BIOS

She was raised by parents who showed and bred Irish Setters, but decided on a  smaller sporting dog for her family.

First owned by Amanda ( Sunspans Reflections of Time) a small black and white bitch,as well as a son of Ch Gala Glen Vatican Soldier out of"Dixie,"she was later able to bring in Amanda's father (Ch Gunpowder's Encore of Sunspan) and the incredible Ch Sunspan Southern Style -"Dixie",a group placing girl, later to become an ECM with 8 champion get. All dogs now at Encore go back to these original animals.

She is especially proud of the Tracking, Hunting, and Obedience titles earned by dogs bred at Encore as well as the 8 champions ( more are close to title)

She has worked as a bird planter and  secretary, as well as running dogs in numerous Working Tests over the years.

Having experienced Junior Showmanship with her daughter, Megan Cuthrell, owner handling numerous dogs (including finishing her own Sussex Spaniel, Ch Askonandy's Golden Sonrise)  as well as having dogs shown by handlers, having worked for a large kennel (Tirvelda) and as a professional groomer both in major Northern VA grooming shops and on her own ( business name "Doggone Mama,") and having been deeply involved with the famous Soho English cockers for a number of years, Mrs. Sisk will be extending her service to the dog community by judging Sporting dogs and Jr Showmanship at local fun matches, as well as working on hunting events and possible judging WD tests. She plans to apply to the AKC for judging status in the near future.

Marybeth Piadrafite decided as a youngster she wanted to be involved with dogs. over 25 years later, she still is!

She decided not to go to college, attending  the Maryland School of Dog Grooming instead. Her first business was actually a pet store as well as a large grooming facility. After several years, she decided to take it slower, and have a boarding/grooming business and live on the premises. This was the real beginning of The Fireplug though her hunting/conformation/obedience English cockers already carried the theme as the kennel name.

Jack ( Ch Mittenwald's Jack in the Pulpit JH) a red, was the first English cocker to join Albert the lab and Copper Penny the Irish Setter. He was followed by Gunpowder's Lot's O Dots CD, a tri color. She is behind every Fireplug pedigree. Katie,  Trupence Featherduster ODM'S WD, was also a major addition to the breeding program. And when Ch Foxfyre Blue Blazer CD WD came along, garnering all 3 titles handled by Marybeth as well as numerous Breed placements and a Group placement, the idea for "show dogs who can hunt" was really born. He was the first of 3 generations of "versatility dogs" at the Fireplug; Rocky needs only a CD to be the fourth. Fifth generation "Gracie" is rapidly piling up the hunt titles and working at Master Hunter level,and has a leg on her CD, while also producing a litter which also shows promise as all-around athletic dogs.Recently Gracie became a grandmother;her daughter produced both liver roans and blue roans. These are also bred to compete in any type of event an owner might wish to try.( of course, All English Cockers insist on bed privileges and to be your constant companions!)

Marybeth insisted all of her dogs have obedience training. She was involved from the beginning with the AKC Hunting Test program, which she judges almost as often as she runs dogs. Her fondest memory as a WD judge is from the ECSCA National several years ago.

As a new conformation handler, she took a handling course from George Alston, and after that she was unstoppable, showing against major league handlers and often bringing home the awards!  Her dogs are known for free baiting, and moving on loose lead, practices virtually unknown in English cocker circles. As well, she won the very first Randall Feather Sportsmanship Award from the ECSCA. She is known for her perfect Braces ( having won BIS Brace and Group winning Brace on several occasions) and for even entering teams ( 4 dogs) at the National Specialty.