Weimaraner wins Best of Breed at Westminster

HARDWICK - The Weimaraner that took home a best of breed ribbon from the 2017 Westminster Kennel Club dog show came from a breeder in the small Central Massachusetts town of Hardwick.

Reinhard V. Dietz, a 4-year-old from Starwood Kennel, won the honor at Madison Square Garden during the show, which ran Feb. 11-14. The dog is now campaigning with plans for a big year in 2017, breeder Gale Young said.

"He is just about perfect," Mrs. Young, who has been breeding Weimaraners for 43 years, said. "He's a great dog and he's also exceptional."

At home, Marco, as he's called for short, was a happy dog with a good disposition. He seems to have a winning attitude.

"He's very proud of himself," Mrs. Young said. "He knows he's a handsome fellow."

Originally, Marco was sold by his breeder but he was later returned, though Mrs. Young can't recall the exact reason. When she looked at him then, she knew he was special.

"It's hard to get a really good stud dog," she said, adding that Marco has sired some beautiful puppies.

Breeding dogs, she explained, is like creating art. The right female, the right male and the best qualities of both can combine for a spectacular puppy.

Weimaraners were originally bred to hunt big game but later became useful in bird hunting and as companion dogs. They are loyal and can be protective, Mrs. Young said, though they're not for everyone.

"I tell people it's like getting a child," she said of those who buy puppies from her.

They like to be busy and they have a great deal of energy. Some of her dogs have been photographed by William Wegman who's known for his photographs of the breed.

While the Hardwick kennel has won several titles, Marco was the first dog to win Best of Breed at Westminster. He was the No. 4 dog in 2016 and Mrs. Young is hoping his ranking will improve this year.

Mrs. Young said she and her husband, Kenan Young, selected Amy Tourond from North Carolina to handle Marco. She said she likes Ms. Tourand's style because she works with a few dogs at a time so there's more individual attention.

"When you hire a professional handler, they're on top of their game. She's like that," Mrs. Young said. Ms. Tourand had been handling the top female dog in the country and when word that the dog would be retiring reached the Youngs, they asked Ms. Tourand to handle Marco.

Now Marco stays with Ms. Tourand as they head from show to show, something that Mrs. Young said, leaves a bit of a hole in their home.

"We do miss him," she said.

But she'll see the dog this weekend at the Rockland County Kennel Club Dog Show at The Big E in West Springfield.