Not a Conundrum At All – From the Equine Chronicle to the Canine Chronicle

From the Equine Chronicle to the Canine Chronicle, Part 2

By Delores Kuhlwein

When Mark Jensen and Keith McDonough retired from training horses in 2021 to focus on family, Mark really wanted another dog. Keith wanted freedom to travel, so they compromised on “a dog with a purpose – a show dog – although I don’t really see how this was a compromise,” Keith jokes.

What they learned in this new venture– among many things – was that their horse show life provided more of a seamless transition to the dog show world than one might guess.

A bundle of happiness named Stanley

A few months after Mark and Keith hung up their spurs at Palm Desert Quarter Horses, they attended the 2022 Palm Springs Kennel Club show.  Though they’d shown a couple of Pembroke Corgis in the past, it had been approximately two decades since then.

This time, their goal was to look for breeders of Norwich Terriers, the breed upon which they’d set their sights.

“Everyone at the show pointed us to Cary Trexler and Andrew Chen of Verdant Norwich,” says Keith.  “We met with them and talked extensively about what we wanted in a dog.”

Keith explains they told Trexler and Chen they wanted a great one, and they knew from their horse days to stay out of the way when choosing a dog.  “We had no opinions on anything – not color, sex, nothing.  We wanted their expertise to guide us.  We waited patiently as they went through six litters of puppies over time until they called one day and said they had chosen a puppy.”

The bundle of joy Keith and Mark now call theirs, GCH CH VERDANT’S O WHAT  CONUNDRUM, aka “Stanley,” is the happiest dog they’ve ever had, explains Keith.  “He is almost a 1-1/2 years old and still plays like a 6-month-old puppy.  He loves every person and every animal – he acts like they are all coming just to see and play with him.”

Keith says Trexler and Chen were great mentors, providing thorough and numerous instructions about health, food, and how to handle their show prospect, all the way down to coat care. “Most importantly they said, ‘You have to take this puppy to Gabriel Rangel. He is expecting you and will guide you.’”

Though Gabriel is highly renowned, winning Best in Show at Westminster Kennel Club three times with dogs in the Terrier Group, everything seemed meant to be.  “It is absolutely amazing that we happened into his kennel!  Meeting Gabe and his wife, Ivonne, has been such a gift on our dog show journey,” says Keith.  “They are so open to sharing information and giving direction.  I take Stanley every 2 weeks to be groomed, no matter where we may be at the time (yes, I fly in on the morning flight to get groomed and jump right back on the afternoon flight when we are at our Washington home).”

He reveals of one their favorite aspects of spending time with Gabe is the professional peer relationship they have due to their success with the horses and his success with the dogs.  “He knows he can be straightforward and direct when he tells me what to do. He reviews videos and points out what I need to do better, and where I have improved.”

Keith is the one showing Stanley in the “National Owner-Handled Series” when they are at a show without Gabriel; if Gabriel has a conflict at a show, one of his team members shows him, or occasionally, Keith does, and Mark is part of the pit crew.

A Sense of Familiarity

Keith and Mark see definite parallels between the horse and dog show industries, particularly with the people. “You see the hard work put in behind the scenes with Gabriel and Ivonne Rangel and their team.  It is so similar to all the work horse trainers go through preparing their client’s horses,” Keith says.

“Showing has actually been much more relaxing and fun,” he adds. “I just keep telling myself that I just need to present my dog and it can’t possibly go as wrong as it can in the horse arena when a 1200 pound horse freaks out from a Trail obstacle, takes a fall in the cowhorse, or refuses a jump.”

They’ve also seen another distinctive link to the horse industry in this venture, as they regularly run into old horse friends at dog shows.  “It has been a blast reconnecting with so many friends from our past.”

Mark and Keith have been enjoying their time as beginners and clients in a sport so similar yet so different.  “As we have learned more and Stanley has done well, we are starting to set some goals for his future when he matures; right now he is still a puppy, and we are just about to his Bronze Grand Championship and NOHS Gold Grand Championship,” says Keith.

Looking Forward

Though their original intent when retiring included the possibility of having Mark sit out and return as an amateur, or for them to own futurity horses, they’ve since changed their plans, reveals Keith. “The two years removed has given us clarity – that chapter of our lives is done. We are committed to spending more quality time with our family as our parents age. The time spent thus far is priceless.”