MORE than 2000 dogs competed in the 2022 Sydney Royal Easter Show, and three Canberra dogs brought home prizes – a dachshund, a deerhound and a doberman.

In first place, Briala Whispering Jack.

An 11-month-old, miniature, long-haired dachshund, Jack won the “Best Puppy In Show” title, beating out every other breed in the competition – under 12-months of age.

Its owner, Linda Stevens, of Casey, has been breeding and showing dachshunds for more than 40 years, and knew she was on a winner with Jack.

“He has the hallmarks of the breed, which are being long, quite low and he’s got a conical-shaped head,” she says.

Jack is one of four champion dachshunds in Linda’s home, and she says he is set to do well in the years ahead.

“Jack absolutely loves it, he’s very sophisticated and now he’s a little bit older he’ll be a bit more competitive.”

When the two other Canberra entrants had their wins, too, Linda said it was “terribly exciting”.

Melanie Crossley, of Gilmore, won “Best in Hound Group (Deerhound); Final Seven Best in Show”, with Pip, 2, (or “Australian Champion Eilrig Speed Bonnie Boat”).

Dianna Woods, of Flynn, won “Best in Utility Group (Doberman); Final Seven Best in Show”, with Kye, 4, (or “Supreme Champion Copperdobe Life of the Party”).

“We were all together at the show, we were ecstatic when we all did well,” Linda says.

“The dogs know when they’ve won, too.”

Pip is glamorous, says Melanie, which is how she won her competition in Hound Group against 209 others.

“She likes being in the show ring, she’s a good representative of the breed. She’s also just got that little bit of glamour which helps,” says Melanie.

“Pip was by far the youngest, and she was the only female in the line-up, all the others were big, mature boys, so she’s got lots of future ahead of her.”

Pip came into Melanie’s life at 10-weeks-old, and immediately began learning.

“Teach dogs that little treats are fun and they learn to enjoy it. You don’t have a successful, happy show dog if they don’t enjoy it.”

Dianna says Kye, her doberman, loves cuddles, too, especially with “his special blanket,” and his treats of choice are chicken nuggets.

“Kye’s got quite a presence and he knows he’s pretty. I think that helps. There’s no brain there, but he’s got pretty good self confidence.”

Dianna started her hobby of showing dogs a little differently, and between the ages of seven and 18, the focus was on her.

She showed off her dog-handling abilities in junior competitions across Australia, while also showing her dogs in the conformation competitions.

“When I was nine I took one of Linda’s previous dachshunds, Arthur, to Perth to compete in a junior handler competition and I was selected as the ACT representative to go to Crufts in England as a junior handler, I competed again in Crufts when I was 11.”

Unfortunately, she didn’t win, and now focuses solely on Kye.

“When we’re practising at home I have to get someone – my mum, my brother, my husband – to pretend to award him Best in Show as a way to kind of gee him up,” she says. 

“He jumps up and he’ll catch food and he’ll wag his tail and he’s so proud of himself when he thinks he’s won, and he loves someone clapping for him so it’s a stupid little ritual we do. We get someone at the show just before he goes in to say ‘the Best in Show is the doberman,’ and it’s just a nice way to reward him.”

“They are just the most beautiful breed to own, just big, gentle giants. I’ve got a two-year-old daughter and she just loves him. I couldn’t see myself wanting anything else, they’re addictive and just so sweet,” Dianna says.

Showing dogs teaches people lessons about critical thinking, says Dianna, and she’s hoping her daughter’s passion continues to grow.

“I can sometimes get my daughter along because she’s all about puppies, and there’s other kids that she could form friendships with,” she says.

“They’re meaningful lifelong friendships. Even if I didn’t do dog shows, I know there would still be value there.”