Anthony Antunes
My name is Anthony Antunes, and I am Vice-President of the French Club for Irish Wolfhounds and Deerhounds, as well as Deerhound breeder under the kennel name Antonius Vertragus.
My adventure with purebred dogs and breeding began in childhood. By the age of ten, I had already memorized the standards and characteristics of the breeds that fascinated me. Two years later, I welcomed my first dog and experienced my very first litter in the years that followed.
Sighthounds have always held a special place in my heart. Understanding the history, original function, and distinctive morphological traits of each of these breeds was essential to fully appreciate their uniqueness and differences. After much research and reflection, I had to make a choice – especially between the Greyhound and the Deerhound – and I ended up opting for the more rustic one. Indeed, it was the rugged elegance, noble presence, and temperament of the Deerhound that ultimately guided my path.
However, I continued to maintain a keen interest in all sighthounds, particularly the Greyhound, the Irish Wolfhound and the Whippet. I continued to closely follow the work of renowned breeders around the world, closely monitoring their bloodlines and show results. Over time, I built strong relationships with renowned breeders of these breeds, and this has allowed me to maintain a deep attachment to them.
When the Deerhound stud Brackenland Rumba, a son of Greyflax Myth to Kilbourne – a dog I greatly admired – was imported to France, I immediately reserved a female from his first litter. That female became my introduction to the show world. Soon after, I took over the management of RALIE Magazine, and a few years later, I joined the board of the RALIE Club.
It was an English female, Kilbourne Odette, imported into Germany, who prompted my first import. I was deeply impressed by her pedigree, and one of her daughters, Indian Summer von der Oelmuehle, left a strong impression on me. Inevitably, one of her daughters, Passion, joined our home, soon followed by a half-sister Rihanna.
Since those first two female imports, others have followed, including some interesting males, and to date I have bred around a hundred Deerhounds under the Antonius Vertragus prefix. Under this name, I have produced several French, European and World Winners, as well as multiple National Specialty winners, All-Breed Best in Show winners, and Breed Show winners abroad. We have exported puppies to various countries, and our stud dogs have been used by several breeders around the world. Today, I am proud to count among our progeny multiple national champions internationally, including several American Champions and Grand Champions.
Fifteen years or five generations of dogs later, my passion and fascination for these breeds have only grown each time, learning more with the experience and rigor that breeding our large breeds requires. Recently, I had the honour of being invited to judge Deerhounds and Irish Wolfhounds at the RALIE National Specialty, the most prestigious annual event for the two breeds in France and also at the Sighthound Specialty in Czech Republic at the occasion of the Club’s 30th anniversary. It was a truly enriching experience, and I am deeply honoured to now be invited to judge the most perfect creature of heaven in your beautiful country. I sincerely thank your committee for their recognition and trust, and I look forward – with great pride – to seeing many of you at this important occasion.
See you soon!
Anthony Antunes