The 2024 AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin is officially in the books. Individuals and their dogs from very different backgrounds walked away with a valuable experience, each unique in its own special way. Some won big, vying for Group placements with a chance to go on to Best in Show, while others had the experience of a lifetime by finishing their dogs’ championship at one of the most prestigious dog shows of the year.
Breeder/owner/handler Karen Shaner was among those lucky exhibitors, putting a championship title on her Siberian Husky puppy, Porsche, who took home some huge wins over stiff competition en route to this accomplishment.
“It’s just fabulous,” Karen said. “It was a goal I had when I was coming here from Kansas City, and it feels absolutely wonderful. The competition is fierce here. We had some of the top dogs in the country here. Porsche has been excellent at 11 months old and even as a puppy. She has just shown like a pro.” Porsche was co-bred by Angie Luna, Barb Woods, and Karen Shaner, and is co-owned by Angie Luna and Karen Shaner.
While Porsche came away with Winners Bitch on her final day of the show, among other wins, Tim Terella and his Siberian Husky, Gin, won the Breed. Coincidentally, this dog and his breeder just so happen to have a strong connection to Porsche’s lines.
“It’s one of the ultimate wins you can get at dog shows,” Tim said of his experience. “You have so many beautiful dogs that are great representations of their breeds. It is an honor just to be involved in that type of competition, but to come out with a win is really exciting.”
Tim describes his highly successful special, Gin, as a “new kid on the block.” And it is easy to get the sense that Gin is just getting started here in the states with his big-time wins. He placed second in the Working Group as well, fully satisfying (and perhaps even exceeding) Tim’s own expectations, as he truly came out with a bang in Orlando.
“I bred him, and then he went to Japan for a couple of years to show, and we just got him back a month ago. This was his first dog show back with us and we started him on Tuesday and he won Best of Breed over all of the top Siberians in the United States and he just kind of took off.”
Outside of the Siberian ring, do-it-herself Professional Handler Samantha Niemeck made things look easy and effortless as a one-woman show, racking up multiple victories as a young pro who has consistently hung with the best of handlers who are far beyond her years in age.
Samantha specializes in Herding breeds as a breeder of Belgians and Australian Shepherds, but she has had success in multiple
different breeds.
“It’s been amazing here in Orlando,” Samantha said. “I think the judging panel itself has been very good. I do think that Orlando has been organized, especially for the dogs. The club itself has been very accommodating to exhibitors.” It is simply a different type of prestigious environment at this highly heralded show in the Sunshine State.
“This show, especially, is very welcoming to the public,” Samantha explained. “Also to handlers and other exhibitors, such as Owner Handlers as well. That’s really important. The Juniors also put on a great show and they come out and really show off their skills in the Junior Showmanship ring.” Samantha herself struck gold in Orlando in a fashion many could only hope for.
“I ended up finishing three dogs, all different breeds, so that was very exciting,” she shares. “I did have a huge specialty win on an up-and-coming Belgian Tervuren that I have had the pleasure of taking on since last year. But this was really his big debut. I ended up having some really nice wins on the final day, including an Award of Excellence, some Selects.”
At the end of the day, Samantha and others are primarily focused and appreciative for what the Orlando show does best—promote the responsible breeding and ownership of the quality, purebred canine.
“With the entries we have here, we are not only showing to preserve our breeds, but we are also having more of the public coming in, where you actually have those mentors and breeders here who are coming and talking to them when they have questions for them,” she explains. “Certain questions being like, ‘What is the dog like at home? What is the condition of the coat?’ Things like that.”
As Samantha notes, “We are more than the backyard breeders. We put in all the time, all the money, to whelp and breed and to make sure that our dogs are a reflection of who we are.”
