BEST IN SHOW

Ask anyone with a dog about how their pet impacts their life and some will say how fulfilling it is to own a pet or how the animal-human bond is so gratifying or how they are a better person for having a pet to love and nurture or the satisfaction of an unconditional love. Seldom do we have a pet owner whose pet changes their life focus.

But that is exactly what Nantucket attorney Rhoda Weinman will tell you about her puppy, Frasier, who recently achieved American Kennel Club Championship status.

"The show-dog world is a whole lifestyle I was never aware of before. If I weren't working, I'd be traveling around the country with him like so many show-dog owners do. As it is, by following his progress, I have learned so much. Going through the competitions is an incredible process. I am on the AKC Website at least once a day," said Weinman.

She admits that she never intended to get this deeply into showing.

"I didn't buy Frasier as a show dog, I bought him to be my pet. I really want him to be home with me," said Weinman.

Frasier's breeder, a wellrespected dachshund authority whose line produces winning dogs, wanted to evaluate Frasier at one year of age.

"When she saw him, she wanted to buy him back," said Weinman. "She thought he was the perfect specimen. But no amount of money could tempt me to sell him."

Instead, Weinman agreed to show him. This is not an easy or inexpensive commitment when you live on an island and when you are dealing with an opinionated expert.

"I found a handler on the Cape, so much closer to home than the one the breeder recommended. But the breeder would have none of it. I now have to agree that the breeder's choice was the best," said Weinman.

Frasier's handler is a Westminster veteran and Weinman characterizes the handler's performance in the ring with her dogs as "dazzling."

"This dog now has a staff," Weinman explained. "He has a driver, a groomer and a handler. We refer to our other dog, Niles, as his manager!"

Ch. Rose Farm's Frasier of Nantucket, better known as Frasier, a 14-month-old mini long-haired dachshund, joins Niles, another long-hair dachshund, in the Weinman-McLaughlin household. Niles is eight years old and is unimpressed with his canine companion's celebrity.

Weinman said the two dogs get along well and she feels that having the younger dog has given Niles a new zest for life.

"I highly recommend getting a second dog because the pair can become so bonded. I only wish these two were even closer in age," she said.

In the future, she is likely to have her pick of youngsters to bring into her pack because Frasier's success will place him in demand as a potential sire.

"I will agree to breed him, but not a lot. I just want to get one of his puppies. It will be good for him to have a companion closer to his own age because he's not that well behaved!" she said.

AKC competitions are highly structured events with a well-defined point system. In order for a dog to earn the right to place the coveted Ch. in front of their name, they have to earn 15 points. Frasier earned 18 points in just seven short weeks, an almost unheard of accomplishment. As a Champion, he is eligible to compete in the venerable Westminster Kennel Club Show, held each February at New York City's Madison Square Garden.

In addition to the top five dogs in each breed who receive special invitations to participate in this prestigious competition, only 2,500 dogs, who all must be Champions, are accepted for Westminster. Getting in can be pretty tricky. Here's where having an experienced, AKC-registered handler, who knows the system, can guide an owner through the process. Timing is critical, since registrations usually open and close in the same day.

"It has always been my dream to have a dog showing at Westminster," said Weinman, "We'll see how this goes. If he gets in, I already have a Nantucket contingent lined up to go cheer him on!"

Weinman's conversations are peppered with show speak such as "special," "reserve," "major" and "best of winners" as she glowingly describes Frasier's phenomenal success and strategizes his next moves. The pressure to have him compete has relaxed somewhat, now that Frasier has his Championship points. Future plans depend on whether or not he is accepted into the 2009 Westminster show.

Like any mom, Weinman is incredibly proud of his success, but she still sees the puppy she loves underneath, "We really had no idea how good he is. He's just a very sweet and lovable dog. He's not the best behaved. He's terrible on a leash and needs refresher training. I can see, though, how smart he looks in the ring, and the cream color on his ears makes him stand out from the group. He has that extra sizzle it takes to win," she said.

Now relaxing at home like any normal dog, Frasier is unaware of the hubbub surrounding his daschund notoriety. We appreciate him for intimately connecting us to the larger world of purebred dogs and dog shows and wish him and his owner all future success.

Jan Jaeger is owner of Geronimo's, Ltd., Nantucket's pet supply and gift shop, and is a member of DWAA and CWA (Dog and Cat Writer's Associations of America). Her pets at home are Junior, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever and Miz Edna kitty. At the shop are the cats, Messrs. Fish and Chips, Flower bunny and three budgies. Send e-mail to jan@ geronimos.com. I