BELLE — Local resident McKayla Andrews had plenty of reasons to be nervous when she stepped into the show ring with her four-month-old Russian Toy, Milena, in July.

Milena apparently did not share those nerves.

The young puppy made her show debut at the St. Joseph Kennel Club shows July 18-19, earning Best of Breed both days before taking second place on July 19 in the Toy group.

Competing with one of the nation’s rarest dog breeds, Andrews entered the weekend hoping to give her puppy a positive first experience. Instead, the pair returned home with two Best of Breed wins and a Toy group runner-up finish.

“I was simply over the moon that she enjoyed showing that day and wasn’t scared or stressed by the new sights, sounds, smells and crowded pathways,” Andrews said.

Milena’s registered name is Red Fox’s Notorious at Cridhealas. She was born March 18 and turned four months old on the first day of the show, making her just old enough to compete in the Beginner Puppy class.

Andrews describes Milena as an exceptionally affectionate dog who loves cuddling but is equally enthusiastic about meeting new people and exploring unfamiliar places.

“Her breed descends from terriers, so there is a fair bit of prey drive and she loves to chase things and rip up paper towels,” Andrews said.

The Russian Toy remains one of the rarest breeds in the United States. Originally developed as a companion for Russian aristocracy, the breed was also valued for chasing rats away from ladies’ dresses to help prevent bites and disease. It was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 2022, and Andrews said fewer than 1,000 are believed to currently live in the United States. Its rarity also makes it difficult to find experienced mentors and exhibitors.

One reason Andrews chose the St. Joseph show was the opportunity to spend time with knowledgeable Russian Toy owners who could help her prepare Milena and offer advice.

“In a rare breed, finding people to mentor you can be very challenging, particularly due to proximity,” Andrews said.

Distance also played a role in her decision. Dog shows offering the Beginner Puppy class can require an eight-hour drive each way, she said. St. Joseph amounted to about a nine-hour round trip.

Although it was Milena’s first competition, her preparation began almost from birth. Her breeder introduced the litter to human handling when the puppies were about a week old, exposing them to strangers and teaching them to accept grooming and examinations. By six weeks, they were learning to stand on a grooming table, wear a show lead and gait properly. Andrews continued building on that foundation after bringing Milena home at 12 weeks.

“To try to put into words the amount of time spent is impossible, because it is truly a lifelong project to make your dog a great show dog,” Andrews said.

That preparation paid off in St. Joseph.

Milena earned Best of Breed July 18 but did not place in the Toy group. The following day, she again earned Best of Breed before returning to the Toy group, where the result was different.

Andrews said the judge was known for placing considerable importance on a dog’s movement, making the second-place finish especially meaningful.

“The puppy who took first, a lovely Shih Tzu, was an amazing pup that I’m proud to have lost to but if I’m being honest, I had to hold back tears of joy when he pointed at us to name us second place,” Andrews said. “I couldn’t have been more thrilled, or honored, to have Milena be recognized by the judge for her great movement in the ring!”

In conformation shows, judges compare each dog to the written standard for its breed, evaluating characteristics such as structure, movement, coat and overall balance. Dogs winning Best of Breed advance to group competition, where each breed is judged against its own standard before the top dog advances toward Best in Show.

For a four-month-old puppy, however, showing is supposed to be fun, and Milena seemed to understand that perfectly.

During judging July 19, Andrews stacked Milena on the examination table and signaled that she was ready. The judge approached and wiggled his fingers at the puppy.

Milena immediately decided it was playtime.

“Thankfully, because of that, it was not unexpected when Milena broke her stack and tried to play with the judge so much that he could hardly put his hands on her!” Andrews said.

The judge laughed and eventually asked Andrews to show Milena’s bite herself.

Andrews said Milena exceeded every expectation she had for a puppy making her debut.

“Not every dog can walk into a dog show completely confident and greet every person they see without concern, but that’s exactly what my girl did,” Andrews said. “Her tail was up and wagging the entire time, whether we were just walking around the show grounds, waiting ringside or in the ring itself.”

For Andrews, the greater challenge was controlling her own nerves.

“I’ve helped show multiple dogs in the last year and always am just a tad nervous, but showing my own puppy definitely took it to a new level!” she said. “I’m very thankful for the people around me who helped me stay as calm as possible, and for Milena, who made me look good.”

The experience also reinforced what Andrews enjoys most about dog showing.

“The biggest thing I enjoy about showing is getting to have fun with my dog, but also getting to know so many new people and breeds I’ve never gotten to meet before,” Andrews said. “Truly, the show community is so kind and supportive of each other, especially in hard times.”

St. Joseph was only the beginning for Milena.

Andrews plans to enter Beginner Puppy competitions in Topeka, Kan., and Amana, Iowa, in August. Milena will become eligible for regular AKC classes at six months old and is scheduled to make that debut Sept. 18 at Purina Farms, where Andrews hopes she can begin earning points toward an AKC Championship.

Milena already holds a Video Home Manners-Puppy title. Andrews hopes to add a Puppy of Achievement title, Video Home Manners-Adult, STAR Puppy, Canine Good Citizen certification and several trick dog titles. Rally and agility competition may also be in Milena’s future.

“The world is our oyster.” Andrews said.