Meet the Breeder/Owner Handler: Melissa Scofield, RVT

Meet the Breeder/Owner Handler: Melissa Scofield, RVT

I’ve owned Irish Wolfhounds and been a registered veterinary technician for 10 years. I began showing dogs about four years ago, and in that time I’ve received invites to the NOHS National Championship and Westminster 2024.

My dogs have had multiple NOHS Group wins, placements, and a NOHS RBIS. I take pride in our accomplishments and continue to strive to better not only myself but also my breed.

1. How were you first introduced to the sport of purebred dogs? To your breed?

Melissa Scofield, RVT: After losing my rescue Great Dane in 2014, I wanted another giant breed but my heart couldn’t open up to another Great Dane. So, I started researching Scottish Deerhounds and Irish Wolfhounds. After researching and talking to breeders, we realized an Irish Wolfhound was the breed for us. Our first Wolfhound, Dublin, was just a pet but we did lots of public education with him as well as Obedience and Trick training. We brought home our second Irish Wolfhound in 2018. We found a local Irish Wolfhound breeder, met her dogs, got some mentoring from that breeder, and brought home an AKC registered puppy at the beginning of 2019 and named him Lochlann. He had the drive and motivation to please and work. He was the reason I got more into AKC sports and events. He excelled in things like GCG, FDC, and CGCU. I’ve always dreamed of showing dogs since I was a kid, so one day I thought, “Why not try showing Lochlann?” We enrolled in Conformation classes and entered our first-ever AKC Conformation show in 2020 where we both did well and had a blast! We were both hooked!

2. How many years in dogs? How many as an Owner Handler? As a Breeder?

Melissa Scofield, RVT: I’m a registered veterinary technician, so dogs have been a large part of my life from childhood. Purebred dogs, specifically Irish Wolfhounds, have been a major part of my life for 10 years. I’ve been an Owner Handler for four years. My first litter was born in June 2022, so I’ve only been a Breeder for two years.

3. Do you attend show handling classes? Have you attended in-person handling seminars?

Melissa Scofield, RVT: I dedicate a large part of my life to handling classes, despite if I feel myself or my dogs don’t need it. When not heavily showing dogs, we try to attend handling classes every week. I’ve also taken a few handling seminars, which I’ve found are always very helpful and rewarding.

4. Have you found virtual learning tools to be helpful? Videos? Websites? Social Media? AKC Canine College?

Melissa Scofield, RVT: Absolutely! Any kind of visual help or way to gain more knowledge or understanding is huge. I always want to know and learn more!

5. Do you compete in the National Owner-Handled Series? Are rankings important to you?

Melissa Scofield, RVT: Anytime NOHS is offered, I will enter. I have a blast showing in NOHS, and seeing how you do in a more “level playing field,” per se. As a Breeder/Owner Handler, how my dogs rank is very important to me. It holds me to a personal higher standard.

6. How important is the Bred-By Class to you? How important are Specialties?

Melissa Scofield, RVT: I have shown in the Bred-By Class a few times but not consistently. It is a great way for breeders to showcase their breeding stock. If you have the ability to stick to entering dogs in Bred-By, most definitely do it!

Specialties are extremely important. You can see and talk to other breeders and see other lines. Placing at Specialties is an even bigger personal win. Specialties should allow you to hold yourself to a higher standard IF you have an open mind, are willing to learn, and constantly evaluate yourself and your breeding.

7. Is it a challenge to compete with your breed as a Breeder/Owner Handler?

Melissa Scofield, RVT: When I first started as an Owner Handler, not many were competing in my breed. That has completely changed now. There has been a lot more competition, not only among Owner Handlers but among Breeder/Owner Handlers as well, which is awesome to see!

8. Who have been your mentor(s) as an Owner Handler? As a Breeder?

Melissa Scofield, RVT: I’ve been very fortunate to have many people to mentor me as an Owner Handler. The biggest mentor and supporter has been Elaine Berg. She has mentored me from the start and continues to mentor me and hold me to a higher standard.

As a Breeder, I haven’t had much mentoring. I’ve had to learn a lot on my own, from researching my breed to watching at Specialties, sitting ringside at shows, talking to other breeders, etc. I’ve been very lucky to have mentoring from other hound breeders to help me along the way. My career and degree are extremely helpful as well.

9. How important is the Breeder/Owner Handler to the future of the sport? To your breed?

Melissa Scofield, RVT: Breeder/Owner Handlers ARE the future of the sport. Without breeders, there’s a lack of dogs. Without Owner Handlers, the sport will also fade away, as people love to handle and showcase their own dogs.

Breeder/Owner Handlers in my breed make up a very large majority of who is showcasing dogs. Without mentoring, encouragement, ethical breeding, etc., the breed will suffer.

10. What advice would you give to Owner Handlers who are thinking of breeding their dog(s)?

Melissa Scofield, RVT: Education, research, and ethical breeding practices are extremely important. Doing your part prior to thinking of breeding is essential, as everything you choose to do, when it comes to breeding, is reflected in your breed. How will your actions impact your breed? The goal should be to ALWAYS have a positive impact on your breed!

11. What are your goals as a Breeder/Owner Handler? Is there a victory that has eluded you?

Melissa Scofield, RVT: First and foremost, producing healthy offspring with a low COI from OFA health-screened and temperament-tested, titled parents is a priority. Of course, as a Breeder/Owner Handler, having titled offspring that are Group-placing and all-around excelling is a huge success.

I dedicate my life to my dogs and breeding. I’ve achieved championships or higher on all of my personal/breeding dogs. I’ve had ranked dogs, as well as received an invitation to Westminster 2024 and NOHS National Championship 2023, both of which were top goals for myself that I expected to achieve at much later points in my life.

12. Is there a funny story that you can share about your experiences as a Breeder/Owner Handler?

Melissa Scofield, RVT: My first-ever Bred-By Group One placement was with my first bred-by dog, Aengus. I just remember standing with him stacked as the judge was looking at the Group lined up. I was hyper-focused on Aengus as this was our first-ever time in a Group ring. I briefly glanced up for a quick second and the judge is waving her finger at us as she said, “Wolfhound!” My mouth just dropped and Aengus started hopping in front of me, all excited. I was so incredibly proud of Aengus and he clearly knew it. Sometimes we forget that the dogs need to enjoy this too, and if we aren’t having fun, neither are they. Yes, they’re show dogs that we expect to be “proper,” but let them get excited and have fun in those exciting moments!