The Juniors Perspective – Giving Kids Inspiration and Aspirations

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130 – February, 2023

By Jessica Braatz

In December, I was lucky enough to interview two of our current “greats,” icons to many, each with decades of experience in dogs. For February, I shifted toward the next generation by interviewing twenty-year-old Riley Capton, a first generation handler who boasts numerous achievements in recent years. After successes such as being ranked the #1 Terrier Junior in 2019 and 2020 and placing at Westminster, Riley has continued to work for handlers and is making a new name for herself as a junior’s judge. She currently attends California Polytechnic State University for undergraduate studies in Animal Science on the Pre-Veterinary track. When she is not at college, she works as a veterinary intern under Dr. Dana Bleifer. I asked her the same questions, and she offers a similar but new perspective on the issues.

When did you become involved in dog shows?

I fell into this sport in quite a roundabout way. My parents have always owned purebred dogs; however, they had no interest in dog shows. After the tragic loss of our first Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier at only 1½ years old, we were looking for another Wheaten. My parents’ first words when they got the new puppy were, “this will not be a show dog.” It is ironic how quickly things changed. When the litter was brought out to Gabriel Rangel for a litter evaluation and ear pasting, he had asked which families were interested in showing. Every other puppy owner indicated they were except for my mother and me. He laughed and then said if it were up to him, he would choose this puppy–referring to ours. This puppy would then go on to be named Griffin, GCHB Atas Grauman’s Gypsy Run Through CGC.

What is your role now?

I currently work as an assistant to Gabriel Rangel. I have worked for numerous handlers throughout my career since I was 11. To each of them I owe the utmost gratitude as they helped shape me into the handler and person I am today. They are Amy Rutherford, David Murray and Gabriel Rangel. After aging out of junior showmanship in 2020, I went on to apply for my junior showmanship license and gained AKC permit status. I recently had the pleasure to judge sizable entries of talented juniors at The Mission Circuit’s San Gabriel Valley KC, Prescott KC, the prestigious Santa Barbara Kennel Club, and at Palm Springs. Although my education always comes first, I continue to prioritize and pursue my dreams in the sport with my continued work professionally as an assistant as well as judging junior showmanship.

What is your most memorable win?

Click here to read the complete article
130 – February, 2023

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Posted by AnthonyA on Feb 16 2023. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.