MEET THE OWNER HANDLERS, SERIES 4

By Jessica Freni

Thank you to the show community for the overwhelming response to this section! Get to know these dedicated Owner Handlers/NOHS competitors and be sure to say “hello” to them at the next show!

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

Name:  Laurie Cowhig and “Shimmer” GCHB CH TRE RUN  N WIDGET’S MOONLIT STAR

Home state: Montana

Breed and Year end NOHS ranking: Boston Terrier 2022 NOHS #3, 2023 NOHS #1

Greatest accomplishments or moment of pride: She makes me proud everytime we step in the ring but winning Best Bred By at the 2022 AKC National Championship in Orlando is a HUGE accomplishment for us

How important to you is offering of NOHS in making entries? Very important.

What do you enjoy most about NOHS and or what one thing  would you like to see change/ improve? I LOVE NOHS but I would still like to see the dogs judged to the breed standard. Sometimes that isn’t the case.

What is something interesting about you and your dog as an owner handler? When we are home we live on a 23 acre farm so our daily life is very different than our show life.

Names: Tammy Schofield and  “Gunner”

(GCHS TK’s Bulletproof, SCN, NAJ, NA, BCAT, ATT, ACT1, TKN)

State: Idaho

Year end rankings: 2021 NOHS 15″ Beagle of the year, 2022 NOHS #3

Greatest Accomplishment/ Moment of Pride: Gunner is a Breeder Owner Handler NOHS multi BIS winner, multiple regular Group placer, and a 15″ Specialty Breed winner. His greatest accomplishments and my proudest moments are every title he earns because he is always handled by me. He does anything that I ask him to do with little training.

What do you enjoy most about competing in NOHS? What is something you wish could be changed/ improved:

Offering NOHS at shows is important to showcase your dog and the dog being judged by the standard and not who is on the end of the leash. I feel there is more pride in handling my own dog. I do understand those that have handlers though. There are always circumstances.

I would like to change NOHS Groups to have the same type of ribbons as Regular Groups. We work hard also.

What is something interesting about you and your dog? About Gunner and I is that we make a very nice team. We are both in tune to each other’s emotions.

Name: Shauna Po and “Janis” Ch Adamo Sugarnspice Nothing Left To Lose

Home state: Massachusetts

Breed and Year end NOHS ranking: NOHS #6

Greatest accomplishments or moment of pride: Janis finishing her Championship at 9 months in March after 3 Major BOV wins over Specials and our regular Group 3 back in August- both her and I’s first time placing!

How important to you is offering of NOHS in making entries? I try to only enter shows that offer NOHS

What do you enjoy most about NOHS and or what one thing  would you like to see change/ improve? NOHS is more opportunity to get out of breed and show in a group makes the trip to shows a little more worth it. Being in the NOHS groups has gained me other owner handler friends that I probably would’ve never met!

What is something interesting about you and your dog as an owner handler? We only showed about 4 1/2 months total during the season but we worked hard for multiple group wins and placements to stay in the top 10!

Name: Meghann Belser and “Cedric” Canadian CH AKC GCH CH Enchanting Cottage Why Not Take A Chance @Accio! CGC TKI THDN “Cedric”

Home state: New Hampshire

Breed and Year end NOHS ranking:

English Toy Spaniel (King Charles & Ruby)

2021 #1

2022 #4

2023 #2 (as of December 20, 2022)

Greatest accomplishments or moment of pride: To be honest, I don’t know how to choose a single moment.  Every show with Cedric on the end of my lead, I am proud.  He’s my dance partner.  The few shows that stand out would be winning the Variety at the 2021 Morris & Essex Dog Show, Award Of Merit Westminster 2022, and coming into the 2023 Owner Handled Series year with three Group 1’s in a row.

How important to you is offering of NOHS in making entries?

Very important!  I purposely seek out shows that offer NOHS.

What do you enjoy most about NOHS and or what one thing  would you like to see change/ improve?

I love the comrade between competitors.  I often get the opportunity to be in the ring with my other friends, where we can support and cheer for each other!   I would love to see more clubs and judges take NOHS seriously.

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

Outside of the show ring, Cedric and I participate in Therapy Dog programs.  He also is a Service Dog, and his intuition hasn’t only helped me, but others.  In 2020 he alerted me that another dog in my home was severely injured, and he saved her life.

Name: Julie Elliott and “Tuko” GCH Histyle’s Breaking Bad CGC

Home state: Arizona

Breed and Year end NOHS ranking: Giant Schnauzer 2022 #3 NOHS

Greatest accomplishments or moment of pride: RBISOH, Multiple NOHS Group winning and placing, Multiple Group Placing, 2021 Top 10 All Breed for Giant Schnauzer Club of America Award

How important is making entries in NOHS?  In planning my show calendar, I look for shows and clusters offering NOHS as this is extra time and opportunities I get to showcase my special boy.

What do you enjoy most about NOHS and or what one thing  would you like to see change/ improve?  I truly enjoy showing my own dog as this is our journey together.  The connection I have with my dog is like no other. Tuko is an extremely fun dog to show and we have fun with each other.  NOHS is improving with each year it is offered. I would like to see the group rings have more spectators. It seems as though the spectators are always over at the regular group rings.

Something interesting about myself and my dog? Tuko has learned to aid my elderly mother around the home. He stabilizes her and alerts me if she becomes unsteady and takes a fall.