The Group Winners Speak – The Handlers’ Story

The Handlers of the 2019 Westminster Group Winners Tell Their Story

Compiled by Joan Harrigan
Photos by Lisa Croft-Elliott

The seven group winners at the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club show contained some crowd favorites (the Longhaired Dachshund and the Sussex Spaniel), as well as a win that was a bit of a surprise, as the Schipperke made Westminster history by winning the Non-Sporting Group. Among the winners were dogs taking their final bows before retirement—and those for whom this Westminster is not likely to be the last. The spectators at the Garden on Monday and Tuesday nights required no urging to cheer on their favorites — in fact, some could have used a lesson in manners. At times, particularly during the Terrier Group, loud boos could be heard as some crowd favorites weren’t rewarded with placements.

BURNS — A “LOVER”
Especially of Babies

As usual, the Hounds led off the group judging on Monday night. Norwegian Elkhound icon Patricia Trotter chose the standard Longhaired Dachshund as her winner. GCHP. DC Walmar – Solo’s OMG SL, JE is a 7-year-old male bred by Kim Vidrine, Paula Carter, and Wally and Mary Jones. “Burns” is owned by Theresa Nesbitt, Kim Vidrine, Jeane Haverick, Audrey White, and Patricia Grant. Handler Carlos Puig is understandably emotional after the victory. Burns is only the second Long-haired Dachshund to win the WKC Hound Group. The first was his great-grandsire, Ch. Pramada’s Curmudgeon L; and 21 years ago, Puig handled “Ben” to that win.

“This is extra-special,” Puig says. “I breed Dachshunds, and some of my breeding is behind Burns.” He called Trotter “a legend,” and says that he would have been happy with any group placement from her.

In January, Burns broke a half-century- old record, becoming the top-winning Longhaired Dachshund in history. As a professional handler, Puig shows many breeds, but it’s clear where his heart is — “I’ve never strayed since I was young,” he says. Jeane Haverick, one of Burns’ owners, smiles and calls Puig “the Dachshund whisperer.”

When asked to describe Burns, who has been with him for three years, Puig’s affection is evident. He says that he is “wonderful! Very sweet, and an escape artist who loves an adventure.” After BIS on Tuesday night, Burns will retire to Kim Vidrine’s home in Louisiana, where he’ll have a second career in pet-assisted therapy. Puig thinks Burns will be a natural. “I don’t know why, but he adores babies,” Puig says. “If he sees a stroller, he pulls me toward it. He wants to kiss the baby, and if the stroller is empty, he’ll try to dig under the seat and through the pockets looking for one.”

Burns’ showmanship and presence makes the crowd cheer — Puig says that all the varieties of dachshunds are “like little people — they have such personality in there!” Some might say that they are stubborn, but Puig disagrees. “They try to out-wit you,” he explains. “You need to have some intelligence yourself, or they will run the house.”

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Posted by Alex on Apr 1 2019. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.