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

His brother Ch.Hilane's Seth Thomas, 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 earn an AKC championship.

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

Though he was not used a lot for breeding, he has produced some great dogs. His 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 sex in the breed. Cosmos also was the top toy and number-five top-winning all-breed show dog for 2001. Ranked as the number-eight all-time top-winning toy dog, he was the first Affenpinscher to win the Toy Group at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. A brother of Cosmos is multiple group winner and top producer Ch.Yarrow's Over The Moon. His sister is Ch.Kyleakin Maid At Yarrow, who has produced several top-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 too has sired some nice dogs.

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

Another son, Ch.Hilane's The Sun Also Rises, owned and exhibited by Rebecca Brandon and Babettta P.Veater in Alaska, has won several groups and a Best in Show. His littermate Ch.Hilane Spring's Awakening has sired a number of fine champions including Ch.Hilane's Just Look At Me, owned by Sandra Lex from 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, also are group winners.

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

While visiting Crufts Dog Show in England Beth Sweigart and Peter Green spotted a young female Affenpinscher owned by Rita Turner. They purchased her and brought her back to show and add to their breeding program. She finished her championship fast and won some large breed competitions. She is the dam and granddam of many of today's top-winning Affenpinschers. Her name is Ch.Gerbraes Maid In Splendour, 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 a top show bitch in England.

Bred to Solar, Doris produced other important Affens in addition to Cosmos and Moraina. These include Ch.Yarrow's Over The Moon and Ch.Kyleakin Maid At Yarrow. Doris also has more champions bred to other males. Ch.Yarrow's Mighty Joe Young won the specialty in 2004. Two more fine champions who are winning Bests are Ch.Bukany Streakmeister Tamarin and Ch.Yarrow's Action Jackson.

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

The future for Affenpinscher look bright. More good champions are placing in and winning Groups across North America. Let's hope that the breed does not become too popular and that the new breeders stay focused on producing healthy, happy and well-adjusted dogs who fulfill the function of the fun-loving family pet.