Pantyhose
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By Annika Dechert
The first time I put on my pantyhose at nine years-old for a dog show, I wanted to take them right off. However, my mom made me continue to wear them so I would look professional in the ring. As time went on, I grew more comfortable in my pantyhose, just as I grew more comfortable in the dog show ring.
In the ring, I wasn’t just a kid; I was everyone’s equal. As a ten year-old, I defeated older, more experienced junior handlers. I was also competing with, and winning over, professional handlers who were paid thousands of dollars in the breed ring. Puck, my Rhodesian ridgeback, was ranked number eight in the country when I was just 12 years-old, but Puck and I showed to have fun, not necessarily to be ranked. When I put on my pantyhose in the morning for a dog show, I felt happy, excited, and invincible. This was a place where I could shine, where I truly belonged. Here, adults respected me as their peer and treated me like a friend.
The year Puck was ranked, I hoped for big things in the spotlights of Madison Square Garden at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. When my family and I arrived at the Garden, a wave of people engulfed us. Puck began shaking, and I wasn’t too far behind. The venue was unlike any dog show we had ever experienced; spotlights lit up the rings, the iconic green carpet covered the floor, the audience swarmed to get a better view of the dogs, and here we were, a girl and her farm dog from Podunk, Wyoming. However, once I put on my pantyhose and we entered the ring, a switch flipped from nervous to confident, and the judging began. It didn’t matter that we were competing with the top ridgebacks in the country; we were happy to be showing together, proving that we belonged with the best of the best under the bright lights.
Just because I’m in my pantyhose doesn’t mean that everything always goes perfectly. Puck and I have had some epic failures in the ring. My biggest mistake happened at a junior scholarship show when I dropped a piece of chicken right on Puck’s head during our individual exam. Puck still performed perfectly, and the judge laughed it off, but I knew we were sunk. Despite my depression, the sun actually came up the next day, and I learned to never use slippery bait. Another time, Puck had an off day at Eukanuba, and I didn’t handle the situation well at all. Instead of bringing Puck up and helping him have fun, I got frustrated and pushed him to show even worse. That day, I forgot that we are partners and have to help each other. He didn’t get mad at me when I dropped chicken on his head, and I shouldn’t have gotten mad at him for not showing his best. These mistakes, and many others, actually gave me more confidence and helped make me the handler I am today.
Through the years, my pantyhose have helped me be content and confident in the show ring, and this also brought confidence in other aspects of my life such as public speaking, National History Day, and athletics. Being in the dog show ring with my pantyhose taught me that I can do anything, even when the road has potholes. Just me and my pantyhose, taking on the world.
Short URL: https://caninechronicle.com/?p=74492
Posted by ralbee
on Apr 14 2015. Filed under Current Articles, Editorial, Featured.
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