Front Cover Summer 2019

Laura recalls this as an extremely active time in the Southern

& Eastern regions with multiple breeder owners working to-

gether and having fun attending the 4 – 5 days of shows each

in PA, Asheville & Raleigh starting a tradition of holding pic-

nics to share time and celebrations.

Even as a professional groomer, Laura found Dandies a chal-

lenge and learned that those with lots of topknot and furnish-

ings had different coats to work and it was easier to handle

those with less furnishings or the opposite of coats. Her fa-

vorite part of the breed is how sweet Dandies are. She loves

“those heads and eyes” and says emphatically, “They must

have a gorgeous head because they’re a head breed. I have

groomed all breeds and Dandies are the best.” She was hard

pressed to find anything problematic with Dandies except not-

ing the weather is tough on legs and topknots. Then she did

admit maybe the barking was “a little bit much!”

Laura’s been active in her local Hendersonville KC for over 30

years including being on the show committee and Club VP.

Her membership in the DDTCA goes back 38 years, including

participation in the Audit & Nominating Committees, as

Southern Region Chair for many years and National Specialty

Chair in 2018. Laura’s

DDTCA honors include The Sports-

manship Award (twice) and Sweepstakes Judge choice in 2011

and upcoming in 2021. She is proudest of her breeding ac-

complishments including multiple BBE CHs and being one of

the first Dandie Breeders of Merit in 2012 when AKC began its

program. She has bred over 20 CHs and 7 GCHs (her records

were still packed from a home remodel a year ago, so some

exact #s are missing). In the Annual Awards, Dreamboat has

Laura’s favorite story about her dogs is her pick pup who was

won Brood Bitch of the Year and multiple Stud Dogs, includ-

going to a pet home when she chose him from Mary Menozi’s

ing her favorite boys Disher & Decker. These dogs also won

litter and he went on to be Bronze GCH Red Clay Dreamboat

BOB at WKC in 2011 and Sweeps, BW at the MA Specialty in

Lieutenant Disher and her breed winner at Westminster.

2012, respectively. Her dogs have been in the top 5 Westmin-

Laura concluded our conversation saying that she sees our

ster invites many years, although she’s seldom been able to

entries are increasing, especially in her region and she notices

attend because of work responsibilities. Other standouts for

breed involvement getting better with more new, younger

Laura are winning Best in Sweepstakes several times and her

members although she misses not seeing new Juniors.

back-to-back Group 1s with CH Dreamboat Autumn Jambo-

ree, Jamie, in 2006 & her wins in 2018 at our Specialty.

When asked for advice to new exhibitors, Laura suggested

talking to your dog and to the judge to be less nervous. “Have

fun and make it fun for your dog, just don’t be too serious. If

you don’t have fun, your dog won’t have it either because it

goes right down the lead.” I have no doubt that Laura does

have fun in the ring and I invite you to watch her the next

time you have the chance to see what it looks like – passion

for what you do and loving doing it. Dandies are her family

and even with all of the work grooming, breeding and train-

ing, she still has fun and couldn’t imagine her life without

them. [NOTE: Just before this article was submitted, Laura

welcomed her latest litter of 5 from her Glahm’s bitch Abigail

and her favorite dog, Decker. The 3 girls & 2 boys are happy,

healthy pups at 2 wks of age.]

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