TOP DOGS ON DISPLAY IN BIBLE HILL
Thanksgiving weekend show being held in Bible Hill
Natasha Holowaty was only four when she first entered a ring at a dog show, but she was instantly hooked.
Since that time she has travelled to shows across Canada and the U.S., showing dogs for many people, and she will be in the ring a few times during the Cobequid Dog Club’s show in Bible Hill this weekend.
The Cobequid Club puts on one of the best dog shows in the Maritimes,” said Holowaty, who grew up in Hants County but moved to the Truro area in February.
She was at a fun match with her parents, when she was given her first opportunity to enter the ring.
“Our neighbour just happened to be working her German shepherds and asked if I wanted to take her puppy into the ring for the peewee class in junior showmanship,” she recalled. “I showed her and was hooked from that point forward.”
Even though she loves showing dogs, she used to be very nervous.
“As a child I couldn’t eat all day until I was finished in the ring or I would have been sick, I had such bad butterflies in my stomach,” she said. “It eventually just went away when I got older. The one show that I do still get nervous at is the Westminster show.”
She has handled many different breeds and enjoys working with them all.
“The grooming can be different and I have not had a lot of experience with the terriers, so that is one group that I would like to spend more time learning about.”
She grew up with collies but says she is “currently owned by four Schipperkes” – Justin, Chanel, Houdini and Liberty.
All four are American Champions and three are also Canadian Champions. The fourth, Liberty, will be in the rings in 2018.
This weekend Holowaty will be showing four dogs: Labrador retriever ‘Dibbs’, Cavalier King Charles spaniel ‘Paris’, smooth collie ‘Clay’ and her own Schipperke ‘Chanel’ (who won the Canadian Schipperke National in May).
She said being involved in shows has helped her make some of the most important friendships in her life.
“Showing dogs has been such a huge part of my life and the people have become family because you end up spending weekend after weekend with the same individuals. I have also lived with, and worked for, some of Canada’s best people that are involved in dogs; people that I owe all my success to.”
Her dogs are much more than animals to show; they’re part of her family and her home.
“I couldn’t imagine my life without them,” she added. “My bed will always have a spot for a dog.”