NEIL DODDS
The two people responsible for my interest in GSDs and handling are John and Betty Young. This started around 1977 when I exercised John's dogs while on holiday from school. After a while John in his wisdom asked me if I would be interested in learning to handle his dogs. I was then taken under his wing and everything I have achieved must be credited to both John and Betty.
The first CC I handled was at the GSD Club of Northern Ireland Championship Show in the early 80s. The date I can't recall. A man called Jim Williamson was trusting enough to let me handle his up and coming female Kurtlee Seffe of Delridge at Fairview (there's a mouthful!) She won the CC BOB from Special Yearling under Herr E Wieser. She was also the first Champion I handled to its title.
For personal reasons I must say that the favourite male I've handled must have been Ch Jonal Basko, a son of Ch Cito and Bushvale Alicia of Jonal. The character of this dog was absolutely fabulous. My favourite female must have been CH Catja of Vornlante having handled her from Junior, it was a great pleasure to handle her to the Breed CC Record for Females, especially after John Thomas handled her to her first CC under Eric Orschler. She also went on to win 3 Nationals, 2 with BOBs and had two litters in between.
Who is my favourite animal I never handled? A very difficult question, because I have been fortunate enough to handle some excellent animals. I think possibly on performance I would have to go for Ch Muscava's Rocky, our first male national winner.
My favourite animals here and abroad? Again, a difficult one. Ch Catja for females and the home bred Ch Muscava's Rocky.
Abroad I'd possibly say, females between Vanta Wienerau and the bitch Gina V Danischen Hof. Males, it must be Fanto V Hirschel, what I class as an honest male.
The last two questions can be answered together.
I have handled many difficult dogs to absolutely poor results and to CCs but the difficulty lay mainly in the fitness and the training and this lies in the hands of the owners.
Unfortunately not every animal is a natural performer like Ch Quant, if they were life would be so much easier for us all.
Neil Dodds
