Straddling the fence

Boy it still amazes me the types of people who are involved in dog shows. Recent occurrences at a big show really cemented my feelings that there are a lot of people who not only shouldn’t be involved in dog shows but also shouldn’t own a dog.

And once again, I go back to me rant on misrepresenting once self and full disclosure.

So this someone out there is showing their dog in what is now called Amateur owner handler class. It’s for those that own their own dog, but aren’t professional handlers. So what is the definition of a professional handler? Right from the Rules Applying to Dog Shows from AKC:

Professional handlers are defined as any person that belongs or has belonged to a professional handlers’ organization, distributed rate cards, or otherwise advertised or represented themselves as handling dogs for pay.

AKC further goes on to mention that payment isn’t defined by cash, but can be a payment in kind-winnings kept, trophies and prizes kept, puppy out of a litter, or even a lease on a bitch and being able to keep puppies out of it to sell.

So this person is out showing dogs for someone else. Further eyebrows raised as not only is she showing them but also parading sub-par breed specimens around as her own! When asked a direct question, it’s well uh, I’m handling the dog for the owner who will then let me lease the bitch(can’t lease a dog). I know I know, gray area, but honestly, can this not be more obvious? This person wants to lease the bitch, so in exchange, is handling the dog for the owner. This same person a few years ago bragged on their website about being the handler for a dog for someone else and the exchange was that the dog would be allowed to be used at stud to one of their bitches.

You can only ride the fence for so long. Yes I know the grass is always greener on the other side, but man, straddling the fence really hurts ya after a while, if ya know what I mean.

Later gators....
C