Ch. Reidmar Mercator passed away due
to lymphatic cancer last October at age 15. Mercator, bred by Nat LaMar, was
by Ch. Heathjul Christmas Robin out of Ch. Chidley Charm. He was my first dog ever and proved a devoted friend.
My quest for a dog back in 1988 brought me in touch with Joan Read
while she was preparing the galley proofs for her book. She was raising a litter of two males bred by a man in New York named LaMar. Both puppies were adorable but I was adamant
that I wanted the larger of the two. A few weeks later at the ANTA match I finally met Nat, whose mentorship and friendship
has since proven invaluable. Nat wanted to name the dog Prince Valiant. At the time I was an antique map collector and wanted
the puppy’s name to be Mercator after the great 16th century cartographer and father of the atlas, whose
real surname was Kremer (also spelled Kramer in some sources)!
Mercator and I became inseparable. We would regularly go for walks
in Princeton Battlefield
Park. He was kind of wild as a puppy which prompted Joan Read to suggest
that I read a book on raising a puppy. With some disciplining shortly thereafter Mercator became quite obedient.
Then it was time for his show career. Since I had moved to Maryland it was suggested that I employ the services of a handler named
Richard Powell. He was yet another important influence in my doggy life that I met due to Mercator (Richard, like Nat, has
been a mentor and close friend. It was also because of Mercator that I met Lydia Hutchinson, who helped me get started in
Cairn Terriers.) . Under Richard’s handling Mercator finished rather quickly and then commenced his career as a Special.
I had hoped he would make the Top 10. However Mercator surpassed all of my expectations. He won over 40 Best Of Breeds, including
the NNTC Supported Entry at Bucks County
K.C. in 1991. Mercator ended up being the #5 Norfolk in the country in 1991 and 1992. Along the way he defeated a National Specialty Best
of Breed winner and a Best In Show winner on more than one occasion.
Mercator wasn’t perfect. He was long in back, a bit out at the
elbows, and lacked sufficient leg furnishings. If one wanted to fault judge then Mercator might be overlooked. As a total
package Mercator was impressive. From his beautiful head, wonderful shoulders, ample brisket, nice bend of stifle, etc…
emerged what one judge called “a very nice Norfolk”.
Mercator’s stud career was puzzling. For reasons that still escape
me no finished bitch was ever sent to him. In fact, of the five bitches he mated with only one had earned any championship
points. But Mercator proved that it is possible to turn brass into gold by siring six champions to date. I got to keep one
of his daughters, Ch. Glenelg Piacere,
“Pia”, bred by Debby Pritchard. Pia has produced five champions of her own to date. Mercator’s descendants
include some of the top Norfolk in the country during the
past nine years. His stud career isn’t finished yet as there is a modest amount of his frozen semen to be used on the
nice finished bitch that eluded him while alive.
Mercator was a fabulous companion. I would frequently take him on walks
in the park or as a passenger in the front of my car. He was a very low maintenance dog. Mercator loved everyone he met and
they loved him back. I’ve lost count of the number of dog walkers, vet assistants, and friends that claimed Mercator
as their favorite of all my dogs. He was also a master escape artist. When he was four months old he dug a hole under my fence
and took off. At age nine he scaled a wrought iron fence. Fiercely independent yet devoted I could count on coming home and
seeing his head pop up at the window as soon as I got out of the car.
Although now gone Mercator’s legacy lives on in his descendants,
my kennel affix, and future offspring. And when I come home from work each day and see Pia’s head pop up at the window
I know he is still with me.
