Judge

Phoebe Jordan Booth, Kennel Shamasan

Phoebe Jordan Booth The first dog show I attended in 1965 was the Kennel Club of Beverly Hills. I was there with my Aunt and Uncle, Mary and Norm Bowker, of Bowmanor Kennels, and was immediately hooked. When I discovered that it was possible to make a living by devoting my life to purebred dogs, I decided to make that my goal. My first breed was Dalmatians, and I finished my second Dal in 1968, and handled him to Best of Breed at Westminster in 1969, while still in high school. In fact, my kennel name of “Shamasan” is derived from my first three show dogs, Dalmatians “Shadow” and “Major”, and Bedlington Terrier “Sandy”. As I became a handler's assistant, I needed a smaller, more portable breed, and I had always admired Whippets. I acquired "Amy" in 1972 from Susan Vargus (now McCoy), of Westgate Whippets and Amy became BIS Ch. Westgate the Enchantress ROMX. Thus began my love affair with the breed.

In the mid 70s, two things happened that influenced my perspective. Through my friend Pat Whiteside, long time kennel manager at Stoney Meadows, I met Mrs. Doris Wear of that famed kennel, and Mrs. Wear became my mentor and friend. Through her I also met Mrs. Cora N. Miller of Hound Hill, and our friendship continued over the years with many successful joint ventures in breeding and showing. I still miss them both immensely. I also had the good fortune to get to know Doug and Mary Beth Arthur of Marial fame, and attend some NPR race meets, which allowed me to appreciate the total whippet in all it's potential.

I served on the Board of Directors of the American Whippet Club (AWC) in the 1980s, and also as Secretary of the Club at a time when we were going through many changes. It was a challenging time, yet very fulfilling. I have been a breeder, a handler, a photographer, an all-breed show chairperson, and a regional AWC specialty chairperson. I have been the AKC Gazette columnist for Whippets for at least 20 years. I have shown, raced, and coursed my Whippets, and had many others represent my breeding well in obedience and agility. I have been fortunate to breed Whippets who have Best in Show, Best in Field and Race Meet wins.

My recent activities have included judging the breed that I love, and I have been honored to judge both the American Whippet Club and the Canadian Whippet Club National Specialty shows. I am grateful and excited to be asked to judge at the Swedish Whippet Club. I have very fond memories of attending the World Congress and Specialty in Kragga and exhibiting at the FCI World Show in Stockholm, also of judging an unofficial show in Sweden just a few years ago. I am delighted and grateful to be asked back for this momentous event!

Since the early 80s, my focus has been on breeding Whippets who can enjoy every facet of competition. And since this is truly a "color immaterial" breed, I have also taken my lessons from the Stoney Meadows rainbow of colors and sought to compete with quality Whippets of every color. I want a Whippet that is typey, curvy, muscular, and sound, one of impeccable temperament who is fit to work, and who also has the beautiful head and intelligent expression that drew me to the breed in the first place.

I have devoted my life to purebred dogs in general, and Whippets in particular. I admire everything about Whippets, from their flawless temperament and their versatility, to their health and longevity, and my goal is to maintain all of those attributes in equal measure. My personal goals have been to be able to breed a Whippet who, regardless of color and markings, can compete successfully in all areas of Whippet activities at the same time. It has been a lofty goal in this age of specialization. We are always striving for more. The quest continues.

Phoebe Jordan Booth

Mary Dukes, Kennel Delacreme

Mary Dukes Mary Dukes has been involved in purebred dogs for nearly 50 years, initially as a breeder and then as a professional handler. She was then an Executive Field Rep for the American Kennel Club for 18 years and is now retired and is currently an AKC judge.

As a breeder, Mary bred Whippets under the “Delacreme” prefix and bred over 50 champions including five all-breed Best In Show winners and two National specialty winners. She also was the breeder/owner/handler of the multiple specialty winner Ch. Delacreme de la Renta, ROMX who is one of the top sires in the history of the breed, siring over 115 champions to date.

As a professional handler, she showed primarily the Sighthound breeds and Italian Greyhounds, but also a smattering of breeds in other groups and has handled various dogs to over 30 Best In Show wins and has won groups with dogs in all seven groups. Mary has been retired from the AKC since December 2023 and is currently an approved AKC judge and judges all hound breeds as well as breeds in the Sporting, Non-Sporting and Toy groups.

Mary Dukes