Bethany Urban grew up hunting with her dad in Eastern Washington, with their Irish Water Spaniels leading the way.

She and her husband Tom, decided to buy one as a pet for their then 6-year-old daughter Madeline.

“We weren’t looking for a show dog, we were looking for a companion for our daughter,” Urban said.

After pestering her enough, Urban was able to buy Riley from breeder Colleen McDaniel who owns The Academy of Canine Behavior and Training in Bothell. Greg Siner, who now co-owns Riley, bred Riley’s father, and the Urban’s 18-month-old Irish Water Spaniel, Page.

“You don’t realize what you’ve got — you never know if they’re going to be the superstar in the arena,” Urban said. “What you want is good temperament and health. Between Colleen and Greg you’ve got 70 years of breeding (experience).”

The Urbans raised Riley, socialized her and got involved with the Irish Water Spaniel Club of Puget Sound. Siner came out from the East coast and that’s when he met Riley and told the Urban’s they had a “good looking bitch.”

With that she had McDaniel show Riley first.

“We’d never been to a dog show — the closest we came was the movie ‘Best in Show,'” Urban said.

Riley became a champion by 2010 and continued to show in the Seattle area until August 2011. Urban, who has learned a lot since then, said the judges are looking for the breed standard; a nice bite, posture and good behavior.

By the summer of 2011, the Urbans were well acquainted with dog shows. Three of Riley’s litter mates were showing on the West coast and doing well, so they asked Siner to take her to the East coast and see what he thought.

“It was a difficult decision to send her out, but Greg Siner is known as Mr. Irish Water Spaniel,” Urban said.

By October 2011 Riley got her first Best in Show with Siner handling her, and that’s when they knew they made the right decision.

“She loves it, and loves being in the shows — she loves the clapping,” Urban said.

By December 2012, Riley (now GCH Whistle Stop’s Riley on Fire) became the top-winning female in the history of the breed with 12 previous Best in Shows. By November of 2013 she became the most winning Irish Water Spaniel in breed history, a record held since 1979. She was also the 2013 No. 1 Sporting Dog in the U.S. and No. 5 of all breeds. Then she won the 2013 Sporting Group at the 2013 AKC/Eukanuba National Championship.

Riley had been to Westminster before — with Siner the first time, then with handlers Rick and Jenny Krieger the second time. This year, she went with Rick Krieger as her handler, beating out 28 other breeds to win Best in Sporting Group at the prestigious Westminster Dog Show last month.

Riley will compete in the Irish Water Spaniel Club of America National Speciality Show then come home to retire. She will travel back and forth to see Siner, however.

Bethany Urban often travels with her, and she speaks to Krieger every weekend.

“Show dogs are pets — they’re just groomed all the time,” Urban said. “But they still have fun and she’ll be back lying on the bed.”

18-month old Page, is one of Tom and Bethany Urban’s three Irish Water Spaniels.

Some of Riley’s hardware at the Urban’s home in Issaquah.