Dogs In Review Magazine September 2016 | Page 75

Showing Dogs for Friends Financing your hobby or a new career path? By Dan Sayers Many experienced hobby exhibitors will end up showing a friend’s dog as a favor, show a dog in exchange for some gas money or even be paid for their efforts. its first major. Your new friend has mixed feelings about the outcome (the pup’s mother walked), but she asks if you’re coming back the next day. It looks like you’re a handler now! Going Pro At American Kennel Club dog shows, exhibits in almost every class are likely presented by individuals with varying levels of experience. One dog may be shown by the rank novice with no idea how to place a lead correctly around his or her dog’s neck, whereas another could be presented by a true master who grew up on the judge’s knee. Although every dog is to be evaluated against its breed standard, the qualifications represented by a class full of exhibitors may well be the broadest in the world of competitive sport. Apart from the two extremes mentioned, most exhibits are generally presented by owner-handlers who simply consider themselves devotees of purebred dogs. Some dogs may be shown by their breeder/owners who are genuinely interested in the judge’s opinion, whereas others may be brought into the ring by “hobby handlers” who pick up a little gas money showing for friends and fellow club members. With the advent of AKC’s National Owner-Handled Series, however, exhibitors who elect to participate in the program must be mindful to follow the guidelines exactly so as to not jeopardize their amateur status by receiving payment for services rendered in the ring. According to the AKC, more than 80 percent of American show dogs are taken into the ring by their owner-handlers. In 2012, the organization unveiled a program that provides these exhibitors a competitive forum that ex- Gina Cioli/Lumina Media 72  I t usually begins innocently enough. You’re showing your dog when you’re spotted by a member of your local allbreed club. As you exit the ring, the nice lady whose name you can’t remember approaches you with an exasperated look on her face. “Would you be able to show one of my dogs for me today?” she pleads. Apparently she’s entered a couple of her dogs with little thought as to how she’ll get them back into the ring together should they both win their class. Because your dog just picked up its second major and your day is done, you answer in the affirmative as the lady thrusts a lead into your hand. “We show in five minutes, ring eight.” So you ask a friend to hold your dog when you realize you’ve just been handed a puppy that isn’t entirely lead broken. Thankfully, it’s your lucky day and the judge puts up “your” pup for DogsinReview.com 72x76_ShowForFriends.indd 72 8/16/16 7:07 AM