Page 268 - ShowSight - July 2019
P. 268

                Owner Handler Q & A
Where do I whelp pups and how do I determine optimal breeding time? Puppies are whelped in my home. We have a separate floor of the house that is devoted to whelping, weening, and a puppy head start program. With easy access to the outside, a washer, dryer, and a bedroom, it’s an ideal setup.
At what age do I place show or pet pups? Pet pups are typically placed at eight weeks. I am very lucky, as Airedale show prospects are generally easy to identify at eight weeks. When possible, we will keep the strongest show prospects for a few more weeks and make a final assessment at 12 weeks.
Has local legislation affected my ability to own, breed and raise good dogs? Fortunately, local legislation has not negatively impacted us.
Which mentor gave me the most valuable advice? I have had many, many great mentors over the decades, all with meaningful and lasting advice. The single most consistent theme has been to remain passionate and committed to advancing the betterment of the breed.
Advice to a newcomer: welcome! Seek out new friends and mentors, be willing to work hard and continuously learn, embrace the unexpected, and always, always remember this is supposed to be fun!
My parents started showing and breeding Airedales in the 1950s. They passed the love of the breed and showing to me at a very early age. Now, I am happy and proud to say that I have passed the same passion to my three children: Olivia, James, and Hugh. Last year all three of them showed their dogs at the Montgomery Kennel Club show, and Olivia (age 17) handled her dog to his championship. This year, Hugh (age 11) has shown his puppy to several wins, including six Best In Sweepstakes, a major win, and a Terrier Group placement.
MELISA RUPPERT
I have been showing dogs for nine years. In 2017, Carolyn McNamara, Divine Acres Great Danes, and I co-bred my first litter of CH Journey’s Whaddya Got with my bitch BISS GCHS Divine Acres Busy Being Fabulous AOM. That breed- ing produced, Lovely, MBIS MRBIS MBISS BIF GCHS Landmark-Divine Acres Kiss Myself I’m So Pretty, AOM, HOF who I co-own
with Stephanie Taylor. Lovely has truly been a once in a lifetime dog! As of May 31st, she is the Number Four Working Dog in the country and currently has with eight Best in Shows and ten Best in Specialties.
I live in Wisconsin and am the president of a commercial cleaning company. Between the business, kids and dogs, there isn’t time for anything else!
My first Dane, Winston, was a one year anniversary gift from my husband back in 2006. He taught us a lot about the breed, finding a good breeder and made us advocate for well-bred dogs. A fun fact is that Winston won the nationwide contest for the first ever Milk-Bone Spokesdog back in 2009 for their 100th year anniversary.
I loved competing in NOHS and have participated in the pro- gram in the past years. That program gave me the experience and confidence to compete at a larger level with the professional handlers. Due to that and the encouragement of Lovely’s team and her co-own- er, Stephanie Taylor, we have pleasantly surpassed the goal of being ranked in the NOHS. I am currently enjoying Lovely’s eight Best In Show wins with confidence.
Do I feel that owner/handlers have an advantage because of their bond with their dogs? Yes! When you are showing a dog that you bred, and you were the first thing that dog knew besides its mother, there is a bond that no professional handler, or anyone for that matter, can match. You know their quirks, personality and mood just by the twitch of an ear.
What’s more important to me, an all-breed win or a specialty win? For a Breed win? Hands down a Specialty! These wins are from judges that should have an intimate knowledge of your breed. But a Spe- cialty vs Best In Show? I’d go with a Best In Show. Representing the breed you are passionate about in the BIS ring is an incredible feeling. At that level you are competing mostly with professional handlers and dogs that are out every weekend, traveling the country and advertis- ing constantly. So, when you get that BIS, breeder-owner handled with a dog that is just starting their campaign at the tender age of two and minimal advertising—that’s a dream! We are so grateful to the judges that found and awarded Lovely’s BIS wins: Dr. Gerard Penta, Dana Cline (two), Robert Hutton, Jason Hoke, Desmond Murphy, Eric Ringle and John Constantine-Amodei.
If you’re a breeder/owner/handler, are your wins that much more special? I don’t want to take away from anyone else’s wins, but to me, they are! So much planning, time, effort and disappointment go into breeding, so when you get that once-in-a-lifetime, special dog that you bred, own, train, raise and handle that is also an integral part of your family—it’s as if the stars have aligned!
Is fitting the show schedule into my “regular” life a constant bal- ancing act? Balancing act?! More like constant chaos! Haha! Cur- rently I have two young kids (ages four and one), five Great Danes, run a company and am actively campaigning Lovely, who is ranked number four in the working group. Oh, and we thought this was a good time to build a house! I manage through an incredibly sup- portive husband, great family and team of people that help me get through each day. They say it takes a village and never has that state- ment resonated with me more!
Advice to a newcomer: everyone always says start with the best dog you can get, which is absolutely true. Beyond that, surround yourself with people that are willing to help you. Everyone has their own ways of doing things, so learn as much as you can from many different resources: breeders, handlers, owners, judges, etc. and find what works for you! Additionally, the days of breeders having large kennels of dogs are no longer. Build a team of people with similar vision and goals. The wins are great, but this sport has brought so many wonderful people into our lives that have become family. We are always there for each other through the ups and downs. Win or lose, with a great team of people, you will always have fun!
DR. NATALIA SAMAJ KUNZE, DVM
I live in Virginia. My profession is veterinarian, board certified in Therio- genology—I am a reproduc- tion specialist and pediatri- cian focusing on dogs and cats.
My passions include my work; I live my life in the clinic. In the very spare free time left, I like to travel and hike.
I’ve been in the breed for 28 years, getting my first own Kerry 25 years ago.
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