Ringside Interview

Name: Janet Maas

Kennel Name & Breed(s): Akiba Australian Terriers

From: South Carolina

E-mail or website addy: http://www.akibaaussies.com akibajm@earthlink.net

Ch Akiba's Guilty As Sin winning the Veterans Group at Myrtle Beach Kennel Club Alibi is my first home bred CH and is 9 years old. He was nationally ranked in breed points when I campaigned him and is the sire & grand sire of group winning & placing dogs.

Am, Can, Fin & Swe Ch Avocation Arctic Manifest

bred by Orvokki Lamsa; Finland owned by Janet Maas.This Konsta son is a multiple group dog in both United States and Canada. He finished his Canadian CH in three shows and his American undefeated.

Current Titled Dogs: Am, Can, Fin & Swe Ch Avocation Arctic Manifest,

Ch Bearsteps Outback Annie of Akiba, ROM-X, CGC, Ch Akiba's Guilty As Sin, Ch Tarcrest TN of D'Aosta, Ch Akiba's Cosmic Blues, Ch Akiba's Constant Comment, Ch Akiba's Ragtime Cowboy, Ch Akiba's Eclipse Of The Heart, Ch Akiba's Outback Josie Wales, Ch Benayr Love Potion

Dogs presently being shown: Ch Benayr Worldwide Webster, Akiba's Arctic Blues, Akiba's Bad Boy Boogie, Ch Benayr Lov Potion

No. of years as an exhibitor: 15 about 14 in conformation and 1 year in obedience. Also exhibited in 4-H obedience as a child and grew up with my Mother breeding & exhibiting Pekes and my sister Afghans. Do horse shows count?? <LOL> I did horse shows from the time I was 11 till I graduated from high school.

No. of years as a breeder: 13 years breeding Australian Terriers and believe it or not about 5 years breeding cats!!

How did you first get started in your primary breed? I had an Akita in obedience and a friend in Akita's encouraged me to join the Great Kansas City Dog Training Club. I was looking at smaller breeds as I had become interested in Conformation. The breeder of my foundation bitch Annie and her husband raised Bloodhounds for tracking and had trained two Australian Terriers as drug detection dogs. He was the guest at the obedience club meeting and brought the Aussies with him to demonstrate their ability. I found them to be so bright & charming that I started looking at Australian Terriers. I would see Annie's breeder at shows, she had a litter on the way and I was very fortunate to get a show puppy from this litter.

This Alibi son was my first home bred group placer. He was nationally ranked and has produced champion offspring.

My new champion Ch Benayr Love Potion bred by Susan Bentley owned by Janet Maas Gypsy is a Konsta grand daughter and out of Ch Akiba's The Go To Guy. After her first show she's been undefeated.

Mentors: At first there was no one close in my breed. I learned a lot from Irma Gibson who lives in Nebraska and breeds Wire Fox and Australian Terriers and was a professional handler for many years. After moving to South Carolina I had the good fortune to meet the late Beth McCracken who taught me a lot about grooming, specialing, show politics & the breed. Another mentor was the late Cathy Babins who was an all breed handler & also raised Australian Terriers, I'm currently trying to carry on some of her bloodline. Currently my mentor is probably Joan Bailey who has bred Silky Terriers for about 25 years and Aussies with her late husband Jack & is also a professional handler. I have had to find most of my good friends and mentors primarily outside my breed due to geography. I also found I could learn from people in other breeds & take that information & apply it to my breed.

All Time Favorite Show Dogs: There are so many dogs I admire. Most dogs that impress me are not the heavily campaigned & advertised dogs. The first that come to mind are Ch Russett Hills Cavet Callah. I'll never forget her performace at the Garden when she went on point in the group and almost brought the house down! The Norfolk Terrier Wicket, I can't remember her registered name but she was from Barbara Miller. The dog was so charming and the all time top winning Norfolk bitch. We always laugh that I'm President of the fan club for Ch Charthill Water Lily the Scottish Terrier. We were always in the group together when I was specialing Alibi. Ch Calirose Prize Patrol the top winning Border Terrier of all time. I saw him win his first Best, he always showed his heart out and was never down. In my breed Ch Crestwoods Crackerjack who made such an impact on the breed, both with his winning record and offspring.

What do you look for in a show prospect? in a Terrier it has to be attitude. you want a correct dog but if you don't have the proper Terrier temperament it's a tough show road.

BEST piece of advice you have ever been given: Some days you win when you shouldn't, some days you lose when you shouldn't it all evens out. Advise I remember (didn't come from dogs) was don't sweat the small stuff and always remember that all problems are small problems.

WORST piece of advice you have ever been given: Can't think of any unless it was a particular dog that was recommended to breed to.

My advice to new exhibitors and breeders:

It's only a dog show. In other words there far greater problems in life. In the overall scheme of things how much difference is a dog show going to make. Sounds funny but we give so much to dogs and exhibiting you really need to keep things in perspective. As far as breeding, you need a plan. You have to think generations ahead of what your going to do and where you want to go and have an ideal dog in your mind that you want to strive towards.

Am, Fin & Swe Ch Tatongs Eclipse Of The Moon owned by Orvokki Lamsa; Finland Leased by Janet Maas Award of Merit Westminster Kennel Club 2000.  Konsta was 7 years old in this picture. I was fortunate to have him as a house guest for over a year.

Ch Bearsteps Outback Annie of Akiba, ROM-X, CGC Annie is my foundation bitch. I was very fortunate to start out with such a good girl. Not only is she the foundation for all my current Aussies but my best friend and bed buddy; who doesn't think twice about telling me what she thinks! Ch finished at 13 months with a breed win over Specials and a Group 3 but her biggest win to me was her Veteran win at the Aussie Specialty at Hatboro Kennel Club in 2001 at 12 years old.

Most memorable moment: winning Award of Merit at the Garden with Am, Fin & Swe Ch Tatongs Eclipse of the Moon