Northern People: Dog has 'Irish twinkle'

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Marty Dagneau Bates' Glen of Imaal terrier, Tully, placed at December's AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in Orlando. Record-Eagle/Jan-Michael Stump

January 29, 2012

Bates, Tully place in top five in dog breed

By MARTA HEPLER DRAHOS mdrahos@record-eagle.com The Record Eagle Sun Jan 29, 2012, 07:14 AM EST

LAKE ANN — Marty Dagneau Bates plans to tune in with other dog lovers around the country when the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship airs Saturday, Feb. 4, on ABC TV.

The Lake Ann breeder and her Glen of Imaal terrier, Tully, competed in the December invitation-only dog show considered to be one of the most prestigious in the world. The pair placed in the top five of the breed and won an award of excellence.

"This is the first time I've placed so high," said Bates, who showed Tully herself despite fatigue from fibromyalgia. "To accomplish what I have is a major deal for me because I get so exhausted. I was so tired when we got back that I slept for two weeks. But it was worth it."

Tully, whose championship name is GlenbrideTullyRedNally, competed with 12 other "Glens," one of four Irish dog breeds. Named for the Wicklow Mountain region of Ireland where they originated, the medium-sized terriers were initially bred to rid homes and farms of vermin, and to soundlessly hunt fox and European badger up to 40 pounds.

"One of the books described the breed as 'gentile battering rams,'" said Bates, who traveled to Ireland to acquire Tully's mother, Scruffy, in 2004 — the same year the breed was fully recognized by the American Kennel Club.

Only 600-700 Glens are registered in the U.S., making it the 11th rarest breed in the nation, according to the AKC.

The AKC/Eukanuba National Championship is the largest prize money dog show in the world, with cash and prizes totaling more than $225,000.

The 2011 competition took place in December in Orlando, Fla. It featured more than 4,900 dogs from more than 50 countries vying for "top dog" bragging rights. The AKC Agility Invitational and the AKC National Obedience Invitational were held at the same time, with local kennel club show competition preceding the events.

Bates and Tully, 4, qualified for the show by finishing the dog's Championship in the Bred-by-Exhibitor classes. A dog breeder since 1973 — with time off to raise children — Bates has bred Rottweilers, Jack Russell terriers and 21 Glens. Two Glens are champions.

In her first outing at Eukanuba, Bates said she was impressed by the glamour of the event, which included cocktail and other parties and a concert by Air Supply.

"This is a major dress-up event. There were sequins all over," she said. "The big blue carpets you see on TV were amazing, and the decorations were gorgeous. There were 'Meet the Breeds' booths for 177 different breeds, and even they were decorated."

Bates said she and her husband, Vance, took eight days off for the event. They stayed at a fish camp about 60 miles away with Tully and Peach, another of their three Glens who participated in Meet the Breed activities. They left for the convention center at 5:30 a.m. each day, toting a portable grooming table and supplies. Often they didn't return until as late as 8 p.m.

While she and Tully didn't advance far enough to make it on TV, Bates said their award of excellence could be a sign of good things to come.

"He was just so flashy," she said of the friendly wheaten-colored dog. "The judge said, 'I gave you this award because he looks like a clown, and he looks happy. He has the Irish twinkle in his eyes.'"

It all could have turned out very differently, Bates acknowledged. Two hours before she was to take the show ring, she discovered she left her show clothes — an integral part of competition — back at camp. She scrambled to assemble another outfit, borrowing a black skirt and shelling out more than $80 for a gray sequinned jacket and a red tank top from the event's only show-clothing vendor.

Bates said she plans to compete again next year despite the expenses involved. Tully, who doubled as a demonstration dog for trainee judges, already has been invited back.

"Next year we're staying another week," said Vance Bates.