Meet the Breeder/Owner Handler: Emily Pikul

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

Emily Pikul: Both my parents showed and hunted their German Shorthaired Pointers. My mother got her first show dog from a woman she worked with in 1974, Linda. That happened to be a German Shepherd Dog, and soon after that she got a GSP from Dot Vooris (Simberlund) of Fieldfine Kennels. From then on, our family had a GSP until I was in college, through the early 2000s.

When it was time for my sister, Catherine Pikul Carson, to show in Juniors, Linda wanted to give my sister her own show dog as she had been using my dogs. That dog was an Irish Water Spaniel from Bridget Kvarnlov. Getting ready for their National, Linda called and asked if I was interested in showing in Juniors as well. A local breeder had a young female that she would love to put with a Junior. We met and had a lovely walk with the dogs and an interview with my mother and 16-year-old me. That dog, Emma, and I went to a local show in Rhode Island and won our first points before the National. A month later, we went to the 2002 National in Virginia with two dogs, two girls, and my mother. Emma and I brought home Winners Bitch and Best of Winners under Ms. Bonnie Threlfall out of the single-entry American-Bred Class. The people were so helpful, welcoming, and lovely. It really solidified our enjoyment of the breed and its people.

2. How many years in dogs? How many as an Owner Handler? As a Breeder?

Emily Pikul: Well, I get the opportunity to say that I was quite literally born into dogs. My parents had a litter born the same day that I was. Showing the dogs that my parents kept from that litter was so much fun as I grew up. My mother let me get my own dog when I was 10. So, we went to Canada to get my GSP girl, Pepper Ann, and I showed Pepper through Juniors and all of the points she had. Since I started in 2002 with IWS at the age of 16, I wanted a good understanding of the breed, since they are so different from GSPs, and then get my own girl. From Marion Hopkins’ last litter, Greg Siner offered to co-own the pick girl with me and she became my foundation. This was in 2009 and she was the most perfect IWS in nearly every way, but most of all, to start with. And for that I will always be grateful.

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

Emily Pikul: I occasionally go to handling class with young dogs, but since I handle dogs for a living I am always practicing with my own and my clients’ dogs around town. This also enables me to introduce the locals to purebred dogs of all kinds. My partner and I also have a local business where customers who have become friends always check in to see which new breeds I have. I travel a lot, so I don’t get the opportunity to get to seminars. But I did get to attend the George Alston seminar as a teenager. I also have a lovely group of friends with many breeds and we all have varying opinions on ways to handle, and about temperaments on the dogs. This goes hand in hand with working with breeders, by passing information and knowledge of their breeds when I get to show their dogs. I will always take an opportunity to learn about new breeds.

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

Emily Pikul: I love virtual learning. Podcasts and videos are always on hand. We are all so busy that I appreciate the opportunity to listen while I am driving to shows. I haven’t had as much time to spend on AKC Canine College as I would like, but I do look forward to having some time off and perusing the website.

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

Emily Pikul: I do not compete in the Owner-Handled Series as I get the pleasure of handling others’ dogs in addition to my own. But to the question of rankings, I really only care about Breed rankings. With having a low-entry breed and very few breeder-judges, it is more important to me to be ranked within the breed. A lot of breeds are losing their type and becoming way too generic, probably through the lack of larger entries. I would love to figure out a way for judges to have to attend a natural ability test for the breeds they judge. It is so important to see the dogs doing their job in order to understand their purposes and the reasons why, say IWS, have to have the coat they do for cold-water swimming: the water-shedding coat to shake and then their hair shaft is dry nearest the skin.

6. How important is the Bred-By Class to you? How important are Specialties?

Emily Pikul: Both Specialties and Bred-By are supremely important. Especially in a smaller breeder, this is where most of our entries are found. All dogs that I plan to show have my name on them as I am proud of all of them. If I show a dog I’ve bred, it’s in Bred-By. It is the most important class at any dog show. These people are the heart and soul of the purpose of these shows and I applaud anyone taking the time to educate and mentor those around them. If you are interested in a new breed, go talk to the breeders showing in Bred-By at your local show.

7. Is it a challenge to compete with your breed as a Breeder/Owner Handler?

Emily Pikul: The breed itself is about 90 percent owner-handled. I have had the pleasure to be involved with this breed for more than 24 years and have done very well with my bred-by dogs. This is also because we have had wonderful, albeit generally small-time breeders, who painstakingly paid attention to our pedigrees and health concerns. Potentially, the hardest part is learning the grooming. The trim and the multitude of different coat textures can take a long time to understand. But there were judges from the first shows I attended who recognized a kid who was trying hard with an untrimmed IWS that was still a good dog. Through the help of wonderful people, I did learn about hair conditioning, care, and growth.

8. Who have been your mentors as an Owner Handler? As a Breeder?

Emily Pikul: There wasn’t truly a singular person who helped as an Owner Handler mentor. Growing up in the sport, there were always many talented handlers in the GSP ring, such as Dot Vooris Simberlund and Pat Crowley, and the talented people I have had the pleasure to work with, such as Candy Carswell, RC Carusi, and Hailey Carusi. I also have wonderful friends who help with handling skills. And that’s the best way to enjoy ourselves, in having a wonderful group of friends and cooperative people that you enjoy spending your time with. As a breeder, Greg Siner has obviously helped in the way of combining beautiful dogs and perfect pedigrees. And the foreign dog knowledge has been kindly available through Susanne Narfstrom from Sweden. Our small breed travels fairly often in sharing our stud dogs, and I think it is supremely important for both sides of the “pond.”

9. How important is the Breeder/Owner Handler to the future of the sport? To your breed?

Emily Pikul: Breeder/Owner Handlers are as important to the sport as holding a show. If we don’t have breeders, we don’t have dogs to judge. They also bring people into this sport, whether it is through showing, sports, or even as a future breeder. How many breeds do we have that are starting to dwindle? Breeders bring in new people. At our last local Specialty, the Bred-By Dog Class was the largest class entry. This for our breed is not only important but vital, as at last year’s Specialty the judge commented on the fact that there were only girls to award! We also had as many class dogs as we did champion dogs. So, when selling dogs to future owners, please keep in mind that we will always need new people, and your treatment of them doesn’t just impact your relationship but also the breed and the sport’s future.

10. What advice would you give to Owner Handlers who are thinking of breeding their dogs?

Emily Pikul: Find a great vet and an understanding mentor. Then find your breed’s OFA page, the breed database, and start watching dogs. Find dogs you like, look them up, talk to owners, talk to other breeders, and make your own decisions on what you like and what you are looking to produce. Stick to your guns, but also be open to learning. Make sure you attend a test of your breed’s natural ability. And be open and willing to learn.

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

Emily Pikul: I approach most every weekend with goals. I try not to put too much pressure on it and don’t hold myself to the goal if I have put the right amount of energy into it. After all, this is a subjective sport. One day I would love to win a Best in Show with a dog I bred as well as a National. I have won the Canadian National with a class animal from Bred-By, which certainly was an unforgettable day and certainly not a goal I had ever set. Earlier this year, I sat down and figured out exactly what my dogs have achieved in the five litters I, myself, have bred, and I am beyond happy with what all the owners have done with their dogs. It’s not about the wins, it’s about the time, energy, and teamwork that these dogs and their people have achieved.

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

Emily Pikul: Well, on the subject of Specialties, two come to mind. The first was while I was specialing my first IWS’ brother. We were at a fairly large Specialty and showing under Linda More. Harley (GCHS U-SHR Mallyree’s Here Comes The Son JH WC RA RATN CGC TKN DJ) was exceedingly enamored with the amount of IWS girls in season. He refused to run around the ring, rather he would… be enamored with me. Linda told me to calm him down and sit off until the last boy. I tried my exam again and he tried to climb me. I kindly asked to be excused. She agreed and then I ran him back to the truck and went back to show Ava. I very nicely asked if I could switch handlers. Linda really didn’t want to, but in the end, she allowed me to come in. Ava and I went on to win my first owner-handled Specialty. Linda told me later that she loved Ava so much and would have been sorely disappointed if she had to excuse her as well.

With my first bred-by girl, Hadley (Can Ch. Can NBISS GCHS U-SHR Epik’s First Edition CGC TKN DS SCN SEN SIN RN), at a Specialty under Edd Bivin, we had just won our first Specialty together, being my first bred-by Best in Specialty Show, and Edd asked us to do a lap of honor before he gave us our ribbons. We went around the ring and back to the numbers, when Hadley proceeded to relieve herself. Edd kindly moved everyone else to the other side of the ring. After things were cleaned up and he gave out our ribbons, he looked at me and said, “That may not have turned out the same way if it had happened earlier.” I apologized and said clearly that she hadn’t been feeling well, and he said, “You are definitely correct on that account.” Later in the day, he awarded us a Group 4 in a packed Group where she did not relieve herself!