When I talk Juniors, and I often do, some people come back at me with statements like, “Juniors are not the future,” and “Juniors are not helping clubs or wanting to learn.” Many also say things like, “They are becoming jockeys, jumping from dog to dog, looking for a fast Specialty win with any dog they can get their hands on.” Yep, this is often true; but Miss Tatum Duvall is not a Junior Jockey or Ribbon Chaser. She is a Complete & Total Junior/Breeder/ Owner Handler, and an Advocate for her Breed, Juniors and Purebred Dogs! (I wanna clone her!)
Tatum studied ballet as a young girl, then rode dressage, but the world of dogs stole her heart and it is where she planned and created her own goals and purpose! Her mother had owned Vizslas since Tatum was a child, but her family bought their first show-bred Vizsla in 2015. That dog ended up throwing a bad bite, so they added her sister, Gambol, to their family in 2016 who ended up being “perfect.” Her mother began showing the dog, but broke her leg—and that is when Tatum took the lead in 2017. At nine years old, dogs became her passion!
Tatum’s first goal was to qualify for the NOHS (National Owner-Handled Series) competition at the AKC (American Kennel Club) National Championship in Orlando, Florida. She attained that goal and went to Orlando to show her dog and received NOHS Best of Opposite Sex. While in Orlando, she was mesmerized by many fine dogs while watching the Breed competition, and she started dreaming of the stud dog she would hopefully brred her Vizsla to someday. Then, in Tatum style, three years later, she did indeed breed “Gambol” (GCH GAMBOL JH FDC CGCA TKN), to that stud, “Tanner” (MBISS GCHG COMYNARA TANNER IS THE SILVER LINING RIDE MH OA OAJ NF ACT2 TKN ROM).
Tanya (Tatum’s mom), says Tatum is driven, but she also has an eye for dogs. And Tanya is beyond grateful that Tatum puts the dogs first (not the ribbons, rankings, wins, etc.). Tatum says, “There is no reason for Juniors to be out for blood with Best Junior wins and the Junior rankings.” She also said that she prefers to show her own dogs, not just take anyone’s dog in the ring to help her get a win. I will add that she is too humble to tell you that she has had offers of many dogs. From time to time, Tatum will help a friend or handler; but her goal is not to become a professional handler.
Tatum was often told that Vizslas did not make good Juniors dogs and that they were not flashy; but she did not care. That’s her breed and Tatum will tell you all Juniors should commit to their breed, attend their breed’s National Specialty (where you will see all the breed’s best dogs, breeders, and handlers); and she says, “Go to judges’ education.” She encourages others to learn about their breed’s foundation dogs and study pedigrees.
Tatum reports that they don’t have many Juniors who are part of her breed club, but the Vizsla Club of America offers Juniors a good Junior party, Junior prizes, and even a stipend for The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. She is very involved in her breed clubs as well as her local all-breed club; as we chatted, she even showed interest in a Junior being permitted to be a Junior Coordinator!
Tatum has produced seven Champions and six Grand Champions. She’s bred five litters under her kennel name Everlong. For one breeding, she convinced her mom to allow her to borrow from her college fund to pay for spectacular frozen semen. Yes, she has won many Best Juniors, Reserve Best Juniors, and Junior Class wins; but in her words: “I want my wins to be real, with my dogs.” She goes on to say that it just does not feel real if she wins with someone else’s dog. Her pick puppy from her fourth litter won a Best in Show, which Tatum handled her to. Tatum is dedicated to the versatility of the Vizsla, and to the purpose-bred dog in general. She has been awarded Top Versatility Junior for two years in a row. Along with Conformation, she handles her dogs in Hunt Tests and Field Trials, where her dogs also excel.
Tatum may only be 16 years old, and to many she is just a kid, but she has already begun paying it forward and is mentoring others. She has five Juniors handling her dogs whom she is now mentoring in all facets of the Vizsla breed, the sport of dogs, and Juniors. Tatum wants anyone (Junior or adult) who has her dogs to keep the dog, not the win, as the priority. Make it fun for the dog and fun for themselves. And yes, winning is fun; but not if you and your dog are all stressed out. She has started the journey to dual champions with her most recent litter and has started running her puppies in Horseback and Walking Field Trials. She is looking forward and committed to preserving her breed by breeding dual dogs that can exceed in both the show ring and the field.
Tatum told me that she did not want an article that spoke about her and her accomplishments without acknowledging her mentors and supporters. They are Andi Christensen (FireStarter Kennels), Mary Grant (Pacific Vizslas), Jim and Linda Busch (Busch Vizslas), Patricia and Alessandra Folz (Szikra Vizslas), and Mel Reveles (Fusion Vizslas). Of course, there is her number one supporter, her mother, Tanya Duvall.
Tatum not a fan of Juniors not having to co-own a dog (nor is her mother), but perhaps the AKC’s direction here is just to create more professional handlers—though she does not want to be one. Tatum wants to be a research scientist and a breeder! Something else that she and her mother brought up is that dog show superintendents need to be more supportive of Juniors; some are not, and say things like “nobody makes money on Juniors.” Lately, they both feel that some clubs need to step up and support Juniors.
