an interview with heidi rolfes (wampum maltese)
Sunday, January 11, 2009 8:50 PM                
 
All about Wampum Coco Chanel "Coco" : after her back-to-back Best Puppy in Show awards at the Eastern Districts and Roodepoort & Districts Shows
  
     
 

Photo © Lasting Image Photography

SHOWDOGS: Congratulations, Heidi, on winning back-to-back Best Puppy in Show with Wampum Coco Chanel at the Eastern Districts and Roodepoort & Districts Championship Shows. This is a unique achievement, but you are no stranger to the winner's podium. How do you feel about these wins?
Heidi: The ultimate thrill is winning with your own breeding! Coco is third generation Wampum. She is the grand-daughter of Ch. & Ch.(Zim) Wampum Big Foot, pick of my first litter.

SHOWDOGS: Can you describe the experience of winning and how long it took afterwards for you to come back to earth?
Heidi:The incredible honour of winning under Geoff Corish is an experience I will treasure for life. I am still on cloud nine. Every time I look at Coco I get tears in my eyes. Winning again under Alex McKinlay the next day was just wonderful. And of course, at her first show just 3 weeks ago Coco won Reserve BPIS (All breeds) under Edwina Thomas. Coco is not a cuddly, kissy dog - she's very independent but, believe me, she has had to endure a lot of cuddling and kissing in the last 3 days.

  
 

SHOWDOGS: Please tell the readers the call name and age of your dog.
Heidi: Wampum Coco Chanel is called everything from Coco, Coc Chanel, Coco (with a French accent) Chanel, Chanellie, Manelli etc. For the record, let's say 'Coco'. She is 10 months old.

SHOWDOGS: What are the names of her sire and dam?
Heidi: Dam: Ch. C and M's Secret Garden (Imp USA) - my beautiful 'Suzie' (top Toy 2003)
Sire: Ch Wampum Pied Piper - my lovely 'Maus' (who is currently in Italy).

SHOWDOGS: What made you choose her from her littermates?
Heidi: Coco was one of only 2 puppies in her litter but I lost her brother during birth. He was as beautiful as her and very similar. I could not get him out in time. I sat and stared at him for hours afterwards, he had the most beautiful nose leather, so defined and chiselled. Breeding is not for the faint-hearted and the heartache involved is tremendous. But the joy of life does make the sadness fade after a while.

SHOWDOGS: You've shown under a large number of judges. Which ones have left a good impression in terms of their ring manner and judging procedure?
Heidi: A great dog person always makes a good judge. My all time favourite must be the late Harry Jordan, then there is Ellis Hulme and now Geoff Corish. I am also very fond of the good Australian judges and we have some very talented and compassionate judges in South Africa. I think that if a person really loves dogs the dogs sense it and seem to be more at ease. A good ring steward is always a plus! I just wish we would stop crowding each other in the line-ups like we do. I can name and thank many more judges here but as the good Captain Hogg said on Sunday: "Don't thank me, thank your dog."

SHOWDOGS: · Grooming theMaltese is obviously a time-consuming labour of love. How long does it take to groom one dog? How much time to you need to devote weekly to the grooming process?
Heidi: Bathing and drying a dog for a show takes 2 hours per dog and then another 30 minutes to an hour at the show to take out wraps and put in top knots. I bath my show dogs every 2-3 days as they are white and stain easily. Vicki Herrieff (Snowgoose) once said to me that showing Maltese is character building. The test is a person still showing a Maltese in full coat at 2 years of age. Only then can they claim to know how to groom a Maltese.

SHOWDOGS: Where did you learn your grooming techniques?
Heidi: Books are a good start but there is nothing like watching an experienced handler grooming and preparing their dogs.

SHOWDOGS: How many dogs and how many different breeds do you own and co-own?
Heidi: I own 12 Maltese, the eldest is 14 and the youngest is 4 months old.

SHOWDOGS: Are you an active breeder? How many litters have you bred?
Heidi: Yes, I have bred about 16 litters in total over the last 13 years.

SHOWDOGS: · Your kennel name "Wampum" is interesting. How did you happen upon this name?
Heidi: Wampum is a North American Indian word that is used to describe pearls, shells, beads and other precious stones carried in strings around the neck for decoration and to be used as barter. My interpretation is 'pearly white precious jewels' which is what my dogs are to me.

SHOWDOGS: · Tell us about your next "rising star".
Heidi: Oh, that would definitely be Coco Chanel! Although, little Kimba (Wampum Snow Queen) is also waiting in the wings.

SHOWDOGS: Thank you for your participation, Heidi. SHOWDOGS wishes you continued success in 2005 and beyond.

 

  
                     
         
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