Almost a decade ago I attended my very first dog show.
I was hooked !
I
started traveling with my friend and mentor to show, after
show, after show ~ learning the ins and outs (and
I am still learning), helping groom and then at
the end of the summer, entered the ring with a
dog at the end of the leash for the first time.
Believe me when I tell you it wasn't a pretty
picture. But I WANTED to do this. So
I started learning, I went to matches with
Whoppa, I took Allie to the Eastern specialty
and entered her in Veteran's and then I got a
special phone call.
Carol
Hamilton of All-Time English Springer Spaniels
had a boy that the original owner had given up
over two years ago and because she knew
that I worked rescue, she hoped that I could
find him a home. He was almost a finished
champion, but that didn't matter. The home
was the most important thing. Naturally I
said I would help and asked for a photo.
The rest is history. I told her that I
wanted him and that I would like to try to
finish him myself. Rolex
arrived from California in May of 2005 and we
were out in the ring until just before he died
in March of 2009. He became a Champion in March 2006.
In
September of 2005 we lost Allie and my husband
was heartbroken. Little
did we know that Whitney would end up with a
similar fate as Rolex. Being given up by
the original owner. Once again Carol
called and Whitney became a part of our
household just after Thanksgiving in 2005.
She was only 4 months old. Today Twit is a
Champion in both the United States and Canada.
In April of 2009 we
welcomed Gilligan into our home. Someone
asked me where he came from "Was he a gift from
God?" and I said yes. He has Rolex's
coloring, his personality and he has Whoppa's
face. Gillie came along when I needed him
most. He has some big shoes to fill, but we are
confident that he will! On August 13th,
2011 Gilligan became a UKC champion with two group
ones that weekend and on September 3, 2011 Gilligan
also earned his AKC championship. It was a
whirlwind month!
The music that you are hearing right now has special meaning to my Springers
and I. Always being one of my favorite songs, this became our "fight" song
when I first started showing Rolex. Every morning as we drove to the show, I
would play this and sing to whoever was in the truck. In 2007, "Run
for the Roses" became the theme of the English Springer Spaniel National at
the Horse Park in Lexington, KY. When it was sung before Best of Breed at
the National, I sat waiting to go in and sang to my dogs as usual. Three champions and many shows later, this will
always be OUR song!
And now a new girl has arrived at Whitney Farms English Springer
Spaniels. Our dear friend whom we co-own Dolly graced us with
a beautiful black and white girl on June 17th, 2011.
Penny was born at the home of Connie of Tiptop English Springer
Spaniels
www.tiptopspringers.com.
The dam is "Dolly" CH Tiptop's Kountry Legend and sire is
"Treasure"
CH Logo's Lesson in History
. You can see more Penny pictures on her page
(Penny's page)
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