion was:
#78 CH Jax Minister of Magic CD, owned by Ann
Helm, with a score of 196.5 from the Novice B class.
There was no High Combined winner without an OTCH
this year.
Thank you everyone, for making this another success-
ful year! And now it's onto 2007!!!!!!!!!!!
Susie Osburn
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The Poodle Papers / Summer Edition