Defining Success
with Ed Fojtik
A Q&A with the 2015 Winkie winner for Best Owner-Handler
Dogs in Review: Tell us a little about yourself. Was/is your
family involved in the sport? If not, what sparked your interest
in showing dogs? And how did you begin in Giant Schnauzers?
Ed Fojtik: My mother and father began breeding Giants in
1969. The Giant Schnauzer Club of America was founded in
1965, so they have been involved almost since the beginning.
They also bred Arabian horses, and we traveled the country
showing our horses. I was 3 years old the first time I showed
in an Arabian class on my own. Paul Booher showed dogs for
my parents and their partners, Jack and Joanne Butell. When I
got a bit older, I wanted back into showing, and I almost went
with horses but decided to start my own breeding program
of Giants.
DIR: Talented owner-handlers seem to do well with Giants at
the all-breed level. Why do you think that is?
EF: There certainly have been some very good dogs handled by their owners. Giants take a tremendous amount of
work — and when someone can put
the work and effort into a good dog, it
is appreciated and it shows.
DIR: Who have been your mentors
and role models in the sport?
EF: I have had many! I remember
when I was first getting started, I
followed Bill McFadden around an
entire weekend trying to get some
grooming tips. Steve and Robin Fox
were also tremendous help to me, as
well as Scott and Susie Kipp. When
I thought I was becoming a pretty
good groomer, Gabriel Rangel would
show up and make my dog look like
a shag carpet! So he inspired me to
get better. My grooming and breeding program went to the next level
when Maryann Biseglia of Ingebar
Giants took me under her wing. Ken
and Virginia Murray have been great
friends, and I don’t know what I
would do without Laura King — I’m
surprised she hasn’t changed her
phone number yet!
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