MEET THE OWNER HANDLERS

ROAD TO ORLANDO, SERIES 3

By Jessica Freni

Thank you to the show community for the overwhelming response to this section! We will be running this series for the next few weeks. Get to know these dedicated Owner Handlers/NOHS competitors and be sure to say “hello” to them and wish them luck in Orlando at the NOHS Finals!

(Submissions may have been edited for space and or clarity)

Name: Jeffery M King/Angel Lea King and “Leonidas” (Grand Sieger Gold & Bronze winner MBIS MBISBBE Int Nat Hnr HnrB HnrS/ AKC GR winning MGR placing MRBISOH MOHGR winning MOHGR placing BISS OH Platinum GCHS CH/ASCA CH Halo Cyan’s Leader Of 300 (husbands PTSD SD))

Breed attending with: Australian Shepherd

Year end NOHS ranking: #2 2022 ,#4 2021,#6 2020,#2 Lifetime

Is this your first time attending? If not, how many times have you been?: This is our first year attending the finals.

Greatest accomplishments or moment of pride: One of our biggest accomplishments was winning a regular group 1 in Topeka KS last year over some of the top herding dogs. I literally cried right there in the ring. He has many group placing, but to get a GR1 with my heart dog, a dog that has always been breeder/owner/handled. There has never been anyone else at the end of his show lead.

He’s not only a great show dog he is also my husband, Jeff who is a combat veteran, PTSD service dog.  Leonidas is just a super special dog in every way.

Name: Madeline Truman and “Nickie” (NOHS-Bronze BISS GCHB CH Sans Brancos NicNac Paddy Whack PT FDC CGC TKN ATT)

Home state: Florida

Breed attending with: Belgian Sheepdog

Year end NOHS ranking: #9

Greatest accomplishments or moment of pride: Receiving an OH Group 2 two days after breaking my ankle back in September!

Is this your first time attending? If not, how many times have you been?: This is my second year qualifying and attending

What is something interesting about you and your dog as an owner handler?: Nickie is my first show dog. She has been the greatest teacher, showing partner, and best pet ever!

Name:  Devon Lefever and “Rufus” (GCHB Blue Diamond’s The Game Is On At Renegade ATT)

Home state: NC

Breed attending with: DDB

Year end NOHS ranking: 1

Greatest accomplishments or moment of pride: Earning our GCHB in less than a year of showing, finishing 2022 in the top 5 for our breed and #1 OH for DDB

Is this your first time attending? If not, how many times have you been? 1st time

What is something interesting about you and your dog as an owner handler? Having a dog of Rufus’ caliber has really pushed me to improve my handling skills. We have come a long way together, from his first 5 point major over specials at 8 months of age to earning our CH at 11 mo, GCH at 14 mo and GCHB at 20 months which is really remarkable for a rare breed.

Name:   Kelly Pensenstadler & “Easy” (GCH Ch Hosker’s Easy Money)

Home state:    Pennsylvania

Breed attending with: Plott Hound

Year end NOHS ranking:   #1

Greatest accomplishments or moment of pride: Getting invited and competing at Westminster. But mostly having a fun and successful show season with my best friend Easy. Going to shows with my cousin, her 3 Dalmatians, me and my 2 Plott Hounds in a 30 ft motor home and having the time of our lives.

Is this your first time attending? No.

If not, how many times have you been? This is my second time attending.

What is something interesting about you and your dog as an owner handler?  Easy is my third Plott Hound, and my first conformation dog. This is our first full show season. Not only is she a beautiful hound but she is an accomplished hunter. Her get and grand get are successfully showing and hunting in the US and Europe.  She truly represents what we are here to do, improve and promote the breed. I am humbled that I have been given the opportunity to be a part of Easy’s journey.

Name: Annette Norris and “Dreamer” (Group Winning Multiple grp placing MRBISOH AKC GRCH CKC Canadian CH MBIS UKC CH NevaehLea N DreamShadow’s Dream CGC/TKN/FDC )

Home State: Indiana

Breed Attending With: Cocker Spaniel (Black)

Year end NOHS ranking: #1 bitch ALL VARIETIES NOHS ( #3 black cocker)

Greatest accomplishments or moment of pride: Most proud of winning the regular sporting group under Donna Buxton as well as 8 other group placements! Plus MRBISOH placements. So proud of her being the #1 cocker bitch ALL VARIETIES NOHS  for 2022 2021 and thru Nov 2023 *CC/AKC stats

She is NOHS GOLD LIFETIME

Is this your first time attending?

If not, how many times have you been?

This is our 3rd NOHS Finals

What is something interesting about you and your dog as an owner handler? Dreamer is a triple Champion AKC GRCH. CKC Canadian CH and UKC CH with 2 Best is Shows! She has a trick dog title and Farm Dog as well as CGC titles. She is my service dog and my 5th generation  of breeding.

Name: Melissa Jethanandani and “Zac” (GCH CH Danchester’s Zoom On Me)

Home State: Chattanooga TN

Breed Attending With: Dandie Dinmont Terrier

Year end NOHS ranking: #10

Greatest accomplishments or moment of pride: I showed him at the Dandie National with about 40 Dandies and one day we got Select! Definitely my proudest moment!

What is something interesting about you and your dog as an owner handler? Zac and I have only shown together less than a dozen times.. he has the show experience and has been a good teacher to me. We are in sync and read each other well. True love! To me that’s what NOHS is!

Name:  Miranda & Andy Vance and Terri & Rachel Sigulinsky with “Senna” (MBISS GCH Snowbright’s Girls Like Fast Cars Too CGC TKN)

Home state: Ohio

Breed attending with: Samoyed

Year End Ranking: #10

Greatest accomplishments or moment of pride: It was a huge honor to earn a Best In Specialty and regular Group 2 placement under the late Pat Hastings this summer at one of her last shows. Having a legend of the sport find our white wonder at a specialty and then place her in an incredibly deep group of top-ranked working dogs was an immense honor. Senna went back-to-back that weekend, winning two specialties and two Group 2 placements at two years of age.

Is this your first time attending? If not, how many times have you been? This is our third Royal Canin show in a row, and our second year qualifying with for the NOHS Finals with our Norwegian Elkhound bitch Josie, but this is the first time we’ve qualified with Senna the Samoyed.

What is something interesting about you and your dog as an owner handler? Senna won her first two majors at the Orlando shows, from the 6-9 month puppy class, so this show has great meaning for our family. Having the chance to present her to the fancy in the specials ring and the NOHS Finals is a tremendous honor!

Name:  Jan Reed and “Essex” (BIS MRBIS MNOHSBIS MNOHSRBIS GCHS CH Desertmoon’s Run with Scissors)

Home state: Oklahoma

Breed attending with: Chow

Year end NOHS ranking: 2

Greatest accomplishments or moment of pride: Best In Show  win April 2021

Is this your first time attending? If not, how many times have you been? 2

What is something interesting about you and your dog as an owner handler?

We are a team, he is my diabetic alert dog.