Ch.Hilane’s Solar Eclipse was born on May 9, 1991 and died on September 11, 2004. Solar was raised and owned by Jerome Cushman and Frederickk Nuernberg. Solar was one of three puppies in the litter. The rather unique color of his inspired his name. On the neck, shoulders, and flanks it had a dark red undercoat with a hard-shell black undercoat. He many times he has pulled this characteristic coat color. He was Winners Dog under judge Sari Brewster Tietjen in the national specialty in 1992.

Seth Thomas of his brother Ch.Hilane, owned by Carolyn (Garrity) Hamilton, won the national specialty in 1993 under judge Lois Wolf White. His sister Ch.Hilane’s Au Naturel was the first all-natural Affenpinscher to win an AKC championship.

At about the age of two and a half, Solar showed signs of stiffness and the vet reported that he had been infected with Lyme disease, which left him with severe arthritis. He was a stoic little dog who enjoyed life with only minor adaptations.

Although not used much for breeding, it has produced some great dogs. Their offspring include national specialty winners Ch.Hilane’s Harpagon, later owned by Shirley Howard and Jim and Kathy Herman, Ch.Yarrow’s Lucy in the Sky (Moraina), owned by Jackie Stacy, and Ch.Yarrow’s Super Nova (Cosmos ), owned by Dr. .and Mrs. William Truesdale.

“Moraina” and “Cosmos” hold the records for most Best in Show wins for their gender in the breed. Cosmos was also the best toy and number five of the best show dogs of all breeds in 2001. Ranked number eight of all time, he was the first Affenpinscher to win the Toy Group at the Westminster Kennel. Club Dog Show. A brother of Cosmos is the multiple group winner and main producer of Ch. Yarrow’s Over The Moon. His sister is Ch. Kyleakin Maid At Yarrow, who has produced several winning champions. Ch.Yarrow’s Lucy in the Sky’s littermate is Ch.Yarrow’s Rocketman, who lives with Sharon Sapp in Georgia, and he’s also sired some nice dogs.

Another of Solar’s sons who have done well in the ring is Ch.Tamarin Trevor, owned by David and Pamela Peat. Trevor’s brother, Ch. Tamarin Tanz, owned by Joseph Reinisch, has also been an excellent show dog.

Another child, Ch.Hilane’s The Sun Also Rises, owned and shown by Rebecca Brandon and Babettta P.Veater in Alaska, has won multiple groups and a Best in Show. Her littermate, Ch.Hilane Spring’s Awakening, has sired several fine champions, including Ch.Hilane’s Just Look At Me, owned by Sandra Lex of Canada, and Ch.Hi-Tech Girlrilla Of My Dream, owned by Beth Sweigart and Letisha Wubbel. Two of Solar’s granddaughters, Ch.Hilane’s Betty Boop and Ch.Hilane’s Loose Cannon, are also group winners.

Solar also sired some quality Belgian bitches, including Ch.Hilane’s Molley Sugden, who has produced three champions for her property Mavis Weatherwax of California, and Ch.Hilane’s Present, owned by Jerome Cushman. Solar sired Marlane from Ch.Hilane, the first group placed Affenpinscher with natural ears and tail.

While visiting the Crufts dog show in England, Beth Sweigart and Peter Green spotted a young female Affenpinscher owned by Rita Turner. They bought her and brought her in to show her and add her to her breeding program. She quickly finished her championship and won some big breed shows. She is the mother and grandmother of many of today’s winningest Affenpinschers. Her name is Ch. Gerbraes Maid In Splendor, whose call name is “Doris”, and she is owned by Beth Sweigart and Letisha Wubbel. Her littermate Ch. Gerbraes Maid in Heaven at Zipaty, owned by the late Pat Patchen, was one of the best bitches in England.

Crossed with Solar, Doris produced other major Affens besides Cosmos and Moraina. These include Ch.Yarrow’s Over The Moon and Ch.Kyleakin Maid At Yarrow. Doris also has more champions crossed with other males. Mighty Joe Young from Ch.Yarrow won the specialty in 2004. Two other good champions who are winning Bests are Ch.Bukany Streakmeister Tamarin and Action Jackson from Ch.Yarrow.

After Moraina won her championship, Beth Sweigart gave her to Jackie and Terry Stacy, who used her to start their Tamarin lines. Doris’s other daughter, Ch. Kyleakin Maid At Yarrow, was also given to Stacys and Doris Tolone of Calkerry Affenpinschers. These two founder bitches along with Ch.Periwinkle Enla Ms.Munster, bred by Elizabeth Muir-Chamberlain, were the source of the Affenpinschers in Tamarin and Calkerry. These bitches were crossed with Hilane, Periwinkle, Doch’s and Ceterra males to produce some great season Affenpinschers. Doris Tolone’s Ch.Tamarin Talullah (from Ch.Periwinkle Godzilla and Ch.Kyleakin Maid At Yarrow) won the national specialty in 2001. Ch.Ceterra’s Little Black Sambo, crossed with Ch.Tamarin Tulip, produced Ch.Tamarin Travis (2002 and winner of the national specialty in 2003) and Ch.Tamarin Tip-Off (winner of the national specialty in 2005).

The Affenpinscher’s future looks bright. More good champions are placing and winning Groups in North America. Let’s hope the breed doesn’t become too popular and that new breeders stay focused on producing healthy, happy, well-adjusted dogs that fill the role of the fun-loving family pet.