UNSUNG HEROES BY PAT TROTTER
H
ave you ever considered the unsung heroes of our sport? A recent judging assignment at the spring cluster in Lewiston, ID reminded me of the great ones in purebred dogs who go unnoticed by the powers that be even though they are the backbone of our sport. Although much appreciated within their breed, the sport in general does not honor them with national attention because they are known mostly in one area, do not fly dogs all over the country and do not spend a fortune on advertising. Such a person is Sharon Gerling of My-Ida-Ho Cocker Spaniel fame, who has bred innumerable champions, specialty winners and all breed BIS dogs as did her mother before her. Moreover, she has networked to ensure the well-being of the Cocker Spaniel by working with droves of people to keep the breed alive and well in the Pacific Northwest starting as a child with her mother Dorothy Christensen more than half a century ago. Sharon’s continued passion for the breed is so infectious that a bevy of Cocker breeder/exhibitors teaming with her resulted in 50 Cocker Spaniels leading breed entries at this Idaho all breed cluster where the total entry was one thousand dogs. Furthermore, these quality individuals were shown in superb condition displaying the merry Cocker temperament that reminds us of the elements that made the breed so popular in its heyday decades ago. Sharon grew up in Lewiston where her mother purchased a Cocker for a family pet in the late 1940s when Sharon was a small child. Soon the pair was attending dog shows and Sharon started “borrowing” dogs to show in Children’s Handling (now Junior showmanship) because in those days a child didn’t have to own a dog to show one in the handling class. Junior judges (usually professional handlers) often asked youngsters to exchange dogs in the ring so they could evaluate the child’s skills on more than one dog and/or breed. Needless to say, the world was not so litigious in those days! In time the mother-daughter team acquired their own Cockers of show quality, began breeding on a regular basis under the My-Ida-Ho kennel prefix
and became a force in the breed at western dog shows. They were so attached to their family of dog friends for decades that when Dorothy suffered failing health a few years ago, Sharon’s friends helped care for her at many dog events. And it is no wonder others pitched in for her because Sharon welcomes newcomers with open arms, does all she can to help anyone in need and guides them in the right direction with their breeding programs. Furthermore, since she does all her own socializing, training, grooming and showing, she is the perfect teacher to help others learn these skills. One of her favorite evolving Cocker experts right now is good friend Cindy Durham’s 13-year-old son Quinton, who missed the Lewiston cluster because of school. The My-Ida-Ho Cocker Spaniels have always represented the sporting type of the breed and have been retained in the breeding program only if they had sound running gear. Correct Cocker movement is a must at My-Ida-Ho, but so too is correct type and headpiece. When Sandra Bell, of San Jo Cocker fame, was considering mates for her beautiful BIS bitch Ch. San Jo’s Playin To Win, handled by Michael Pitts, her focus turned to the West Coast and Ch. My-Ida-Ho Look N’ Good. Sandy studied two years before determining that this strong gundog line of correct type would produce well with her stock down from Ch. Empire’s Brooklyn Dodger. The result was the stunning Ch. San Jo’s Born To Win, the tricolor also handled by Pitts, that became Top Sporting Dog in the US in 2003 with the accumulation of 42 all breed BISs. Patrick was the only three-time winner of the American Spaniel Club since before World War II, and won his 3rd victory from the Veteran’s Class. His textbook head helped draw the fancy’s attention to the fact that a Cocker should have sufficient length of muzzle to carry a game bird rather than morphing into a short muzzled breed. Although Sharon makes only about 60 shows a year and rarely travels out of her home area in the Pacific Northwest for shows other than occasional specialties, she is rightly proud of My-Ida-Ho’s contributions to the breed both at home and abroad. She is currently working
Inside The Sport
18 Dog News
with a lady in Russia who is using her line for foundation stock as well as others around the world. Sharing her dogs with others is a large part of her modus operandi and her willingness to help all is a refreshing part of her charm. She mourns the fact that in today’s world it is very difficult for people to house lines of dogs because of society’s restrictions, thus making it all the more important for breeders to work together to benefit the breed. Her personal all time favorite was the black and white Ch. My-Ida-Ho’s Diamond Jim, sire of 40+ champions. He is behind most of her younger stock, dogs representing up to 25 generations of the My-Ida-Ho line. Because of her love for the breed, Sharon takes the grueling work associated with long time breeding programs in stride and continues to enthuse over each newborn. Her current love is a puppy that was a litter of one which resulted in the lone baby becoming quite spoiled-hence she is named Hush Puppy! Hopefully she will grow up to take her rightful place in this master breeder’s plans for the future. People like Sharon Gerling bring much to our way of life. The recent Lewiston, Idaho shows were greatly enhanced by the numerous Cocker Spaniel exhibitors participating in and obviously enjoying their dogs and our sport. At their set-up convenient to the ring, there was great camaraderie and shared purpose. Such motivators as Sharon are my heroes and our sport’s treasures. May their ripple effect continue to inspire others to contribute to the sport and make possible the salvation of all that we hold dear.
B
izarre fact of the week: PETA paid OCTOMOM $5,000 to endorse birth control (spay/neuter) for dogs and cats even though she herself has 14 children! The strange story of Nadya Suleman and payoffs she has received was reported by the Associated Press in a story May 4 by John Rogers.