2020 • HEART , A 7-YEAR-OLD LABRADOR RETRIEVER , OWNED AND HANDLED BY LINDA BRENNAN
• MASTERS OBEDIENCE • CHAMPION
The Labrador Retriever Heart of Columbia , New Jersey , owned and handled by Linda Brennan , won the 5th Annual Masters Obedience Championship at Westminster on Sunday , Feb . 9 , 2020 at the 144th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City at Pier 94 . Championship highlights were featured live on Nat Geo WILD .
Heart , a 7-year-old female , officially known as OTCH18 RHUMBLINE ’ S ONCE IN A BLUE MOON UDX12 OGM BN GN VER RE JH ACT1 SWN CGC TK , bred by Susan Carpenter , bested a field of 42 Obedience competitors over two rounds of competition . Heart and Linda posted the best combined score of 397-1 / 2 out of a possible 400 under Judge John Landis to become the 2020 Masters Obedience Champion . This is an unbelievable fivepeat for Heart and Linda , who triumphed at the inaugural event in 2016 , as well as in 2017 , 2018 and 2019 .
HOW DID YOU GET YOUR START IN THE SPORT ? My older sister Barbara purchased her first dog , a Welsh Springer Spaniel , in 1979 . She got involved with conformation and obedience and I tagged along . In 1986 , I got my own dog , also a Welsh Springer . I immediately got involved in obedience . I took my first obedience class from Betsy Scapicchio and I was on my way . Betsy has been my mentor and best friend ever since ! She has been with us every step of the way . Heart and I share this victory with her and our whole Top Dog family . I also compete in conformation and later added agility , hunting , rally , scent work , herding , and other activities . In addition to Welsh Springers and , of course , Labrador Retrievers , I have owned
Border Collies , a Golden Retriever and a Norfolk Terrier . All of my dogs have earned obedience titles , as well as titles in many other venues .
HAVING WON THE MASTERS OBEDIENCE CHAMPIONSHIP FOUR TIMES PREVIOUSLY , DID YOU DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT TO PREPARE FOR 2020 ? This year Westminster ’ s obedience competition was different , since the “ freestyle ” element was eliminated . This made it the same exercises as at a regular show for us . However , I know how challenging and distracting the environment at Westminster is . Heart and I prepared to do our best under those demanding conditions . I made sure that our skills were sharp and we were ready .
JACK GRASSA
60 WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB 2021