Page 261 - ShowSight - July 2019

What’s more important to me, an all-breed win or a specialty win? All wins happily accepted.
If you’re a breeder/owner/handler, are your wins that much more special? I am a breeder/owner/handler. Certain dog’s wins are extra special, like finishing my current Greyhound special at the 2017 Greyhound Club of America national specialty from BBE. He won his first BOB as a special the next day as a move up.
Is fitting the show schedule into my “regular” life a constant bal- ancing act? It is a balancing act. I am fortunate I can telecommute some days of the week and can accrue leave without a cap. Sometimes there may be a show you really would like to go to but it just isn’t feasible with what may be going on at work.
Advice to a newcomer: try to find good people, in and outside of your breed, to mentor you. I learned how to groom my first Wirehaired Dachshund from a Wire Fox Terrier person. Study your breed standard. Always keep in mind what the breed was bred to do because form and function go hand in hand.
LINDA KUNICKI
Linda’s background includes a lengthy tenure in health care as well as a strong business back- ground. She has been working in her current position since 2013. While her primary focus has been management, training and market- ing, Linda has taken on and succeeded at roles in Sales, Human Resources, and Project Manage- ment. Every position
she’s had has allowed her to fulfill her passion to serve others from children to seniors, which gives her joy each day. Her experience has led her to being on the board of the Chicago Chapter of the Case Management Society of America for multiple terms, as well as for the Greater Chicago Infusion Nurses Society and serving on many com- mittees for Aging Care Connections and local Health and Wellness groups. In the past Linda has also been on the board of FITE a Center for Independent Living and has served in nearly every office of the Chicagoland Shetland Sheepdog Club since joining in 1986.
Linda has owned Shetland Sheepdogs aka Shelties most of her life. For many years, she has been involved in activities with Shelties that have guided her to breed championship and performance dogs earning titles on many of her own dogs and help others do the same.
Linda’s favorite quote, “You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.” —Zig Zigler
I live in a Chicago, Illinois suburb and I’m a marketing director and community liaison for a Private Duty Home Care agency. My passion has always been to be helpful to others through working in service industries and volunteering with non-profits that positively impact some part of a person’s life. In my current position I help healthcare professionals and families put together the best resources for a patient, so they have all they need for comfort and care right in their home.
Growing up we had a couple pets, which were Shetland Sheepdogs aka Shelties. My mom, a widow, liked to find fun but different things for us to do on the weekend, when I was 11 she took us to the IKC dog show in Chicago and I loved it. Finally, in 1985, my husband and I, now in our thirties, started learning more about showing Shelties. In 1986 we joined the Chicagoland Shetland Sheepdog Club and later I also became a member of the American Shetland Sheepdog Club.
Owner Handler Q & A
How has the NOHS program affected my view of the sport? The NOHS has not in itself affected my view. However, I think some clubs make it more special for owner-handlers than others do. For instance, I am grateful to clubs offering NOHS on Saturday and Sun- day as many of us have job schedules and also giving Rosettes and not just ribbons for the groups.
Do I feel that owner/handlers have an advantage because of their bond with their dogs? No, as I see many handlers with wonderful bonds to the dogs they show.
What’s more important to me, an all-breed win or a specialty win? Very hard to answer as when you do a limited amount of shows due to job schedules all wins are important and special. I still have some goals to accomplish which are winning BIS and BISS, and having a Platinum Grand Champion.
If you’re a breeder/owner/handler, are your wins that much more special? As a Breeder, Owner, Handler the wins are very special. Espe- cially since we do a very limited amount of breeding with co-breeder/ co-owner, Christy Calkins, who lives in Wisconsin.
In the early 1990s Christy and I, along with my husband Len, decided to work together to breed our next show dogs. We each keep a very small number of Shelties and our dogs live with us through their veteran years. So, we pick our show dogs carefully and have had sev- eral who went on into their ‘teens’ winning major awards. Due to job and life changes, for about eight years I did not show my dogs. Then in 2011 I thought I’d take the ‘old guy’ out for fun to IKC show and then put him in Veterans 12+ class at our National. Rudy had always loved dog shows and even at almost 13 years old this hadn’t changed, even after not being in the ring for eight years.
The Grand Champion competition was new at this time. At IKC the judge awarded Rudy with Select Dog and said he deserves his Grand. At our National specialty, that same year, many came up to me and said Rudy deserves his Grand. Since Rudy loved the ring so we started taking him to shows again. In five months he became GCh. Starlites Cast in Red, turning 13 years old as he did it.
In 2016, a singleton, Grant, was born and soon we knew he was destined for the ring. Grant finished in 2019 and continues earn- ing awards in both the Breed and NOHS arena in limited show- ing. Ch. Starlites Echelon Take Command, Grant, is featured in my ad for the Breeder/Owner/Handler special edition of Show- Sight. Grant was 2018 NOHS Top Ten Shetland Sheepdog rank- ings. Now in 2019 as of June he is in the Top Ten NOHS Shetland Sheepdog rankings.
Is fitting the show schedule into my “regular” life a constant bal- ancing act? With a full time job in home care and all the other things that goes on in even in a regular life, yes, it is a balancing act. Being a Owner-Handler with a full time job, outside of showing dogs, limits how many shows we can attend and how far we can travel. It limits many things compared to someone who is a full time handler.
Advice to a newcomer: find and read every book and article on your breed of interest, volunteer and join your local specialty club, go to shows to observe and absorb. You must develop your patience, lis- tening skills, knowledge and tolerance for losing more than winning, stay objective and make friends with conformation and performance people alike. If all you gain is some new friendships and help preserve the breed you love you have won the best part of being a part of the dog show world.
SAVANNAH KUTZ LAY
I live in Lakeland, Florida. My main “job” is as an assistant to professional handler, Renee Rosamilia. When we’re not traveling and showing though, I work at the western wear and livestock feed/sup- ply store owned by my husband’s family. Eventually, we’ll inherit the business, so I manage things when I’m at home.
ShowSight Magazine, July 2019 • 255