Page 271 - ShowSight - July 2019

• Do not rely on social media. If in doubt, head to the vet.
• Have all of your supplies ready prior to one week before her d
ue date.
• Have her vet checked and possibly radiographed one week
before due date to see number and position of puppies.
• Keep your support system informed as to how she is doing as
the due date nears.
• Pray that all goes well. Have credit card handy and vet on
standby when she goes into labor, in case she needs a c-section. Have your bitch and puppies checked within 24 hours
of delivery.
• Check dam’s milk and make sure puppies are getting enough and gaining weight.
• Enjoy!
Many exhibitors cannot discuss their own breed and breed stan-
dard, let alone other breeds. Most people do not stay for groups or watch other breeds being exhibited. Some do not even stay once they have lost their class. There is so much that can be learned from these activities. Learn what makes a dog a good example of it’s breed and learn what makes a good show dog. Hopefully yours is both. There are many top dogs who are great show dogs and many great dogs who are not good show dogs. You do not have to like a particular breed, but something can be learned, and sometimes more can be learned by watching a breed you may not be fond of. You can then concen- trate on structure, movement, and presentation, and not get caught up in ‘your favorite.’ You can then evaluate based on observation not feeling.
People often ask me what a particular judge likes. Hang around and watch them judge their assignments, and the groups, see if you can figure it out. Do not rely on something that ‘someone’ said. Fact check. The more time you spend at a show, the more you will learn, the more people you will meet, and the more information you will have in your breeder/owner/handler arsenal. Pull out your phone at ringside, look up the standard for that breed, and follow along. In the long run, it can only help you with your own dogs.
KATHY SHIFFLETT
I live near Annapolis, Maryland. I am retired from NASA where I was the Program Business Manager for the Earth Science Program Office. I have bred, raised, trained and shown horses in hunter, jump- er and cross country events throughout my life.
My husband and I Bred our first Curly-Coated Retriever litter in 1997.
The NOHS gives owners an opportunity to showcase their breed and receive recognition for showing a quality exhibit.
I don’t necessarily believe that an owner has an advantage when they show their own dog. Many professional handlers develop a true bond with the dogs they show weekly.
I think it depends on the size of a breed win. I would say per- sonally for me winning the CCRCA Speciality, Westminster, Best in Show and Best in Show in the NOHS are very meaningful wins.
As a breeder, owner, handler, wins in the breed ring help, to vali- date our breeding program. It is an honor to represent our breed and be recognized by the judges.
Now that I am retired, it is my easier to fit the shows into our schedule. We have had the opportunity to attend shows in areas where when I was working it just wasn’t possible due to travel commitments.
Find a mentor in your breed and learn as much as possible about your breed. Your need to be objective about your dog and know it’s strengths and weakness. Find a handling class in your area and learn how to show your breed—not all breeds are shown the same way. When you are attending a dog show, observe the judge’s ring proce- dures prior to your ring time. Watch and learn.
Owner Handler Q & A
CHRISTINE STATEN
I live 11⁄2 hours south of Kansas City in the very rural area of East Central Kansas. I am retired after 30 years as owner and manufac- turer of porcelain dolls. Although retired, I now manage the farm we live on and have a growing art business. Mostly custom dog painting, of course.
I have been in and around dog showing for over 50 years. My Belgian Sheepdog is the first Showdog I personally have owned and shown. She is 41⁄2 years old.
I had not planned to get a Confirmation Dog. I had planned on a good, healthy, companion dog and maybe do Rally. As it turned out I ended up with the pick of the litter and was ask to show her for six months to a year. It was a judge that ask me why I wasn’t showing her in OH. I didn’t even know what the was. He said, “You pay your entry fee, then the name of the game is how many times can you get in the ring for the one entry fee.”
I stopped looking for the points to Ch. win, and started trying to get back in the ring one more time, or two more, then three.
I no longer worried about not having competition as there are almost no Belgians where I show. I was going to groups and OH BIS all on the one entry fee.
I don’t think OH have any advantage, some of us have something special with our dogs and it shows. Some of us are better handlers. Some better looking in the ring. Some of us just have better qual- ity dogs. All this can also be said of the Professionals also. There are judges that love us and some hate us. At the end in the largest percentage of the time the right dog wins. The Owner Handler does have the advantage of being able to proudly say, “This is what my dog and I did today.”
For me personally I would treasure an All-breed win. Sad to say National Specialty wins are the domain of the good old girls and boys. Not that they don’t have great dogs but they tend to be Breeder Judges that know of the dogs and are looking for them.
An All breed win, group 1 or higher where you and your dog are standing with the top of all the breeds and excellent Handlers both Pro and OH. That is what makes me enter shows.
If you’re a breeder/owner/handler, are your wins that much more special? Not a breeder. Yet!
Being retired is why I can show as much as I do. But we have planned a wedding around my show schedule. And I have holes in the show schedule that I use for the “regular life” stuff.
I schedule my life as I did for my business and so dog showing has not changed that much. I have a certain time blocked out of groom- ing and training, in the same way I would have new designs and sales meeting.
Advice to a newcomer: this will sound like a motivational speaker but, “Just do it!” Don’t forget to check the OH box for every show. If you are brand new why pay for class time when you have already paid for ring time. Look around and try to look like the people who are winning. I so want to take some people shopping. Find a mentor, it doesn’t have to be someone in your breed. Better yet find a travel- ing partner (or more than one). There is nothing more disappointing than big wins and having no one to happy dance with. Talk to strang- ers at shows, they may be your new best friend.
SUSAN THIBODEAUX
Susan Thibodeaux is Vice President of a company which provides services to the Federal Government. She recently joined her current company after leaving a 30-year career culminating as Sr. Director of Operations for a major Federal contractor with global operations. Susan earned her MBA from Webster University and her undergradu- ate degree from the University of Alabama. She is a Six Sigma Black- belt and is a Certified Federal Contracts Manager.
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