Paladichuk among nation's top junior dog handlers
Published on Wednesday, May 2, 2007 7:22 AM MDT
For 15-year-old Demery Paladichuk, showing dogs is more than a simple hobby - it's a passion. A freshman at Leota Junior High School, Woodinville, Wash., Paladichuk is just two wins away from a qualification to the 2008 Westminster Dog Show. It takes 10 first-place wins in 2007 to qualify for this biggest dog show in the United States, eight of which Paladichuk has already accumulated.
Because of those wins, she is currently ranked as the number one junior dog handler in the sporting breed division in the United States and number three overall.
Highlighting her eight first-place dog show wins are four in which she was selected as the Best Junior in Show. To earn that distinction, she was judged against other first-place winners from the other five divisions and chosen as the top junior dog handler at the competitison.
Daughter of Dan Paladichuk, Sidney, and granddaughter of Dorothy Paladichuk, Sidney, Demery's next dog show is in October at the English Springer Spaniel Nationals to be held in Kentucky. Then in December - the AKC Eukanuba Dog Show in California.
The latter of the two shows is the second biggest show in the United States as only juniors with five first-place wins are invited. All must have a GPA of at least 3.0 as well. However, with five As and one B on her latest report card, qualification for the California show is a done deal. The AKC Eukanuba Dog Show will also be televised on Animal Planet.
The qualification for Eukanuba was one of four goals Demery set for herself for 2007. Other goals included to be among the overall top 10 junior handlers in the United States as well as a top 10 junior handler in the sporting group. Just one goal is left unfulfilled - a Westminister qualification. Not too bad for just five months into the year.
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congrats !
alot of work and effort leading up to that kind
of a win !
what a honor
