AKC Handler Number and Its Effect on Benching

By Amy Fernandez

Benching is back at Westminster and not a minute too soon. True, very few clubs have the resources to stage a benched show. However, in these disconnected times, OMG, we need them more than ever. That brings me to the point of this story.

Multi-breed Benching, now designated as Agents Benching, has always been a feature of Westminster show planning. Pro handlers cannot be slotted into breed benching–that goes without saying. The thing is, AKC introduced a new rule in January 2024. As of now, in order to request Agent Benching, handlers are required to submit an AKC issued number. To obtain one they must complete an online certification test to be acknowledged as a legitimate pro and get a number.  That’s fine, there are way too many dodgy individuals out there ruining the profession’s reputation.

The problem is that this new rule didn’t receive a whole lot of advance publicity. Yes, it was in the Gazette, but the pro handlers I know juggle a lot of demands and responsibilities. Quite a few of them missed the October 1, 2024 deadline to apply and receive an AKC handler number in time for Westminster.

That explains why handlers are not listed by name in the catalog, only by number. But in terms of show logistics, it’s not making life easy for handlers who missed the deadline. Their dogs are benched by breed, which means that a handler with five or six breeds must supervise client dogs all over the place. One Brussels Griffon here, two Maltese there, maybe a couple of Whippets way over on the other side of the benching. Most handlers bring an assistant to Westminster, but that’s not covering all the dogs in play in this situation. And this is a public venue, with a sizeable crowd of spectators wandering around the place.

And as Polly Lamarine pointed out to me today, this complication translates into more than inconvenience. Although she literally grew up as a professional handler, she missed this new AKC certification deadline. She’s also keeping an eye on four client dogs scattered around the breed benching. She has to groom them, exercise them and get them in the ring on time. This confusing arrangement raises some questions about legal liability. Who is legally responsible if something happens to one of these benched dogs?

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Posted by Liz on Feb 11 2025. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.