A JUNIOR’S JOURNAL: RAINI JOHNSON
Aunt (Karen Johnson) who knows so much about our breed—I have learned so much from her. All of my mentors come and cheer me on and I am so grateful they are there to support me. I have helped Christina Olson at shows by being her grooming bag girl ringside. 9. Are there any wins for which you are particularly proud? Any memorable losses? At a Specialty in Joliet, Illinois, that had a large entry, I won Select Bitch the first day and then Best of Oppo- site Sex and Best of Breed Owner- Handled. The other win I am very proud of, and is most memorable to me, was winning Reserve Best Junior Handler at our Specialty in Sacramento, California. Not making the cut in Florida for Juniors made me feel like I wasn’t enough for the judge, and that was
13. Have you bred or co-bred a litter? If so, can you share what you’ve learned from the experience? I have helped to raise litters of puppies that my Aunt and Mom have had. I have learned that you have to have patience with them and they are a lot of work. 14. Is breeding something that you’d like to pursue? Is breed preservation important to you? Yes, 100%. Breed preservation is important because breed- ing a dog with a different type of breed can change the dog, which is not what we want to do as responsible dog owners. It could also create or make it more likely to get a disease or a bad temperament. 15. What are your goals for the future? Do you see yourself con- tinuing in the sport once you’ve aged-out? My goals for the future are to get people to do more stuff with their dogs and to be active with them. I see myself continuing after I’ve aged-out, yes, because it’s so much fun!!! 16. Can you share a word or two about your relationship with your current dog? What does s/he mean to you? “Teamwork Makes the Dream Work.” She means the whole world and without her I probably would not have the same opportunities or successes I have had. 17. Is there a funny story that you can share about experiences as a Junior Handler? One time, I was showing our veteran in Juniors and the gating was a low fence that my dog had never seen before. She decided it was a great idea to turn into an Agility dog and jump the fence. So, I had to call my dog back. (Thank- fully, she knows obedience.) I was embarrassed, but it was really funny.
a tough loss. However, knowing that I have come as far as I have, and even the fact that I qualified for the National Championship show, is pretty special and it was a great learn- ing experience. It was a lot different than an average show. There were so many talented Junior Handlers competing and it pushes me to try and be better next time. 10. How do you accentuate your dog’s breed type in the ring? How do you try to stand out? I would say that it’s not just for Bernese but specifically for my dog, “Nina.” I like to show off her free-stacks. It sets her apart from other dogs and she really shines. I try to be a little different in my technique and not just follow what the other kids are doing. I may free-stack at a different angle. Or, if she is being “extra” that day, I will do different turns and stacks to refocus her brain. 11. Are there any breeds that you haven’t yet shown but would like to some day? I would love to show a Leonberger someday because they are big and fluffy and super adorable. I would also like to show a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. I just like the breed. They seem like they would be a lot of fun even though they are smaller than the dogs I’m used to. 12. What can be done to encourage more young people to par- ticipate in Junior Showmanship? We could do more demonstrations at our state fair. I partici- pated in it this last year, it was a great turn out. I also think that different clubs and AKC can keep highlighting Juniors and what they do. This will encourage other kids to see all the fun they can have with their dog.
152 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, FEBRUARY 2024
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