Breeder Susan Bennington ’78, owner of MoonLit Labradors, made history when one of her 10-month-old puppies won Winner’s Dog, the highest honor given by the Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac at the club’s annual show. “Ringo” was the youngest ever dog to win the honor. In this interview, Ms. Bennington talks about that win, how she became a breeder, and her favorite teacher.
What were you doing before you became a breeder?
I went to school, got degrees, and then landed in the corporate world. Originally, I was working for a segment of Estee Lauder and then for a very large duty free organization. I traveled the world, which was an education beyond anything, but as wonderful as it was, I’m just not one to work for other people.
How did you become interested in the world of dog breeding?
Because animals had always been my passion I sort of fell into it. In the early 1990s, not knowing what I was doing, I got a Labrador, decided to have a litter of puppies, and that was where it began. I have been very blessed, I’ve been very successful, but the reality is I am a peon in the Labrador world.
How many Labradors do you own?
Right now I have 15 to 18. This includes some of my favorites, a few girls and an old timer. Any breeder, in any breed, who says they don’t have a favorite is lying.
How did your puppy make Labrador history?
The cream of the crop of the Labrador world meet for a specialty show every year, called the Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac, in Frederick, Maryland. There are over 1,500 Labradors from around the world who come to compete at the show. A few year’s ago I won when my 10-month-old puppy was named Winner’s Dog, beating out all the other dogs and making history; he was the youngest Labrador puppy ever to win this distinction. When they announced it I literally fell out of my chair.
Who was your favorite teacher at Williston and why?
Steve Seybolt ’58, known as “Bolt” to his students, who taught English. He was the first person in my life to recognize that I had real potential. Coming from a public school with 3,000 kids where you’re a number, I never really wanted to excel. At Williston I became a person, and he got me to really want to work for him.