Bob Shailer & Phil Lasswell | Janus Show Dogs

Interview with Bob Shailer & Phil Lasswell, Breeders of Janus Show Dogs

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Where do you live? How many years in dogs? How many years as a breeder? What is your kennel name?
2. In your opinion, is your breed in good condition overall? Any trends that warrant concern?
3. As a Preservation Breeder, can you share your thoughts on the sport today? How’s the judging these days?
4. What are some of the challenges encountered along the road to full AKC recognition? What are some of the challenges as a preservation breeder? As an Exhibitor?
5. In your opinion, is social media good for the sport? Is it harmful?
6. What are the biggest challenges facing the dog show community as a whole today and how can these be addressed?
7. What are some of the positive changes you’ve seen in the sport over the past decade?

Bob Shailer & Phil Lasswell

1. JANUS SHOW DOGS consists of partners Bob Shailer and Phil Lasswell. We were both raised with purebred dogs and have always loved animals in general. We live 40 miles S.E. of Tucson in the small town of Benson, Arizona. In Seattle, in 1983, we had our first champion-sired litter of West Highland White Terriers. It wasn’t until the mid-1980s when we purchased our first AKC show dog. We showed and bred Chow Chows and Japanese Chins on a small scale. We stopped showing and breeding dogs in 2007. In 1994, we started our Alpaca ranch and bred Champion Alpacas for 26 years. After we retired in 2013, we moved from Spokane, Washington, to Arizona. That’s when we decided to show and start breeding dogs again. We show Bolognese, Mudik, and occasionally, Toy Fox Terriers.

2. The Bolognese breed has been in the US for many years. We have several dedicated breeders who have imported bloodines from the Netherlands and other parts of Europe. The focus of the Bolognese breeders has been maintaining healthy, sound dogs with good temperaments. The American Bolognese Club has recommended to test the Bolognese patellas and eyes with veterinarians. We see many sound examples of the breed in the ring. We occasionally see Bolognese that are not square or are too low on leg. Most breeders are working very hard to maintain the squareness of the breed as stated in the AKC Bolognese Breed Standard. Incorrect bites and poor pigment in the breed can sometimes pop up.

3. The Bolognese was accepted into the Miscellaneous Class in June of 2024. We are very new to the breed, but we feel it was necessary to exhibit top-quality examples of the Bolognese breed since very few Bolognese are being shown. There are a little over 510 Bolognese in the US, and we feel it is important to showcase the breed and mentor other potential breeders and exhibitors. It is really about the dogs, not us. Education and exposure to the public will help this breed grow. Judging has been very good. Some judges have experience judging the Bolognese. Some do not. However, it is always great to see judges checking the AKC Standard or asking questions about the breed. We have plenty of dog shows but not enough exhibitors in the ring.

4. The challenge along the road to full recognition is the fact that we have so few Bolognese breeders and exhibitors in the ring. We need 10 Bolognese to obtain their Certificate of Merit. We have two Certificates of Merit and another breeder in the Northwest has two. We have owned several breeds over the years and the Bolognese are wonderful, happy, intelligent, clean dogs. They do not shed but require frequent brushing, especially to maintain a show coat. They are not a yappy breed or very active. They are quite sturdy for their size. In our opinion, they are almost the perfect small breed of dog.

5. Social media has been very good for the Bolognese breed. The American Bolognese Club has a Facebook page. They have educational information posted daily. Our club officers and members are really wonderful to work with. They really care about the breed.

6. We want more Bolognese to be shown in the US and we need good mentors to help newcomers to the breed. Judges’ education will be extremely important. We want the Bolognese to remain square, outgoing, with beautiful coats with long flocks of wavy, open ringlets all over the body. They have shorter hair on their face. We do not want the breed to become a sculptured breed like the Bichon or a complete drop-coat like a Maltese. They need to be shown in a fairly natural coat without over-grooming them for show.

7. We think the judges are taking the time to learn about the rarer breeds and understand the importance of protecting and preserving these breeds. Promotion of the Bolognese breed is key to its success. The sport can offer other activities for breeds to excel in besides Conformation shows, which is a plus.