BACK

I attended my first dog show at Balboa Park in
San Diego, California in 1970. A few years later,
I acquired my first Great Dane, a Harlequin.

I developed an interest in handling after owner handling my first two harlequin champions. Shortly there after, I decided to become a professional handler after prompting from Great Dane breeders and friends.
I have handled all six colors to their titles, successfully specialed many great champions and have exhibited for some of the top breeders in the United States, Canada and England.

I have had the honor of judging over twenty Specialty Sweepstakes throughout the United States and Canada, but two of my biggest thrills were judging the Great Dane Club of America Breeders Futurity in 1999 and chosen to be the Great Dane Handler Judge at the 2002 Great Dane Club of America Top Twenty Event.

MEET RICK ZAHORCHAK  ...

CHAMPIONS FROM 2008!!!

Year 2010

CHAMPIONS FROM 2009!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UPDATED 03/09 in green!!!  

***Click on Dogs in white
for their recent Gallery ad!!!****

THE SPECIALS

CH. DIOLA'S START YOUR ENGINES
                    "Stewart"
Fawn Dog
"Stewart" is awarded Best of Breed two days in a row in Milwaukee, Wisconsin!  On Saturday, March 6, 2010 at the Wisconsin KC, Judge Walter Somerfelt, awards "Stewart" Best of Breed over 10 Specials. Then again, on Sunday, March 7, 2010 at the second Wisconsin KC show Judge Donovan Thompson finds "Stewart" as Best of Breed and later in the Working Group Judge Thompson awards him a Group II!
Breeder/Owner: Julie Diola

 

CH. DUNDANES MISCHEVIOUS MAYLAY
                        "Maylay"
Fawn Dog
"Maylay" is awarded BOB at the Rubber City KC under Judge Fay Dorval Haupt on Saturday Jan 9, 2010. He repeats his win on the Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010 Rubber City KC show. This time under Judge Eugene Haupt.
Owner Diane Stantz

THE GIRLS  


TR's Save the Best for Last

"Vanessa"(Open Harlequin Bitch)
"Vanessa" was awarded WB, BOW under Judge Ed Lyons at the Wallkill KC show on Friday, 2/26/10 in Suffern, NY. Then on Sunday 2/28/10 at the Rockland County KC.  Judge David Chan awards "Vanessa" RWB to a 4 point major!
Breeder/Owner: Sharon Showers

Diola's Leadin' The Pack
"Stremme"
(Fawn Bitch)
"Stremme" is awarded WB for 2 more points under Judge Ralph Lemcke at the Central IN. Kennel Club show on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010. She was chosen RWB to a major the next day at the Hoosier KC under Betty Regina Leininger. "Stemme" now has 8 points total and is looking for those majors!
Owners, Megen Olcott Spencer & Peggy Clark.

Wolke's Dynasty of Bellezar
"Zeta"
(Open Brindle Girl)
WB,BOS over specials for a 3pt. major under, Breeder Judge Francine Schwartz,at Hoosier KC on 2/15/2009
.
"Zeta" has 10 points w/ one major.
Owner:  Tracy Elkins

Nikolodeon's Liberty Bell V Tinker
"Belle" (Brindle Bitch)
"Belle" goes WB & BOW on 5/25/09 for 1 point under Bradford C. Dunn at the New Castle KC. "Belle" has 2 points!
Owner: Jean Highlands

Diola's One Hi-Class Lass
"Sophia" (12-18 Fawn puppy bitch)  
"Sophia" goes WB under Judge Nancy Dinkfelt for another point at the Agathon KC on  Sunday November 22, 2009. "Sophia" now has two points.
Owner Sharon Bealko.


Nikolodeon's Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
"Cyndi", (Fawn 9-12 puppy)

Cyndi is awarded Winners Bitch and Best Puppy for her first point under Judge George Murray at the Grand River KC on July 10, 2009. The next day at the Ashtabula KC July 11, 2009 show under Judge Victoria Jordan, "Cyndi" goes Reserve Winners bitch (to a Major in bitches) from the 9-12 class.
Owners Peg Clark & Lisa Williams.


Diola's Fashionista on Fifth V RJZ
"Macy" (Brindle Bitch)
"Macy" was WB, BOS for her 1st point from the 9-12 month puppy bitch class under Judge Mrs. Chris Walkowicz on Friday, 1/15/2010 at the KC of Buffalo in Hamburg, NY
Owners: Julie Diola and Rick, Jay, and Zane Zahorchak

Int'l Ch. Eastwood's Courage to Change
"Zoie" 
(Natural Eared, Open Blue Bitch)
Rick's Fifth Champion for 2009!!!!!
"Zoie" is awarded WB & BOW for that last point to finish her American Championship under Judge Karen Harrison at the Maryland KC on October 12, 2009!!
Owner:  Jennifer Rychcik


Int'l/UKC Ch. RE's Frankly My Dear At Nikolodeon
"Scarlett"  (Open Brindle Bitch)  
Rick's Sixth Champion for 2009!!! "Scarlett" won the Open Brindle Class of 12 at the Great Dane Club of America's National Specialty 10/23/2009 under Breeder Judge Susan Yotive! "Scarlett" finishes her AKC Championship at the Hoosier Great Dane Club Annual Specialty on 11/08/2009! Breeder Judge Dean Perry awards her WB/BOW for a 4point major to finish!!
Proud owners are Peggy Clark, Shelley Holmes
& Rick English.

THE BOYS

Payaso's St. Elmo's Fire

"Sailor" (Open Mantle dog)
"Sailor" was WD & BOS for one more point, at the Wallkill KC show on Friday 2/26/10 under Judge Ed Lyons. Then again on Sunday, 2/28/10 at the Rockland County KC, Suffern, NY. Judge David Chan awards "Sailor" WD, BOW for a 4 point major, his second major! "Sailor", now has 13 points and needs only two singles to finish!
Owners: Dianne Powers & Lucinda Harwin


Tomarski Diola Gold and Blue Thru' N Thru
"Rockne" (Fawn Dog)
"Rockne" on Friday, January 22, 2010 is awarded WD, BOW for a 3 point major by Judge John Connolly at the Livonia KC show in Novi, MI. "Rockne" has 13 points total and now just needs his second major to finish!
Owners: Beth Wise & JuleeAnn Doolittle


TLC's Total Image
"Dewey"
(Brindle boy)
"Dewey" goes WD for one point at the Saturday, Butler KC show 9/19/09 under Judge Jack Ireland.  "Dewey" now has 7 points!
Owners: Zane, Jay and Rick Zahorchak and Linda Greene.


Canadian Ch. Striders Santana V Drogheda
"Santana" (Open Fawn Dog)
 "Santana" goes WD, BOW for 1 more point under Judge Col. Jerry Weiss at the Livonia KC show on January 21, 2010. "Santana" now has 8 points total. He also was awarded Reserve WD to a major under Judge Houston Clark two days later at the Oakland County KC on January 23, 2010 in Novi, MI. "Santana" picks under another point by going WD, BOS under Judge Steven D. Gladstone on January 31, 2010 at the Erie Kennel Club dog show.
Owners: Kelly & Glen Tait, & Frank Davey

Ch. Nikolodeon's In God We Trust
"Dirk" (Brindle boy)
4PT MAJOR TO FINISH!!! RICK'S SECOND CHAMPION OF 2009!!! WD/BW at Saginaw KC 04/04 under judge Ken Buxton!!" Dirk" finishes with his 3rd major before 18 months old!!
Breeder/Owner: Peg Clark and Linda Greene.


Ch. Diola's Start Your Engines
"Stewart"
(Fawn)  
RICK'S THIRD CHAMPION OF 2009!!!
"Stewart" was WD, BOW, BOB both days at the Grand Traverse City KC shows under Judges Fred J. Heal and  Frederick N. Dewsbury to gain his last two points to finish his AKC Championship!
Breeder/Owner Julie Diola.


Ch. Bgdawgs Loaded Up N Truckin' 
"Diesel"
(Open Black dog)
RICK'S FOURTH CHAMPION OF 2009!!!
"Diesel" is awarded WD,BOW for one more point under Judge George Murray at the Grand River KC show on July 10,2009. "Diesel" has 14 points and both majors! "Diesel" goes WD, BOW for that last point to finish his AKC Championship under Judge Evie Sullivan at the Putnam KC on July17, 2009.
Breeder/Owners Terry & Tom Lilleberg

 


 

CH BGDAWG's Bella Sera ( Noel ) finished number #25 in 2009!

 BISS Ch. Winhurst's Saks on Fifth, AOM finished #7 for 2008!

BISS Ch. Winhurst's Saks on Fifth, AOM finished #17 for 2007!

The Gallery wishes good luck to all Rick's 2010 hopefuls!!!!