Meet the Junior Handler: Kyleigh Mingee

Meet the Junior Handler: Kyleigh Mingee

1. Where do you live? Where do you go to school?

Kyleigh Mingee: My name is Kyleigh Mingee. I am 16 years old and I live in Gloucester, Virginia. I was homeschooled and graduated early.

2. Do you have any hobbies or interests apart from purebred dogs? Do you have a job?

Kyleigh Mingee: Most of my hobbies involve dogs. Whether that be walking, grooming, reading pedigrees or books, and of course, showing them. I don’t currently have a job, but working at a kennel and grooming shop was enjoyable.

3. Have you grown up in a doggy family? What is your breed(s)?

Kyleigh Mingee: I always had a dog in the house, but I didn’t know about dog shows until I saw a video on dog shows and grooming on YouTube four years ago. My mom and I reached out to a Dachshund breeder who helped us get started in the breed. My primary breed is Longhaired Dachshunds, but I have also shown Pembroke Welsh Corgis, Miniature American Shepherds, Beagles, and Australian Shepherds.

4. How were you introduced to Junior Showmanship? When did you start competing?

Kyleigh Mingee: One of my friends encouraged me to show in Junior Showmanship while at a dog show. I’ve shown in the Breed ring for nearly three years and almost two years in Junior Showmanship.

5. What do you remember about the first time you showed as a Junior?

Kyleigh Mingee: I remember being incredibly nervous. My first Junior dog, Scarlett, showed her heart out, which really helped calm my nerves. Having a confident dog that loves showing helps a bunch!

6. How do you prepare your dog and yourself for the ring? Any rituals? Any good luck charms?

Kyleigh Mingee: I am calm when getting ready to go in the ring. I always get up earlier than needed to make sure I am not rushed. My ritual is that my dogs have their own combs and leads that I only use on them.

7. What’s it like in the ring when the pressure is on? Do you have a secret for handling the nerves?

Kyleigh Mingee: Some shows get my nerves up, but for the most part I am calm. Having confidence that my dog is going to perform to the best of their ability always calms me down.

8. Do you have a mentor in the sport? Have you assisted any Professional Handlers?

Kyleigh Mingee: My dog’s breeders, Bernadette K. Wagner and Anne M. Schmidt, along with professional handlers Cassandra and Mauricio Vargas, Angela Lloyd, Jason Bailey, and the wonderful and recently passed Ms. Barbara Friedman, have all been incredibly helpful mentors. I am forever grateful for their unwavering support.

9. Are there any wins for which you are particularly proud? Any memorable losses?

Kyleigh Mingee: Winning Best Junior Handler at our National Specialty’s Host Club is definitely one of my favorite wins!

10. How do you accentuate your dog’s breed type in the ring? How do you try to stand out?

Kyleigh Mingee: I always make sure my dog is happy and confident in the ring! Any display of shyness is a serious fault in my breed, so making sure his tail is wagging and his ears are up is super important. When on the table, I move his ear out of the way to show off his gorgeous front.

11. Is your breed generally well-suited for a Junior Showmanship career?

Kyleigh Mingee: I don’t see a lot of Dachshunds in the Junior Showmanship ring, but with lots of patience, I think they make wonderful dogs for Junior Showmanship. I enjoy the hands-on grooming and training involved in the breed.

12. Are there any breeds that you would like to show but haven’t shown yet?

Kyleigh Mingee: I have been very fortunate to show many breeds. Two breeds I look forward to hopefully handling in the future are a Skye Terrier or an Afghan Hound.

13. What can be done to encourage more young people to participate in Junior Showmanship?

Kyleigh Mingee: I think more people willing to let a Junior be more involved with the dogs should be encouraged, including teaching them how to clean up after the dogs, how to groom them, the proper way to go over them to help learn their structure, and how to show them.

14. Have you bred or co-bred a litter? If so, can you share what you’ve learned from the experience?

Kyleigh Mingee: My mom and I have bred multiple litters. It definitely takes a lot of patience, start to finish. Finding the right homes, and providing support to both the puppies and their future owners, is very important.

15. Is breeding something that you’d like to pursue? Is breed preservation important to you?

Kyleigh Mingee: I enjoy breeding and definitely want to pursue it. I want to help better the breed, from learning pedigrees to talking with my mentors. It is all very important to me.

16. What are your goals for the future? Do you see yourself continuing in the sport once you’ve aged-out?

Kyleigh Mingee: My goals for the future include qualifying for The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and having my dog place there. I look forward to learning more about different breeds and I definitely want to continue with the sport.

17. Can you share a word or two about your relationship with your current dog? What does s/he mean to you?

Kyleigh Mingee: Me and my dog, Zuki, have a lovely relationship. He means so much to me. He is a high-energy dog with a lot of presence, which makes showing all the more fun. He finished his championship at just a year old. I’m super proud of him and can’t wait to see what his future holds.

18. Is there a funny story that you can share about your experiences as a Junior Handler?

Kyleigh Mingee: The funniest thing I can think of that happened is me accidentally wearing the wrong shoes in the ring. I was wearing crocs and had my show shoes ringside, as they were making my feet sore. I ended up forgetting to change into them and went into the 4-6 Month Beginner Puppy (BPUP) ring in crocs. We ended up getting Puppy Herding Group 4 and I still laugh about it to this day. I’ve learned my lesson and now always have comfortable show shoes!