Do you remember your first win?  This can be as simple as points or as major or as important as a national specialty placement. 
            I do.  I remember my firsts on all my dogs.  Mind you I haven’t been doing this long, so I don’t have many to remember yet!
            My very first points.  I didn’t start showing dogs until I was in my late 20’s.  I was showing, what most would claim, as a less that quality show dog.  We were at a fairly local show and Mr. Smith was judging.  Honey went winner’s bitch for her first points.  I was so proud. I still remember what I wore and how I felt.  It truly was an awesome feeling.
            Honey never did finish, and several years later I came into my first “show” dog.  I still remember her first points, her first major (and a cross over to boot), when she finished her Championship and when she finished her Grand.  The one piece I really remember is her getting an AOM at the regional speciality at Nationals.  It was a 7 ½ hour drive home and I do believe that I floated the whole way home! (With the ribbon riding shotgun all the way!)
            For most of us, if you show regularly, the ribbons come and go.  We tuck them away and think that someday we will do “something” with them.  The thing that kills me is when I see ribbons wadded up and stuffed in tack boxes from many shows ago.  I just don’t think some people cherish those darn bookmarks!
            This year I finished my first bred-by.  While his wins are still fresh in my memory, I decided to immortalize them in our dog room.  His Championship picture and certificate are framed with his bred-by medallion hanging from the frame.  It is refreshing to see them hanging with Savvy’s AOM ribbon, and Remmers group placement every time I enter the room.  
            I also remember the people that were a part of these special times in my life.  Hummm…bet you can guess where one of next week’s blogs will be about!
            So as I sit here a bit down about showing dogs and the frustration that comes with the sport, I’m trying to focus on these memories.  The great feelings that come with the amazing wins (or even the ones that are quite so “important”) are what will help me overcome where I’m at today and be a better showman and sportsman for tomorrow!

    I love my job, I also love to show my dogs.  Sadly the two don’t always mix well.
    My job is very demanding for approx. 3 months out of the year.  6 weeks in the spring and 4-6 weeks in the fall.  What I do revolves around the farming planting and harvest schedule.  The business is open 7:30-5:30 Monday through Friday and 8-12 on Saturday, except in the so above named times of the year and then we are open all day on Saturday.  We work every other Satruday and during the planting and harvest season we work every Saturday for 4 weeks.  We cannot trade Saturdays.   I get 2 weeks of vacation.  I can only take off three Saturdays (personal or sick) that I work in a calendar year and they prefer no time off during the peak seasons.
    So…..I have to plan every dog outing around my crazy work schedule.  How do you balance the job that you enjoy and frankly that pays your crazy hobby with the crazy hobby you love.  
    It is a challenge at best.  My day starts at 5AM.  I let the first round of dogs out and start my day.  Once the shower is complete, round one of dogs comes in and round two goes out.  I make their meals (I feed raw so this isn’t a dump dog food in a dish and run routine!).  When this is done, time to cycle dogs one last time and finish me for work and spend a few minutes working with the show dogs.   Then I put dogs away and head out the door.  Usually lunch is on the run somewhere, if it even exists, and if it is a week of a dog show, I try and get home to either pack or groom a dog or two.  I’m usually home by 6, except during peak season and then it is anytime after 8.  On a normal night….I start the dog madness all over again.  Let dogs out in rotation.  Start the practice routine for the show dogs, of which I have four right now.  Spend time with the other two to keep the jealously at bay.  Groom for a bit on each, then settle in for the evening….oh never mind that is bed!  Somewhere in there is laundry, supper, mowing, (and a boat load of it, cause we live out in the country), a house to clean, plus all the other stuff that comes with an active life!
    If you have ever been lucky enough to be with me at a show during “peak” work time, my work phone rings non-stop.  My friends do make fun of me and I’m totally ok with that, cause I’m sure the one sided convo is quite entertaining!  But hey the bright side to the phone ringing non-stop, is it makes the long dog show drives tolerable!
    Balancing the two some days is extremely daunting.  I feel that both lack from time to time because of each other.  There are days I would much rather be at home doing “something.” I also know that when I’m driving home from a dog show at umpteen thirty at night, to be back to work on Monday morning, that I am grateful for a job to support my “habit.”

    Today’s blog comes for a post and suggestion from a follower’s post yesterday.  Thanks for the suggestion Cw! 
    As owner-handlers, and many of us owner-breeder-handlers, do know a lot.  More often we know more than any pro-handler does, but certainly don’t give ourselves credit.
    When I first announced that I would be having a handler on ringside pickup, a friend and BC mentor, laughed at me.  “Why would you do that?” she asked.  My response was simple, “To get done [meaning winning] what I can’t seem to do in the ring.”  She, being much more seasoned to showing, I’m sure, knew what the evitable was about to be.  But being supportive, never questioned my intentions again, but would occasionally “jab” at me about it. 
    Whether intentional or not, her jabs often made me think.  She would continue to tell me, control what you can and the rest is up to the judge.
    What I can control is what I “know”.  So what do I know? I know that I am a good handler….well at least when I can keep the nerves at bay….I will save that for another day.  I know that I can groom….and a crazy groomer I am and truth be told the worse the nerves the more I groom, again another day.  I know my dog.  I know when she is having a good day and I know when she is having a bad one.  I know how to react to the mood swings.  I know what bait my dogs love.  I know what my dog’s strengths and faults are and how to make the most of them in the ring.  I know my breed standard.  I know how to dress and act the part.  I know I practice and groom at home.  I know what coat products to use when it’s July and humid and I know when I’ve over-groomed and I stand there and cuss.  I know most dog show people are genuinely good and would help you if you just ask.  I know dog showing is fun! 
    And most importantly I know, I love my dog, win or lose.  
    Can any pro-handlers say that they know all those things about the dogs they are handling?  
    We owner-handlers (-breeders) “know” a lot.  Take the advice that was given to me….control what you can.  Or better yet, take my advice, control what you know.  If you don’t know, ask.  Empower yourself to learn more.  Be better.  Don’t give that judge one opportunity to not look at you!

    Which is more important for success?  What you know or whom you know?    
    Today’s blog comes for a poll that was in a local paper this morning; but certainly extremely fitting.  The poll is “Which is more important for success?  What you know or whom you know.”  Your choices are “What you know,” “Whom you know,” “Both,” or “Don’t know.”    
    Which would you choose?  Which is important for success?  Certainly I would hope that it is what you know, but it seems that in today’s society, it is more about who you know.  As I posted on Friday, only you can determine your success.  So why is it that we must continue to “know” people to be successful?      
    I was recently at a smaller 3-day show.  After a frustrating first day, I heard though the talk on the grounds, that the judges were hand-picked by a large name handler.  The handler wasn’t even from that area, but yet it was very obvious that they had at least some influence over the judges and their choices.  Of the 7 dogs in the BIS group on day two, 5 were handled by this handler.  While I understand that the odds are in a handler’s favor at a smaller show, since they will bring in 20-30 dogs, but really, 5 of the 7?      
    I was later told that a husband and wife judge combo, were like this handler’s second parents and mentors.  Guess what…..most of those 5 placements came from that husband/wife combo!  Also guess what….when the wife was the breed judge the next day, Remmers didn’t even get one single look in the ring with so named handler in there.  WOW! I’m not saying that my bitch was the best choice in the ring, but certainly she is of the quality that she should be getting a second look.  To boot, she was also on a handler, so we can rule out my crappy handling skills as the reason for the lack of placement!  :)
    I sit on the BOD for my local home kennel club.  I know that without the handlers, our entry count would have been drastically down.  They do bring in a lot of entries that are certainly the life blood to the club show’s success, but I also know that our show chair would never allow one specific person to pick judges.      
    Why have we continued to let judges pick handers and handlers to rule the roost?   I know anyone can be beaten at any point in time, but let’s face it, the odds are in the pro’s favor.  Thank you to the judges who will put up the correct end of the leash.  Thank you to the judges that will pick owner-handler’s over pro-handlers.  Thank you to those judges who still allow it to be fair and anyone’s game in the ring.   And finally thank you to the judges that know the standards for the breeds they judge.
    I will be exclusively handling Remmers the rest of the year.  Many of you know that she has been on ring side pick-up with a moderately known handler.  Due to other reasons, she will no longer be shown by him.  So, we will see….can I be as successful with “What I know” vs. my lacking of “Whom I know”? Only I can determine my success….right?

    On a side note, as of when this blog was written, the poll results are as follows: 45% Whom you know, 32% What you know, 23% depends, 0 % don’t know.   *Taken from the Kearney Hub Your Opinion Counts...www.kearneyhub.com

    I read this quote this morning and thought that is was quite appropriate for the blog of the day.  So here is to a great weekend to each of you (dog showing or not)!
    "There's a difference between failure and losing.  Failure is not losing.  Losing when you've tried your hardest or when you've done what you thought was right is not failure.  That's courage.  Failure is losing your focus and your commitment, a personal misdeed or not living up to your personal expectations.  Nobody else will define your failure and nobody else will define your success.  You do that."  —   Mike Flood, speaker of the Nebraska Legislature at the University of Nebraska at Kearney spring commencement, May 4, 2012

    So as I'm trying to determine where the summer will take me across this wonderful country, I find myself researching judges like mad.   Let's be brutally honest here, the judge of the day holds your future in their opinions.
    While I only have a handful of judges that have gained a prestigious spot on my DNS list, there are certainly some that I prefer over others.  
    In my attempt to get away from a flashy, top 5 dog on a big name handler, I have found myself researching and attempting to seek out those judges that have in the past loved Remmers or judge that I think would put her  up in the absence of so named big handler.  
    For those of you who have ever truly specialed a bitch know the challenges that face you.  9 times out of 10, they aren't as big, flashy and even tempered.   In the BC breed, most don't carry the dripping double coat that a dog does.  In my case, all of the above apply.  Remmers, while a decent bitch, is moderate, lightly coated, doesn't have flashy markings and can be, well, a "bitch" from time to time.   I will not be kennel blind and tell you that she does have her faults, but also strengths as well.   All dogs do.
    I have walked out of the ring more than once (in fact I have lost count) with the wonderful BOS red and white ribbon, only to have the judge of the day tell me what a wonderful border collie she is or thanking me for showing them a true specimen of the breed.   While I do appreciate the comments (as usually you are left wondering what the judge was thinking), I do find it frustrating to take second string to a dog that was more than likely chosen  for the wrong end of the leash.  Sigh.....I think I could spend an entire blog on this alone!
    The other factor that I have to face is what I can afford to do.  Let’s face it; I'm not made of money, despite what people think.  I don't have a backer.  Wish I did, but every trip is my hard eared money.  I only have two weeks of vacation a year that I can spend on dog shows.  For the most part if the show isn't with-in a 1/2 days drive of me, the chances of me going are greatly reduced.  Every entry must count since I can't be out showing every weekend.
    Since I live in the middle of no-where and Nebraska doesn't have a ton of home grown shows, I'm forced to drive.  I consider a close show 5-6 hours away and now that I'm faced with the challenge of chasing judges, I'm looking at close to be 7-9 hours.  Tough when generally I can't leave until noon on the day before the show and have to be to work the Monday after.
    So how to choose.....here is my attempt at triaging my shows.
        1.  Shows must be within a day drive.  No more than 10 hours at best.
        2.  Judges must be ones that have either put Remmers up in the past or where she has gone BOS with multiple bitch special entries.
        3.  I must attempt to get away from the big name handlers.  While I know anyone is beatable at any point, so am I.  
        4.  Judges must be ones that will look at the correct end of the leash.  Tired of judges that pick the big name handler, because it is "safe".  Be brave, be bold, and put up the dog that should win, please.
    With that being said, I sit here and continue to research and mapquest destinations.  For the most part, I believe we have a plan for the summer....will it work or not?  Stay tuned and see!

    So I had someone (a non-dog show person) ask me the other night, "Why do you do this?"  In reguards as to why I traveled 1/2 the country side with dogs in tow.   As I stuttered and stammered about why I "do" do this, I was thinking to myself....that is a really darn good question.
    The question keep bothering me.  So as I'm mowing last night, I decided to ponder the question more, since  I had nothing else to do but run the mower back and forth across the yard!  So I decided that I would write about my experiences as to "why I do that". 
    Let me start this blog, with a quick introduction.  I am Amy Novak and live in central Nebraska with 7 of the most wonderful dogs win the world.  OK....so that is just a personal opinion! 6 of them just happen to be Border Collies with the 7th to be a very loving, very old Lab.  I am by no means a professional dog person, although I do consider it my hobby, second job, and something I truely enjoy in my life.  I do work full time in what I call the "real world" as a farm computer technician for a local John Deere dealership.  And I am by no means a computer geek....I just get paid to be one!  I am a weekend dog show warrior.   I am an owner-handler.  I will occassionally hire out a handler for ringside pickup, but for the most part do 95% of the showing myself.  
        With all that being said, let me introduce my partner in crime or better yet, why I do this.  The last two years of my dog show life have taken me across the country and allowed me to meet some very wonderful people and dogs and others that are not so.  The partner is crime that has really allowed me to go such wonderful places is Remmers.  A wonderful BC bitch, not quite 2 years old, that has blown my mind time and time again with her ring success.  While Remmers didn't start the love of showing dogs (I owe that to Savvy),  she has allowed me to reach goals that I never thought would be possible for an owner-handler.  As of the end of March, Remmers was ranked in the AKC Top 10 and is the #2 bitch in the nation.  Pretty amazing for a pair that, for the most part don't have a clue what they are doing.   
    So after a tough couple of months of showing and coming home with nothing more than more "best of loosers" red and white ribbons (BOS) and a few Grand Champion points here and there, I really had to sit down and look at where we were and where I wanted us to be.  
    "Goals!" my mother would tell me.  "You must have goals in your life."  
    So here is my blog about why I do this.... As I travel the countryside over the next few months, I will talk about my travels, judge thoughts, the people, why do this, and any other miscellaneous things that happen to cross my path on this journey.   But most importantly it is about my goal to be #1.  Well at this point in my dog career, it is to be as close to number one as a weekend warrior can afford to be! 
    So stay tuned to what will I'm sure a whirl wind of a summer!