Page 281 - ShowSight - December 2019

JOHN & TAMMIE WILCOX
We only have a website for our boarding kennel Winstarbedan- dbiscuit.com. I would say that I have my hands full with the board- ing facility website and have never taken the time to develop one for the handling.
We live in Tacoma, Washington. That is the West Coast and not the Capitol (Washington DC).
John is from three generations of showing and breeding dogs. His mother, Janet Wilcox was a handler with her husband Elmer (Hank) Wilcox starting back in the 50s. Janet also was a show secretary during the days that Superintendents didn’t really exist. Her last role was a licensed AKC conformation judge for over 50 years. John has all the DNA to be involved in our sport. When AKC licensed handlers he was an AKC All Breed licensed handler in 1970 or somewhere close to that.
I (Tammie) has a pedigree that isn’t as shiny or well bred. My mother, Judy (retired) was a wonderful trainer in obedience, track- ing, search and rescue, protection, Sport Dogs and field training hunt dogs. She and a number of her friends were the ones that kept me involved in dogs. Mom raised three children as a single mother in the late 60’s which was not easy and she had the help of her friends to keep one of them focused on dogs, myself.
I started in 4-H as well as AKC with my mother’s German Shep- herds and our lovely mutts. I was taken under Sally Bishop’s wing (Fox Meadow German Shepherds and Pembroke Welsh Corgis) that had me showing a number of her GSDS and PWC in my teen years and several other people. I considered Sally my second mother. We could write a couple of chapters on that relationship.
What made us know that this was where we belonged? John had just a genetic link to be involved in dogs. He was employed for several years in the car industry during his time as a handler.
I have a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon in Political Science and a minor in Rhetoric and Communication. To pay for tuition and living expenses I worked full time and part time for Fred Meyer and showed dogs for a small number of people (German Shepherds and Pembroke Welsh Corgis). After my gradu- ation from the University of Oregon I spent time within the State of Washington Employment Security in several positions. To make a long story short I was recruited into three different technical com- panies. The last company I worked for asked me to be available 24/7. My statement in that meeting was, “I work to live, not live to work”. Eventually this was not where I wanted to be. I was fired from the job.
John and I had been married for six months and looked at each other and said what do we know best, “DOGS”. We bought a board- ing, grooming and training kennel, which is an addition to us show dogs professionally. Our facility is called Win-Star Bed & Biscuit.
Who were our mentors? Well, the mentors are so many that I know we would miss several. John’s list is long and well known, just a few are Porter Washington, Phoebe Stewart, Dr. Charles Kruger and of course his parents Hank and Janet Wilcox.
Mine are people that would not be recognizable with the excep- tion of Sally Bishop and Dr. Charles Kruger.
Do we breed? We breed Papillons and Pembroke Welsh Cor- gis under the prefix of Jareaux (pronounced Jarow). Janet made us promise that we would carry on the kennel name of Jareaux. It is a combination of John’s Maternal and Paternal Grandfathers names.
Do we like to stick to any particular breed or group? About the only group we don’t show a number of dogs in is the Terrier group. I really prefer the dogs that I’m able to groom and have a good knowledge of.
How do we travel to shows? We have used several different vehi- cles as forms of transportation. Currently we use a 40ft motorhome. This is our preference for several reasons. One being in the same space as the dogs and the additional rest we get at the shows.
How many shows do we attend in the average year? Boy, I don’t think I want to know the real answer to this one. Probably about 100 plus per year.
The best thing about being a professional handler? When I was young it was the challenge, the competition and the travel. Now I would say the relationship with the dogs and achieving our client’s goals.
The toughest part about being a handler? Keeping the life bal- ance. Since we also have a boarding kennel, we work seven days a week. I used to love the travel, but it has become more difficult due to traffic, distance and safety for all concerned.
Is our family involved? John has one daughter and she is not involved in the business. I never had children.
Are we involved with an all-breed club? Yes, John has been a part of Seattle Kennel Club since the 1970. I’m also a member of the Seattle Kennel Club for the past 17 years.
Have we held positions within the club? John has held several positions including a few years as President. My current position is President for the past four years.
What can Clubs do to make handlers’ job easier? This is a loaded question. Being closely involved with the Seattle Kennel Club, we see all sides of our sport. I think handlers need to consider what they can do to help clubs make the clubs jobs easier. Clubs also need to consider what they can do to make the breeders and owner handlers want to continue to participate.
Finding appropriate venues for the size, comfort and financial success for all involved is becoming more difficult. Seattle Kennel Club has had to leave the city venue due to the increased costs that could not be covered with the revenue from our show.
What can Clubs do to make handlers want to enter? Making the parking and grooming are comfortable keeps most of us happy. I go back to the handlers need to be more understanding of club’s limitations and spend some time assisting the clubs.
The most amusing thing we’ve ever witnessed at a dog show? I have a picture of a streaker (for those that didn’t grow up in the 60s and 70s a nude runner) running through the Best in Show ring. The following people are in the lineup as handlers, Porter Wash- ington, Houston Clark and the streaker. You can’t read what was written on her back side in red. Maybe Houston Clark recalls what was written.
Professional HandlerQ & A
“THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING A PROFESSIONAL HANDLER?
When I was young it was the challenge, the competition and the travel. Now I would say the relationship with the dogs and achieving our client’s goals.“
ShowSight Magazine, DeceMber 2019 • 277