Spring 2017  Saber Tails 9    

Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen Club of America

ni, PBGVs, and 

GBGV are all 

compatible. 

I 

joined the PB-

GVCA in 2008, 

just before Pop-

py was born. I 

wanted to learn 

more about the 

breed prior to 

purchasing my 

first pup. I have 

been to every 

national except 

one since then.  

I have helped 

steward in Obe-

dience, Rally 

and the Top 

20, and I am a 

member of the 

PBGV Health and 

Rescue Foundation.  I continue to be a member of a re-

gional GWP club and the Spinone Club of America.  I have 

been President of the local all-breed kennel club and am 

currently Vice-President, and I have also been President of 

the local obedience club. I am currently an assistant obe-

dience instructor and a CGC evaluator.  I have participated 

in many capacities at specialties and all-breed shows.

O

f the breeds of dogs I have owned, I’ve loved them 

all, but the PBGVs are the most endearing.  They have 

special personalities that my other breeds haven’t had. 

Their hound noses can drive you a little crazy, but you just 

can’t help but love them and laugh at (with?) them.

I

’ve had the won-

derful experience 

of having three very 

special “heart dogs”: 

one Dalmatian, one 

of my GWPs, and 

currently 

Poppy.  

Maybe Dooney, the 

GBGV, will be the 

fourth.

Lynne Florian

TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF….

M

y husband Mark and I have lived in Darien Connecti-

cut for the last 12 years. We are both originally from 

Winnetka Illinois just North of Chicago. We have three 

grown children two that live in New York and one in L.A.

HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT PBGV’s?

L

ike many other PBGV owners, we fell in love with the 

breed in 2007 watching Jolly Fairchild running around 

the ring at Westminster. It was a thrill to watch her make 

it all the way to the Best in Show competition!! Fairchild 

is co-owned by Jeanne and Charles Hurty and Pam and 

Joe Helmer and lucky for me, The Hurtys live in Darien the 

same town where we are. I was thrilled to be introduced 

to Jeanne through a mutual friend and the rest is history!! 

WHEN DID YOU GET YOUR FIRST PBGV?

W

e lost our beloved English Cocker Spaniel at age 14 

and were so very sad. Almost the very next week, the 

Hurtys gave us one of their PBGVS to help fill the whole 

in our hearts. That was Tally our very first PBGV and we 

now own 4 and co-own many others along with Jeanne 

and Charles Hurty. I had always had a dream of showing 

dogs but as everyone knows, you don’t just decide to do it 

one day and jump straight into the ring. I was blessed not 

only to have a dear friend in Jeanne Hurty, but she took 

on the task of mentoring me in the sport of showing dogs 

and for that I will be eternally grateful. My first show dog 

was Annie who was out of Fairchild’s last litter. Through 

many handling classes and tons of help from Jeanne and 

Greg Strong, I put a Grand Champion title on her and was 

awarded Select Bitch at Westminster 2016. Truly a dream 

come true and I am grateful every day for all of the help 

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