Ann Egan: My grandfather bred Cocker Spaniels back during the Great Depression and my father spoke about him having a Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show winner by the name of Peaches. She was a red and white beauty who was eventually sold to a local doctor after he fell in love with her when at the house setting my dad’s broken arm. Dad also spoke of my grandfather sending his Champion Cockers out to the movie stars of the time, from Ohio where they lived, on trains to California in specially built crates. While my father never got into dogs, his brother bred and raised Doberman Pinschers. I began with dogs in 1974 as a Junior who showed dogs that my family owned and eventually bred. A professional handler, Mary Morgan, had seen one of the dogs and encouraged my parents to allow her to show the dog. Eventually, I took over and showed Sporting breeds. I obtained my AKC (American Kennel Club) Agent’s number when I turned 16 years old and could drive, as my parents were tired of driving me to dog shows. I currently breed and show French Bulldogs and was introduced to that breed in 2013.
Ann Egan: I have been “in dogs” since 1972 when my parents gifted me my first dog, a Golden Retriever we called Lady. I have always handled my own dogs. I showed in both Junior Showmanship and the Breed ring. I am so old that I remember all the crazy patterns and questions judges would ask you in the Juniors ring to really test your handling skills, like making us change dogs with another Junior in the ring. I have taken breaks from showing dogs when I was in undergraduate and graduate school, and when our son was young. My husband and I also bred, trained, and showed Percheron horses, having several World and National Champions in our barn, so dog showing took a back seat to horse showing for several years. I have been involved with NOHS (National Owner-Handled Series) since its inception. We began breeding French Bulldogs about five years ago. Our kennel prefix, North Point, is registered with the AKC for French Bulldogs. I also have an AKC license to judge Juniors and my judge’s number is quite low; it’s four digits, serving to remind me just how old I am and how long I have been at this dog game.
Ann Egan: When I was first starting out in the dog show world, the York (PA) Kennel Club had a York Junior Kennel Club that was for any person under age 18 to join. It was run exactly as the kennel club was run and was a great learning experience. I am sad that more kennel clubs do not offer this to young people today as it was a great learning experience. I also took our dogs to Obedience classes and would later train and participate in Hunt Tests and Field Trails. I currently do not attend handling classes; however, I have most recently attended Scent Work classes for a change of pace for me and my dogs.
Ann Egan: I do think virtual learning aids are helpful. Videos and websites are incredibly helpful to handlers, but I also think that asking someone to videotape you while you are handing is an incredibly helpful tool. I am fortunate in that my husband videotapes my performance and it really helps me see things from a different angle than the one I see as a handler. I encourage everyone to periodically look at videotapes of themselves in the ring. I think that the AKC Canine College can be a great resource as well. One of the best things I learned from watching videos is the free-stack. My dogs, a breed typically hard-stacked, only free-stack and, in my opinion, it makes for a really nice picture for the judge to see. It also allows me to get out of the way and let my dog be the star. The thing that you have to keep in mind with any resource is that you have to have an open mind and come from a place of wanting to better your performance and present your dog in its best light. It is also helpful to remember that all dogs are different, with different strengths and weaknesses, so what works for one handler or dog may not work for your dog or for you.
Ann Egan: I have competed in the NOHS since its inception. I have watched it grow and evolve, and all of us have come to a better understanding over the years of how it works. I can remember when judges and exhibitors would be in the ring confused about who stays, who goes, and who is eligible, but I think it really runs very smoothly now. I have also watched the NOHS competition get more competitive over the years, and we see lots of really great dogs in the NOHS Groups. I confess to not being much of a point counter, so rankings are nice but not the end all and be all for me. I was surprised a month ago when the certificate arrived from the AKC telling me that my current special had attained his NOHS Bronze. It is always exciting to get this kind of mail from the AKC. It is also nice to see your dog’s name in the ranking list with that of your fellow handlers and friends.
Ann Egan: Bred-by classes are great for breeders who show the dogs that they have worked so hard to produce. I feel these classes are very important and should be offered at every dog show. These classes have become much more common at shows, but even ten years ago they were not offered at many shows. There is an undeniable thrill to finishing a dog you planned for, you whelped, you took care of, and then prayed that it would turn out to be a great dog. I do not think breeder/owner handlers get the credit they deserve. I would love to see some sort of nod given to Champions being shown by their breeders in the Best of Breed class. When my current bred-by dog finished out of the Puppy classes, I cried when the judge handed me the ribbon. It was such a thrill. When that same dog went on to win his first regular Group a few months later, I cried again.
Ann Egan: I would say that it is very competitive to compete in my breed period, breeder/owner handler or not. In our region in 2025, you need to beat 36 bitches for a 5-point major. That’s a lot of dogs to get by. My husband, who never showed a dog in his life until two years ago, has been to the Group ring with a black-masked fawn dog that we bred. He shows her exclusively and he also finished his first bred-by Champion last year, CH NORTH POINT REMEMBER YOU ARE UNDER OATH TKN, a beautiful and typey little girl who is by no means easy to show. I won a regular Group One with my bred-by special, GCHB NORTH POINT HELLO LADIES TKN, in a ring with five well-known professional handlers and very highly ranked dogs, including the No. 1 ranked Poodle at the time. I think, for the most part, if you bring most judges a good dog and they understand your Standard, and you present it well and do not let yourself get rattled by the competition, you can win.
Ann Egan: Professional handler Mary Morgan of Tamora Kennels was the catalyst who got me interested in showing dogs. She taught me so much and has always been so supportive. She is not afraid to tell me what she likes and doesn’t like about how I present my dogs. Fortunately, as I have gotten older and into my dotage, she is usually pleased with the presentation. We still speak on the phone, and she follows me and the dogs on social media as she is in her eighties and no longer shows dogs. Words of praise from her still mean as much to me now as they did when I was a Junior Handler. As for breeding mentors, Jack and Frances Krall of Jafrak Kennels have been instrumental in mentoring our growth and development as French Bulldog breeders. We are grateful for their knowledge and willingness to share and work with us. Our foundation bitch, GCH JAFRAK GRETTA GARBO TKN, comes from Jafrak and she has produced several AKC Champions and a multi-Group winner under our NORTH POINT prefix. Jafrak has also produced a Best in Show winner at Crufts, the Giant Schnauzer CH JAFRAK PHILLIPE OLIVIER, and is well-known for being supportive of those who fly the Jafrak flag. A great mentor is priceless, and everyone should try and find that person.
Ann Egan: It goes without saying that breeders are the backbone of dog sports and I do not think anyone who understands dog activities would disagree. I feel as though you can tell a breeder/owner handler as you watch a class because there is a certain sparkle in their eye when they present a dog that they bred who they think is special enough to share with the dog world. Because French Bulldogs are currently the number one registered breed, according to AKC statistics, preservation breeders have many challenges outside of the Conformation ring. It is no longer enough to breed dogs that meet the Breed Standard, we now have to contend with hobby breeders of colored or fluffy dogs trying to convince the public that these dogs are worthy of exorbitant prices because they are “rare.” We also have health challenges in the breed that we are all working hard to improve upon. To be a breeder/owner handler is a huge responsibility.
Ann Egan: Gosh, that is a great question. I suppose I would say, “Not every champion dog should be bred.” I think, first of all, the owner has to have a good understanding of the Standard. They have to have the ability to see their dog’s strengths and weaknesses. I also advise not only looking at depth of pedigree but also breadth of pedigree. I would advise seeing as many dogs in the depth and breadth of that pedigree as possible in person, putting hands on the dogs. I would also advise that the requisite health testing not only be done, but the results be clear or normal for the breed with the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals). And remember that a CHIC number does not mean the dog is clear or normal; it merely means the dog has been tested. Too many people see a CHIC number and look no further. For my breed, breeding is not for the faint of heart. I would ask if they are prepared to lose a puppy or an entire litter, and give up weeks of their lives because Frenchie puppies are delicate as neonates. I would also ask if they have homes for the puppies, or a waiting list, and if they’re prepared to take a dog back over the course of the dog’s life. Breeding a litter of puppies is an entirely different situation than showing a dog, and should be entered into with lots of care, consideration, and an overabundance of caution.
Ann Egan: The goal is always to produce a better dog than your last winner and to improve each generation adhering strictly to the Breed Standard. We have been fortunate that the dogs we have produced and shown have been consistent as to type, and we have had a lot of nice wins, from Best of Breed in supported entries and specialties to multi-Group wins in both NOHS and regular Groups. Lightening has struck twice in that judges have awarded us Best of Breed, Best of Opposite Sex, and Winners Dog to three of our dogs at the same show. It was pretty amazing to see those dogs on the podium together. Recently, our special, whom we also bred, went with me on the leash to an Owner-Handled Best in Show, which was a thrill, of course. I had put a Best in Show toy next to that dog in the whelping box when he was a puppy, and four years later to the day he won! So, you just never know, do you? Any of those wins is thrilling. It is always nice when other breeders recognize the dog you are showing because those folks understand what is involved in being a breeder/owner handler. I suppose, because we think a victory is producing consistently typey dogs, there is not one ribbon or trophy that we necessarily feel has alluded us. Of course, we all show dogs to win, and I am no different; every time I step in the ring I want to win. I suppose my thought is that trophies and ribbons gather dust and nobody remembers who won after five years; however, producing consistent dogs that folks recognize as top quality and coming from your kennel carry through the years, and that is the biggest “win” of all.
Ann Egan: A few funny things have happened over the years, but a couple stand out. When my current special was a class dog, we had John Wade as a judge. I know that he likes a free-stack and expects one on the go-around. Because my dog only free-stacks, I was not at all worried about doing it and doing it well. We were ready; it was just another day at the office for me and Baxter. What I did not count on was that I would lose my mind when Mr. Wade examined my dog on the table. He performed the exam, and I took my dog off the table and gathered my lead. I looked up at Mr. Wade and he said, “We aren’t checking bites today?” I was horrified that I had not paid attention and had not observed that he looks at bites at the end of the table exam. But he laughed. I put my dog back up on the table, he looked at the bite, and then sent us around for that free-stack—and we nailed it. Mr. Wade must not have held the table fiasco against me as we went Winners Dog and Best of Winners.
Another memorable moment was when Jim Reynolds finished my first bred-by, who is now GCHB NORTH POINT HELLO LADIES TKN. As we were lined up for Winners, me with well-known professional handlers both in front of and behind me, and Mr. Reynolds walking down the line, I was furiously thinking, “Pick me, pick me!” When he walked back up the line and pointed at me for Winners Dog and the dog finished with a big major, I broke out in tears. I had to tell him during photos to please not say one nice thing to me or I would cry again. Of course, he laughed that booming baritone laugh that he was so famous for and smiled for the camera. Thinking about all of these experiences makes me realize that showing dogs is just that: a bunch of experiences with a dog who wants nothing more than to make you happy, and there is great fun and joy in that. All you have to do is look.
