Page 240 - ShowSight - July 2019

Owner Handler Q & A
my Special as competitively as possible I was having one day ‘off’ a month. Every other day was spent at work, at a show or traveling, It was exhausting but I would do it all over again!
Advice to the newcomer: enjoy your dog above and beyond. Try not to get discouraged. Some of the worst days may be followed by your best. Ignore the noise. There is a lot of jealously and negativity in the sport once you become successful. Love what you do and why you do it!
SANDI BRITT
I live in Michigan. I’m a wife, mother and home maker. My pas- sions include gardening, outdoors, walks along the beach, woods and watching my five sons make their way in life, my grandchildren and great grandchild. I have been involved with the German Spitz for 10+ years now.
I have not been involved as I have a FSS Breed in relation to AKC but showing in IABCA they call it “bred by”. I feel it’s great for the breeder as spectator can see and know what you are doing as to the breed.
Do I feel that owner/handlers have an advantage because of their bond with their dogs? No.
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? Yes, My breeding program is not in vain. My hard work has paid off.
Is fitting the show schedule into my “regular” life a constant balancing act? Not really, my kids have spread their wings and left the nest. I do my best to what I need to do done and my time after that is my dogs getting prepared and packed for our road trip. My mini vacation.
Advice to a newcomer: enjoy yourself and the time with your dog(s). Don’t let the negative people ruin your day, let it flow off of you like a duck to water.
KAREN BROOKS HODGES
In 1983 my husband and I started an oil, construction and indus- trial supply business in S. Texas. Other than Samoyeds, my passion is Christmas. We always enjoy 8-22 Christmas trees throughout the house during the holidays. Each tree displaying a different theme and collection with a new creation always in the works. Kind of like dogs, “Just one more!”
I went to the Humane Society looking for a dog and that is when I first fell in love with a Samoyed. That was in 1979. I had no idea what breed I had until he passed and asked my vet. Then through the news- paper want ads I found an AKC “registered” Samoyed (sadly) from a broker. She took me to obedience classes, agility and dog shows. Now I knew what a quality Samoyed looked like and I wanted one. After a lot of research and letters (no internet) our first show dog came to us in 1989 from Moonlighter Samoyeds.
For years, I would finish my girls, work them in other venues, put them in the whelping box and have a new puppy to show. I believe that is what new exhibitors, hobby and small breeders do. When the NOHS was adopted, I found that I did begin bring- ing my girls out more often than just appearing at clusters with specialty shows.
I think NOHS took a little while to catch on and know it is dif- ficult sometimes with the judge’s panels especially with the smaller shows, but it has been great for our sport.
On a very positive note, the NOHS has been fun and very healthy in our breed. When the monthly stats come out, someone always posts them and tags those that are in the Top 10-15. We are excited for each other! I’m watching new exhibitors to the sport continue show- ing their own dogs. This is a huge step in keeping Owner-Handled
exhibitors active, excited and proud of their accomplishments. It’s been truly amazing to see the sportsmanship in and outside the ring. Do I feel that owner/handlers have an advantage because of their bond with their dogs? I do not feel that OH have an advantage. Most professional handlers are very gifted in our sport allowing them to make the dog look their best. This gives them the edge including
being seen each weekend at the shows.
What’s more important to me, an all-breed win or a specialty win?
They are equally important to me however I do gravitate towards clusters with specialty shows which I will travel across country to get to. Since 1989 I have attended each National Specialty and feel it has help me immensely as a breeder. It allows one to see different lines and what breeders are doing in their breeding programs. Also open- ing your network of fellow breeders which is so important. I guess you could say I am a breeder first and with education comes good dogs.
Each win has been a thrill from winning the Samoyed Club of America’s National Specialty’s Best of Breed, SCA Top 20 and the People’s Choice Award to All-Breed Best in Shows. I think it’s won- derful to give hope to other B/O/H’s that this goal is obtainable and to never give up. It’s been quite a journey to do it all yourself and proves you are on the right track in your breeding program.
Over the years I have had a lot of biscuit in my Samoyeds and has been very difficult. Our SCA’s Judges Education worked hard over the years to educate judges yet it’s been a very difficult path I chose. The most important thing, I was color blind and always looked at the best puppy to continue with my breeding program. This made my whole journey extra special to do the winning with not only a bitch but a biscuit bitch. It’s been an extra special journey all owner-handled.
Is fitting the show schedule into my “regular” life a constant balancing act? Going every weekend has never been an option so it becomes important to look hard at the judge’s panel. As the say- ing goes if you aren’t there you can’t win but when you must choose which shows to attend, good judges are what matters.
Advice to a newcomer: first, attend conformation classes and fun matches. Then ask questions, lots of questions. There are no bad questions if you don’t have the answer. There will be mistakes made but those normally are the ones that you never forget. Then there is embarrassment, we have all been there especially with a puppy. Remember to have fun and enjoy the time with your dog. Grab a pep- permint for your nerves, know through classes and fun matches your confidence will come! No matter what happens, you go home with the best dog and your best friend and you can say “I did it!”
KIMBERLY A. BROWN
I am originally from Con- necticut but now reside in Newtown, Pennsylvania area for the past six years. I have a very rewarding job working for a pharmaceutical company in medical oncology working with community networks to get patients access to our medi- cines. My passion outside of dogs is running marathons.
My love affair with Basen- jis began on a fall afternoon in October of 2003. Not only did I meet many Basenjis that day, I met
my mentor and closest friend Pamela Geoffroy of Eldorado Basenjis. My view of the sport has not changed with the addition of the NOHS program. I think the NOHS program draws additional entries for clubs, which is a good thing. I appreciate the effort clubs make to accommodate NOHS as it can be difficult to navigate the scheduling of NOHS groups around regular groups. When I began
234 • ShowSight Magazine, July 2019