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by Amy Fernandez

A
n underdogs triumphant revenge always makes for a great bred in America since anyone started keeping records around
story. This ones about the year Toy Poodles hit this game 1880. Even so, AKC didnt approve a Toy Poodle standard until
like a high-speed crash. 1928, which admittedly didnt enhance their credibility. But in
After centuries of sporadic popularity, Poodles finally found 1928 Toy Poodles had a standard, a club, and healthy base of
their groove in the late 1920s and it truly was their Golden Age breeders headed by club president Thomas Hartmann. As Popular
by 1956 when our saga commences. Obviously, Toy Poodles were Dogs reported on January 27, 1928 his Little Wonder kennel in
always part of the scene. But in terms of status, there was never Philadelphia had produced 48 champions by then. He is known
any question about where they belonged. This was partly ingrained for bringing out his little Poodles at shows from coast to coast.
bad attitude, partly genetic reality. The patronizing official view Just two more will make it an even 50 and his work of 17 years in
relegated them to that assemblage of breeds euphemistically called this direction will make him feel that he has been well repaid. Fifty
ladies pets- even though their popularity long predated AKCs champions in one breed is some achievement.
creation of Standard and Mini varieties in 1931. Although Poodles Unfortunately that was the end of the line for Hartmann and his
had been recognized since 1887, Toys didnt get into the studbook Little Wonders. He died a few weeks later, thus precipitating an
until 1912 when AKC designated them as a separate breed, which unprecedented Toy Poodle crisis. A new regime stepped in and
also explains the mystery of how and why their first move was a drastic standard
Poodles wound up in two different groups. revision replacing the 12 pound weight limit
That was two years after the first Toy Comparative Annual Registrations with a 10 inch height disqualification.
earned an AKC championship, (the system for Poodles: Standard & Mini/Toy In 1986 Mackay Irick, Poodle Review
was somewhat different at that time). By founder, recounted this cataclysmic moment
the late 20s Toys also far surpassed Minis 1929 - 23 Poodles/16 Toys in The New Poodle. The new standard
and Standards in that respect. But it didnt 1930 - 34 Poodles/16 Toys essentially demanded a total overhaul of
matter since they were technically another 1931 - 39 Poodles/17 Toys silhouette and proportion. Under the best
breed. Likewise, they received no recog- 1934 - 134 Poodles /4 Toys circumstances thats at least a five or six
nition as one of the few breeds- and the 1935 - 277 Poodles /10 Toys generation commitment. The project goes
only Poodle variety- developed from 1939 - 551 Poodles /23 Toys much slower for a breed with small litters.
American bloodlines, at a time when that 1940 - 593 Poodles /30 Toys Meanwhile, the quick fix was To grow
was rare. For decades almost all champion huge coats on these short legged Miniatures
and big winning Minis and Standards were (who only qualified as Toys because they
either imports or their descendants. In contrast, White Toy Poodles were under ten inches due to their short legs) to make them look
and white was it back then - derived from stock established and like balanced Poodles. Some even became big winners but when
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the coat was cut off far too legged, long backed gene pool wasnt a job for the fainthearted.
few had the overall balance There were a few ways to approach this task. Downscaling Minis
that is so essential to and Mini/Toy crosses were the preferred methods. Both had inherent
Poodle elegance. drawbacks that hit with a vengeance in the second generation. Those
Toy popularity plum- with a real taste for pain took the long road, basically remaking Toys
meted immediately as piece by piece starting from scratch. Of course, if breeding to a
breeders confronted the standard was easy, no one would be shaving Chinese Cresteds or
multigenerational night- touching up Pug masks with sharpie markers. And lets drop that
mare of dismantling and discussion right here.
reassembling the entire It was a slow, arduous, frequently frustrating transformation but
breed. Meanwhile, Toy occasionally a dog popped up proving that the impossible really could
Poodle haters had a field be done. Most historians cite Happy Chappy as the watershed dog
day. That negativity wor- that changed the course of Toy Poodle development. Hollywood
sened appreciably thanks breeder Florence Orsie was among that handful of stalwarts that
to another unforeseen persevered through this demoralizing era until she got it right. Calling
event. Big Poodles sud- him a definite improvement on the Toys that had been bred up to
denly emerged from that time Irick reiterated the sad situation when he arrived in 1932
decades of stagnation after saying, Toy Poodles were looked down on as little white fluff balls
the arrival of some very Happy Chappy as a show dog and sire helped to dispel this belief.
hot imports. Almost over- He was a very sound little dog with a longer, leaner, better head than
night they revitalized the the white Toys of his time, and he carried a profuse coat of correct
Mrs. Hayes Blake Hoyt & Jung Frau - 1938
gene pool, catalyzed the texture. He had an outstanding personality, a born showman.
formation of PCA, and suddenly Poodles were winning everything. Due to previously mentioned factors, he didnt finish until age
In 1933 Helene Whitehouse Walkers black Standard import, Ch. five but he did it in grand style with a Group First then going on to
Whippendell Poli of Carillon, took the breeds first Westminster an even more successful entertainment career with MGM and the
group. That milestone was just a prelude to the blitz unleashed by Ziegfield Follies. In between he also sired a lasting legacy. In 1938
Hayes Blake Hoyt with her big white Swiss, French, English import a Happy Chappy son became the first Toy champion in a decade.
Int. Ch. Nunsoe Duc de la Terrace of Blakeen. The following year Several more of his progeny finished over the next few years
she owner/handled him to his first of three consecutive Westminster including the first colored Toy champion in 1943. When Toys got
groups. While the dog world marveled about that accomplishment, their first crack at PCA in 1947 BOV went to Happy Chappys great
they returned to make history in 1935 by winning Best in Show. grandson, Ch. Leicesters Bonbon, described by Irick as 8 1/2
Although, by then, they had won ten groups and four Bests, no inches and 4 1/2 pounds of pure, old-fashioned white Toy breeding.
Poodle or woman had won Westminster. It was Poodle domination Bonbons daughter, Ch. Cartlane Once, became the first Toy to win
after that historic victory. PCA in 1951 along with back to back Westminster groups in 1950
Needless to say, Toys watched this victory march from the and 51.
sidelines. However, those lackluster registrations and entries didnt Although Toys were finally turning the corner, entries still lagged.
imply lack of activity. As the 1959 PCA Handbook noted, There For instance, the 1947 breakdown at PCA was 90 Minis, 54
was a remarkable firmness of purpose in the Toy breeders. That Standards, and 26 Toys. By then, the main problem was overcoming
was good because things got a lot worse before they got better. the insurmountable bad attitude within the Poodle fancy. This Toy
The next catastrophe came in July 1943 when the Gazette overview by Poodle matriarch Lydia Hopkins, published with the
announced the most comprehensive Poodle standard revision to date Denlinger seal of approval in 1951, vividly captures that entrenched
which introduced the current concept of one ideal type replicated disapproval. She wrote, The old White Toy Poodle is perhaps the
in three sizes. Toy Poodles are henceforth a variety of Poodle and oldest of the Poodle tribe, but not related in blood to either the
not a separate breed as heretofore. They will continue to be exhibited Miniature or the Standard. In fact, its not a Poodle at allit is a
in the Toy Group but will, as far as registration in the studbook is separate breed , which breeders have time out of mind tried with
concerned, be handled as a variety of Poodle. only partial success to mold into Poodle conformation.
As Irick explained, that seemingly straightforward change had Bonbon sired 12 champions, an especially impressive feat
far reaching consequences. He wrote, Up to this time Toy Poodles considering his brief three year lifespan. Among that even dozen
were judged mostly by Toy judges who placed great emphasis on was Ch. Leicesters Bonbons Swan Song, sire of the dog that threw
tiny size and compared the Toy Poodle with the other members of down the gauntlet of Toy Poodle revenge on February 14, 1956
the Toy Group. Henceforth Toy Poodles would be considered when Happy Chappys great grandson pulled off one of the most
Poodles, and would be judged as a variety of the breed instead of as surrealistic, astonishing, longshot wins in dog show history. Jones
a separate breed. The standard for the first time was the same for all recapped that unforgettable day for Gazette readers in his usual
three varieties, the only difference being in size. It also recognized colorful style. He said, In a world of atomic development- and
colored Toys, but that minor victory didnt offset the big issue which atomic nonsense- it is sometimes comforting to realize that a goodly
focused even more attention on the Toys shortcomings. portion of us ordinary laymen are still interested in the easily
Creating short backed, squarely balanced dogs from a short comprehended milestones of trivia. This was the midst of the Cold
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War, hence the copious trying to devise a formula that offered both accuracy and flexibility
atomic bomb metaphors to accommodate perennial variables like entry size, changing point
throughout his story. How- schedules, and fluctuating breed popularity. Dont forget, back then
ever, the fact that Poodles everything was recorded and tabulated by hand. Discounting
were then Americas sixth inevitable human error, she soon realized that too much information
most popular breed didnt was self-defeating, Causing the computations to sink under their
mitigate the collective own weight. She messed around for five years, finally devising the
reaction that night. No ideal combination of accuracy and simplicity and the Phillips
rhetorical device needed. It System debuted that fateful year. It allotted one point per dog
hit Westminster like an A- defeated at group and BIS level based on show results (which back
Bomb. Mr. Palmer shattered then) were published monthly in the Gazette.
precedent when he named as Its success was immediate. Its impact on this sport goes without
best of all breeds in the show, saying. The results were also picked up by publications like Life
the white Toy Poodle Ch. Magazine. So 1956 marks the end of alternative facts and big fish
Wilber White Swan owned stories in this game. From then on pure number crunching would
by Bertha Smith of Bethpage, reveal the unequivocal all breed top winner and throughout that year
Long Island. It marked the the world breathlessly awaited that verdict.
first time in the history of 1956 proceeds and everyone tries to forget Westminster as many
Westminster that any Toy top contenders emerge. In April, Phillips announces the first quarter
breed has ever gone to the results in Popular Dogs based on 126 all breed shows from January
top. No Poodle or female through April. It has been interesting to note the closeness of BIS
handler had pulled it off since wins among the groups. The Hound group has scored but six BIS
Hayes Blake Hoyt and the while the Terrier and Toy groups are tied with 26 each. There are
Mrs. Shirley Booth with Tydel poodles Duc back in 1935. But this two new additions this month. A Scottie and a Miniature Poodle but
was the first female there are several more ready to close in, she wrote.
professional handler as Jones noted with rather unfortunate phrasing The stats revealed a surprisingly tight race. The Cocker, Ch.
calling Anne Hone Rogers The girl who turned the trick. Gails Ebony Don, was leading with four BIS and 13 groups. Right
First of all, Toys were not supposed to win Westminster. Okay, on his tail was the English Cocker, Ch. Elblacs Bugle of Hastern,
there was always a little guy at the end of the line, but that was more with six BIS and ten groups. Wilber, like a proverbial bad penny,
a token symbol of the sports equality. Secondly, that years odds- was third. Comparatively, his two BIS and three groups wasnt
on favorite was none other than The Colonel that splendid English much but scores like Westminster and Boston were enough to keep
Setter with a show career followed by every dog loving American him up there.
that read the sports page. Furthermore, standing right next to him He was followed by the Doberman, Ch. Hardings Faust, with one
was the equally awesome Bang Away son, Ch. Barrage of Quality BIS and ten groups. Those legendary Boxer littermates, Barroque
Hill. Dont forget, Boxers owned Westminster back then. More to and Barrage of Quality Hill, respectively fifth and eighth, would
the point, Westminster BELONGED to Terriers and there was a earn top ten placements all year. Sixth was another disturbing
perfectly lovely Sealy, Ch. Robin Hill Brigade. But if he absolutely surprise, the owner/handled Toy Poodle Blakeen King Doodles with
had to go with a Poodle, why not Bob Forsyths Standard, Ch. 7 BIS and 18 groups.
Alfonco von der Goldenen Kette, jointly owned and campaigned Ranking seventh was the Frenchie handled by Jerry Rigden,
by Clairdale and Pennyworth, which can only be called an overdose Nouvelle Ami. The last two, as Phillips noted, had recently squeaked
of Westminster clout. into the ratings, the Scottie handled by Bob Bartos for Carnation
No, it had to be Peanut (a nickname that only exacerbated the reality Farms, Eng. Am. Can. Ch. Wespark Derriford Baffie and Mrs.
of his stunning victory). Adding insult to injury, Peanut also walked Marguerite Tysons Mini Poodle import Eng. Am. Can. Ch. Adastra
off with the James Mortimer trophy thereby doubling his fame in Magic Fame.
Poodle history as the breeds first American bred Westminster winner. Marguerite Tyson had plenty to show for her two short years in
Paul Palmer, senior editor at Readers Digest, (which enhanced the sport, which could also be said for her entire life. The daughter
his mainstream credibility) was a Hound and Gundog judge with of a wealthy Texas oilman, as a teenager shed gone to Hollywood
no connection to Toys whatsoever. In his widely quoted explanation and succeeded in a business even tougher than dads. In 1920 she
for this unfathomable decision, he called Peanut almost perfect in chucked it all for a rich husband and quintessential suburban life
form, amazingly solid, with great spirit, he moved extremely well, raising four kids in Greenwich, Connecticut. Tyson had owned pet
and was well handled. Well, shed handled him to 17 BIS although Poodles throughout her childhood but she didnt get serious about
its doubtful that anybody had paid attention. Well, they were sure it until she married her second husband, George Tyson, and settled
gonna start because Peanut wasnt the only shockwave on the down in Boston. A few months after getting her first show prospect
horizon that year. from West Coast breeder Ernie Ferguson, she imported the black
Irene Castle Phillips was an AKC Sporting, Non-Sporting, and Mini Eng. Am. Champion Braebeck Toni of Montfleuri. In March
Toy judge when her national ratings system debuted in Popular 1956, Interstate Poodle Clubs Gazette column announced her new
Dogs that year. Shed tracked top winners and producers for years, position as club president. Founded by Hayes Blake Hoyt, Interstate
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BIS in 1955 and gone BOS to Peanut that infamous day at


In 1930, the year prior to AKCs division of Minis and Westminster. Beam had handled Tysons Poodles ever since she got
Standards, cumulative registrations totaled 34. Seven the first one from Ernie Ferguson who introduced them. She
years later, in 1937, a combined total of 27 Minis and remembers her as a wonderful client, a lovely person. Considering
Standards earned championships. In contrast, after Mr. the amount of winning they did, it was a very successful partnership.
Hartmanns demise in 1928, no Toy earned a Then again, Maxine Beam knew the Poodle biz inside out. Things
championship until Ch. Mitor of Muriclar broke the dry were a lot different when she started back in 1939. You saw very
spell. Bred in California by Mrs. Florence Orsie, he few Poodles in the ring then and there werent many shows either.
finished in 1938. Usually, in early May she packed 10-12 dogs in her station wagon
and headed out of Fort Worth. She recalls, I would be on the road
was her baby, and handing the reins over to Tyson was in itself a from May through the end of September. We went everywhere to
powerful endorsement. Hoyt summarized Tysons remarkable find shows, up to Canada, all over the Northwest. It was rough, but
accomplishments up to that point. In two short years she has that was my profession. I loved it. She acknowledges that the
imported some of the best English bloodlines and generously Phillips System rearranged everything that year. Beam traveled far
allowed all breeders use those lines. She has also bought and and wide that year, starting in January with the Florida circuit and
promoted outstanding American Poodles. Among them, the white winning Bests from Kansas to New Orleans. She was on the road
Miniature Ch. Blakeen Van Aseltine, winner of the 1955 Ken-L all the way through November.
ration Award for top Non-Sporting dog. Hoyt added, Actually, Mrs. Typical entries ranged from 400-600 dogs. For real action that
Tysons kennel has won more groups and BIS with Poodles than translated into top rankings, it was those big East Coast weekends
any other American exhibitor, not just one dog. She founded an all like M & E. Reporting weekend results for The Times, John Rendel
breed club in Charlottesville, Virginia. She has been generous with summed up Ding Dings surprise victory at Monmouth County on
prizes and entries for Poodle specialties, and most importantly she May 26 saying, like father like daughter. BIS judge Henry
does not just send a handler, she attends the shows herself because Stoecker was a Poodle specialist, but the weather mitigated against
she is vitally interested. Wrapping it up, Hoyt added her recent Ding Dings chances. By late afternoon the icy wind was whipping
success campaigning Toys. off the river and everyone wanted to go home. Stoecker quickly
Blakeen was only in its fifth year of operation when Arthur narrowed the field to Quality Hill Barrage, Fontclair Festoon, and
Frederick Jones profiled it for the December 1940 Gazette. He little Ding Ding standing her ground in the big ring with her coat
described Hoyts breeding philosophy as making rapid advances tossed about like foam. Nonetheless, Stoecker was impressed
by taking well measured steps. That was an understatement. Hoyt telling Rendel that he was sold on her superior movement and
had annihilated the competition from the moment that The Duc excellent coat texture.
catapulted Blakeen into the limelight. It wasnt complicated as That was her seventh BIS of the year, worth 1142 points, enough
she told Jones, she simply loved good dogs. She certainly possessed to position her as a top contender. However, because of a minor error,
the means to acquire the best, but there was another element guiding just as Phillips feared, midway through 1956 the whole ratings
her endless triumphs in the ring. The Ducs stunning career put system was out of whack. At some point a superintendent had
white Poodles on the map back when that color was considered inadvertently listed Ding Ding as a dog, Blakeen Ding Dong. Once
inferior. Possibly because of that, toppling the status quo was always the mistake got into the system, it multiplied exponentially. By then,
a good part of the fun for her. Her forays into Afghans and Gordons almost half of her points were being credited to a nonexistent dog.
brought unprecedented success to both breeds at a time when no Phillips eventually discovered it and recalculated the results, but until
one took them seriously. In 1936 she became the fourth major then it offered a strategic advantage. Ding Ding was gaining altitude
American Poodle breeder to take on Minis. Her foundation stock but nobody noticed. Moreover, long after the official correction, the
came from the best Swiss and English kennels and she bred and Ding Ding/Ding Dong mixup carried on throughout the year with
campaigned every color. By the time Jones visited, Blakeen had various publications reporting every conceivable variation of BIS
produced eight Mini champions including 1939s top American- totals. Even if Ding Dings actual ranking had been published, its
bred winner. Her interest in Toys seemed inevitable. Although they debatable whether her rivals would have regarded a female handler
had made considerable progress by 1950, major league breeders or Toy Poodle as a threat. That reality wouldnt sink in for awhile.
didnt jump on the bandwagon until Blakeen Toys began racking As the dog world mulled over those numbers, Ding Ding had
up records to match her Standards and Minis. another ace up her sleeve which didnt figure into anyones
Hoyt and Tyson had much in common. Along with their devotion calculations. The similarities between politics and this game are
to Poodles, they were in this game to win. They didnt fool around. undeniable with ego, power, money, and a disconcerting flair for
Eng. Am. Can. Ch. Adastra Magic Fame broke into the top ten at the manipulative tactics. Although not considered a flattering
end of April. The June cover of Dog World featured, The sensational comparison by those in either camp, that talent generally has great
Eng-American Ch. Adastra Magic Fame owned by Marguerite crossover potential.
Tyson. That was his second Dog World cover way before hardcore Maybe it doesnt ring a bell today but in 1956 the biggest name
advertising was an obligatory aspect of show campaigns. floating around both worlds was Perle Mesta. Wealthy D.C,
So far so good, but he wasnt the only horse Ty-Del had in that socialite, famed for her high powered personality and legendary
race. Tyson was also campaigning a two-year-old Peanut daughter. parties, in todays terms her celebrity cachet was comparable to
Handled by Maxine Beam, Ch. Blakeen Ding Ding had won two Oprah. For over three decades Mestas soirees and star-studded
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guest lists were national news. She made the cover of Time in 1949,
received a plum diplomatic appointment a year later, and most
notably, inspired the 1953 Broadway hit Call Me Madam. She was
pretty damn famous and she was Marguerite Tysons sister.
Both sisters inherited considerable fortunes from their father.
Pearls little nest egg was vastly compounded by her 1917 marriage
to Pittsburgh industrialist George Mesta. They had a happy marriage
despite their 23 year age difference, and his sudden demise in 1925
left her, at age 28, sole heir to his
$78 million fortune. Often asked
why she never remarried, the
obvious answer was that Perle
found her true love the first time
George took her to a D.C. event. Westminster KC Best In Show Winner Ch. Wilber White Swan aka Peanut
After that, nothing could
Owned by Bertha Smith and handled by Anne Hone-Rogers (Clark)
compete with her devotion to
that frenzied, all encompassing Golden Age, too. Ch. Marjacks Golden Windjammer beat her out
powerhouse of Washington going sixth, followed by the Dal, Ch. Roadoach Roadster, as seventh
politics. Closely aligned with overall. After jumping around the top ten all year, Ch. Bouquet
both the Truman and Eisenhower Nouvelle Ami finally hung onto eighth. Two owner/handlers made
administrations, Mesta was at the it in. Mona Berkowitz showed Ch. Merridip Duke George to ninth
height of her fame in the 50s. and would take him to third overall the following year. Tenth was
Her parties invariably featured Kay Finchs Ch. Crown Crest Zardonx, the first of three Afghans
an eclectic mix of interesting she would show to a top ten ranking amongst all breeds.
individuals from every walk of Those final numbers dispelled several popular misconceptions,
life. Its impossible to say none more dramatically than the absolute shocker of who stood
whether any ulterior motive was there looking down from the top of that hotly contested heapHey
involved, Marguerites friends Ding Ding, a Toy Poodle, a bitch no less, and handled by a woman.
and family were always on the Anyone who failed to see the writing on the wall at Westminster
guest list, but some of those didnt miss it this time. Beam remembers that year very well. She
coveted invitations found their says, I did a lot of shows to make her number one. It panned out
way to very influential dog to 21 BIS and 40 groups to be exact. However, her most outstanding
people. One widely recounted memory after all these years is Ding Dings wonderful, sweet
anecdote from a Christmas party Poodle temperament. She was a great dog.
that year involved Nate Levines Beam would show five more top ten dogs, handling Magic Fame
uniquely phrased request for a to 30 Bests, 49 groups, and his second top ten ranking in 1957. She
dance with the hostess, Mrs. received him as a gift from Tyson when he was retired. In 1958 she
Mesta may I borrow your frame brought out another Wilber daughter bred by Tyson and owned by
for the next tussle. By then, of Perle Mesta. Unlike Marguerite, Perle wasnt a born dog lover as
course, the race was over. she admitted in her 1960 autobiography, As a child I never had a
Everyone expected a Poodle high opinion of Marguerites dogs. They seemed so silly, so
somewhere in the final lineup. underfoot. Determined to change that, midway through that heady
Magic Fame was second overall year of 1956 Marguerite presented her with Fifi. I was definitely
with 13 BIS and 28 groups. Top not impressed with her sisterly gesture. In fact, I even telephoned
dog for most of the year, Ch. my good friend, Mrs. William Randolph Hearst, to see if she didnt
Gails Ebony Don finished a want a very nice Poodle. Millicent thanked me but said no. Her
disappointing third. Like most of attempts to ditch Fifi with Clare Luce and a couple of Vanderbilts
the year, Ch. Elblacs Bugle of soon erupted into a national joke about the famed hostess and
Hastern, handled by Jane Kamp, diplomat that couldnt get along with a Poodle. Fifi and I learned
was a few points behind him. to get along and she has been my constant companion ever since,
Her half of the Boxer littermates, she said. Ding Ding also ended up with Perle. Possibly Marguerite
Ch. Barrage of Quality Hill, also packed so much into her life because she sensed that time was short.
placed fifth. As expected, two She was in Poodles for less than ten years when she died in 1962
Boxers made the countdown, but she had a lifetime worth of accomplishments to show for it. In
although nobody foresaw terms of the big question there is no doubt that she left the breed
Baroque missing the boat. After better than she found it. The Toy Poodle has never been overlooked
all, Boxers were having their as a contender for the top awards in the sport of purebred dogs.

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