Page 258 - ShowSight - July 2019

Owner Handler Q & A
Is fitting the show schedule into my “regular” life a constant bal- ancing act? Owning my own business makes it a little easier to go to the dog shows sometimes. Other times things happen and I must head back to the store before the end of the day to take care of a funeral or a special order that must be made by myself.
I would tell any newcomers to the show ring, make it a fun day for you and your dog. Do not listen to many of the mean people who are in all breeds. Find other people who want to have a good day and hang with them. Many times you will find friends in other breeds because you are not competing against them.
My best dog show day was when one of my puppy owners drove six hours to bring her boy, Echo, back to me so I could show him at a Speciality in Pennsylvania. She handed me his leash and told me he had been in two handling classes and she said, “Good luck.” Echo exited my van with his own leash in his mouth and I just laughed and said to my self this should be fun!Well day one, we won a three point major in the bred by class; day two, we won a four point major in bred by; day three was another four point major and I was being told what a beautiful boy Echo was and that he could finish his Championship the next day! Never in my mind was I thinking anything like this. So now I was so nervous showing the fourth day I thought I was going to pass out. His owner had drove back from their home to pick him up and got to watch us show. Well we walked in the ring and Echo smelled his owner in the air and was looking for her. I thought, “Oh no we blew it!” The judge looked past his looking for his mom and he won his four point major and finished his championship in one set of dog shows in Machungie, Pennsylvania. To me being his breeder and showing him to this amazing win was a dream come true. His owner is now showing him on her own. She is brand new to the sport and I give her as much encouragement as possible.
JANICE HIGHTOWER
I live in Lake Wales, Florida. I’m a clerk/order writer for Polk County Bus Garage. My passions outside of dogs is Jeeping, travel- ing, BBQing, fun with friends?
I’ve been in the breed for 37 years with hunting over Brittanys with my dad growing up which is what made me love the breed.
How has the NOHS program affected my view of the sport? I am loving it. I have had two top ten dogs so far in six years of showing again.
Do I feel that owner/handlers have an advantage because of their bond with their dogs? Yes, they live with us and are family. Yes some live with handlers but I feel its not the same they still have owners.
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, I unfortunately have not had a litter since starting to showing again due to my bitch having to be spayed or I would be out there with my own breeding.
Is fitting the show schedule into my “regular” life a constant bal- ancing act? I have no children at home and just have to make sure I have time to take off from work. I can not go out of state very often but can’t wait to retire so I can go off to other states.
Advice to a newcomer: find or have your breeder as a mentor and ask questions. Most people will help you. Just wait until they are through showing to ask or ask if you can talk after they are done showing.
Keep your chin up win or lose, I know its hard it is for me too. If you’re buying a puppy get a good one from a reputable breeder and ask for help in learning the ropes of dog showing. Some will let you share space at shows so they know their breeding is well shown to make it look good. Don’t give up because you lose (I would have a long time ago with a liver roan Brittany if it had not been for good breeders telling me she would finish with a bang and she did). I try and help or find someone if possible when someone asks me to help.
NANCY L. HITTEPOLE
I’m retired and living in western middle Ohio and the Outer Banks in the winter. Outside of dogs, I like enjoying the outdoors, walking the beaches, bird watching, bike riding, and genealogy.
I rescued a wire bitch in the early 90s and when she passed too soon, started looking for another girl wire and after a few months of newspaper hunting found a new litter ad—whose breeder just hap- pened to live, not knowing, within a few miles away.
How has the NOHS program affected my view of the sport? NOHS has provided the owner/handler an equal opportunity to show and provides the breeder owner/handler another opportunity to promote their breeding program.
Do I feel that owner/handlers have an advantage because of their bond with their dogs? It takes two to do well in dog show- ing—the handler and the dog. If the dog is structurally and physi- cally sound, meets the breed standard and enjoys being in the ring and the handler knows the strengths and limits of self and the dog, proper training and communication should result in an enjoyable and successful bond.
Do breeder/owner/handlers have an extra added advantage when it comes to showing? Maybe, but, it shouldn’t matter. In some show- ings, it’s a discriminator.
Where do I whelp pups and how do I determine optimal breeding time? Breeding and whelping are usually done at home. Breeding is considered if there is a dam or sire that can help the breeding pro- gram. Each bitch’s whelping time can be different ranging in days from high 50s to low 60s in combination of loss of appetite, tempera- ture increases, vulva licking, panting, cramping, restlessness, vomit- ing, contraction or nesting.
At what age do I place show or pet pups? Placement can occur once solid food is the primary source of nutrition and body func- tions are normal and thoroughly vet checked and appropriately vac- cinated, and, suitable owners are vetted. With the breed standard as the basis, show prospects are usually identifiable early and validated by demeanor, attitude, attentiveness, temperament and sociability.
Has local legislation affected my ability to own, breed and raise good dogs? Not really, the township limits the number of dogs a resi- dence can have and breeding only occurs when suitable sire or dam can improve breeding program.
Which mentor gave me the most valuable advice? Jason Taylor, Royal Canin as well as other notable Wire Fox Terriers breeders and other breed breeders.
RONALD JACOBSON
My wife and I live in upstate South Carolina near the town of Clemson.
We moved here from Nebraska as a promotion with my current employer. While this job increased my responsibilities of managing the division inventory and production of our compo- nents plants, it did give my wife the opportunity to stay at home and enjoy life after owning restaurants for the
last 15 years. The nice thing about living in the south is the weather is very enjoyable ten months of the year and opens up a lot more time to play golf and enjoy time in our large back yard playing with the dogs.
I have had Gordon Setters for about 25 years. Before that I had English Setters for hunting and Australian Shepards for working the horses. It was not until 2008 that we got our first Gordon that was a
252 • ShowSight Magazine, July 2019