Despite being a third generation dog show handler, 17-year-old Isabella Ruffoni waited to get involved until she was 15. Since her start in dog sports two years ago, she hasn鈥檛 slowed down. Ruffoni, from Gilroy, California, shows Pugs and Miniature Schnauzers in Junior Showmanship and Conformation, and competes with them in Fast CAT. She already has her sights set on adding AKC Rally, Obedience, and Agility to that list with her dogs.
Although Ruffoni started showing later than some other Juniors, she鈥檚 happy with her journey in dog sports so far. She says that her maturity helped her come into the sport with focus on being successful with her dogs, and encourages others that it鈥檚 never too late to get started.
Three Generations of Dog Handlers
A big part of why Ruffoni loves being involved in dog sports is because the sport has had such significance to her grandparents and her mom. She says it鈥檚 brought her especially close to her mom 鈥� something that she鈥檚 grateful for. 鈥淲hen I started, I felt like I had so many people welcoming my mom and I with open arms and inspired me to get my career started,鈥� Ruffoni recalls.
Some may say Ruffoni鈥檚 been showing since before she was even born! Her mom actively showed dogs when she was pregnant with Ruffoni and her twin brother. As an older teenager, Ruffoni loves when people come up to her at shows and say 鈥渨e knew you before you were even born,鈥� or recognize her because or her grandparents.
It was the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a special dog, that got Ruffoni involved in dog sports. 鈥淲e鈥檇 decided to get another Pug puppy after our last had passed away,鈥� Ruffoni says. This dog was 鈥淒iesel鈥� a black Pug puppy. 鈥淒iesel was meant to be my mom鈥檚 show dog but unfortunately, he had some complications and we had to neuter him.鈥�
One door closed and another opened. While her mom could no longer show Diesel in Conformation, Ruffoni learned about Junior Showmanship. Diesel officially became her Junior Showmanship dog. She quickly got started, and before she knew it, she was entered in an AKC show. 鈥淎fter that moment, I knew I wanted to continue to show and expand my career in dogs,鈥� she says.
Catching Up to the Competition
Some Junior Handlers get involved with the sport as early as 9 years old, but Ruffoni started when she was 15. 鈥淚t felt like everyone that had been involved most of their life had such a big head start and knew what to do,鈥� Ruffoni says. But she didn鈥檛 let this discourage her 鈥� in fact, she used that as motivation.
She began spending more time training her dog, and then got a remote handling coach to help her improve her handling skills. 鈥淚 felt like I had to be that much better to be able to win,鈥� Ruffoni recalls. In a year, she鈥檒l age out of Junior Showmanship. Her short, but extremely successful Junior Showmanship career has helped her shape her goals for the future, and teach her a lot about perspective. 鈥淭he sport has given me a sense of achievement and a purpose,鈥� Ruffoni says. 鈥淚 always try to be my best self.鈥�
For the Love of Conformation
Win or lose, Ruffoni鈥檚 favorite dog sport is confirmation. She was proud to qualify for Westminster in 2023: her first year in Junior Showmanship with only 11 months of competing under her belt. She鈥檚 also competed in AKC National shows, winning her first at the Pug Nationals Show, and then her first Best Junior placement at the Shasta Kennel Club Show.
But her success doesn鈥檛 just happen. Ruffoni spends a lot of time training her dogs, and loves that their bond grows over their training. She finds particular interest in watching them understand what they鈥檙e doing and get the hang of things. 鈥淲hen they finally understand what is to happen, I feel I鈥檝e completed the job,鈥� she says.
In addition to being a junior handler, Ruffoni has been an assistant for professional handlers to increase her own handling skills and give her more experience about what showing dogs is really like. 鈥淚鈥檝e got to see times when we won best in show or placements at Westminster, to when we have walked out of the ring without a ribbon. It opened my eyes to new breeds, new opportunities, and new relationships鈥� Isabella recalls.
The experience of assisting Rachel Adams and Alberto Montila of IBERICO Handlers has been 鈥渋ncredible.鈥� She credits their mentorship with teaching her everything she knows about grooming different breeds, and always making the shows fun.
It鈥檚 Never Too Late
For aspiring junior handlers who might be worried that it鈥檚 too late for them to get involved, Ruffoni says not to worry. 鈥淚t鈥檚 absolutely not too late,鈥� she says, 鈥渁nd there are a lot of people who will support you in gaining the necessary skills to start showing.鈥� While the age factor can be daunting, Ruffoni says it鈥檚 important not to let that stop you from starting.
Ruffoni especially enjoys seeing new Juniors get involved in the sport and the community that she has within the sport. 鈥淒og shows are the best thing that鈥檝e ever happened to me, and I鈥檓 beyond grateful that I鈥檓 able to participate,鈥� Ruffoni says. 鈥淭he sport teaches you so many life lessons that you鈥檒l continue to use for the rest of your life. Plus, who doesn鈥檛 want to be around dogs?鈥�
As Ruffoni prepares to age out of Junior Showmanship, she鈥檚 got big plans for staying involved in the dog world. She hopes to mentor junior handlers in the future to help them get involved in the sport, and also intends to get her Juniors Judging license as a way to mentor and support the next generation of junior handlers. With her own dogs, she鈥檚 looking forward to starting her own Pug breeding program and continuing to show them.