Welcome! - Kooikerhondje Club of the USA

Vol. 10, February 2014
Welcome!
Huck and Escher welcome you to the February 2014
Kooiker Chronicle! The Kooiker Year has gotten off to a lively
start, notwithstanding bitter cold and relentless snowstorms
over much of U.S. kooiker country. KCUSA dogs have appeared
at two Meet the Breeds and will be attending many more MTB
events and other shows in the next two months. A club member attended the AKC’s Legislative Delegate Meeting in Raleigh,
NC, in late January, and our club’s dogs have been busy acquiring titles and TV gigs. Read all about it! And meet two new
KCUSA kooikers, Escher, a hard-working office assistant in upstate New York and Huck, a prolific letter writer in Pella, Iowa.
It’s time to start planning ahead for the annual springtime
round of KCUSA officer nominations and elections, and for the
annual meeting and Club Specialty, which promises to be an
exciting two days of kooiker camaraderie at Purina Farms in
Gray Summit, Missouri, about an hour’s drive outside St. Louis.
Fill out your registration form and send it to Marilyn LeDoux,
and send your registration fee to Jac Knoop. Please refer to the
form for the addresses.
Huck (above) and Escher (below)
—Karen Dean, Editor
Kooker Chronicle | Volume 10 | February 2014
Contents
KCUSA’s Current Board Members
3
Club News: “What Are You Looking For?”
5
Legislative Delegate Meeting Report 7
Calendar of Upcoming Events
9
March 7, 8, & 9, Seattle Kennel Club’s Open Show and MTB, Seattle, Washington
March 29 & 30, sponsored by ICKC and April 5 & 6, hosted by UKC, Frenchtown, New Jersey
April 6 , Berks County Kennel Club Match & Obedience Show, Reading, Pennsylvania
June 7 & 8, KCUSA Specialty, Gray Summit, Missouri
Recent events
Allentown Meet The Breeds
12
Chicago Meet The Breeds
14
Articles
Kooikers Collecting Titles
16
Kooikers on TV: Brinker and I-Ron
18
Profiles
2
Huck in Iowa
19
Escher in New York
23
Greta in Missouri [Erratum]
25
A Tale of Two Gretas
KCUSA Officers and Board Members
2013-14 Board of Directors
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Director 1
Director 2
Director 3
Director 4 (shared)
Director 5 (shared)
AKC/UKC Liaison
President Jac Knoop
Jac M Knoop, Illinois
Scott Crockett, Michigan
Joyce Maxwell, Massachusetts
Linda Dean, Maryland
Sarah Krueger, Wisconsin
jac@amsincorporated.net
scottrcrockett@gmail.com
jenimimitu@yahoo.com
lsdean@verizon.net
sarahinpaca@charter.net
Daisy Martinez, Florida
Julie Voetberg, Washington
Lynann Lorenz, New York
Jennifer Methlie, Colorado
Laura Farischon, New Jersey
Rod Beckstead, Pennsylvania
daisym305@yahoo.com
ghanaway7@yahoo.com
xcallstar4@yahoo.com
jmethlie@comcast.net
hokfok@aol.com
birddogs@rcn.com
Vice President Scott Crockett
Treasurer Linda Dean
Kooker Chronicle | Volume 10 | February 2014
Director Daisy Martinez
Director Jennifer Methlie
AKC/UKC Liaison Rod Beckstead
Director Laura Farischon
Director Wendy Kreimer
Director Sarah Krueger
Director Julie Voetberg
Secretary Joyce Maxwell (in
orange) and Director Lynann
Lorenz (in front)
4
KCUSA Officers and Board Members
I
What Are You Looking For?
f you’re reading this, it’s a safe guess that you’re a
member of KCUSA and an admirer of kooikerhondjes. A
breed-focused club needs to address the interests of all
its members, and KCUSA is no exception. In the diagram,
President Jac Knoop sets out his vision of the dynamic
interactions among different specific interests within the
Kooiker world, all of which must be supported by KCUSA
activities. Breeders supply kooikers to competitors in the
Kooker Chronicle | Volume 10 | February 2014
agility and conformation show rings, who in turn supply
breeders with kooikers of demonstrated quality. Breeders
provide canine companions and retired breeding stock to
pet lovers, some of whom take retired breeders into the
show ring. As members of KCUSA, people with all of these
special interests come together.
To meet the needs of all these special interest groups,
KCUSA relies on members to volunteer their time, knowledge and skills. As we are still a relatively small breed club
with a widely scattered membership, there’s a fairly limited
population of people to recruit from. The good news is
that email, the Internet in general, and nationwide calling
plans make it possible to draw on the talents of the club’s
far-flung members.
Nominating candidates to run for positions on the Board of
Directors, and planning and managing the annual meeting
and specialty event rank among the most crucial yearly
tasks, and they call on club members to speak up about
what they want from the club and what they can provide
the club. Please think about what you would like to get
out of your membership: Meeting more kooikers? Learning the best ways to entertain and train your sensitive,
intelligent, loyal kooiker? Finding out about conformation,
performance, and competition events you and your dog
might enjoy? Getting to know other people who have been
bewitched by these captivating creatures?
And what might you give back to the club, within the
bounds of your life and other involvements? Perhaps you
know about maintaining databases or Websites, or you are
tied in with local dog events that could include kooikerhondjes if they don’t already. Or maybe you have experience in bringing your dog through some sort of training
or certification, and could share that experience with
other kooiker owners? Share your thoughts or questions
with people on the board—see page 3 in this issue of the
Kooiker Chronicle for your current board members, their
photos, and information for contacting them.
And finally, remember that in April a Nominating Committee will start to ask members to run for office, as an officer
or board member, for the year June 2014 through May
2015. You may offer to serve on the Nominating Committee, or put your own name up or suggest someone else
as a possible candidate. The election will take place at the
end of May and beginning of June, and the newly elected
Officers and Board will be announced at the annual meeting in St. Louis. Even if you don’t have time to get deeply
involved with KCUSA, please do join in the nomination and
election processes. Do it for the dogs!
KCUSA Board disucssing the upcoming annual specialty at Gray Summit near St. Louis, Missouri
6
What Are You Looking For?
2014 AKC Legislative Conference:
Fighting Anti-Dog Legislation
with Susan Jackson
T
he second American Kennel Club Legislative Conference drew more than 60 AKC Legislative Liaisons,
invited from around the U.S. to discuss strategies and
tools for fighting anti-dog legislation. The biannual conference met January 25–26, 2014 in Raleigh, North Carolina,
and provided legislative liaisons an opportunity to exchange ideas, discuss what was working in their states and
communities and share lessons learned with fellow dog
advocates from across the United States. KCUSA member
Susan Jackson, who attended the meeting, shares here the
takeaway message of this important force for dog advocacy and dog advocacy education. Susan is co-owner with
Betty Wathne of Kiss (Kim van de Jack Bull Hoeve).
It was an interesting and informative conference with
participants from all over the country. . . . The purpose of the conference was to provide tools and help
participants sharpen their skills to be better prepared
to fight bad proposals and counter misinformation.
Participants exchanged ideas, discussed what is working in their states and communities, and shared lessons
learned with fellow dog advocates from across the U.S.
There were lectures by AKC people, breeders, legislators, the national director of the National Animal
Interest Alliance (NAIA), and officers of several state
federations of dog clubs. There was a lot of audience
participation—many participants seemed to be active
in legislative and regulatory tracking. AKC urged participants to become advocates on behalf of dogs and
dog owners, and offered much support through the
Government Relations (GR) website.
Check out the website www.akc.org/governmentrelations.
On the Government Relations main page click on “Government Relations Toolbox” to access a broad range of resources available to help us be effective advocates. If you find
out about proposed legislation that would adversely affect
the rights of responsible dog owners and breeders, contact
GR at (919) 816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org.
Leaders at the local, state, and national levels made presentations and led discussions on subjects of concern to
all stakeholders in the dog-human relationship, and in the
relationship of the dog-owning population to government
at all levels and to society at large. The AKC plays a critical
role as an advocate for dogs and humans in these relationships, which are often complicated by ill-conceived or
well-meant but poorly drafted laws and restrictions. NAIA
is one of the AKC’s partners in tracking and interpreting
legislation, and the AKC and NAIA Websites share examples
of how the two organizations have worked individually
and collaboratively, to promote laws and programs that
strengthen the legal and social frameworks in which dogs
and humans coexist.
KCUSA members who breed kooikerhondjes will benefit
from the discussion of recent developments in interpretation of the 2013 Farm Bill (HR 2642), which potentially
poses disruptive and inappropriate restrictions on dog
breeders. Input from both AKC and NAIA is shaping the
impact of this legislation on purebred dog breeders, going
forward. An article on the AKC site and blog postings on
the NAIA site provide an overview of the problem and of
interpretations that reduce the possible adverse impact
of the bill. See http://www.akc.org/press_center/article.
cfm?article_id=5287, and http://naiaonline.org/blog/animal-policy/aphis-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/.
The GR Website provides links to resources for tracking
proposed and passed legislation that relates to dogs, and
refers the reader to further information on all these topics.
The AKC and NAIA depend on dog-lovers everywhere to
report on local developments that might need intervention
by the two major advocates for dogs and the people who
love them.
The speakers recommended two Websites especially
highly: The NAIA site (http://naiaonline.org) documents
the organization’s effort on behalf of its mission, which is
“. . . to promote the welfare of animals, to strengthen the
human-animal bond, and safeguard the rights of respon-
Kooker Chronicle | Volume 10 | February 2014
sible animal owners, enthusiasts and professionals through
research, public information and sound public policy.”
A second AKC-recommended Website, www.humanewatch.org , presents the ongoing discoveries of HumaneWatch, an organization founded 2010 with the aim of
thoroughly investigating the Humane Society of the United
States (HSUS). The introductory page of the HumaneWatch
blog reads
The dog-watchers at the Humane Society of the United
States (HSUS) need their own watchdog too. HSUS
now has an annual budget around the size of an NFL
payroll. It has become too big and too unaccountable.
Someone has to pay closer attention.
This blog is an attempt to make sense of what’s going on
inside that sprawling organization.
Is the Humane Society of the United States all good? All
bad? The truth probably lies somewhere in between. And
8
there are many conflicting assessments of its performance.
Articles posted on this Website explore in detail how HSUS
raises and uses money, how the organization supports
policies and practices that do not serve the best interests
of the animals it purports to help, and the extent to which
HSUS provides very little financial support to the shelters
it depicts in those heartbreaking television ads seeking
donations. The site explains many times, on many pages,
that HSUS does not run any animal shelters and that it
does, in fact, channel less than 1% of its budget to the support of local shelters. Please note, neither the AKC nor the
HumaneWatch Website mentions the American Humane
Association (AHA) in positive or negative light. It would appear that the best way for concerned dog lovers to benefit
dogs would be to donate time, needed goods, or money to
local shelters, rather than to large organizations that claim
to help dogs.
2014 AKC Legislative Conference: Fighting Anti-Dog Legislation
Upcoming Events
H
Calendar of Upcoming Events
ere are some events in which KCUSA and our dogs
will be participating or competing in the next several month. Members in the area are always welcome
to join the fun. In fact, we depend on members coming out
to help with Meet the Breed (MTB) events where we have
the opportunity to introduce “the little red and white dog
with the big heart” to the North American public.
March 7, Seattle, Washington
Seattle Kennel Club Open Show and MTB
KCUSA will be represented at the Seattle Kennel Club’s
Open Show on March 7. The premium and additional
information can be found on the website of the host club,
Hungarian Pumi Club of America (http://www.pumiclub.
org/).
We will be at the SKC’s Meet The Breed event on March 8
and 9, from 8am to 6pm. Find out more about this show at
the SKC’s website (http://www.seattledogshow.org/).
Both are at Centurylink Event Center in Seattle, and everyone is welcome to participate in either event.
Be an ambassador for the breed: Contact us (email us at
g.m.wetzel@gmail.com) to help man the Meet The Breed
booth with your kooikerhondje (for however long or short
a time you can give) and meet other kooiker lovers as well.
Kooiker pups delighted to find another dog “just like me” at a recent Meet the Breed event.
Kooker Chronicle | Volume 10 | February 2014
March 29 and 30, April 5 and 6,
Frenchtown, New Jersey
During the next month, there are eleven (yes count ’em)
eleven dog shows in New Jersey that kooikerhondjes may
participate in. All will be in Frenchtown, New Jersey.
Seven will be on March 29 and 30, sponsored by ICKC
(International Canine Kennel Club) (our fellow host for our
specialty near St. Louis).
Four (yes count ’em) four will be on April 5 and 6, hosted
by UKC (United Kennel Club).
Lots of opportunity to get the kooikers seen and to win
points and titles.
The ICKC shows offer the International Championships and
Intercontinental Championships. The dogs are judged and
rated against the standard and are judged with the others
in the ring.
Frenchtown is a very quaint town on the banks of the Delaware River, features great little shops, food and simple fun.
There are some nice motel facilities in the area also.
I will be there for all 11 shows and invite everyone to join
with us. We can have one big Kooiker Ball. Please let Marta
and me know if you can enjoy with us. Call 610 739 2822
or e-mail Birddogs@rcn.com.
* FSS, or Foundation Stock Service, is an AKC category for
breeds still becoming established in the United States.
Kooikerhondjes are currently in the FSS category.
Coming Up!
June 7 and 8, Gray Summit, near St. Louis, Missouri
KCUSA 2014 Specialty Show and Annual Club Meeting
Come and spend the weekend with us in Gray Summit, MO
and meet other kooikerhondjes and kooikerhondje owners. Have lots of fun and camaraderie, good food and great
discussions. Learn more about our wonderful four-footed
friends.
This event is held at Purina Farms, the same venue as the
ICKC Premier Shows Weekend.
Any AKC or UKC registered dog (including AKC-FSS registered) can show at any of the 6 other ICKC shows this
weekend. Some of our members have already registered
with ICKC to have some fun at this ICKC Premier Show. Entry for the ICKC Shows needs to be done with ICKC directly
and information for that will follow.
Book your motel rooms a.s.a.p. Hotel & motel listings can
be found on the PURINA website (http://www.purinafarms.com/media/331466/Lodging.pdf).
—Rod and Marta
April 6, Reading, Pennsylvania
Berks County Kennel Club
Kooikerhondjes are invited: April 6 match and obedience
show in Reading, Pennsylvania
The Berks County Kennel Club is holding an AKC-sanctioned Match & Obedience Show on Sunday, April 6 at the
Reading, Pennsylvania, 4H building.
This is the first time FSS breeds* are welcome at the show.
Let’s make a statement by getting as many kooikerhondjes
to participate as we can. This is a fun match and will be
good experience and practice leading up to our annual
specialty. Let’s show the AKC this wonderful breed.
KCUSA’s own Sally Birgl will be there with her kooiker,
Suusje.
For more information about this show see the BCKC Match
Flyer (http://www.kooikerhondjeusa.org/wp-content/
uploads/2014/02/BCKC-Match-Flyer1.pdf). If you plan on
attending contact Sally (sbdelite@hotmail.com) or Lynann
(xcallstar4@yahoo.com).
10
Calendar of Upcoming Events
KCUSA will offer the following events exclusively for our
group:
• Classes in showing your dog
• Our Annual Meeting and elections and Specialty
Show
• What is a Kooikerhondje? (Speaker)
• Barbeque luncheon
• Kooiker paraphernalia sales point (t-shirt/caps/calendars/kooiker things)
• Kooiker friendship
Please pre-register for our Specialty Show on June 7 with
forms found on our website (http://www.kooikerhondjeusa.org/events/) for adult dogs (over 18 months of age)
or puppies (under 18 months of age).
Included in the registration fee is a professional photo sitting for your Kooikerhondje and its boss (1 photo included).
If you wish to show your dogs at the ICKC shows this weekend, they must be registered with AKC or UKC. This can
be done on the AKC website or UKC website. Open tab for
Registrations, then download the forms, fill them out and
mail them in. Instructions are on the form. You will need
your pedigree and three photos of your dog. There is a fee.
Your dog does not have to be registered with the AKC, UKC
or any other organization to participate in our own, KCUSA
Annual Specialty Show.
Keep up with the latest details by:
• Visiting KCUSA’s website often
• Visiting our Facebook page: Nederlandse Kooikerhondje Club of the USA
• Contacting Jennifer (jmethlie@comcast.net) or
Lynann (xcallstar4@yahoo.com).
• If not yet a member, become one (kooikerhondjeusa.org/membership/) to get our mailings
Calendar of Upcoming Events
Forms to pre-register for our annual specialty
* I’ll be there with my adult dog (over 18 month of age).
Use this form: http://www.kooikerhondjeusa.org/wpcontent/uploads/2014/02/Grey-Summit-2014-Adult-RegForm.pdf
* I’ll be there with my puppy (less than 18 month of age).
Use this form: http://www.kooikerhondjeusa.org/wpcontent/uploads/2014/02/Grey-Summit-2014-Puppy-RegForm.pdf
* I’ll be there without a dog.
Use this form: http://www.kooikerhondjeusa.org/wpcontent/uploads/2014/02/Grey-Summit-2014-no-dog-RegForm.pdf
Send your registration form to: ledoux@yhti.net. Fees
need to be mailed to the club at:
KCUSA
P O Box 57
Ogden, IL – 61859
Lodging
* I want to book lodging.
Check here for a list of hotels, motels, and campgrounds
in the area: http://www.purinafarms.com/media/331466/
Lodging.pdf
If you would like to stay in a block of rooms in the same
hotel as many other kooiker families, the final date to book
such a room is Sunday, March 2, so contact Ann at ann@
kooikeriserman.com immediately.
11
Feature Stories
Events
F
Kooikers Have Their Day in Allentown
ifteen intrepid kooikerhondje lovers and their eight
kooikers braved late January snow flurries to attend
the premier Lehigh Valley Dog World Expo Canine
Learning Experience at the fairgrounds in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, January 25. KCUSA board member
Lynann Lorenz coordinated publicity and logistics for kooikers attending the wintry event, and Rod Beckstead shared
his years of experience at the annual gathering. The Allard
family came from Ontario, Canada with Elf (Manusia’s
Wailey-Wieke); Mary and Ed Andrews came from New Jersey with Holly Rose (Amazing Zoe Achteraf); Rod and Marta
Beckstead and I-Ron (I-Ron
Ravenswood von Wichtelhaus) and Sally Birgl and Sushi (Suusje) came from nearby Pennsylvania; Philip and
Sheri DeJan brought Escher
(Noah’s Escher) from New
York State; Barb and Wayne
Ritenour brought Tosca
(Manusia’sTosca-Tootske) and
Daisy (Noah’s Daisy) from
Maryland; Roseanne Rokosz,
Dean Iaiennaro and their
son came from Connecticut
with their Cedrick (Amazing
Arnhem van den Iserman
Hoeve); and organizer Lynann When do we get our turn?
Lorenz came from upstate New
York. Lynann deserves a hearty “thanks” for her efforts.
This was the 37th Canine Learning Experience, an annual
event that allows owners to showcase their dog’s breed
to prospective dog owners interested in learning about
different breeds and seeing which will best fit their lifestyle. Vendors sold art, jewelry, clothing, pet supplies and
toys, and dog health clinics offered health information and
testing. The Becksteads and Sally Birgl have attended the
Canine Learning Experience many times, and the Ritenours
attended last year, but the other kooiker families had come
for the first time this year.
The participants shared their observations on the event.
Barb Ritenour: This was the second time we attended the
Allentown dog show. This time we came on Friday and
Wayne and I helped set up the booth along with Rod and
Marta and Sally. We brought Tosca and Daisy with us. On
Saturday the dog show had a “Parade of Breeds” in the
morning. Wayne had Tosca and Marta had I-Ron. That
brought about lots of interest. Later there was a Puppy
Class and Daisy and the Rokosz’s puppy Cedrick participated. Escher and Daisy played
in the play pen that Rod
brought. We left Saturday
afternoon. It had started to
snow and we had to drive
home that day. All in all it
was a very enjoyable time.
Lots of people stopped by
to find out about the breed.
Sally Birgl: I recently
obtained my first Kooiker,
Sushi (Suusje) in November.
I have been showing dogs
for over 30 years. I am a
judge and I tattoo dogs.
This was the 12th year I
attended Canine Learning in
the capacity of tattooist. Prior
to the show, I invited a few other Kooiker owners to visit
my booth and was amazed at those that did stop by, and
by the general public that stopped and asked about Sushi
when I had her out. Set up for the booth was on Friday
afternoon with five people helping. No one was interested
in being top dog and everyone listened to the suggestions
of the other. I haven’t seen that kind of team work in a
long time.
Mary Andrews: We had a great time. I was impressed with
the way Rod set up the booth. There were banners along
Kooker Chronicle | Volume 10 | February 2014
instructions. We had never been to a
MTB show before. The booth was very
attractive with the tulips, windmill and
brochures. We were introduced to the
people there. They were all so friendly.
We talked to people interested in the
breed and heard owners’ stories about
their pups and shared our stories.
Elf is our eleventh dog. “Elf” is Dutch for
eleven. We imported her from the Manusia kennel when she was ten weeks
old. She is our first kooiker. I am waiting
to hear from a breeder about another
litter as I would like a second female.
We have bred poodles and had a Doberman. All are or were female dogs with
only two having been neutered. There
are very few kooikers in Canada and we
thought this would be a good breed to
promote.
Marta (behind the sign) with I-Ron and Wayne with Daisy represent kooikerhondjes
in the Breed Parade
Sheri DeJan: We had never attended a
the back wall with tables in front. The tables were covered
with floor length tablecloths with burlap runners, yellow
tulips and a small windmill. Hidden under the tables were
dog crates. In the front Rod had a small table for one dog
to stand on and meet people. There was also a small pen
off to the side for a few other dogs. I thought it made a
great impression for people visiting the booth and it was
very nice for the dog owners.
My husband and I both attended Muhlenberg College in
Allentown, and we used to walk to the farmers’ market, in
the Fairgrounds, every weekend. The local farmers, many
of whom are Pennsylvania Dutch, sell a wide selection of
cheeses, meats and baked goods. It was a lot of fun going
back there for lunch during the event.
Although the Jacob Javits show was much larger, I think I
preferred the Allentown show. It was easier to walk around
and many of the same vendors were there. Holly even got
her nails cut for free. I did not attend any of the classes because we were concerned about driving home in the snow.
But I would like to go again next year.
Sue Allard: We enjoyed the Meet the Breeds experience.
We drove from an hour north of Toronto, Ontario, to Allentown, PA, in about eight and a half hours. The drive
was good, without incident, the dogs were good except
for chewing the leash. My GPS stopped talking to us on
the way to the arena in Allentown and it took us almost
an hour to find the place. Rod Beckstead waited at the
door all that time and helped us when we called him for
Kooikers Have Their Day in Allentown
Meet the Breeds, nor been to a learning experience and
health clinic before. This event was nicely informative and
lots of fun, different from and more relaxed than a typical
dog show. We met many nice people and had the time to
talk with them. We watched the agility clinic.
Rod Beckstead was a lovely host and really taught us new
kooiker owners a lot.
13
Events
Feature Stories
S
Kooikerhondjes Blow into Chicago to
Meet The Breeds
ix KCUSA members and four kooikerhondjes spent an
hour at Chicago’s enormous expo hall, McCormick
Place-Lakeside, where the International Kennel Club
of Chicago hosted a Meet The Breed event on Saturday,
February 22. Jac and Ann Knoop brought Wicky (Amazing
Queen Achteraf) from Homer, Illinois; David Mattix and
Cheryl Short came from Valparaiso, Indiana, with Kylan
(Redgold’s Dream Lover) and Kallie (Vonlin’s Hard Days
Night); and Christina and William Whipple brought Remy
(Amazing Amstel van den Iserman Hoeve) from Glen Ellyn,
Illinois.
During the hour allotted to KCUSA, the four kooikers made
many new friends, showing Chicago dog-lovers what
special dogs they are. Cheryl Short and Christina Whipple
reported on their MTB experiences.
Cheryl Short: This was our first Meet the Breed. I had attended the IKC in previous years as a spectator. So it was
nice to return for this function.
David and I live in Valparaiso, Indiana. Our family, Kallie
and Kylan (and Killian our rescue Yorkie) reside along Lake
Michigan and about 40 minutes outside of Chicago. We enjoy the perfect mix of Chicago with the beautiful national
parks of our northwest Indiana.
Christina and William with Remy
We enjoyed our experience at MTB. It was great to be able
to speak to other dog enthusiasts about our terrific and
versatile breed. The interest shown by the many attendees
was remarkable. Our dogs had a wonderful time—roughly
90 minutes of nonstop petting and massage!
The most frequently asked question was “How do you
say it?” It was nice to have the authentic pronunciation
demonstrated repetitively by the Knoops. The second most
popular question was “What were they bred for?” followed by questions of health and temperament. It was a
great event! Even if David wouldn’t let me stay to shop for
new harnesses and leads!
Busy booth!
Christina Whipple: This was our first MTB and our first
dog show; it was Remy’s first time to attend anything like
Kooker Chronicle | Volume 10 | February 2014
Jac K. with Wicky and Cheryl S. with Kylan (or is that Kallie?)
this as well! The Chicago MTB at McCormick center was
easy to get to. We had about a 40 minute drive from the
suburbs, and parking was clearly marked. When we arrived, we followed the crowd of people inside and all the
signs pointing to the dog show. Remy was very curious to
see where he was going and very excited to see other dogs
around, too. It was a pretty busy place with people getting
their dogs ready to show and others walking around to
various booths and MTB areas. Once we found the Kooikerhondje MTB booth, Remy got to see his sister and some
other Kooikerhondje friends. He didn’t have much time
to greet them before people started arriving at our booth
to greet the pups and ask questions. All the people were
very friendly, and immediately when they saw our Kooikerhondjes, they broke into a smile. The most common
question of the day was, “How do pronounce this breed?”
Other questions asked were about how big Kooikerhondjes
usually get, what their temperament and activity level are
like, how they typically get along with other pets, and how
much they shed. You could tell that many people walked
away with a new-found interest for the breed. Our six
month old Remy had an amazing socialization experience
with people of all ages, from children to older adults along
with other dogs and lots of new sights and smells!
Ambassadors for the breed
It was fun to see you all this weekend!
David M. with Kylan and Kallie
Kooikerhondjes Blow into Chicago to Meet The Breeds
15
Titles
Feature Stories
C
KCUSA Kooikerhondjes Are Collecting Titles!
ongratulations to the US kooikers who have been claiming titles in conformation and performance rings around
the country. This list focuses on dogs with earned titles, and does not include dogs in the process of accumulating
points toward their championships. Are you unfamiliar with all these titles, abbreviations, and competitions? Take
heart! The April Kooiker Chronicle will introduce you to the mysteries of the ring and all those abbreviations. The humans
and dogs listed here deserve credit for the hours of dedicated work that each title represents.
Please be sure to let the Kooiker Chronicle know when your dog has passed a ring milestone, and drop an email about it
to karenldean@yahoo.com. We plan to make this listing a regular feature.
Rod B.
“I-Ron”
Allentown, PA
INT/UKC CH and Intercontinental
Champion I-Ron Ravenswood von Wichtelhaus
Tulay D.
“Blaze” Naples, FL
INT CH Amigo Dog from Wonderland NAJ NA
Kathy K.
“Halle”
Appleton, WI
UKC GRAND CH URO1 UNJ UAGl
Vonlin’s Bronze Stardust BN RA CD GN NA NAJ NAP NJP NJ-R TDI RATI RATN CGC
INT/UKC CH Ambermoon Christmas Star RN BN NAJ NA CD RATI RATN CGC
“Josie”
Sarah K.
Waupaca, WI
“Duncan Brendel” UKC CH CA URO1 Ambermoon’s Roller Soaker CA CD BN RN NA NAJ CGC
“Gibson”
Oorbellen Mel RN
Jennifer M.
“Brinker”
Fort Collins, CO
UKC CH Ambermoon’s Brink of Superbowl Dreams CDX CD BN RA RN CGC
Rose S.
“Yorick” “Hamlet”
Harrisonburg, VA
Rosewood’s Germanic CGC
Taga’s Quarto Hamlet, Prince of Denmark CGC
Debra T.
“Jacey”
Loves Park, IL
Ambermoon’s Amazing Starfire CGC RN URO1 NJP NAJ
Deborah V.
“Evan”
St. Louis, MO
Multiple BIS UKC GRCH URO1 UAGI Taga’s Balder Ambermoon Evan RN BN CGC NA OAJ
TBAD TG1 CL1
Kooker Chronicle | Volume 910| |December
February 2014
2013
Gallery
I-Ron
Blaze
Halle
Josie
Duncan and Gibson
Brinker
Jacey
Evan
Yorick and Hamlet with Canine Good
Citizen caps
In Memorium,
KCUSA
Kooikerhondjes
Greta “MoMo”
Are Collecting
KooikerTitles!
17
Feature Stories
I
Is That a Kooiker on Your TV?
s that a Kooiker on your TV? It just might be, if you
live in DEX phone book territory, or Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Jennifer Methlie reports that UKC CH Ambermoon Brink
of Superbowl Dreams CDX CD BN RA RN CGC (Brinker to
his friends) has been recruited to appear in a television
commercial about how to find a vet, on behalf of the DEX
phone book. Here’s hoping Jennifer can give us permission
to share the video when she receives it in the near future!
Jennifer and Brinker live in Colorado and as yet don’t know
how widely Brinker’s ad will be broadcast.
Brinker was photographed by McCartney at the mid-February dog show in Denver, Colorado. Here’s a McCartney
action shot of Brinker.
Brinker in action in Colorado
Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania Rod Beckstead and INT/UKC
CH and Intercontinental Champion I-Ron
Ravenswood von Wichtelhaus (you likely know him as IRon) have been invited to appear on television on Tuesday,
March 4 in Reading, Pennsylvania. The Berks County Kennel Club sponsors a cable TV show “All about Dogs,” that
features up and coming breeds. Rod is looking forward to
the TV appearance, as he and I-Ron will be attending some
local dog shows on the weekend after their TV gig. Perhaps
Rod will be able to share some footage of I-Ron’s guest appearance.
Shake a paw, Brinker and I-Ron!
I-Ron will bring his winsome demeanor to TV in eastern Pennsylvania
Kooker Chronicle | Volume 910| |December
February 2014
2013
Member Profiles
W
Huck van Hemert, Budding Diarist
hen Amazing Axel van den Iserman Hoeve left
his mother Evie in Illinois, became Huck van
Hemert, and moved to Pella, Iowa, with Stan
and Judi van Hemert, he still wanted to stay connected
with his original family. The smart lad he is, he figured out
how to use Mr. Stan’s computer to send newsy emails to
Evie, his original kooiker family, and his original bosses.
Huck, Stan, Judi, Evie, Jac and Ann have agreed to share
Huck’s accounts of his earliest adventures in Iowa, and his
first few months of email are reproduced at the end of this
profile.
The van Hemerts are life-long avid readers and dog lovers. Over the years, they’ve had a Havanese, a blue merle
sheltie, and a Bernese mountain dog. They bred their
Havanese three times and are open to breeding kooikers,
once Huck and any other kooiker they acquire has met the
breed’s health and soundness standards. Stan is adamant
that he doesn’t want to breed a dog unless he can im-
Huck with “Mr. Stan”
prove the breed–he will not breed dogs with defects. Stan
researched the kooikerhondje for more than five years,
including corresponding with a leading kooiker judge in the
Netherlands.
By the time Judi and Stan were ready to adopt a new dog,
they knew they wanted a kooikerhondje. They wanted a
Dutch dog, loved the kooiker’s beautiful look, disposition,
and its size (“smaller than a Berner”). Last fall, when the
time came to find a kooiker, Stan Googled “kooikerhondje”
and found Iserman Hoeve Kennel, which still had one puppy from Evie’s August 23, 2013, litter. Stan claimed naming
Kooker Chronicle | Volume 10 | February 2014
rights on the kooiker puppy, declaring that “Huck is a good
manly name.” Should Huck prove to be of breeding quality,
Judi holds naming rights on Huck’s future wife, who will be
called “Heidi.”
Huck loves playing with the van Hemert grandchildren,
and with their son’s sheltie, who is generally slow to warm
up to Huck, but who ultimately plays with him vigorously.
As Huck’s email shows, he’s still getting to know different
kinds of dogs. Stan and Judi hope that Huck will be certified as a therapy dog when he’s older.
Young Huck’s favorite toy right now is a piece of deer antler, which he chases joyfully across the floor. He’s also fond
of empty water bottles, among other toys, and he loves
going for walks with Stan. He delights in snow, especially
in sticking his head into clumps of snow-covered grass.
Another favorite amusement is the toy on the end of a
six-foot bungee cord that Stan attached to the ceiling. Huck
spends happy hours bouncing the toy around, capturing it
and bouncing it some more.
Huck’s daily diet is based on Stan’s long-held belief that
it is healthier—and more interesting for the dog—to eat
varied foods in the course of the day, the month, and year.
He phases different foods into and out of Huck’s daily fare,
feeling that the different compositions of different foods
provide greater variety in nutrition and help protect Huck
from possible contaminants that could be more of a problem if Huck ate only one kind of food day in and day out.
Stan describes himself as having been “an entrepreneur,” a
drilling contractor among other things, for most of his life.
He says he tried to retire a few years ago and hated it, but
he didn’t want to return to all the paperwork and aggravation of running a business. So he went to work for the city
of Pella, driving a sanitation truck and enjoying the work,
which doesn’t involve record-keeping and filing forms. Judi
has a cottage industry, making Bible history timeline bracelets that help their wearers remember Biblical history.
And, as Huck reports, Judi is renowned for her legendary
homemade healthy natural dog biscuits. Rumor has it she
plans to bring a supply of them to the Specialty in June.
See you there!
And now meet Huck, the budding Kooiker diarist!
================================================
On Oct 29, 2013 8:27:12 PM CDT, Huck wrote:
Huck’business outside. Boy it is really easy to please
humans. They said I had to stay in my kennel all the way
home but quess what!! They took me out within 5 miles.
You taught we well on how to get my way. Thanks, Huck
20
Huck at home
======On Oct 30, 2013, at 10:11 AM, momma Evie wrote:
Dear Huck,
I knew I trained you well, your momma Evie was enjoying all her snacks from the big box. Jac and Ann were
so jealous they said only the dark rye bread would be
left, because the delicious speculaas and amandel spijs
would all be gone, the kooikers were having some kind
of a party all because of Huck leaving. Huck we miss you
already, you were momma’s best boy, all the others were
such troublemakers at least you are close by in Pella IA
so we can visit.
Love, momma Evie and the clan.
==========On Oct 29, 2013 8:27:12 PM CDT, Huck wrote:
Hey mom. I slept last from 9 to 5 and I’m so proud of
myself. Their grandson Blaize came over today and I
overheard him say I was so smart. That made me feel
good. I played hard today with my new mom and Mr.
Stan came home and we played so hard. Mom took me
outside around 3. She takes me outside about every
hour and a half. She was getting ready to take me
outside at 4:30 but I beat her to it and did my number
1 business on the carpet. They took me right outside
but I was empty and when they brought me back in the
house I now know what they are talking about. “THE”
box wasn’t fun. I had to stay in there for an hour and a
half and when they took me outside I did my business
right away and I didn’t have to back in “THE” box. Maybe
humans can’t be fooled so easy. I have an appointment
In Memorium,
Huck van Hemert,
Greta “MoMo”
BuddingKooiker
Diarist
with their vet on Friday afternoon. I promise I will be
good and make them proud. Something I overheard
while my new mom was making the appointment. Mom
had to explain what a Kooiker was and they looked it
up on google while they were talking and I think they
are anxious to see one. Are we that unusual? I felt like I
was just normal at your house but people seem to be a
little uneducated here I must go now. I think Mr. Stan is
coming and I don’t want him to know that I’m using his
computer.
Love you, Huck
PS sometimes my paws hit the wrong letter
==============On Oct 31, 2013, at 4:05 PM, Huck wrote:
Hey Mom, Why do I scratch myself so much here. My
skin just itches all the time. I’m going to see my new doc
tomorrow. What should I tell him about this?
I was kinda lazy this morning maybe because I got up so
early. Now I sometimes tear around the house and they
laugh at me. You don’t think they are making fun of me
do you?
I’ve been good haven’t had to spend time in “THE” box.
When Mr. Stan gets home we sure play hard but he
doesn’t like that I like to play with my mouth. He’s gives
me little slaps with a finger when I bite him. I think I’m
catching on. He told me that his boss was coming over
Sunday afternoon and they are having apple crisp. Is
that as good as Jaarsma stuff? His boss has twin boys
maybe 18 months old, maybe that is why he doesn’t
want to play with my mouth.
Last night I had a wonder dream. It was about you and
Jac. Will I always remember you? I hope so. That was a
fun part of my life
Oh Oh I hear Mr. Stan coming.
Bye and I love you. Huck
======On Oct 31, 2013, at 10:13 AM, momma Evie wrote:
Dear Huck,
How awful that you had to spend time in the box, but
I hope you took it as a man, whine, cry and wine some
more. Make sure your new mom and dad do not visit
this good Frisian bakery Jaarsma too much, you better
take them on long walks, because if I was there, I would
be round as a ball. That speculaas with the coffee tasted
soooo good, tonight I will try one of those delicious rolls.
Did you know one of your forefathers Pieter Stuyvesant
actually started New York, he was one of those brave
Frisians, the country where Tommy your very great
great grandmother came from. You better make sure
that your new parents know how important the little
In Memorium,
Huck
van Hemert,
Greta
Budding
“MoMo”
Diarist
Kooiker
kooiker is and was in the olden days, when they kept
people alive by luring those ducks into traps. Nowadays
you just have to be a kooiker and educate your veterinarian that you do not want any more shots but would
like to get all the treats that you could want. Mr. Stan is
probably really proud of you, your spelling is immaculate, do you use spell check a lot otherwise ask mother
Judi, she will teach you the right way. Spoke to brother
Nico in NC, he is loving it there and sends his regards.
Lots of love, Momma Evie
PS No more business on the carpet otherwise momma
Evie will come and teach you a lesson :)
==============On Nov 2, 2013, at 6:27 PM, Huck wrote:
Hey mom, I meet Dr. Brad yesterday and didn’t like him.
He took my temp. And I yipped, howled and made such
a loud cry I think it was heard in the next county. I felt
so violated and I let everyone know. After that he let me
kiss him all over the face and he told me he was sorry
but that had to be done and I kinda forgave him but we
will see. He noticed that I was scratching a lot and asked
me to ask you if any of my litter mates had the same
condition. Other than that Dr. Brad said all was well. I
gave him my microchip info. He wants to see me again
in 4 weeks to continue my puppy shots. I got mom (the
new one) up this morning at 4:30 and did both business but I was bad I did #2 business again in the house
within an hour. Mom I mean the new mom wasn’t upset
at all. I think it was because she was making a lemon pie.
We brought that lemon pie to Grandma Van Hemert’s
house this afternoon and I made friends of them. I was
on my best behavior and I didn’t have an accident.
must go, you know why
Love, Huck
==============On Dec 25, 2013, at 9:49 AM, Huck wrote:
Hey Mom,
You won’t believe this but Mr. Stan’s computer hasn’t
worked for over a month. Even I could have fixed it but
you know how it is having a Dutchman in charge of
things and a Dutch dog trying to explain things. It was
just best for me to keep quiet.
Thanks for the Christmas package. They were overwhelmed by all the kooiker stuff. Is stuff a good work to
use. When Judi was trying to open the package with the
treats in it the bottom split open a little bit and a treat
fell out and I was all over it before she could say a thing.
Boy that was good. The calendar with all the pictures
gives me an idea of what I should grow up to be.
I’m almost done with my vet visits, I have only one to
21
get my rabies shots. I like Dr. Brad a lot better now even
though he thinks he has to take my temp every time.
The last time he gave Mr. Stan a name of a lady that gives
puppy classes and we are to go to a meet and greet class
a couple time before the classes start on Feb. 3. She also
has a therapy dog so she is going to help me get a cert.
By the way I weigh 14.4 pounds and they say that I am
well proportioned. Last week we had 8 inches of snow
and it got cold. Night before last it was -21F and I had a
hard time keeping all my feet on the ground but I found
out if I run fast it doesn’t bother me so much.
When Mr. Stan takes me for walks he laughs a lot. Especially when I am bounding through the snow and stick
my head into a clump of grass that is covered with snow.
Everyone that comes here is TOTALLY surprised with
one of my tricks. I guess it’s no big deal. When I need to
go outside to do my business I ring a set of bells hanging
by the back door. Sometime it’s only 15 minutes apart
and I usually need to do the other business. I’m going to
tell you something but you have to promise to keep it a
secret. Once in a while I ring the bell so I can go outside
and play in the snow. Remember that’s between us.
Mr. Stan has fashioned a toy. He attached a bungee cord
to the ceiling and tied a toy to it about 6 inches above
my head. I jump and grab it with my mouth, pull it down
to the ground and try to chew the bungee cord off so I
can play with the toy without having to hold it down.
OH OH Mr. Stan just walking in and caught me on his
computer but he says it’s OK being Christmas. He wants
to say something to you.
Ann and Jac Merry Christmas to the both of you. We
might have told you this in the past but Huck was our
Christmas present to each other and we have been so
blessed having him in our life.
Thanks, Again, Stan and Judi
==============On Feb 11, 2014, at 5:15 PM, Huck wrote:
Hey mom, Mr. Stan told me about an interview for something called the KCUSA. Is that a big deal? Is it as big as
liver treats that my new mom makes for me. Oh my are
they to kill for. They brought me to my first puppy training last nite. They were told I did very good but I wanted
to because I got more treats last nite than ever before.
The other day Mr. Stan took me to get the mail and a BIG
black lab came over and scared me to death. I took off
for home. Mr. Stan many times walks along not paying
too much attention to me because he says I always have
my nose to the ground and he doesn’t watch every time
I stop and he didn’t notice that Big dog. He told me that
when he turned around I was half way home running
22
“Mr. Stan has fashioned a toy. He attached a bungee cord to
the ceiling . . . ”
for all my worth. I didn’t want to be dessert for that dog.
Mr. Stan went ahead and got the mail and wouldn’t you
know it that that dog followed him home but Mr. Stan
tied him up to a tree and I told him for 20 minutes what
I thought of him. They brought me into the house but I
could still see that dog and continued to let him know.
Mr. Stan said that she just wanted to make a new friend.
Today while out for our walk he again went and got the
mail and I went along but I didn’t like the idea but in
past walks I had visited with a Golden Retriever, Scotch,
and I like her a lot. As I walked past the lab’s driveway
I looked and looked but no BIG black lab and when we
got to Scotch’s house I liked the smell in the yard and
had good memories.
Oops here comes Mr. Stan, I don’t know why he is coming because the dog show is on TV.
BYE, Huck
In Memorium,
Huck van Hemert,
Greta “MoMo”
BuddingKooiker
Diarist
Member Profiles
P
Escher, the Dog Who Goes to Work Every Day
hil and Sheri DeJan come from families that bred
and showed dogs. Phil grew up with Welsh corgis,
and Sheri grew up with mixed breed dogs and Welsh
springer spaniels. When the DeJan’s Welsh springer died
last year, they looked for a breed that would meet Sheri’s
wish for a red-and-white spaniel type dog, and Phil’s desire
for a smallish, quick, agile, intelligent dog. Sheri discovered
the kooikerhondje when she clicked on every unfamiliar
breed she saw at Doginfo.com, and she identified breeders
from links on the KCUSA website. Last spring, the DeJans
visited kooiker breeders Rose Shenk (Rosewood Kennels)
in Virginia, and Barb and Wayne Ritenour (Noah’s Kooikerhondjes) in Maryland, and felt certain that the kooiker was
the dog they wanted.
Last summer’s mating of Noah’s Tosca and Ravenswood’s IRon produced two puppies in August, and the DeJans were
delighted to adopt the male puppy, whom they named
“Escher” in honor of the famous Dutch artist. Escher’s littermate, Daisy, is remaining with the Ritenours. The DeJans
are well aware of the extraordinary good luck that brought
them a kooikerhondje puppy just six months after they had
met the breeder.
Escher with Sheri
Escher has started puppy classes and the DeJans want him
to earn his canine good citizen certificate before they introduce him to agility and perhaps dock diving, as he matures.
For now, he enjoys romping in his fenced-in backyard, and
playing “fetch” and “keep away,” and trying to engage the
family cat in indoor play. She playfully chases and swats at
him , but they do spend some quiet time together, grooming one another. He loves playing in snow, diving in head
first. His only exposure to water, so far, has been the bathtub, and he likes it a lot.
Sheri observes of Escher, “You can’t fool him at all. He
knows exactly what you’re doing, whether you’re taking
something away to hide it, or getting a treat for him. Once
he starts he stays focused. He’s sensitive to yelling voices.”
Escher likes riding in the car, and has a lot of practice at it.
Every day, he goes to work with Sheri or Phil, as they both
Kooker Chronicle | Volume 10 | February 2014
work in dog-friendly offices. Sheri is an executive assistant
for a nonprofit and Phil is an IT and Media Manager. They
are both looking forward to taking Escher on hikes and
other outdoor adventures as the weather warms up.
The DeJans would love to see Escher’s qualities continue,
but they are not actively planning to breed him. If he
passes all the health checks, and a breeder approaches
them, they will consider it in time.
Asked about the differences between Welsh Springers and
kooikerhondjes, Sheri observes, “My Kooiker has more
Escher as a young pup
energy and is much friendlier than my Welshie was. Escher
is much quieter. I couldn’t get my Welshie to stop barking.
Welshies must always be in the same room with you if not
stuck to you like glue. At this point I’m still discovering the
differences.”
She concludes “We both wanted a smaller, very intelligent
friendly dog. That’s exactly what we got and love him
dearly.”
Escher with Phil
24
Escher, In
theMemorium,
Dog Who Goes
Gretato“MoMo”
Work Every
Kooiker
Day
Member Profiles—Oops!
Paphiopedilum Greta Kooiker
In the December 2013 issue of Kooiker Chronicle, we inadvertently left out the photograph of Paphiopedilum Greta
Kooiker, the orchid hybrid that Marilyn LeDoux named after the two Gretas. Photograph courtesy of Craig Plahn.
Paphiopedilum Greta Kooiker
Greta with Marilyn in the greenhouse
Kooker Chronicle | Volume 10 | February 2014