Growing up in the Giannetti household, the family
pet was always a Beagle. When Terri discovered dog
shows at age 15, her breed choice was a Golden
Retriever because of its size, general appearance,
intelligence and coat. Although “Rupert” was not
the epitome of the breed standard, he did earn his
C.D. with very respectable scores.
Fourteen years and two Golden Retrievers later,
Terri consistently found herself watching the
Beagle ring. The breed’s sharp appearance and
brisk, business-like manner particularly appealed
to her. Over the years however, Terri has come to
enjoy and be amused by the typical Hound antics
that keep us humble as breeders and handlers.
In 1985, Terri purchased her first show Beagle,
(Ch.) Bridal Vale Beowulf Moody Blue from Carole
Bolan (Bridal Vale Beagles) of Massachusetts.
“Blue”, a tri-color, was a Ch. Chrisette’s Macho
Man son. When it came time to purchase a
foundation bitch, Terri acquired (Ch.) Chrisette’s
Beowulf Kashmir from Sandy Robichaud of Chrisette
Beagles, also from Massachusetts. The beginning of
Beowulf Kennel saw the breeding of a Blue X Kashmir
daughter, Ch. Beowulf Days of Wine and Roses –
“Chablis” to Ch White Acres Designer Label.
In 1988, Terri moved to North Carolina where she
worked with Jon Woodring and Wade Burns of Lanbur
Beagles to learn more about the breed and
handling. Working in their boarding kennel also
provided a good education for her future goal of
having a handling and boarding business.
Terri met Ted Swedalla, JR of Temateki Beagles -
Long Island, NY at a dog show in Connecticut. He
had a gorgeous 15” bitch (Ch Buglair Belle of
Temateki – “Spice”) that Terri tried unsuccessfully
to purchase from him. Ted countered with an offer
of trading Spice for Chablis. In 1991 Terri and
Ted were married which needless to say, ended all
discussion of selling or trading those two
bitches.
After 12 years of Professional Handling (primarily
hounds, sporting and non-sporting), Terri felt it
was time to pursue a lifelong interest. In 2004,
she graduated from John Jay College in NYC with a
Master’s degree in Criminal Justice. For her
Thesis she combined two of her interests, canines
and law enforcement, and produced a thesis paper
titled, “Cave Canem: Police Service Dogs and the
Use Of Force”.
Since graduation, Terri has been employed as an
Officer for U.S. Customs and Border Protection at
JFK International Airport. The primary focus of
her job addresses contraband interdiction and
terrorism. In 2008, Terri made the canine unit at
JFK and returned from the Canine Enforcement
Training Center in Front Royal, VA with her new
partner, a Belgian Malinois named “K9 Tery”. In
August of 2010, Terri and K9 Tery swept the Gold in
narcotics search at the World Police and Fire Games
Police Service Dog Competition held in New York
City.
Now Terri’s involvement in the dog show world is
strictly as Breeder/Handler. Although not present
in the ring every weekend as in the past, she has
enjoyed the Breeder/Handler’s freedom to decide
where and when to go. In addition to showing her
and Ted’s Beowulf Beagles, Terri is actively
campaigning her second love: the German Shepherd
Dog.
