We would like to dedicate this page in memory of  Anne Stober who without her dedication and love of this wonderful breed the Evergreen Chihuahua Club may not exist today.
The article below was written in August of 1990 by Margi Hamilton.

ANNE- THE PERSON

  I see Anne Stober's lovely Chihuahuas as an important part of her life, to be sure
...but only a part of it. Perhaps this accounts for her ability to win and lose gracefully and/or  ride the storm through bouts of C-sections, 'nothing but males,' and the usual misfortunes accompanying and breeding program.
Her love of family, painting, music and flowers, as well as the dogs, is reflected in her aesthetic view of the world. Her paintings reflect a positive 'everything will work out' attitude ... a favorite theme being the picturesque country house on the horizon to which a small windy path leads - the little house radiating a sense of happiness with it's oasis of green trees and beautiful blue skies overhead. The path beyond always lightens up, a hopeful road of better things to come. Frequently Anne says to me, "It will all work out...." A testimony of her life where she has the wisdom to know when to accept what she has and when to change, weather it relates to breeding dogs or, more importantly the living of each and every day.

ANNE - THE HISTORY

Born in Arena, South Dakota, Anne still remembers the wind coming in off the prairie and whistling through the screen door. By the time she was three years old the family moved to Startup, Washington where she spent her early years.She later married Ted and moved to Burien,Washington where he worked as a barber while she raised three children and pursued her interests in gardening, painting and of course the dogs.
In the 60's Anne raised and showed African Violets, being especially partial to the miniatures. She carefully nurtured hundreds of Violets to victory in the shows, brushing and feeding them, carefully watering them to make sure no water got on the leaves - often until after 2:00 a.m. when her husband Ted would ask "Aren't you coming to bed!?!" She has continued her gardening , much of which is reflected in her oil paintings in the 80's.
Of course the Chihuahuas permeated the years of raising a family and animals continue to be a family affair. Daughter Donna has gone from Chis to breeding and showing Arabian horses. Her oldest daughter Carolyn, is an AKC licensed judge, living with her husband, Dick, on a ranch in Wyoming where she is involved with sporting and working breeds as well as toys. Son-in-law Dick is a rancher in the true sense of the word with a love of Quarter horses, pigs, sheep and especially beef cattle ... and all the work that goes with it!
Michael, the youngest and only son lives with his mother and not only tends but nurtures the Chihuahuas under her watchful eye and direction. His special sensitivity and insight into the personality of each and every dog often triggers just the right name, usually personified.

Anne Stober

   Anne's Late Husband Ted had no choice but to "join 'em." Which he did, accompanying the family to the shows.
"Wildwood" was added to Anne's kennel name in 1969 when she moved onto 5 acres of evergreens, blackberries, madronnas and ferns into a small cottage that was built in the 30's. Her and Michael's green thumbs and flair for landscaping have transformed it into a small country manor tucked away from the hub bub of the city. It is enveloped by hundreds of  rhododendrons and other carefully selected plantings akin to those found in our lovely University of Washington Arboretum. Wildwood is a true heaven of peace, solitude and beauty.....
reflective of Anne's true aesthetic sense.

ANNE - THE DOGS

   Anne's early beginnings were in smooth coats. She bought her first Chihuahua, Dinky, in 1943. She soon purchased her second Chihuahua and whelped her first litter in 1945, finishing her first champion (CH. El Senor Paco of Tohmac) in 1950. Her daughter showed Paco and is pictured with him winning a group 1 in Portland.
 

Pictures coming soon

  Anne's first long coat appeared in the early 60's after many years of breeding smooths. She unexpectedly whelped her first long coat out of a smooth bitch she had purchased from
Mrs. Elizabeth Pearson. Not knowing what to do with it she immediately sold it and it wasn't until she saw the little dog later that she realized his quality. She later purchased a breeding pair from Peggy Eisenberg. recalling how hard Peggy worked to keep the two varieties separated.She remembers this first pair as good sized with good coats, foxy little faces, a bit long in the leg and needing improvement in fronts.
  It took many years of hard work for Anne to developer her line but it culminated in the finishing of 102 Champions (breeder of all but two) plus these accomplishments -

1969 - 1971: Top Winning Long (CH. Stober's Eduardo Luis Delgado)
1977:  Top Producer - Male
1977:  BOV Long, CCA (CH. Stober's Checkers of Wildwood)
1979:  Top Winning Smooth
1979:  All-Breed BIS
1983:  WB Long, CCA (CH. Stober's Melba of Wildwood)
1984:  BOB, CCA (CH. Stober's Melvin of Wildwood)
1986:  WD & BOW, CCA  (CH. Stober's Patrick of Wildwood)
1987:  BOB, CCA ( CH. Stober's Truffles of WildWood) 
1989:  WD, CCA (CH. Stober's Beau Jangles)
1990:  WD, CCA (CH. Stober's Beau Regarde)

Reminiscing with Anne some of these favorites were brought to mind:

CH. Stober's Chocolate Bunnie - 
     Shown in 1961, she was a showy little smooth that required little handling in that she presented herself with great ring presence.

CH. Stober's Patchita -
     An Obedience dog who scored highest in class in the 50's when Anne entered the obedience world under the watchful eye of her mentor Ila Clark.

CH. Stober's Eduardo Luis Delgado -
     One has only to step into Anne's home to understand the special place this little dog had in her heart. A lovely hand painted plate in the living room and business cards with Eddie's picture embossed on the front tell the tale. Her voice softened and she became thoughtful the first time I inquired about Eddie. She could not put into words how special he was -  so very sweet and fun-loving. To the Chihuahua world he was #1 in 1969, 1970, and 1971 and #2 in Canada in 1978.

CH. Stober's June Honey - 
     A lovely golden fawn and white Long Coat bitch, always to be remembered for her antics at the National in Chicago when she entered the ring barking and crying out for all to hear!

CH. Stober's Patrick of wildwood -
     A very special dog with a definite mind of his own, a sort of 'Peck's Bad Boy' but so irresistible with his charm and devotion that all is soon forgiven. Patrick has produced multiple champions, partially attributed to Anne " saving him all for herself ". She has only line bred him to her finest bitches and does not offer him for stud.

CH. Stober's Beau Regarde:
     One of the "Beau" boys (out of Beau Chiene), this lovely Long Coat boasts finishing in three shows in conjunction with the Seattle Specialty. He reminds her of Eddie in type a very special and sweet little dog.

  Anne is very reluctant to offer advice to others in that much of her decisions making is based on  knowledge of her own bloodlines with a little intuition and luck thrown in. She feels one should start with the very best that they can possibly get, even if it means waiting for the very best to become available. It will be far more prudent than breeding mediocre dogs with the exceptions of producing "the best".
  
Originally, Anne bred for body and movement, sometimes sacrificing heads - feeling it was easier to get the good heads in one or two generations,but those were the days of terrible top lines, poor fronts and rears. She gratefully acknowledges that the breed has improved in these areas and continues to improve all the time. Studying the pedigree is important and her tendency has been to breed like to like, keeping only the very best, though she does not breed on pedigree alone. The elusive intuitive sense always enters into the picture helping her identify her producers. Often the best show dog is not necessarily the best producers. Occasionally a particular breeding may just click one time and not another; she has bred litters that just didn't "work", but the "repeat" being great. One cannot outguess Mother Nature.
  Although line breeding is preferred, There comes a time to out cross. Again Anne stresses out crossing only to the best and in such a way as to compliment her line to introduce qualities and hopefully eliminate or reduce faults, often not done in one generation. All this necessitates knowing the standard and then being to able to judge one's own dog against the standard.
   Anne also stresses the importance of temperament. Never keep a bad - tempered dog. Experience has taught her that. as reflected by the prevalence of her obedience dogs in the US and Canada.
   Although Anne's preference is Long bred to Long and Smooth to Smooth she has interbred the two varieties on occasion and is not adamant about the separation anymore. Patrick one of her favorite Longs, has swayed her thinking in this regard.

   On the subject of grooming, Anne feels that judicious grooming improves upon what one has.
She feels that daily grooming is a "must," especially the nails and teeth, and can spot the dog that has just been groomed just before the dog show instantly. While she has tried different grooming styles, she maintains that " less is more" approach on her Longs, saving the more extensive grooming for her Smooths. On her Longs she maintains that a well groomed dog will not look trimmed, whereas on her Smooths she prefers cowlicks trimmed, giving a neat smooth look to the profile, thick ruffs also being thinned. Anne looks at each dog and decides what each one individually needs.
  She keeps nails trimmed short on both varieties (dew claws being removed at 3-4 days of age) and feels that more attention should be given to dental care - especially with the history of early tooth in our breed. She keeps teeth free of tarter using a scraper when necessary, but more frequently just a toothbrush with a little hydrogen peroxide will do.

   Caring for her dogs, Anne has always placed a priority cleanliness with immediate stool pick up, proper conditionings and top quality food. Because Anne has her dogs in a portion of her house, she is on top of what is going on with each dog. She feels that handling classes are a must in preparing dogs for the ring, and also to grade her puppies and decide which have show potential. More often than not she has been surprised to see what she felt a Mercer puppy " come alive" on lead. it also provides an opportunity to critique movement in her dogs, an essential in a breeding program.
   Regarding handling, Anne does not want to touch this one as she does not attribute expert handling to her successes (I think she is being overly modest here!) When asked how she accounts for her  successes in the Bred-by Exhibitor Class she replies, " I guess my dogs did it, not I!"
Anne has always been very cognizant of good sportsmanship and according to her, a true winner is "one who can lose just as graciously as they can win."

   It is a blessing to be in the company of such a person. Speaking from my own heart and the hearts of so many, I can very simply but honestly say, thank you, Anne.


Written By:
Margi Hamilton

Published in:
CHIHUAHUA
Volume 1 Number 8
August 1990