Jo Kramer

Australia

I have been involved in the dog world as an exhibitor for over 55 years, my passion and love has always been the hound group, especially sighthounds. I originally started showing dogs in Victoria when I was 8 years old and I bought my first Afghan when I was 12……. from then on, I was completely hooked…. Dog shows every weekend! Some 20 years later, I was most fortunate that my very dear friends Brian and Sandy Wilson (Noholme Whippets) gave me my very first whippet as a gift and that was the start of something special. I have been breeding and exhibiting whippet successfully under the “ARJAI” prefix for over 30 years. I would describe myself as a “boutique breeder” going for quality over quantity.  As a result, I have been blessed with breeding, owning and exhibiting the two biggest winning whippets to date in Australia. Grand Champion Arjai Fields O’ Passion (Tori), one of the very first whippets to win multiple in show awards!  At the sad time of her passing at just 7 years old Tori had set a record of 47 Best in Shows, 27 Runner Up Best in Shows and many other amazing awards. For a whippet at the time this was, and still is an outstanding achievement and a record that stood for many years and one I never imagined would be broken. But then along came Supreme Champion Arjai Almost Criminal (Willow)
She simply re-wrote the record book and set a new one of her own winning 52 Best In Shows and 33 Runner Up Best in Shows.
Then to return to Melbourne and win the Victoria Top Dog competition that was something truly special an event I will never forget. After Willow was retired, I was so very thankful to be given another outstanding bitch – Supreme Ch Chakrata Mistress Matilda (Matilda) again another huge winning bitch that I showed for some 7 years. I have been very lucky to have had some other amazing dogs and the support and friendship of  great whippet breeders both in Australia and overseas. And my new young star !!  –  Aust Ch Arjai Heart of Glass (Era) I am so very proud of all of my dogs and their achievements and my involvement in the dog world and could never imagine my life without a whippet by my side.  
I am truly  honoured, to be invited to judge at these prestigious shows