06/17/2026
THROWBACK THURSDAY!
Westminster flashback: In 1971, Sue Baines handles Standard Schnauzer Int. Ch. Pavo de la Steingasse to a Working Group win under revered all-rounder Henry Stoecker.
From an online history of the breed by Burt and Ellen Yamada:
“You can’t write about the black Standard Schnauzer in America without including a bit about the top-winning black, Int. Ch. Pavo de la Steingasse.
“Pavo was born in Blotzheim, France, in 1966. He was brought to America as a puppy from the Krayenrain kennel in Switzerland by Mrs. Margaret S. Smith to found the Skibo kennel. Looking at Pavo’s pedigree you see the impact of [influential European sire] Emir v. d. Groben, as the prominence of many of the Basalteck and Barbanera dogs are evident.
“Pavo had an astounding show career. He was Best of Breed more than 75 times, with five Group I’s and more than 30 other group placings, and he went BOB at two consecutive national specialties. He also won the Working Group at the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Show in 1971, a honor that no other Standard Schnauzer would earn until the group win and subsequent BIS by the import Ch. Parsifall Di Casa Netzer in 1997. …
“Pavo’s influence as a stud dog is equally as impressive. Bred exclusively to blacks, he produced 14 champion offspring. He is one of the very few blacks to be included in the leading producers list compiled by the SSCA. In the generations that followed, his influence has been passed on, and many of today’s quality American blacks are based on his standard although none have rivaled his show record. It is only hoped that his like will be seen again in the show ring.”
Photo by Gilbert
