Achi news desk-
A horse-riding farm dog from New Brunswick is heading to the bright lights and the big city this spring to compete in the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
“He’ll probably be the only cowboy in Westminster,” said Sharlene Hudson of Stilesville who owns Gunner, a six-year-old Swedish Vallhund, with her partner and dog handler, Jenn Clark.
The couple brought Gunner home from an Ontario breeder to be a farm dog. They also own horses, and Gunner, one of those, called Rookie, has gone and even learned to ride.
“He thinks he’s the king over there,” Hudson said.
“He loves getting up on that horse and he seems to be very big, looking over everyone and saying, look at me riding my horse,” adds Clark.
Clark says that although the couple always thought Gunner was a handsome boy, it wasn’t until he was still a puppy, his best at his first dog show, that they realized how valuable he was.
The email you need for the day’s top news stories from Canada and around the world.
The email you need for the day’s top news stories from Canada and around the world.
Clark hopes that the farm dog, which has somewhat unexpectedly reached the top in Canada in its breed by the Canadian Kennel Club for the past six years, will steal the show in Westminster this year.
But more importantly, thanks to him, Hudson says she can now share the journey with him and her partner.
“I became housebound and basically just on the couch,” said Hudson, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. The former Canadian correctional officer says workplace stress caused her illness and she was too anxious to leave the farm for years.
“Shar didn’t want to leave home for the longest time. She didn’t feel comfortable going out into the world,” Clark said.
But Gunner’s love and loyalty, Hudson said. had been “light” for her. The whole family will be going to a dog show in May in New York state, with Hudson feeling grateful that she can now go along for the ride.
“It’s been a dream we’ve both had for years now and it’s finally coming true,” said Hudson, who hopes Gunner will be the first of his breed to go home with the best in the show.
& copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
