A New Generation in the Field: The Beginning of Visalore Whippets Blog
- Lorena Caballero
- Mar 24
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 2
VISALORE WHIPPETS
Field Notes
There’s something special about watching a dog do what they were born to do.
At Visalore Whippets, our days are filled with early mornings, open fields, wilderness trails, flying ears, and quiet moments of pride that are sometimes hard to capture in real time. So, I decided it was time to start writing it all down.
This blog will be our space to share it all: field notes from lure coursing and show weekends, updates on our dogs, reflections on training and growth, puppy spam (of course!), and the behind-the-scenes moments that make this journey so meaningful.
And it feels only right to begin with one of the most important parts of Visalore: our next generation.
A NEW GENERATION IN THE FIELD
The last few months marked something truly special.
My 10-year-old daughter, Victoria, our Junior Handler, stepped into the field and accomplished something that goes far beyond titles. With focus, dedication, and a natural connection to her dog, she handled ZARA to earning two new AKC titles:
LCX (Lure Courser Excellent) and;
DCAT (Fast CAT title)
These titles represent consistency, athleticism, drive and heart. But what meant the most wasn’t just the achievement itself.
It was watching her grow into this role.
And the truth is; this didn’t happen overnight.
She has been directly immersed in the world of whippets for the past four years, starting as a peewee and long before she was even eligible to be an AKC Junior Handler. From the beginning, I made a point to bring her into every part of the process—encouraging her not just to watch, but to participate.
She learned how to wrap feet.
How to put on racing blankets.
How to make sure her dogs were properly hydrated, warmed up, and stretched before a run.
How to cool them down afterwards.
And how to care for and condition them in our day-to-day life, not just on trial weekends.
All of those small, consistent moments, often unnoticed, have built the foundation for what we saw these last couple of months.
And for me, it’s more than gratifying.
It’s emotional.
To see the fruits of that time and effort take shape, from the time this child was 6 years old to now, and to know that it helped ignite something real—a passion, a responsibility, and a love for these dogs...what dog mom isn’t elated to share a life passion like this with her skin child?
THE COMMUNITY BEHIND THE MOMENT
Across the different states and lure coursing clubs we’ve had the privilege of running with, my daughter has been met with encouragement, patience, and genuine support. Handlers, judges, and volunteers alike have taken the time to guide her, cheer her on, and make space for her to learn.
That kind of sportsmanship matters.
Because in a time when participation in conformation and performance events is declining—and when younger generations are noticeably absent—these moments become bigger than a single title or weekend.
They become part of something essential.
Positive, welcoming experiences are what invite young people into the dog world, and what encourage them to stay.
They are how we pass on knowledge, preserve tradition, and protect the future of the breeds and sports we hold so dear.
MORE THAN TITLES
In the world of performance canine sports, it’s easy to focus on ribbons, placements, and statistics.
But these last few months have been a reminder that what we’re really building here is something deeper.
We’re building:
• confidence
• partnership
• responsibility
• resilience
• patience
• and true sportsmanship
Because out in the field, neither kids nor dogs win every time.
And that’s the point.
She is learning to keep showing up, to keep working, and to keep believing in the process, even when the ribbon doesn’t come home with us. She is learning patience through the long road to titles, and what it means to work consistently, and with joy, toward a goal that takes time.
She is also learning something even more rare for today's children:
How to celebrate others.
To genuinely find joy in another handler’s success. To recognize excellence in other dogs. To watch someone else walk away with Best in Field and still feel proud, inspired, and part of something bigger.
And that’s part of the lesson too.
To recognize excellence.
To admire it openly.
To be inspired by it.
Because loving this sport means loving the dogs—not just your own, but the ones who take your breath away when they run.
And when it is her turn to win—to do so with gratitude, humility, and respect for everyone else who showed up and gave their best.
In a world that often prioritizes instant gratification, these lessons matter.
They last far beyond the field.
WHAT’S NEXT
This is just the beginning. From here, I’ll be sharing more of our days in the field, the trails, and the ring, our training process, upcoming litters, and the real, unfiltered moments that come with raising and competing with these incredible dogs.
Welcome to Visalore.
Visalore Whippets — Where instinct meets intention.
This post was refined with AI tools.
Comments