Zelda was three years old when I attended a local rescue event and was introduced to a trainer and breeder of American Pit Bull Terriers. That encounter, thanks to the rescue coordinator I was volunteering with, marked a turning point. This new friend invited me to my first UKC show, hosted by the Michigan American Pit Bull Terrier Club—a group whose warmth and encouragement inspired me to step into the ring.

I began showing with Zelda, registering her under Blitzhund, my first idea for a kennel name. Even then, I knew I wanted to breed one day, but I also recognized how much I had to learn—not just about dogs, but about the entire world that surrounds responsible breeding.

Over the next three years, Zelda became a fixture in UKC rings. She earned plenty of attention—some admiring, some less kind. The one comment that stuck with me most was “the bitch with the funny ears.” Zelda wears a working crop, a personal nod to the Doberman’s origins. That choice was deliberate, and I stand by it.

Beyond conformation, we explored other sports to find her joy. Zelda shined in Lure Coursing and Barn Hunt—those were clearly her favorites. Weight pull wasn’t her thing, and that was just fine with us.

This spirited girl—our “Craigslist special”—changed everything for me. Zelda embedded herself in my heart and became the cornerstone of a journey that’s still unfolding. She reminds me every day that the destination matters, but it’s the path—the choices we make and the lessons we embrace—that shape who we become.

Zelda showed me what it meant to live with a true guardian—but it was Douglas who truly redefined my journey with the breed. In 2016, my path led me to Benchmark Dobermanns. Savannah took a leap of faith and placed Dougie in my care. At the time, I didn’t realize just how steep the learning curve would be. I had worked with many dogs, but living with a true working Doberman was a new—and humbling—experience.

Together, we navigated our growing pains, and through that process, Douglas became everything I could have hoped for and more. While we earned his UKC Grand Champion title in the show ring, my focus with him stretched far beyond conformation. Doug shines in Lure Coursing, Dock Diving, Weight Pull, Rally Obedience, and Protection Sports—but more than anything, he simply loves to work by my side.

It was through Doug that my vision crystalized: I no longer saw a need to separate “Show” Dobermans from “Working” Dobermans. I wanted both—beauty and brawn, elegance and drive. I still do. My mission now is rooted in restoring balance to the breed and bringing the guardian back to the Doberman Pinscher.