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Devoted Special Education teacher and accomplished dog trainer and breeder Ms. Karin Brynes has returned to the prestigious Westminster Dog Show this past February with her beloved six year-old dog Winter Blossom.

It was a special occasion that marked both personal and professional milestones, full of challenges, triumphs and deep emotional significance to herself.

Ms. Byrnes’ return to Westminster was marked by her surprise invitation this year and was met with a mixture of gratitude and honor. 

“I was surprised, honored and just so grateful,” she shared.

It also held great personal weight, as it was an opportunity to honor her late mother’s final request. 

“My mom’s last wish was for me to bring my dog home,” Ms. Byrnes explained. “That’s what motivated me to get back out there with Winter Blossom and compete again.” 

Once a grand champion, Winter Blossom had lost much of her activeness following the pandemic. Ms. Byrnes’ health struggles with cancer had also put a hold on Winter Blossoms progress. 

“She had been sitting on my couch binge-watching Netflix,” Ms. Byrnes said. “It was tough to get her back in condition, lose the extra weight and reacquaint her with the ring. But she really pulled through for me and we managed to get her back on track.”

Training Winter Blossom was a particularly difficult job, especially for a dog who had been away from the competitive scene for a while.

In addition to the physical effort, the financial commitment required to compete at such a high level is immense. 

From flights to handlers or grooming and travel expenses, the costs needed to fund these extravagant events quickly add up. Mrs. Byrnes handles the financial burden by using the proceeds from her breeding program. 

“Campaigning a dog for a show is huge,” Ms. Byrnes said. “All the money I get from selling puppies goes into an account specifically for campaigning my dogs. It’s the only way I can afford to do it.”

From hand-carrying her dogs to competitions to ensuring they are in peak physical shape, every step requires careful plans.

While Ms. Byrnes hoped for a win, Winter Blossom did not come out on top this year. 

“Of course I wish my Winter Blossom had won, but the competition was extremely high this year and honestly, I knew other dogs were likely to win,” she explained. “It’s a very political competition and the winners were deserving—they had excellent specimens and I could see why they were chosen.” 

Although she and her dog didn’t win, Ms. Byrnes was satisfied to have been a part of the experience. 

“It was an honor just to be there with such a talented group of dogs,” she said.

Looking back, Ms. Byrnes reflected on how her approach to breeding and training dogs has evolved over the years. As she gained more experience however, her approach shifted to creating competitive champions. 

Her breeding program has evolved into a mix of natural and artificial fertility treatments. She’s now fortunate to have a grand champion male and a few other champion males to breed with.

“In the beginning, I was just happy to have puppies,” she recalled. “But as I got deeper into the world of dog shows, I realized that I needed to breed for quality if I was going to be competitive. Now, I breed the best dogs I can access and I use artificial insemination and other advanced methods to improve my lines. I’m always looking for new ways to improve my dogs and get the best possible specimens.” 

One of her long-term goals is to see Winter Blossom have a few more litters of puppies before retiring her completely from breeding, hoping to add more champions to her legacy.

Despite not winning, Ms. Byrnes took away invaluable lessons from her experience this year. 

“The biggest takeaway for me is the importance of keeping my dogs in top condition.” Ms. Byrnes stated. “You have to maintain that level of fitness and focus if you want to compete at this level. It’s a huge challenge, both physically and financially. But it’s also so rewarding when you see your dogs succeed.”

Ms. Byrnes has high hopes for the future. Looking ahead to next year’s competition, she plans to have a full year to prepare her dogs for Westminster, giving herself the time she feels she lacked this year. 

“The six-month window this time around just wasn’t enough,” she said. “I felt so much pressure, especially since Winter Blossom is already six years old. I wish I had more time to get her back in shape and retrain her.” 

Nevertheless, Ms. Byrnes is determined to continue pushing forward. 

“I’ll have a full year to prepare for next time and hopefully I’ll have a new champion to show,” she said optimistically.

Despite the financial strain, emotional ups and downs and the challenges of training, Ms. Byrnes remains passionate about her work with dogs. Her deep connection to her special Winter Blossom and her commitment to the craft of breeding and showing dogs is evident in everything she does. 

Ms. Byrnes’ journey is not just about winning, it’s about creating meaningful long lasting connections, honoring loved ones and striving for the best. Looking forward, she remains hopeful, determined to move her program forward and perhaps one day return to Westminster with a new champion by her side.

“I may not have won this year, but I learned so much, and I’m proud of everything we’ve accomplished,” she said.