We observe Father’s Day with a look at one of the most influential canine dads of all time, English Springer Spaniel Ch. Salilyn’s Aristocrat.
“Risto” in 1967
Esteemed breeder and AKC judge Pat Trotter shared an appreciation of “Risto” in the March 2006 AKC Gazette. Here is an excerpt:
“The English Springer Spaniel Ch. Salilyn’s Aristocrat may be one of the greatest dogs to never win the top honor at Westminster. … No modern dog had more impact on this prestigious event than Aristocrat, owned and bred by the late Julia Gasow of Troy, Michigan.
“The dog’s siring prowess resulted in Westminster Best in Show winners Ch. Chinoe’s Adamant James, Ch. Salilyn’s Condor, and Ch. Salilyn ’N Erin’s Shameless. Adamant James was the last two-time BIS winner at the Garden, with victories in 1971 and ’72. Condor gathered the honor in 1993, followed by his daughter Shameless in 2000. [They remain the only sire and offspring to have both won BIS at Westminster.] Year after year, Garden victories are scored at the breed and group level by Risto’s descendants.
Ch. Salilyn’s Aristocrat, photo by Rudolph Tauskey
“A marvelous liver-and-white English Springer Spaniel, Aristocrat is the top-producing sire of all time, all breeds. He sired 188 champions, out of 92 dams, all without the use of frozen sperm.
“Furthermore, Risto’s grandsons Ch. Salilyn’s Private Stock and Ch. Telltale Royal Stuart and his great-grandson Ch. Salilyn’s Classic each sired more than a hundred champions.
“Ch. Telltale Author, another famous Aristocrat son, produced 84 champions and figures very prominently in the pedigree of top Springers Ch. Telltale Salute and Ch. Felicity’s Diamond Jim. Salute’s successful sire, Ch. Telltale Freestyle, is heavily linebred to Author. Along with his own sire, Ch. Telltale’s Davey Jones, Freestyle may well be the most dominant factor in the line today. Diamond Jim, a half-brother to Freestyle, was also sired by Davey Jones.
“Aristocrat was top dog, all breeds, in 1967, as was his son Adamant James in 1971 and his great-grandson Condor in 1992.
“Without a doubt, this family of English Springer Spaniels is one of the most influential of any breed in the history of the American dog show.” —P.T.