10 Questions ...

Profession: Professional dog handler

Dog-sport involvement: Handler, Juniors judge and breeder of Doberman Pinschers

Hometown: Spring, Texas

Astrological sign: Taurus

1. Do you have any dog-show superstitions?  

I try to avoid wearing the color red.

2. TV-show guilty pleasure?

“Game of Thrones.”

3. If you were president of AKC for one day, what would you do?  

I would change the judge approval process and take in consideration one’s involvement in the sport in an effort to try to get more accomplished breeders and handlers to start judging. Many who should be judging are not because they cannot afford the process or don’t have the time to “check all the boxes.” As I’m answering these questions after the weekend of no shows, I personally think this needs to be a quarterly thing. There are simply too many shows; it’s not fair to the dogs to show as much as they do or to the handlers. And I think it would benefit owner-handlers, too.

4. Most valued material possession?

My home and kennel.

5. What is something no one would guess about you?

I was a mathlete in high school.

6. Who would you compare yourself to?

Amy Schumer.

7. What are you “famous” for?

For being the most unorganized OCD person who enjoys annoying her husband.

8. What website do you visit most often?

Amazon and AKC.

9. What was more memorable, your most satisfying win or disappointing defeat? And what was it?

I try not to dwell on defeats — rather, I try to figure out what I can do better and how to make my dog better. So a satisfying win is much more memorable. Ripcord’s national-specialty BOB is one I’ll never forget; the Doberman breed is my passion, and to have him recognized to accomplish its highest prize was incredible.

10. What do you wish someone would ask you?

“Do you want me to watch the kids so you can take a nap?”