A Junior’s Journal: Sonia Glodowski

Interview with Sonia Glodowski

1. Where do you live? Where do you go to school?

I live in Belleville, Michigan, and I go to school at Renton Junior High in New Boston, Michigan.

2. Do you have any hobbies or interests apart from purebred dogs? Do you have a job?

Yes, I like running, biking, baking, and cooking. I am also on the Cross-Country Running team at school.

3. Have you grown up in a doggy family? What is your breeds(s)?

Yes, I grew up in a doggy family. I grew up with Rhodesian Ridgebacks and a Belgian Malinois. When I was 7, I got my own dog, a Beagle named Summer.

4. How were you introduced to Junior Showmanship? When did you start competing?

My Mom was involved in Junior Showmanship as a child and helped me get into it. I started to show in the Breed ring at age 5, and in Juniors when I was 9.

5. What do you remember about the first time you showed as a Junior?

My first time as a Junior was at the Ann Arbor KC July show and I won my class with Summer. I was surprised and happy!

6. How do you prepare yourself and your dog for the ring? Any rituals? Any good luck charms?

I get my dog happy and excited, and I have to tell my Mom to leave me alone because she tells me all the corrections that I know to do. My good luck charm is a pair of dog earrings.

7. What’s it like in the ring when the pressure is on? Do you have a secret for handling the nerves?

When the pressure is on, I act like no one is watching and I focus on my dog. That’s all you can do.

8. Do you have a mentor in the sport? Have you assisted any Professional Handlers?

I have a few mentors: my Mom, Summer’s breeder, Chanel Lefever, and Professional Handlers Doug Belter and Courtney Hartman. I also regularly assist Doug and Courtney at shows.

9. Are there any wins for which you’re particularly proud? Any memorable losses?

Summer and I won Best of Breed at the Monroe KC, at the Monroe, Michigan, show, and went on to win a Group 2 under Judge Sulie Greendale-Paveza!

10. How do you accentuate your dog’s breed type in the ring? How do you try to stand out?

I accentuate my dog’s breed type by showing off her neck and moving her ears, and I also take the Beagle’s collar off. I try to stand out by always being aware of my dog and how to present them, and how the judge sees us as a team.

11. Is your breed generally well-suited for a Junior Showmanship career?

Yes, I think Beagles are an amazing breed for Junior Showmanship. Though they have their challenges, like being stubborn, they teach you how to move past it because if they don’t want to freeze-stack… how can we fix their free-stack or do you hand-stack them? They are also a happy breed and smaller for kids. Beagles can teach you how to stack on the table and ground, and how to groom and chalk too.

12. Are there any breeds that you haven’t shown yet but would like to someday?

Yes, I would like to show a Kerry Blue Terrier, an Afghan Hound, and an Irish Setter.

13. What can be done to encourage more young people to participate in Junior Showmanship?

The AKC has done an amazing job supporting Junior Showmanship. I think that the AKC allowing people without show dogs to use a show dog from someone else is very encouraging.

14. Have you bred or co-bred a litter? If so, can you share what you’ve learned from the experience?

Yes, I have co-bred two litters. Before being signed on to my first litter, I learned a lot. Everything is important and more than just “here’s a puppy, give it food and water.” I also was the very first AKC Junior-Breeder-Handler to finish a dog from the Bred-by-Exhibitor class under their new Junior Breeder program.

15. Is breeding something that you’d like to pursue? Is breed preservation important to you?

Yes, I would like to continue my Mom‘s lines, Zareba Rhodesian Ridgebacks, and I want to add Beagles to the Zareba line also. Breed preservation is important to me because it keeps the breeds natural abilities and purpose for the future.

16. What are your goals for the future? Do you see yourself continuing in the sport once you’ve aged-out?

Yes, I will continue showing, even once I’ve aged-out. I’d like to win an Owner-Handled Best in Show and qualify for Westminster as a Junior Handler.

17. Can you share a word or two about your relationship with your current dog? What does s/he mean to you?

My current dog, Summer, is a joy. She helps me take my mind off of hard things and makes me happy, especially when I’m feeling down or discouraged. She is always wagging her tail and I have fun with her.

18. Is there a funny story that you can share about your experiences as a Junior Handler?

It’s not so much funny as it is about meeting new friends. At my first dog show, I met a girl at the Juniors ring; we talked and then we went our separate ways. Less than a year later we are now very close friends because we ran into each other at other shows and keep running into each other. In Juniors, it is nice to be able to meet other kids who love dogs as much as you do.