Page 174 - ShowSight - June 2020

What are my thoughts about competing with professional han- dlers? Many of the pros are my clients and friends. I learn so much from them and have found them to be very helpful.
Who are my role models when it comes to showing dogs? Jane Hobson I have shown against her for years, and she handles one of my dogs for me. Mara Flood is a Smooth Collie breeder and han- dler who I have learned quite a bit from. Bree Ardizzone is a phar- macy student, but has been very helpful in teaching me handling and grooming.
Do I prefer to compete at specialties or at all-breed shows? I don’t have a preference.
Does the future look bright for owner-handlers? I believe that the NOHS will have more people giving it a try. Some people may not be able to pay a professional. There will most likely be a few months of low entries for new people, but once we get this figured out, I think it will grow.
The funniest thing I’ve ever experienced as an owner-handler? I was showing my puppy (around six months old) in the Herding Group. This must have been one of his first BOB wins, he was very inexperienced and I had to work to keep him focused and moti- vated. I am a tax accountant and have my own business. One of the professional handlers was also showing and kept on coming up to me asking me to take him on as a client. I said “yes” to get rid of him. He has been a client for five years!
I also have my friend, Jane Hobson, throwing bait at me when I beat her. She is handling my other dog. The dog that I am show- ing in NOHS happens to love Jane. It is all in fun and the judges laugh at us.
JEANNE ROMANELLO
I live in Ft. Myers, Florida, and I own a very handsome Brussels Griffon named Corky.
Do I have any hobbies or interests apart from breeding and showing dogs? We love to go to the beautiful beaches here in Southwest Florida.
How long have I been competing as an owner-handler? I have enjoyed showing my dogs in conformation classes for 30 years. I enjoy getting to spend that extra time with my dogs.
Have I taken handling classes or attended seminars on han- dling? Yes! I take classes at our local club, the Greater Fort Myers Kennel Club.
Do I compete in the AKC National Owner-Handled Series? Yes, Corky and I enjoy competing in the AKC National Owner-Han- dled Series. Corky is, as of March, #2 Brussels Griffon.
What are my thoughts about competing with professionals? I love the challenge of competing against professional handlers. It allows me to showcase Corky and all the hard work we have put in to get where we are. The dog show is one of a handful of profession- al sports where all levels can compete together on the same level.
Who are my role models when it comes to showing dogs? I am very fortunate to have had great mentors, including Corky’s breed- er, Sally George, Mark George, Tom Natalini, Barabra Kennan and Seymor Weiss. I have learned so much from these great dog people. I have been learning a lot from the great breeders by me that I am thankful to Cheryl Stevens and Heather Stants for always finding the time to answer questions for me.
Do I prefer to compete at specialties or at all-breed shows? Corky and I just love to compete, so we enjoy both. But specialties are great! I love to see everyone’s puppies and how they are maturing, and getting to talk and learn from other breeders.
Does the future look bright for owner-handlers? I think so, it is really nice to watch the owner-handlers with their dogs, you really get to see some really nice dogs and the best part is watching the owners and their dogs having fun.
The funniest thing I’ve ever experienced as an owner-handler? I think the time I was showing my Standard Schnauzer, Lemme, at her first show. I decided to wear a light color dress and she decided to decorate it with paw prints from the mud puddle she jumped into just as we were getting ready to go in the ring. We laughed, everyone laughed, except the dry cleaner. He did not find it funny!
LIHI RUVIO
I am originally from Israel and I moved to Michigan when I was three years old. I have grown up with Cane Corsos my entire life. I started showing dogs at ten years old as well as training them for other sports like schutzhund and obedience. I enjoy train- ing as well as showing my soul- mate, Royal. We bred Royal in our kennel. I loved him from the moment he was born.
Do I have any hobbies or interests apart from breeding and showing dogs? I have been swimming competitively since I was six years old. I have a lot of passion for the sport. I was also the captain of the swim team when I was in junior high. I also love working with dogs on things other than showing them. Our dogs are therapy dogs, and my mom and I volunteer with them regularly. I love see- ing how my dogs bring joy to other people.
How long have I been competing as an owner-handler? I only started competing in NOHS last year. We were at an AKC show and Phil Booth, our professional handler at the time, had a ring conflict so I went in with Royal and we won Best of Breed. I didn’t really know what I was doing, and I was very nervous. But Phil, who watched me show Royal, encouraged me to continue showing him and that’s how I started.
Have I taken handling classes or attended seminars on handling? I took a few classes and I watched YouTube videos that showed me how to stack a dog, run at the right pace, and present my dog well. Before I showed Royal at Westminster, I watched YouTube videos on how the rings looked, which made me less nervous. I also had the honor and pleasure to be coached and guided by some of the top professional handlers who improved my showing skills. I am still learning and trying to get better with my showing skills.
Do I compete in the AKC National Owner-Handled Series? I have competed in the AKC National Owner-Handled Series and finished #1 in the Cane Corso breed in 2019, and I am ranked #1 currently in 2020. I enjoy it very much.
What are my thoughts about competing with professional han- dlers? At the beginning it was hard to compete with professional handlers. I was very nervous and I wasn’t sure about what I was doing. However, I was actually inspired by professional handlers, like Phil, who encouraged me to show dogs; and I had other profes- sional handlers who helped me show better. Just watching profes- sional handlers in the ring and their interaction with their dogs is enlightening. It always feels like an honor to be in the same ring as top professional handlers.
Who are my role models when it comes to showing dogs? I was very fortunate to be encouraged and inspired by Phil and Amy Booth. They were our professional handlers before they moved. They are great handlers and wonderful people. It was an honor to have the opportunity to learn from them.
Do I prefer to compete at specialties or at all-breed shows? Both types of shows have their advantages. In all-breed shows I get to see a variety of breeds and to learn more about the dog world.
OWNER-HANLDER Q&A
172 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2020