I have had Minpins for the last 25 years but didn't start showing in conformation till 2000.
I was involved in horses my entire life either trail riding, performance or halter. When I moved to Florida in 1995 I didn't
bring any horses and after about a year of idle time the show bug bit me again. I became very active in Minpin rescue which
turned into a passion but still there was something missing. I enrolled one of my "pets" into obedience and a new
love was born. I competed in obedience and agility for several years along with teaching these venues along with puppy classes.
I was sent a little male Minpin to put an obedience title on, when he got off the plane he looked nothing like "my girls".
I called his breeder to see if he was a show dog and was told that he would be a good beginner dog and if I'd like to
play with him to go for it. We went to a few conformation classes and then entered our first dog show. He walked in the ring
and thought he was "The Man", he strutted his stuff and walked out with a blue ribbon and again I was hooked. He
was as I affectionately called him, The Major Reserve King, he never did earn his AKC Championship but he will forever be
a champion in my heart and the beginning to it all.
During
this beginning stage I watched the other dogs, the other handlers and asked questions of every poor breeder that didn't
turn and run when they saw me coming. Despite me being such a pest some wonderful breeders took me under their wings, Marcia
Tucker of Sunsprite Minpins and Pam Ruggie of Pevenseys Minpins. These two wonderful women have taught me so much and put
me on the road to success by allowing me the priviledge of their bloodlines as my foundation stock and sharing their invaluable
knowledge with me. Marcia and Pam have become extended family along with Armando Angelbello of Marlex Minpins and the late
Burt and Lonnie Gordon of Burlon Minpins who also were major contributors to my education.
The closely knit Florida family makes showing so much more meaningful, we all want to win but its nice when you're
beat by good, quality dogs belonging to "family" members~!! Also once we leave the ring we all head back to the
motorhomes and sit around just enjoying each others company, watching the dogs play, telling stories and cookouts.
