 | | | Owner/breeder Candice Harper holds Jack (on left) and Jack's as-yet-unnamed son in front of some of the ribbons and awards Jack has earned over four years in the show ring. Photo Cathy Dausman
| | | | | | It can be said that good things come in small packages; that is especially true when it comes to Jack - or Grand Champion (gold level) Waiterock Jack Falstaff, as he is officially known. The 4-year-old 15-pound Norwich Terrier who earned Best of Breed at the 2012 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, earned his third national championship title at the American Kennel Club Invitational/Eukanuba Dog Show in December.
"In my social circle he's famous," exclaims owner Candice Harper. Harper, who owns Waiterock Kennels, used to show dogs as a child and came back to the show ring in 1989 with Scotties and Springer Spaniels and later with Norwich Terriers. She calls her beloved Norwich breed a "true terrier," meaning the dogs are mild-mannered animals who work cooperatively in packs.
She said there are only about 600 registered purebred animals throughout the U.S. Jack was born and bred in Lafayette; he is the third of four generations of Norwich Terriers including three offspring (two males, one female) currently living with Harper.
Harper fondly calls Jack a "big, gawky, chunky dog." Considering Jack started life weighing just shy of 3 ounces (a lemon weighs about that much) that's not far from the truth. Harper gave Jack supplemental bottle feedings every two hours for the first two weeks to keep him nourished.
He took to the show ring in his first year and has a collection of ribbons from dog shows throughout California, as well as Pennsylvania, New York and Florida.
Harper prefers to be in the ring showing Jack herself but also uses professional dog handler Jenny Wornall. Most dog shows are four day weekends - "up at 5 a.m., at the ring at 6 (a.m.), and staying through 6 or 7 p.m.," said Harper, who shows about twice monthly.
She stopped showing Jack last spring, when she noticed he was burnt out. By the time he returned in December, "he was like a rock star in the ring."
When Jack retires from the ring, he'll pass on his bloodline, perhaps siring another champion. But for now, Harper said, "I want the big red, white and blue ribbon" - the one given not to Best of Breed, but Best in Show.
You can view Jack's 2012 Westminster photo online at:
www.westminsterkennelclub.org/2012/results/breed/norwich.html.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA