Page 228 - ShowSight - July 2019
P. 228

                THE
OWNER HANDLERS
  1. Place of residence? Profession? Passion (outside of dogs)?
2. How long have you been in the breed?
3. How has the NOHS program affected your view of the sport?
4. Do you feel that owner/handlers have an advantage because of their bond with their dogs?
5. What’s more important to you, an all-breed win or a specialty win?
6. If you’re a breeder/owner/handler, are your wins that much more special?
7. Is fitting your show schedule into your “regular” life a constant balancing act? How do you manage?
8. Where do you whelp pups? How do you determine optimal breeding time? How do you predict whelping time?
9. At what age do you place show or pet pups? In your breed is it easy to choose show prospects at a young age?
10. Has local legislation affected your ability to own, breed and raise good dogs?
11. Which mentor gave you the most valuable advice? How do you pass it on to others?
12. What advice would you give the newcomer to our world?
13. Anything else you would like to share?
ARMANDO ANGELBELLO
Armando Angelbello of Marlex Miniature Pinschers has been a breeder/owner/ handler for 32 years and is a retired banking executive. Had numerous top win- ning Min Pins, including the top BIS winning toy dog of all time, GCH Marlex Classic Red Glare with 133 BIS. He bred and/or owned and piloted his Min Pins to 11 National Specialty wins as well as many top producing sires and dams.
He was a personal recipient of excellence awards as breeder, owner handler, sportsmanship.
I am not a fan of the NOHS program. I believe it’s divisive compe- tition and supportive of the everyone is a winner mentality. The focus should be the dogs, not who’s at the end of the lead. When a dog who doesn’t even win the breed can go on to NOHS BIS, what is there to brag about? Owner handlers, no different than professionals, can succeed exhibiting outstanding specimens of the breed at all levels. Having said this, obviously AKC tapped into a divisive mentality and it appears the NOHS program is thriving, with more entries, more ribbons, more money spent, more stats to brag about. Not for me.
I believe the owner handlers have the opportunity for a deeper bond with their dogs as it usually involves one breed and one or a few dogs. They must also have the ability to expertly present and handle their breed.
What’s more important to me, an all-breed win or a specialty win? It depends on prestige of show, judge and entries. A National Spe- cialty win is at the top of breed competition; Naturally, a best in show in all-breed.
If you’re a breeder/owner/handler, are your wins that much more special? As breeder/owner/handler, one may be more emotionally connected with the dog, but significant wins are special to all con- nected with the winning dog.
Is fitting the show schedule into my “regular” life a constant balancing act? It is a balancing act between family life and my pas- sion for dog shows. It is much easier to balance now that I’m retired from work. We do family activities during the week and a lot on weekends off.
Advice to a newcomer: first, find a mentor who has been successful in your chosen breed, that can guide, teach and encourage the devel- opment of your individual vision. Observe, ask and listen. Surround yourself with competitive but positive people. Whiners are a dime a dozen in this sport and are generally losers; avoid or ignore them.
SARAH ARMSTRONG
I live in Toledo, Ohio. My passion is my dogs and my profession is sales. I have had Gordon Setters for 20 years
How has the NOHS program affected my view of the sport? I think it is dividing our sport. I think it is giving the judges a reason to not put up an OH for breed because they know there is another award they can give that OH.
Do I feel that owner/handlers have an advantage because of their bond with their dogs? No, if there is an advantage, I haven’t seen it or experienced it.
What’s more important to me, an all-breed win or a specialty win? Both.
If you’re a breeder/owner/handler, are your wins that much more special? Absolutely! I put my heart and soul into my breeding pro- gram! To be on the other end of the leash of a dog that I bred and own is an honor!
Is fitting the show schedule into my“regular” life a constant bal- ancing act? It is very difficult with my work travel schedule and per- sonal life. I can’t be out there every weekend. I can’t travel that far away as I have older dogs at home that I won’t take on the road with me so I can only attend shows where I can drive back and forth. So, I can’t be seen every weekend at shows like the professionals.
Advice to a newcomer: find a mentor! Go to handling classes!
ZOE BOLIN
I live in Southern California, north of Los Angeles. I have had dogs all my life but got my first show dog in 2006. I am recently retired from LAPD where I worked as a 911 operator. My background is in horses. I showed Western horses as a junior, Hunters/Jumpers as an amateur, and worked at various race tracks and training facilities for TB race horses as an adult.
I have been in Black and Tan Coonhounds since 2006 and in Manchester Terriers since 2008.
How has the NOHS program affected my view of the sport? I have mixed feelings about the NOHS program. For me, it is a great place to work with a new dog, a dog who isn’t winning at the breed level most of the time. With a dog who is consistently winning the breed I sometimes skip the NOHS group and only show in the regu- lar group where the judges are familiar with the breeds. Many times, when I show in both groups, I’ve walked out of the NOHS group and placed in the regular group.
Do I feel that owner/handlers have an advantage because of their bond with their dogs? There are certain dogs and certain handlers,
 222 • ShowSight Magazine, July 2019
         




























































   226   227   228   229   230