It’s Never Too Late to Start

I have always loved dog shows—The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is a favorite. Over the years, watching it on TV, I never once thought, “I can do that!”

Fast forward many, many years. I was blessed in 2018 with an amazing Rottweiler, Jameson, who loves to show. His breeder showed him to his Championship in June of 2019. She went on vacation in September 2019 and I decided, “What the heck, I can do this! We’ve been to handling classes!” It wasn’t pretty, we didn’t go home with any ribbons. I decided not to continue, or so I thought!

Jameson and his breeder went back in the ring and were on a roll in early 2020: multiple Owner-Handled Group placements… then COVID-19 shut down the whole world of dog shows.

We waited, trained with a small group of people, and kept him in condition, just in case. The Colonial Rottweiler Club received AKC (American Kennel Club) permission to hold their Specialty in September 2020 (normally in May). I decided to enter! Gah! Three long days of shows, five hours away… alone! I stepped into the ring with people I had watched win over the years, and I was intimidated yet motivated.

First two shows—nothing, didn’t even make the cut. Third show, I joked with the other two owner-handled eligible handlers and said, “It’s my turn today!” as they each had won the previous two shows. When the judge, Angela Porpora, a respected Rottweiler judge, pointed at me and then handed me that big rosette—I’ll admit it, I cried!

I was hooked! We continued showing, learning, and winning! In 2022, we traveled to Orlando for the NOHS (National Owner-Handled Series) Finals; we came home with COVID-19, and nothing else. We kept pushing, we showed at Westminster twice at the Lyndhurst Estate, and in 2024 in Queens at the tennis center.

We decided that 2024 would be his retirement, and we traveled to Orlando again for the NOHS Finals… and we were awarded BOBOH (Best of Breed Owner-Handled) over five gorgeous, and much younger, dogs. What a thrill!

We have been awarded multiple Owner-Handled Group placements, two regular Group placements, and RBISOH (Reserve Best in Show Owner-Handled) twice. After his retirement, we came out to play as a veteran at the CT River Working Group show in March 2025 where judge Chris Ann Moore awarded us an OHG1 (Owner-Handled Group 1) in a lineup of outstanding dogs. I learn something every time I set foot in the ring, and even sitting ringside.

After Jameson “retired” at the end of 2024, I thought, “What now?” I wasn’t going to continue to campaign him, but I knew I’d continue to show him as a veteran when offered. I was looking for another dog, and in April 2025, we drove to Florida and brought home a sweet puppy (Ivoss Loch Ness Legend, call name Nessie). We had fun in BPUP (Beginner Puppy Competition) and we had success in the classes, finishing her Championship in less than four months, with the help of many friends, and her Grand Championship a few days shy of 18 months of age.

She’s had several Owner-Handled Group placements, and a regular Group Four placement—coincidentally from the same judge who awarded Jameson and I our first BOBOH (Best of Breed Owner-Handled).

The future is definitely bright for her, and I am honored to be the person holding her lead.

I love showing my dogs, and I’m happy to help friends with their dogs when I can—something else I never thought I’d be comfortable doing! My wardrobe has changed from dark colors to bright colors—to show off my dogs, of course!

I’ve also gained an amazing group of friends outside the ring, and it continues to grow. Don’t ever feel like you are too old… I never thought I would set foot in the Conformation ring, but I did, and it’s been an incredible journey, and I look forward to continuing to learn as I grow older and hopefully wiser!