There’s Something About Mary – Dr. Mary O. Smith

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228 – November/December 2019

By Sue M. Copeland
It was 1980. A 22-year-old veterinary student at University of Edinburgh (Scotland) sat glued to her T.V. screen. The Crufts Dog Show was being aired live. British-born Mary Smith couldn’t take her eyes off the Flat-Coated Retriever, Ch. Shargleam Blackcap, as he floated around the ring on his way to Supreme Champion (Best In Show) with breeder/handler Mrs. Pat Chapman.
“I’d never seen a ‘Flat-Coat’ before,” says Mary (now Dr. Mary Smith, BVM&S, PhD, DACVIM-Neurology). “I fell in love with the breed right then. I knew one day I’d have one.”
Little could she know that her quest for advanced knowledge in the veterinary world would lead to her first Flat-Coat…in California. And that dog (her first-ever) would begin her legacy not only in the breed, but also in the world of canine health.

CALIFORNIA DREAM

“I grew up with cats and horses,” recalls Mary. “Both my parents worked, and my sister and I were busy with school. My mum and dad didn’t think our schedules would be fair to a dog. But I always wanted one.
“In 1981, after I’d graduated veterinary school and joined a mixed practice (large- and small-animal) in England, I thought long and hard about getting a dog,” she says. “But I knew I still didn’t have the time.”
After several years in veterinary practice, Mary decided to pursue a neurology specialty. “I’d had an interest in neurology when I was in vet school,” says Mary. “When I was in the mixed practice, I found it fascinating. I finally asked myself, ‘What’s still going to be of interest in 35 years?’ The answer was neurology.”
In 1984, she had the opportunity to meet the late Dr. Terry Holliday while he was in England. Dr. Holliday, regarded as a “founding father of neurology,” was head of that department at UC Davis’s School of Veterinary Medicine, in Davis, California. He invited Mary to apply to the school’s neurology residency program. She was accepted the following year.
At UC Davis, she met several veterinary students who showed dogs. One of them invited her to go to the Golden Gate Kennel Club Dog Show, a benched show at the Cow Palace in San Francisco.
“I had no clue what I was looking for in a dog,” laughs Mary. “But we watched the Flat-Coats show, then found the benching area for the dog that won Best of Breed. I asked his owner if she had any puppies available. She said she did, but would only sell me one if I’d agree to show it. I told her I wasn’t interested in showing and thanked her for her time.
“My friend and I walked around some more, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the Flat-Coat,” Mary recalls. “So I headed back to the benching area and told his owner, ‘If you’ll help me learn how to show, I’ll take the puppy.’ I made clear to her that I wanted to do my own handling.”
The owner advised Mary to take handling classes with “Jackson” (CH Applegarth Isle of Avalon, CD) when he was old enough. Eventually, the pair headed for the conformation ring.
“Flat-Coats can be slow to mature, so I didn’t start seriously showing him until he was about 18 months old. He was a nice dog,” she says. “He wasn’t spectacular, but he did love to show.”
Mary and Jackson won their first major under the late Judge Anne Rogers Clark in Sacramento. Mary then took the dog to the Golden Gate show, which had special meaning, since that’s where their journey had started.
“I showed him in Open Dogs, to the late Judge Mr. Donald Booxbaum. He had us do an L-shaped pattern,” says Mary. “Fortunately, I’d had to practice those in handling class! It paid off—he gave us a five-point major.”
Mary ultimately specialed Jackson, including to a Group Second. “I’ve finished all my dogs in the conformation ring, and specialed some of them,” she says. “Even though I eventually branched out into field work, I firmly believe they’re a dual-purpose breed: they should do both.”

Click here to read the complete article
228 – November/December 2019

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Posted by AnthonyA on Nov 19 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.