A Childhood Spark: Discovering the World of Dog Shows

Originally from Maracaibo, Venezuela, South America, Jose Miguel’s first exposure to the dog show world was at the age of nine following a recommendation from their family veterinarian. In 1994 his parents took him and his boxer named Dunky to the event that would set the course for the rest of his life.

Building Expertise: Mentorship and Early Experience

Jose Miguel continued attending local dog shows as a junior handler until the age of 14 years old when he started working as an assistant for his mentors, handlers and breeders, Alberto Gomez and Gerardo Diaz. While assisting Gomez and Diaz, Jose Miguel got to work with a wide variety of breeds such as American Staffordshire Terrier, Rottweiler, German Shepherd, Boxer, Labrador Retriever, Afghan Hound, Beagle, Bull Terrier, Golden Retriever, Miniature Schnauzer, Poodle, Akita, Pointers among others.

Rising Star in Latin America

At the age of 24 he decided to move to Panama to continue growing as a professional dog handler and trainer. In Panama, he had the opportunity to travel throughout Latin America showing dogs earning multiple prestigious group placements and Best in Shows with breeds such as Papillon, Beagle, Chihuahua, Italian Greyhound, Boston Terrier, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Pomeranian, Doberman, Bull Terrier, Chow Chow, and Pulí among others. As a professional handler in Panama, Jose Miguel traveled to many countries such as Costa Rica, Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, Nicaragua, Honduras, Salvador, among others to compete in dog shows.

Breeding Excellence and Career Milestones

While in Panama Jose Miguel began his golden retriever and miniature as well as intermediate Xoloitzcuintli breeding program. Jose Miguel had great success with Xolos from his breeding program in the Latin American show circuit. In 2015 he was hired to handle a standard Xolo named Carolina Herrera that had been shown in the United States. The owners and breeders wanted Jose Miguel to get Carolina from Texas and show her in Latin America and Mexico. Carolina and Jose Miguel had great success earning over 70 group 1 placements and over 100 Best in Shows. With such incredible results, Carolina’s owners and breeders decided to bring Jose Miguel to the United States to continue showing for them and start his career as a handler here.

Breaking Ground in the USA

A year later, in 2016, Jose Miguel and Carolina won the Xolo National here in the USA and continued to earn multiple group placements. That was the year his career as a professional handler in the United States began. After his success with Carolina, Jose was hired to show English bulldogs for the first time. While showing bulldogs, Jose earned his first two Best in Show titles in the USA, finished more than 150 champions, over 20 Best in Specialty Shows, and multiple group placements. Along with bulldogs, he continued showing Xolos from his breeding program as well as other breeds. In 2022 he began showing a Bullmastiff named Rider. That year Rider earned a spot on the prestigious top 25 national ranking. Handling Rider led to an opportunity to show a beautiful Bullmastiff bitch named Tora bred by Olga and Galina. Tora won Best Opposite Sex at the prestigious Westminster dog show, best brindle and select bitch at the bullmastiff national, and earned top 10 ranking breed and all breed.

Shining at Westminster and Beyond

In 2023 Whiskey, the border terrier, and Jose Miguel met for the first time thanks to his friend Emily Burdon. When he met Whiskey, he knew that dog was special. Emily Burdon then makes arrangements with Jose Miguel to bring Whiskey from Canada to show and campaign him in the United States with the support of Randy and Cynthia Lubinsky. Whiskey begins his career in the United States on January 2024. A month later, he wins the breed at Westminster. Whiskey also won the breed at the prestigious terrier show Montgomery Kennel Club, has earned multiple best in shows, group 1 placements, group placements, and is the #1 border terrier breed and all breed, is ranked in the top 10 terrier, and is ranked in the top 50 dogs in the country.