NZ Junior Dog Handler champion Georgia Calman with her grandmother's dog Cinders - the only Boston terrier grand champion in New Zealand. Photo / Eva de Jong
NZ Junior Dog Handler champion Georgia Calman with her grandmother's dog Cinders - the only Boston terrier grand champion in New Zealand. Photo / Eva de Jong
Dog shows run in the blood of 12-year-old talent Georgia Calman.
An unexpected national win means she will represent New Zealand next March at Crufts - the world’s greatest dog show - which takes place in Birmingham, England with an estimated 28,000 dogs involved in the the four-day event.
Georgia’s grandmother, Elizabeth Ward, first began showing Dobermanns and Rottweilers at New Zealand competitions in 1984.
“Once you get hooked on it you tend to stick around,” Ward said.
Her dog Cinders is the only ever Boston terrier New Zealand Kennel Club grand champion.
Georgia Calman with Boston terriers Cinders and Flutterby. She has seven dogs at home. Photo / Eva de Jong
Ward’s love of dogs rubbed off on her daughter and granddaughter who own five pugs and two Boston terriers and avidly compete in dog shows across the country.
Taking out the top spot at the NZ Junior Dog Handler final was a shock result for Georgia.
She beat 10 other finalists from a series of 10 regional heats, six of which were held in the North Island. The age bracket for competitors was 12 to 18.
“There was a girl who everyone thought would win and it was her last year... and I actually didn’t think I was going to place this year.
“When I won it was a shock, I just couldn’t believe it, it took a couple of days to get over the high.”
Dog handling involves competitors meeting and leading dogs through a specific set of moves under the watchful eye of a judge.
In the “swap dog” round, Georgia said she had just two minutes with an unfamiliar dog before stepping into the arena.
“The hardest part is sometimes the dogs pick up on your nerves.
“You have to talk to them a lot and feed them treats when they do something right; and be nice to them but not too nice that they take advantage of you.”
Competitors use little bits of dog biscuit or chicken to reward their dogs for standing nicely and keeping pace.
Dog handling involves gaining the trust of a dog under time pressure. Photo / Eva de Jong
Success comes down to the dog’s behaviour. Georgia’s favourite breed to show is a Siberian husky because of their personality and temperament.
“Some dogs are quite smart so they know where you keep their bait but, say, pointers aren’t known for being that smart so they’re good handling dogs.”
In the NZ Junior Dog Handler final Georgia showed a prize-winning shiba inu from Christchurch.
Ward and her husband have been to Crufts once before as spectators and she said the scale and size of the competition was hard to wrap your head around.
“There are thousands and thousands of people and top-winning dogs from all around the world that converge there; it’s just the sheer size of it.
“They’ll be the best dogs out there - there are no crossbreeds.”
She said dog handling and showing wasn’t a particularly lucrative business.
“You do it for the love of it. You might get a frilly ribbon if you’re lucky and a bag of dog food.”
