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Becoming a Dog Handler

Dog shows have a rich and fascinating history in the United States dating as far back as 1877. In the formative years of competitive dog breeding, becoming a dog handler was a rather straight-forward endeavor. Prior to the late 1920s, the majority of show handlers had come from long-time (sometimes life-long) careers as groomers or assistants at large, commercial kennels specializing in one or two breeds. The practice of breeding dogs began to transition away from large-scale breeding operations and toward hobby breeding later in the 20th century. The path to becoming a show handler became less rigidly defined.

Consider an Apprenticeship

There are no formal training or licensing requirements for showing dogs. Doing it successfully still requires an intensive, working knowledge of the care, grooming, breed standards, health and temperament of a particular breed. Information on these topics is more easily accessible than ever thanks to the internet. But tr…

Terrier Group

Terrier dogs were originally bred by farmers to hunt and kill common farm pests such as moles, gophers, and badgers. All of the breeds that compose the American Kennel Club's hail from the United Kingdom or one of their colonies. Typically, terriers are known for being small but strong, active, and fierce. The American Kennel Club's Terrier Group contains 31 breeds. There are relatively the small breeds like the Norfolk, Cairn or West Highland White Terrier, to the much larger Airedale Terrier.

All Personality

Terriers have a very distinct personality. While they are very energetic and have very little patience. They do not like to interact with other animals, including fellow dogs. While some terriers are still kept as working dogs, many are pets. They also excellent guard dogs because of these behaviors. Because terriers typically have a wiry coat, they do require a fair amount of regular grooming. This is need to keep their characteristic terrier appearanc…

Hound Group

The AKC Hound Group is generally classified as dog breeds who have an ancestral heritage of hunting. The diversity of breeds in this group make them truly unique and a gem to find. These hunting dogs include the Whippet, the Bloodhound and the Dachshund.

Endurance

The main trait of a hound is that they have an immense about of endurance. Other characteristics of this group include a wide variety of personalities and sizes, but most tend to be friendly, alert, and great family dogs. They also tend to be very boisterous and insistent. A select few hounds share the ability to make a sound known as baying. This sound is characterized by a long, deep howl and is used especially when hounds are on the scent during a hunt.

Herding Group

The 30 breeds in the AKC Herding Group are defined by dogs that have the capacity to help owners with the movement of livestock. These dogs were formerly members of the working group, but became their own classification in 1983. Their characteristics include: high stamina, athletic, extremely obedient, devoted, and very loving. While most of these animals in this classification will never see a pasture, they still are hard-wired to herd. They are often found herding the family’s children or other animals in its home.

Herding Group Dogs Come in All Sizes

Breeds in the herding group include the Border Collie, the Australian Shepherd or the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. There is a diverse size difference throughout all the breeds in this classification. While the Border Collie is an average sized dog, the Welsh Corgi is petite and can easily get under livestock to herd effectively.

An unexpected breed in this group is the German Shepherd. Many believe Ge…

Sporting Group

The dogs in the American Kennel Club's Sporting group include some of the most popular breeds such as setters, retrievers, spaniels, and pointers. Historically, dogs in the Sporting group were used by hunters to find and retrieve a variety of fish and game. While these breeds are still used for hunting today, their personalities have made them known for being great family dogs and great service dogs as well.

Activity Aplenty

The breeds in the Sporting Group are known for being active and intelligent. According to the American Kennel Club, Sporting dogs are the easiest to train. Because these breeds are very active, they must be given plenty of attention or exercise. Given that their original purpose was for hunting, Sporting breeds have a hereditary love for nature and the outdoors. These breeds also need companionship and lots of positive reinforcement in order to be the happiest they can be. If this breed does not have enough activity and attention, they can …

Working Group

Classified as working group dog, they are bred to work. Working dogs can perform a variety of tasks. Proper training helps to enable them to do tasks specific to their capabilities. There are many breeds that are bred solely for working purposes. These dogs can be dutiful working companion that possess a high level of stamina. Their genetics makes them ideal for working, as many of the working group dogs come from strong breeds.

Working dogs are generally very active by nature. They are also very attentive and alert to their surroundings, which makes them ideal for guarding and protecting. Tasks that a working dog will execute well are search and rescue, service and hunting, just to name a few. Each breed of working dog displays their own unique personalities. In many of the breeds you can find that they are smart, loyal, calm and overall, good-natured.

Great Companions

Dogs you’ll consistently find as working dogs include Bernese Mountain Dog, Black …

Non Sporting Group

"Non-Sporting" is a very diverse American Kennel Club breed distinction category. The Non-Sporting group is distinctly different from other American Kennel Club categories because the breeds in this group do not have a common ancestry or common purpose. The non-sporting group includes nineteen different breeds with various personalities, coats, and overall appearances.

The American Kennel Club Non-Sporting category includes larger sized dogs such as the Chow Chow, smaller sized dogs such as Bichon Frise, and a multitude of sizes in between. The coats of the dog in this category can be curly, such as the coat of the Poodle, or sleek, such as the coat of the Dalmatian. While the category does include trendy dogs like Lhasa Apsa and French Bulldog, it also includes some more obscure breeds like Schipperke and Xoloitzcuintli.

Lots of Personality

The personalities of the dogs in the Non-Sporting category also run the gamut, so it is hard to make a univ…

The Westminster Dog Show

Madison Square Garden is home to many spectacular events throughout the year. From professional baseball and ice hockey tournaments to circuses and ice shows, it hosts some of the most exciting events in the world throughout the year. One of the finest annual shows to be hosted in Madison Square Garden is the Westminster Dog Show. The show has a legacy stretching back to over a century, with its origins in 1875. Since then, every year, proud masters bring their dogs to participate in the show and win the much coveted title of “America’s Dog”. The show has been broadcast live on television networks since 1948 and consistently ranks as one of the top viewed shows in sports entertainment in the United States. With its popularity and mass appeal, the Westminster Dog Show is truly the Oscars of the dog show world.

February in New York

The show is held in the month of February each year. After a gruelling round of initial rounds, roughly 2500 dogs are selected to com…

Crufts Dog Show

For dog lovers in the UK, there is no bigger dog show than the Crufts Dog Show. It is an annual event that is conducted at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. Organized and hosted by the Kennel Club, the show is held over 4 days and draws crowds from all over the UK and the world. Over the years, the show has established its name as one of the finest dog shows in the world. With a history that goes all the way back to 1891, it is also one of the most reputed dog shows around. These days, the show has evolved to include more aspects than the championship that forms its central attraction. It features a trade show that offer the best in canine products and feature sessions and seminars conducted by reputed dog breeders. These sessions are invaluable in generating awareness on nurturing and breeding dogs. Apart from the trade show, the Crufts dog show has increased in its size and scope to include many new aspects of canine life as it is today.

A Celebr…

How to Find a Professional Dog Handler

It’s a great pleasure to own a dog which has earned the status of a ‘champion’ or ‘grand champion’ in competitive dog shows. It starts with having a purebred dog, but that is only the beginning. Your dog has all the qualities which are needed to woo the judges but you need someone who can represent your future champion in the show.

How about the idea of finding a professional dog handler to show your dog?

Professional dog handlers are skilful, trained experts who excel in the art of showing dogs. Their expertise plays a key role in turning a participant dog into a champion. But before you reach a decision and hire someone to handle your dog, know more about a professional dog handler and their job basics.

What Does a Dog Handler Do?

The job of a professional dog handler is much more than taking your dog to the show ring and teaching ordinary gaits. Professional show dog handlers kick-off their assignment with the grooming of the d…