‘Stryker’ & Adam Kucera – AKC 2023 NOHS Best in Show

Interview with Adam Kucera – AKC 2023 NOHS Best in Show

Congratulations, Adam Kucera, on your National Owner-Handled Series Best in Show win at the 2023 AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin! How are you feeling about your big win?

Adam Kucera: I am in shock that I won the 2023 OH Best in Show. That was my goal for the year and I’m so glad I achieved it.

How did you get your start as an Owner Handler?

Adam Kucera: At my first dog show I didn’t win the Breed, so I went to watch the Groups and saw that there were two. So, I decided that I’m an owner handler so that if I don’t win the Breed I still have something I can look forward to—and it has been an amazing competition that’s made my bond better with my dog and given me more confidence in the Group and Best in Show ring.

How did you get started in Irish Setters?

Adam Kucera: I got started in Irish Setters because my Grandma has always loved them and I wanted one, but Stryker came under a show contract. So, I decided I wanted to show and, at my first dog show, I fell in love with the sport of dogs.

What is it about showing dogs that interests you most as an Owner Handler?

Adam Kucera: What interests me most about showing dogs is seeing the variety of breeds and learning their Standards and what to look for in other breeds.

 

I am in shock that I won the 2023 OH Best in Show. That was my goal for the year and I’m so glad I achieved it.

How have your handling skills evolved since you first began showing in NOHS?

Adam Kucera: My handling skills have definitely gotten better with the help of NOHS because if I didn’t win the Breed I wouldn’t get any Group handling or Best in Show handling experience. So, NOHS helped me prepare my handling skills for regular Groups.

You also compete in Junior Showmanship. How does showing in Juniors differ
from NOHS?

Adam Kucera: Juniors is about how well I handle the dog, and when It’s a big class, the Group experience I’ve gotten from NOHS helps me in Juniors.

Can you offer any advice to Owner Handlers who are looking to compete in NOHS in 2024?

Adam Kucera: My advice to any Owner Handlers is to never feel out of place or be afraid to ask for help or handling tips, because a lot of people have helped me along the way and helped me to get where I am today.

What does your dog, “Stryker,” mean to you now that you’ve completed this journey together?

Adam Kucera: Stryker means the world to me. We win together, we lose together, and we go home together. He’s just as much of a pet as he is a show dog. He is my best friend and he makes everything more fun.

Would you like to say a few words to this year’s NOHS BIS Judge, AKC President & CEO Mr. Dennis Sprung?

Adam Kucera: Having the honor to be judged under the President & CEO of the AKC doesn’t happen at every show. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and knowing that the AKC President & CEO liked my dog the best made the win even better.

What’s next for Adam Kucera?

Adam Kucera: The next goal I have is to either win a placement at the National or Best of Breed at Westminster.