Meet Sonia Glodowski: A young Junior Handler with a passion for Beagles, breeding, and a bright future in dog sports.
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I live in Belleville, Michigan, and I go to school at Renton Junior High in New Boston, Michigan.
Yes, I like running, biking, baking, and cooking. I am also on the Cross-Country Running team at school.
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.
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.
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!
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.
When the pressure is on, I act like no one is watching and I focus on my dog. That’s all you can do.
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.
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!
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.
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.
Yes, I would like to show a Kerry Blue Terrier, an Afghan Hound, and an Irish Setter.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Junior Handler Jemma Panzarino shares her journey in the sport, memorable wins and experiences, and goals for the future with purebred dogs.
