Introduction

It is a privilege to be the first breed presenter in this exciting new series of online seminars, a first in our sport. Though I am sure that you are as weary as Chris and I are of polls and surveys this time of the year, I'd like to point out that the AKC Gazette readers' survey indicated that a very high percentage of subscribers read ALL the breed columns each month, though most readers own only one or two breeds.

The subscribers to this list are a much more dedicated group of dog men and women than the average Gazette subscriber, and I hope that ALL of you will follow and/or participate in each breed of the week as I plan to do, for the wealth of experience that we have collectively is sure to enrich us personally.

My path to this point started with a rescue Borzoi bitch in 1974, who I showed in obedience for five years. No one ever has just one Borzoi, and having a competitive personality, I started to search for a show dog within a couple of months of discovering my first, and life has never been the same.

I been active in all facets of the dog sport as obedience trainer, lure coursing judge and active owner-handler. With my husband Chris, (Christopher Tilghman Neale) I have bred 40 Borzoi Champions, including Specialty, Futurity, Sweepstakes, Hound Group and Top Ten winners, and almost as many lure coursing and obedience titled dogs from sixteen litters.

In addition to Borzoi, we have owned and shown several Salukis, Siberian Huskies, a Finnish Spitz, and a 13" Beagle.

For the past few years, I have had the privilege of judging Borzoi at all breed shows, and Specialties both here and overseas, and now am approved to give an opinion in eight other Hound breeds as well. In 1998, I will have the honor of judging the Borzoi National Specialty in Wisconsin.

Since 1993, I have served as the Judges' Education Coordinator for the Borzoi Club of America, developing a slide program that I have been able to present to many different judges' groups around the country. Currently, I am chairman of the revision committee for our 26 year old Interpretation of the Standard. We are making extensive use of computer enhanced photographs, to update an excellent text that will be changed very little. Some of those photographs will be available to you this week.

To those of you who have put in good words on line about past Borzoi Seminars and Study Groups, thanks… you're too kind… keep it up!