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I
had kept this incredible boy in hair with hopes of showing him. He was 5
months old when I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and had my first of
2 surgeries. Needless to say in fighting this battle for the first 8
months, my little guy Coby hadn't been to any dog shows, heck he
hadn't been anywhere! I brushed him every night, many times through
tears, wondering if he would ever be shown or if I would ever be showing
anything again. He became a lifeline for me in many ways. As long as I
kept him going there was the hope that I to could keep going. I kept his
hair through 2 surgeries and a Radio Active Iodine ablassion. I kept his
coat and trained him on lead but I didn't have the strength to take him
anywhere. Finally I became stronger and took him to a couple of handling
classes. It broke my heart. He was so unsure about the big world around
him and his tail would just fall behind him one minute and be up the
next. He had just turned a year old and I feared he would be a lost
casualty of my disease since I was not up to traveling to shows.
Then
Eileen made me a wonderful offer. She asked me to send him to her and
she would take him out for a couple of weekends and see if he would
adjust. It was very hard for me to send him away but I knew it
would be his only chance and he deserved that chance. So I shipped him
to her. She had him 2 1/2 weeks, trailed him to 2 show weekends and the
3rd weekend he was entered for the very first time at the Kennel Club of
Philadelphia dog show.
Not
only did he show beautifully, he also won Winners Dog/Best of winners
for a major and then went on to win Best of Breed over 2 specials, one
of which is a multiple group winner! He
then went onto the group ring handled by Jen Miller. TV cameras and
lights did not stop him! I
can't begin to tell you how incredible I felt! He made it through and so
would I!
Special thanks to Eileen for reaching out to help Coby and me have the
chance!
Coby
went on to have a successful Specials career where he was 1st
AOM at our 2005 National,
AOM at the Metro Specialty in New York and a Multiple Group Placing
winner.
Coby has also proven himself to be an incredible producer as well!
In just 7 of his first breedings, all of which were outcross bitches he produced 14
puppy hopefuls,
13 of which finished making the ASTC Top Producing Stud dog for 2006!
I also have recovered.
I have now been in remission for 4 1/2 years and I have my Coby.
Life is great!
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