Meet the Owner Handler: Adrianna Melody Vozza

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

Adrianna Melody Vozza: Shortly after I graduated high school, my boyfriend (now husband) and I moved into our own apartment together. At the time, I had been getting numerous shoulder surgeries from an injury and spending a lot of recovery time watching YouTuber Jenna Marbles in the process of getting her Italian Greyhound Kermit. I FELL IN LOVE with the breed, and spent the next two years researching and learning about them. I joined the forums, Iggy Planet and Ig Post, and took a lot of time to speak with breeders and owners. I touched base with breeders and rescue, but wasn’t able to welcome an Iggy home. While cruising Craigslist, we got an email alert and a dark photo of an “Italian Greyhound puppy” for adoption. We took the chance. After driving two hours in treacherous weather, we arrived at a kennel, and lo and behold... a tiny Iggy puppy. We took him home and named him Turbo. He still lives with us today. While it probably wasn’t the best way to adopt an Iggy, without Turbo I genuinely wouldn’t be who I am today—and I wouldn’t change it for anything.

During my years of being part of the Italian Greyhound community, I met my now mentor and good friend, Chelsea James (Raindance Italian Greyhounds), while trying to Lure Course Turbo. Six years later she would tell us, after we’d purchased our first home, that she had an Iggy puppy who would fit with us perfectly, and give Turbo a housemate. I had been telling her for years we wanted another. That Iggy would be Arrow. After three years of training and teaching Agility with Arrow, I wanted a slightly heartier breed, with a bit more biddability, but truly wasn’t interested in a Whippet. Along came the Cirneco. Chelsea had mentioned I should research the Cirneco dell’Etna as they seemed to be a fun and active breed, perfect for doing all sorts of activities with. I researched, and tried my best to get a feel of the breed from other owners. Breeders in the US were few and far between, so that made it a bit hard to connect. (Which later inspired me to form Cirneco dell’Etna Owners’ group on facebook!)

Sometime later, I messaged someone who was active in the breed on Instagram. They mentioned a breeder who was local to me and had puppies, so perhaps I could meet them. I spent time at the breeder’s home, and my husband and I instantly loved her dogs. The breeder offered me a sports prospect, telling me I had the option of showing if I ever wanted to try… and ever did we try! That dog was Bulleit, my first show dog, my first champion, my first Westminster, my first everything! He is so special to us. He went on to solidify my love of the breed, moving me to the point where I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life preserving them. Almost seven years later, I was able to bring my prospective foundation bitch home from Kr’msun hounds in Washington State. The rest is history.

2. How many years in dogs? In your breed?

Adrianna Melody Vozza: I’ve been in dogs for 16 years; involved in dog sports for 10. In Cirnechi specifically, I’ve been involved for eight years, but I started participating in Conformation with my Cirneco, Bulleit, seven years ago when he was six months old.

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

Adrianna Melody Vozza: When I was a new handler, attending a handling class was part of my weekly routine. Indoor, outdoor, in the cold, in the summer… I took every opportunity I could get. I dedicated a lot of time to learning and getting hands-on experience. As the years have passed, I’ve learned a lot just by watching other handlers. Being from the tri-state area, I feel incredibly fortunate to have some amazingly talented handlers to learn from: Professional Handlers and Owner Handlers.

Now I go to acclimate my new show dog, and to get a chance to train her. I have not attended an in-person handling seminar, mainly because my area had numerous handling opportunities within two hours of where I live.

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

Adrianna Melody Vozza: Virtual learning tools have a little bit of a soft spot for me because, to some degree when I was a newbie, I dealt with a bit of social anxiety. During COVID, I watched seminars on YouTube and conversed with so many people through social media, sending videos to other hound people and asking them to give me pointers. It allowed me to learn and watch—and rewatch—at my own pace.

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

Adrianna Melody Vozza: Currently, I do compete in the NOHS. In my breed, the OH rankings aren’t the main focus for me; however, I feel we should be giving our breeds every opportunity to be seen. And as an Owner Handler, I like to be able to give my breed that kind of representation in the Group.

6. In which class(es) are you most likely to enter your dog(s)?

Adrianna Melody Vozza: Right now, I have a young bitch, Dyna, who is in the 12-18-Month classes. In time, I’ll move her to Open. My older Cirneco, Bulleit, is a veteran, but he’s still in peak physical shape and still very much loves the show ring. So if/when I do show him, I still enjoy showing him in the Best of Breed class.

7. Who have been your mentor(s) as an Owner Handler?

Adrianna Melody Vozza: Hands down, Amber and Cindy List (Firelite Dobermans) right off the top. Amber and I have been friends for 10 years; when she saw Bulleit as a puppy she said to me, “You’re gonna show him, RIGHT?” My first stack was done on a Doberman named Lola, who has the patience of a saint. From then on, Amber and her mom put me and Bulleit through bootcamp. Another mentor of mine is Chelsea James, who is my Italian Greyhound Arrow’s breeder and has lived a lifetime of answering every question, without hesitation, that has popped into my brain. If she charged me a dollar for every question I’ve asked in our decade-plus friendship, she would be a multi-millionaire.

8. What are the benefits of competing with your breed(s) as an Owner Handler?

Adrianna Melody Vozza: On a very personal level, for me at least, I think that hounds are very in tune with their owners. I think they show up with a different spark when it’s their owners at the end of their lead; forging a really special relationship and really “showing” up.

9. How are you encouraging new exhibitors to participate in the sport?

Adrianna Melody Vozza: I’ve been a member of my local all-breed kennel club for some time now and really advocate for the younger generations to come on board to be involved in keeping the sport going. At shows, I always offer to help take candid photos or give a hand with professional photos. Not only that is helping to navigate ring procedure and learn how to read a program, if need be. I think it’s really important to make people feel they can ask for help when needed and not feel like what they’re asking is an inconvenience. We all stepped into our first show once and needed help, so it’s our place to help others when they need it too.

10. Are there any suggestions you’d like to pass along about the presentation of your breed(s).

Adrianna Melody Vozza: SHOW IT LIKE A DOBERMAN. LOL. No, really, HAVE FUN. I think the most important thing is to have fun with your dog, not just my breed but all breeds. Keeping things exciting, fresh, and engaging allows your dog to be full of confidence, not only in themselves but in their handlers too. It leaves them excited to spend time with their owners/handlers. And it makes them look forward to the next time they get to step into the ring with you.

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

Adrianna Melody Vozza: Oh man, this time around I really would love to get a BISS or a Group 1. There isn’t a specific victory that has eluded me, but every new goal is a goal that keeps the fire burning bright.

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

Adrianna Melody Vozza: It was an October day when my husband, Amber, and Cindy had all come to watch the Groups. It was absolutely frigid. We were all bundled up, and Bulleit was wrapped in a blanket. We went into the Owner-Handled Hound Group, and despite the cold, Bulleit really showed up. (I was assuming his way of keeping warm was to eat snacks.) We were in the final lineup, where I was focused on giving him snacks, and the judge pointed and said, “You’re going to be number one.” He repeated himself. I turned and asked, “ME?” and the crowd in unison said, “YOU!” I must have had a big brain freeze that day.