Get to know Anthony and Darcie

Darcie's Section

I grew up in Washington state, and went to college there too. I lived in Washington my whole life up until January of 2006, when I moved here to South Carolina.

I graduated from Central Washington University in July of 2005. I received a Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences and double minored in genetics and forensic science. It took me 4 and 1/2 years to complete my degree, only to move to South Carolina and do something completely different. I now work at Starbucks part-time and love every minute of it. It has been a great experience for me and I have made a lot of new friends.

Dogs have of always been a part of my life and I have shown them since I was able to walk. I started with a Cairn Terrier named 'Betsy' that I showed in Pee-Wee junior handling up in Canada. Growing up my parents bred Gordon Setters and Pembroke Welsh Corgi's. I learned to groom and show all from them. In the last 10 years my step-father has brought my mom and I into the wonderful world of dobermans. For the past 10 years I have handled dobermans among many other breeds.

Dobermans have always been a love of mine and in 2005-2006 I specialed my families first home-bred champion 'Kirby.' (You can visit him on this site under dobermans) I love this dog more then anything, he is my heart. Kirby and I won mulitple groups and placements also landing us a spot in the Top Twenty. (an event held at the national every year, that you work all year for.) But more than all the winning we did and all the traveling, he was my buddy and at times my best friend. He was only a 'show dog' because I wanted him to be and because he always wanted to go "buh-bye." He is now retired and does the things only retired dogs do, such as lay on the couch, guard the yard, etc. He is the best dog in the whole world and I wouldn't trade him or any of my memories for anything!!!

I started working for a handler on the west coast full time in the middle of 2002. I remained there for almost 3 years. All while I was still going to college. I have worked for multiple handlers such as Rick and Dinah Baggenstos, Ellen Cottingham, and Laurie Jordan-Fenner. I spent most of my time working for Rick and Dinah, and loved every minute of it. I got to show, work and groom lots of dogs among many different breeds. I learned so much from them and my appreciation to them is unexplainable.

In 2005 under Rick and Dinah, I showed a Labrador named CH. Nirvana's HP Lovecraft "Lenny". I won a sporting group and multiple group placements, unfortunately his career was cut short due to his mom wanting him home to spend time with her.

I also won and put multiple sporting group placements on the #1 Wirehaired Pointing Griffon named CH. Wyncliff's Don't Bug Me "Bug".

Dinah has bred Flat-coated Retrievers for many years so I spent a lot of my time grooming, training and showing her dogs as well as ones she had bred. I always said I wouldn't miss the 'flat-heads' when I stopped working for them but the truth is I do miss them, they are such a cute breed.

When I moved here to South Carolina I knew very few dog people and no one outside of dogs. Now I have been here a year and I have lots of friends both in and out of dogs.

In November, Anthony took me to dinner (even though I REALLY didn't want to), while we were sitting there talking about nothing really he got up from the table and approached me. I started to panic just a little as I had no idea what he was doing, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. The first words out of my mouth....Did you ask my mommy?? He said yes that he had, and then I of course said 'Yes!!!' I then called almost everyone I could think of to tell them. I was so excited. When we were in Seattle earlier this year we picked out a place and a date. AUGUST 2, 2008!!! We are both very excited and I am busy trying to plan something that is over a year away.

I think that pretty much sums everything with me up. You can click on the date of our wedding at the bottom of this page to go to the website of were we will be wed. It is so beautiful!!!!

Love, Darcie