The moment Braylen Green entered the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida in 2025, she was struck by the grandeur of her surroundings — enormous signs draped from the ceiling, an expanse of blue carpeted rings, and scores of beautiful dogs. It was the largest show of her conformation career so far, and she was only 10 years old.
Green and her Juniors dog — “Chaser,” a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever — had traveled from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to compete at the AKC National Championship, presented by Royal Canin. The duo would contend for Best Junior against nearly 160 young handlers from across the country, as well as Best of Breed in an entry of more than 40 Toller specials.
“I was excited,” Green says, though she had some jitters as well: it was her first national event.
Green is no stranger to being one of the youngest Juniors, in the ring at events, and this was no exception. In an elegant cream dress and her hair pulled neatly into a ballerina bun, Green appeared to float as she gaited Chaser across the blue carpet. Their performance that day highlighted the special relationship they have as a team and the journey that got them there.
Born Into Dog Sports
Now 11 years old, Green’s Junior Showmanship journey started before she was born — her mom, Bridget Green, was nearly 9 months pregnant with her, and still running in agility with her Labrador Retriever. A few months later, baby Braylen attended her first AKC National Agility Championship in Reno, Nevada.
Her mom has two decades of experience in dog sports (agility and AKC Scent Work), but she’s new to conformation. In 2022, she started helping her Lab’s breeder show some of their prospects, with Green in tow.
“It looked like a bunch of fun,” Green recalls. Since she was still too young for Juniors at this point, she got her start in Pee Wee Special Attraction class with a friend’s Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, “Bruno.”
Adults typically accompany the young handlers (ages 5 to 9) in Pee Wee. Bruno’s owner, Tracy MacEachern, was ready to join Green for her first time in the ring. Green’s mom, who was taking video ringside, recalls her daughter turning to MacEachern before they entered the ring and telling her, “I’ve got this.”
“I felt confident that I could do it by myself,” Green says. She handled the 140-pound dog on her own at her very first show.
Becoming a Team
Green met Chaser when her family friend, Maureen Baumtrog, brought the young Toller to an AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy class. Baumtrog knew Green eventually wanted to show in Juniors, and she hoped the puppy could earn her Championship, too. Baumtrog saw potential in Green and allowed her to take Chaser to handling classes with Colton and Heather Johnson and Lauren Fox.
“I just felt we had a connection with each other,” Green says. Through handling classes, she developed her showmanship skills while building a close bond with her future Juniors dog.
But she still had some time before her ninth birthday, when she’d be eligible to compete in Junior Showmanship. Until then, she showed Chaser in breed, where she was almost always the youngest competitor. On their first weekend as a team, Green earned a major with Chaser toward an AKC Championship.
“The Toller ring within Colorado is so supportive of her,” Green says. “It’s amazing. They make a big deal — like when she got her Grand Championship, it was a big celebration.”
Chasing Her Dream
Green exclusively handled Chaser to her Championship and Grand Championship. When she turned 9, Green was finally eligible to show in Junior Showmanship. She learned to adjust her handling style for this type of competition.
“I had to work a little more,” Green explains. In Juniors, kids are judged on their presentation and handling abilities, rather than the dog’s structure and movement. To keep Chaser engaged and looking her best, she incorporates tricks into her handling, like spins and hand touches.
“She’s always happy out there, but … her ears are a little more perked when Braylen is doing a little bit of tricks and playing with her,” her mom says.
Branching Out as a Handler
In July, Green also started showing “Ireland,” a Papillon, whom she co-owns with her grandmother, Hope Stanley. She’s earned several National Owner-Handled Series points with Ireland, and plans to show her in Juniors in the coming year.
As she matures as a handler, Green also wants to learn how to show other breeds — and she’s off to a good start. At specialties before the ANC, Green showed an American Hairless Terrier, a Labrador Retriever, and a Belgian Sheepdog. Eventually, she hopes to show at Westminster and Crufts.
The Beginning of a Great Career
Although she’s now competed on the biggest stage in the conformation world at the AKC National Championship, Green and Chaser are just beginning their journey. They’ve been training in agility and hope to start trialing soon — Green’s goal is to compete in Masters level.
Baumtrog’s earned several titles with Chaser in multiple disciplines, too — her full registered name is GCH CH Skylarks Chase The Winter Blues Away FCAT2 SWN SCNE SINE SENE SCA SIA SEA THDN RATO DSX DJ HDJA TKA FDC FITG FTI ATT CGCA CGCU. Not bad!
Chaser is Baumtrog’s dog, and the Greens are like her second family. When Mrs. Green stops by Baumtrog’s house for a visit, she says Chaser is “ready to go, looking at the door, like, ‘Where’s Braylen?’”
“It’s kind of funny how she’s not our dog, but she is our dog,” Green says. “She’s got this unbelievable connection with Braylen. They’re quite the teammates.”
