Featured Club Member Spring 2024

Janell Dahms

*Who or what influenced your interest in Dogs and Dog Events

My interest in competitive dog events started close to 30 years ago when my husband and I got our first Lab.  We wanted to hunt ducks and pheasants with her and joined a training group to help get her started.  That led to participation in Hunt Tests and ultimately getting her SH title.  Unfortunately, her health declined and we opted to retire her from competition; she did not, however, agree to retirement from hunting and whenever she heard the gun safe open, she was ready to go!

When I retired, we moved from MN to TX and our days of duck and pheasant hunting came to an end; however, having dogs as a part of our lives didn’t end and I knew that we needed an activity to burn off some mental and physical energy from our newest puppy, Stormy (who interestingly, is a distance relative to our very first Lab).  Multiple people encouraged me to try Rally and from there, it was just one small step (or a giant leap depending on how you look at it) into Obedience!  

Peggy McConnell has been a huge positive influence on me and my dog training and we wouldn’t have Stormy’s UD without her expert guidance.  There are days when I still feel like the transfer of information from her is like drinking from the end of a firehose, but I’m trying to keep up.  

*How long have you been participating with your Dogs

As I mentioned, we started in Hunt Tests close to 30 years ago.  We also had one dog compete in a couple of Field Trials, but with the “hard” water in MN during the winter, it became too expensive to send her south with a pro, so that was a relatively short-lived venture.  

My experience in Obedience and Rally started 5-1/2 years ago when we got Stormy.  And, I’m starting to have those “puppy thoughts” so there will be another dog to have in the ring.  

*What Breeds have you owned

Stormy is our fifth Lab. 

Prior to that, I had all kinds of All-American Dogs on growing up on a WI farm, including my very first dog which was a Boxer-Lab mix that I got when I was three.  Thinking back, there are only a few years of my life when I didn’t have the pleasure of the company of a dog—I’m a very lucky person in that way.

*What are your Goals

Right now, I am chasing that elusive first UDX leg with Stormy.  After a UDX, who knows!!

*What is your favorite Memory involving a Dog

My favorite dog memory is of Princess, my first dog (the Boxer-Lab mix).  Even though I was too young to read, I thought I could, so I would make her lay on the floor next to me and I would read her the comics (or try to).  If she didn’t pay attention as I wanted, I would tap her on the head with a small goldfish net.  Fortunately, I’ve progressed and my training methods are much more positive now!

*What events they’ve Attended

I haven’t attended any major dog events, but this year, I have had the pleasure of getting Stormy certified as a Therapet in Tyler, TX.  We are now able to join the Therapet teams and do hospital and prison visits, work in the physical therapy rehab hospital and attend community events to promote the good work of Therapet.  If you ever have the opportunity to certify your dog and join such an organization, it is a highly rewarding way to spend more time with your best friend.  Stormy has an aptitude for knowing just who are the sickest patients and calmly spending time with them, which if you know her, calmness is not amongst her strongest behavioral qualities.  She is also a pretty big fan of the days in the physical therapy unit when someone needs arm therapy—she retrieves the balls they throw for her over and over and over.  

*Contributions to LSDOC

In my short tenure as an LSDOC member, I’ve donated to the raffle table by making custom article bags.  This year, I’ll also be helping steward at the trial and matches.  

*Favorite Location where you have shown your Dog

I don’t think I have a favorite location yet, but I think Stormy liked showing on the springy agility course turf at the San Antonio show.

 

Featured Club Member Fall 2023

Eugene Morris

*Who or what influenced your interest in Dogs and Dog Events

I have always loved dogs. We had a miniature poodle when I was a kid. I did not have another dog until 1987, when my wife and I got two miniature dachshunds from a pet store. We were both practicing medicine and knew nothing about dogs. Although we loved these poorly bred and out of control dogs, they destroyed our house. A friend of mine from the hospital told me we shouldn’t have gotten pet store dogs and told me I should take them to obedience. I scoffed at the idea. Well, one of these dogs lived until 14 1/2 and the other to almost 19. 

About three years after we got Jake and Jock, my wife surprised me with a chocolate and tan female dachshund, Jesse. I had an interest in dog shows and she was to be my show dog. Of course, I knew nothing about showing dogs. My friend, Diane McClurg, got us in touch with a handler. Jesse had a 4 point major and another point before her top line went off. She was always different from the boys until she came home. She became more undisciplined. My friend, Diane, told my wife I needed to take her to obedience. This was the beginning of a thirty plus year hobby. 

My interest was enhanced by my great trainers, Cathy Niles and Peggy McConnell without whom none of this would have happened.

*How long have you been participating with your Dogs

I have had dogs in AKC events since 1991.

*What Breeds have you owned

I have owned five dachshunds, three were in obedience and four papillons.

*What are your Goals

My goals are to have my dogs be as good as they can be.

*What is your favorite Memory involving a Dog

I have two favorite memories. The first was when Flip got his OTCH. The second is when Nitro became the number one all breed obedience dog of the year.

*What events they’ve Attended

My first papillon was a breed champion. My second was a grand champion. My puppy just got his grand championship. 

Zeke, my male dachshund, was a field champion. 

Since my third dog, all have been shown in obedience. Jesse had a CDX, Toby had a UDX6, OGM. Sophie had a CD. Flip had an OTCH, a UDX 10 and an OGM. Nitro was an OTCH 11, UDX 15, OGM.

*Contributions to LSDOC

I was on the original board of LSDOC. I have been on the Judges Selection Committee. I am now vice president.

*Favorite Location where you have shown your Dog

My favorite location to show my dog was, of course, Bonham. There are very few places I have not enjoyed showing my dogs. I miss many of the shows that no longer exist.

 

Featured Club Member Spring 2023

Gloria Reynolds

*Who or what influenced your interest in Dogs and Dog Events

I don’t remember a time when I didn’t love dogs. At my urging, I/my family got my first Golden Retriever when I was ten – 57 years later, I have my seventh, Bader. I was influenced by the movie Big Red, & yes, I know Red was an Irish Setter. I didn’t know that at the time – I just knew he was beautiful & retrieved things! In the paper (yes, want adds in an actual newspaper), Golden Retrievers came before Setters. Back then, Goldens were red so when I saw Bear, he matched the dog in the movie. Best mistake I ever made!

*How long have you been participating with your Dogs

I started training in obedience in 1980 with my second Golden, Boo. He was one of the smartest dogs I ever had. Due to injury, I had to retire him with one leg on his UD. Ballad came next – he was a lovely dog. I showed him to his breed Championship & together we earned a UD. Bounder, Ballad’s son, could have cared less about Obedience. I put a CD on him & took him to the field where he excelled – play to their strengths! Late ‘90s I had my son who got into hockey at age 4. Twenty plus years later, I’ve returned to Obedience with Bader – two-year old dynamo/nut case!

*What Breeds have you owned

My family had a variety of breeds: Norwegian Elkhound, German Shepherd, Boxer, Poodle, West Highland White Terrier. But me? Once I had a Golden, that was it.

*What are your Goals

I love running hunt tests & a well-behaved dog is an absolute must if you want to make progress in the field. Bader has earned his Started & Seasoned titles in HRC. We are working toward his Senior Hunter (Senior requires an Honor, which, for a driven dog, is a challenge!).

On a whim, I entered him in Rally Novice at the LSDOC spring show. The whim part comes from the fact that although we have done general obedience training, we have done no training for Rally & I was not familiar with the signs. Bader did me proud though, earning his RN in three for three. There will be more Rally & possibly Obedience in our future. 

*What is your favorite Memory involving a Dog

I’m not sure a favorite is even possible. Time with my dogs is my favorite time. That said, Joe & I went grouse hunting in Montana. As our dogs fanned in front of us, Joe & Emma were to the right of Bounder & me. Somehow, in the nooks & crannies of the mountain, we got separated. I called for Joe but heard nothing – not so Bounder. I told Bounder to find Joe & off he went, leading me straight back to Joe – amazing.

*What events they’ve Attended

To many obedience & breed shows to mention – ditto AKC, HRC & NAHRA hunt tests. Ballad & I were able to show at the Golden Retriever National when it was here in Dallas. That was really special.

*Contributions to LSDOC

So far, I have demonstrated my excellence in mat sweeping, dog hair blowing & carrying stuff thither & yon as directed. At our spring trial, I added floor taping to my resume as well as a bit of ring stewarding. 

*Favorite Location where you have shown your Dog

Any field, anywhere.

 

Featured Club Member Jan/Feb 2023

Lora Seale

My dog training interest began formally in the mid 60’s while assisting a field trial trainer working with German Shorthair and German Wirehair Pointers.  Officially, the obedience bug hit in 1973 with a German Shepherd.  

I became a novice obedience judge in 1982, shortly after achieving my first U.D. title with an ever clever Doberman.  By 1985, I was approved to judge Novice through Utility obedience classes.  I had achieved U.D. titles on a Border Collie and another Doberman.  My other breeds achieving obedience titles include: (OTCH MACH RE) Golden Retrievers, Miniature Pinscher (CDX, NA, NAJ), Shetland Sheepdog (CD), Miniature Poodle (CD, CDX, RE) as well as MACH5) and, of course, the German Shepherd (CDX).  I also put MX, MXJ on a Long-Coat Chihuahua. My short list of accomplishments also includes finishing Poodles, Brussels Griffons, Chihuahuas (smooth and long) and Miniature Pinschers to their Breed Championships.  Agility titles were attained with a Miniature Pinscher ( Liza, AD, OA), a Long Coat Chihuahua (Rikki, MX,MXJ), a Shetland Sheepdog (Ivy, MX, MXJ) and two Miniature Poodles (CH Keeper, MX,MXJ) (CH MACH5) Dancer, CDX, RE and OTCH MACH on two Golden Retrievers.

This sport and the honor of judging around the country has introduced me to so many wonderful people and their dogs. I treasure knowing you all.

I believe that being an obedience judge has given me the opportunity to give back a bit to the sport that has given me so much. Teaching obedience offers me the opportunity to put better exhibitors into the sport.

Just before my friend, Diane Propst, passed away from cancer, she said to me, “You WILL become a Rally judge and take my place.” That was four years ago so here I am  – now a Rally judge as well.

Good Luck to you all this weekend and in all future endeavors.

Lora Seale  (#3934)

Las Cruces, NM

To answer the rest of your questionnaire, 

Goals:  more OTCH MACH dogs. One day to achieve that elusive 200.

I have so many wonderful memories with all of my dogs it would be very difficult to pull one out of my heart. 

My contributions to LSDOC was to be Vice President for the first year of its existence.

My favorite location to show? At the NOC. Although I have great memories of showing at Grayslake (Illinois) Fairgrounds in that huge building.

Featured Club Member June/July 2022

Amy Phelan

Who or what influenced your interest in Dogs and Dog Events

I have always had a love of animals. As a young Veterinarian, I had two assistants and many clients who were active in dog sports.

*How long have you been participating with your Dogs

Over 40 years.

*What Breeds have you owned

My first dog was a rescue Cocker Spaniel that I showed in obedience.

• Dogwood’s Nancy Reagan CDX.

My primary breed in the Portuguese Water Dog. I have had 4 over the years and each has participated in conformation, obedience and water work.

• Driftwood’s Little Surfer Girl CDX, CWDX “Christi”
• CH. Windruff’s Partytime at Driftwood CD, AWD “Partytime”
• GCHG Pouch Coves Lonesome Dove UD, RAE, CWDX “Gus”
• GCHS Manitou Lone Star UD, GN, RAE, CWD “Call”

l also have an AKC Greyhound who showed in conformation and Specialed for 2 years.

• BIS MBISS GCH Grand Cru Phelps Insignia BN “Freckles”

My current dog is a French Bulldog that I am showing in obedience.

• Bandog’s Legend of Chalupa Batman UD, RA, TKN “Lou”

We are currently working on his UDX.

*What are your Goals

I would like to continue training and showing my dogs and am interested
in multiple sports. l enjoy having a loving, working relationship with my dogs.

*What Events they’ve Attended

Really too many to count. Local shows, National Breed Specialties, Westminster Dog Show, AKC Championships – to name some of them. Lou has qualified for the NOC for next year and I am looking forward to attending.

*Contributions to LSDOC

l am a remote member and live in New Orleans, LA, but I try to
participate as much as I can and am very supportive of the Club.

*Favorite Location where you have shown your Dog?

NYC, Westminster

Featured Club Member May 2022

Susan Belden

Who or what influenced your interest in Dogs and Dog Events

I came late to the dog sport game. LSDOC member and life-time friend, Laura Fuller, was wholly responsible for my life with dogs by giving me my first dog, Doobie, a Poodle/Cattle Dog mix. Soon after we adopted a purebred Standard Poodle, Cricket, and we started in Obedience competition.

*How long have you been participating with your Dogs

In 1983 I started showing Standard Poodles in Obedience and soon after in Conformation. Since then there have been many and varied experiences training and competition. These pictures are worth more than 1K words:

*What Breeds have you owned

Only Standard Poodles until 2015 when I acquired a male Bull Terrier from Alesia and Russell Cooke of Sugar Land. Growing and grooming coat for so many years led me to a smooth coated breed and a real training challenge. I had made a habit of watching my conformation judge in other Non Sporting breed rings. I would see the cute swagger from behind on the Bull Dog but was put off by their many health issues. The Bull Terrier’s confident jaunty stride won me over from the Poodle’s high maintenance elegance!

*What are your Goals

Many short term goals have been accomplished. First I wanted Championship and CD titles on all my breeding dogs. Next I supported my clubs by exhibiting in local and National Specialties. A goal of service led to election on the BOD for the Bluebonnet Poodle Club, Bellaire Obedience Club and Texas Gulf Coast Bull Terrier Club. Most recent as Trophy Chair for the Bull Terrier Club of Dallas and Hospitality Chair for the NorTex Scent Work . Co-founding and running a full service Pet Resort in Houston for over 20 years was a large and long commitment. The training classes there were marketed to our client’s need for a well mannered home pet. As a GCG evaluator, I continue to support pet dog training.

The current goal is concentrating on additional Rally, Tracking, Scent Work, and Trick Dog titles to earn a Versatility title from the Bull Terrier Club of America.

*What is your favorite Memory involving a Dog

There are so many but one to share is about “Hank”, (great in the show ring but also known for sliding up to all other destinations like Seinfield’s Kramer) who took us to Crufts to compete. He was reserve in the Utility class to the “other” white Standard that won Crufts in 2002. Even so, that was a memorable time!

*What Events they’ve Attended

Too many to list! Competitions in Conformation, Companion and Performance events have taken my dogs to both coasts and from top to bottom of the USA.

We will be attending the Oklahoma City Canine Olympic series of dog shows, AKC‘s Meet the Breed in Dallas this June and Houston’s World Series of Dog Shows in July, 2022.

*Contributions to LSDOC

This young club has provided opportunities working at the initial fund raiser garage sale in Murphy, Texas, the AKC required B match at All Fur Fun training facility, working the check station at the Fast-Cat Trials in Midlothian and in Bonham at the premiere 3-day LSDOC Obedience/Rally Trial working on set up, hospitality with Barbara Eberhardt and all three Novice matches with Kay Scott. As the club’s membership grows I would very much like to be a part of a mentorship program that would help newbies find their niches as workers for the club.

*Favorite Location where you have shown your Dog?

Home for me has been the Astrodome/Reliant /NRG location for the World Series of Dog Shows in Houston. The largest was The Kennel Club show, aka Crufts, in Manchester, England. The most fun was at the Convention Center in Galveston for Silverwood, the showcase specialty for all Bull Terriers bred on the North American continent (which included a Rally Novice first place under Judge Lynn Eggers!).

Featured Club Member March 2022

Caroline Oldham

Who or what influenced your interest in Dogs and Dog Events

I began training my first working dog in 2004. I outgrew a pet program and heard that you could compete in obedience with a dog. I thought that sounding challenging and fun so I researched how to start and was lead to Texas Tri Cities Obedience Club. There Marge Cooke and Mary Groner took me under their wings and my journey training and trialing dogs truly began with their enthusiasm and guidance.

I have trained under some of the most knowledgeable people in our area: Lonnie and Donna Venable, Joan Jung, Kay Scott, Peggy Phillips and now Dresden Graff. Each one has helped me to fill my toolbox and adjust to the very difference needs of very diverse breeds that I own.

*How long have you been participating with your Dogs

Since 2004

*What Breeds have you owned

Labrador Retrievers, Welsh Springer Spaniel, Belgian Malinois

I have put one UD on my lab, Hershey. A CDX on my lab, Beau and my Belgian.

My primary sport now is Sport Scent Detection. My lab Hershey needed a sport to continue into after earning her UD at age 5. Lonnie and Donna Venable brought a coach in from Alaska to teach scentwork, I attended and the rest is history. Hershey was the 21stUKC Elite Nosework dog in the world. With my canine partners, we have earned 287 scentwork/nosework titles. Hershey and I attended the very first AKC Scentwork trial in Wilmington, OH, where she was their very first High in Trial winner, the very first Labrador Retriever to earn a scentwork title and the first dog from Texas to do so. I was a memory I will never forget. I now own Southern DFW Scent Training, where dozens of dogs each week receive the most comprehensive program for the sport in our area. I also hold judges licenses in UKC and AKC.

*What are your Goals

My goals are to continue to work my Welsh Springer, my Belgian and my Lab puppy and to thoroughly enjoy the three separate journeys I am on with each one. Scent Detection may be my primary sport, but obedience will always have my heart. Its where it all started.

*What is your favorite Memory involving a Dog

Pick up day for each dog as a puppy, the very first Q I ever received with Beau, Rally Novice A, my UD in Wichita Falls with Hershey and earning my Elite Nosework Title in Hutto with Hershey.

*What Events they’ve Attended

My dogs have trained and or competed in Obedience, Agility, Dock Diving, Barn Hunt, Lure Coursing and Scent Work

*Contributions to LSDOC

My training, trialing and judging schedule have prohibited me from serving as I want to, however, when I can, I will.

Featured Club Member December 2021

Donna Todd

I have been interested in dogs since I became an adult (some people might think I haven’t reached that status yet). My first dog was an Irish Setter named Joshua. Thinking back on Joshua, considering I knew very little about dog training, he was a great boy. I took obedience classes with him in Duncanville, but I never got past a fun match status with him.

We had a friend that had gotten a golden from a backyard breeder and we loved her, so we contacted the breeder and got on the list for her next litter. Along came Bailey, born in a cold garage, cost $300.00, and came home at 5 weeks old since the mommy dog had no interest in her litter anymore. At 7 months old, Bailey had TPO surgery on both hips, $4000.00, and months of rehab. That’s when we started doing research on golden retrievers and breeders.

We have had numerous goldens since 2001, Bailey, Kahlua, Whiskey, Martini, Barley, Z, Tequila and now Hot Toddy.

Bailey was my first agility dog; he was a fast boy (after all he had the best screwed-together hips in the house). He rarely got his contacts, but he had the best time and loved agility. He also loved field and his ducks.

Barley was my first obedience dog, although she never really loved the sport. She was my Novice A dog and achieved her CDX. Barley loved agility, but field was her favorite sport. I only wish I had the time back then to train more in the field because she loved it and we learned together.

Tequila is my first UD dog and my first agility MACH dog(almost to MACH 3). We have a tremendous working relationship that has grown. I attribute our relationship to doing doggie fitness together. I recommend it to anyone that will listen. Tequila is working on her UDX, but we struggle some due to my lack of wanting perfection and having the patience to really train those perfect fronts and finishes.

I’ve attended numerous GRCA National Specialties, tons of agility trials, and lots of obedience shows. I guess my favorite was attending the AKC National Agility Championships after qualifying in 2021.  Tequila and I are now qualified to attend in 2022, so I’m really looking forward to that. We are not a screaming fast team, but we are very consistent, which has worked well for us.

I have attended almost all of the LSDOC meetings and helped at the “A” match. I am the equipment manager, which means I help with all the equipment moving, inventory, and cleaning. I am happy to help when I’m needed.