Page 254 - ShowSight - July 2019

Owner Handler Q & A
teacher. My husband and I travel abroad at least once a year and are avid readers.
I have been in Irish Setters for 46 years starting in obedience in Denver, Colorado using a handler in conformation, then handling my own dogs when I moved to California in 1984.
I have competed in NOHS for about four years. Doing so has made me a better handler. Irish Setters are very much a “handler” breed. Last weekend for two days with an entry of 20 Irish Setters l was the only non-professional. NOHS has given me a reason to continue to compete with high quality dogs even against wonderful professionals. The night I went BIS and BISOH with my Ready, the number one OH dog all breed for last year, was a dream come true. It can be done. However, owner handlers have a very difficult time of it in some breeds. I just try to come away from each show with, “What did I learn today?”
Do I feel owner/handlers have an advantage because of their bond with their dogs? I feel that owner-handlers enjoy their dogs more because of the personal bond, but in today’s ring, I don‘t believe that gives them an advantage over the professionals for the most part. Unfortunately.
Between an All Breed and Specialty win: as a breeder, a specialty win is always more important.
If you’re a breeder/owner/handler, are wins that much more spe- cial? Of course as a breeder/owner/handler a major win is intensified by the pride in the breeding program as well as my own hours of training. It shows that you and your dog won, not the face or skill of a professional.
Is fitting the show schedule into our “regular” life a constant balancing act? Luckily I am retired with a very supportive husband. Otherwise it would be very difficult to travel to many shows to cam- paign a dog, especially from my isolated area. Hauling a travel trailer certainly makes it easier.
Advice to a newcomer: listen carefully. Observe, videotape, talk to as many top handlers as possible for tips. Work hard. A non-profes- sional has much to learn and needs to practice, practice, practice to hone skills to be competitive. But, it can be done. The joy, pride and just plain fun of showing your own dog are well worth it.
ROBIN GATES
I live in McKinney, Texas. I’m a senior direc- tor, physician services and my passions include travel, spending time with family and Scrabble.
I have been in Manches- ter Terriers since 1994 and Boston Terriers since 2006.
How has the NOHS pro- gram affected my view of the sport? I enjoy competing as a breeder/owner and having that status recognized by
AKC and the sport is exciting.
Do I feel that owner/handlers have an advantage because of their
bond with their dogs? The bond I have with my dogs is one of the most important facets of handling and showing. We communicate with our eyes, reactions and emotions. Our own dogs are most in tune with us and we can read them.
What’s more important to me, an all-breed win or a specialty win? A Specialty win is one of the highest honors because it is against our own breed and fellow breeders and exhibitors we respect and admire. An All Breed win is special because it puts our breed in the forefront and allows judges to reward us amongst our peers.
If you’re a breeder/owner/handler, are your wins that much more special? Being a breeder/owner/handler is one of the things I am most proud of. To go through the entire process of picking a sire and dam, breeding a healthy litter, selecting a favorite and then growing that puppy into a Champion, a Special and beyond is so rewarding.
Is fitting the show schedule into my “regular” life a constant bal- ancing act? Balancing shows and work can be challenging. I plan my show schedule almost a year in advance to ensure I have enough vaca- tion days. Then I have to budget so I get the biggest bang for my buck. They may include traveling across the country to go to a show with better judges than the one in my own backyard.
Advice to a newcomer: pace yourself and do not expect everything to happen all at once. You will win sometimes, lose more and spend a lot of money. However, the memories you will make, the friends you will meet and the joy you will feel showing your dogs is worth every bit of the time and energy you put in.
LOIS GRIER
We live on ten acres in the peaceful Iowa country side. It is a great place for grandkids and our pack of Kerry Blue Terriers. I spent most of my life being a teacher and then an interior design business owner until our move to the country six years ago. My husband continues to work for Pella Corporation where he trav- els the entire USA much of the time. Most of our time now outside of traveling to
shows, raising and training puppies revolve around our seven grand- kids and their activities. Other than that I enjoy biking and adding to our landscaping and flower gardens each year.
My first Kerry Blue was born in 2002, I bought her before ever going to a dog show, but I was determined to learn to show. Revlin taught me everything I needed to know about showing, grooming, training and breeding. She gave us 16 champion offspring and is the third highest producing dam in the history of the breed. Her daugh- ter GCHS Krisma’s Lotsa Lottie Da For Liviah Gold ROM is at the top of the list with 20 champion offspring including three National Specialty winners and a two time BOB winner and a BOS at West- minster KC. Now five generations later we are Breeders Of Merit with over 80 finished Krisma champions. Each year we see several Krisma KBTs at the top of the charts making us incredibly proud of all our owners.
When the NOHS began I started showing in it for the additional ring time for a new special. I was an advocate for making it equal to the regular groups in terms of ribbons, trophies and most of all respect. I don’t know that it has reached the same level or that it ever will. Now I encourage my Kerry owners to be a part of it for the same reason. I think that AKC should go back to keeping those participat- ing in it unidentified in the judge’s book.
Do I feel that owner/handlers have an advantage because of their bond with their dogs? Hum, an advantage? There is much more involved in showing than just the bond between dog and han- dler, even though that is an important part of the equation to be successful no doubt. There is so much more involved in presenting the best dog in the ring, getting noticed and awarded for it. I have heard that statement in many handling sessions but still not con- vinced the judges see it as an advantage. I feel as an owner/handler
248 • ShowSight Magazine, July 2019