In the Blood
by Nicholas Urbanek

Maybe it has been in my blood all along. My mother has been involved in the sport of purebred dogs for over 30 years. My parents met each other at an obedience training class. I have been going to dog shows since before I can remember. Now, I am 22 years old and getting ready to enter veterinary school. To me, it all makes sense - this is the path my life was meant to take.

That path was created by good decisions, hard work, and a little luck. I can not take credit for all that though; I was surrounded by a great family and people I believe to be the finest in the sport. All these people gave me endless support and encouragement. This environment created an opportunity for me to do my best in the Juniors ring as well as in the classroom. The highlight of these successes included winning Juniors at Westminster Kennel Club and Crufts Dog Show, along with my admittance to Penn State University. These successes have helped shape my future career and involvement with purebred dogs.

That future will likely include breeding and handling my own Pointers, judging, and becoming more involved with the American Pointer Club and local all-breed clubs. In addition, I hope to practice veterinary medicine in a rural setting, due to my dual interests in large and small animals. But, that's all five years down the road and many things can and likely will change. I look forward to the journey ahead!