Interview with Owner Handler Chris Chapman

Interview with Owner Handler Chris Chapman

I’m Chris Chapman of Heartland Australian Terriers. I’m 52 years old and a Breeder/Owner/Handler from Oklahoma. I came to the sport out of a desire to contribute to this wonderful breed through responsible breeding practices, which include showing.

1. How were you first introduced to the sport of purebred dogs? To your breed?

Chris Chapman: It’s a long story, but like many, when I became a breeder I was determined to do all the right things. For a purebred breeder that means showing. Showing your dogs is external validation that you are doing the right thing in your breeding program. I come from a science background, so the concept of peer review is one I hold dear. Dog shows are peer review for breeders. It’s one thing for me to say I breed great dogs. It’s another thing for judges, who have seen thousands upon thousands of dogs, to say it with their awards of Champion and Grand Champion. As to how I was introduced to my breed…? Ironically, I am allergic to most breeds. When searching for a new family pet 13 years ago, I found that most of the “hypoallergenic” breeds didn’t suit me. I’d had Schnauzers most of my life but was looking for something else. That’s when I found the best breed there is, the Australian Terrier!

2. How many years in dogs? In your breed?

Chris Chapman: I’ve been around dogs my entire life. As I said, I’ve always had Schnauzers in my home until making the switch to Aussies, but when I was young, my father hunted quail. As a result, I was also around a lot of Pointers. I even had a Weimaraner through my high school and college years. I made the switch to Australian Terriers about 13 years ago and started my breeder’s journey about 11 years ago. Haven’t looked back!

3. Do you attend show handling classes? Have you attended in-person
handling seminars?

Chris Chapman: I used to, and I found them to be very useful when I was starting. I don’t think there is a better way to get the basics. You learn a lot about ring procedure. I will still go to classes on occasion, but now it’s more for my inexperienced dogs to get used to a show ring experience before actually showing. When I was first starting out, I also went to a lot of shows to practice. There is no better way for me to learn than to do.

4. Have you found virtual learning tools to be helpful? Videos? Websites? Social Media? AKC Canine College?

Chris Chapman: I am sure that some find these very useful, but different people learn in different ways. For me, I get easily distracted while watching a video, or trying to read a website. Getting in the ring helps me more, because there is no choice but to focus. I also find myself watching others to see what works for them and consider whether to add their practices to my own. You have to be careful about that, though, as you don’t want to add a bad practice thinking it’s a good one.

5. Do you compete in the National Owner-Handled Series? Are rankings important to you?

Chris Chapman: 2023 was really the first year that I really tried to do anything significant in the National OH Series. I’m very happy to be blessed with a competitive boy right now, with the freedom to show enough that we can move the ranking needle. Finishing 4th in the OH rankings for Australian Terriers last year, with pretty limited showing, is an accomplishment I’m very happy with.

6. In which class(es) are you most likely to enter your dog(s)?

Chris Chapman: Bred-By if showing a puppy from my breeding, Open
if not.

7. Who have been your mentor(s) as an Owner Handler?

Chris Chapman: My primary mentor has been the breeder who entrusted me with my program’s foundation bitch, Theresa Goiffon of Dunham Lake Australian Terriers. She gave me my first lessons in grooming my own dogs and showing tips. Beyond that, my fellow Owner Handlers have shared bits of wisdom here and there, and I hope I’ve been able to return the favor.

8. What are the benefits of competing with your breed(s) as an Owner Handler?

Chris Chapman: I think the primary benefit is getting the breed in front of more judges and more people in general. The Australian Terrier breed has been waning in popularity, for no good reason I can think of except that the breed doesn’t get enough exposure. Some might say exposure is bad, but given the choice between the risks of being popular and the risk that the breed disappears, I’ll choose to make them more popular.

9. How are you encouraging new exhibitors to participate in the sport?

Chris Chapman: As a breeder, I am always happy to have someone come to me looking for a show puppy, and I try to mentor those folks if they are new. In the ring and at shows, I try to be approachable. If I see someone who needs a hand, I try to lend one. If someone has a question, I want them to ask me, and if I don’t know the answer, I want to help them get the answer so that I can
learn too.

10. Are there any suggestions you’d like to pass along about the presentation of your breed(s).

Chris Chapman: Wow… Just never stop learning. I don’t care who you are, I think there is something to learn every time you step into the ring. Present your dog as well as you can so that the judge can see what you see, but also, look up at the dogs and exhibitors around you and see what they are doing. You’ll see things you like and may want to adopt in your presentation, and things that you might be doing that you’ll want to stop.

11. What are your goals as an Owner Handler? Is there a victory that has eluded you?

Chris Chapman: As someone who got into this while still having to maintain a day job to pay the bills, my showing has been limited to two or three shows per year, every year, up until 2023. So yes, I still have a lot of goals. All of my dogs have achieved Champion or Grand Champion status, and I’ve gotten several Group placements in both the regular ring and OH ring, but that Best in Show or Reserve Best in Show still eludes me. As a breeder, I’d also put getting a championship from the Bred-By class on my to-do list.

12. Is there a funny story that you can share about your experiences as an Owner Handler?

Chris Chapman: Well, I did almost miss OH Groups this year at one show. This was at a show where OH Groups were immediately following regular Groups. Terriers were the first Group up, so I was standing by from a distance, watching the regular Groups, knowing that when the Terriers went in, I would need to brush out my boy and head over to the OH Group ring. The Group start seemed delayed, but then into the regular Group ring… here come the Hounds! I looked over at the OH Group ring, and the Terriers were going in. Somehow, I had totally missed them going into the regular Group ring. I scooped up my dog and ran to the ring, getting there just before the first dog was about to do its down-and-back. No time for last minute grooming. I did the walk of shame to the end of the line. Think I got a Group 3 that day. Ha!

I think the primary benefit is getting the breed in front of more judges and more people in general. The Australian Terrier breed has been waning in popularity, for no good reason I can think of except that the breed doesn’t get enough exposure. Some might say exposure is bad, but given the choice between the risks of being popular and the risk that the breed disappears, I’ll choose to make them more popular.