Page 297 - ShowSight - November 2019

“I enjoy every aspect of breeding, raising and placing puppies.”
Rebecca Ingersoll continued
able to herd and win in the show ring. In 2014 I added the Mudi to my family and am very glad to be able to help preserve a rare breed. I am now breeding both Border Collies and Mudi. I have success- fully owner handled and finished my Border Collies and have my first bred by champion. I also currently have the top winning Mudi who is a Bred-By and the youngest Mudi to earn a CM. I love the adventure my life is now and the privilege of owning, breeding and showing my beautiful dogs.
I live on 15 acres in Benson, Arizona—my slice of paradise. I am currently a distribution clerk for the United States Postal Service. It pays the bills so I can do my dog shows and herding! Outside of dogs—just my daughters, family and friends I now have because of my dogs. I am expecting my first grandchild on November 19th.
I have been showing in conformation since I got my first confor- mation Border Collie in 2011. I have since added the Mudi to my family and show both Border Collies and Mudi.
The toughest part of being a breeder is the inevitable losses you encounter—the litters that don’t take, the puppies you lose, etc. The best part is that each litter is a new miracle. I enjoy every aspect of breeding, raising and placing puppies.
Do I feel that owner/handlers have an advantage because of their bond with their dogs? Never really thought about it. Interesting question. I do know that my bred-by wins are more special. But I enjoy any time in the ring with my dogs and making a connection is better than anything. Advantage-not that I have noticed.
What’s more important to me, an all-breed win or a specialty win? I haven’t been able to attend the Border Collie Specialty yet— so for them the first time he Won Best of Breed at a big five day cluster was HUGE! For my Mudi, winning Best of Breed this year at the specialty meant more, because that judge knows our breed— so I know she picked the best dog.
If you’re a breeder/owner/handler, are your wins that much more special? Definitely yes! Finishing my first bred-by was very special.
Is fitting the show schedule into my “regular” life a constant balancing act? Yes it is. I have certain shows I always go to every year and those are on my schedule. The rest is as I can. Only so much vacation time I have to use. I am very fortunate to currently have my parents living in my guest house and they take care of the ranch when I am gone, which allows me to do my shows.
How has the NOHS program affected me? It hasn’t yet. Mudi are not included in it and I have the top winning Mudi. Border Col- lies, I have just started having winning Border Collies that I handle, so hope to start ranking.
What advice would I give a newcomer to breeding? Stay true to your goals and do what is right for you and your program. Find a mentor if you can.
The funniest thing that I’ve witnessed at a dog show? The fun- niest for me was when my bred-by Mudi, Ryder, jumped up on a pillar in the Best-in-Show ring while we were doing our individual go round for Best in Open Show. The crowd watching was very amused by it, but the judge did not know what they were laugh- ing at as it was blocked from her view by all the other huge pillars. When she had us go around again, she said we could do a smaller circle by cutting through the pillars and I told her no, because Ryder will jump up on a pillar again and then she said is that why everyone was laughing—I couldn’t see it. He never broke stride-was up and down off of that pillar like it was something he did everyday.
RON JACOBSON
We have lived in Clemson SC for about the last 15 years prior to moving here from Nebraska. I retired from a large manufactur- ing company three months ago where a worked as a Manager of components production planning and shipping. Now that my long time job is done, it has opened up more time for me to purse my other enjoyments of playing golf, drink- ing bourbon and shooting targets but not necessarily together.
We have been showing Gordon Setters for over ten years and owning them for more than 25 years. They have been the only breed that we have showed however prior to Gordons we had Eng- lish Setters and Australian Shepherds.
The toughest part of being a breeder? Currently we are not breeders.
Do I feel that owner/handlers have an advantage because of their bond with their dogs? Owner handlers may have a small advantage with stronger bonds with their dogs especially if they only have a couple of dogs in the family.
However most handlers also build bonds with the dogs they show for any significant amount of time. They may have an advan- tage because they are showing their dogs several days a week and honing their skills without distractions from other family members.
What’s more important to me, an all-breed win or a specialty win? The specialty win in very prestigious and very special, but get- ting an all-breed win best in show would be more special to me.
If you’re a breeder/owner/handler, are your wins that much more special? I am not a breeder, however in my conversations with breeders I feel they would say that any win they have is spe- cial since it validates the hard work they go through building their breeding program?
Is fitting the show schedule into my “regular” life a constant balancing act? When I had a full time work life it was extremely difficult to manage the time available to maintain a heavy show schedule. There was never enough time to spend with family and friends nor time to spend doing other things we enjoy doing. Now that I am retired, the pace is much different and I can manage the time much easier between things we like to do.
How has the NOHS program affected me? I feel the introduc- tion of the NOHS has been very good for the AKC and keeping more people involved in showing their dogs.
There are many people that own very good dogs that do not have the money to spend having the dogs shown by professional handlers nor do they have the time and skills to campaign their own dogs. NOHS gives these people another way to prove their dogs are good enough to be winners.
What advice would I give a newcomer to breeding? Make con- tact with breeders in your local kennel club and talk to them about their experiences. Their knowledge will invaluable to you.
The funniest thing that I’ve witnessed at a dog show? The best fun in the group ring was having Sussex Spaniel sit up and beg while waiting for the final group review.
ShowSight Magazine, noveMber 2019 • 295
Breeder Owner Handler Q & A