ZOË KEFFER JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA ROTTWEILER “MARGE” GCHS BIG BEACH’S POWERED BY STARBUCKS
“Being awarded Best of Breed as an Owner Handler at Westminster was pretty breathtaking. The Rottweiler ring is tough and there are many profes- sional handlers. Winning the breed was a very big accomplishment for not only me as an owner, but also for the dog and her breeders. I was grateful to be able to participate in the breed judging, and winning it was definitely the cherry on top of it all. I am very thankful to win Best of Breed, especially as an owner handler.” Zoë Keffer has been handling since she was 9 years old. Her first experi- ence was in the Rottweiler breed ring before she became a Junior. (Actually, Zoë told a professional handler that she was in her spot!) The last time she showed at Westminster, she won Select with her bitch, Lux. Marge and Zoë are currently the #2 NOHS Rottweiler team, and they finished #2 last year as well. Zoë was the #2 Working Dog Junior and the #2 Rottweiler Junior for the past two years. She is also the #2 Golden Retriever Junior this year and is regularly on the Top 10 Overall Junior list. Marge received an Award of Merit at the Colonial Rottweiler Club specialty, and was rec- ognized as a Top 20 dog and the #6 Rottweiler at the American Rottweiler Club National Specialty.
KATHY KRAFT PLEASANT VALLEY, NEW YORK BELGIAN TERVUREN “GRIMMY” CH RIVERSIDE’S GRIMNIR OF TIMBERWIND, HIC
“It was one of the best days of my life ! I was so surprised I almost felt like the moment was surreal. It was an incredible honor to be awarded this by a very respected longtime Belgian Tervuren breeder as well. I have been want- ing this award for many, many years—and it finally came true. To be able to represent my breed in the Group at the most prestigious show in the world… it proves that owner handlers can be competitive even among the professionals ! ” Grimmy is from Kathy Kraft’s breeding program, out of a female that she bred. He is the grandson of her most incredible male GCH Tangterr’s Texas who was her “dream boy.” Grimmy has been an amazing dog; not only does Kathy say that he embodies the Belgian Tervuren breed standard, but he possesses a wonderful, outgoing, silly temperament—and he loves to show off !
LORI PEZNOWSKI GOWEN, MICHIGAN LEONBERGER “JARVIS” GCHS TSAVO’S I JUST WANNA HAVE FUN TKA
“As I posted later that day on my Facebook page: “Wow. Did this really happen?” Such a feeling of incredible joy and so rewarding to know that Jar- vis and I did this together ! Little did I know when, at 14 months old, Jar- vis started winning Best of Breeds that it would lead to this ! So thankful to Judge Dr. Elliot L. More for judging the dogs, as BOB and BOS were both owner-handled!” Lori Peznowski started handling her Newfoundlands with some success about 26 years ago. She got her first Leonberger a few years after that and started handling him in rare breed shows (before Leonbergers were AKC registered), which are very relaxed. Lori says that it was a great place to learn. Jarvis has been awarded two G1s, two G2s, a G3, and a few G4s, all being owner-handled in the regular Groups. Lori adds that only four points are needed to finish Jarvis’ Grand Champion Gold, then they will semi-retire.
246 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, JULY 2021
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