The Merriam-Webster Dictionary has several definitions of the word flash including “to break forth in or like asudden flame or flare,” “to give off light suddenly or in transient bursts,” and “to glow or gleam, especially with animation orpassion.”
Dog breeder Til Niquidet’s definition of flash includes four legs, ginger fur, brown eyes, and several awards for Best in Breed,the most recent of which was on Nov. 19 at the National Show at the Philadelphia Kennel Club.
Flash, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, has been competing in dog shows across the world for several years.
“He’s very confident,” she said. “People watching the show were astounded at how he ignored the cameras, and how his tailwas up and wagging, and he never had a moment where he looked a little bit nervous.”
At the competition, Flash, with his owner Stacy Einck-Paul, beat out 45 other Tollers to win best in breed.
For Niquidet, this would have been enough, but he then went on to take third place in the best sporting group, beating outother well-known breeds like the Irish Setter, the Labrador Retriever, and the Golden Retriever.
“That’s a huge prize to win a group placing at the national show, it was really quite amazing.”
Unfortunately, Flash could go no further than third place in the best sporting group. Dog shows are like an eliminationcontest. Once a dog is defeated by another dog they don’t get to move forward in the competition.
Flash was defeated by a Springer Spaniel who then went on to compete for best in show. This year’s winner for best in showwas a greyhound.
One thing to note about the best in show winner is that it, like Flash, was owner-handled.
While many owner-handlers compete for enjoyment, professional handlers do this for a living.
Because they do it for a living, their dogs are usually heavily advertised and are shown coast to coast. Owner handlers, arelimited by time and money and don’t usually go to as many dog shows, and don’t heavily advertise their dogs.
“It’s harder to beat professionals, it’s just like any other sport,” said Niquidet. “If you’re competing with a professional golfer,chances are you’re not going to beat the professional golfer.”
Flash also competed in an owner handled competition the day before the Philadelphia show and won best in show. He now hasfive all breed best in show titles and an owner handled best in show.
Flash has been shown by professional handlers and owner handlers. From now on though, he will be owner handled, notprofessional handled.
While Niquidet has much respect for professional handlers, she thinks there is something to be said about a dog that is ownerhandled.
“Professional handlers are really good at what they do, so the dogs are very confident, and they’re handled really competently,but when we love our dogs, and we put the effort into it, we get a lot from our dogs too, because they’re doing it for us.”
There were plans to retire Flash after he won best in breed at the Westminister Kennel Club Show in February, but those plansmight be put on hold. At the recent Maryland Sporting Dog Specialty he took first place for best in breed. The dog who camein second in the category was his 13-year-old father, Cumin.
“If he’s competing and doing well with his own father in the ring, I can’t see why Flash won’t be in the ring at 13, and maybeeven still winning,” Niquidet concluded.
