The 鈥淪kye鈥� seems to be the limit for the versatility of 4-year-old Skye Terrier 鈥淟acey鈥� and her owners, husband and wife Judith Tabler and 89-year-old owner Clay Cook, of McLean, Virginia. The two excel in dog sports together, and the duo鈥檚 strong bond is uplifting for Cook. Lacey (GCH CH Gleanntan Sure Good Solace BN CGCA TKI) is a positive, shining light that only further underscores Cook鈥檚 love for this rarer breed. Through Lacey, 89-year-old owner Cook was able to start showing dogs in conformation and found a new hobby.
Pivoting Hobbies and Finding New Ones
Cook is a retired attorney, and only recently got involved in dog sports. His passion for the breed is also more recent. Tabler has owned and handled Skye Terriers since the 1990s, inspiring his interest in the breed. Instead of doing dog sports, Cook and Tabler often spent their vacation time in the Teton and Wind River Mountain backcountry. They would hike and trout fish with friends along rivers in Western Wyoming and soak up the sun and lush nature of the area.
But health issues have slowly been putting trips like these on the backburner. Cook鈥檚 health issues, including chronic bursitis in both hips and rotator cuff pain, have begun to catch up with him in recent years. Cook devoted his energy to gardening instead, but found that since it was only seasonal, it wasn鈥檛 as fulfilling. He tried collecting stamps and coins, and looking into genealogy, but nothing quite stuck. Then the pandemic hit, and Cook was at a loss. A few months later, when things began to open up again, Tabler suggested that he come to a dog show with her where she was showing Lacey.
The Couple鈥檚 Lifetime Love of Dogs
The couple have been married for three decades and have always had dogs, both together and separately. Tabler moved into Cook鈥檚 house with a Cocker Spaniel, Chow Chow, and a Skye puppy. During his childhood, Cook also had a Chow Chow, but most of his adult life revolved around his demanding work schedule, leaving him without time for a dog.
From 2017-2018, the pair decided to rent out their home McLean, Virginia and live in Jackson, Wyoming, for three years. Cook frequented the area as a child and later took his three children from his first marriage there for fly-fishing, hiking, and dude ranching. That trip West included two 6-year-old Skye Terriers: 鈥淏obby鈥� (CH Skyeluck Bulletproof DD BN RN CGCA TKN) and 鈥淔riar鈥� (Firestorm Dell鈥� Antica Caledonia CD BN RN CGCA TKN FITB).
Discovering a Passion for Dog Sports
Soon after they attended the dog show, Cook began to see what Lacey鈥檚 future could look like in dogs sports. Rather than sit at home while Tabler was on the road showing Lacey and the family鈥檚 other Skyes, Cook began accompanying his wife and interacting with the crowd. Sitting ringside, he found many people to chat with about this rare breed and could fluently discuss the breed鈥檚 history to its origin in 1588. Before they knew it, the two were in the ring.
Lacey was doing well, and Cook wanted to understand the different classes and how points were accumulated. 鈥淣ext time, I didn鈥檛 even have to suggest he come 鈥� he was ready,鈥� Tabler says. 鈥淗e鈥檇 found a new hobby.鈥� Tabler initially had only wanted to finish Lacey with her championship, but Cook suggested they go on longer. He鈥檇 begun to understand specialing a dog by then, and wanted to take Lacey even further. 鈥淲e kept showing, and Lacey earned her Grand Championship in October 2023, which left Clay beaming,鈥� Tabler recalls.
The Skye Terrier鈥檚 Unique Charm
Skyes, which are ranked at 185 of the 201 AKC-recognized dog breeds, are often misidentified and trigger many 鈥渨hat breed is that?鈥� questions in public. 鈥淭hey are easy dogs to live with 鈥� They are perhaps the calmest terrier, but they are ready to go when we are,鈥� says Tabler. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e alert and interactive with their people, and their coat is easy to maintain.鈥� 鈥淎 big reason I am attracted to the Skye is its appearance. I was walking one of my Skyes across a show ground one day when a lady stopped before me and pointed to the dog, then said, 鈥楾hat is a breed that always makes me smile.鈥� And I responded, 鈥楳e, too.'鈥�
Despite not having Skyes before he met Tabler, her husband fell in love with the breed. 鈥淚 have never known a dog that is such a cheerful and attentive companion and is also a full-fledged competitor,鈥� says Cook. 鈥淓very day is a good day in Lacey鈥檚 mind. Every person is someone to welcome,鈥� he says.
They turn heads wherever they go 鈥� even on the side of Interstate 80 in Rock Springs, Wyoming. 鈥淲e were grabbing lunch at a fast-food place near a busy intersection,鈥� recalls Tabler. 鈥淎fter we ate, I walked the dogs around the parking lot鈥檚 grassy edge. When I neared the intersection, I heard a lot of honking. I looked around and saw a woman waving her at me. 鈥榃ait right there. I鈥檓 a dog show judge, and I鈥檓 coming around.'鈥�
It took her a moment, but eventually she pulled around. The judge explained that she鈥檇 seen some Skye Terriers in the ring from a distance at a recent show in Greeley, Colorado. She was so thrilled to have a change to look at Friar and Bobby firsthand, up close.鈥漌e were excited to meet a dog show judge interested in Skyes way out in Wyoming,鈥� says Tabler.
Finding Joy and Purpose With Lacey
鈥淲e had several other Skyes, but I was thoroughly charmed by Lacey鈥檚 disposition and the affection she demonstrated when she arrived at our residence,鈥� Cook says. 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 that I didn鈥檛 become close with the earlier Skyes, but I worked long hours at a job I liked. While the earlier ones were Judy鈥檚. Lacey was, too. Judy fed and groomed her. But what was remarkable was that Lacey came to join me daily to say, 鈥榟ello,鈥� and to receive a 鈥榞ood to see you鈥� caress.鈥�
As a puppy, Lacey sought out Cook in the morning before she went out to the garden and stopped by his home office in the afternoons. That bonding intensified in the evening when he called Lacey to join him on the living room couch or study love seat, so he could give her a pat on the shoulder or tummy rub.
鈥淚t makes me happy to think this animal wants to spend time with me 鈥� someone who doesn鈥檛 feed or take care of her,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he special relationship has extended far beyond the house and opened new friendships for me, [which] I never anticipated.鈥�
But they鈥檙e close friends at home, too, where Cook takes Lacey on walks about their property using his scooter. 鈥淲ithout that walk, I鈥檓 not sure how often he would go outside,鈥� adds Tabler.
Lacey naturally thrives on retrieving her toys and at home, with Cook serving as the thrower. He has enlarged her repertoire by giving her socks, handkerchiefs, and gloves to retrieve. She is also learning to pick up a dropped phone.