Schenectady papillon earns Best of Breed at Westminster

Nearly four decades ago, Sandra Haber began training her golden retriever Taffynd, who she said was “very naughty.”

The two began obedience classes and Haber said she “caught the show fever.” Shortly after, Haber bought a male golden retriever, named Mr. Bojangles, to train for dog shows. “This was many moons ago,” she said. “He was a very special dog.”

Now 70 years old, Haber is celebrating a Best in Breed win for her 4-year-old papillon, Frankie, also known as GCH Medina’s Luck Be A Lady Tonight, at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City on Monday.

“I will just say this much about Frankie: Frankie is not a lady and she is a party waiting to happen,” said Haber with a chuckle.

No matter how ladylike Frankie may or may not be, she has consistently ranked among the top 10 papillons in the nation for the past four years. Frankie first began competing at dog shows when she was about 6 months old.

Originally from Cincinnati, Haber moved to Schenectady with her husband, Harold, in the 1970s so he could take a job as a radiologist in the area.

Harold Haber is originally from Brooklyn and is not a dog person, according to his wife. “He’s really not a dog person. I love him dearly. We make it work,” she said.

Throughout her life, Haber focused her attention on homemaking and caring for her two children, who she said make her very proud. She now has seven grandchildren, some of whom were in attendance at the Westminster Kennel Club Show this week cheering for Frankie.

“When we get together, we have all their dogs and my dogs and the grandchildren,” she laughed, describing a chaotic and lovely scene.

Haber first began showing papillons around 1985. She decided to move away from larger dogs like golden retrievers because “I wanted a dog that could do everything — obedience, agility and breed — in a small package.”

Frankie, she said, is one of many. “I have her mother, her grandmother, her great-grandmother and her half-sister. They’re all champions except for the half-sister, who is just a baby,” she explained.

Haber has shown dogs at Westminster in the past, including Mr. Bojangles, who she said was named Winner’s Dog and a papillon bitch named Noodles who was named Winner’s Bitch. Explaining what has kept her coming back for show after show since the late ’70s, Haber said: “I love working with my dog and enjoy the camaraderie of the dog people.”

Though Haber has nothing against cats, she said she doesn’t have any. “I got scratched by a cat once when I was a little baby, so I’m really not that fond of them, though they’re very pretty.”

Haber shares responsibility showing Frankie with a professional handler named Patricia Martello of DeWitt. Both Haber and Martello were with Frankie during the show.

Haber said the show has changed quite a bit since her first time showing Mr. Bojangles all those years ago because they moved the breed judging to The Piers. “The Best in Breed goes back to [Madison Square] Garden to compete in the evening. It’s difficult to do, especially this year with the weather. It was like an ice storm! It was nasty to try to get across town,” she said.

Still, Haber said, Frankie carried herself well. “She loved it. . . . She likes people.”

Haber said dog show winners may get trophies and ribbons, but said monetary prizes are few and far between. “You certainly don’t gain back anything you invest in the sport. It’s a matter of pride,” she said.

Haber’s only concern regarding her own outfit for the show was that it didn’t distract from Frankie, but rather complemented her. “The point of exhibiting a dog is you, as the handler, are the backdrop,” she explained.

“Always dress for success is what I say,” she added.

Reach Gazette reporter Cady Kuzmich at 269-7239 or [email protected]

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