The Owner & Handler Relationship – Making It Work

Photo ©Lisa Croft-Elliott

By Deb Cooper

There are ways to optimize your investment when hiring a handler in order to make the relationship between the owner and handler as productive and as effective for your dog’s campaign as possible.

There are two different scenarios where most owners hire handlers to show their dogs. The first is the class animal that the owner wants finished (either a Championship, or a Grand Championship) and the second is a special that the owner wants to campaign. In the first case, the goal is pretty much defined – you want a finished champion, or grand champion. In this case, the only time you will need to understand decisions your handler makes is whether or not your dog is being shown. This scenario might occur in the event the dog is singled out and there are no majors, or your handler does not think that the judge will like your dog, etc. With regard to the second case, the goal is not as clear so the first step is to discuss goals with your handler and get their input as to what they feel the potential of your dog might be and set goals for that special.

When you begin a relationship with a handler, it is important to recognize that you are not just hiring this person to walk in the ring with your dog, at least that is not what you should be hiring a handler to do. You are hiring a handler to manage your dog’s career, or in a lot of cases, to work with you, the owner, in managing your dog’s career. Owners must remember that handlers do this for a living – they are professionals. You pay them not only to show your dog, but to know what is best for your dog. You will get more for your money if you let your handler do their job. Most owners short change themselves by not realizing how multi-faceted the profession of all breed handling is. If you let your handler do their job, you will maximize their effectiveness and your investment. Most handlers have been doing their job for a long time and they make it their business to know what judges like what type of dog, etc. You should follow your handler’s lead when they tell you what judge to show the dog to and when it should be shown. Remember, your handler does not like to lose any more than you do. You should also follow your handler’s lead regarding whether or not the goals that you have in mind for your dog are achievable. Together you should agree on goals and how to achieve them. Remember, showing dogs is your handler’s livelihood – they want to do what is best to maximize their investment of time and effort.

When working with a handler you should have trust in them and respect for what they do and what they know. If all of these things are not true, perhaps you are not with the right handler, or do not have a good understanding of the big picture. In all facets of life, we are told things that we do not want to hear, and things do not always go our way – the sport of purebred dogs is the same way. If you work with your handler as opposed to against them (i.e. constantly arguing with them about what you think is right, where you think your dog should go next weekend, by delivering a dog to be shown with long nails that is not clean, etc.) in the long run, you will be much happier and your dog’s campaign will be maximized.

In my view, a BIG no no is to question a judge’s decision. In the long run, you will only hurt yourself and your dog’s chances in the future. Remember, you have paid a judge for their opinion – let your handler decide if they feel it necessary to discuss a judge’s decision with that person.

One also needs to keep in mind that in order to earn a living, handlers must carry more than just your dog (as we all know there are a few exceptions to this rule, but I am addressing the majority here) and they must consider what is best for all of the dogs in their string. Again, keep the big picture in mind: it may not be great for your dog this weekend, but there is always next weekend, and it may be great for your dog next weekend when it is not so good for other dogs in that handler’s lineup. You can have more fun at this sport if you are supportive of the other dogs on the string. After all, there are thousands of other dogs out there to compete with – don’t compete with your own team, it is never productive.

Some of you are fortunate enough to have dogs that will show for your handler if they don’t live with that person. You are willing to go to all of the dog shows yourself and do what it takes to keep your dog in show condition. In this case, remember, you are signing up to deliver that critter in show condition: in shape, in coat, clean, ears clean, nails trimmed, etc. Your handler can only do so much – if your animal is not in tip top shape, you should not expect to win. Those less fortunate folks whose dogs really need to live with the handler in order to show the best for them, or those folks that do not have the time or the energy to go on the road every weekend and do the conditioning and care must recognize that and let the dog live with the handler in order, once again, to maximize your investment, and your dog’s chances to win. If you do not trust your handler with your dog, then perhaps you are either not cut out for this game, or you have the wrong handler. You should have the utmost confidence in all of your handler’s abilities – not only to show your dog, but to train your dog, care for your dog, trim your dog, etc.

In my view, the key to a successful owner/handler relationship is recognizing that you are striving for the same goal. You should work together to achieve that goal and recognize that what you want for your dog, other owners want for their dogs as well. There MUST be give and take in any team relationship and the more supportive you are of that team relationship, the more productive the team can be for all involved.

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Posted by amy on Aug 28 2012. 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.