Page 140 - ShowSight - June 2020

LAURA ABBOT-LICHT
I live in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, and I have bred, owned and shown Smooth Miniature Dachshunds for 30 years under the Petalpusher prefix. I also own/handle Miniature Horses. I am a professional floral designer (hence my kennel name, Petalpusher) and artist.
How often do I breed? Do I breed to compete in conformation or performance? I had averaged a litter a year, but my last litter was six years ago as I focused more on judging and showing during that time. I am expecting a litter mid-June, and plan on one at the end of the year. I breed for conformation, but have bred a few Dual Champions (field trials).
Do I compete in the AKC National Owner-Handled Series? Yes.
What has been my greatest challenge as a breeder/owner-han- dler? Thirty years ago when I started showing, then breeding, the quality of the Miniature Dachshund was still striving to be more consistent. Standard Dachshunds, even inferior ones, were winning over beautiful Miniatures, most of the time based on size. I believe, however, going through those challenges made us breed better Miniature Dachshunds. Sometimes the bias still presents itself, but Miniatures now can solidly compete with the Standards.
Concerning competing in the Hound Group, I believe the Group should split sight and scent. The Group is very large, and sometimes the Dachshunds get overlooked since they are at the end of the lineup. It gets very discouraging when a judge stops at the Beagles and looks no further down the line.
What has been my biggest thrill as a competitor? I bred, owned and presented the first piebald Dachshund in the U.S. to make GCH Bronze, win multiple BISS, multiple Group Ones and Group placements. GCHB Petalpusher Dressed to Impress MSP (Heidi) did not finish the year in the Top Ten, but the accomplishments she made are historic and just as thrilling.
How are me and my dogs keeping busy now that dog shows are on hiatus? I have been blessed to be able to continue working, so I have not been idle. My employer and staff love dogs, so I bring them with me from time to time for continued socialization. Since I have seasoned adults used to showing, I just let them enjoy being dogs. I give them short refresher courses on the table and free stacking.
Do I have any specific goals in mind for my return to the show ring? I have a lovely little piebald longhaired (my first!) that needs only two points to finish. I am excited about specialing her—she is a fun one to show! Heidi will be seven in November, and I may show her as a veteran, which will be a new venture for me.
How important is the owner-handler to the future of the sport? It [owner-handling] presents opportunities to encourage new people to participate in the sport. It is an outlet for those who feel discour- aged competing against professional handlers to show their own dogs. It certainly is proving its worth since O-H participation is growing by leaps and bounds. We all had to start as an owner-han- dler, and that can spread out into different arenas in the fancy. I am happy to see that AKC recognizes this and chooses to spotlight it.
The funniest thing that’s ever happened to me as a breeder/own- er-handler? I was sitting at ringside watching a class. There were three competing, and after the last dog was examined and the judge had turned around to watch the down and back, I was surprised to see another competitor approach the exam table. I thought it was just a late entry, but then I saw her dog she had placed on the table. It was a full-sized Dachshund skeleton, the one used for Halloween decoration. (I actually have one too, so I immediately recognized it.) As everyone was snickering, the judge turned around to see the exhibitor expertly presenting her “dog.” The look on the judge’s face was priceless.
She placed the “dog” last in the class, citing that although the dog had plenty of bone, it lacked substance and proper movement.
JILL BREGY
I live in Connecticut and have Irish Wolfhounds. I have been involved in the breed since 1966. I have been on the Board of the IWCA. I was Education Chairwoman for a number of years; devel- oped the breed handout at that time. I am a member of IWAWC, IWANE (of which I am past President), IWCC and local all-breed clubs as well. I have lectured on the breed and judged Irish Wolf- hound specialties around the world.
Outside of dogs, I am a charter member of Executive Women’s Golf Association and run a league for them. I have always been a golfer, as were my parents, and I love the game. I am a licensed Realtor and have five designations and have sat on the State Hear- ing Board. I have bred very little and breed only to continue my line with my bloodline. I breed to the Standard, which covers type and soundness, and therefore the get should be able to compete in both conformation and obedience. I competed in obedience with my first IW and enjoyed it; she was the seventh IW to get her CDX. I ran obedience and conformation classes for years.
Do I compete in the AKC National Owner-Handled Series? I have always entered the Owner-Handled Series and feel it is impor- tant to do so. My co-breeders, Debbie and Beth Chastain (Brie Kennels), also compete.
The greatest challenge as a breeder/owner-handler? I don’t think there is only one. You understand how to groom correctly (hand- stripping), understand how to handle correctly, and many more subtle items that go into being a successful owner-handler and that is a whole other subject.
My biggest thrill: Winning the Irish Wolfhound Club of Amer- ica from the classes with Warlock at 13 months, under the great Florence Nagle of Sulhamstead, and then finishing him going Best in Show at Ramapo Kennel Club under Cyril Bernfeld from the Bred-By Exhibitor Class—that was his fifth show.
How do we keep busy now that shows are in hiatus? While shows are important as we should compete to interact and educate ourselves with the knowledge gained at the dog show, we simply enjoy being with the dogs and stay busy hand stripping (that will keep you busy). I work from my home, so am always busy with the dogs and my work on the seventh edition of my book...and simply endless things to do. Never enough time to get it all done.
Any specific goals when dog shows reconvene? Just go out, talk to other breeders, educate and be educated. Keep an open mind!
The owner-handler is vitally important to dogs. As an owner- handler we participate in the show, understand much more about the process, and as we set up and gait our dog, this cements the importance of structure in dogs. If you set up your dogs and there is a dip behind the shoulders, you might want to look at the correct- ness of layback to fully understand why this is happening. I could go on about that for a few hours.
The funniest thing that’s ever happened to me as a breeder/ owner-handler? Having the leash fall off while gaiting and the dog simply continued on their own and came to a stop and set themselves up.
I’d also like to share: Keep an open mind, listen at ring- side, watch the judging and make your own determinations and educate yourself.
WENDY CORR
We currently live in Northern California. We raise and train Alaskan Malamutes and have done so for 50+ years. Our daughter, Jennifer Corr, has been showing Alaskan Malamutes since eight years of age and showed in Junior Showmanship until she aged out. She is currently showing and breeding this breed.
Our dogs are Champions, but they also do performance and we have numerous dogs in obedience through Utility Degree
138 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2020
BREEDER/OWNER-HANDLER Q&A