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We had argued for months. She wanted her daughter to show him, I wanted a “real” handler. We compromised by hiring a handler who was a friend of her daughter. A week before we left to drive to Virginia, I was informed that the handler was not coming to Virginia for the trailer shows and so, once again, we had no handler. Guess what, the original argument reared its nasty head again. But compromise not confrontation is the best way to solve a problem. We agreed to agree and hired a young, almost unknown, handler who would be attending the shows.
I loaded the van, packed in two Clumbers, two Irish Water Spaniels, Race and his paramour Frankee (Ch Gooseberry’s Frankly Enough and as we discovered later 8 gestating puppies) and off we went on another cross-country excursion. Stopping first in Yorktown, VA, we spent Sunday, Monday and Tuesday preparing for, plotting tracks and finally having the privilege of judging the FSSA Tracking Test. After four years of frustration, it made me smile to see the test filled and overflowing with field Spaniels and the 30 or so FSSA members who came out in the drizzle and rain to support this event. Their support made me feel that the last four years of begging, pleading and funding events out of my pocket in an attempt to bring tracking to our members had been worth it.
After the test, I held my breath as Race told me off for leaving him in the van when dogs were running HIS tracks! Like most of the true tracking dogs I have met, he thinks that all tracks are his tracks. As we drove the last 50 or so miles to Virginia Beach I tried to explain that he would get to run a track … right after the National was over.
We spent the next day meeting and greeting many of Club members as well as the growing rank of owners of Race puppies. Putting names with faces and running into old friends you have not seen in years is always fun. Somewhere approaching 4am we fell into bed for a few moments sleep before caravanning to the show site.
Arriving at the building we parked as close as possible and then ran, dodging raindrops and puddles while trying to keep the dogs dry. Staking out our grooming space we prepared to wait for the show to start. Waiting is not one of my favorite things to do. I help by pretending to be a Sherpa, hauling countless loads from the van into the building. Running here and there, fetch this or get me that, wow, time sure flies when you are having fun. Ummm, hey y’all, where the heck is our handler? Calls are made … the storm rages on outside and no handler appears. In an effort to not think about it, I wander over to watch obedience.
Stress does funny things to people involved in dog sports. I routinely train at the highest levels and have learned to put the stress away and focus on the sport and teamwork. To that end I develop very specific routines to follow, calming routines to help me concentrate. When my routines are disrupted … the stress creeps back in. In this case raced back in might be a better description. It is almost time and still no handler. Race is up and he is ready to go. We had come a long way, metaphorically speaking, this year. In limited showing as a veteran dog he had garnered a selection of group placements, collected enough breed points to be the number one Field Spaniel and was on the threshold of perhaps something better.
Knock, knock … who’s there … stress! We still had no word from the mythical handler who was contracted to show him. Another discussion followed by even more frustration as I stand ringside and watch what appears to me to be an unhappy dog being restrained from his normal carriage. He is a leader and a doer. He leads at the end of the line and does not perform well when strung up or restrained. A few moments later he leaves the ring dejected, knowing he is not the center of attention. I make a decision, his happiness is more important than the show. If the handler does not arrive in time, I’m going to pull him. Stress. Stress. Stress.
I pace and worry but smile as I watch two of Race’s offspring take Best in Sweepstakes and Best of Opposite Sex in Sweepstakes. These puppies are Monte (Capriole's Normandy Commander) and Kat, (Overlook's Ready To Run). Kat returns in the classes to take Winners Bitch. Best Puppy in Show was earned by Dusty (Overlook’s Wide Open Spaces). These and other Race puppies are carrying on in their father’s paw prints and setting their mark on the world at an early age.
Only minutes before his ring time, the handler marches in the door wearing ragged jeans and a t-shirt with a garment bag slung casually over his shoulder. Glancing around like Superman looking for a phone booth, he disappears around a corner. Moments later he is back, in a suit and tie, with polished shoes and a 1500-watt smile. He grabs Race’s lead and heads off for the ring. I see what others see, magic... in tracking Race leads and I follow. In front of me I see Race leading and Jesse following, allowing the dog to set the pace, both moving to Race's music. As they move effortlessly around the ring the judge points to them as "Best Veteran".
Soon it is time for the best of breed competition. I watch as the Champions enter the ring and the judge orchestrates the selection process. With dogs wrapping around the entire ring, this is the largest National in the short history of the club. Down and back, once around the ring and Ms. Fournier starts to make her cuts. After a few minutes there are only a few left. My heart pounds as I view the remaining dogs. I do a double take as I see Race, Kat, Monte, Darcy his mother, Tristan his brother and his son Skyler, and Frankee among the ones remaining in the ring. Around and around they go, my vision blurs, my blood pressure is off the scale. I see Race literally floating around the ring, and in his confident yet smirky kind of way screaming “look at me!” In slow motion I watch as the judge points to Race as the National Specialty winner.
I move in to take a photo and find myself sitting on the floor hugging Race and not believing that this old tracking dog has once again made history. I silently think about the things we have accomplished together and smile. Deep down inside I know just how lucky I am. Very few of us have the opportunity to be owned by a truly outstanding dog.
Am/Can CH CT Calico's Hot Pursuit Del Prado Can TD
Field Spaniel Society of America
National Specialty - October 30, 2002
Handler: Jessy Sutton
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