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Kim Fowler
The Weekly Brief
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The first time we do something has a way of staying with us. A first ribbon may lead to another, but nothing quite matches the surprise of holding that first one. Flap-Jack, my Mastiff, has given me a lifetime of moments like that—some in the show ring, others in places I never expected a dog to take me.
I saw Flap-Jack come into the world on video, all 22-ounces of him. His breeder had a camera in the whelping box, so I could watch the puppies grow from day one. He was my pick almost immediately. Even as a young puppy, he looked level and balanced, and something about him kept drawing my eye. I was third in line for a puppy, so there was no guarantee he would be mine. I still feel lucky that he was.
His full name is MBISS GCHS CH Owenspride Out Of The Boxty FDC, SWE, SINE, SENE, THDN, CGCA, CGCU, STR, TKI, ATT, VHMA, VSWE, FITS, ORT, L1C, NW1, L1E, L1V, L2E, L1I, NW2, L2C, L2I, II, CI, NTD, SSH25, SS26, 2K-9, SOR25, A+25, EQ-25, Cal26, VD26, SSH26, AA1, T3, O-B, BR26, O-TR, SOR26, A+26, EQ-26. The many titles and initials at the end of his name tell part of his story. To me, he is Flap-Jack, the dog who has taken me through more firsts than I could have imagined.
He was my first show dog, but our story did not begin with an effortless entrance into the ring. Flap-Jack was a nervous puppy. We spent a great deal of time getting him out into the world and helping him feel comfortable in new places. Some of our training classes were held in an old school building where archery, yoga, gymnastics, and other activities were happening at the same time. There were people moving, unfamiliar sounds, and something different to take in everywhere he looked. It was a wonderful place for him to learn.
Breed handling class brought another challenge: Flap-Jack did not like having people go over him. He would squirm. Our instructor, Pat Tetrault, of Top Notch Dog Training, believed he would work through it, and she was right. We kept showing up and practicing. Watching him become more confident was one of our earliest achievements together.
Flap-Jack began showing at a year old, and we showed him on a limited basis. At his second show, he earned his first major. A year later, the judge who had selected him approached me. She remembered both Flap-Jack and his name. I have never forgotten that.
The ribbons kept coming, along with our first Best of Breed and our first Championship. Flap-Jack went on to earn his Grand Championship, followed by Bronze and Silver. Each milestone was exciting, but each also carried the memory of the puppy who once squirmed when someone examined him.
Together, we attended our first Specialty, a show devoted to his breed, and our first MCOA (Mastiff Club of America) National, where Mastiff people gather from across the country, in Kingsport, Tennessee. He was awarded Select Dog and third runner up in the Tournament of Champions, which is judged by three judges: one is a handler, one is a Mastiff breeder, and one is an all-breed judge. They choose the top 10. Then they are shown in the ring with a song the owner has chosen (Flip Flap Jack by Roomful of Blues) and there is a little biography read about them. Then at the banquet they announce the top five. It is fun, yet competitive, and we were thrilled with his placement.
He also earned our first Award of Merit during national week, an honor recognizing an outstanding dog beyond the top winners at a show. Flap-Jack also gave us our first Working Group placement, Best in Show, and multiple Best in Show wins. And when he became a sire, that was another first for us. I treasure every one of those moments, as well as the path that brought us there.
Most recently, he won both Specialties at Bucks County Kennel Club and Trenton Kennel Club in Mercer County, New Jersey, which are very big shows for Mastiffs.
Dog shows opened other doors for us, too. When we saw additional American Kennel Club activities being offered, we signed up. Canine Good Citizen and the AKC Temperament Test led us to try more together. We went on to compete in NACSW (National Association of Canine Scent Work) and AKC Scent Work. Working through scent searches with a 245-pound dog has been another adventure, and another way for me to appreciate what Flap-Jack can do.
He is also a Certified Therapy Dog. We visit an assisted living community in Millbrook, New York, and an elementary school in Connecticut. We have recently begun visiting a children’s library in Connecticut, too, where the children will be reading to him. These visits give us a chance to connect with people far beyond the show ring.
When I think about Flap-Jack, I still picture the puppy I watched on that whelping box camera. I had no idea then where he would take me. I only knew I hoped he would be mine. The titles we have earned together are extremely important to me, and a testament to the very special working relationship we share.
They show his working ability, sound temperament, and willingness to learn. We have enjoyed earning every title together. All so very different. From Farm Dog to a Nose Work title, he is up for it all! All these firsts have made his story extraordinary, and I am grateful we got to experience them together.
FDC - Farm Dog Certified, a test of a dog’s manners around farm sights and sounds
SWE - Scent Work Excellent, an overall AKC scent work title
SINE / SENE - Scent Work Interior Novice Elite and Exterior Novice Elite
THDN - Therapy Dog Novice
CGCA / CGCU - Advanced Canine Good Citizen (Community Canine) and Urban Canine Good Citizen
STR - AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy
TKI - Intermediate Trick Dog
ATT - AKC Temperament Test
VHMA - Virtual Home Manners Adult
VSWE - Virtual Scent Work Experienced
FITS - AKC FIT DOG Silver
ORT - Odor Recognition Test: recognition of the three target odors used in NACSW trials
NW1 / NW2 - Nose Work Levels 1 and 2
L1C / L2C - Level 1 and Level 2 Container searches
L1E / L2E - Level 1 and Level 2 Exterior searches
L1I / L2I —-Level 1 and Level 2 Interior searches
L1V - Level 1 Vehicle searches
II - Intermediate Interior searches
CI - Intermediate Container searches
NTD - Novice Trick Dog
SSH25 / SSH26 - Summer Scavenger Hunt challenges for 2025 and 2026
SS26 - Shamrock Shenanigans, a 2026 themed photo challenge
2K-9 - A two-kilometer run or brisk walk with the dog
SOR25 / SOR26 - Summer of Ruff trick challenges for 2025 and 2026
A+25 / A+26 - Teacher’s Pet, a school-themed trick challenge in each year
EQ-25 / EQ-26 - Equinox Explorer 5K challenges for 2025 and 2026
Cal26 - Calendar Shoot 2026, a themed series of posed photographs
VD26 - A Valentine’s Day trick challenge
AA1 - Level 1 Animal Actor certification for photo shoots
T3 - Triple Threat, a fitness challenge combining a walk or run, energetic activity, and stretching
O-B / O-TR - Balls and Torch Relay challenges in the Dog-lympics Pentathlon series
BR26 - Bunny Run 2026
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