Road Warriors

After an exhausting weekend I thought it would be a good idea to talk about driving and safety on the road for handler, assistants, and of course the dogs.

Some weekends we have the luxury of staying at home and driving back and forth to shows, but this is a rarity.  Often handlers handlers drive hours upon hours every week to get to shows where they believe their dogs have the best chances of winning. These hours of driving on the road can be tedious, tiresome, and stressful.

Feeling like a truck driver????

Pulling into a truck stop to fuel up my truck is a very awkward feeling.  I am a very petite woman and seeing the looks of people's faces when little 'ol me gets out, it never fails to crack me up.  "You drive that?" Yes I do!  Then I start walking all of the dogs and the next question is, "How many do you have in there?"

Fast food multiple times during a week, let alone a day is one of the yucky parts of being on the road.  We have time lines and shows to make so fast food is often the best and only choice.  The cons of fast food are obvious, we hear about all over the media, fast food is bad for your health.  Handlers need to be fit to constantly run circles for a living, so eating fast food and snacks while on the road can create problems.

Keeping awake adds another element of stress while driving.  It is a little known fact that handlers often hold rock concerts in their trucks while on the road!  Sometimes there are drummers, guitar players, singers all wrapped up into one determined driver!  Others need brakes from music and listen to books, talk radio or just a time for silence, it's all about what is going to keep you awake to get to the show you need to get to.

The stress of driving these big trucks and motorhomes over mountains, through traffic, through construction can be overwhelming.  Breakdowns are unfortunately inevitable, it's how we have to handle these situations make all the difference.  Keeping the dogs that travel with us in safe, comfortable conditions is always a top priority.  Driving white knuckles for hours on end, then arriving at a show and having to immediately start working can be exhausting.  This is one the hardest things to do as a handler in my mind, drive hours on end then immediately turn it on and get going with taking care of the dogs and interacting with other handlers and clients when you've had a bumpy drive.

I bet some handlers drive more miles than some truck drivers!  Are you one of them?

Trust & Respect

Trusting our handlers is everything.  We leave our dogs, or four legged children with handlers with the TRUST they will be taken care of.  This 5 letter word has such deep meaning with any relationship and it certainly doesn't stop with dog handlers.  Trusting our handlers comes in different forms - communication, health & well being, & decision making among other areas

- Communication -

Handlers now have a dog's life in their hands and as owners we need to know it's being taken care of by receiving phone calls, text messages and emails.  With all of this great technology at our fingertips its easier than ever to keep clients informed of how their dog is doing.  I have heard of handlers setting up groups on Yahoo! or Facebook for their clients so when a show is done the handler posts the results and then the clients can congratulate each other.  I think that's a great way to build a great team among the entire setup from handler, assistant and owners.  Giving clients a simple text while at shows on periodically during the week can give assurance that their dog is being taken care of and keep them informed on successes!  Of course phone calls are the best way of communicating with clients when their dogs are left and they cannot attend the shows.

Unfortunately, I have heard that some handlers do not communicate with their clients on a regular basis except for billing.  To me this is not acceptable, these are customers and customers need to be kept happy otherwise they can take their business elsewhere.  How hard is to pick up the phone a send a quick message?

- Health & Well Being -

Owners are trusting their dogs, their family with a dog handler like a when a child goes to camp or boarding school.  Unfortunately we cannot hear from the dog, like we can from the child about what happened while away, we just have to trust.  Handlers should not only look after the health of the dog, but its well being as well.  Dogs are social creatures and they need love and attention from new four legged friends and new two legged ones.  

Dogs are not little "show machines" they need to be happy outside the ring in order for them to be happy inside the ring.  When owners go to the shows and see their dog is happy with his/her handler it can be a great feeling.  Some dogs even get to the point where they love their handler as much as their owner.  As hard as this can be on the owner, it's a good thing because you know you can trust that your dog is being taken care of.  

With regards to health, handlers are now trusted with with your dog's life.  If a dog is sick he or she needs to be treated.  If trips to the vet are necessary, owners please don't complain about the cost of the treatment.  This is you dog and we want to make sure everything is right.  Of course we're going to consult you, IF time allows, but if it's an emergency we're going to rely on our experience and knowledge to make the best decision possible.

- Decision Making -

You trust your doctor to make decisions about your health, you trust a lawyer to make decisions about your legal matters, so trust your handler for decisions about where to show you dog.  This is our job, a job you hired us to do.  Yes, handlers often consult clients and owners about different shows to attend but at the end of the day it should be up to the handler to decide where to go.  It breaks trust when clients constantly question why a handler is going to these shows instead of these.  Believe it or not, handlers want to win so they're going to try to go to shows where they think they can win!!!!!  When at shows and conflicts arise (which at some point they will), trust your handler will find the best possible substitute for your dog at that time under that judge.  It may not seem like the best decision to you, but it often is at that time.  For example things you may not see like how comfortable a dog may be with an assistant is different than with a complete stranger that is another handler.

TRUST TRUST TRUST is what it all comes down to, if there is no trust there cannot be a relationship between the dog and handler or owner and handler.  If that's the case its time to find another handler you can trust.

Handler Facilities & Equipment

It takes much more than just walking dogs into a ring to be a "professional" dog handler.  Facilities from house to kennel to motorhome to box truck to sprinter to van to run around town car and all of the equipment!  Each handler's facilities are different because of countless reasons such as location.  Handlers that live in the midwest and out in the country have much larger properties and those that live in metropolitan areas. Some handlers prefer to transport dogs in box trucks, sprinters, or vans while others prefer motorhomes.

- Houses & Kennels -

Every handler's home and kennel facility is different.  I would like to think that those who live in apartments or condos don't show and handle dogs for a living, but hey if you can have clients who always take care of just bring dogs to you at shows all the power to you!  

My house is very modest and I have a dog room that is temperature controlled where the dogs sleep at night.  During the day I, dogs are exercised in groups and can be put into outside runs.  But let's face the facts my dogs and my client dogs are sprawled out on my couches, on dog beds and on the floor while I writing this!  I keep a small number of dogs so each dog gets individual attention and they can be treated like house pets during the week when we're not at shows.

I understand that not all handlers work like I do.  Some have amazing, immaculate kennels for show dogs and boarding dogs (One day - maybe…) or converted garage's that act as dog rooms and/or kennels.  The AKC Registered Handlers Association and PHA has outlined regulations for housing show dogs that will keep the dog's safety of the upmost importance.  Both organizations outline information on kennel sizes, paddock and play yard sizes as well as maintaining sanitary conditions for the dogs' health.

- Vehicles -

Pretty much dogs can be transported in any vehicle, but keeping show dogs safe is another thing.  Summer temperatures can be extreme and leaving in cars is NOT an option.  Here's a great chart on how quickly cars can heat up while left in sun.

http://riverbankvet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Car-Temp-safety.jpg

For every day, run around town vehicles an SUV, station wagon, mini van or large van can dog the trick.  These cars provide safe methods for transporting dogs to vet appointments, airport pick up/drop offs, client pick ups/drop offs and supply runs while not having to drive the big vehicles generally used to drive to shows.

Driving to shows handlers have quite an array of vehicles to modify to fit show dogs' needs.  Sprinter vans are the latest craze, because they have diesel engines that last longer than gasoline vans along with more space both in length of the vehicle as well as height.  15 passenger and cargo vans are still very prevalent and one of the most popular vehicles for dog shows.  Larges vehicles like box trucks can fit more dogs and people comfortably for handlers that carry lots of dogs.  Those that use these types of vehicles often stay at hotels while attending shows, while dogs stays in these vehicles overnight.  It is VERY important that these vehicles have proper ventilation to maintain proper temperatures for the dogs.  

Motorhomes can be the perfect vehicle for those that like to stay on the show grounds.  These vehicles may hold handlers captive at shows but they are with the dogs at all times.  These vehicles may also be outfitted to accommodate numerous dogs by taking out furniture or bed rooms.  

All of these vehicles should be outfitted with proper temperature alert systems in case of emergency for hot and cold temperatures.  Other emergency items should also be readily available such as smoke detectors in motorhomes and fire extinguishers.

Above all dog's heath should be the most important thing.  Happy dogs will be good show dogs!!!!

What is a professional handler, really?

A professional handler is an individual who will show your dog for a fee.  However, each handler differs from the next in their areas of expertise and knowledge.  One may be an ex-Junior Handler that's just starting out while another may have won Best In Show at Westminster multiple times.  These handler's fees should differ considerably.  Individuals who call themselves a handler should have apprenticed for other handlers as an assistant to learn the craft of handling and caring for show dogs because its far more than what is seen in the show ring. 

What the clients and the public see are handlers in the ring presenting dogs to judges at shows to earn points to that dog's Championship, Grand Championship, or to top rankings. What they don't see is handlers work 24/7 with dogs, there are no breaks much like raising children.  Oh wait!  Kids go to school during week days, as the handler your a full on boarding school for show dogs!  The dogs are our whole lives!  We feed, care and love them as if they are our own.  

Special Diets -

Even though I hate to say it, but show dogs eat better than a good portion of the world.  Good handlers make sure dogs are feed a quality kibble with supplements that will support a healthy dog.  Some handlers are sponsored by top dog food companies like Purina and Eukanuba among others.  These dogs' diets are monitored as if they are top athletes competing in the Olympics, because really they are top athletes.

Exercise -

Like top athletes shows have to maintain a certain athletic physical physique.  To do that some dogs are able to self exercise in play yards with others, while some get work outs on treadmills or bikes.  Others have special work needs from weight exercises like playing tug or pulling to build strength muscles.  Water exercise has hit the scene as another way to keep fitness fun and not repetitive.

Grooming - 

Different breeds require different grooming.  Terriers, poodles, drop coated breeds require daily coat maintenance while short coated breeds may require a bath once a week.  None the less time and skill is required to make the dogs entrusted in a handler's care look their best.

Love & Care -

These are dogs, not machines.  Dog are live, breathing, animals who love with all they have and when they're brought into our lives we give them that same love as they receive at home.  Dogs get one-on-one time and house time and let me tell you I mop and vacuum daily because of hair, mud, and dirt but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

This is a much deeper topic and next time I'll look into the facilities needed to be a professional handler.  Please send ideas for future topics!