Special to the Lakeland Gazette
While most 11-year-olds are still discovering their hobbies, Ava Silva has already found her calling inside the competitive world of dog showing. The Lakeland native is quickly emerging as a promising young handler in Junior Showmanship, fueled by discipline, emotional intuition with animals, and an ambitious dream: competing at the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
Raised in a family deeply committed to ethical breeding and breed preservation, Silva grew up surrounded by dogs — particularly Rottweilers and Toy Fox Terriers. Her early exposure helped cultivate confidence and understanding rarely seen at such a young age.
Her journey began remarkably early.
“It all started when I took the lead of my Rottweiler, Bronx, at age three,” Silva recalls…