What comes to mind when one hears the
term “sire of significance”? Do you
picture a dog who has produced the most
champions for his breed? The dog who has
won the most Bests in Show awards? The
dog who has produced BIS progeny or
performance titled puppies? Or, rather
than concentrating on the titles, do you
think of a dog who has contributed to
the breed by producing healthier
puppies, by improving on the qualities
of the bitches bred to him, by
reproducing a “type” of puppy
consistently? All of these qualities and
more describe a sire of significance. In
this article we will be recognizing and
paying tribute to such a sire, Multi Ch
Prestige I’ll Do Anything, call name
“Bam Bam.” He crossed the Rainbow Bridge
this year, 2007, and lived the majority
of his life with Kathy Arnold of
Prestige Poodles in California. He is
dearly missed, but will never be
forgotten.
I first had the opportunity to meet Bam
Bam when he was a young dog being
exhibited by Kaz Hosaka. His exuberance
and enthusiasm were a joy to behold, but
the first thing that caught my eye was
his gorgeous head. With a defined length
of muzzle, strong underjaw, chiseled
cheekbones and beautiful dark brown
almond shaped eyes that shone with happy
expression, I was entranced. He was
definitely male, but what a beautiful
boy! With dense white coat, groomed to
perfection by Kaz, I watched him float
around the ring with a light, carefree
air about him. I thought to myself –
someday I am definitely breeding to this
dog! It took me another 9 years before I
had the perfect bitch for him, but the
puppies they produced were outstanding.
In an interview with his owner, Kathy
Arnold, we took a trip down memory lane…
CS:
What was
Bam Bam like physically and mentally as
a puppy and then later as an older dog?
KA: As a
puppy Bam Bam was the standout in his
litter. He had a “look at me” attitude
along with conformation and style to
match. His call name came from the
Flintstones character, Bam Bam, Barney's
son who always demanded notice by “bamming”
his toy club.
It was always a pleasure to my eye to
watch Bam Bam moving freely as a puppy
and throughout his lifetime. He had a
natural gait with an effortless
movement. His top line was flat. His
neck was extra long and had a nice crest
which added to this picture. He moved
true from any angle and never put a foot
down wrong (until he was an old man).
He always enjoyed sitting on the grassy
slope in my backyard, facing the house,
surveying his domain. He took his "job"
as pack leader very seriously. He
enjoyed puppies. I always trusted him
and never worried when I left him
unattended with them, even the young
ones. He would reprimand some puppies
and had more patience than I thought was
necessary for others. He would guide
their personalities and always had good
judgement.
HHe was social with people and dogs of
all ages and sizes. When I took him out
into the public he would happily watch
for the people who he sensed would stop
and give him some attention. He knew how
to "work the crowds". Personally, as my
companion he was a sweet, gentle clown.
When company came he would show off his
favourite toy. He would walk around the
living room, very self important,
waiting for the guests to brag on him.
CS: He
sounds like he had a great time as a
puppy, and turned into a sweet and
gentle adult. Can you describe his sire
and dam, and explain why you chose that
mating?
KA: Bam
Bam's dam, Ch. Pinafore Playmate
(Vanessa) was a cute little bitch, 22
inches tall. She was put together
nicely, was a bit soft in temperament as
a young bitch. She'd tense up when the
judge was examining her, but really
thought she was "something" moving in
the show ring, though. She knew when the
audience liked her and turned on the
charm. She matured into a confident
companion who lived her entire life with
me.
I bought Vanessa to breed to a black dog
that I was showing at the time. It
turned out that he was dysplastic so I
waited for the right dog to come along.
Kirsten Nielsen, had bought a white
puppy from Kathy Higgins, La arka, for
some friends in Denmark who wanted to
import a white standard poodle. When Bam
Bam’s sire ,US & Danish Ch. SBIS winner,
La Marka Neque Smiles, full littermate
to Ch. La Marka Nina Oscura & Ch. La
Marka Nomeolvides, was about fifteen
months old, Kirsten and I were offered
the dog. Smiles came back to the USA in
pet trim. We were both very pleased with
him and decided to grow him back out and
show him. Kirsten went back to Denmark
not long after Smiles finished his
championship. Smiles went with her. He
finished his championship in Denmark .
He was a handsome dog and had what
Vanessa lacked, an excellent tail set
and long legs. Both dogs had nice sound
fronts, Smiles had longer legs, Vanessa
was better angulated in the rear. Both
dogs had correct feet, nice long necks,
and moved true from any angle. Bam's
headpiece came from his mother.
Vanessa's first mating was planned by
her breeder. The sire was Ch Wessex
Celebration. The bitch that I kept and
later sold from that litter became Ch.
Prestige Call Me Trixie. (WB at PCA
1993) She was whelped in Oct. 1991. In
the spring of 1993, I travelled with
Vanessa to Denmark to breed her to
Smiles. My plan was to keep a bitch from
that combination.
Vanessa whelped nine puppies, six
bitches and three dogs. Even though
several bitches were very nice, Bam Bam,
as I mentioned to you earlier, was the
stand out. I decided to keep him instead
and keep a bitch from a future litter.
Vanessa was bred to Smiles one more
time. That litter was all males. Kirsten
raised the litter in Denmark and the
repeat breeding produced 3 boys, only
one was shown and he finished as
International, CZ Champion, Neque
Smiling Bubba. I never got a bitch from
Vanessa.
II live in an area where only three pets
are allowed, so my breedings have always
been limited. I've actually only had
three litters in the past twelve years.
Two of those are Bam Bam’s.
CS:
When did
you realize he might be something
special as a sire?
KA: Bam
Bam's first litter was born when he was
three [years of age]. He sired a total
of seven litters by the time he was
seven. His last litter was born just
days before he died. He has sired 23
litters in the USA. One each in Denmark,
Canada, and Mexico, and four litters in
Australia. There have been different
bloodlines and different types of
bitches brought to Bam Bam, all quality
poodles. I saw his stamp right away.
After about the 4th or 5th litter I
realized his "look" was repeating. I let
Bam Bam sell himself as a stud dog.
Responsible breeders brought their best
bitches to him. Most of these breeder’s
kept the best puppies for their show and
breeding program and were responsible
enough to find quality pet homes for the
rest of the litter. Bam’s highest number
of litters whelped was in 2000. There
were six litters. I can check the
numbers but Bam probably has twice as
many bitch champions as dogs.
CS:
Looking
back on his career, is there anything
you would have done differently?
KA: Yes, I
wish we would have shown him more in
Scandinavia and campaigned him as a
special more in the US.
CS:
What was his show career like?
KA: Bam Bam was shown his first time as
a puppy on the Mission Circuit at the LA
County Fairgrounds. I entered him two
days that weekend. He was leash trained
but that was it. Brian Cordova had
agreed to show him those two days and at
PCA. Kirsten’s sister, Marianne, had
come from Denmark to attend those shows
with me as a vacation. The three of us
got him scissored and sprayed and into
the ring he went. Much to our delight he
loved the ring, going BOW, for a major
the first day and RWD the next. During
Marianne’s visit we decided that she
should take him to Denmark with her so
that Kirsten could show him there.
Co-breeder, Kirsten Nielsen also had
comments about Bam Bam’s show career
during the time she stayed with him and
afterward.
Kirsten wrote: From 1994 -
1997 Bam Bam was residing in Denmark
with me. During his stay in Denmark he
finished as Danish, Swedish Champion and
Copenhagen Winner 1996, he was a
multiple BOB winner along with 3 SBIS
and several group placings. We only
showed him about 4-5 times a year.
That time frame also included a short
visit back to the US, from April 1996 -
August 1996 with Kaz Hosaka, who had
handled both his sire and dam to their
American championships. Bam Bam returned
to Denmark in September 1996 as a US
Champion and multiple Group winner. Bam
Bam was noticed when he placed second in
the open dog class at PCA during his
stay with Kaz. He was recognized by many
different judges and they all
complemented him on his exquisite head,
lovely balanced body; standing & moving,
tight feet and effortless movement.
Bam Bam was a true poodle, a joy to show
and always gave full attention to his
handler; at times he could be a real
clown in the ring, but he was just
having fun. When he returned to
California to live with Kathy, he
retired from the conformation show ring.
CS:
Can you name some highlights of his
siring career?
KA: Bam Bam sired many champions in
several different countries. His best
known offspring in the United States is
Ch Greg- Mar Glory Bound, who is a
multiple BIS winner. A white bitch, Ch Trelarken’s Been There Done That, won an
AOM at PCA in 2006. Currently “Pansy” is
the number one non-sporting dog and
number four, all breeds in Canada.
Residing in Germany is BIS Winner, BIS
Veteran, International D, VDH, PL, CZL
Ch. Jouet Tresor De Plaisir. Bam Bam
also sired several group placing,
variety winning get and several puppy
champions. He passed on many outstanding
qualities to his get, including a joyful
temperament, beautiful headpiece, and
correct structure.
CS: Bam Bam sired one of the top winning
standard poodles, BIS BISS Ch. Greg-Mar
Glory Bound, “Justin”. Kaz Hosaka
handled Bam Bam’s parents, Bam Bam and
Justin, and said that each was a joy to
exhibit. Kaz commented that Justin was a
nice combination of his sire and dam,
with a beautiful headpiece, effortless
movement, and correct structure and
balance. Justin won 552 awards in AKC
conformation showing, including over 200
BOB wins, over 100 Group 1 wins, and
over 20 Bests in Show. Bam Bam was
prepotent in passing on correct
structure and beautiful heads, as
exemplified by Justin, his top winning
get. Bam Bam has also sired many
champions in the United States, Canada,
Europe, and Australia. He was not bred
extensively, but the bitches he was bred
to produced outstanding puppies and he
contributed to the standard poodle breed
more in quality than in quantity.
CS:
What traits could he be counted on
to contribute to a mating?
KA: He was very reliable in producing
dark pigment, head and expressions that
are the correct and preferred type,
according to the standard, pretty, well
arched feet, sweet temperaments,
beautiful head carriage.
CS:
Any special bloodlines that he
crossed especially well with?
KA: Whisperwind, White Farm, Sharbelle,
Trelarken, Safari, Cabernet.
CS:
Can you tell me about his health
testing, his overall health and that of
his offspring?
KA: Bam Bam was OFA good, VWD clear.
Tested and cleared regularly for SA and
CERF until be was about 12. He tested
low normal for thyroid several times in
his life but was never medicated for the
problem nor did he exhibit any symptoms.
As an old dog I had a thyroid specific
test done and he was well within the
normal range. He was part of the NE
[neonatal encephalopathy] study at the U
of Mo. to determine mode of inheritance.
He was determined to be a carrier late
in his stud carrier. In hindsight his
dam was possibly a carrier and his sire
most likely clear. Vanessa had one NE
puppy from her first litter. At that
time NE was unknown. My vet thought the
puppy wasn’t thriving due to an infected
dew claw. He suggested that I put her
down at about two weeks of age, which I
did. After watching the short video of
an affected puppy on the university site
I put two and two together, as the
actions of that puppy could have been
that of my puppy.
Gastric dilatation and volvulus
otherwise known as bloat, has occurred
in his get in three breedings of which I
am aware. To my knowledge [he has not
produced any dysplastic get], and all
offspring which have been x-rayed have
passed OFA. No Addison’s [disease] that
I’ve heard of. Two bitches produced
puppies with seizures. Both of those
bitches also produced seizures from
different sires as well (of course we
didn’t know that at the time of the
breedings).
Overall, Bam Bam reproduced very few
health problems. He lived to 14 years of
age, and passed away from cancer. His
offspring are also living happy, healthy
lives.
Bam Bam was bred to 30 bitches,
worldwide, to view his champion children
click here or in the navigation bar
click Bam Bam's offspring.
Various breeders sent comments on Bam
Bam and his get when hearing that Poodle
Variety was doing a feature on Bam Bam.
Here are their comments:
Tanis Gardner (Classique):
I started to notice a "type" in Bam
Bam's puppies at PCA that I really
admired. All of his offspring were
consistent for their gorgeous long
narrow heads, serious under jaws and
lovely small eyes. They all moved with
style and elegance. I wanted to add
those traits to the strengths in my
foundation bitch, Chelsea. I've always
thought that Minx was really the epitome
of both parents. She has that beautiful
Prestige head, under jaw and eyes. She
moves with elegance and style with an
outstanding head carriage.
Barbara Deer (My
Deer): Ch. My Deer Hollywood
Style, TP, won an Award of Merit at PCA
2001 and won best brood bitch the same
year. “Holly” has a BIS in a grooming
contest and several other impressive
wins. Several top groomers in the US and
Canada have used her for competition.
Her wonderful coat, structure and
temperament make her a standout at every
competition. Holly is a very important
part of the My Deer family and breeding
program. We dearly love her.
Susan (Hologram):
I have 2 wonderful Bam Bam kids!
Hologram First Recital, “Mallory”, is
currently in an agility class and doing
quite well. Her brother Joey is a great
performance dog, extremely smart and his
name and titles are: Hologram Piano Man,
CD, RN. He got his CD title last fall in
3 shows and completed his Rally Novice
title in June (again, 3 shows, 3 legs
and a title). I'm currently doing an
agility class with him too (he's ahead
of Mallory because he learns fast and
has no fear). She and Joey both have
their father's gorgeous heads, long
necks, wonderful temperament…
Mary Olund
(Cabernet): In 1996 Scott and I
were sent a video that had been taken at
the Danish Poodle Club Specialty. On the
video was a young white standard male
that caught our eye. We matched him up
with the copy of the catalog. As it
turned out he was an American dog that
had been sent to Denmark. His name was
Prestige I’ll Do Anything.
A few months later at PCA Nationals I
once again noticed a handsome white male
in the ring who was a standout. To my
amazement he was the same dog from the
United States who I had seen on the
Danish Specialty video. I said to
myself, “This will be fun. He’s here in
person.” I watched him in the ring as
Kaz took him around and again I loved
what I saw. When PCA videos came out I
again watched him and hoped that someday
we’d have a bitch to breed to him.
Four years later we had the bitch. We
thought what a wonderful phenotype match
up with our Bianca that breeding would
be. Questions began running through my
mind, “Would he be available and would
the breeder approve of Bianca, just to
name a couple”.
Scott made arrangements to see Bam Bam
in person and drove to Southern
California, as the dog was now back home
with Kathy. Scott called me after he
left Kathy’s and agreed with me that it
looked like Bianca and Bam Bam would be
a good match. Kathy had agreed with him.
We had a litter of seven healthy
beautiful puppies but couldn’t decide
which ONE to keep. We loved what Bam Bam
had brought to the breeding so we kept
four and all finished with ease.
Six years later, in 2006, we returned to
Bam Bam for his first
grandfather/granddaughter breeding. The
bitch we kept exemplifies what we think
Bam Bam gave to all of his breedings.
What we’ve seen with our puppies and in
many others has been: beautiful
headpieces, underjaw and chin, with
expression that melts your hear, long
necks, beautiful feet and tailsets, dark
pigment, carriage and, most important,
sweet temperaments that are a pleasure
to live with.
Deborah Foster
(Violet Poodles): [Bred to Bam
Bam’s son, Ch. Cabernet’s Cut to the
Chase, twice] Three from the first
litter finished their Canadian
Championship plus one American
Championship. Three from the second
litter finished their Canadian
Championships with one more to go plus
one American Championship. A lot of
these were from the Bred By Exhibitor
Classes. [Bam Bam was] such a marvelous
dog… A silver dog from this combination
recently won his first BIS in Australia.
Madeline Patterson (Summit): Jeannine
Sullivan and I have been collaborating
on a line of standards for 12+ years.
Some years ago I was researching
possible studs when someone suggested
Ch. Prestige I'll Do Anything. The first
time I saw Bam Bam I knew immediately
that we needed to have "that head" in
our breeding. A lovely long, clean head
with the most gorgeous under jaw I have
seen yet today. I was impressed by his
regal demeanor---every inch a gentleman.
Kathy showed me some movement photos of
BamBam during his show career and I knew
we had found the sire of our next
litter. He did not disappoint. We kept a
white bitch who finished quickly,
breeder owner handled, Ch. Glendaloch
Anabel of Summit. The decision to bring
Bam Bam into our breeding program is one
we have never regretted. I came to know
Bam Bam personally and had great
affection for him. To this day I can
often recognize "that head" when I see
one of his grandchildren in the ring.
The standard variety is greater for
having had Bam Bam's influence there.
Brian Cordova
(handler): So much
history!........ Sorry about Bam. I
loved him too. I have always believed he
had so much to offer the breed. I’m
thrilled that so many others were able
to appreciate his quality and ability to
reproduce his beautiful type so
consistently. He definitely had an
impact. May God bless him. Always and
forever.
Mary Kelly (admirer): God I am really
going to miss him. I feel I got here a
bit too late. To date
in my study he is my template to which I
compare all others. His daughters
are dwindling…The pain of losing such a
great one is devastating.....he was such
a work
of art.......
Christine Scruggs,
VMD (Tivin): Bam Bam was beyond
special and will be dearly missed. He
has given my family a most precious gift
– his daughter, Ch. Tivin Lauris Magic
Power, “Djinni” will be trained as a
service dog for our autistic son. Proof
positive that not only did he produce
champion puppies, but the best in
temperament, intelligence, and health.
Danielle Pesko (Lauris): I want to send
a special thank you to Kathy Arnold for
letting part of Bam Bam into our lives.
My most sincere condolences over his
loss. Christian (Ch Lauris Tivin
Incantation) and his siblings mean so
much to us. Bam Bam’s children’s type
and temperament are unmatched.
Cindy Parish (Fun
and Focus Agility): Bam Bam, with
his elegant head and intelligent
personality, sired my fourth generation
of standard poodles. The puppy I kept,
Kolgemme Believe I Can Fly MX, MXJ., “Fayth”
had a successful start in conformation
but agility became her true love. She
has extreme drive for the sport and is
the most athletic, intelligent dog I
have ever owned. Fayth is a beautiful
dog with a gorgeous head and loves
agility competition. Fayth is my loving
companion and dear to my heart. Thank
you Bam Bam for this dog of my lifetime.
Cynthia Huff
(Safari): Ch. Safari’s Stella By
Starlight was finished by my son Leigh,
when he was 11 years old at the Great
Lakes Poodle Club. He went Best of
Opposite to Best of Breed and later won
a Group 4. Leigh won a Best Junior
Handler at age 10 with Stella the first
weekend he showed her. He and Stella
qualified in Juniors and went to the
Invitationals in Calif (2003) and
Florida (2005) and qualified and went to
Westminster in 2004, 2005, and 2006.
Every year Leigh qualified for either
the Invitational or Westminster he and
Stella were in the Top Ten Juniors
showing in the Non-Sporting Group. Leigh
and Stella were featured in and on the
cover of /Time for Kids/ in 2004.
The future:
Bam Bam’s legacy
continues for Prestige and Abica:
Ch. Prestige Joyful Abandon, “Angie”, a
Bam Bam granddaughter living with Kathy
in California., and Nordic Ch Prestige I
Get It! “ Lacie”, living in Sweden, are
littermates. Angie whelped a litter of
two in May of 2007, sired by Bam Bam,
his last natural breeding. The boy,
Prestige I’ll Do It Again, call name
“Junior” will reside in Sweden with
Kirsten Nielsen, and the girl, Prestige
Anything Goes, call name “Hestia” will
remain in California with Kathy of
Prestige poodles. Kathy has also
retained frozen semen for future use.
|
