Published May 9, 2023 5:28 p.m. ET
Elisa Holland holds Daisy one day after they complete in the 2023 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. (Kimberley Johnson/CTV News Ottawa)
Only the very best can stroll the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show phase, and one Kingston dog and owner have actually done simply that.
Elisa Holland says the minute was surreal.
‘Honestly, the moment I walked into the ring, it was a lifetime dream come true and I was all smiles,” says Holland.
Holland and her dog Daisy, an 18-month-old whippet, travelled to New York on Monday to show off her skills by competing in the Westminster Dog Show.
“I just kept looking at her and saying, ‘We’re a group no matter where we put. If we don’t get any ribbons, we’re a group’, which is the team effort you require in a dog,” says Holland.
It’s among the most prominent dog displays in the world. Dogs of all types complete, and just the leading 3,000 dogs worldwide are welcomed each year.
To certify, Holland says Daisy won competitors in the United States over the in 2015, and after that won a location in a lottery game choice.
On Monday, Daisy strolled in the ‘Best of Breed’ in the whippet classification versus 27 other dogs. Holland says judges search for things like size, functions, and character.
That is something Daisy appeared with.
‘She tried to give the judge a kiss, which I said was fine,” she laughs.
It’s been an 11-year journey to get here for Holland, who discovered how to train dogs in her own time in between a profession in the military and education, initially beginning with Daisy’s mama.
She says it’s important to follow a dream
“You don’t have to be from elite or have to be in the dog show world, you can just take your pet, travel hard,” she says. “You can always achieve it.”
And while Daisy did not take home ‘Best in Show’ this year, her roadway to Westminster is refrained from doing yet.
“We’re only just starting, and she’s only going to get better with age. And I’m hoping I’m only going to get better with age,” Holland laughs. “But she definitely will.”
That is something Daisy showed up with.
‘She tried to give the judge a kiss, which I said was fine,” she laughs.
It’s been an 11-year journey to get here for Holland, who learned how to train dogs in her own time in between a career in the military and schooling, originally starting with Daisy's mom.
She says it’s important to follow a dream
“You don’t have to be from elite or have to be in the dog show world, you can just take your pet, travel hard,” she says. “You can always achieve it.”
And while Daisy did not take home ‘Best in Show’ this year, her roadway to Westminster is not done yet.
“We’re only just starting, and she’s only going to get better with age. And I’m hoping I’m only going to get better with age,” Holland chuckles. “But she certainly will.”
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