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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
