AKC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP JUNIOR SHOWMANSHIP
Emma Rogers 2021 BEST JUNIOR HANDLER
1. Congratulations on your Best Junior Handler win at the 2021 AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin! Is it a dream come true? It truly is a dream come true for me. Winning the AKC Na- tional Championship has always been a dream of mine ever since I first went to Orlando, Florida, to see my older sister, So- phia, show there. When I started showing dogs ten years ago, I thought being out there on the blue carpet was the greatest honor ever—but I never expected this dream to really come true. I am so grateful. 2. How was the overall experience of being in Orlando for you? How were the Preliminaries? I really look forward to going to Orlando for the AKCNational Championship because not only do we get to visit with our fam- ily who live in Florida, I also get to reconnect with friends that I only get to see once or twice a year. Showing at the AKC Na- tional Championship is so exciting and fun because everyone is supportive, encouraging, and rooting for each other. “Lovey” is a young dog and he was a little overwhelmed with all the hustle and bustle of such a big show. The Preliminaries were very chal- lenging because every person in the ring was so talented and de- served to be there. It was an amazing honor to compete with all of those hard-working, gifted, and accomplished Juniors. Each of the two Preliminary Judges can only pick six Juniors to make it to the Finals, and I was blessed to be one of those six kids. 3. Who was the first person you called or texted after you'd won? It is kind of a happy blur. I remember my sisters running up to give me a giant hug. The first person I called was my dad who, al- though he doesn't really understand dog shows, has always sup- ported me every step of this journey. The first person I texted was Gwen DeMilta who helped me so much with Lovey and is one of my biggest heroes in the dog show world. 4. How have you celebrated your victory? Did you and your dog enjoy a special meal that night? I let Lovey celebrate first with a special dinner and a brand new toy. After that, I went mini-golfing with my family and dog show friends.
5. You've shown several different breeds in Juniors. How did you choose which dog to show this year? The Great Dane, “Beckett,” that I was previously showing in Ju- niors, developed arthritis and was limping in Orlando last year. So I needed to retire him and find a new Juniors dog. The reason why I chose to show a Bloodhound was that I really wanted a difficult dog to show in Juniors. Having shown Great Danes and Basset Hounds in Juniors in the past, why not put them together in the form of a Bloodhound? LOL! Breeder Deirdre Rahn had a puppy that needed to grow up a lit- tle before starting his show career, and offered him as a Juniors dog. I asked if he could come live with me while I was working with him in Juniors so that we could build a bond and train together. She was so kind to lend Lovey to me. 6. What does your dog mean to you now that you've com- pleted this journey together? I will always love my dogs whether we win or lose. My dogs are my best friends who love with such unconditional love. I love all dogs, but Lovey is a very special dog. Lovey is an amazing dog to be around. He has such an incredible personality. He is an enormous, friendly, giant lap dog. We always kid around and say that Lovey is a Golden Retriever trapped in a Bloodhound’s body. I will always be grateful to Lovey for being a part of my life and being my partner in crime. He has a heart of gold and has forever left his pawprint on my heart.
SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, JANUARY 2022 | 201
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