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Junior Showmanship was a big deal to me when I was young, and in 1999 I placed third in Juniors at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. That same year I was also the #3 Junior Handler in the country. Now I love to help out the juniors and teach them all of the tricks to becoming a top Junior Handler. It is very rewarding to know I can give back to them what I learned throughout my junior years and see how excited they are to get a ribbon and knowing they did their best.
I remember when I got my first Best In Show on Schipperke BIS. CH. Dideb's Speedeau Dreux. It was the most exciting win at that time because it was my first year out of juniors and the start of my professional handling career. It was definitely a fantastic start. Now, I have many Best In Shows on other breeds such as Siberian Huskies, Australian Shepherds and other Schipperkes.
My biggest and most exciting accomplishment ever was when I became the first and as of right now only handler to ever win the group with an Australian Shepherd at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. I had the pleasure of showing MBIS. BISS. CH. Vinlake Collinswood Yablon "Deuce". I had also won the National Specialty with her the year before and she then went on to becoming the #1 Australian Shepherd and #4 Herding dog in the country.
Beside the showing part of dogs, I have also taught many handling classes which I love to do because you get to see how much the handler improves each week with their dog. I have put on handling workshops for the juniors (which is a blast), have done a little bit of judging and breed Siberian Huskies with my mom and Australian Shepherds.
There is nothing more fulfilling then being able to show my dogs as well as others and getting to enjoy all of the different breeds and their different personalities. Each dog is treated as my own and is spoiled all the same.