True Judges

[ClantyreSheltie]

It's UKC that has the no professional handler rule. And yes, they are still around. They also enforce the no foreign substance rule. So what you get in the ring are dogs and their owners. You still have AKC breeder/owner-handlers who are quite good, so there is still competition handler-wise. As long as they own the dog, it's all good.

I co-own a Standard Poodle in UKC so that I can show her. She has two UKC Best in Multi-Breed Shows, and only needs a major in AKC to finish (cross your fingers that majors pull up in CT at the end of the month). Since I took expense reimbursement for showing some Poodles at the Poodle National, I am considered a professional handler. <grin>

 

[tofu pup]

It's UKC that has the no professional handler rule. And yes, they are still around.

No, no, I meant a system in which there are two shows run simultaneously, one for professionally-handled dogs and one for owner-handled dogs. They had a Best In Show (Owner-Handled) and a Best in Show (Professionally Handled) at the end of the day. I'm sure I'm not making this up!

 

[ClantyreSheltie]

No, no, I meant a system in which there are two shows run simultaneously, one for professionally-handled dogs and one for owner-handled dogs. They had a Best In Show (Owner-Handled) and a Best in Show (Professionally Handled) at the end of the day. I'm sure I'm not making this up!

Oh, well that's bizarre. Let me know what you pull from memory, it sounds interesting.

 

[missjenneygirl]

I remember that also. I think it fell apart when AKC licensed judges tried to judge at a non-AKC event. AKC felt it was a competitor. Also that they had invested in the educating of the judges and this new registry was getting the benefit of their investment. The new show giving group was actually started by several AKC judges. When AKC said they would need to give up their AKC judging, it fell apart.
BTW Rachel, the poodle specialties are held at the training facility that I built and owned for many years, Paws 'N Effect. I will stop in and say hi.

 

[SheltieLuver]

Yeah, I agree 100% with what is being said.
I should made it slightly more clear in the first post... just quite to ticked off I'm afraid and still am.
Actually, my boy IS under a professional handler... I gave up for now trying to show my own dogs. Chance has earned 6 points to his title and multiple winners reserves in very limited showing under her. You would all know who she is... I'm not naming any names, but one of the dog's she was, and still is, showing just went WD at the Nationals...(I got to potty him by the way. (What a privilege) )so now you know.
This other handler that was showing in last shows five days straight is an all breed handler hasn't hardly shown shelties... doesn't know how to groom them and has won EVERYTHING at this show. Not just over my boy, but over all the other dogs too.
OK... I'm done. I shall swallow my pride and accept things the way they are. Oh well... "sigh"

 

[tofu pup]

This other handler that was showing in last shows five days straight is an all breed handler hasn't hardly shown shelties... doesn't know how to groom them

I hear you on that. I have much less fondness for the all-breed big-name handlers who show up one day with a Collie or Sheltie. They don't understand how the breed is presented, and they don't seem interested in learning. From what I've seen, they show up one weekend with a Sheltie, get dumped, and go back to being big names in the Sporting rings. I can imagine how frustrating it could be to see one win every day!

One of the things I like about the Sheltie/Collie "culture" is the great tradition of specialist handlers... they are students of the breed, just like the breeder/owner handlers. Often these handlers have strong breeding programs of their own, and so they have a vested interest in the future of the breed. When I was in Juniors, I caught some flak for only showing Shelties, as the theory was that Junior Showmanship should be about preparing yourself to become a pro handler. But I had zero interest in showing anything that wasn't a Sheltie or Collie, whether in Juniors or professionally, and most of the pro handlers in those breeds don't show anything else.