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CNN Sunday Morning

Interview With Allan Reznik, Janet York

Aired February 09, 2003 - 10:51   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: There's going to be a whole lot of tail wagging going on at New York's Madison Square Garden this week. The Westminster Dog Show starts tomorrow. And becoming the best in show doesn't come cheap. Dog owners can spend thousands and thousands of dollars. Just ask our guest. Janet York is a champion dog owner and handler. Her dog, you see there, Nikki, is a champion King Charles Spaniel -- you'll have to tell me about that breed -- who competed at Westminster last year.
Thanks for being here, guys. And Allan Reznik is the editor-in- chief of "Dog Fancy" magazine. They are not far from Madison Square Garden this morning. Can you hear the barking from where you are?

JANET YORK, CHAMPION DOG HANDLER/OWNER: No.

COLLINS: Now, they're all very well behaved. Let's go ahead and start with you, Janet. Tell us a little bit about Nikki. What kind of dog and what is the history behind Nikki?

Well, Nikki is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The breed originated with King Charles II of England. It's an old breed that's sort of been renovated over the years with various other breeds coming in. But it's originally from England and we've had them in the states for many, many years. And they were taken into the American Kennel Club in 1996.

And Nikki is a champion and he was in Westminster last year. This year, he's taking off. He's a young dog and I'm saving Pippen (ph), who's the dog I'm showing tomorrow in Westminster, who is resting today.

COLLINS: He's resting. And it does require rest, because this is a grueling sort of life for the dogs, is it not?

YORK: Yes, it is. It is, but they love it. They thrive on it. They really do. Well, mine do anyhow.

COLLINS: Yes, they seem proud when they prance around the ring there. That's for sure. We'll get back to you in just a moment.

Allan, I'd like to ask you, tell us a little bit about the caliber of the competition. I mean this is really a way of life for these people and the dogs, right?

ALLAN REZNIK, "DOG FANCY" MAGAZINE: Absolutely, and Westminster is more prestigious than most. It's the second oldest sporting event in America. Only the Kentucky Derby is older and by only one year. Westminster is also an all-champion show. So you have -- you don't have untitled animals competing for championships. So by virtue of the fact that there is a 2,500-dog limit and every dog is a champion, you know that the caliber of competition is that much keener.

COLLINS: All right. Let's get down to the nitty-gritty. How much do these people spend to from the dogs shown and especially to go all of the way to Westminster because, as you said, this is a very prestigious competition?

REZNIK: Exactly. It's not a cheap hobby. It's not a cheap sport. You can really find your only level of enjoyment. And you can participate regionally and locally with your own dog. Once you start campaigning a dog and showing a dog each weekend at the national level, then you can easily spend upwards of a quarter of a million dollars when you factor in entry fees, travel costs, handler fees, certainly, the advertisement and promotion that goes into letting judges and your competitors know.

COLLINS: Allan, I should let you know, we are looking at some photos on of some ads right now that looks like this is Pippen (ph), Janet's other dog, and surely, you know, it costs a lot of money to show the animals, but maybe they can make some of the money back for their owners. Is that what some of this is about?

REZNIK: It isn't what motivates owners and breeders. A lot of the benefits really are intangible. It's pride of ownership. It's improving the breed. Certainly, a dog that has campaigned and does well will become a dog who's stud services are in demand and his offspring will be in demand. With respect to females, bitches, that are shown, once they're retired, their puppies will be in great demand. And the breeder will, in fact, become better known and there, of course, is added prestige in having produced dogs that compete nationally and can hold their own in the show of Westminster's caliber.

COLLINS: Well, the show is just fascinating. I've seen it on TV many times. But I wonder, a lot of people hire handlers.

Janet, I know you show your own dog. Why do you choose to do that?

YORK: Because I love the partnership they have with my dogs, the bond that I have in training my dogs from the moment that I get them. Most of my dogs are imported from Holland. My breeder is Tom Sporlard (ph). And it's just the training and that we work together that makes it so much fun. So even though handlers are wonderful, I like to be my own handler. I like to show my own dog, groom my own dog, travel with my own dog and do everything myself.

COLLINS: All right, Janet, so what's the trick? Do you give them treats in the ring?

YORK: Yes, sometimes treats, sometimes squeaky toys, whatever turns them on. COLLINS: Anything that works. All right, thank you so much for both of you -- the three of you, should I say, Janet York and Nikki, your dog there, and Allan Reznik, editor-in-chief of "Dog Fancy" magazine. The event will be much to look forward to. Thanks so much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired February 9, 2003 - 10:51   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: There's going to be a whole lot of tail wagging going on at New York's Madison Square Garden this week. The Westminster Dog Show starts tomorrow. And becoming the best in show doesn't come cheap. Dog owners can spend thousands and thousands of dollars. Just ask our guest. Janet York is a champion dog owner and handler. Her dog, you see there, Nikki, is a champion King Charles Spaniel -- you'll have to tell me about that breed -- who competed at Westminster last year.
Thanks for being here, guys. And Allan Reznik is the editor-in- chief of "Dog Fancy" magazine. They are not far from Madison Square Garden this morning. Can you hear the barking from where you are?

JANET YORK, CHAMPION DOG HANDLER/OWNER: No.

COLLINS: Now, they're all very well behaved. Let's go ahead and start with you, Janet. Tell us a little bit about Nikki. What kind of dog and what is the history behind Nikki?

Well, Nikki is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The breed originated with King Charles II of England. It's an old breed that's sort of been renovated over the years with various other breeds coming in. But it's originally from England and we've had them in the states for many, many years. And they were taken into the American Kennel Club in 1996.

And Nikki is a champion and he was in Westminster last year. This year, he's taking off. He's a young dog and I'm saving Pippen (ph), who's the dog I'm showing tomorrow in Westminster, who is resting today.

COLLINS: He's resting. And it does require rest, because this is a grueling sort of life for the dogs, is it not?

YORK: Yes, it is. It is, but they love it. They thrive on it. They really do. Well, mine do anyhow.

COLLINS: Yes, they seem proud when they prance around the ring there. That's for sure. We'll get back to you in just a moment.

Allan, I'd like to ask you, tell us a little bit about the caliber of the competition. I mean this is really a way of life for these people and the dogs, right?

ALLAN REZNIK, "DOG FANCY" MAGAZINE: Absolutely, and Westminster is more prestigious than most. It's the second oldest sporting event in America. Only the Kentucky Derby is older and by only one year. Westminster is also an all-champion show. So you have -- you don't have untitled animals competing for championships. So by virtue of the fact that there is a 2,500-dog limit and every dog is a champion, you know that the caliber of competition is that much keener.

COLLINS: All right. Let's get down to the nitty-gritty. How much do these people spend to from the dogs shown and especially to go all of the way to Westminster because, as you said, this is a very prestigious competition?

REZNIK: Exactly. It's not a cheap hobby. It's not a cheap sport. You can really find your only level of enjoyment. And you can participate regionally and locally with your own dog. Once you start campaigning a dog and showing a dog each weekend at the national level, then you can easily spend upwards of a quarter of a million dollars when you factor in entry fees, travel costs, handler fees, certainly, the advertisement and promotion that goes into letting judges and your competitors know.

COLLINS: Allan, I should let you know, we are looking at some photos on of some ads right now that looks like this is Pippen (ph), Janet's other dog, and surely, you know, it costs a lot of money to show the animals, but maybe they can make some of the money back for their owners. Is that what some of this is about?

REZNIK: It isn't what motivates owners and breeders. A lot of the benefits really are intangible. It's pride of ownership. It's improving the breed. Certainly, a dog that has campaigned and does well will become a dog who's stud services are in demand and his offspring will be in demand. With respect to females, bitches, that are shown, once they're retired, their puppies will be in great demand. And the breeder will, in fact, become better known and there, of course, is added prestige in having produced dogs that compete nationally and can hold their own in the show of Westminster's caliber.

COLLINS: Well, the show is just fascinating. I've seen it on TV many times. But I wonder, a lot of people hire handlers.

Janet, I know you show your own dog. Why do you choose to do that?

YORK: Because I love the partnership they have with my dogs, the bond that I have in training my dogs from the moment that I get them. Most of my dogs are imported from Holland. My breeder is Tom Sporlard (ph). And it's just the training and that we work together that makes it so much fun. So even though handlers are wonderful, I like to be my own handler. I like to show my own dog, groom my own dog, travel with my own dog and do everything myself.

COLLINS: All right, Janet, so what's the trick? Do you give them treats in the ring?

YORK: Yes, sometimes treats, sometimes squeaky toys, whatever turns them on. COLLINS: Anything that works. All right, thank you so much for both of you -- the three of you, should I say, Janet York and Nikki, your dog there, and Allan Reznik, editor-in-chief of "Dog Fancy" magazine. The event will be much to look forward to. Thanks so much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com