By RENEE FITE
Wondering what to do to bond with your child after a summer flurry of activity?
Pick just one favorite you both share and focus more time and attention on it.
And the child.
Stephanie Carroll didn’t realize that would happen when she was showing dogs, but her son, D.J., 18, is now a top winner in junior showmanship.
They’re both passionate about showing, competing and their unique pooches.
But they also take time to bring some cold-nose hugs to patients with their therapy dogs.
Mom and son travel, “from an hour to 12,” going to shows, said D.J.
He’ll be a freshman at Northeastern State University.
“[We travel] from California to Westminister, New York,” Stephanie said.
What is noticeable is their affection for their four-legged companions as they help them out of the vehicle.
And for each other.
They talk as they work with getting the dogs out of the vehicle without the conflict often present when a mom and teen try to do anything together.
When direction is given by mom, it’s met with cooperation.
Even enthusiasm.
D.J., too, is excited to show off his animals.
They’re a team, they have a friendship and perhaps the makings of a life time relationship.
“This is the dog mobile” she said, referring to the blankets covering the surface with the seats folded over.
Maybe every two years she breeds a dog, when she has a waiting list.
“And when I’m sure they want it for a life-long companion,” she said. “No dog should be without a home.”
As for adopting a dog, she advises to do the research for a type of dog best suited for the owner.
“When Dalmatians came out everyone wanted one, but they’re a hyper dog and not for everybody, especially in an apartment. They’ll bounce off the walls.” she said.
“You take a dog for life. Find one with a personality to suit your style of living.”
There are a lot of dogs in rescue homes.
“Buy from a reputable dealer,” she said. “We health screen before breeding.”
A Champion Marulas, Wild Thing aka “Demi” is a 5 year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback. Ridgebacks are from Africa. Settlers used them to hunt lions.
“When she had needed two major points to earn Top of the Best of Breed, she finished with four,” Stephanie grinned, “over some of the top Ridgebacks.”
That was two years ago in Harrison, Ark.
“Demi’s first show with D.J., he took her into the puppy class and pulled 4th place,” Stephanie’s smile shined as she recalled the moment, “beating big-time handlers and big, old kennel names.”
They do their own obedience training.
“We’re owner handlers competing with professional handlers,” she said. “We train when they’re young, to stand, gait around the ring.”
Microchips are also used with her puppies.
“One time one of my puppies got lost, and I knew where it was before the owner did,” she said.
Showing has really helped with his self-confidence, she noted.
D.J. really loves showing and appreciates that he’s making a positive choice.
He’s been showing 10 years, since he was 8.
“It keeps you off the stupid things you could be doing,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you put your mind to it, you can do it.”
And you learn respect, she added, “you congratulate the winner.”
The first day you may lose, the second day win, “you realize you have up days and down days, and there are all kinds of judges, who look for different things,” he said.
“Pride and dignity and bragging rights,” are what he’s earned.
He’s good, mom said, “some of the handlers pull hi in to show their dogs.”
A Champion Pharaoh Hound, Ikahn of Distinction aka “Kahn”, 13, was a top contender in his day.
“My little sweetheart,” Stephanie said of her “ancient friend”, easing him out of his pen.
Kahn was a dual champion.
When D.J. was 14 he was No. 1 in the Junior Division of Pharaoh Hounds and Best Junior Handler at the dog show, too.
“Him and Kahn are quite a team,” mom beamed.
D.J. took to showing from the beginning.
“He just has the personality for it,” she said.
He admits it’s fun to win.
“I like being around a bunch of people trying to beat me,” she said with a grin earned by winning.
Winning Best Junior Handler and getting fourth at the World Congress in Dallas in 2004 are among his best experiences.
In September, he’ll show Collins at the U.S. America Pointer Nationals at the Purina Farms in Missouri.
Stephanie started showing in 1988, in California, with Champion Chestnut Hills Young Stone’s Brew, a Chesapeake retriever, when a friend got her interested.
He won Best of Show and still holds the record as youngest to hold Best of Show title.
In 1989 they won the U.S. National Title and won Best of Breed at Westminister.
He has 47 group placements in the top four and was ranked No. 1 for two years.
“He was my pride and joy,” she said.
As a kid her best friends mother showed Great Danes, “so I was always around a kennel.”
Four of their favorite dogs were with them for the photo op.
A Champion Red Rock, Kamalis aka “Sammy Hagar” is 7, and finished with three major points.
Now a therapy dog, he recently visited St. Francis Children’s Clinic dressed as a pirate.
“He’s very good natured,” she said.
“The children called him Jack Sparrow. He even had a parrot on his shoulder and gave them treasure.”
Sammy also saved Kahn’s life. He was frightened and broke out of his crate and slit his neck open, she said.
“When I came home Sammy met me at the door and took me to Kahn, he was almost dead.”
They train with the Tulsa Dog Training Club and Claremore Kennel Club. If your dog passes the class, test and visitation, he can be a Therapy Dog.
“I think it’s kinda awesome,” she said.
“We go a lot to rehab, it brings moral up for patients.”
A Champion Covenants English Pointer, In the Air Tonight aka “Collins” is 4.
“His personality is amazing, he’s probably the goofiest dog you’ll ever meet,” D.J. said.
He likes to carry stuff around, Stephanie said, “One time I gave him Billy Bob teeth and he’ll looked so funny.”
He’s a certified therapy dog and after this weekend’s last certified visitation, she said.
One time he went in a room where a patient couldn’t get out of her room and come out for visitation at Tahlequah City Hospital, she said, “he put his head on her stomach for her to pet him and she just melted.”
Another time a patient was unresponsive, she said. “They took Sammy in and it made her face light up.”
At the Children’s Hospital last month a boy in a motorcycle accident was not responsive.
His mother wanted a picture with Sammy and her son to show him later when he woke up, she said.
“Parent’s thanks us so much for coming and brightening people’s day,” she said.
And some patients miss their own pets.
“It’s the joy we bring with the dogs, that’s why we do it,” Stephanie said.
