10 Questions ...

Profession: Professional handler/groomer

Dog-sport involvement: Conformation

Hometown: Sevierville, Tennessee

Astrological sign: Sagittarius

1. Do you have any dog-show superstitions?

“My biggest dog-show superstition would be having to wear five rubber bands. This started after I won my first BIS, and it just so happened I was wearing five rubber bands. Ever since that day, I HAVE to have five, and I have to be the one who gets them.”

2. TV-show guilty pleasure?

“Impractical Jokers.”

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

One day would not be long enough for things I would want to do as AKC president. But for that short amount of time, I would try to come up with a mentorship program.

4. Most valued material possession?

My most valued possession is an Afghan Hound sculpture won by my first Afghan on the day he finished. After tragically losing him at a young age, I decided to have the sculpture mounted to his urn as the perfect tribute to a great dog.

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

I have been an extra in a movie.

6. Who would you compare yourself to? 

I wouldn’t compare myself to anyone. I believe everyone is unique in their own way, and no one person is the same as another.

7. What are you “famous” for?  

I wouldn’t considered myself "famous," however, the two most notable dogs I have had the pleasure of showing would be my Treeing Walker Coonhound, Lenny (GCh. Dry River'z Shattered Dreams), who was the second TWC to win a BIS, and the dog I am currently campaigning, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever named Woody (GCh. Redmoon's Sexy Son of a Duck). He is the all-time winning Toller in the breed and a Top 20 Sporting dog.

8. What website do you visit most often?

Infodog.com.

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

My most satisfying win was my very first BIS. It was a couple of months after I aged out of Juniors, and it was with my Juniors dog.

10. What do you wish someone would ask you? 

At some point, I hope someone asks me to judge my breed’s national specialty. I believe there is no greater accomplishment for a breeder than to judge their own national.