The National Owner Handler Series – 6 Years Out

By Caroline Coile

Every year I revisit the current NOHS state of affairs, and ask the fancy for their com- plaints, opinions and suggestions. I like to think AKC has listened, because they have implemented several of the suggestions over the years following their publication. Every year some concerns remain the same, but the focus tends to change. This year is no different, except that it seems more than ever, NOHS has an identity crisis.

IDENTITY CRISIS

People tend to think of NOHS in very different ways. To some, it is the present-day version of a match. “It’s a great place to hone your handling skills…” is a common response as to the value of NOHS. Another is that it’s a great opportunity train young dogs. Others even comment that it is a good place for judges to get experience in a new group.

One multi-group judge suggests that “once a dog/handler team is winning in the big groups they should leave NOHS behind for those who will more appreciate the experience.”

Other judges disagree. I had one tell me, “Please keep showing in NOHS. The series needs more top-level teams to give it legitimacy.” Of course, the sad thing is that this comment even needs to be made.

So is NOHS a glorified match or a legitimate competition? Of 2018′s Top 50 NOHS dogs of all breeds, 43 were also in their breed’s Top 10 all breed, with ap- proximately half of those in the Top 5, and a few were also the #1 of their breed in regular competition. Of those that were not, most were in highly professionally handled breeds such as Great Danes or Goldens, or in Select/BOS-land competing with a super-power, group-ranked professional team. These dogs are not competing in NOHS “for practice.” Many are regular BIS and multiple group winners.

Most NOHS groups reflect both types of teams. The top winners tend to be teams that are experienced and also win at the regular breed and group level. But other teams are obviously not quite ready for prime time. NOHS has room for both.

Lynn Kiaer says she worries about all the comments describing NOHS as a place to work on handling skills. She says, “The best place to hone your handling skills is in front of a mirror, or by watching video. At the very least, you need supportive friends and mentors to provide constructive criticism. Go to handling clinics. Don’t keep doing the same thing, with friends who tell you that you and your dog looked great out there. I don’t care if you are the world’s best handler. Chances are there is something you could have done to improve your dog’s performance in the ring.”

So is NOHS a place to practice or a place to excel? Karan Aurelius suggests that an Adult Handling competition may be a better offering, and others have supported that idea. Juniors are not the only “future of our sport,” they point out, and many people come to showing as adults and drop out because they are at that awkward age where they never have the opportunity to learn to handle.

THE COMPETITORS

There is still consternation about who should be competing. Everyone I’ve talked to heartily approves of Juniors who are eligible for Junior Showmanship being eligible for NOHS, as the AKC recently declared. But some feel this should be extended to adults as well. I would draw the line at whether you are being paid for your assistance on that day, no matter your age, no matter how much work you do, no matter how much experience you have. As it is, the AKC says it’s fine for adults to help professionals, unless they help too much, on a day, and the line is blurry as to how much is too much. Take a dog in for BOB, fine; help groom, fine; travel with one, fine; help unload, fine; but do all four, probably not fine.

Then there’s the complaint about judges competing. Some believe that once a judge has a group, or is paid a fee to judge, they should no longer compete. That won’t fly with AKC because the NOHS concept is based on the idea that professionals must have more skill at handling than amateurs. Judges, unless retired handlers, do not necessarily have any more handling skills than the average OH. To ban them would be to say some competitors have an advantage based on facial recognition, and that is something AKC will not concede. Banning judges would also have the effect of adding to the perception that owner-handlers don’t want hard competition—thus taking away from the reputation and legitimacy of the series.

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Posted by Alex on Mar 22 2019. 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.