So You Want to Be a Titleholder? Start Showing Up Now

This year you’ve read a lot about my journey. I can’t believe I’ve almost been writing this blog for a year. I’ve learned so much and have been able to share a lot of my experiences. You also got to see me do a lot of prep for the Georgia Pet, Pup and Handler contest. Running for a title is more than just a sash and title vest. For me it was a healing journey. I was able to reclaim something that I didn’t realize was taken from me, and allowed me to heal and grow. I say this, because while title and contest season is drawing to a close, now is also the time to start prepping for a title you may want to run for. But Ruff, the contest isn’t until August. Exactly, titleholders that do well in contests have a presence in the community long before they take the contest stage. I made the decision to run for my title in August the year before. What does that decision look like? For me it was figuring out what drove me and what I wanted to stand for in the community. That became my #UnapologeticallyPuppy platform. I decided that I wanted to focus on having fun, causing a little chaos, but also building a stronger community, being visible, and being a good steward of the spaces where we play. Whatever your reason for wanting a title, start the work now…and continue that work after the title contest is over. Judges will ask you what you plan to do win or lose the title, and they will see through your bullshit if you have no intention of keeping that momentum going long after the sashes are awarded and the contestants go home. Second, start showing up now. People in the community need to know who you are. Show up to pup events, volunteer, teach classes, sit on panels and get to know the community leaders now. They will be your best friends (and possibly judges) as you prepare for your contest. Assume from the moment that you decide to run that judges are watching you. They may not know they’re going to be judges yet, but it’s a tight community. They will look into the work you’ve been doing and are going to ask you about your involvement in the community. For me, I volunteer for Furry Weekend Atlanta, attended pup tea regularly, taught classes and workshops on kink and pet play. Find how you want to contribute and do it. It doesn’t have to be (and shouldn’t be) exactly as I’ve done it. It’s going to be easier to commit to the things you are passionate about and can be genuine when asked about why you got involved. Third, and this is important, define and protect your brand. You are going to get a reputation in the community. You want it to be a good one and not a bad one. Again, judges and community members are watching you. This is where that strong platform can help. As I grew #UnapologeticallyPuppy it became more than just a platform. It’s a personal brand to me. When people ask me what it means, without hesitation I can give my elevator pitch on what it is, what it means to me, and how others can embrace that philosophy. As you build your brand, make sure it’s something that you believe in and can easily explain it to others. This is your brand and what you want to be known for. Protect it. Protect it with how you present yourself, how people remember you, and how others speak about you. In practice, this looks like people counting on you to be a regular at events, that you’re always willing to lend a hand, always willing to answer questions about the community, and importantly how you protect the community that you want to represent. It’s also important to note that you also need to be mindful of overextending yourself. I was maxed out A LOT during my contest prep. I had events every week and there were some times, that I found myself near burnout from not giving myself the space to recover. Remember it’s always easier to add on to your calendar than it is to remove things. You want to be able to follow through on your commitments and you don’t want to tarnish your brand by committing to an event, then finding out that you’re too burnt out and having to back out. Life happens and sometimes you can’t avoid backing out of something, but if you do it frequently, it can start a bad reputation. I also want to emphasize again that the work you start now should be work that you can sustain beyond the contest. Not only does it give you a good look, but you’ll find it very fulfilling. In the last year, I’ve been able to make personal and professional relationships that I enjoy, and have been able to get opportunities I may have never had before I started this work. The work that I do with Furry Weekend Atlanta, is work I genuinely enjoy. I absolutely love developing and teaching at events across the country, and I enjoy writing and sharing this blog to help newcomers as they discover pet play. If you find something you love and are passionate about, it’s easy to continue that work and to be able to speak to why it’s important for you. Remember that becoming a titleholder, also means that you are going to be a role model for future generations and potentially your successor if you do get the title. This year has been a lot. I’ve learned a lot about who I am as a person AND a pup. Beyond the title run, I’ve gotten closer and more involved in my community. I’ve made friendships and nurtured others and have built an amazing chosen family. I wouldn’t change that for ANYTHING, and a sash doesn’t define who I’ve become. Win or lose, my purpose for running was never to get the sash. It was always about reclaiming something from my past and proving to myself that I can be more than the sum of my parts. When that sash was awarded and it wasn’t my name that was called, I was still incredibly excited and proud of what I’d done. There may be only one title winner, but everyone in your title class has the opportunity to go home a winner. Find the win in the weekend long before the contest starts. The most important thing I can emphasize is that if you think you want to run for a title in the next year, you need to start preparing now. You don’t have to announce that you’re running to start doing the work. People will already know the work you’re doing if you start showing up and building those relationships now. There should never be a question of, “are you going to run for the title?” It should be more, “You’re already doing the work of a titleholder, you should be running.” Running for a title is a lot of work, but it’s very rewarding. I’m not sure yet if I have another contest run in me, but I know that I will always continue the work I started, I will continue showing up, and will do everything I can to support the current title family. There is so much more coming from me and I hope many of you will continue to follow along as I continue to grow and evolve #UnapologeticallyPuppy.