JADE Chase

Please tell our readers how you got involved in the world of dogs and dog showing.

I got involved in the world of dogs and dog shows through my sister, Lian. She started out in 4-H and moved onto showing in AKC. I was incredibly involved in dance and most of my time was spent at the studio. I happened to have a weekend off, so I decided to go to one of the local AKC dog shows to watch my sister. Lian asked me to help her take a Miniature Pinscher into the ring since she had a ring conflict. From that experience, I was hooked and loved showing. I started doing 4-H at the age of eleven, then transitioned into AKC. My very first juniors’ dogs were a Boxer and a Black Russian Terrier. 4-H was a great start for me and prepared me to show in AKC.

Who were your mentors from the beginning, and do you currently have the same or any additional mentors?

My mentors from the beginning are Lian, Patty Bartley Shonts, and Rachel Eken. These are the people who really helped me as I was starting out. They all helped me learn how to train my dogs for the conformation ring and shared their knowledge with me. To this day, these people are still my mentors, and my greatest supporters. In addition, Shelley Bergstraser and Laura Kling are incredibly supportive of me. They entrusted me with showing their Collies in juniors and in the breed ring. It is through them that I learned that there are breed specific techniques in grooming and presenting in the ring.

My years as a junior have allowed me to meet many influential people in the dog world. The following are not only mentors to me, but people I can depend on to guide me and be there for me. Among them are Kimberly Pastella Calvacca, of KimRo Miniature Pinschers, and Laura Taft of Far Away Portuguese Water Dogs. Kimberly has spent a lot of time with me in fine-tuning my handling and gives me a ton of advice on how I can improve my handling skills. Laura is always teaching me howtogroomandcareforPortugueseWaterDogs,which is a breed that I am in love with, and she is just a joy to spend time with. They are some of the nicest people you will ever meet. I have also worked for Clint and Karen

Livingston for about three years, and they exemplify professionalism. I hope to be as professional as they are. I feel incredibly lucky to have all these wonderful people in my life and guiding me.

What breed/breeds have you been involved in handling?

Iprimarilyhelpshowthe breedsmy familyisinvolvedin, Black Russian Terriers, Miniature Pinschers, and Russian Toys. A highlight for me was getting to show our Black Russian, Dread, in juniors in Orlando because he is a grandson of our foundation dog, who was an influential dog to the breed. I also co-own or have handled the following breeds: Portuguese Water Dogs, Bloodhounds, ChineseCrestedandCollies.Workingforhandlersaffords me the opportunity to show many other breeds.