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For those of you starting to read this series for the first time, the information presented here is the third part of a series studying the great brood bitches of Quibbletown Kennels. As you will see we are still in the early days of Quibbletown, although Quibbletown is already, arguably, the dominant breeding and show kennel for Great Pyrenees in North America. Refer to the prior two editions of the Bulletin of the Great Pyrenees Club of America for details. In summary Quibbletown is already consistently winning the National Specialty and making history with their dogs in the breed and group ring. You must note as well that this is the "old" American Kennel Club Working Group. For those of you that do not know this group was the largest AKC Group. It was subsequently divided, giving us the present day Herding and Working Group. Just know it was VERY difficult for a dog to get a group placement from that lineup. This was especially true of a "rare" breed like the Great Pyrenees.
What has become apparent to me as this project has progressed is that I am writing a partial history of the breed from the early 1950's. Granted there are parts left out because there were a few other "dominant" kennels of the time. None other seems to have survived to influence the complete breed as did Quibbletown. When you look back at what Seaver and Edith Smith accomplished you know you have two people of tremendous talent, drive, and means. We can now see how this unfolded. Seaver says that Edith was the "brains" behind the operation. He says that this pursuit was a major part of her life and she dedicated it toward breeding and showing Great Pyrenees. We are fortunate that such a talented person would make this a lifelong quest. Remember, this young lady took her first Great Pyrenees to Radcliffe College with her. It is clear that Edith and Seaver knew what they were doing. They had a plan that was a winner. Basically they wanted to breed dogs like Tri-International and American Champion Estat d'Argeles (don't we all?). Talent and hard work, plus the knowledge and availability of early breeding stock, through essentially Cote de Neige, produced the record that is in evidence today.
Champion Quibbletown Dutchess was born July 14, 1954. Seaver Smith tells me she was a "Red Head", which means she was a Blaireau dog with red coloring. She was the get of Champion Bolero, out of Quibbletown Bouncing Bett, who we reviewed last installment. This breeding was a repeat breeding. The first breeding produced three Champions. One was Champion Quibbletown Parfait who won Best of the Opposite Sex at Great Pyrenees Club of America National Specialties in 1956 and 1958..
Dutchess won Best of the Opposite Sex at Great Pyrenees Club of America National Specialties in 1957, 1960, and 1961. It appears that Dutchess and her full sister, Champion Quibbletown Parfait, literally dominated the breed females for six years if wins at National Specialties can used as a measure.
We already know about Dutchess's Dam, Quibbletown Bouncing Bett. Refer to the October/November, 1995 issue (Part II) of the Bulletin of the Great Pyrenees Club of America for information about her. Dutchess's Sire, Champion Bolero is an interesting Dog. He was once described to me by Frankie Glover of Barqueill fame, as an "Old Fashioned" dog, who was rather rugged in appearance. A polite description for an ugly dog, but Bolero was, after all, by Champion Cote de Neige Symphonie. Champion Cote de Neige Symphonie was the first American Bred Best in Show Great Pyrenees and the first of the breed to win 100 Best of Breed wins.(1) Seaver Smith says that Champion Cote de Neige Symphonie was one of the most correct type dogs that he ever saw and was one of the best moving Pyrenees in the history of the breed. Seaver says he would easily be a top dog today. Champion Ibos du Val d'Aure is Symphonie's Great Grandsire on both Sire and Dam side, along with Champion Bazen de Soum, Champion Arizes de Soum, and American and Canadian Champion Zayda Van Euskara, the foundation bitch at Cote de Neige. This is classic "de Soum" breeding seen several generations later. More on this another time.
I will produce a three generation pedigree of Dutchess below:
Champion Cote de Neige Symphonie
Champion Bolero
Sultane of Add-En-On
Champion Cote de Neige Nivereau
Quibbletown Bouncing Bett
Cote de Neige Actrice
Dutchess has a Coefficient of Inbreeding of 11.6. Dutchess found time to whelp at least two litters. The first whelped 2/17/58 was by Champion Lorvaso de la Colina. This breeding produced Quibbletown Misadventure, through who just a few generations later we see such notable dogs of today as American and Canadian Champion Ventisquero Friend of the Devil and Celidad de Pastoure who was Winners Bitch at the 1980 Great Pyrenees Club of America's National Specialty the first time a Frenchman, Monsieur Guy Mansencal, judged the National Specialty. I am sure there is much more to tell about the results of this breeding that I do not know. It appears that the progeny went to Canada early on, as we see it coming back into my records from both the Canadian dogs above.
The other breeding I show in my data base is by Champion Quibbletown Basque. This breeding produced Champion Quibbletown Beaucoup II through whose offspring we see just a few generations later such pivotal dogs as Champion Tip' N Chip Roxanne (3 generations removed), and her son Champion Tip' n Chip Sonny Side Up. Other progeny of Champion Quibbletown Beaucoup II are Champion Maranatha Space Commander, American and Canadian Champion Esprit Blanc, Champion Pyrson K'Laska of Summerhill, Champion Basqmier's Splendid Spanky, and many other important dogs.
This breeding also produced Champion Quibbletown Chanson de Geste who is the Sire of Champion Tip' N Chip's Mont-Chanson, the original "Sonny" at Tip'N Chip. The words of Judy Bankus-Cooper: "In our travels we came across a male Pyrenees, Champion Quibbletown Chanson de Geste, owned by Mrs. H. Everist and handled by Rex Vandeventer, from Sioux City, Iowa. We felt he was, by far, the best Pyr we had seen. We bred Champion Tip 'N Chip's Mountvalea to him and produced one of the best things that ever happened to our kennel, Champion Tip 'N Chip's Mont-Chanson. He was our original 'Sonny'. There have been many Sonny's connected with our kennel, but he was the first and responsible for the others. We repeated the breeding, which produced several champions from both litters. We also bred Anie, a litter sister to him. Amazingly, these were the only puppies he ever sired. His get were the foundation we built our kennel on."(2) We see to this day "Sonny" in the many great dogs out of Tip' N Chip.
Time for a little name dropping of progeny of Champion Quibbletown Chanson de Geste: Champion Tip 'N Chip Mont Chanson (AKA "Sonny"), Champion Starlaxy Benjamin Indus, Champion Kaskadian Idyll Gossip, Champion Starlaxy Christmas Jupitor, Champion Trottenfox I'm a Tuff Tip 'N Chip, Champion Wyndsong's Whitney, Champion Tip 'N Chip Foolish Pleasure, Champion Starlaxy Gauguin Pyrfection, Champion VilleVieux Le Roi, Champion Kenneview's Grand Slam, Champion Lucky of Nikris, Champion Tip' N Chip Sonny's L'Aire, Champion Rivergroves If Looks Could Kill, Champion Rivergroves Ivory Princess, Champion Rivergroves Run For The Roses, Champion Starlaxy Duke UFO, Champion Pyrson K'Laska of Summerhill, Champion Pyr Haven Tonto Indian Summer and many others.
Note that "Sonny" bred to Champion Tip' N Chip Quibbletown Impy, by Champion Quibbletown Impresario and out of Champion Quibbletown Carlotta, produced Champion Tip' N Chip's Image, Champion Tip' N Chip's Reflection, and others. This demonstrates how instrumental Quibbletown generally was and Champion Quibbletown Dutchess in particular in the progeny of Tip' N Chip.
Nineteen descendants of Dutchess became either Best of Breed or Best of the Opposite Sex at Great Pyrenees Club of America National Specialties. Thirty one descendants of Dutchess now appear on the top Producer list for the breed.
Finally note from Visualizations of the Standards (3). Dutchess is still considered as a ideal representation of the breed by many.
Quibbletown Titian Beauty was whelped May 14, 1953. She was another "Red Head", hence her name. She was the get of the original dogs at Quibbletown, Champion Cote de Neige Guerrier and Champion Cote de Neige Ariette II. More information on Ariette II can be found in the September/October issue of the Bulletin of the Great Pyrenees Club of America. She has a coefficient of inbreeding of 11.1. Full siblings of Titian Beauty are Cote de Neige Fleurette, Quibbletown Athene, Champion Quibbletown Easter Token, Champion Cote de Neige Mimi, Champion Quibbletown Chloe of Beau Kay, Quibbletown Samson, and Champion Quibbletown Small Fry.
A three generation pedigree of Titian Beauty follows:
Champion Cote de Neige Roncevaux
Champion Cote de Neige Guerrier
Champion La Shan Damioselle Sicile
Champion Cote de Neige Nivereau
Champion Cote de Neige Ariette II
Cote de Neige Actrice
My records show Titian Beauty was bred at least two times to Champion Lorvaso de la Colina. These breeding's produced Champion Quibbletown Cinderella, U.D., Champion Quibbletown Windsor, Quibbletown Zephire, and Quibbletown Serena.
Champion Quibbletown Windsor was bred to Champion Quibbletown Lee of Ralfrans. The result of this breeding produced one of the most important litters in the western United States. The breeding produced Champion Count Athos of Ralfrans, C.D., Jacqueline of Ralfrans, Lady Zsa Zsa of Ralfrans, and Suzanne of Ralfrans. This combination combined with the progeny of such dogs as Champion Basquaerie Monte Cristo, Champion La Shan Marc of Basquaerie, and Champion Sunset Knoll Basquaerie Beau give us some of the resulting very unique "blood" enjoyed now in California, Washington/Oregon, and Western Canada. Understand the origin of these genes. The important ancestors of Quibbletown Titian Beauty and Champion Quibbletown Windsor are Estat d'Argeles, Ibos du Val d'Aure, and Lawrence of Combermere, with the "blood" of Ibos and Lawrence being significantly increased from Mother to Son i.e. Titian Beauty to Windsor. Lets drop some names of descendants of Champion Quibbletown Windsor. The list includes Champion Euzkotar Ibn Ibn Koshare, Champion Kaskadian's Skookumchuk Kid, Champion Euzkotar Crime of the Century, Champion Pompier Euzkotar Fancy Lovin, American and Canadian Champion Euskari's Kaskadian Everstar, American and Canadian Champion Euzkotar Nantani, Champion Mistry Tecumsah at Catlin, Canadian Champion Ventisquero's Fleetwood Mac, Champion Euzkotar Dire Straits, and many others.
Quibbletown Zephire was bred one time to Quibbletown Bouncing Bett. This breeding produced Champion Quibbletown Basque and Champion Quibbletown Basquaise. Refer to the September/October Bulletin for more information about this breeding, but suffice it to note that Champion Quibbletown Basque through his offspring Champion Quibbletown Chanson de Geste and Champion Quibbletown Beaucoup II was very important to present day dogs. Also refer to information above.
Champion Quibbletown Basquaise was bred to Champion Quibbletown Jim Dandy, Champion Quibbletown Impresario, and Champion Quibbletown Good Time Charlie. Sounds like an honor role. Basquaise bred with Champion Quibbletown Good Time Charlie produced a dog, Quibbletown Charming Tim. From this we see a few generations later Champion Basquay's Yogi Bear and his offspring that includes Champion Basquay's Teddy Bear. These dogs are very prominent in Pedigrees primarily in Western United States. American and Canadian Champion Quibbletown Minute Man appears to have gone to Canada. My records are very spotty here but I do see dogs of Ventisquero, and some dogs with Galaxy prefix (Kennel name subsequently changed to Starlaxy).
Quibbletown Parfait II, (Champion Quibbletown Impresario out of Quibbletown Basquaise), is an important ancestor of Cavalier breeding , through Quibbletown Marie France, that has been so prominent in the western United States. More on them later. Quibbletown Titania, also by Impresario, is the Dam of Champion Quibbletown Terrible Tyrant, one of the foundation dogs at Barqueill and a prominent ancestor of Pyrfection and many others.
Quibbletown Titian Beauty was one of the pivotal dogs at Quibbletown. Not only was the breeding to Lorvaso de la Colina one of the most important breeding in breed history, her full brothers and sisters are very important as they were line bred in many combinations and in many peoples hands over the years. Lorvaso was so important, but ultimately it takes "two to tango" and the dance partner many times was the gene pool represented by Titian Beauty. Seaver says she was a special beauty to them.
Quibbletown Serena was born September 1, 1958. Her Sire is Champion Lorvaso de la Colina, out of Quibbletown Titian Beauty. Serena was another "Red Head", the third one referenced in our title. Seaver and Edith both loved the red color. Seaver feels they lost the color by breeding out a trait they did not want. Seaver tells me Serena lived 16 years and never left their property. He said it was one of the saddest days in their lives when her end came.
Full siblings of Serena are Champion Quibbletown Cinderella, U.D., Champion Quibbletown Windsor, and Quibbletown Zephire. Quibbletown Serena is from the second breeding of Champion Lorvaso de la Colina and Quibbletown Titian Beauty. Find a three generation pedigree that follows.
Champion Loramo de la Colina
Champion Lorvaso de la Colina
Vanosa de la Colina
Champion Cote de Neige Guerrier
Quibbletown Titian Beauty
Champion Cote de Neige Ariette II
My records show Serena bred four times. Two breeding's were to Champion Quibbletown Henri of Navarre, C.D, and one time to Quibbletown Request and Champion Quibbletown Jim Dandy respectively. When we talk about Serena we are getting serious about more contemporary dog pedigrees. Quibbletown Samantha a daughter with Henri was bred to Champion Quibbletown Impresario, Champion Quibbletown Jim Dandy, and Champion Quibbletown Merry Maker. Again, sounds like a "Who's Who". Quibbletown Samantha bred to Champion Quibbletown Impresario produced Quibbletown French Doll. From this we find such descendants as Champion Kobil's Louis Pastoure, Champion VilleVieux Madam Bovary, Champion Starlaxy Benjamin Indus, and many others.
Samantha bred to Jim Dandy produced Champion Quibbletown Applejack, Champion Quibbletown Moonshine, and Quibbletown Samovar. Briefly, as I know this is becoming tedious, Champion Quibbletown Applejack is responsible for just a few generations later Champion Kobil's Louis Pasteur, Champion Limberlost Valentino, Champion Quibbletown Justin Time II, Champion Noah's Inspiration, Champion Schnee Bar Snaft Angel, and many others. Champion Quibbletown Moonshine has descendants such as American & Canadian Sherando's Sundancer, Champion Rivergrove's Designer Genes, Champion Rivergroves Here Is The Black, Quibbletown Billy Deaux, Champion Quibbletown T G of Basquaerie, Champion Kaskadian's Skookumchuk Kid, Champion Caspyr's Love Lady Love, Champion Caspyr's Victoria Secret Echo, Champion Avancer Amorous Annie, Champion Snowbear Ramona Lisa, Champion Sesom Lady Natasha, Champion Quibbletown Step Aside. Champion Quibbletown Oliver Twist, Champion Glynnfarm Rock of Cashel, Champion Pyr Haven's Indian Princess, Champion Starlaxy Duke, UFO, Champion Tip'N Chip Pride D'Argeles, and many others. From Quibbletown Samovar we see just a few generations later Champion Maranatha Space Commander, Basqmier's Splendid Spanky, and others.
Quibbletown Samantha bred to Champion Quibbletown Merry Maker, produced Champion Quibbletown Athos from who we see just a few generations later such dogs as Champion Quibbletown Juggernaut (a Best in Show winner), Champion Karolaska Slugger, Champion Wyndsong's Whitney, Champion Quibbletown Beau Cavalier, and many others.
Quibbletown Glad Rags, a son of Jim Dandy and Serena, bred to Quibbletown Ariadne produced a dog named Champion Quibbletown Sock it to Em (AKA Clyde). Clyde went to Karolaska, then in Alaska, and along with Quibbletown Queeka Bear was essentially a foundation dog for that line. I am not overlooking nor would I ever minimize the importance of Balibasque Beau of Karolaska, C.D. or Champion El Amor Bruno Balibasque. This study is on Quibbletown.
Quibbletown Bon Suzette, a daughter of Serena by Champion Henri of Navarre, C.D., bred to Quibbletown Nero the Great produced a bitch, Nyoka de la Colina. Nyoka de la Colina, was bred at least three times to Champion Pyr-Haven Shamrock (the old Western Pyr-Haven kennel) was one of the important breeding's at Dar-Jan. This breeding produced Champion Dar-Jans Quille de Milieu, Champion Dar-Jan's Bijou Crystal and others.
Serena bred with Quibbletown Regent, produced Quibbletown Poupette. Poupette bred to Champion Quibbletown Beau Olard produced Canadian Champion Quibbletown Thor through which we see many Canadian dogs with Kennel names such as Limberlost. We see some of these descendants reenter the United States through American and Canadian Champion Lawrence of Limberlost and through Champion Pyr Laynes Alex of Anayobon, as well as others.
When I search my data base, for all dogs whelped after 01/01/61 who have been either Best of Breed or Best of the Opposite Sex at the National Speciality of the Great Pyrenees Club of America I find that 39 out of a total possible 56 dogs are descended from Serena. This same data base tells me that out of a total possible 103 dogs that currently appear on the "Top Producer" list, 60 are descended from Serena. The ancestors contributing the most genetic influence on Serena are Estat d'Argeles(12%), Toy de Soum(10.6%), Ibos de Val d'Aure(18%), and Lawrence of Combermere(21.9%). No surprise other than the old French dog Toy de Soum still exhibiting over 10% influence after 7 to 10 generations.
Seems I made at least one mistake in the last installment that I want to correct as I feel it is historically important. I wrote, "Can you imagine having a beautiful stud dog fresh from the best of de Soum, de Langladure, and a small amount of Pic du Jer, that features Estat de Soum and Toy de Soum as central gene contributors." Estat de Soum is incorrect. It should read Estat d'Argeles. Also I notice I was not very through identifying Lawrence's heritage. I will include a three generation pedigree for your reference.
Champion Ibos du Val d'Aure
Champion Houx de Noel
Champion Arizes de Soum
Champion Basquaerie Marsous
Basquaerie Lohilu
Basquaerie Marie-Blanque
1. The Great Pyrenees, Mary W. Crane, 1949, Advance Printing Service, Reprinted by Holflin Publishing, 1989, Page 93.
2. The Great Pyrenees Annual, 1982, Volume 2, 1982, "Judith G. Bankus; The Great Pyrenees Annual talks with Judith G. Bankus", P. 32.
3. Visualizations of the Standards, copyright 1962, Popular Dogs Publishing Company.