The Chihuahua Affair: Best in Show

by Amy Jarecki

  Camera lights flashed as she stepped into the brightly lit arena. Clearing her head, she forced a smile.

  It’s show time. Focus, dammit.

  Rebecca looked up into blinding camera flashes. When her vision cleared she peered up to see crowded stands with few vacant seats. Westminster was the only show she knew of that filled the seats for breed classes. But then again, it was the only dog show exclusively for champions.

  Rebecca slipped into her pro handler role and stepped forward when the steward called her number. She entered the ring with the Lhasa Apso and let her years of experience take over. Her mind focused, all she allowed herself to think about was the dog. She expertly trotted around the ring, stacking him perfectly and using the bait to demonstrate the dog’s nice head and conformation to the judge. She counted twenty dogs crammed into the tiny, green carpeted space encased by white crisscross fencing.

  She showcased the Lhasa Apso insuring the judge would see the best qualities, working for a chance of a win. Not many handlers ran dog handling classes or practiced daily with their client dogs. Part of her business tactics ensured she had the best behaved dogs in the ring and the judges knew her reputation. The conformation of each dog was up to the breeding but she ensured the judge saw the attributes she wanted him or her to see.

  The judge asked for a down-and-back because there was no room for any other pattern. This always confounded Rebecca, because every dog in the ring had earned a champion title. In her opinion, they should be required to execute tougher patterns that would separate the top champions right away.

  First to go, Rebecca watched her competition follow and eyeing them critically, she knew she had the best dog. Her challenge now was to ensure the judge agreed with her assessment. Dogs always showed first followed by the bitches. When the last bitch finished her pattern, Rebecca prepared to move, watching the judge, anticipating his next request.

  “Take them around,” he said.

  The judge selected four dogs, calling out Rebecca’s Lhasa, followed by another dog and two bitches. Rebecca breathed a sigh of relief as the other contestants exited the ring. She looked up to see a TV camera focused on her and led the Lhasa around in a circle to show off his beautiful coat.

  This time the judge asked for an L pattern. A pleasant smile spread across Rebecca’s lips. She knew an unpracticed dog/handler combination would struggle with the hand changes. In the past she’d witnessed plenty of amateur handling at this event—small breeders excited that they earned a championship on their dogs eagerly attended Westminster for the experience. She didn’t blame them. Every dog show enthusiast should experience the Garden at least once.

  With confidence, Rebecca started the L pattern with the Lhasa on the left. She walked him straight down, keeping him on the left at the first turn. At the corner, she circled the dog inside and changed hands, leading the Lhasa on her right, giving the judge a chance to look at the dog’s conformation from both sides. The Lhasa wagged his tail and looked at her expectantly, happily following her back to the judge.

  Content with her execution, Rebecca appreciated a judge that added challenges. She stacked him so that the judge could see his side conformation, hiding the fact that his front toed out slightly. No matter how good the handler, it was difficult to free-stack a dog that tended to toe out.

  “Nice. Take him around and stack along the far wall.”

  Rebecca led the Lhasa around the tiny ring and knelt, stacking him and insuring all four paws faced forward, his attention focused on the treat she held in her teeth.

  Using her peripherals, she watched the three other handlers execute their L patterns. The dog that followed had not been trained, and the handler pulled him on the return. The next bitch executed her pattern well, and the last female performed the pattern, but her gait bounced. Rebecca knew Best of Breed would be between her client dog and the first bitch. Her heart thundered against her chest as she baited the dog and displayed his best conformation to the judge who walked around the four dogs with a pompous strut.

  Rebecca’s palm grew moist and she sucked in a nervous breath as the lead slipped. Her fingers tightened right before it dropped from her hand. The judge clucked at the Lhasa to draw his attention. She took a few quick breaths as the lead continued to slip precariously on the edge of her palm. She could not drop it with the judge examining her dog. Once he moved on to the dog behind her she quickly adjusted the lead and ran a quick comb over the Lhasa.

  “Take them around, please.” The judge stepped back to watch them gait one more time but Rebecca thought he’d already made his decision. He pointed at her. “Best of Breed.” The female that Rebecca liked got Best of Opposite, and the two others were awarded merit ribbons.

  The crowd politely applauded and Rebecca could feel her cheeks glowing. She’d be making a trip to the Non-Sporting Group, her client would be ecstatic. She lined up for her picture with the judge and her ribbon. “Nice win at Philly,” the judge said. “I love your Chihuahua.”

  Rebecca beamed. “Thank you for remembering. My breed is Chihuahua but I also handle professionally. I’ve picked up quite a bit of business since that show.”

  “Would you be interested in showing my Boston Terriers? I’m looking for a top notch handler and you obviously know your stuff.”

  Rebecca’s chest swelled with pride. “Absolutely.” She reached in her pocket and pulled out her card. “This is my number. I’d love to work with your Boston’s. Do you have any that are ready to go?”

  “Yes. I’ll call you in a couple of weeks.”

  The ring steward stepped up. “We need to keep moving please.”

  “Talk to you soon.” Rebecca picked up the dog and headed back to the grooming area and Matt. As she walked through the corridor, her mind darted back to her mood before she entered the ring. No. She couldn’t think about that now. She just won a passport to the Non-Sporting Group at Westminster for goodness sakes.

  Rebecca held up the purple-and-gold rosette. Matt’s mouth dropped open, his arms flung wide. “Wow—You da woman.”

  Rebecca laughed and couldn’t help but fall into his embrace with the mob of spectators mulling through the rows. “We got B.O.B. and the judge asked me to show his Boston Terriers.”

  “Really, on the spot at Westminster?”

  “Yeah, made my day.” She glanced toward the crates. “How’s the Shih Tzu?”

  “He’s brushed out and I teased his top knot like you showed me.”

  “Pull him out. He’s on right before Bruno.”

  Matt opened the door to Fluffy’s crate and Rebecca went over him with a critical eye. “He looks pretty good.” She whipped out her steel comb, primped and straightened the red bow on the top knot. “I think he’s ready.”

  She handed Fluffy to Matt and pulled out Bruno. “You’d better head to ring six. I’m going to comb out Bruno and I’ll be right there to watch you. Okay?”

  People continued to stream past while Matt slipped a comb in his pocket and tucked Fluffy under his arm. “I’ll see you out there.”

  ***

  When Matt watched Rebecca return from the ring with the Lhasa Apso, his gut squeezed. Seeing the purple and gold rosette, he hoped her mood had improved—nothing like a win to lift your spirits.

  As he made his way to the ring, Matt ignored the pressing crowd and the interested gazes the Shih Tzu attracted from dog enthusiasts. But when he stepped into the arena the mass of cameras, reporters and packed stands made his attention snap to. A tall brunette reporter eyed him. “Hey, aren’t you that football player from the Philly show?”

  Matt nodded with a smile. “Yeah. I showed my Chihuahua, Patches, there.”

  “And you kissed the woman who won Best in Show. What’s her name?” she asked pulling out a note pad.

  “That would be my trainer, Rebecca Lee.”

  “That’s right. Is she at Westminster?”

  “Of course, she’s here with several client dogs. She just won B.O.B. with a Lhasa.”
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  “I see. And tell me about your relationship, you said she’s your trainer. Any romance there? Are there wedding bells on the horizon for you?”

  Matt knit his brows. “Why all the concern over our relationship? What about asking what breeds she’s showing? It really amazed me when the media exploited a simple kiss practically as if it was the center point of the whole dog show.”

  She shrugged. “We air whatever interests the audience. So, how about those wedding bells?”

  Matt turned and tried to walk away but there was no place to move in the crowd. “If you really want a story, someone should do a documentary on Becky. She is a remarkable woman and one of the best handlers in the business.”

  “Sounds like you’re pretty remarkable yourself—UCLA quarterback to Westminster dog show.”

  “I’m nothing compared to her.”

  “Shih Tzus in the ring,” the steward announced, giving Matt a needed excuse to get away from the reporter. After he’d lined up and stacked Fluffy, he looked over to see her standing with a cameraman, the lens focused on him. What’s with them? I had my time in the spotlight. It’s time they focused on someone else.

  Matt felt cramped in the tiny ring but his inherent discipline wouldn’t allow him to show it. Though it annoyed him the woman singled him out, he still knew how to play to the camera. If it pointed at him he’d ensure he acted the part. He knew how difficult life could get with bad press and any good press at the moment would help Rebecca’s business flourish.

  When the judge called on him to execute a down-and-back, his practice paid off. He matched Fluffy’s gait, the pair moving in a fluid walk. Matt liked being able to take longer strides with a little more weight on the lead. Upon his return to the judge, a zing shot below his belt when he saw Rebecca standing alongside the ring with Bruno and he flashed a grin her way. She nodded her approval.

  “Thank you,” the judge said gesturing for him to return to the line. Not as familiar with judging Shih Tzu conformation, Matt had no idea which dogs would place in his class. They all were covered with so much fur, he wondered how the judge could make an informed decision. Every dog had a cute pouty face with a perfectly tied top knot. A couple bounced when they moved and he knew they were out. Looking down at Fluffy’s attentive stack, he hoped he had a good chance.

  As the judge approached, Matt worked it, holding the treat out, then bringing it to Fluffy’s nose and pretending to throw it. Fluffy watched the morsel with keen curiosity, the ideal move to hold the dog’s interest while the judge watched.

  “Take them around.”

  Matt stood and followed the group, letting the person in front take a few steps before he started. Strolling as if he had the most wonderful dog in the world, he paraded with one eye on the judge, the crowd erupting in a polite dog-show appropriate applause.

  “Best of Breed,” the judge pointed at a bitch across the ring and then turned to Matt, “Best of Opposite.”

  With a sigh of relief he picked up Fluffy and stood ringside to collect his ribbon. Matt stayed for his picture, with Rebecca standing beside him since he was showing as a handler for her kennel.

  “You were magnificent and the client will be overjoyed. It was between you and the bitch that won. I think you’re on your way to being a full-fledged professional handler.”

  Matt gave her a squeeze. “Maybe a weekend handler, anyway.”

  “I’m on with Bruno and Sara is right after. Would you be able to take Fluffy back and get Sara?”

  “No problem but I want to watch you show Bruno.”

  “If you hurry you’ll catch the whole thing.”

  Matt pushed his way through the crowd and returned with Sara just in time to watch Rebecca win Best of Variety with Bruno. Final results for the breed classes—Sara didn’t place but Rebecca took impressive B.O.B. wins with the Lhasa Apso, a Bichon Frise and Bruno, which meant Matt would need to show the Lhasa in the Non-Sporting Group. Goosebumps rippled across his skin.

  Bring it on.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Jack and Alan stopped by while Rebecca teased out the teddy face on the Bichon Frise and Matt ran a fine-toothed steel comb through the Lhasa.

  “Hey guys, how did you do?” Rebecca asked.

  “Our Douglas took B.O.B.”

  Matt looked up and grinned. “Rebecca’s going to the Toy Group with Bruno again. Which one of you will be showing Doug in group?”

  “Douglasssss,” Alan corrected. “I’m showing him.”

  Rebecca smiled and stepped back to admire her handy work. “I’ll see you in the ring. In the meantime we’re getting these two critters ready for the Non-Sporting Group.”

  Jack’s mouth hung open. “I can’t believe it, girl, there’s just no stopping you. Pretty soon you’re going to have so many clients you’ll be like Riccardo with dozens of apprentice handlers working for you.”

  Rebecca laughed. “I think I could handle that. I’d just recruit some of Mandy’s junior showmanship buddies.”

  “Yeah, and I’d be the number one sidekick at a great price too,” Matt said.

  Alan leaned in. “So how much is she paying you for this gig?”

  “I’m here as a volunteer.”

  Jack hit his forehead with the heel of his palm. “My God, it’s got to be love. No one in their right mind would take that kind of abuse for free.”

  Matt swallowed his grin as Rebecca’s cheeks flushed bright red.

  “I’ve never seen anyone blush as easily as you, girl,” Alan teased.

  “Stop it you guys, sheesh. Come on, Matt, we’ve got a group class to win.”

  “Can I pet your dog?” A cute girl about the age of nine batted her eyelashes just as Matt picked up the Lhasa Apso.

  He grimaced. Her enormous pleading eyes tugged at his heart and he really wanted to let the child pet the dog, but that would ruin hours of grooming. “Tell you what, this dog’s about to go into the Non-Sporting Group. Do you have a seat?”

  “Yes.”

  “Have your mom take you down to the ring as soon as the Group class is over and I’ll let you give him a pet. How does that sound?”

  The girl glanced at her mother and twisted up her mouth. “Okay, I guess.”

  Matt gave the mother his best apologetic look. “This coat just took an hour to groom and could get messed up in two seconds. Thanks for understanding.” Matt wasn’t sure the child appreciated his response but that was dog showing—you couldn’t have people’s hands all over your dog right before you entered the ring.

  Rebecca led the way pushing toward the group ring. “Nice job handling the kid.”

  Matt dodged an onslaught of people to keep up with her. “I felt like a heel telling her to wait, though.”

  “You did the right thing. I would have killed you if you messed up that coat.”

  Matt shook his head. “You crack me up.” He watched her hips swing, swishing her skirt.

  “Yeah? Well let’s go in there and get two group placements.” Rebecca’s smile had a competitive edge that made Matt ready for action. He wanted to flex his muscles and roar like a linebacker who just sacked the quarterback, but since Westminster appealed to a more delicate crowd, he chose to focus his mind on one thing—pulling every ounce of determination together and shooting for a win. Well—maybe a place.

  Though the Lhasa weighed about fifteen pounds, he was three times the weight of a Chihuahua. But the Lhasa and the Bichon were on the small end for this varied class of dogs. Matt smirked when the Lowchen lined up just behind him with its shaved hind quarters, cuffs of hair around its ankles and lion’s mane. “How long did that cut take?”

  “’Tis not difficult but I took extra care with the clip today.” The handler spoke with a German accent.

  Following the ring steward’s instructions, Rebecca lined up second behind the American Eskimo Dog. Matt caught her eye and waved. She nodded just as the curtain pulled back and the announcer boomed. “Welcome the Non-Sporting Group.”

&nb
sp; Matt headed in with the dog at a pace a bit faster and more comfortable than the Shih Tzu. He and Amanda had practiced with the Lhasa a few times but nowhere near as much as he had with Fluffy. As cameras flashed, he pulled on the stage presence he’d developed years ago. “It’s show time,” he said under his breath, feeling a little like Gerry Fleck from the movie the night before. He realized he’d been showing dogs for about three months. He gulped as he walked out into a ring filled with the best handlers and best bred dogs in the country with a thread of hope that he just might win with a dog he’d practiced with four, maybe five times.

  I don’t much like the odds.

  Matt paid close attention as Judge Margaret Parker put the Non-Sporting Group through their paces.

  Judge Parker? That’s the woman who judged me the first time I entered a show ring.

  He grinned. She’d told him he needed more work but the dog looked good. There might be hope for him after all. Parker would definitely focus on the dog and not the handler.

  The cameras flashed more wildly when Rebecca showed the Bichon and the flashes picked up again when Riccardo executed his pattern with a French Bulldog. The announcer launched into a description of the Lhasa Apso while Matt put his dog on the table for Judge Parker’s inspection.

  She gave him a quick wink. “I see your handling skills have improved since the last time we met—and I like the suit.”

  Matt chuckled. “A lot has changed in a short time, ma’am.”

  “Down and back please.”

  The brief exchange with Judge Parker must have intrigued the reporters as Matt was completely blinded by rapidly flashing cameras. He smiled through it and glanced down at the green carpet to mark his place. With practiced flair, he confidently walked back to the judge, the feathery coat of the Lhasa shimmering as they moved.

  Judge Parker nodded and sent him around to stack his dog beside the box that read “LHASA APSO”. Matt breathed a sigh of relief as he watched the remaining contestants.

  When the last dog, a nice Tibetan Terrier, finished her pattern, the handlers moved their dogs in front of the boxes and stacked them for the judge’s perusal. Matt counted every ragged breath, he could even hear his heart thud against his chest as Judge Parker walked down the line, stopping to catch the Lhasa’s attention with a kissing sound. “Take them around.”