SNOHOMISH — Gabi Loesch, 14, is on a path to becoming a top dog handler. The American Kennel Club has invited Loesch, of Snohomish, to join the U.S. team for the European Open Junior World Agility Championships in the Czech Republic.
She is to travel to the central European nation to compete with her 6-year-old beagle, Ruby, in July.
Gabi is among seven junior dog handlers from across the country to be selected for the international contest. Her teammates range in age from 10 to 18.
When she was 8, Gabi got Ruby as a puppy from Sheri Berndt-Smith, a Snohomish breeder who won an award with her beagle, JJ, at the 2015 Westminster dog show. Berndt-Smith said she was impressed that Gabi made the U.S. team, especially since she is one of the youngest handlers to make the cut.
“It’s a pretty big deal,” Berndt-Smith said. “For her to be recognized on a national level is just phenomenal.”
Gabi has been training her hound for agility competition the past six years. She runs with Ruby on jumping and obstacle courses, baiting the beagle with cheese. At first, the sport didn’t come easily to Ruby.
“It was more like chasing her around the ring,” Gabi said.
But the pair kept practicing, jumping through tires, running over teeters and clearing hurdles. Gabi worked with professional trainers in Monroe and Mount Vernon to learn how to better handle her hound.
She and Ruby have achieved a master title, one of the highest ranks in dog showing.
“I worked really hard to get her where she is and I used a lot of cheese,” Gabi said, noting Ruby favors string cheese but doesn’t turn her nose up at any kind of treat.
Now Gabi has her sights set on earning a championship title with her beagle. The Centennial Middle School eighth-grader is squeezing time to train Ruby into her busy schedule, full of homework, science projects and track and soccer practices.
Because there aren’t very many kids involved dog showing in the Northwest, Gabi has gotten used to competing mostly against adults. She is looking forward to going up against handlers her own age in Europe.
“Over here, there’s not that many kids involved, but over there, they’ve been doing it for generations,” said Gabi’s mother, Kim Loesch. “It’s like soccer over here versus soccer over there.”
Gabi’s international strategy for success, however, won’t be much different than at home. She’ll roughhouse with Ruby before taking her in the ring.
Dog showing has taught Gabi important life lessons beyond the competitions. She’s learned responsibility and perseverance.
“I have to keep working,” she said. “If I give up, it won’t work.”
Loesch recently got her younger daughter, Meg, 10, a cocker spaniel so she could train and show her dog, too.
“It builds character when you don’t succeed and have to try again,” Loesch said.
Gabi is now working toward a new goal. She is trying to raise $5,000 for her trip to the Czech Republic on a GoFundMe page. Loesch said she has been moved to tears by the support Gabi has received so far.
“There’s so much potential there,” Loesch said. “She could be the next world-class dog handler.”
People can donate at gofundme.com/agirlandherbeagle.
Amy Nile: 425-339-3192; anile@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @AmyNileReports.
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