Page 246 - ShowSight - July 2019

Owner Handler Q & A
ever walk in a ring. Getting recognition from good judges that I’ve created an exceptional Bouvier sparks a hundred different lights in my heart. When the win goes to a dog you truly love, the emotion reaches very deep.
Is fitting the show schedule into my “regular” life a constant bal- ancing act? Since leaving the world of work three years ago it’s gotten easier. I can do all the shows in a cluster now whereas before I had limited vacation days and had to decide which judges were worthy of my vacation days. Family time with husband, son, daughter and now three granddaughters competed for those vacation days. “Managing” sometimes meant going with way less sleep than I get now, and made for late night or early morning driving. Now I have the luxury of driv- ing daytime hours and getting a good night’s sleep.
Advice to a newcomer: find a good mentor in the breed you want. Someone close who is there for hands on help, support and lengthy explanations when you feel overwhelmed by questions. Hopefully they will have a quality puppy or dog to sell to you from appropriately health certified parents. And check for those health certifications on offa.org. Some people lie about health testing. Don’t settle for a mediocre dog just because it’s available now. The good ones are worth waiting for. Read your breed’s standard and pester people in the breed with questions until you understand what that standard demands in your breed. Get your hands on as many dogs as you can to compare and develop your eye for your breed. Talk to people already immersed in the sport. Dogs and shows are our favorite subject! Find a good handling class with a kind but thorough instructor if that mentor can’t help you with handling. Go to seminars. Watch video of dog shows—and don’t watch the dogs. Watch the handlers, chose the ones with the style you like and analyze everything they do. This assuming you want to be an owner handler. Remember that everyone loses. Try to learn something every time you go in the ring. Have someone video you then watch to see what you can do better next time. Ten times of doing that makes you ten times better!
SHERI CASSENS
I live in Minnesota and I’m a retired dog trainer. My passions outside of dogs are art and family. I was a student of canine behavior and behavior issues and a conformation and performance competitor for 33 years.
I believe the NOHS has been a fantastic addition to the conformation experience.
Do I feel that owner/handlers have an advantage because of their bond with their dogs? Yes if the OH makes a continuous effort to nurture a strong bond with their dog.
What’s more important to me, an all-breed win or a specialty win? Both are important.
If you’re a breeder/owner/handler, are your wins that much more special? Yes.
Is fitting the show schedule into my “regular” life a constant bal- ancing act? Show life and family life are important to balance espe- cially if the family includes children. I attended local shows and per- formance events when the children were small. A supportive spouse is essential. Children’s events need to take priority over a dog shows. Kids are young for such a short time and there are many years to enjoy traveling to dog shows as empty nesters. Campers are fantastic!
Advice to a newcomer: everyone starts somewhere. Mistakes hap- pen. Don’t worry, be happy and enjoy learning. There are many lovely people willing to encourage a new person at dog shows. If you find a crabby person, shrug your shoulders and talk to someone else!
LIAN CHASE
I live in Peyton, Colorado where I am currently a high school student. My other passions include reading books and writing. I have been involved in Black Russian Terriers for about five years.
NOHS has affected the way I view my own success within the ring and what it’s like to be in the group ring. This is because without NOHS I never would have gotten the opportunity to be in groups which motivated me to want to continue.
I don’t think that owner handlers have an advantage because any good handler can bond with a dog quickly. However the personal bond and investment in the dog does shine through.
What’s more important to me, an all-breed win or a specialty win? To me a specialty win is far more important because it is peer against peer where the characteristics of a breed are more emphasized. The knowledge of the judge on your breed is likely more thorough than an all-bred judge.
If you’re a breeder/owner/handler, are your wins that much more special? I think that the wins I receive with dogs that are mine are absolutely more special because you take complete credit for what you receive.
Life is a constant balancing act in my case since I also attend school and sometimes I have to miss shows and/or miss school. It’s a constant give and take because I often drive all night to get to a show or to attend school on a Monday.
I would tell a newcomer to find a breed that they love. I would also tell them to set their own specific goals and stay tough because in the beginning it can be discouraging. Focus on personally improv- ing and not the political aspect of shows. Also, I can’t express the value of a good mentor and joining a kennel club as another way to become involved in the community and meet supportive people with like interests. Above all make friends. Dog shows are so much better when you can travel together, talk, groom and expose yourself to other aspects of the sport you didn’t know about. The friends who support you and help you through ruts are the ones that make dog showing worthwhile.
BETHANY DAVIS
I have a kennel of ten New- foundlands. We are located in a little town called Hubbard, Oregon, with a beautiful view of Mount Hood. I enjoy many activities with my Newfies; the Notta Bears love doing therapy and we frequent cancer treat- ment centers, assisted living homes and children’s hospice. We enjoy trips to the beach and rivers, swimming in our pool and going to shows!
I am a groomer, trainer, and dog product influencer. My whole life revolves around dogs and I love it! Working with dogs is my passion; I love enjoy teaching others and
helping them with their own pets.
I have been in Newfoundlands about eight years. We had a couple
rescues when I was really young and they passed young. My mom always wanted another but it was really difficult having them suffer from poor health and pass young so my mom decided to get one from a good breeder. Once she had her girl, I fell in love and decided to get my own boy. It sort of snowballed from there! Now I have ten New- fies and love it!
How has the NOHS program affected my view of the sport? I don’t really believe the NOHS program is good for our sport. I believe is separates the “owner handlers” and “professionals” and I don’t think that’s good for us. I think that we all should be at an even playing field and not viewed as the “outcast.” Without breeders, we wouldn’t have dogs to handle. I think the shows need to have a breeder group and make that more important than owner handlers. Anyone can handle their own dog, but it takes a lot to produce your own.
240 • ShowSight Magazine, July 2019