An Interview with Antoinelle Vulpis – 2024 MCKC BIS Winner

An Interview with Antoinelle Vulpis – 2024 MCKC BIS Winner

I was thrilled to sit down with Antoinelle Vulpis after she and her Skye Terrier made history by winning the most competitive Terrier show in the World: Best in Show at Montgomery County. It was no small feat, but Antoinelle’s bond with her dog truly shone through in their performances. We’re here to uncover what drives her, her unique journey, and how she got from where she was to where she stands now. Let’s dive into what makes this owner handler’s journey so remarkable.

Lee Whittier: A Veteran dog like Archer brings something special to the ring—resilience and longevity. How do you keep that deep connection alive and maintain a veteran in top form year after year?

Antoinelle Vulpis: He’ll be eight in February. I stopped actively showing him about two years ago, but I knew once he turned seven, I wanted to show him in the Veteran class at the National—it was a personal goal. I showed him in Canada as a primer for Montgomery County. It was refreshing; different show cultures offer new insights. Preparing him now, with more responsibilities in my life, is a bit more challenging, but it’s deeply satisfying to see him groomed and ready. It takes longer, but the pride and excitement are just as strong.

Lee Whittier: Not everyone sets a goal like showing their veteran at the National. What drives that ambition for you?

Antoinelle Vulpis: We’ve won the National twice and the Roving once—those were incredible moments. But there’s something extra special about showing an older dog if they’re still in great shape. He’s my only one, so I can really focus on him. In Canada, this June, he did well, and it showed me he still had it—he remembered what to do and could still move beautifully. Montgomery felt like the natural next step for us.

Lee Whittier: It’s pretty unusual to step back for two years and then bring a dog out to win the National. How did you make that happen?

Antoinelle Vulpis: Archer’s my only show dog. I have an older Siberian as a pet and recently got a Welsh Springer Spaniel to try another family-friendly breed. I’d love another Skye Terrier, but I’m never in a rush. As you know, I waited a few years for this one. I will wait as long as I have to for another good one. I’m never in a rush. When the timing’s right, I kind of just know.

Lee Whittier: Patience is rare in the dog world. Many people want what they want immediately. If it’s not now, it’s never.

Antoinelle Vulpis: I remember him as a puppy—Skyes are adorable but go through an awkward teenage phase. I’d pray, “Please grow faster!” Now, as a veteran, I wish time would slow down. You want to rush through stages, but then you realize you shouldn’t want that at all.

Lee Whittier: For those unfamiliar, Montgomery County is a one-of-a-kind event. It’s the only Group Show hosted by a breed club where you can win Best in Show. Typically, in a Group Show, winning means you’ve won that Group, a Group First, but at this show, it is Best in Show at the largest Terrier show in the world. Montgomery County draws people from all over the world to celebrate Terriers. I had the pleasure of meeting friends from Sweden who came specifically to watch the Wheatens, and others to show their Cairns. It’s an incredible gathering, both for competitors and spectators, dedicated entirely to showcasing the best of the Terrier breeds. Antoinelle, what was the entry like this year?

Antoinelle Vulpis: When I looked [at the entry], it was around 1,400. I did look in the catalog and see that it used to be about 2,500, which is incredible, because it’s only Terriers. It shows you how intense this show really is, and how it really is a Bucket List item for people just to be able to go to the show.

Just making it to the final Group ring is incredibly challenging because, for many breeds, you have to win your national just to advance—that’s not a regular Best of Breed. The level of competition is mind-blowing. And then there’s the international element; so many dogs come from other countries specifically for this show. You might think the lineup looks manageable, but then a dog from Europe shows up and dazzles everyone. That unpredictability is what makes it so exciting. It’s a place where people debut new dogs and retire veterans, adding to the event’s significance. The vibe is electric—the crowd is rows deep, and even if you lose, you stay to watch. Being there is an experience unlike any other. It’s electric.

Lee Whittier: To give our readers even more perspective, even the iconic Walter Goodman, Mr. Skye Terrier, Best in Show at Westminster, never won Best in Show at Montgomery. It’s surprising, considering he was so involved with the club and AKC.

Antoinelle Vulpis: I checked the catalogs myself, it’s hard to believe! He was such a big part of the club. It shows just how tough this competition is.

Lee Whittier: Exactly. Even top professional handlers often don’t win here. With 31 Terrier breeds and 23 Nationals at Montgomery, no other Group Show has that. Over two-thirds of the Terrier breeds hold their National here.

Antoinelle Vulpis: That’s why the whole weekend is so special. People look forward to it all year. The all-breed shows leading up to Sunday’s event are incredibly competitive, and entries spike for certain breeds just for Montgomery.

Lee Whittier: When Antoinelle was in the Group ring—which serves as Best in Show for the Group winner—she made the cut, and on the second up and back, she and Tucker performed an amazing feat. For those who know Skye Terriers, they aren’t the easiest to free-stack. But she performed “The Prayer,” a move originally developed by Gwen DeMilta in Dobermans in the 1990s. The Prayer is when you kneel, in the free-bait, in front of your dog, bait them down, and let them stand independently, watching you. Antoinelle, it was a breathtaking moment to witness, especially with a Skye Terrier. No one else did anything like it with their fancy Terriers—you truly clinched it.

Antoinelle Vulpis: I’d never done that before. But I know my dog; after years together, I can anticipate his quirks. He’s stubborn with his ears—they never stay up when I need them to. I thought of Larry Cornelius with Charlie, who had similar challenges. You only get a few seconds to showcase your dog’s strengths. So, I got in front of him, hoping he’d pull himself forward and show off his topline and neck—classic Skye qualities. They call it “The Prayer,” but really, it felt like a Hail Mary. It was my last shot, and I’m glad it worked.

Lee Whittier: You’d shown to Lydia Hutchinson before. What were those conversations like when you won under her previously?

Antoinelle Vulpis: Yes, Lydia saw my dog early on—she gave him his second major when he was just a year and a half at the Trenton Kennel Club. I was still a novice and remember being a sweaty mess, not even knowing how to properly present on the table. She had to tell me to stop feeding him when she was examining his mouth. She’s seen me grow from those beginner days. I also competed in the National Owner-Handled Series for extra experience, but I was so green—I’d walk out of her line of sight! I’ve shown to her sporadically since then, and while I don’t chase judges, it’s meaningful when someone like her recognizes your dog.

When I showed to her at Morris & Essex, she awarded Archer a Group Two in an 800-dog Terrier Group, which was huge. I knew if I could just make him look good, we’d be considered. You never expect anything, even with a favorable judge. I had no hopes of winning my National that day. I’d never shown to Lorraine Bisso before, but she seemed to remember my dog from a show, years ago, maybe the Kennel Club of Philadelphia. It’s funny how these things come full circle.

Lee Whittier: The Dog Show Mentor community is dedicated to going as far as possible with their dogs. When we talked before, we touched on routines and excellence. How have you kept your Veteran Skye in top condition? Do you bike him or swim him?

Antoinelle Vulpis: Skyes are a bit lazier, which works for me. Just getting him to play fetch in the yard, doing some baby agility jumps, or going up and down stairs—simple activities like that kept him fit. Even with his short legs, just going up and down the stairs helps build his back muscles. Thirty minutes of cardio a day was really all he needed.

Coat conditioning, though, was another story. When we were actively showing, I’d bathe him every week or 10 days. Now, with work and my toddler, it’s more like every two weeks. Clean hair grows, so I make sure to keep him clean, especially after it rains. He drags in all the leaves and dirt, so I always have to clean his undercarriage. I don’t brush him daily, as I don’t want to pull too much hair out, but I focus on the areas that mat. The bathing process takes about two hours—soaking, shampooing, conditioning, blow-drying—and I don’t use a force dryer, just a hand dryer for line brushing. It’s time-consuming, but it’s been routine since he was young, and now it’s relaxing for both of us. As he’s getting older, I have to be more careful because his skin is thinner, so I make sure not to irritate him.

Lee Whittier: That kind of detailed care is so important, especially as they age. Did you expect to win the breed?

Antoinelle Vulpis: Honestly, no. Our Breed ring was late, around 1:40, and the Group started just after 3:30. With the heat of the afternoon, my main concern was keeping him cool. He overheats quickly, so I made sure he had water, a fan, and some rest. I didn’t want to stress him with a full bath before Group—it would’ve been too much. But I did rewash his beard since he drools, and by the time we head to the ring, it’s always wet again.

Lee Whittier: It’s so interesting. With less time, you were focused on each moment—getting the fan, cleaning the beard, and getting to the ring. What happened next?

Antoinelle Vulpis: Once he was taken care of, I made sure he had time to rest before the Group. I got him on the table to relax, but I always get a little nervous, especially at this show. I focused on staying calm because dogs feed off your energy. My mentors were there too, and he always gets excited when he sees them, which can mess up his perfectly groomed hair. He has a habit of shaking at the worst times—right after the table exam or on the down and back. It’s a constant challenge, but I manage it with a little invisible hold gel and quick brushing. I think it’s his way of reminding me he’s the boss.”

Lee Whittier: So you got him in the ring, a little nervous, but it sounds like your main focus was keeping him relaxed, clean, and steady.

Antoinelle Vulpis: Exactly. I brought a fan ringside to keep him cool. Even though it got cooler than it was during Breed, he runs hot with all that hair. I made sure that when he wasn’t being examined or stacked, he was sitting and relaxing. Some Terriers stand the whole time, but for Skyes, with their short legs, I think it’s too much. They need to rest, especially in a big ring like that.

Lee Whittier: You were on AKC.tv, and though you worked for AKC for five years, at this point, you were the exhibitor, putting your dog on the table for the Group/Best in Show judge. How did you stay calm?

Antoinelle Vulpis: Honestly, I didn’t even think about being on AKC.tv. I was just focused on making my dog look good. I always try to place him on the table, so he’s already in position; something Ernesto taught me years ago, to lift him so he’s ready for the judge. I want everything perfect—his legs, his hair—before the judge even turns around. But I had a bit of a rush because the Parson Russell Terrier in front of me waived me ahead of them, so I was up next, unexpectedly. I had less time to mentally prepare, but I rushed up to the table. Thankfully, AKC.tv’s timing worked in my favor. Once he was stacked, I just looked at him and tried not to cry. Seeing him there as a veteran, knowing the judge had seen him when he was younger, it felt like everything had come full circle.

Lee Whittier: Wow! That’s a powerful moment.

Antoinelle Vulpis: Yeah, it was. I just kept telling myself, “Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry.” I knew this was my moment.

Lee Whittier: Did she say anything to you? Or nice to see you?

Antoinelle Vulpis: No, nothing like that. We just made a small joke about the dog that didn’t go when it was supposed to, but no personal comments or congratulations. I think when I’m really nervous, I don’t say anything. When there’s a lot of pressure, I get quiet. Some judge-friends think it’s weird, but I’m focused. I just want to make sure I’m presenting him well and I just don’t want to get distracted.

Lee Whittier: Is there anything you’d like to add before we close?

Antoinelle Vulpis: Just that being an owner handler is such a special experience, especially when you have a good dog. You really want to bring out the best qualities in them. It’s just such a sense of pride knowing that you did that yourself from start to finish—from grooming to conditioning—it’s unmatched. I have many professional handler friends and have learned so much from them. I never blamed losing on the fact that they were pros. Instead, I’d think, “What can I do to make my dog more competitive? How can I improve?” I’d ask other Skye handlers for advice when I lost, and I learned by watching and asking questions. There’s no single right answer, but you gather bits of knowledge and find what works for you.

I gave my dog his full trim myself, and while I was kicking myself for cutting his hair a little too short on one side—that’s all I could think about when I saw it on the AKC.tv video. I knew I’d come a long way. In the beginning, I had no idea how to trim, but I kept asking for advice. Professional handlers aren’t people to be jealous of; they’re people you can learn from. And when everything comes together with your own dog, the feeling is like no other. It’s the best in the world.