The Owner Handler | Isobel Phillips

Interview with the Owner Handler: Isobel Phillips

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

Isobel Phillips: I was born into a house with a purebred (English) Bulldog named Daisy and grew up with Bulldogs. I was introduced to Beaucerons through a friend. I ended up dog-sitting his dog, Hudson, almost five days a week during COVID. I absolutely fell in love with this dog, and when I moved out of town (and couldn’t convince my friend to sell me the dog) I started my search for my own Beauceron.

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

Isobel Phillips: I grew up with dogs but never knew much about dog sports and showing until I got my Beauceron, Surreal, in 2021. So, I have been in Beaucerons for almost three years now.

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

Isobel Phillips: I started showing when I lived in San Francisco, and took handling classes and attended a weekend-long training seminar with another Beauceron Owner Handler.

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

Isobel Phillips: Even though I have an amazing mentor, I still find watching videos of other people showing a variety of breeds extremely helpful. I also try to watch how the pros show while I’m at dog shows, to learn new techniques.

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

Isobel Phillips: I have competed in NOHS and really enjoy it. Our first NOHS Group placement was a Herding Group 1 under Judge Dr. Sophia Kaluzniacki. Rankings aren’t that important to me. I enjoy spending time with my dog and building our relationship.

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

Isobel Phillips: My dog now is in the Best of Breed class since he is a GCH, but when he was in the classes I entered him in either Open Dog or Amateur Owner-Handler.

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

Isobel Phillips: My mentor is Brad Briscoe who breeds and shows Whippets. He has been an amazing mentor to me through my few short years of showing.

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

Isobel Phillips: The majority of Beaucerons are owner-handled, which is amazing. The community of other Owner Handlers helps contribute to the camaraderie and sportsmanship in the ring. Showing your dog as an Owner Handler also helps to build the handler/dog bond and helps with training outside the ring.

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

Isobel Phillips: I encourage new exhibitors to reach out to other owners as mentors, and enter shows that I will be attending or find a local show to go to and watch. If showing is intimidating, I recommend finding a sport to enter first and then begin showing once they realize the dog community is supportive.

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

Isobel Phillips: Owning a natural-eared Beauceron is hard, since many judges prefer the crop. I would suggest that judges and owners look past the ears and find the dog, cropped or natural, that really exemplifies the breed. There are many very nice natural-eared Beaucerons that haven’t had the same success in the ring due to their ears. Natural ears are becoming much more common, since cropping is banned in many European countries. I was able to show at the French Beauceron National and win the coveted Challenge Montenot (Best in Show), since Surreal is not cropped.

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

Isobel Phillips: I would love to win a OH BIS with Surreal. He is only three years old and was shown very little in 2024 but ranked at No. 12 Owner-Handled Beauceron, with his littermate at No. 11. I would also love to win Breed at Westminster and be the first natural-eared Beauceron to do so.

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

Isobel Phillips: Since I get to spend every day with Surreal, we have developed a very tight bond. However, because of this, he sometimes thinks we are playing in the ring and almost knocked me over when I spun around to free-stack him. Luckily, I wasn’t hurt and everyone in the ring and the judge got a good laugh.