Meet the Breeds
Organized by the American Whippet Club's Cindy Scott, the AKC's Mary Dukes, and designed by Nysa Hill's Angie Diehl, The Whippet “Meet the Breeds” booth 2006-2007 at the AKC Eukanuba National drew many whippet fanciers and newbies alike to gather around our “fireplace” and settle in with our wonderful whippet ambassadors. The centerpiece of the AWC booth was a fireplace (electric for safety, but with logs afire and “flames” going). To the left were many whippet highlights of the past, along with the origins of the whippet. Featured were so many of the wonderful dogs and archival items from The AWC website – thank you David Howton for making such a wealth of material available.
To the right of the fire were recent and present whippet notables, plus whippet activities of all kinds from coursing to agility, from therapy work to conformation.
In front of the fireplace lay cushions, faux furs and suede, for the dogs and those who wanted to sit a spell with them. There was no shortage of whippet huggers; kids especially loved sitting near the hearth with the dogs. One boy said he wanted to “be a whippet” and promptly mimicked the sphinx pose of one of the dogs in the booth.
Many thanks to all who volunteered their time, their knowledge and their wonderful whippet ambassadors:
Christine DeClerk
Deann Christianson
Daniel Lockhart
Debbie Boyle
Linda Stewart of Endeavor
Nadine Pettit
Jo and Norm Rufing
Anita Imboden
The Mushens, TM Burmin (whose Ch Nobility Anne Boleyn Tivio JC won an AOM)
Rachel Amado
Eva Engvall
Richard Shimko
Patricia Shiner
Chuck Wilson of Nysa Hill
Angie Diehl of Nysa Hill
Each of the volunteers had something interesting to say about what happened during their shift. Jo Rufing had a wonderful chat with a man who’d just lost his beloved whippet of 14 years. Later that evening, as Jo watched the Groups, she realized that man was Hound Group Judge Mr. James G. Reynolds. Daniel Lockhart and Debbie Boyle were invaluable in providing many of the names of the featured whippet greats of the past, and sharing their encyclopedic knowledge of those greats. Jo Rufing brought myriad handouts, from whippet FAQs to rescue info and why one should (or should not) get a whippet. Also featured were the whippet books of Patsy Gilmour and Bon Bengtson, both of which got plenty of booth interest.
Feedback was positive from volunteers and whippet fans alike. One AKC booth judge stopped by to comment on our set-up; he liked our props, details and the calm temperaments of our wonderful dogs. It was terrific to see our community and whippet lovers of all kinds come together to make this a success.
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