CH. YANG FU TANG SKETCH
This wonderful sketch of a very famous chow, was found at a garage sale in St Louis and I purchased it from the seller who discovered it. A dog who is the holder of a record for the day of 22 Bests in Show, with only one image of him to be found besides this sketch.. Below find the photo of Yang Fu Tang and achievements
- I couldn’t help but wonder who the artist might be, as many named dog drawings usually have some personal connection between the artist and the dog owner. I went on a scavenger hunt and possibly found my answer.
- I began my search by looking at breeder and owner names of dogs shown at the same time as Yang Fu Tang
- After a frustrating time working with the name “Mel”, I researched what Mel could be short for….Merle..of course!!!
- Now back to the stud books and AKC Gazettes from 1930’s -50’s TA DA…I found Merle Thompson referenced a number of times
- The clincher….Merle Thompson was from ST LOUIS where the sketch was found at the garage sale
“Certainly the most outstanding Chow of the 1930’s was Champion Yang Fu Tang (Oct. 10, 1929-July 12, 1936), bred by the Hoffmans of Yang Fu Kennels, Milwaukee, Wisconsin –Sired by Champion Yang Fu King X Yang Fu Queenie”
CH. YANG FU TANG WAS THE AMERICAN CHOW NATIONAL BEST OF BREED WINNER IN 1932
New York City, NY – 167 entries; Judge: Mrs Wm Fitzgerald
Ch.Yang Fu Tang was bred by Richard Hoffman, Yang Fu Kennels and was sold to Louise Seamer to be campaigned
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Hello, ch.Yang Fu Tang was my fathers show dog, Yang Fu kennels were my father Arthur Hoffman and my mother’s kennels we bred and raised that chow and sold him to louise. I am now 90 yrs old and its fascinating to see some one so interested. Also Mel Thompson was not the artist of Yang Fu Tang’s picture that was my uncle Richard Hoffman who drew that picture, just fyi. Any way, nice to come across someone who had such an interest it was a big deal in my family while I was growing up.
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Yang Fu Tang was born in 1929 and reached only seven years of age. He died of heat prostration. Yet in that time he amassed the amazing total of 22 Bests in Show (all-breed). He held the record for 28 years until it was broken by Ah Sid The Dilettante