Meet Brielle Villarreal, a talented Junior Handler who shares her journey with Bulldogs, theater passion, and insights on dog shows.
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Hello, my name is Brielle Villarreal and I am a Junior Handler. You may have recognized me in the ring with my Bulldogs, as I have shown them my entire career. Throughout my years in Junior Showmanship, I have won over one hundred and twenty Best Juniors, was awarded the California Junior of the Year in 2024, and have qualified for the Westminster Kennel Club for seven consecutive years and counting, making the Junior Showmanship Finals in 2020. I am delighted and honored to share with you all my experiences over the years and reflect on my journey with my Bulldogs.
I live in Elk Grove, California, just south of Sacramento. I am currently a senior at Sheldon High School.
Aside from showing dogs, my other passion is acting and musical theatre. I have been in my high school’s Advanced Theatre program for three years and absolutely love it. I end up doing six productions a year and practically live on the stage when I’m not at a dog show. Some of my favorite lead roles throughout this last school year were Miss Scarlett in Clue: On Stage and Gertrude McFuzz in Seussical the Musical. My high school is known for their prestigious theatre program, and that was the reason I chose to attend Sheldon. Dog shows, theatre, school, and college research have been the big four throughout this past year.
Although I know quite a few Juniors who have generations of breeding and handling within their family, I am not one of them. My family did not come from any experience whatsoever, they (including myself) didn’t even know dog shows existed until 10 years ago when I first started my journey. I am the first person in my family to show dogs and have mainly shown Bulldogs my entire Junior career.
My parents had had dogs before I was born, but they weren’t show dogs. When my parents got married they rescued a Weimaraner and a Bulldog out of the newspaper. By the time I had turned 7 they both passed away and my parents were looking for another dog, and since they learned with the Weimaraner the first time that the breed has a lot of energy, they decided to get another Bulldog instead. My parents began going to local dog shows to find a Bulldog breeder, and that’s where we found our new puppy and a new interest in showing dogs.
Once we got to the dog show I knew I wanted to try, and so I, of course, hounded my parents to see when I could show. They ended up getting in touch with some people in the Bulldog community and began asking amateur questions to see when I could get in the ring. I was 7 at the time, and we learned that I couldn’t start Juniors until I was 9. So, until then, I began showing in puppy matches and small specialty shows. And from the second I turned 9 it’s been a rollercoaster ever since. I eventually connected with a few breeders, and once I got older I met Olive, my main show dog who I like to call my “soul dog.” Most if not all of my success and accomplishments I have done with her. She is the other half to my heart. I would not trade anything for the career and years I have had with her
in Juniors.
One of my earliest memories of showing in Juniors was when I had my first show dog, Gemma, and we had won Best Junior out of the Novice Class. I remember being really shocked and surprised to actually win my class let alone win Best Junior out of a wonderful line-up of young handlers.
I don’t have a lot of rituals, but I do like to stick to my routine when it comes to getting ready. I am definitely a creature of habit. Everything I do has to be in the same order. If it isn’t, I’m “off” that day. I also hate switching out leads. I have a specific lead I always use for each dog I show and I never change it no matter what show I am competing at.
Nerves are actually something I struggle with quite often when showing. Whenever I am aware that it’s a high stake, whether I have a very important Judge or I need to qualify for something, or I’m about to surpass a record, those are the times when I tend to go into what I call “autopilot” and tend to check out and miss certain critical points of my procedure, which can make or break my performance and the results of the competition. And after going through trial and error of how to deal with it, what I do now is try to visualize my procedure in my head and construct a blueprint on what my plan of attack is when I get in the ring. I also always watch the classes ahead of me to see what the Judge is doing, so I go in prepared. If the Judge is doing a triangle for the class before me, they are most likely (and should) have me do a triangle as well. So, I visualize how I’m going to get my dog ready and how I am going to perfectly execute the triangle, and same goes with the rest of the procedure. Visualization is key.
In the beginning of my career, with Olive specifically, I owe a lot of thanks to Eric Salas for teaching me how to connect with Olive and build a trust and respect-based relationship with her. Essentially, how to create a strong bond and display it in the ring. He also was the one who taught me the methods of visualizing every part of a full ring procedure and practicing how to execute it piece by piece. I truly believe I would not have gotten anywhere near what I have accomplished if it wasn’t for him. I also immensely thank the breeders of all of the dogs I have shown in Juniors, but specifically Kim Lucier, Beth Stephenson, and Brian Stephenson for breeding Olive and allowing me to adopt her into a part of my family as well as my seasoned show dog. They really created a special one.
In addition to Olive’s breeders, I would like to thank Elizabeth Hugo-Milam, who was my first-ever Juniors Judge and who also bred the show dog I am currently training, Malibu. As far as assisting Professional Handlers, I have had the privilege and honor of helping handlers Ethan Coye, Olivia Hodgekinson, and the McFadden family. Ethan and I showed in Juniors together for a few years right when I was starting and he was aging out. They are truly the most talented and intelligent people I have ever met. They have taught me about so many breeds and have made me a better handler. I owe so much to them as well. Not only are they amazing handlers, but they are even better friends. As far as Bulldog handlers specifically, Eduardo Paris, Dennis O’Connor, and Sandra Martinez have also inspired me as far as showing off the Breed Standard and improving in the Juniors ring. And lastly, I would like to thank the Bulldog community as well as my loving and endlessly supportive family. Emotionally, my family as well as many Bulldoggers have held my hand throughout the ups and downs of my journey and have given me the encouragement to be proud of my breed.
The biggest win I would say would be the year I made the Westminster Junior Showmanship Finals in 2020. I was 13. I remember making each of the many cuts the Judge was making over and over. First I was in the cut with 16, then 8, then 4. It was definitely nerve-wracking, and I didn’t know how much more Olive could take. Even though we were both young, it was a lot considering it was only my second year qualifying. When she pointed to me, I broke down in tears sobbing. I just couldn’t think of anything else to say or do but cry. And the best part was my whole family flew to New York to watch me. I had always known Olive was special, but that moment just solidified it for me. I was the first Bulldog to make the Junior Showmanship Finals in 45 years. It was surreal to me. And walking onto the floor of Madison Square Garden, the lights and the crowd and the announcers iconic voice… I really think it was the best moment of my life, not just the best win. But what goes up must come down, right? It was all cloud 9 until I got to Westminster the year after in 2021. I think that was what sparked the issue with the nerves. I couldn’t think straight.
The problem was I wanted so desperately to meet if not surpass what I had done before. The bad thing about being so competitive is letting go of past victories. The year before made me believe I was a good handler, and gave me confidence, and I didn’t want to lose that. So, when I walked in, I was clearly nervous and didn’t make the Finals. It crushed me, and it made me feel like I was not good enough anymore. The problem was, because I was so nervous, I tried to show my breed very fancy in an attempt to look flashy, which wasn’t necessarily showing to the Breed Standard. And then after struggling for a little while, I realized that I needed to understand the outside perspective of it all. I was a good handler. I had made it to Westminster three years in a row with a Bulldog.
That was a privilege, a huge accomplishment already. I was so clouded by what I had done that one year that I forgot about what I had done my entire career so far. You see, dog shows are all subjective. There are many good handlers, and there are many good dogs. But almost every single time you walk into the ring you have different Judges who have different tastes or look for different things in a handler or in a dog, and you are competing against different people. What I learned is that if I trust in my abilities, trust in my dog, and do everything I need to do, then at that point it’s all in the Judges’ hands. Which is why for Westminster 2022, 2023, and 2024 that’s exactly what I did. And I am still working to reach my goal and make the Finals again. I am excited for what Westminster 2025 has to bring!
I really appreciate this question. This is actually something I feel makes my performance in the ring stand out and oftentimes is the splitting hair decision that either wins me Best Junior or counts me out in the Judges’ eyes. At what I call “the final line-up” when all of the dogs are set up in a line right before the Judge places the group, I always turn my dog facing front. I do this because it is what is done in the Breed ring, and the front and head are a very important part of a Bulldog’s Standard. If Junior Showmanship is supposed to be a competition based on how well this Junior can present this certain breed, then what would be representing my breed would be to face front on the final stack. This is my favorite part of my procedure because no other breed does this, and it helps me stand out when I often find myself in a line-up against Sporting dogs and other flashy breeds.
To me, I think it shows knowledge and understanding of my breed, and I feel almost a sense of pride to take it into the Junior’s ring. The only time I would withhold from doing this position is if I watched a Judge judge a previous class and they had all of the Juniors face front as a class. In those situations, I would just wait until we did it all together, as I don’t want to disobey or go ahead of the Judges’ wishes. Although my favorite, this has received a wide variety of opinions and criticism from Judges and spectators outside of the ring. I have had many Judges appreciate me as a handler for facing front, which I take to heart. I have also had Judges completely reject it. I have had some immediately ask me to turn my dog back to profile. I have had some Judges ask me what I was doing in the ring. And many have said to me as they were handing my (not First Place) ribbon that I shouldn’t be facing front in Juniors. I understand that different Judges have their opinions, and as I mentioned earlier, it is all subjective to the Judge you have that day and what their beliefs are, and there is nothing wrong with that. In any sport, referees or umpires are going to fluctuate in stances on the rules. It comes with the sport. At the end of the day, I show up to my game, and I’m ready to play, ready to show to my Breed Standard, no matter which Judge I have.
I have only shown a handful of breeds very briefly besides Bulldogs, but they were only in situations if Olive was in heat or had a temporary injury. Although I have small interests in showing dogs like German Shorthairs and Poodles, what I am truly looking for is a dog that has this sort of electricity within their personality. No matter the breed, I want to show a dog that loves to show as much as I do; a dog that truly has a “wow” factor.
I would encourage all clubs to incorporate Junior appreciation within their Breed Nationals. Create a time and place at your National to dedicate something to your Juniors, whether it be awards and a speech at your National dinner or scholarship opportunities. To me, if you have a Junior who shows your breed, who works hard and is successful, that deserves recognition and encouragement to continue. These kids are the future of your sport and potential breeders, and I feel they should be taken more seriously. And honestly, things like this, getting to tell my stories to magazines such as SHOWSIGHT, this helps to spread the word and I truly thank you for letting me do this, and reflect on my career.
Sadly, I have not personally co-bred any litters. Before I had Olive, my breeder, Kim, wanted to breed my previous show dog, Mimi. I was around 11 at the time, so I was far too young to know any of the process. Because Mimi was away for so much of the season, I never got time to show her before she was bred again. That’s when Kim introduced me to another litter separate from Mimi, and that’s when I met Olive for the first time. My parents ended up falling in love with her and her brother, so we took both of them home.
I started training Olive as a “back up” to Mimi, but once we started doing well I think it was established which dog I was going to stay with, and I wouldn’t change that for anything. Because Bulldogs need artificial insemination as well as C-sections, and there can be birth complications, incubation for the puppies, and tube feeding, I never felt comfortable collaborating on any litters. It’s also why I never bred Olive. Time off of the season combined with the high-risk factors for her and her potential puppies was something I didn’t want on my shoulders, and I could never live with myself if something happened on my watch. Do I regret not having any mini versions of Olive? I do, but I know it’s better than other valid scenarios.
I would love to collaborate with breeders in the future, but I don’t feel ready at this moment. I’m still young and have a lot to learn in that field.
My goal for the future is to do well at Westminster 2025 and to qualify for Westminster 2026. As I will be aging out this coming December 2024, I only have three months to qualify for the 2026 season. I believe that if I push hard, I can manage to qualify before I turn 18. As far as competing after I age-out, I don’t know what’s in store for me. Juniors was my whole life. And the rest of senior year will keep me very busy, but I would still like to have Bulldogs and dog shows be a huge part of my life after I age-out.
I strongly believe that Olive was put on this earth for me. I think that she came to me for a reason, and someone up there is looking out for me because I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I didn’t have her. It’s like all of a sudden you meet a dog and it just changes you. There would be nothing in my career if it wasn’t for her. She is my soulmate. I am so thankful that she is in my life, I think she made my childhood so beautiful. I truly think she was the core part of my adolescence and really shaped me growing up. It’s why, if I ever have kids, I am one hundred percent getting them a dog because I want them to feel the same magic I feel when I’m with her. Olive is one-in-a-million, and she’s my dog.
The one I can remember the most is one time when Olive stole my entire piece of chicken out of my hand right before I was supposed to go do my down and back. Although a great show dog, she comes with a lot of character and attitude on the side. Of course, she had to sit there and smack it all down for all of 30 seconds, and I just had to sit there while the Judge was laughing. I’m glad she found it amusing. I think I actually won that day.
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