TOPSFIELD

Sue Frischmann

Resident Handler, Kennel Manager and Webmaster

 

Sue and Little Joe

Sue grew up in a family involved with breeding and showing Basset Hounds and Dobermans, as well as showing hunters and jumpers.   The Basset Hounds were her pets.

She showed horses from childhood, including American Horse Show Association Horse of the Year, Riot Free, pictured right, and spent 15 years professionally as a horse trainer and coach spending many weeks a year on the road with her students and their horses and ponies.  

Sue and Riot Free

     

CH Dem Bones Motion Picture,from her first litter

Sue spent only one day in her life without a Basset Hound, and it was a very long day.  She began showing Bassets about twenty-five years ago and has continued as a breeder and handler since. 

Sue began working with Topsfield in 1996, following meeting Dom & Claudia when they purchased a dog from breeders in Florida that she worked with.  She is  the permanent full-time Resident Handler and Kennel Manager.  She feels lucky to have worked with wonderful people and is pleased to be doing something she loves. 

CH Dem Bones Bits N' Pieces from her second litter
 

Sue and BISS Winning CH Topsfield Calypso

In addition to showing the majority of the Topsfield hounds, Sue oversees the breeding, whelping and conditioning and training of all Topsfield litters.  She travels regularly with the hounds for shows and enjoys meeting our puppy people as well. 

She brings with her years of experience as a breeder and handler, as well as an avid interest in computers and photography.   She enjoys working and spending time with our fellow Basset Hound breeder friends.

BIS Winning CH Sanchu-Topsfield Yahtzee
     

CH Topsfield-Sanchu Pop Art O' Bridi going Best of Winners in 2007and Best of Breed at the 2009  Basset Hound Club of America National Specialty

One of the most rewarding parts of Sue's job is the progression and relationships established with all the Bassets.  They all have different personalities and habits, and present interesting challenges.  For example, Arty, was trained and shown by Sue.  It was quite a good memory to have gone Winners Dog and Best of Winners at the 2007 BHCA National Specialty with CH Topsfield-Sanchu Pop Art O'Bridi.  It was then especially rewarding to come back with Arty to the 2009 National Specialty to go Best of Breed.

Topsfield-Sanchu Biscotti

Each year brings new puppies, younger ones mature, and others retire.  For Sue, this brings constant change and challenge.   It is a wonderful thing to whelp the puppies, watch them grow, and watch them progress through their lives. 

Show days are busy, challenging, and always interesting as we get to see our friends that are involved both in our breed and others.  There is always something new to learn.   
Topsfield-Sanchu Canoli

CH Topsfield-Maredge Splenda

CH Topsfield Mozart

CH Topsfield-Sanchu Pop Art O'Bridi

CH Topsfield-Sanchu Spectrum Hopscotch

CH Topsfield-Maredge Earl Grey
         
Every day is different at Topsfield, some days are filled by working with puppies, some days are spent with grooming chores and some days are just about having fun with the dogs.

 

CH Sanchu-Topsfield Go-Cars

Sue with Arpege

Our New England friends joined together to put on a Serta Sheep Skit with our Bassets at the 2008 National Specialty. 

 

 

  
CH Topsfield Orion, ROM One of our pets CH Topsfield Jingle Bells, ROM CH Sanchu-Topsfield Yahtzee

The Topsfield Website was designed
and created by Sue Frischmann.

We welcome your comments.

domorlan@gmavt.net

Linda Panella

Assistant Kennel Manager

 

Linda and Suds

Linda with CH Topsfield Hollyhocks & CH Topsfield Giselle

Linda and one of our pets

Linda has been with Topsfield for almost twenty years.  Her expert, loving care of the hounds is indispensable.

In addition to the daily care of the hounds, Linda starts training our puppies at about two weeks of age.  She cares for the kennel and all the Basset Hounds when we are away at the shows.  She also trains some of our hounds for Obedience. 

Linda pictured above with Topsfield Chopin, CD

Linda above with CH Topsfield Bumper Cars, CD, ROM

Linda & Nina

Before moving with her husband Tony,  and two children to Vermont, Linda ran a canine obedience center in Connecticut.  Linda and her family which includes a very smart Australian Shepherd named Colby, two cats  and several bunnies live next door to Topsfield Kennel. 

Linda occasionally meets with new owners of puppies and coordinates their visits to the kennel.  Her contribution to Topsfield and the hounds is invaluable. 

Linda & Nina

Linda & Nicky

Linda & one of the kids

Linda & Captain Crunch
Linda & one of the kids

Linda & several of the puppies

Donald Peddie, DVM

Veterinarian

 

Topsfield owes much of its success to the guidance and expertise of Donald Peddie, DVM (pictured left), who  provided veterinary care for Topsfield hounds for more than a decade.  In practice for over thirty years, Don is a graduate of Cornell Veterinary School and specializes in small animal medicine with a specialization in orthopedics. 

Don retired from private practice and closed his clinic, Cider Mill Animal Hospital which was located 25 minutes south of Topsfield in Cornwall, Vermont.   Though primarily retired, he now is associated with Vergennes  Animal Hospital, in Vergennes Vermont.  Don still makes occasional visits to the kennel.
 

Don is a past president of the Vermont Veterinary Medical Association and has served  as Chairman of the Vermont State Licensing Board & New England States' Licensing Board.  He is also a recipient of the David Walker Award for outstanding practitioner in Vermont and in 1999 received the New England Veterinary Association Special Achievement Award.

Don describes his experience with the uniquely structured Basset Hound as a wonderful challenge.  Topsfield is truly fortunate to have had Don's services for so many years, and is fortunate that he chose to ease into retirement at Vergennes Animal Hospital, where we have made new friends, and established a good working relationship and confidence in their care.

Mark Basol, DVM & Vergennes Animal Hospital
Veterinarians
 

Having been blessed to have Don as our vet for so many years, we are now twice blessed to have the services of Mark Basol, DVM and his entire staff at the Vergennes Animal Hospital.  We at Topsfield are privileged to have the assistance and advice of such very talented individuals.

In addition to the great care and service, we especially are pleased that the Vergennes Animal Hospital provides its own emergency care for it's patients.  That kind of service is greatly appreciated by all of their clients.

Vergennes Animal Hospital
20 Main Street
Vergennes, VT 05491
(802) 877-3371

Mark Basol, DVM, CVA

Principal owner, Dr. Basol has passed the 20 year mark at Vergennes Animal Hospital.  Certified in acupuncture and herbology, he practices traditional medicine with an eastern influence, when warranted.  A strong believer in preventative medicine, Dr. Basol spends a fair amount of time performing surgery and treating the unexpected as well.  A Midwestern transplant, he completed his undergraduate studies at North Dakota State University and received his DVM degree at the country's oldest veterinary school, Iowa State University.

Mark now takes the lead in the care of the Topsfield hounds.

     

Donald Peddie, DVM

Anja Wurm, DVM

John Bergeson, DVM
Cornell Tufts Purdue

Though Don is mostly retired now, he still visits the kennel from time to time, and both Anja and John often provide great care for our dogs.  Each brings a different set of experience to the table and it is a pleasure to work with them. 

 

In addition to having experienced, caring vets, one of the most important factors for us is having a skilled team supporting them, and us, when we call in.  We can always count on the staff to make sure we get the best care possible for our Bassets.  We often recommend Vergennes Animal Hospital to our breeder friends and our pet owners.  We know they will receive quality care for their dogs and the advice that they need to make informed decisions.   

 
Receptionists Veterinary Technicians Administrative Staff Kennel Assistants

BACK