( Screen Shots are missing )
A Rebuttal to yet another Jack Vanderwyk article, “Kellogg’s Weimaraners and Other Coincidences”
Written by Kristi Bussler Jenkins, research data provided by Lilly Doreen Burkhart
Oxford Dictionary describes the noun “fact” as: something that is indisputably the case. Unfortunately, Jack Vanderwyk continues to confuse fact with fiction in his latest piece of published falsehood, “Kellogg’s Weimaraners and Other Coincidences”.
You see, I’m starting to believe that Jack Vanderwyk must have a secret career in the area of statistics, as we all know statistics can often be skewed to meet one’s own, personal agenda. Once again, Jack has demonstrated his adeptness in the art of word twisting. Let’s take a look at his new work of fabricated “truth”. I’ll point out his errors as we progress…
Since Jack initially took up arms in his battle against dilute Labrador retrievers, he has maintained the stance that cross-breeding with Weimaraners was the only logical reason for the appearance of the dilute coat color gene. As we’ve reviewed multiple times (in previous articles), that is not the case. And yet, Jack continues to attempt to connect Weimaraner breeders to the original kennels that produced the first dilute Labrador retrievers in the United States. While I respect Jack’s passion for his cause, I do indeed wish he would adequately research his subject matter before unleashing his rhetoric on the Labrador retriever world, many of those already hopelessly immersed in his cult of blind followers, anxious to take hold of any shred of hope that would help them in their hopeless cause.
Let’s take a look at the first screen shot from his article:
If Jack had adequately researched his subject matter, he would have learned that Mayo Kellogg is not the only person residing in the United States with the surname of “Kellogg”. In fact, US Census data shows 15,302 individuals with the last name of Kellogg living in the US in 2000. Even more interesting, a gentleman by the name of Marion K. Kellogg was President of the Weimaraner Club of America from 1952-1953. What?! Jack is complaining about 2 Weimaraners listed on the Weimaraner database from 1952 – 1957 (attempting to tie them to Labrador retriever breeder Mayo Kellogg) when the last name of the president of the Weimaraner Club of America has the last name of Kellogg!! Records list his city of residence as Grosse Pointe, Michigan. The two names of the dogs Jack has listed in the screenshot above are untraceable , in regards to breeder/owner information (at least according to our attempts). However, we did uncover another dog with the word “Kellogg” in its registered name, “Kellogg’s Gray Dawn”. Jack omitted that dog in his screen shot, most likely because owner/breeder information disproves his theory. Records show that Kellogg’s Gray Dawn (Registration #S915861, DOB 09/05/57) was owned by Kellogg Feed Research Corporation in Battle Creek, Michigan and bred by Mr. Charles R. Burnham. Records show Mr. Burnham was a resident of Troy, Michigan and the breeder of 22 Weimaraners registered between 1950 and 1960. So, it would be quite a stretch of the imagination to affiliate these 4 dogs to Mayo Kellogg, who was busy breeding Labrador retrievers in South Dakota at that time.
In his next attempt to create his own version of truth, Vanderwyk displays this screen shot:
This one really cracked me up. Jack attempts to take the name “Stillwater” (a different Stillwater Kennels was involved in the breeding of dilute Labrador retrievers) and connect it to “Stillwater Run Kennel”, who bred and registered Weimaraners and Vizslas between 1994 and 2002. As one can imagine, “Stillwater” is a common kennel name. In my research, I uncovered breeders by the name of “Stillwater” for Mastiffs (Ohio), Beagles (North Carolina), German Shepherds (North Carolina), Belgian Malinois (North Carolina), Shelties (Ohio), Boxers (North Carolina) and Labrador retrievers (Missouri), just to name a few. The website of the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals list 405 entries for kennels beginning with the name “Stillwater” and encompass 24 individual breeds. Nice try, Jack.
In another unsuccessful attempt, Vanderwyk attempts to tie Beavercreek Kennel to the Weimaraner breed because there are 3 dogs listed on the Weimaraner database with the word “Beavercreek” in the registered name (Duke of Beaver Creek- SC123746 10/29/72, Hy-Tone Jake of Beaver Creek SA202854 8/17/62, Theo of Beaver Creek- SA183764 10/16/62). And, even though Jack Vanderwyk would like you to believe these dogs were bred by Mr. James R. Bacon (the gentleman Lab breeder from a different “Beavercreek Kennel” with ties to dilute Labrador retrievers), the Weimaraner database lists no owner or breeder information for Vanderwyk’s examples. These dogs were born in 1962 & 1972. Jack himself has stated that James R. Bacon began breeding dilute Labrador retrievers in the 1990’s. So, the mere coincidence of a similar name does not stand up to actual investigation and research. In referencing the OFA database again, one will find 11 different breeds listed under the name “Beavercreek”. And, to top it off, there is a Beavercreek Kennels in Michigan that breeds German Shorthair Pointers (a breed closely related to the Weimaraner in regards to sporting utility/function). Coincidence? Doubtful. In addition, simple Internet search reveals a plethora of “Beavercreek” kennels spread throughout the United States, from coast to coast. More interesting is the popularity of the term “Beavercreek” in the state of Michigan. There is an actual creek by the name of Beaver creek, a community by the name of Big Beaver Creek, a Beaver Creek Township and a Beaver Creek Resort. It only stands to reason that perhaps a local Weimaraner breeder belonging to the Michigan branch of the Weimaraner Club of America would choose the proper noun “Beavercreek” as part of their dog’s registered name.
As evidenced in the previous articles, Jack has once again attempted to take miscellaneous information and blow it out of proportion, molding and sculpting it to accomplish the goals of his personal agenda. For those who consider Jack’s writings to be anything other than misguided fabrications, I have one potentially valuable tidbit of advice, “Don’t drink the purple Kool Aid”!
It would bring me great joy to end this rebuttal with the words of my last rebuttal, “You lose, Jack”. But, to mix things up a bit, I’m going to declare Jack the winner. Here’s his award:
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