owner handler Q&A need to be able to bring out the personality of the dog in the ring. The difference for the BOH is the relation- ships we develop with our dogs. The next difficult area is earning the respect of the top professional handlers and competing against them in ring. CF: With so many shows available now, the most challenging
This limits the number of shows you can attend and the distance that you can travel to get to those shows. The toughest item for me is finding time for condition- ing dogs, grooming and travel time to the shows, while balancing the remainder of your life. REJ: Competing with professional handlers, especially if they are showing a top winning dog. JL: I don’t think it’s really tough being a Breeder/Owner/ Handler but if you want to be successful, it does take a lot of hard work. You have to try to be better than everyone else in the ring: starting with a very good quality dog, impeccably groomed and well trained. DM: There are times I think breeder owner handlers might not be taken as seriously in the eyes of some judges. I don’t feel the playing field is level in the Regular Groups like it is in the Owner Handler Groups. JMa: Being a breeder Owner Handler, in my opinion makes you try harder. There is also a huge since of accomplish- ment and pride when its your dog and you that wins. JMc: The toughest thing is being able to fit everything into 24 hours a day! Between managing our dental practice, training, showing my dogs and taking care of the home, family time, etc etc. I rarely feel like I have any ‘down’ time. Actually if I get more than six hours sleep a night I feel lucky! Some people think judges won’t use a Breeder/OH in the ‘regular’ group ring (my favorite ring besides the regular Best in Show ring!) but I don’t find that to be true. My bred by boy I’m showing this year is a top ranked MAS (despite the fact that the other top ranked dogs are with pro handlers full time), is the only MAS to win eight regular Group Ones this year and has won apx 27 regular Group ribbons just this year! He won the huge Herding Group at the Houston Reliant show this summer!All this in addition to winning the 2018 National Specialty! It can be done! BM: The time and energy you put into raising a potential show dog who is emotionally resilient, a thinker and will- ing to please. CM: For me the toughest thing is being very honest with myself about the assessment of the dogs, I chose to keep to show and breed. AM: I have a full time job. Getting time off to participate on a regular basis is the hardest part for me, especially for the four-day clusters. I think the OH program is a positive one. I enjoy participating in it! LM: Having to choose amongst the pups which is the best to keep. HN: Easy, the competition. Living in the Northeast, the com- petition is tough, with experienced, successful Owner Handlers in the working group right on through the Owner Handler best in show ring. NN: Owner Handling is a family event for me and as such the greatest challenge is keeping my children positive. I strive to teach them that it is as important to lose with dignity and grace, as it is to win with humility and thanks. CO: One of the toughest things about being an Owner Han- dler/breeder Owner Handler competing in NOHS is the respect from judges. Some, not all, do not think NOHS is a valid competition.
thing about being a Breeder-Owner Handler is attend- ing enough shows for your dog to be seen to make him competitive and accumulate enough points to be ranked in the breed and group with the dogs that are shown by professionals. AG: Besides the constant travel, the toughest thing about being a Breeder Owner Handler is loosing to well known handlers, who sometimes have dogs of lesser quality. I have tried to balance that though with “what did I learn today”, about progress in handling or grooming my own dog, about other breeds, about a new technique to try. I always try to move forward or the frustration of loosing to fabulous handers would be too great. RG: Balancing work while trying to breed, train and show dogs can be challenging. KG: Having to listen to people talk about the Handlers how they are the only ones that ever win. Not true. Even though I have the #1 Pug in the country, he is also #5 in the Pug standings. LH: The toughest thing about being a Breeder/Owner/Han- dler is being taken seriously. We realize that the judges have a rapport with the professional handlers who they see every weekend, but in the end, the dog that best meets the standard should win—regardless of who is on the end of the lead. DH: Performance anxiety is my biggest issue but I would also prefer to be showing my dogs on a more regular basis. CH: As Breeder Owner Handler I feel it is a must to show quality dogs, groomed and presented at their best. How- ever I often find it difficult competing with professionals who are obviously very good at what they do but have an advantage due to promotion and much more exposure. KH: I think the toughest thing about being an Owner Han- dler or Breeder Owner Handler is handling disappoint- ment. It can be difficult to not take it personally when a dog you own and/or bred is not awarded or recognized. I recommend one of my favorites books by Don Miguel Ruiz; “The Four Agreements”. One of the agreements is to not take things personally and this book provides a great understanding of why. NH: Having an entry being judged by the parameters of the breed standard verses the show catalog information, the Top Ten List, magazine exposure, “PC”ness and/or well connected. EH: Sometimes I think some judges think because I’m a kid, I’m not really there for the breed competition and I’m only interested in OH, but that’s not true. I try to show my dog as best as I can in the breed ring and hope to win BOB and OHBOB. PH: The toughest obstacle to overcome is finding sufficient time to groom and train my dogs to a standard that will make them competitive in the show ring ROJ: Many of us have other full time jobs that do not give flexibility to attend shows other than on the weekends.
198 • S how S ight M agazine , O ctober 2018
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