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OUTSTANDING
Marie Stahmer and Boston Terriers: America’s Gentleman
meets America’s Sweetheart
M
arie started working with dogs when she was 9. Our family owned, trained and showed German Shepherds. We would attend training at a GSD kennel every Saturday and it wasn’t very long before Marie was helping the kennel owner train and care for GSD puppies.
Every year, our GSD club would compete at the IKC Dog Show in Chicago. While we were at the show in 2008, Marie saw the kids competing in Junior Showmanship and wanted join. She also participated in the Junior Judging competition and placed 3rd in a group of over 20 children of all ages.
Marie’s first show dog was our 100 pound GSD, Maurice Vom Haus Schwerzel. I think Marie weighed 70 pounds soaking wet. She won her class that day and as the Judge said, the smallest Handler with the biggest dog. I should also note that it was 100 degrees that day and the ring had no shade.
We wanted to support Marie’s passion to show in AKC Juniors, but we knew that Maurice was too big. Luckily, one of the girls working at the GSD kennel (Jess Pearson), was a former Junior and she still had her Junior dog, Lindsey. Marie and Lindsey worked together for many months and in August of 2009, Marie and Lindsey entered their first show, The Boston Terrier Club of Milwaukee Specialty. Marie and Lindsey were awarded Best Junior Handler from the Novice Junior class, that was the beginning of Marie’s love affair with Boston Terriers. Marie and Lindsey continued to show and do well. Marie and Lindsey’s first competition in the Open Junior class was at the Louisville, KY show. There were ~20 kids in her class and they were awarded first place by Anne Catterson.