Page 246 - ShowSight, November 2020

that is capable of winning in the show ring in the morning, and hit- ting the fields or the duck blind in the afternoon.
Do I compete in the AKC National Owner-Handled Series? I enter NOHS whenever it is offered at a show, and have been invited to the National Championship with Top 10 Labradors three times.
What has been my greatest challenge as a breeder/owner-han- dler? Often my greatest challenge is managing the balance between my real-world job and my hobby in dogs. One is clearly more appealing, but the other pays the bills!
My biggest thrill as a competitor has to be when my bred-by dog, GCH Rebellion’s Mischief in Me JH, CA, CGC, WCX, went Owner-Handled Best in Show.
How are me and my dogs keeping busy now that most dog shows are on hiatus? Thankfully, field work has continued as it is done exclusively outdoors. I was able to get in lots of hunt test training and put a JH on a dog over the summer, before shows started back up.
My goal for returning to the show ring is to start competing with my new puppy in early 2021, as well as working towards Grand Champion Bronze level on my new GCH.
I believe the owner-handler is vital to the sport of dogs, but the breeder/owner-handler even more so. Without the breeders at home in the whelping box, there will be no great dogs to “wow” us in the show ring. Breeders are truly the life blood of the sport, and I believe the Bred-By-Exhibitor Class is one of the most important classes in any breed lineup.
The funniest thing that’s ever happened to me (in or out of the ring) as a breeder/owner-handler? Oh goodness, there’s been so many incidents! Probably the funniest was sitting ringside for Owner-Handled Groups at the National Championship, where a friend was showing his Labrador. A dog from a litter he produced was also sitting ringside with the owner, next to me. As my friend in the ring did his go-around, the ringside dog popped up and moved out into perfect show position (albeit on his right side)! Thankfully, the owner had the end of the leash (and I also managed to snag it), so he didn’t get too far. We still laugh about it to this day.
LESLIE JASEPH
apart from breeding and showing dogs? I have always been involved volunteering for local nonprofits that provide clothing and food assistance to people in need. I also love spending time with my fam- ily, traveling, and reading.
How often do I breed? Do I breed to compete in Conformation and Performance? I breed no more than once a year, and place pup- pies first and foremost in loving homes as companions. I do encour- age the owners to be active with their dogs and compete wherever they are most comfortable. If a puppy turns out to be show qual- ity, I encourage them to participate in conformation, helping to the best of my ability or connecting them with those who are in closer proximity. I am also happy if they participate in performance, barn hunt, earthdog, or therapy dog; wherever they find activities they enjoy. For me, the most important part is that the dog is an impor- tant part of the life of the owner.
Do I compete in the AKC National Owner-Handled Series? Yes, I started competing with NOHS five years ago, mostly for ring practice and experience for my dog. I found it was also a great way to create awareness for Sealyhams and realize that owner-handlers could groom and show their own dogs. My dogs have had wonder- ful success in NOHS. One that I imported in 2014 is in the Top 50 All-Breeds Lifetime, #1 Sealyham Lifetime; her son (my bred- by), is currently #1 this year and #4 Breed Lifetime, both achieving multiple NOHS BIS and RBIS. They have also been very successful in the “regular” show ring as breed specialty winners and Terrier Group winners/placers.
What has been my greatest challenge as a breeder/owner-han- dler? There are, occasionally, challenges as a breeder/owner-handler in the bigger picture of shows. As a breeder on a small scale, I often travel on my own and will usually have one, perhaps two, dogs that I am exhibiting. I cover my own expenses and maintain the condi- tion of my dogs without assistance. This can make it difficult to enter many shows, as well as create more visibility and awareness for my dogs, compared to those who have chosen this as a career. This, however, actually encourages me to work harder to make sure my dog is competitive every time I walk into the ring.
What has been my biggest thrill as a competitor? I count myself fortunate to have experienced several amazing wins with dogs as a breeder/owner-handler. In Sealyhams, my first bred-by dog won his first major at seven months at Devon DSA, the day before our National Specialty, under judge Billy Kendrick when I was 15 years old. As an adult, he was a Group and Specialty winner. More recent- ly, my multiple Group-winning Sealy bitch has produced Group winners in the US and in Europe. Perhaps the biggest thrill I have experienced came with our Border Terriers; showing our founda- tion bitch to the second BIS won by a Border (first for a bitch and American-bred Border), under Anne Rogers Clark. A few years later, her daughter went on to become the second Border bitch to win a BIS (as well as being awarded Terrier Group 3 at the AKC Centennial Show in 1984), under judge Michelle Billings.
How are me and my dogs keeping busy now that most dog shows are on hiatus? We have three Sealyhams at home, and we make sure they are mentally engaged and have fun on a daily basis. We live on an acre that is partially wooded. We have our own earthdog and tracking opportunities as we see most every kind of wildlife found in the mid-Atlantic. We also enjoy long walks, lots of playing (squeaky tennis balls and anything with a loud squeaker are favorites) and, of course, refresher practice for the time we can return to show- ing. Most important is the one-on-one time without hurry that we have enjoyed.
Do I have any specific goals in mind for my return to the show ring? I think my goals are the same they have always been; to pres- ent a quality representative of my breed in the best condition I can achieve each time I walk into the ring. As a breeder, I take this privilege seriously and, as an owner-handler, I am extremely
BREEDER/OWNER-HANDLER Q&A
242 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, NOVEMBER 2020
I live in Crownsville, Maryland, not far from Annapolis. I have been in dogs person- ally for 48 years, getting my first Sea- lyham Terrier in 1972 when I was 11 years old. I bred my first litter in 1976. I grew up with Aire- dales, as my mother bred them, and we also bred and showed Bor- der Terriers in the 1980s.
Do I have any hobbies or interests