They let the dogs out

Sometimes a 4-H project takes on a life of its own. And when a family falls in love with a specific breed of dog, the 4-H project can branch out into dog shows nationwide. "Where this all started was a 4-H project gone wild," said Jim Ehrman, one of the owners of Redwood Kennel. "Prior to 12 years ago, I never did dog shows. That was not my thing." But a few weeks ago, Ehrman was notified that his dog, Melody — officially known as Redwood Song of Time — is the United Kennel Club's grand champion and No. 1 in the Irish red and white setter category for 2020. "This is the 10th consecutive year we have earned an invitation to United Kennel Club's breed top 10 competition at their premier dog show," Ehrman said. "This is our 10th consecutive year with one or more dogs in the top 10." How did the family get from 4-H project to grand champion? Ehrman and family became involved with Irish red and white setters when his son, Logan Shackelford, decided to take a dog project in 4-H. Then age 12, Logan decided he specifically wanted an Irish red and white setter. So, they traveled to Marietta to Aramis Farms Kennel owned by Michael Lamp and Brandon Allen. There they found Maverick. "The breed won my heart," Ehrman said. "That dog won my heart." At the time, they didn't know Maverick would be the start of a dog-showing hobby that long outlived 4-H. Although Maverick died a year and a half ago, his legacy lives on. Ehrman said the breeder's agreement when they purchased Maverick asked that the dog be shown. The family knew nothing about showing dogs, but they decided to give it a shot. Logan showed Maverick at the 4-H dog show at the Seneca County Fair, and he placed first for the Doggon'Its 4-H club. From there, he took his dog project to the Ohio State Fair. He didn't place at the state fair, but Ehrman said he got a lot of experience and met people. After that, Logan began to show at kennel clubs, and became one of the best junior handlers in the country. "From there, we were hooked," Ehrman said. In 2012, Logan's friend from 4-H, Amanda Mowery, began showing dogs for Redwood Kennel along with Logan and his parents. Today, the Ehrman extended family has Irish red and white setters with various pedigrees in a few different households. "Now, I personally have six red and white setters," Ehrman said. In addition, he said his ex-wife, Rachelle, has five and Amanda has two. Logan, the original showman, is a young adult with his own apartment - where dogs don't fit easily. "Logan left some of his with us," he said. "That's why I have so many. To his credit, he comes back and he takes care of the dogs often, and he still shows." The dogs are show animals, but also pets. Over the years, Redwood Kennel has acquired dogs from the Marietta breeder, but also from a breeder in Canada. The local kennel is one of only four breeders of Irish red and white setters in Ohio and about two dozen breeders in the entire country. "We've got a significant piece of the population," Ehrman said. However, they don't breed as a dedicated business. They've had four litters in 12 years, and kept five of the 11 puppies. "We're not breeding for profit and money," he said. "Mostly for replacement." Ehrman the setters are a rare breed and number only about 3,500 in world. The American Kennel Club describes the breed as "courageous, spirited, determined." Males grow to 60-70 pounds and females 45-55 pounds, and they usually live 11-15 years. In addition to show dogs and pets, Ehrman said the breed is great for hunting game birds — which was the basis of its breeding history in Ireland since the 1600s. However, he said the breed isn't a good match for everyone. "They're slow to mature and very high energy," he said. He said the breed almost was extinct after World War II with less than a dozen dogs left, but some dedicated people put together a breeding program to save them. At national shows, Redwood dogs have placed as champions and grand champions. "Most of the dogs are show champions in the UKC (United Kennel Club)," he said. "The best we've taken to the American Kennel Club." For example, a dog named Tristan, now 8 years old, has been grand champion in UKC and AKC, and Amanda has shown him at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City. "She did really well against some of the top dogs in the country," he said. Ehrman said dogs show within their breed, and then with their section - in this case hunting dogs - with the goal of earning a spot in the top 10. He said he continues to show dogs because he enjoys it. "It's a love affair with the breed, and then you make friends," he said. "It's fun and it makes for a good hobby and good way to escape for the weekend." He said the small group that shows their breed usually keeps the competition friendly, and he missed the get-togethers last year during the pandemic. He's hoping this year allows more competitions. He's looking forward to a show in Marietta in May that will draw many friends from Ohio but also as far away as California and Canada - if the border is open by then. "We'll see all the other red and white people from across the country," he said. Despite the kennel's showing success, Ehrman remains an adviser for the Doggon'Its, and Amanda has joined him as an adviser. Some of the 4-H members have started to branch out from 4-H to show their dogs elsewhere. "Some of the older kids went after the fair last year and titled their dogs in agility and obedience," he said. "Some of these kids are going to get really good because they're practicing year round now." It's just one example of how one child's 4-H project and a dog named Maverick influenced not only Logan's life, but the lives of his family and friends — and now the lives of other 4-H members.