Baker Davis

[CYJ]

I had the privilege to drive Mr. Teal and Mr. Skinner to a dog show event in Georgia. Sadly was the one he later at the end of the show had a heart attack. I was a young fellow and the other dog men had observed me being with Mr. Teal and Mr. Skinner.

When I later went to the concession stand. Several unknown to me, dog men started buying my hot dog and soda drink. They were talking real smooth to me. Started asking me how Mr. Teal fed his dogs and how he brought them in tight,yet strong.

I told them how would I know,I am just their paid chauffeur. Boy, they parted from me like I had the plague. I hollered at them asking Heyyy, were is the hamburger you offered to buy me. LOL

I later told Mr. Teal and Mr. Skinner. They had a good laugh. Sadly Mr. Teal would not go to a local emergency hospital in that area. Made me drive him all the way back to Wades Borough N.C.

Mr. Teal's Heart Doctor was furious with him for not going to a emergency room hospital etc. A lot of unnecessary damage was done to his heart. He never fully recovered and passed not too long after that event. Hanging out with Mr. Teal and Mr. Skinner was more fun than a barrel of monkeys.

One thing Mr. Teal did teach me was how to make a proper type round table and it's correct set up. He also showed me how to work a dog on the round table the right way. The correct tell tale signs of when to take the dog off the table. He was a firm believer in hand walking a dog in the A.M. and after the table work.

He told me near his last days with the dogs. That he knew how to condition a dog. That his biggest problem was getting his hired walkers to properly walk out his dogs. He felt many were just going into the woods,sitting down some where for awhile and then come back.

Mr. Teal was more successful in the 50's 60's and 70's. A young dog man named Joe Adams helped him work and walk out his dogs. Adams also did the handling in the dog shows. Later on Rowell was a big help and probably was taught along with Adams. Mr. Teals conditioning keep. Cheers