Page 162 - ShowSight - June 2020

What has been my greatest challenge as a breeder/owner-han- dler? Learning how to strip and groom my dog for the shows.
What has been my biggest thrill as a competitor? Just being out in the ring with all the handlers and thinking, “I’m really doing this!” It’s something I never thought I’d be doing at this point of my life. Also, being chosen as Reserve Best in Show in the Owner- Handled Group ring!
How are me and my dogs keeping busy now that dog shows are on hiatus? We’ve been spending time in the country and getting it ready to be our permanent residence, and letting them enjoy run- ning around the six acres of property we have. They love it!
Do I have any specific goals in mind for my return to the show ring? To hopefully one day get invited to Westminster.
How important is the owner-handler to the future of the sport? I think it’s very important. It highlights the talent and the love a person has for a dog they’ve bred.
The funniest thing that’s ever happened to me as a breeder/own- er-handler? I’m sure this has happened to many people: I was having a conversation with a couple of people as we were waiting to go into the ring. As I’m talking, my friend says, “Ummm, look down.” My boy was lifting his leg on my leg and foot.
SUSAN THIBODEAUX
My husband and I live in Cocoa, Florida, on the space coast. We were in Vizslas for nearly four decades, but in 2013 we decided to segue to a Toy breed and now breed and show Toy Fox Terriers (and one old Vizsla and one Toy Manchester Terrier).
Do I have any hobbies or interests apart from breeding and showing dogs? I ride Appaloosa horses and have shown them to Reserve World and Reserve National Championships. I haven’t shown the horses as much the last few years as I concentrated on my dogs. I also love to do nature photography because I love the outdoors.
How often do I breed? Do I breed to compete in conforma- tion or performance? I don’t breed often because I want to keep my numbers manageable as I also have a full-time job. I usually breed when I’m ready to start a new dog, so my bitches are often four to six years old before we have puppies. I show primarily in conforma- tion, but I started in the 1970s in obedience and have put a number of obedience and rally titles on dogs over the years. I am training a Toy Fox for rally right now and we’re having a lot of fun; he just got his first trick title too. My dogs love barn hunt and FAST CAT.
Do I compete in the AKC National Owner-Handled Series? Yes, and we’ve done very well in it. The best part of the series is the friends I’ve made in other breeds whom I wouldn’t have met had it not been for the NOHS...and we’re each other’s cheerleaders. It has really made a difference in spending a day at a dog show.
What has been my greatest challenge as a breeder/owner-han- dler? Not keeping too many dogs which means we have to be very particular about the dogs we keep.
What has been my biggest thrill as a competitor? We’ve had a few, but WB to finish our first Vizsla under Jane Forsythe at the 1984 AKC Centennial, winning BOB Toy Fox Terrier with Spar- kles at the 2015 Eukanuba AKC National Championship Show, and a few BISs in Europe when we lived there in the 1980s would probably all tie.
How are me and my dogs keeping busy now that dog shows are on hiatus? We are taking advantage of the AKC Trick Dog titles and AKC Rally. We put a novice trick title on our Toy Fox special, Barnum (3rd in Breed last year), and currently working on his rally title. His tail never quits wagging—he thinks it’s immense fun to do tricks and learn commands that get him treats. We’ve also used the time to get the four Toy Fox puppies walking better on a lead, table manners and teaching them to free stack for a cookie. Lots of
success for three of them, but I fear that one puppy wants a career in the circus.
Do I have any specific goals in mind for my return to the show ring? Two of the pups—Flyer and Gemma—were off to stellar starts their first two weekends out before everything stopped, so we are really looking forward to getting them back out. Barnum and Ricky will be back out as my main specials. Shimmer needs four points for her Silver GCH and then she’ll retire for good—my han- dler friend, Rene Rosamilia, will take her out for me as I’ll have my hands full with Barnum and the puppies. Sparkles is getting veteran status this week, so we’ll be showing her as a veteran here and there. And we have a really beautiful and adorable puppy that we hope to teach to not walk like a human on two feet and to stand still and stop bouncing for the judges to see her. She’s very enthusiastic and loves to be the entertainment.
How important is the owner-handler to the future of the sport? Hugely important. I can’t imagine the sport surviving—much less growing—without the care and feeding of owner-handlers. People who have some measurement of success with their own dogs tend to stay in the sport, and club members are mostly breeders and owner- handlers. Without clubs and their member volunteers we wouldn’t have shows, so it is immensely important that owner-handlers feel welcome and have success at shows.
The funniest thing that’s ever happened to me as a breeder/own- er-handler? I laugh at myself and my dogs a lot, so it’s hard to think of one thing. The one that comes to mind first though is teaching a very nervous, new Vizsla exhibitor to relax in the ring about 15 years ago. I danced and made her dance in the ring while we waited for the judge to go over our dogs. She’s been breeding and showing very successfully since and and has quite a few big wins under her belt, but we always laugh when we see each other about the dancing. She said it did help her. I think sometimes we get too serious—it is supposed to be fun and our hobby.
KATIE TUTTLE
I live in Middleport, New York. My breed is Sussex Spaniels and I’ve been involved with dogs my whole life, but only showing for four to five years.
Do I have any hobbies or interests apart from breeding and showing dogs? I also competitively showed Arabians and half-Ara- bians at the national level.
How often do I breed? Do I breed to compete in conformation or performance? I breed once every two to three years. I breed for conformation and performances.
Do I compete in the AKC National Owner-Handled Series? Yes.
What has been my greatest challenge as a breeder/owner-han- dler? [Finding] judges who have even seen my breed let alone know how to judge them.
What has been my biggest thrill as a competitor? Getting an owner-handled Group First under Doug Johnson.
How are me and my dogs keeping busy now that dog shows are on hiatus? Going on walks; I am an essential business, so I’ve been bringing them to work.
Do I have any specific goals in mind for my return to the show ring? To get a prize at Westminster and winning Breed at the National Owner-Handled Championships.
How important is the owner-handler to the future of the sport? It’s very important. In the horse industry the amateurs are what has saved the industry. It gets frustrating for owner-handlers at times when going up against professionals, but since owner-handlers have their own Group, it gives hope and encouragement to introducing new people to the sport.
BREEDER/OWNER-HANDLER Q&A
160 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2020