Pulaski's Masterpiece

Pulaski's Masterpiece was a silver grey toy poodle bred by Alexis Pulaski. Born in New York on August 4, 1946, from Pulaski's poodle breeding program, Masterpiece was owned by Pulaski and the less frequently mentioned Gilbert W. Khan and Nathalie Stuyvesant Pierrepont.[1][2] Masterpiece competed in dog shows from 1947 until retiring from the show ring in 1950, and was the first toy dog to win all three of championship, obedience, and utility titles.[3]

Pulaski's Masterpiece
SpeciesDog
BreedPoodle
SexMale
BornAugust 4, 1946
DiedUnknown
OwnerAlexis Pulaski
Weight8 lb (4 kg)
Height9 in (23 cm)

Billed as "the world's most valuable dog",[4] Masterpiece was said to be worth $20,000 (equivalent to $243,264 in 2022) at the height of his fame, and earned $11,000 a year in stud and modeling fees, with a stud fee of $500.[5] He regularly featured in ads and product endorsements, including in Vogue. Newspapers widely reported that Pulaski turned down a $20,000 offer for Masterpiece from Prince Aly Khan, who wanted to buy the dog as a wedding present for his wife Rita Hayworth. He sired around 350 dogs, including poodles owned by Judy Garland, Gary Cooper, and Eva Peron.[2] One of Masterpiece's famous tricks was to shake his head when asked if he was a communist; his owner Pulaski was a White Russian emigre.[6]

Masterpiece disappeared May 29, 1953, from Pulaski's pet shop Poodles Inc.[5] The search for Masterpiece spanned thirteen states and generated many newspaper headlines, with no success. The cause of his disappearance was never conclusively determined, though many sources speculated that he had been stolen, and an eyewitness recorded seeing a small grey poodle leaving Pulaski's shop with "a dark-haired woman in a red coat".[7]

Pulaski reportedly mourned Masterpiece for many years, and called him the realization of his "fondest dreams as a breeder". Just Johnny, a similar-looking descendant of Masterpiece, was chosen as his replacement, but he was not as successful as his predecessor.[7]

References
  1. "Dogs gone Ritzy". San Francisco Examiner. September 14, 1952.
  2. "2,500 Attend 27th Dog Show At Westbury". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. September 26, 1949.
  3. White, Brynn (June 4, 2019). "The Saga of Pulaski's Masterpiece the Poodle, Part 1". American Kennel Club. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  4. "Famous Poodle At Teaneck". The Record. November 14, 1952. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  5. Berger, Meyer (June 12, 1953). "9-Inch, $11,000-a-Year Ex-Show Dog Is Stolen". The New York Times.
  6. "Cherchez La Femme! Poodle, $11,000-Yr. Red Foe, Gone". The Morning News. May 29, 1953.
  7. White, Brynn (July 2, 2019). "The Saga of Masterpiece, Part 2". American Kennel Club. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
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