DOG NEWS Australia page 60 Development, Changes & recent History By Ken & Jan Campbell short back, quality bone in legs and feet the Fox-Terrier Club Challenge Cup, and “bang on” tail set. It is interesting to and it was only Anno Domini that When we were invited to do an ar- look at fox terriers today and almost see enabled others to beat him.” Quote ticle on Fox Terriers with a brief history, the same outline, features and character from Monograph of the FT - Castle, development and changes over the last as the original breed standard, however Marples and Hughes few decades, we found this is a really the breed has improved considerably mammoth task and something that we in appearance since the early days but It would be impossible to do this could not go into with as great detail as not lost any of his courage or ability to article without mentioning Donna For- we would like in the limited amount of do the work he was called upon to do. tuna w. 1896. She has been preserved in time. Apologies to the Wire fanciers as The work he has been called upon to the Walter Rothschild Museum at Tring we have focused on the Smooths. To perform for many generations included, in the UK where we visited a few years do justice to both would be enough to follow the fox to earth besides possess- CH WATTEAU CHORISTER fi ll many books. ing activity, pluck, dash and stamina sight of our early breeders exporting The following article is a small trip with a constitution strong enough to and allowing many of their best dogs to down memory lane showing the slow battle with the stable and yard life he be used at stud and sold to other enthu- change in style with the careful selec- had to lead. All this and still possess siasts who have maintained the essence tive breeding of more than a century of good manners, intelligence and aristo- of the breed and produced the excellent cratic bearing combined with beauty of type we see in many countries today. conformation. He is an excellent com- panion, faithful and a fi rst class house In the early 1970s and 80s the guard and is one of the most popular United Kingdom was the fi rst place to breeds of the terrier family. look when searching for new bloodlines The great breeders of over 100 years from the many excellent breeders, and ago were very clever in their breeding many great dogs were exported to Eu- programs with the selection of the ideal ropean countries, America, Australia, type which best fi tted the standard. Usu- ago and took the above photo of Donna South Africa as well as many other ally the kennels consisted of over 50 Fortuna at right which also shows an countries. passionate and devoted breeders. dogs with others in selected pet homes early Wire. Donna Fortuna was never which were also bred from where many beaten in the show ring over a period More than most other breeds, Fox great ones made it to the show ring. of 5 years. She won the CC at Crufts in Terriers have had a great number of 1897 at 7 months of age and retired on famous identities since the beginning of “The best terrier they ever bred the 12th November 1902 after winning dog shows, recording the breeding and (and possibly no one ever bred a the CC from the veteran class at the Fox development of smooths and wires and better dog) was” Result,” a beauti- Terrier show at Cheltenham. with all the famous prefi xes involved. The photos below of Chs Lethal Many of the famous judges of the past Weapon and his son Laurel Wreath were Fox Terrier fanciers. w.1946 and Ch Watteau Chorister w. The Fox Terrier Club (England) was 1954 - Cam Milward’s choice as the founded in 1876 and is still one of the most respected clubs in U.K. where the fi rst standard was drawn up. The Standard of Points originally drawn up in 1876 is still printed as a guide these days and it is well worth keeping these points in mind when assessing a Ttarb the Bratt fox terrier. ful example of great substance and 1. Head and Ears - 15 strength, [Winner of the Fox Terrier Australia also imported and export- 2. Neck - 5 Club, England Challenge Cup 1884- ed some excellent dogs and probably 3. Shoulders and Chest - 10 86, 1888] combined with ample lib- 4. Back and Loins - 10 erty and highest quality. He weighed 5. Hind Quarters - 15 17lb., had ample bone, and was the 6. Stern - 5 most perfect Fox-terrier behind the 7. Legs and Feet - 15 saddle I ever saw. His head was 8. Coat - 10 good, although a shade round on 9. Symmetry, Size & Character-15 top of his skull. For years he held The popularity of the Fox Terrier quickly grew and they soon became one of the most popular breeds around the world right up to the middle of the last century, they are still very popular although the numbers are far less. “The short backed hunter covering a lot of ground, with bone and strength greatest, all show examples of correct in a small compass”. We still look for breed type. the alert expression on the tiptoe of The quality of fox terriers world- expectation and the square outline with Donna Fortuna wide is due to the generosity and fore- Continued on page 64 DOG NEWS Australia page 64 Development, Changes & recent History Continued from page 60 Zealand and imported to Australia and als. A wonderful record for those times. changed much in over a century? Well the most famous who went to America blending the bloodlines back to many it certainly is still capable of doing what in 1979 was Ttarb the Bratt, sire of of the early greats. The convenient air The 1960s and 70s saw the emer- it was bred for, but is now a much more distinction with 139 champions, bred and road travelling with the showing of gence of two big winning Australian streamlined dog. Breeders still need to by Don and Laura Bratt of Tasmania. dogs in many countries allows for the smooths, Connie Wapshott’s Ch Gar- remain vigilant and read the writings of The Bratt held the breed record for the careful selection of the stud dog who is our forebears and be prepared to return most Best in Show wins, he won his more readily available. to the standard and be willing to appre- 60th and last All Breeds Best in Show Victoria used to be the stronghold of ciate something new at the next show. and was then permanently retired, tak- Fox Terrier’s. Not so many years ago There have been so many wonderful ing the crown from Nornay Sadler, there were several All Breeds Judges dogs and breeders over the years that it showing and breeding Fox terrier’s, is impossible to name them all in this and they were all famous dog people, article who have contributed signifi - amongst them were Cam Milward, Gill cantly to the breed, we have named just Brown, Bob Mushet, Bert Keenan, a few of the major winning dogs. It is Steve Creek, Peter Luyten, Keith an exciting time in Australia with the Braithwaite, Jack Rowles, John Rowles recent imports of Smooths in several and more! states with breed numbers and breeders rleigh Golden Sands (pictured above) increasing in New South Wales, ACT, The name Cam Milwood and “Gren- the winner of Best in show at the 1969 and Queensland which helps keeps our park” are synonymous with fox terriers Melbourne Royal and Ch Farleton Don wonderful breed in the forefront of the in Australia and recognised world- terriers. It is pleasing to see new breeder wide. Cam Milward began breeding judges emerging and we certainly wish dogs and poultry when he was only 10 them well with a long and fulfi lling years old. It would be diffi cult to fi nd career. whelped in England in 1936 and who an Australian Smooth pedigree without References: Fox Terriers by J H Pardoe, New Fox Terriers by Harold Nedell, Dog Showbiz by was later exported to America in 1936. a Grenpark infl uence somewhere. The Gary Jameson At Saddler’s very fi rst show at under 7 Bratt, on his dam’s side has Grenpark Jan and Ken Campbell months of age he won several classes, champions. Cam was a leader in his Best of Breed and Runner up to the Best in show winner, Mrs Hughes the judge, said he was the loveliest terrier she had seen. The most well performed dog in Pedro bred and owned by Alan Bailey the UK in recent times is Am/Int. Ch who won the 1975 Melbourne Royal Sunrise Rascal Fair, owned by Claire Show. Jerry Ideal’s record has recently been surpassed by Ch Wyninebah Checkmate who has amassed 70 Best fi eld and bred over 100 champions and was an outstanding breeder and judge. In his book “Grenpark Fox Terriers” Cam states that “Grenpark Solo”, top dog Victoria 1965, was possibly the best bitch he bred. Then there is the famous Rowles Hoffman USA, who won all fi ve Fox dynasty established in 1912 and still Terrier Specialty shows in 2005, the being carried on today in NSW by John fi rst dog to do so. In the same year he Rowles, “Selwor”. New South Wales was the UK’s top terrier and was group also had Alan Mooney, and the late 2nd at Crufts.