Miniature Pinschers:

One Woman’s Best Friend

ROME--It has often been said that a dog is man’s best friend. If that is the case, 91-year-old Veronica Stabb -- a resident of Rome Memorial Hospital’s 82-bed Residential Health Care Facility (RCHF) --has more friends than most.

Stabb has been the proud owner/dog breeder of hundreds of miniature pinschers for almost 60 years. She has entered her "friends" in numerous dog competitions and has taken home many blue ribbons and rosettes.

Today, she still owns 15 of her precious dogs who live with other miniature pinscher breeders in the Northeast. And, every once in awhile, she receives a visit from "her Chloe" --as she affectionately refers to one of her favorites—at the RHCF. Pet visits are common in the RCHF, which is also home to three cats, several birds, and fish. Pets make the RCHF feel more like home.

Chloe and four of Stabb’s other dogs are currently housed at a kennel owned by Pat Fealey of Delanson, NY (near Schenectady), who bought her first miniature pinscher in 1969 from Stabb with her very first paycheck. Fealey tells of how Stabb paraded Chloe down the hall recently in front of Rome Memorial Hospital’s nursing staff during a recent visit. "She was walking her like she was in a show. Stabb still has that show gene in her," said Fealey laughing.

Stabb’s love and fascination with the miniature pinscher breed, also known as the King of Toys or court jester, began around 1942, when she owned a kennel outside North Bay, NY. At the beginning, her kennel housed numerous other breeds including Dobermans, Pekingese, Irish Setters, ManchesterTerriers (Standard), Manchester Terriers (Toy), Pomeranians, Beagles, and German Shepherds, among others.

But that changed when she saw a purebred miniature pinscher at a dog show. "When I saw them, I knew that’s what I wanted. I liked their ways —they are very affectionate—and they also make good watch dogs. They are smart, little dogs."

So what is one to do if they don’t have enough money to buy them?

"I cashed my war bonds to buy my first two miniatures, which came to about $400 at the time." Today, most purebred miniature pinschers cost in the range of $500 to $1,500, with some even higher.

It wasn’t long before Stabb began entering her miniature pinschers in competitions. "When I had my first champion, she was royalty," she explained with a twinkle in her eye. "She was friendly to everybody."

Stabb has owned 18 champion miniature pinschers, which is an indication of the high quality and healthiness of her dogs. Miniature pinschers are judged on the shape of the head, their expression, hackneyed gait (which is unique to this breed), specific markings, how they show, their top line, their feet, and their body shape. Stabb’s purebred miniature pinschers are registered with the leading breed registry in the United States, the American Kennel Club.

In November 2001, one of Stabb’s dogs took first prize in her class at a specialty show at the Yankee Miniature Pinscher Club, Inc., in Springfield, Mass. And in June 2000, Stabb’s Chloe took Fourth Place in the St. Lawrence Valley Dog Club, Inc., Toy Group category. Stabb is proud that Chloe placed so well (4th out of 17). "I like anything that involves competitions," she said with a smile.

Next month, Fealey will again enter Chloe at a show sponsored by the Saratoga Kennel Club where she will face significant competition. According to Fealey, Chloe has "the stuff" it takes to continue winning major competitions.

The miniature pinscher, which originated in Germany in the 1600s, ranges from 10-12.5 inches in height. It is described as spirited, with a sense of humor, is diminutive with an elegant way of going,and is energetic with a bouncy personality that brightens days. It is also referred to as "a perpetual motion machine" and is stubborn and independent.

"You should find dynamite in a small package or something is wrong," according to a pamphlet from the Miniature Pinschers Club of America. These dogs may not be for everyone, but Stabb enjoys their spunky nature, which is an attribute that she is known to apply to any given situation now and then as well, she laughingly said. "They have a mind of their own," she said. They are also very loyal to their owners, very active, and "very Terrier-like," said Fealey.

Stabb grew up in West Leyden on a dairy farm and was thus, around animals all of her life. Through the years, she held jobs as a waitress, chambermaid, cook, and a rock hound, selling rocks and making jewelry from them. But it was running a kennel and entering her dogs in competitions that held the most enjoyment for her.

Her enthusiasm for her dogs shines through in the way she speaks about them. Stabb proudly pulls out a 2-inch stack of photographs with pictures of her miniature pinschers "receiving" their awards.

It is clear that Stabb relishes the memories of her many years of raising and entering miniature pinschers in competition.