KRYSTAL PURCELL THE BREEDER/OWNER HANDLER
I ’m a third-generation, certified master groomer and a second-generation alumni member of GroomTeam USA. I graduated with honors from Bridgewater State Univer- sity with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business. I ran a successful mobile grooming business for almost 10 years out of the South Shore of Massachusetts, but have recently transitioned back to a brick and mortar location. I provide exclusive one on one groom- ing services to a small clientele during the week and I groom and show dogs on the weekends for fun. 1. How were you first introduced to the sport of purebred dogs? To your breed? I am a third-generation dog groomer, so I’ve been involved with purebred dogs my entire life. Growing up, my parents mostly bred Bichons Frises and Poodles, both Toys and Standards, and my mom was a nationally ranked competitive groomer on GroomTeam USA. I spent most of my youth following in her grooming competition footsteps, eventually making Groom- Team myself in 2017. As I got older, I became more interested in the Conformation side of the dog show world. My heart breed was, and probably always will be, the English Springer Spaniel. My first puppy that I finished entirely own- er-handled to championship and grand championship was my Springer bitch, “Taylor.” She was also the first dog I competed seriously with in the National Owner-Handled Series, ending the 2021 year with my first invitation to the Finals. It was always my dream to breed Springers, but life had different plans for me and that didn’t end up being in the cards. Meanwhile, my mom had been breeding and showing Kerry Blue Terriers for years, and I would dabble a little, showing a puppy or class dog every now and then, helping at specialties, etc. After seeing how dev- astated I was about no longer being able to breed my Springer bitch, my mom asked for my opinion on her next breeding. A few months later, her singleton bitch produced one singleton male puppy—spoiled “Doyle” was born—and this Springer girl officially became a terrier lover. 2. How many years in dogs? How many as an Owner Handler? As a Breeder? I’ve been involved with dogs somehow my entire life, so 33 years. When I was a kid I would help my mom at shows, but I got seri- ous about it in my 20s when I got Springers. My male Kerry is officially my first bred-by dog, and hopefully, just the start to my breeding journey! I would still love to breed Springers someday, but for now I’m sticking with terriers.
3. Do you attend show handling classes? Have you attended in-person handling seminars? I do not currently attend handling classes, although I have in the past. One of the ways I elevated my handling skills was by watching the regular Group rings. I would find a professional handler whom I admired and would watch their every move; from the specifics, like how they set the dog up on the ramp/ table, how they held the lead, their foot placement, and pac- ing as they did the down and back verses the go-around, and even down to the simple things like how they engaged with the dog during the “down time.” Once you get to the Group rings, there’s a lot of time when the judge isn’t looking at you and your dog, and you need to find ways to keep your dog engaged with- out becoming over-stimulated or bored. This can be especially difficult with terriers! 4. Have you found virtual learning tools to be helpful? Videos? Web- sites? Social Media? AKC Canine College? Virtual learning tools have been a huge help for me, especially videos and photos. I love to see recordings both of myself with my dogs and of other people showing, too. I like to analyze vid- eos to see what is or isn’t working, just like athletes watch game footage to study plays.
148 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, JANUARY 2024
Powered by FlippingBook