Meet the Owner Handler – Adrianne Montgomery

Meet the Owner Handler – Adrianne Montgomery

I live in the El Paso, Texas, area with my four Borzoi—Pierce, Sumi, Vasya, and Zayn. I compete in Conformation, Lure Coursing, Rally, and Trick Dog, and I enjoy training and trying new things with my hounds. I am currently specialing my first show dog, Pierce, and having an absolute blast!

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

Adrianne Montgomery: Funny enough, I actually discovered the sport of purebred dogs through a computer game! When I was 14 and living overseas, I started playing a game with virtual dogs and found that players had created an online kennel club based off of real-life clubs. Several members of the online club exhibited dogs at AKC (American Kennel Club) shows, and I was fascinated; I knew that showing dogs was what I wanted to do with my life. It took me 14 more years to get my first show dog, but he has absolutely been worth the wait!

I’ve always been drawn to sighthounds but had my eye on a totally different breed. I was at the Rio Grande Kennel Club shows one year as a spectator and they had Borzoi as part of their Meet the Breeds event. I went up to meet the Borzoi and he leaned up against me and looked into my eyes with the most intuitive, intelligent, gentle look I’ve ever seen in a dog, and I knew I had found my breed. Three years later, I brought home my first Borzoi, Pierce.

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

Adrianne Montgomery: I’ve had pet dogs all my life and I trained dogs for a few years after college. I’ve been involved in showing and competing with my Borzoi for six years.

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

Adrianne Montgomery: I was living in New Mexico when I got my first show dog, and attended a lovely handling class led by Monica Stoner. Since moving to Texas, I haven’t been able to take classes, though I would like to in the future. Early on in my dog’s show career, I attended a seminar led by a group of handlers and found it to be so helpful. I would definitely love to attend more.

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

Adrianne Montgomery: I’ve spent a lot of time watching various videos on YouTube, especially when I first started out. I’ve also found the Pure Dog Talk podcast to be a wonderful resource, and it is my favorite thing to listen to on the way to dog shows. I always try to watch livestream videos of my breed, as well as other breeds, in the show ring. I watch closely to see how each handler presents their dogs so that I can learn new tips and techniques to help me better present my dogs.

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

Adrianne Montgomery: I have a blast competing in the National Owner-Handled Series (NOHS)! Rankings are important to me; I’m very proud that Pierce has been a Top 20 NOHS Borzoi for the past two years and is currently a Top 10 NOHS Borzoi. While they are important to me, I try not to fixate too much on rankings, as so much of it is beyond my control; I work full-time and can only make it to a limited number of shows, and there are so many lovely Borzoi competing in NOHS. My ultimate goal is to go out and have fun with my dog, and I never want to focus on rankings to the point where I lose sight of that or can no longer celebrate other people’s successes.

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

Adrianne Montgomery: In Conformation, I’m currently showing Pierce as a special, so we enter the Best of Breed class (and always check the Owner-Handled option). When he finishes his GCHB and retires, I have another special, Zayn, who I’ll start showing. I finished Pierce from the Open class and Zayn from American-Bred, so it really depends on what I think will best suit my dog. When I start showing my third Borzoi, Vasya, I’ll try different classes and see which class will best allow him to shine. I also compete in Rally and am really enjoying the different challenges that trialing with a Borzoi brings.

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

Adrianne Montgomery: Leigh Paintin, co-breeder of my first Borzoi, has been such an incredible mentor to me. She was local to me when I first started showing and we often showed and traveled together. She encouraged, challenged, and pushed me to be the best I could be, and I learned so much from her patient guidance. I’m very fortunate to have phenomenal breeders behind my dogs who I can always go to for advice. Sandra Moore, Susan Van De Water, and Leigh Paintin are a wealth of knowledge and are so supportive and always willing to answer my questions.

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

Adrianne Montgomery: The bond I’ve developed with my dog through the countless hours spent training, traveling, and showing him has been so incredible; he is truly my best friend. Showing and working with him has been the most rewarding experience of my life. I’ve exclusively owner-handled Pierce, and mainly owner-handled Zayn (with friends kindly stepping up to take him back in the ring for me so that I could stay on my special), and I will always cherish the memories made through showing my dogs. My dogs have also brought so many wonderful people into my life, and I love getting to meet new people at shows.

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

Adrianne Montgomery: I always want to encourage new exhibitors or people interested in purebred dogs! Whether it’s through answering questions on social media, inviting people to shows to meet dogs and speak with breeders, or inviting spectators over to come pet my dogs, I’m always looking for ways to bring more people into the sport. I make an effort to encourage and uplift them, so they feel empowered to stay in the sport. It makes me so happy when someone I’ve talked to about Borzoi and introduced to my dogs comes back later to say they’ve gotten a Borzoi, too.

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

Adrianne Montgomery: I still consider myself a newbie to showing and to my breed, so I don’t have any specific advice, though I would like to encourage those new to the sport who are considering handling their dogs themselves. It’s not always easy (there can be a huge learning curve) and some breeds may be more challenging than others. But if you truly dedicate yourself to working hard and learning everything you possibly can about how to best present your dog, you absolutely can be successful as an Owner Handler!

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

Adrianne Montgomery: My biggest goal is to continue to learn and be the best handler, trainer, and student of my breed that I can be. My dream right now is to win a Specialty Best of Breed with one of my dogs. I would also love to have a dog stay in the Top 10 NOHS rankings and compete in Orlando, Florida, in the NOHS Finals.

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

Adrianne Montgomery: Pierce is a complete goofball who always wants to be the center of attention. If we’re standing ringside for too long and he feels that he’s not getting enough attention, he likes to lay down on his back with all four feet spread out in the air until everyone around him is laughing. He’s also been known to try to cuddle with judges when they go to do their exam.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my story and passion for my breed and our wonderful sport!