I first started showing dogs in the early 2000s, taking my mixed-breed dog Rocky to our local 4-H dog training group. Under the guidance of Ms. Rita LaPointe and the Cave Canem 4-H group in Massachusetts, students learned how to handle our dogs in obedience, present them in conformation, and understand the health and well-being of our dogs through knowledge tests. After a few years working with Rocky, our family brought home Sadie, a Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen. With the arrival of my first purebred dog, we started showing in AKC and 4-H. I found a great group of fellow juniors who I could spend time with ringside and have the spirit of camaraderie with inside the ring. Sadie and I primarily focused our time on Junior Showmanship, conformation, and obedience when we were first getting started, as these were part of both the 4-H curriculum and AKC offerings that I was interested in.
As I grew up, my time in 4-H and AKC Junior Showmanship came to a close and I went to college. I was invited to judge 4-H events as an alumna, and would often volunteer to help my club as much as possible. In college, I joined the PBGV Club of America and a local all-breed club, participating in shows as a steward and running the all-breed club’s Facebook page. I also learned how to be an event chairperson and helped to organize the annual all-breed dog show. During college, I had the opportunity to do an internship with my county’s 4-H department, and learned how to write press releases, run a professional social media campaign, and design promotional materials. For the most part, I was on hiatus from showing at this time- I lived on campus at school, and was not able to bring my dogs with me. I started showing again in 2015, competing with Sadie and finishing a number of companion titles on her in Rally, Obedience, and also Therapy Dog work. Sadie and I also attended the Westminster Kennel Club’s Meet and Compete weekend on behalf of the PBGV Club of America to educate thousands of people on the breed.
After college, I continued to be active in my local all-breed club and national club, and worked in an animal hospital. I kept in touch with fellow 4-Hers and would help my clubs as much as I could. I found that being involved in shows on an administrative side was very fulfilling- it gave me the opportunity to learn more about the shows and see how different breeds were presented, without needing to worry about making it for my own ring times. I had the first-hand experience with AKC rules and regulations, understanding the breakdown of classes, how to count points, and how dogs advance in their show careers.
I was hired by the American Kennel Club in July of 2017, and began my career with the Conformation/Obedience Event Records department. Our team processes the results from dog shows, confirming what is sent to us by the superintendent, checking the judge’s books, and correcting errors when they occur.
It has been a delight to work for the American Kennel Club so far, and is wonderful to come to work with other people who share the same dedication to dogs as I do. I am still involved in showing my dogs, and bring my two year old PBGV “Rowan” to work with me every day. I am now part of a local PBGV club and have enjoyed having the time to compete with him in new venues, including hunting, rally, conformation, and obedience. I look forward to my future with the American Kennel Club, and am enjoying every experience presented to me. It is a privilege to work with other people who share the same joy and interest in dogs, and has been a great adventure to move to North Carolina.