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SAMANTHA BULL, 16 YEARS OLD
DISTRICT/COUNTY WHERE YOU LIVE: Isle of Wight
HOW DID YOU START OFF JUNIOR HANDLING?
I was doing Obedience with my crossbred and a woman came over and said that I had a god rapport with the dogs I handled and that I should think about show handling. Mum and I went to the IOWCA - Isle of Wight Canine Association - and was given a Border Terrier to handle and I've never looked back since.
DO YOU TAKE PART IN ANY OTHER DOGGY ACTIVITIES (OBEDIENCE,AGILITY,FLYBALL,ETC)?
I am currently training my Swedish Vallhund bitch for agility, which I have done for many years with my crossbred Hunny and other peoples dogs.
HOW MANY DOGS DO YOU LIVE WITH,OWN AND/OR SHOW?
I live with 8 dogs - a crossbred ~ which is my own, 2 Swedish Vallhunds ~ which I own, 2 BSD Malinois, a BSD Groenendael ~ which are my mum's and a Rottweiler which is my Gran's. We show the 2 Swedish Vallhunds and the 2 BSD Malinois. We have also recently got a Border Collie male puppy called Ringo who enjoying playing with the other dogs.
WHICH ONES DO YOU USE FOR JUNIOR HANDLING AND WHY?
I use 'Daz' a 5 yr old Swedish Vallhund male. I use him because he loves going around the ring showing himself off. I have recently started taking 'Vienna' a BSD Malinois as I love taking her round, and it gets her used to being shadowed and being on the other side of me. I am also hoping to use 'Ringo' the Border Collie puppy.
WHAT BREEDS HAVE YOU SHOWN BEFORE IN COMPETITION?
Pharaoh Hound Siberian Husky Norwegian Buhund Otterhound Pointer Golden Retriever Bloodhound Brittany Spaniel Irish Terrier Border Terrier Miniature Pinscher Dachsund GSD BSD Groenendael BSD Malinois BSD Tervueren Border Collie Smooth Collie Boxer Great Dane Rottweiler Swedish Vallhund Pekingese Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Pug
TELL US ABOUT HOW TO HANDLE (SHOWING STYLE) YOUR BREED IN JUNIOR HANDLING CLASSES?
The Swedish Vallhund are a free standing breed and should be stood squarely. The Malinois are also a free standing breed and are shown side wards on rather than frontwards like the Groenendael and Tervueren. The Border Collie are a free standing breed which are to be stood squarely.
WHAT DO YOU NORMALLY WEAR IN COMPETITION?
I change my suit every year. A the moment I'm showing in a Dark Blue suit with light blue pin stripe, a cream t-shirt and black shoes.
WHAT ARE YOUR BEST ACHIEVEMENTS?
When DAZ won Reserve Best in Show and Pastoral Group 1 this year at Christchurch and New Forest, when he got his first CC, 2 Reserve CC's, his 23 Best of Breeds, when we got 5th in the YKC Handling this year and Best Isle of Wight Dog 2005. At Crufts 2006 unfortunately DAZ was ill so I took in a friends Malinois CHAMONIX into YKC Handling and got 4th.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST MEMORABLE OCCASION SO FAR?
When me, mum and a friend called Julie - who has Siberian Huskies - travelled up to Scotland last year (2006). we all thought that we were mad but it was worth it as Julie got the Bitch CC and Best of Breed, mum got the Malinois Bitch CC and Best of Breed and DAZ got the Reserve CC. we floated back home as we were all on cloud 9!
ALSO when I got a phone call from the BBC asking if they could do a piece on me and my Swedish Vallhunds for the Crufts 2007 coverage! When 'Daz' won the Pastoral Group and Reserve Best in Show this year and when he got his first CC at Windsor this year! (2007).
IF YOU ONLY HAD ONE 'TOP TIP' TO SHARE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Don't copy what the kids in front of you have done and just do your own thing, because they might have done it wrong.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT JUNIOR HANDLING?
My fave thing about junior handling is the people that you meet and the new things that you learn.
WHAT DISAPPOINTS YOU IN THE WORLD OF JUNIOR HANDLING?
That some judges give 1st and 2nd place to friends of theirs or to people that always win.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO BRING UP?
i've just been made Junior Handler Trainer at the Isle of Wight training club!!
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