Meet the Winner of the National Dog Show and Her Handler

Sadie, the four-year-old Scottish Terrier who won it all at the National Dog Show earlier today, says she's too famous to talk to us now. But her handler, Gabriel Rangel of Rialto, Calif., was willing to indulge a few of our post-show questions.

Are you the only handler Sadie's ever had?
I've been her handler for two-and-a-half years. I'm the only handler she's had since then. She earned her championship status through another handler before me.

Besides this win, what other career highlights have you two shared?
When we won Best Terrier [i.e. Best In Group] at the Westminster Dog Show. She performed beautifully there.

When you first started handling Sadie, did you have an instant connection with her?
No, we needed to work at it. Dogs need to trust you, and they need to know what you want from them. Now, after all this time, it's a perfect understanding. I know what she wants and how she wants to do it, and she knows the same about me. There's a great connection between us. She gives me a great show every time.

Did you have a good feeling going into the National Dog Show?
I was a little nervous because I've never been in this dog show, and I'd always wanted to go. Something very funny happened: The judge of this show, Bill Taylor, he's a very prestigious, wonderful judge. I was looking forward to getting his opinion at this big dog show. But then he got sick! And I'd also never been to this arena; usually you know what the arena is like. So I wasn't sure of anything going in, but she did very well.

Just what is it that makes Sadie so special?
She's very balanced. Her proportions for her breed type are just right. Everything fits together. She looks so balanced, and when she moves she's so collected. Some dogs look very pretty standing but they don't look as good moving. And she looks even better moving. In her case, I never touch her, I let her do it all herself. I'm not holding up the tail or touching her legs to move them a certain way. It's her natural beauty.

Tags: national dog show, NationalDogShow, sadie, scottish terrier sadie, winning dog