Dr. Claudia Orlandi, of Essex Junction, Vermont, has been in
the fancy for over 50 years. She has successfully bred
Basset Hounds for more than 25 years under the Topsfield
prefix and with her late husband, Dom, has produced over 140
champions. Topsfield Bassets have won more than 120
All-Breed Bests in Show and hold numerous Breed and
All-Breed show records. The top group-winning dog and the
top-producing dam in the history of the breed were bred by
Topsfield and the top winning dam was sired by a Topsfield
dog.
Claudia’s enthusiasm for breeding is matched only by her
passion for teaching and working with other breeders. Her
ABC’s of Dog Breeding and Practical Canine Anatomy &
Movement self-study courses form part of the
AKC's Bred with H.E.A.R.T. education program, reflecting her
belief that anyone can understand the practical rules of
genetics and canine structure in their quest to breed
better, healthier dogs. Knowledge, coupled with integrity
and honesty about health problems, are cornerstones of her
breeding and teaching philosophy.
Claudia has authored numerous articles and for many years
chaired BHCA Judges’ and Breeders’ Education for which she
developed an educational concept called Basset Hound
University, whose course designs are available for parent
clubs to use as templates. Claudia never charges for her
popular seminars and has spoken at over 150 dog clubs and
AKC/CHF Breeder’s Symposia.
She judges
Basset Hounds, Dachshunds, PBGV’s, Beagles, Basenjis,
Rhodesian Ridgebacks and Junior Showmanship. She is a 2009
Dogs in Review Outstanding Breeder nominee,
winner of the 2009 American Kennel Club Breeder
of the Year award and a finalist for the 2016 AKC
Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2015 she was honored by Dog
Fancy Magazine as one of the “45 people who changed the dog
world” by helping to improve dog breeding and making canine
genetics easier to understand.