Page 264 - ShowSight - July 2019

Owner Handler Q & A
I’ve been competing with dogs since 2008 and I’ve had Border Collies since 2010. I’ve only just gotten seriously into conformation and breeding a few years ago though.
How has the NOHS program affected my view of the sport? I think it was a great idea in the beginning, but it kind of feels like it’s turned into something else. For example, I’m not allowed to compete since I’m a paid assistant. But I still own and handle my own dogs, so why am I not an “Owner Handler”? I think it needs to have a name that fits its exclusivity.
Do I feel that owner/handlers have an advantage because of their bond with their dogs? Not really. Honestly, the dogs that show and travel with professionals develop a bond just like those with owner/ handlers. They don’t know that the Professional Handler doesn’t own them. The dogs just know the care, love, and attention that the Professionals give them. They respond to that, not a paper of ownership.
What’s more important to me: an all-breed win or a specialty win? It’s hard to say. My favorite wins are the ones my dog makes me work for. Up until now, the dogs I’ve shown have always been eager to please and willing to do whatever I asked of them. My current special, well, he’s not an easy dog to show. He’s eager to please, but in his own unique way. Any time we both put in a good performance and get rewarded for it is an exciting win in my book regardless of whether it’s all-breed or specialty.
If you’re a breeder/owner/handler, are your wins that much more special? I think the wins are the most special when you’ve started with the dog from the beginning. To see your time and energy result in something spectacular is an unforgettable feeling.
Is fitting the show schedule into my “regular” life a constant bal- ancing act? Thankfully, the family business allows for a lot of flex- ibility. I’m able to take off for shows whenever I need to. However, neither one is truly independent of the other. While I’m at shows, I also am in contact with my employees at the feed store: making orders from the hotel rooms, arguing with sales reps in the car, reviewing applications while grooming dogs. And vice versa: even at the feed store I’m planning for future shows, drafting invoices for my han- dler’s clients and remembering to count crates for the upcoming trips. It’s a balancing act for sure.
Advice to a newcomer: It’s very easy to get discouraged. Snarky comments made ringside, a foul trick played inside the ring, slander on social media—I promise, not everyone’s bad! Don’t give up, you’ll find your people. Mentors are invaluable in this sport and they’re the type of people who will celebrate your success as hard as you do. Find one and don’t let them go.
JEANIE MCADAMS
My husband and I live in Denton County, Texas just a few miles from our den- tal practice in Denton. My husband, Doug, is a dentist and I manage our practice. Besides loving to put a show record on a dog, (especially a bred by), my passions include traveling, explor- ing, learning and trying new things, snow skiing, water- skiing, design, architecture and construction, reining
horses (I used to own/train and show them) and just hanging out with Doug and the dogs at home!
I bought my first Miniature American Shepherd in 2007 and started showing in conformation then at the ‘rare breed’ shows. This was before the breed was accepted into AKC and they were registered
as Miniature Australian Shepherds. I was on the parent breed club board that negotiated entrance into AKC and was the liaison for our Breed Standard Committee. Our breed (under the new name Min- iature American Shepherd) was accepted into AKC FSS in 2012 and became fully recognized in 2015. I have had Australian Shepherds since 1975 but did not show them. Most of my Aussies were not much bigger than my Minis now! I am a board approved Judge’s Education Mentor and have done many Meet The Breeds promoting our breed to the public including numerous years at the AKC National show in Orlando, the Rose City Classic in Portland, Oregon and the Houston Reliant show.
How has the NOHS program affected my view of the sport? Since I started showing conformation in 2012 in AKC Misc. and our breed was fully recognized in 2015, I don’t know what it was like showing AKC before NOHS was introduced since it was already implemented when we were fully recognized in 2015. I think it’s only logical to have this opportunity for Owner Handlers and I believe it was a very good business decision by AKC . Coming from a horse show background it’s logical to have different classes for different levels of competition, whether it is for the handler or the dog. My philosophy managing reining horse competitions is that the more classes you can offer and the more winners you have that day the more growth you will see.
Do I feel that owner/handlers have an advantage because of their bond with their dogs? I think they should but it all depends on the owner/handler and their attitude. It also depends on their work ethic, passion, energy level, mental outlook, physical ability, desire to learn, etc etc. There are many OH out there that work hard and are pas- sionate about showing and they do very well not only in the OH ring but the ‘regular’ ring also. I also see some OH’s out there with nice dogs but they have a negative attitude and don’t try very hard so they may not win a lot. They always want to blame someone or something besides themselves. Many times they blame their dog, the judge and/ or pro-handlers. But that’s not the dog’s fault! The dog will only show as well as you have trained him. I have helped numerous OHs over the years and some have been eager to learn, take advice well, then they go on and succeed. Then there are some that no matter how many times you tell them the same thing they don’t do it and/or make excuses. That is frustrating, especially when they have a nice dog. So you can’t generalize about any group, there will be a range of talent and passion. I love to see an OH with their dog out winning not only in the NOHS ring but in the regular group and regular Best in Show ring! They have a wonderful bond with their dogs!
What’s more important to me, an all-breed win or a specialty win? I love them both! A specialty win, especially the National Specialty is thrilling because of what it is! I have been fortunate to win our regular National Specialty twice and Select/ Bred By Exhibitor and BOB/OH BOB the other years I have shown (until our club changed the rule on not allowing ‘Specials’ to compete for BOB BBX). Most of these wins were with Bred By dogs which is especially thrilling! My dogs have won the AKC National BOB OH every year we have shown in it. On the other hand, there is nothing like winning a regular AKC Best in Show with your bred by dog! To be in the regular Best in Show ring with some of the top dogs and top handlers in the country is a thrill! I have had the honor of winning two regular Best in Shows and 1 reserve BIS with two different bred bys, father and son! The dog I am currently showing is the only MAS to have won two regular Best in Shows and 25 Group Ones! He also won our National Specialty last year and the AKC National NOHS Best in Show in 2016! He was the number one ranked NOHS all breed dog for several months earlier this year! I showed his sire to a regular Reserve Best in Show andfourGroupOnesinadditiontonumerousNOHSBIS!Towin any big show under a judge you truly respect and admire, a real ‘dog man’ (or woman), is a thrill to me!
If you’re a breeder/owner/handler, are your wins that much more special? Absolutely. Nothing compares to that feeling! It really feels wonderful when you are showing a third or fourth generation bred by!
258 • ShowSight Magazine, July 2019