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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-07-09, Page 7Ask 16-year-old Melissa Leishman of the Brussels area, how she began showing dogs and she’ll tell you it all started with a collar. Having become proud owners of a whippet named Dakota a few years ago, the Leishman family soon ran into a bit of a problem. The long, thin, neck of the breed is quite fragile and requires a special collar. Leishman’s mother, Waneta, explains, however, that the speciality items weren’t easy to find. After a search on-line uncovered the name of a woman in Montreal who made them, Waneta began retailing them for her at dog shows, which Melissa usually attended as well. It was during one of these events that interest in a different breed of dog took hold of the teen. “We met a woman who had afghan hound pups,” said Melissa. “I bent over to talk to them, one landed in my arms, and I said, ‘Oh, I love you’.” Seven months later mother and daughter were offered an afghan from a breeder and Tango became the newest addition. While her family grew, Melissa was also absorbing what she was seeing in the ring. “A couple of good friends would get her to hold the dogs at ring side,” said Waneta. “It was a good way to learn,” she said. It wasn’t long before Melissa had entered the circle. “Tango’s breeder said he was show quality and wanted him shown, so I started in the junior show for under 18s.” Taking a dog into a ring means knowing what’s expected of the breed. There are specifics with afghans that aren’t there for whippets, said Melissa, who now shows in regular classes against seasoned handlers. “You have to have the speed to match the pace, for example.” “An afghan is to have the look of kings and be aloof. A handler’s job is to make the dog look good,” added Waneta. Clearly Melissa is getting that figured out. Attending shows in Michigan and New York, as well as throughout the province, Melissa is helping her dogs bring home ribbons. Flynn, another whippet has really done them proud. ‘Loaned’ to the Leishmans so Melissa could work with him and get him some experience, Flynn over his two months with them, has consistently won best puppy when shown. At Erie Shores in Caledonia he won the best puppy under one year in specialty. “It’s going to be hard to send him back. I adore him,” said Melissa, admitting some tears have already been shed. Another whippet owned by the Leishmans, Ava, has two group placements and is number 15 in Canada for the breed. Not to be outdone by the less kingly and aloof, Tango is no slouch in the show ring either, taking the winners male award at the McNulty Dog Show in Ashtabula, New York. Besides working with her own dogs, Melissa will often be another set of hands for other handlers. “If we’re not in the ring, people will borrow Melissa,” said Waneta. This can be a challenge, admits the easy-going teen, but nothing to get worked up over. “Sometimes the dog just knows you’re not the owner. They may just lie down in the ring, and all I can say is ‘perfect’,” she said, with a shrug and raised brow. Smiling over her daughter’s easy manner, Waneta said it’s something the judges have noticed too. “They have complimented her that when things like this happen, she never looks frustrated. ” Melissa said that during thesummer she’s busier withshows, but during schoolmonths will typically attendthem two weekends a month.Last week, Flynn was off toSarnia for four days before joining Ava and Tango in Blyth for three, then moving on to Oxford. Finding the balance is important as she has set an ambitious course ahead of her. “I’ve always been an animal lover. And the plan is to become a vet.” Dog handling, too, is also in her future plans. “It can be another option as a career choice. And there are a lot of good things I’ve gotten from it. I have met a lot of young people and made friends with some who actually live fairly close but that I never would have met.” For other youths who might be interested, mother and daughter agree it’s something they should look in to. “There are handling courses,” said Waneta, “that can be found on-line, or just go and watch the shows. Many handlers will hire kids for grooming and exercise and they can gain a lot of experience that way.” Dog handling, said Melissa, is character building. “It requires patience. You never know what the dogs may do. And you can be on the top one day and losing the next. That can be a pretty good lesson in humility.” THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2009. PAGE 7. Top dogs Ava, left, and Flynn, with handler, 16-year-old Melissa Leishman are starting a ribbon collection. Ava has two group placements, while Flynn, who is owned by someone else, but has been gaining experience with help from Leishman, is a consistent best puppy winner. (Bonnie Gropp photo) Local teen a doggone winner For show Melissa Leishman of the Brussels area takes her afghan hound Tango through his paces in preparation for some upcoming shows. The 16- year-old began showing as a junior handler and now takes her place in the ring against seasoned veterans. (Bonnie Gropp photo) By Bonnie Gropp The Citizen