History Page 2

History Of The Shih Tzu In Canada
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by Patricia Dickson

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On the day that the Shih Tzu was first admitted to regular classes in the United States, the great Chumulari Ying Ying went Best In Show under Mr James Trullinger, handled by Mr John Marsh for his owners the Reverend and Mrs Easton. This dog was to become a great influence in our breed, siring a number of Best In Show winners who in turn themselves were great producers.

Very evident amongst these sons was the great Can/AM/Bda Ch Carrimount Ah-Chop-Chop [Can/AM ROM] - who was bred by Jr Jeffrey G Carrique of the well know "Carrimount" kennels in Montreal and owned by Mrs JG Carrique. This was one of the first Canadian kennels to breed to "Ying Ying" and with great success.

"Chop" - as he was know to his friends, was a very striking jet black and white dog who was literally a showing fool. On one occasion in the Best In Show ring his handler fell, dropping the leash, whereupon "Chop" continued around the ring and stood in front of the judge with his tail wagging.

"Chop" became the only Shih Tzu in the history of the breed to have won a Best In Show in every country in which he held title and also was the first dog to become a winner of the Roll of Merit Award given by the Canadian and American Shih Tzu Clubs. He was also the first and only Shih Tzu bred in Canada to become top Shih Tzu in the USA, a feat he achieved in 1971. This dogs influence on the breed could be clearly seen in his offspring since he stamped everything with the "Chop-Chop" look. He was in great demand by breeders both in the United Staes and Canada. He was handled at the outset of his career in Canada by Mr Luc Boileau and by Mr William Trainor in the United States.

"Chumulari Ying Ying" went Best in Show under Mr. James Trullinger, handled by Mr. John Marsh

Can/Am/Bda Ch Carrimount Ah-Chop-Chop Can/Am ROM

Chop’s sisters also acquitted themselves well in the show ring. "Carrimount Ah Suki Su" became an American and Canadian champion in short order and was considered by some to be equal to Chop. His other sister, "Carrimount Ah Chou Chou", would become an outstanding producer and is still the top producing bitch in the breed, tied with two other bitches. She was a Canadian champion herself and when bred to Can/Am Ch Greenmoss Golden Frolic of Elfann - produced nine champion children, two of whom would go all the way to Best in Show.

This kennel was founded in the sixties and was originally started with the Old English Sheepdog, but being located in the Westmount area the Carriques decided to go into the Shih Tzu breed. The first bitch was imported from England on the advice of the Reverend Allan Easton, who suggested they contact Mr Arnold Leadbitter of the famous "Greenmoss" kennel.

Mr Leadbitter offered the Carriques two bitches but recommended that they take a little bitch by the name of Brownhills Yo Lan of Greenmoss since he considered her to be of a more suitable size than the other one offered. "Leechee" - as she was called by the family, was black and

white and was bred by Mr D. Hodgkinson of the "Brownhills" prefix. She had been Best Puppy In Breed at Crufts and had won Best In Show at an all breed variety show; just turned one year she weighed ten and a half pounds. She became the foundation bitch at Carrimount producing many champions including Chop. When bred to Can/Am Ch Greenmoss Golden Frolic of Elfann she produced Can/Am Ch Carrimount Ah Tiko Tiko who was a Best in Show winner in the US, owned by Mrs Log and handled by Mr William Trainor.

Having had success with Leechee as a producer they returned to the Greenmoss kennel to buy an unrelated male and the gold and white dog, Greenmoss Golden Frolic of Elfann joined the ranks at Carrimount. This dog was also to become a great producer. He produced ten champions, amongst them the brothers Can/Bda Ch Carrimount Ah-Ting-Ting [ROM], and Can/Am Ch Carrimount Ah Chun Ki. They were both Best in Show winners and Carrimount Ah Chun Ki was the winner of the second Shih Tzu Specialty held in Toronto at the Sportsman’s Show, handled by Garrett Lambert.

Carrimount A-Ting-Ting was the top Shih Tzu in Canada in 1973 and 1974. He was the first Canadian bred Shih Tzu to win the Purina Invitational Show of Shows in 1976, a feat which to date has not be repeated. In all he was the winner of twenty-two all breed Best in Show awards, the first member of his breed to achieve this record and always owner handled. He still numbers among the the top producers in the breed with 19 champion offspring to his credit. In 1978 three of his children went Best in Show and two of them, namely Ch Wenrick’s Tina Tina bred and owned by Wendy & Richard Paquette and Ch M’Lord Ashley of Wyvern attended the Show of Shows with their father. A very proud night for all concerned.

Brownhills Yo Lan of Greenmoss

We all owe a great debt of gratitude to the Carrimount kennel as the owners spent a great deal of their time and money promoting the breed in this country and bringing the Canadian Shih Tzu to the fore in the United States. At the first specialty held in Montreal in 1975, of the 37 dogs attending, 11 were of Carrimount breeding.

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