AOH Advantage

August 2012

By Peter Baynes

Unfortunately, there is a perception that all professional handlers are more skilled than owner-handlers. They forget that many amateur-owner-handlers have become superstars in the dog world. When I gave handling clinics, I tried to emphasize that the owner-handlers are the ones who have many of the advantages.

Now the AKC has decided to emphasize the distinction by offering Amateur-Owner-Handler (AOH) Classes and, in addition, points for more successful AOHs. This means that all my teachings about how to beat the professional handlers is now obsolete because now they will be recognized for beating their own kind.

First, we will examine the new programs, and then I will repeat what I told my classes, in case there are some owner-handlers out there who still want to beat the professionals.

One program that has been in force for a few years is as follows: Amateur-Owner-Handler Class (effective as of 1/1/2009).

“Chapter 3, Section 7 – The Amateur-Owner-Handler Class shall be for dogs that are at least six months of age that are not champions. Dogs must be handled in the class by the registered owner of the dog. This class is restricted to exhibitors who have not, at any point in time, been a professional handler, AKC approved conformation judge, or employed as an assistant to a professional handler. Additionally, members of the immediate family or household of a current professional handler are ineligible for this class (as defined in Chapter 11, Section 13).”

I don’t know how successful this class has been in drawing new entries, or even replacing the Novice Class. I do know that when I co-judged the American Boxer Club Specialty with an entry of over 600, only two owners entered that class. I could never understand why the Novice Class is not used more often in this country; maybe the entrants are under the impression that you have to be a member of some religious order.

Nevertheless, in the country of my birth, where I received most of my judge’s training, I once gave the first Challenge Certificate to a Boxer bitch from the Maiden Class (which is one step below Novice). She, of course, went on to become one of the top winners in the breed. On another occasion at a large Open show, I gave the breed to a Rottweiler from the Novice Class and he also went on to become a top winner in the breed. Therefore, in my opinion, judges should never look down their noses at any exhibit from the lower classes. They may be overlooking some future star.

We also have the higher level of competition, named The AKC National Owner-Handler Series.  The same stipulation for eligibility as the Amateur-Owner-Handler Class applies, and it will be judged as follows at various upcoming shows:

“The AKC National Owner-Handler competition will be conducted following Best of Breed judging in each breed ring. All dogs in the BOB competition (including WD & WB) will stay in the ring after the judge makes their placements in BOB competition. The ring steward will ask all professional handlers, household members and assistants to current professional handlers to leave the ring and the judge will then select the Best Owner-Handler (BOH). The dog and its owner will continue to accrue points for any group placements or Bests in Show.”

Initially it was stated that an asterisk would be placed alongside the owner-handler’s number in the judge’s book. I am sure this bad idea has been rescinded.

“The top-ranked dogs from the AKC National Owner-Handler Series will be posted on www.akc.org and the Top 10 owner-handled dogs of each breed and variety will be invited to compete at an “end of year” competition show. Rankings of the dogs competing in the series will be compiled based on the Best of Breed, Group and Best in Show placements in this specific series competition.”

Points are given for Best in Show, Group placements, and Best of Breed. Points range from five to one hundred. You can look them up on the AKC website.

It does explain that owner-handlers are still considered amateur if they showed a dog for another person for out-of-ring expenses only. I regard this as rather a large loophole, as some expenses can be higher than a professional handling fee. It would be disastrous if Blanche Carte, a prominent owner-handler is stripped of her award because it is discovered that she handled a dog, other than her own, for a gift — monetary or otherwise — back in 1972, or even received prize money.

As I write this, the Olympic Games are approaching and I cannot help but recall Jim Thorpe who was very successful in the 1912 (Amateur) Olympics, but was stripped of his medals when it was discovered that he had previously played semi-professional baseball during a college break for $2 per game. How do I know all this? I saw the movie.

Incidentally, I tried to check the full list of participating shows for the AKC National-Owner-Handler Series but the AKC website was having problems with its software. By the time you read this, I am sure this error will have been rectified.

It seems that, at last, the AKC has listened to owner-handlers who feel they are not given a fair shake in the ring against professional handlers. This has always been the case, and I thought that some of their protestations were exaggerated. Nevertheless, with a more powerful lobby, things have changed. I should not be surprised, as I never thought that Curling would become an Olympic sport; I was wrong about that too.

At present, the AKC states more than 80% of show dogs are handled by their owners. If this is true, looking at some records from the ‘80s, things must have changed dramatically, as at that time the vast majority of dogs were being handled by agents (the “in” word for professional handlers at the time).

Because of this dominance, owners were hungry for information as how to beat the so-called professionals. At that time, with less than 100 shows per year on my calendar, I could fit in several handling clinics. Again, looking at my old notes, I think what I said then still applies. My spiel went something like this:

‘There is a lot more to handling than posing and moving a dog in the ring, and those that came to learn just that may be disappointed. I would also like to make it clear that I am not going to turn someone into a Jane Forsyth overnight, or teach someone how to be a great Terrier trimmer, or specialized breed groomer. I hope, however, to give some of you a new attitude towards showing. I believe this is the key to success.

‘My philosophy is that a good dog shown in top condition, well-groomed and trained, handled with calm confidence, coupled with a sense of enjoyment takes some beating under a good judge.’

Then, over two days, I taught them the tricks of the trade, how to cheat, and I explained why they had the advantage over professional handlers. One disadvantage (I explained) is the fact that most owners are unable to evaluate their dogs objectively. This is one reason why I emphasized they should first study conformation. Read as many books as possible about their breed, study the standard, and observe the top winners and their handlers.

Then I explained a few of the advantages: With your own dog it can be trained and groomed to perfection, as you have all the time in the world. Arrive at the show early; get a good parking place, handicapped if necessary, that is not available to professional handlers. Get to ringside early and watch professional handlers running from ring to ring in a panic while you calmly sit at ringside and watch the judge’s procedure. You will have picked up your armband and calmly placed it in the correct position. Make sure you are not first in line; you will not have sent your entry in too early.

I also tried to instill in them the importance of watching other breeds and handlers and, if possible, learning by staying to watch the Groups and Best in Show. I do not know how many went on to become as successful as William Holt. He was the breeder-owner-handler of the English Setter Rock Falls Colonel who won 101 Bests in Show. This was at a time when he probably had to compete regularly against the professional handler Nate Levine. Nate had, at that time, the top winning Boxer of all time, Bangaway of Sirrah Crest, with 121 Bests in Show.

I do know one participant did come to me years later and said I had ruined her life. She explained that after my lecture she had spent a fortune on showing dogs. On another occasion, I gave too much information away. I taught one participant how to trim her Sporting breed correctly, and she beat me every day on an upcoming circuit. I never revealed this information to the owners of my dog. I am sure they would have been upset. If any of my ex-clients happen to be reading this, I can assure you that it was not your dog!

On another occasion, the organizer of the clinic had connections to the local television station, and she arranged for a television crew to come and record the proceedings. It was the last day, a Sunday, and when I went back to the hotel it was the highlight of the evening news. It must have been a slow news day. It was so well-edited I had dreams that someone viewing the program might be inspired to breed a dog capable of being owner-handled to Best in Show at Westminster.

In fact, since I have been attending Westminster, I have witnessed two breeder-owner-handlers going Best in Show at that event – Walter Goodman with his Skye Terrier in 1969 and Chris Tyrell with his Afghan in 1983. There were others before that, the most notable being Sunny Shay with her Afghan in 1957.

What I tried to imply in the opening paragraph was not all professional handlers are as skilled as many owner-handlers. Therefore, teaching someone the basic skills can sometimes be the beginning of an interesting pastime for the talented pupil. This is especially true of those who have the ability to pass a sensitive message down the lead to their best friend. I’m sorry I can’t relate those tricks that I mentioned earlier in this column as I’ve run out of space; maybe another time.

Conversely, if someone has two left feet, the temperament of Barney Fife, or do not have the time to travel to shows; do not hesitate to use a professional handler. Not all is lost; you can always become a successful breeder.

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