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Experiencing the Reality of the Dog World This summer I helped to represent the AKC and Junior Showmanship
on a reality television show for ABC Family called, Switched! I “switched”
lives with a boy, Mario who lives in Homestead, Florida for a weekend.
When I arrived in Florida, I though I’d be doing some fun activities
on the beach or playing baseball, no I was wrong. Mario works at the
Everglades Alligator Farm and volunteers at the Wildlife Outpost and
I was supposed to take his place. I went to the outpost first and
fed all types of animals from monkeys, buffalo, bears, anteaters,
birds, and big cats. Then I walked a 250 pound, one year old white
tiger named, Harry. That was my favorite part of the trip. The next
day, I went to the alligator farm where I hosed down the one year
old pit, there were about 50 alligators and me in this 20x20 pit.
My next duty was to feed the alligators in their breeding pond. This
pond was filled with hundreds of alligators that were all very hungry!
This was the most nerve wrecking part of the trip because I don’t
like reptiles and I had to touch raw chicken. The “challenge”
Mario gave me was to take his place in the alligator show. This involved
grabbing an alligator and pulling it to center stage so the audience
could see and wrestling it. I had to sit on the alligator, control
it, and then perform a trick called a “bull dog.” Anyone,
who knows me did not believe the things I did because I am scared
to death of reptiles, especially snakes. I did all of this for the
AKC and to represent our sport with honor and dignity, thank you for
asking me to participate in this adventure. Participating in the sport of dogs has provided me with opportunities
not available to most teenagers. I have traveled the country for dog
shows and have met many interesting people. Traveling to New York
City to compete at Westminster in Junior Showmanship is a highlight
for most Juniors. I have gone back to the Garden four times and each
time I have made it to the last cut with a Newfoundland. Two years
ago I also qualified to go to Orlando, Florida and compete at the
Classic. In 2003 I qualified and competed in the AKC/Eukanuba National
Invitational. I was handling a Newfoundland, Tera, who had recently
lost her home in the Southern California Wild Fires. I could not have
asked her to show any better than she did, she showed amazingly in
the Prelims as well as the Finals which led us to win fourth place
under Mr. Elliot Weiss. For my breed this was history in the making,
no Junior handling a Newfoundland has made it to the Finals in any
invitation only Juniors competition, until now. In 2002, I also finished
third in the Pedigree Open Senior Competition. Along with going to
Westminster, I have shown in a few nationals. The first national I
attended was for the Newfoundland Club of America in 1998 where I
won the Open Junior class. Later that year I won Best Junior at the
Clumber national. In 2000, 2001, and 2003 I won Best Junior at the
Newfoundland nationals, which left me, undefeated in Junior Showmanship.
I also won Top Newfoundland Junior Handler in Showmanship in 2001
and Top Newfoundland Junior Handler in Conformation in 2002. Last
year at the Newfoundland Club of America Regional in San Diego I won
Best of Breed with my 9 year old veteran dog, BISS AM Uci Int Ch Ralees
Winddancer ROM. I have been very consistent throughout all my six
years in Junior Showmanship. Even competing in California where there
aren’t as many juniors I still manage to make it in the top
40 all-breed polls every year. The polls are calculated by the number
of Juniors defeated, in California you must be in the ribbons every
show to at least be among the top juniors at the end of the year.
This past year I showed 13 times (including the Classic) and qualified
for both the Classic and Westminster. I started working for professional handlers when I was twelve and
have been working at dog shows ever since. Professional handlers have
taught me many important aspects of the dog show world. I have learned
how to run an efficient set-up as well as, how to groom, care and
handle numerous breeds from all seven groups. Kim Griffith was my
first boss and still is one of my mentors in the sport. He taught
me all the basics of handling dogs professionally while I worked for
him for six years. I also worked for Peter and Valerie Atkinson for
over three years. Currently, I am working for Amy Rodrigues and I
am finding out more about professional handling through her expertise.
I feel Junior Showmanship is a training ground to become a professional
handler. With this concept in mind I have not only shown my primary
breed, Newfoundlands, but also, Beagles, Ibizan Hounds, Otterhounds,
Australian Cattle Dogs, Pembroke Welsh Corgis, Clumber Spaniels, Golden
Retrievers, and Bullmastiffs. My education is another important part of my life. I was very active
in my high school’s extracurricular activities. I was the Girl’s
Athletic Commissioner of ASB for two years. I held the position of
Social Chair in the Latino Club, M.E.Ch.A. for three years. I ran
Varsity track (pole vault and hurdles) for three years. And I was
assistant athletic trainer for two years. In addition to my extra
curricular activities, I was accepted into Who’s Who Among American
High School Students four times, and I was also accepted for the National
Honor Roll four times as well. In English, I was awarded High Honors
in the Golden State Exams and Honors for English my sophomore year,
and U.S. History my junior year too. At the end of my high school
career I was awarded with the Baseline League Outstanding Senior,
a scholar athlete award. Last year at Chaffey Community College I
concentrated on my education, track, and dog shows. I left Chaffey
Community College and I am attending Mt. San Antonio College to have
a better all around college experience. I am currently enrolled in
22 units and competing for the Mounties on the Women’s track
and field team in the pole vault. My plan for college is to attend Mt. San Antonio College this semester
and run track (pole vault). Then transfer to Oklahoma State University
to major in Political Science and run track. For graduate school I
hope to attend Oklahoma University and study law. If later I decide
law isn’t the right path for me I would like to earn a Master’s
and credential in education so I can teach high school. I love high
school and the activities that surround it. I’m still not sure
what exactly I want to do in the world of dogs. Whether I should handle
dogs professionally, or be a breeder-owner-handler, or maybe work
for the AKC. I am really excited about the summer internship for AKC,
and I think this opportunity will give me a much better idea of what
career path that will be best for me. I do know dogs and dog shows
are a huge part of my life and I will always be involved with them
in some way. No matter what, I will always be at the dog shows even
if it is only handling my own dogs. As for my future in the dog show
world, my goal is to handle the Best of Breed at one Newfoundland
National and to represent the Newfoundland and other breeds in a positive
manner throughout the country. |
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