Jacinda Williams, or “Jace,” has always loved dogs and enjoyed watching dog shows on TV. Once she went to her first dog show in 2022, she quickly found herself interested in the sport of conformation, not just as a spectator but also as a competitor.
Now 17 years old, Williams lives in New York, where she shows her Ibizan Hound “Miranda” GCH CH NOHS Bronze Windrift’s Border Town Buzz CA and her Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, “Comet” Susqudilla’s Wish Upon A Star.
Taking the Leash for the First Time
Before attending her first dog show, Williams watched televised dog shows and began to research the sport online. In doing so, she made some connections online, who she met in person at the first show she attended. She met and spoke to dog owners who had been at the show for a Meet the Breeds event. Williams recalls this moment as her being introduced to Sighthounds and instantly falling in love with the breed.
The same day she attended her first in-person dog show, she was also handed the leash and given the opportunity to show herself. “I was so excited and nervous! I thought I won the lottery,” Williams says, recalling behind both excited and overwhelmed. “Mentally, it was a lot. Lots of learning, ups and downs … the nerves are so real.”
Learning the Ins and Outs of Handling
Williams’ newfound friends and mentors saw her potential and passion and wanted to invest in her as a future handler. Those handling classes are just part of the behind the scenes work that Williams continues to put into learning how to be the best handler possible. “There’s so much to learn and so much to mess up on. It’s trial and error. I’ve spent hundreds of hours watching and reading about showing,” Williams explains. She credits the relationship she’s formed with those mentors with helping her stay involved in the sport. “Mentorship is so important for Juniors. They’re there to help you learn, grow, and thrive in whatever breeds you’re involved in and what you want in your future. I have had a much greater time with mentors than without.”
Getting involved in dog sports isn’t always easy, especially for junior handlers who don’t come from a show family. Getting to this level has taken hard work and perseverance on Williams’ part. “I’ve built myself from the ground up,” she says. Showing dogs isn’t an inexpensive hobby, and Williams recognizes that and appreciates the sacrifices her parents have made for her to stay involved in this sport. “My parents do everything they can for me and my love for this sport,” she adds.
Falling In Love With the Ibizan Hound
Williams has made a name for herself as a handler showing Ibizan Hounds, a rare breed, and not a common juniors breed. There was an instant attraction for her to these dogs. “I have loved them since around 2018,” she recalls. “I thought they looked so regal.” After falling in love with the aesthetic of Ibizan Hounds, Williams started to research the breed and meeting with breed owners. Even though there aren’t a lot of Ibizan Hounds showing, Williams has gone out of her way to get involved with the breed community. “I’ve made lovely friends and met experts online. I see them once in a while, but there are only two local owners.” Now, she makes it a priority to show where she knows other Ibizan Hounds will be.
Williams is also passionate about sharing the breed with others. “Not many people know them, even at shows, so I get to talk about them all the time!” Williams is especially proud of winning the Best Junior Handler award at the Ibizan Hound National Specialty.
All for That Magic Bond
Ribbons are nice, but when asked what her favorite part of showing dogs is, Williams immediately answered: “the companionship of the dogs!” Seeing other junior handlers have such strong bonds with their show dogs led Williams to know this was the sport for her. “I remember it so clearly. I was watching German Shorthaired Pointers, it was a specialty, and this girl loved her dog so much. Their communication was immaculate. I kind of just thought, ‘Wow, is this what it’s like? Unconditional love?” Williams was infatuated. What she saw went beyond anything she’d seen before when it came to the human-dog bond. “Their connection was just so loving and deep, I’m not sure words can really explain it,” Williams recalled.
Chasing the same experience, Williams leaned into the mentorship she was getting from folks who were taking her to information classes and dog shows. “It has opened up a whole new life to me. I’ve learned how to care for dogs to such a high standard, giving my own dogs the life they deserve … I was hooked,” she recalled. Building the strongest relationship possible is something that Williams always prioritizes with any dog on the end of her leash.
‘Miranda,’ Her First Show Dog
Williams is especially proud of the deep bond she shares with Miranda, the Ibizan Hound that she shows in Juniors, and how special their relationship is. “We read each other’s minds and go off body language. Our trust in each other is through the roof,” Williams explains. That kind of connection with a dog can’t just happen overnight. Her secret to forming such a close bond with her show dog? Williams confessed, “I spoil her.”
She describes Miranda as being “laid back compared to others in the breed,” which has resulted in some training challenges where Williams has needed to find new ways to motivate and keep her interested in training. “At home, she usually sleeps in my bed unless she hogs it. When she wants something I’m eating, I make her work for it, but nothing too hard, or else she shakes her head and takes a nap.” Williams credits their bond and success with allowing Miranda to be a beloved pet first and foremost before she is a show dog. “When I first got her, we went on a lot of walks and experienced the world together. Just by walking, we learned a lot about each other.”
That bond and connection Williams shares with Miranda help them to be successful as a team, even when the ribbons don’t come. “I’ve had so many cries. I always walk away with a smile on my face and excitement for my girl,” she says. “Anything is possible if you put yourself to it, and I want to let younger Juniors know that.” In the future, she hopes to qualify to compete at Westminster, and would love to “have a successful breeding program and improve on the breed I so dearly love.”