What’s Life Really Like for a Professional Handler?

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210 – July, 2022

By Sandy Weaver

What’s life like for a professional handler? The general public sees them running around the ring on TV, winning huge rosettes, big silver bowls and gorgeous bronze sculptures. Owner-handlers often see them as their nemesis, and a few may assume that when they’re not showing dogs they’re hanging out with judges, talking dogs, and setting up who’ll be the winners at upcoming shows. Both groups of people might think professional handlers fly around on private jets, sipping champagne while they head for their next destination, limo and servants awaiting their every need, dogs in tow and cared for by someone else.

Yeah. No!

What’s life REALLY like for a professional handler? In response to a survey, two dozen handlers shared their challenges, advice and stories. Many chose to remain anonymous, which was an option given in the survey to let them open up without potentially harming relationships with clients–whether past, current or future.

This seems like an obvious thing to say, but it needs to be said anyway–the first thing you should know about professional handlers is that their livelihood depends on maintaining the goodwill of their clients. Ribbons and trophies aren’t accepted by mortgage companies in lieu of payment, nor do they make good meals. The word “professional” in this context means someone who takes payment to present dogs not owned by them. For most respondents it also means that they board, train, condition, and create a great relationship with the dogs they present–presentation is the “moment in the sun” and their life is about 8% “moment in the sun” and 92% training, feeding and sometimes force-feeding reluctant dogs, driving, conditioning, bathing, driving, tooth-brushing, poop-scooping, driving, supervising breedings, kennel-cleaning and, oh, yeah–driving. The life of a professional handler may seem glamorous; but the fact is there’s a lot of very hard work that goes unseen and is often unappreciated.

First, maybe you’d like to know a bit about those who responded. Nearly three-quarters of the pros have been handling for more than 11 years, and the same percentage are out on the road more than 21 weeks a year. Half of those who answered the survey serve 10 or fewer clients, and slightly over half show between 11 and 20 different dogs per year. Two respondents serve more than 21 clients per year, while nine of the pros reported showing more than 21 different dogs per year.

When asked about the biggest challenges they face while dealing with clients, many reported communication issues, while several others talked about owners’ expectations where winning is concerned:

Click here to read the complete article
210 – July, 2022

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