THE BREEDER/OWNER HANDLER, DANIELLE RUBIN
“IN MY EXPERIENCE, A GOOD SALUKI, TRAINED AND PRESENTED WELL, CAN BE JUST AS SUCCESSFUL [WITH OWNER HANDLERS] AS WITH PROFESSIONAL HANDLERS. ”
7. Is it a challenge to compete with your breed(s) as a breeder/owner handler? I generally find Salukis are not a breed dominated by pro- fessional handlers, and at the breed level, owner handlers do very well. In my experience, a good Saluki, trained and pre- sented well, can be just as successful [with owner handlers] as with professional handlers. Granted, it does seem a bit harder to win as an owner handler at the Group level, but usually those dogs winning are conditioned, trained, presented per- fectly, and are nice examples of their breed; so that is what I am working on with my dogs. 8. Are you intimidated by the professional handlers? By the judges? Sometimes, in the Groups, it can feel a little like handlers have a clique. But I wouldn’t say that I am intimidated. They have a lot of knowledge and I try to watch them to pick up on things that I think would also make my dog look good. I try to just focus on my dog and making her look the best she can be. I don’t feel intimidated by judges. 9. Who have been your mentor(s) as an owner handler? As a breeder? Oh gosh, there are SOmany, and some who don’t even know it. As an owner handler, I would have to say all of my handling instructors, Joyce Coccia, Lynn Pray, Kristen Deblasio, and so many more. As a breeder, probably my biggest mentor is Joanne Klova of Tamarisk Salukis who gifted my foundation bitch. I also consider many of the breeders (Julie Zucker, SharonWalls, Kathy Morton, Nan Bodine, and Lorraine Trenholm) of all the Salukis that have come into my life to be part of my mentors.
I have owned a variety of types of Salukis, so each breeder has given me knowledge that I feel has helped to shape my eye and kept me able to appreciate different styles within the breed. 10. How important is the breeder/owner handler to the future of the dog sport? Very important. I believe that since the majority of entries at shows are from owner handlers, and breeders are the back- bone to the sport, it is important to encourage and reward breeder/owner handlers with good examples of their breed. 11. What are your goals as an owner handler? As a breeder? Is there a milestone that has eluded you? Every time I hit a goal, I try to come up with another one to reach. Starting out, my first goal was to finish a champion, then win points at a specialty and finish a dog that I’d bred, then to win a specialty and place in a Group, and then have a Top 20 dog. I have now won two regional specialties, have got- ten many Group placements, and have had a dog in the Top 10 for two years. My next goal (sounding very ambitious, but hey, they are goals!) is to win Best of Breed at the National. 12. Is there a funny story that you can share about your expe- riences as a breeder/owner handler? Getting my photo taken for a NOHS Reserve Best in Show: It was an NFL playoff game day and the show was end- ing just as the game began. I am a Patriots fan, and the judge was a Colts fan. (This I didn’t realize at the time, so I had some not great things to say about his team.) When I realized the judge was from Indiana, my face went “Oh, S#&*! and we both broke out laughing so much.
240 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, JULY 2021
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