The site was last updated on

24 Aug 2000

Sunday, the last day of the dog show. All the puppies for the World Puppy are waiting, and the best senior and champions. And, also we, the juniors. Today will be the day when it is for the world to know who is the best Junior Handler.
We are all arranging our dogs, brushing and working with them. Some were changing dogs with each other; to make sure they can control others'.
At the main ring, all the shows and acts that took place in the four show days also took place in the main ring. The working dogs, Agility, Obedience and the army dogs. Even some shows of each country that took place in the show.
Us juniors had to wait in the back, in the waiting ring... we were told it will take few minutes and then we will go in. We've waited a little more than 40 minutes.
By then, all the dogs and juniors were almost too nervous to compete, by we all did. Few dogs there didn't feel very well, and my dog, Bonny, was one of them. We entered the ring...

So after we went into the ring, show our dogs and wait for the judge; all are eager to be in the first three, some even want nothing but the first place. The juniors I competed with were Poland champion, Portugal champion, the last Crafts champion, Italian champions and many more. *G*, that feels so hard only to show myself here... I must say that when they said each name when we went into the ring, everybody clapped their hands for every other junior, even did (!), but when they said my name and my country (Israel) there was quiet, nobody clapped, no one cheered, just us the people from Israel (about 20 people out of few thousands that came to the show). That doesn't make anyone feel good, believe me.
I must say that when that happened, I had the feeling that the judge will not give me the first place, if the world hates the color of Blue, you won't wear it, won't you? The time came and she started to choose out from the 12 final juniors, 6 best;

She chose six best handlers, the Portugal handler, Poland handler, England handler, Italy handler, Netherlands handler and the Israel handler - me!
I was so excited she thought I was good enough!
The judge gave us the task of the "T", I must say that it is not that hard, but when you are nervous, you think of nothing but how hard that task is! I had to remember where and to which direction I need to switch the dog, smile when I turn left, switch sides, look at the judge and smile again, switch sides while looking at the dog (very important!) looking at the judge again, and coming back while smiling, hoping I was good. There we were, the six, waiting...

Just then, she asked the whole six to move... the England handler is in, then the Portugal handler... just one more now, me and three more handlers have the chance, the last chance to win and be on of the three best in the world, the judge is looking at every each one of us, I'm smiling, hope so badly to be the one she will pick, the dog was so tired and didn't want to work, I was tired and hot from the lights, neither of us wanted to do this anymore, but we both wanted to win!
She chose the Poland handler - it felt like the whole world collapsed, like all the lights were out, a sudden cold went through my whole body... felt like I was glad I didn't win, so disappointed, so alone. I took Bonny and went back to the line, if I didn't win one of the first three, that doesn't mean I am not a good handler, I was better that other 150 handlers that competed each day, I was one of the best six, I was rated as #4. Fourth place out of 150 handlers. This is the best rate any Israeli handler ever won out of Israel. I was four, but good. I gave my best shot, all my will, my soul and the dog was tired to. Maybe the judge didn't pick me because the dog didn't work well? Maybe because everyone hated me because I am from Israel? I don't care! I showed myself, and showed anyone I am good! And no one can take that from me! I love dogs, handling and working with them, I didn't come to win, I came to be a part of the world's best show, a show that is all about dogs, the thing I love best!

Poland #3    Portugal #1    England #2