282 — John Reeve-Newson: Be Kind and Show Good Manners
John Reeve-Newson: Be Kind and Show Good Manners
John Reeve-Newson graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1964 and soon after that returned to Toronto to establish The Animal Clinics One and Two, where he is still in active practice. He was also the founder of the Veterinary Emergency and Referral Clinic Partnership of Toronto, the first veterinary emergency clinic established in Canada.
In 2006, Reeve-Newson founded the Companion Animal Wellness Foundation, a registered charity that provides funding assistance for the treatment of the critically ill or injured pets of those financially disadvantaged. In 2014, he was made a Companion of the Order of Caring Canadians by the Governor-General.
Richard Meen and Am. Can. Ch Kishniga The Tempest, “Sebastian”
With Dr. Richard Meen, they established Kishniga Kennels in 1971. In 1977 Ch. Kishniga’s Desert Song, a Borzoi, bred by Reeve-Newson and Meen, and shown by Meen, was Canada’s top dog all breeds. The following year “Moustache,” as he was called, was exhibited in the USA and was number two hound in the USA. He is still the record holder for the breed with forty-seven all breed BIS in Canada and the USA to his credit. His brother “Dalgarth” was the youngest of his breed to win a BIS, which he did at nine months of age.
As a judge, Reeve-Newson remembers how he was treated as a newcomer and endeavors always to be polite and respectful of all exhibitors and dogs.
“Even if a dog isn’t good, (the dogs) don’t know it,” Reeve-Newson said. “They deserve as much of your attention as a great dog. They deserve to be treated with manners and politeness.”
Reeve-Newson will be judging at the World Dog Show in China next week. While the show venue has received criticism, Reeve-Newson believes in leading by example.
“You’re not going to change anything unless you go and show them a good example,” Reeve-Newson said. “Staying home yapping your mouth off isn’t going to do any good.
229 – Allison’s Insights from the World Dog Show
World Dog Show unites dog enthusiasts
Allison Foley talks with host Laura Reeves about the incredible spectacle that is the World Dog Show.
“The World Dog Show really does bring the dog world together in one place,” Foley said. She added that this year’s event in Amsterdam was particularly well attended by dogs and fanciers from North America due to the relative convenience.
“There are lots of direct flights to Amsterdam,” Foley noted. “The show allowed dogs to be shown that are legally docked in the country where they were bred, which was not the case in Germany last year.”
The World Dog Show in Amsterdam boasted an entry of just under 22,000 dogs. The enormous difference in numbers relative to North America led to tremendous depth of quality in every breed, Foley observed.
Quality throughout
“You’d watch a ring and there would be five dogs in a class that could win 25 Bests In Show,” Foley marveled. She also made the comparison that while North America groups rings are hyper competitive, even at smaller venues, they are rarely as deep in quality at the breed level.
At the World Dog Show, Foley opined, the breeds are so deep quality that the judges are less forgiving of even minor faults or failures of performance.
Written critiques
Written critiques are a frequently requested item in North America and are a requirement for every class placement at the World Dog Show. Each ring has three stewards, one of which is designated just for writing critiques.
Foley noted that in her experience, the Crufts written critiques are more in depth than most at WDS. She observed that many critiques she read were generic and not particularly breed specific.
Judging at WDS is fascinating, Foley remarked. She noted that many of the dogs with big predictions to win often don’t even make it out of the breed. Although she added that good dogs shine through, even in the enormous entries.
WDS 2019 in China
“This is a tough topic,” Foley said. “Dogs are not always treated well in China. There was a lot of discussion on this topic at this year’s show.
“As dog lovers, purebred dog lovers, any opportunity that we have to show dogs in a positive light as a companion or working animal to the public that isn’t educated that this is a thing is a golden opportunity. My job is to educate as many people as possible that dogs are wonderful companions and working companions. And that this is how we should humanely treat them for their entire lives.”
Allison adds her tip of the week from Leading Edge Dog Show Academy on keeping our dogs’ coats safe from sun damage.
And check out new tips from Show Dog Prep School, Trupanion and American Dog Fancier!