To the professional dog people...?

Question

To those of you who are professional breeders, handlers, show dog owners, etc. What do you do, how'd you get into it, and why do you love it?

To clarify, I'm not looking to get into any of these fields. They sound interesting, that's all, and I'd like to hear your stories.

Answer 1

Growing up, we always had dogs and animals. My dad was an expert Boxer Breeder/Handler, and that is how I got my start in showing. My parents let me pick out a male English Setter to join the show ring as a Junior Handler when I was eleven. Then I started training dogs when I was twelve, with our puppy golden retriever as my first dog to earn an AKC CGC under my training and handling. I showed that golden and the Setter to 3 Best in Breed titles and 1 Best in Show title each.
I have never bred dogs, as I choose not to partake, but I do raise and train show dogs still.
I became a professional trainer and behavioralist when I was 18 and received my accredidations one year later.
I became a professional show handler when I was 15.

It was kind of a given that I got involved in everything dogs, since I grew up with them and was also helping my dad breed, train, and handle them.

Now I mostly am a trainer/behavioralist, training in basic obedience, advanced obedience, service dog work, search and rescue dog work, therapy dog training, competitive obedience, and agility/dog sports.
I also do rescue dog work, running a full-time working breed dog rescue, and regularly have fosters at my home.

I show a bit on the side, but only showed Miss Ginger, in the photo, twice. She took two Best in Breeds at AKC Conformation Regional Championships.
I plan to show Goldens forever, but also other breeds, Parson Russell Terriers or Nova Scotia Tollers.

Why do I love it? It is my life....there is nothing else but dogs.

Answer 2

Hey there, I'm a professional breeder, handler and show dog owner. Let me tell you, my show dogs are pets first, the show stuff is all secondary to them just being dogs. I've loved dogs ever since I knew what dogs were, and I met a lady who showed dogs, became friends with her, and got hooked. It's the most amazing feeling, when the dogs finally understand what you want them to do in the show ring. It's like there's a light that comes on, and they look at you like "ok Mom, why didn't you just say so?" Two weeks ago, I finished a five year old ***** who went best of breed over two specials, best of winners for a five-point major and went on to take a group 2! If that doesn't get you hooked, not much will. Also, just so you don't think that we are all totally irresponsible breeders, I only breed one litter per 2 years, and each puppy is placed in a home forever, with a right of first refusal in the contract, so that if there comes a time when the new owners can't keep the puppy, I can take it back and place it in a new home.

Answer 3

I am a dog trainer and I work with a dog rescue.
I do it even though some days I swear I will never do it again. It gets so sad to see the dogs given up bu idiots who should never even have a dog. They come into our rescue not trained knowing nothing with terrible manners. Or they have been abused or neglected. It is awful.
I work with them and teach them some manners and how to be a house dog. Then they are re homed.
I do it because when one of the dogs gets a really good home it is so great to see. Or when one of my clients tells me that I helped them to change their dog and they now love the dog it is all worth it.
I also do field trials with my weimaraners. I am not much for conformation showing but I love field trials. It shows how well my dogs are trained and how muc they love what they do. It shows that I can train a dog and earn titles on the dog and it shows that the dog can still be a pampered house dog and a hunter at the same time.

Answer 4

I started over forty years ago working for a shelter. Life was different then, I started in a beagle club running rabbits. We lived in a very rural area where dog shows and such were TV events. I always loved Saint Bernards and no one around here had them. My mentor was an elderly man that raised beagles and allowed me to clean kennels and play with the dogs. His love for dogs is what got me interested. I wouldn't start today doing this. In fact I am going to stop. My health isn't the greatest and I don't feel I can continue to do it properly. I will keep the dogs I have but only as pets. I do have one female I MAY breed in two years but that's questionable. I probably wont.

Answer 5

I show and run my dogs in harness. I have also put obedience titles on a few of my dogs, although it is not my main focus.

I got into dogs when I was 10 -- we'd just moved into a neighborhood in the mountains, and there was a sled dog kennel there. I walked past it on my way home from school. One day, I couldn't restrain my curiosity any more, so I knocked on the door and asked if they had any puppies...well, they did, and I played with them, and ended up going back every afternoon to help with the dogs. I cleaned poop, fed puppies, and generally made a nuisance of myself until they gave up and started letting me run the "puppy team".

Eventually, my Mom and I took my first registered Siberian to Puppy Kindergarten classes at our local dog training club...

The rest, as they say, is history!

Why do I love it? Showing and breeding dogs is an art and a science...it involves research and analytical thought, as well as a sense of balance and aesthetics. There is always something new to learn. You make wonderful friends all over the country (and the world), and there's nothing quite like a bunch of slightly-drunk dog people sittting around a table in a restaurant enthusiastically discussing "breedings" while the rest of the diners gape in ill-disguised amazement.

Running my dogs gives me an opportunity to evaluate my breeding program in a different way, and keeps me grounded. I am one of (fewer than I'd like) people in the dog world whose dogs still dog what they were bred to do. It gives me tremendous respect for the character and heritage of the breed.

It also makes me fiercely protective of my breed.

I adore dogs. All dogs, pure or mixed, companion or champion or hunter. They are incredible little beings.

ADDED:
MJ -- I must be lucky...they only move us to the back of the restaurant when we start talking about the shape and consistency of dog poop. ;)

Tom -- Love the pic of the "few" dogs you have left!

Answer 6

I have shown dogs for 30 years, and have handled Keeshonden, Cresteds, GSD, Aghans, Whippets, and Saluki.

I run some of my Hounds. I do that mostly for the Hounds, they love it so much. And I love seeing the joy on their faces, and the screaming and leaping in excitement.

I have taught training classes, and given private lessons for 25 years. I do this mainly to give something back to dogs, as mine have enriched my life so much.

I got into the dog world because of a naughty Sheltie puppy I got at 14, my parents insisted I "do something about THAT DOG", so I went to an obedience class. My parents and my niece also breed/show, and my Dad has been teaching obedience classes for 20+ years.

I love it because I love my dogs. There is nothing better than a weekend spent surrounded by my Hounds, doing something we all enjoy!



Loki - "there's nothing quite like a bunch of slightly-drunk dog people...discussing "breedings" while the rest of the diners gape in ill-disguised amazement."

And sometimes with shock and disgust as well! I have wondered what others must think when they pick up bits of conversation about bitches and semen. LOL! Restaraunts that have gotten used to us seem to put us in the back corner alone now, like some dirty secret!

Answer 7

My dad made the fatal mistake of taking me to a field trial when I was 7 years old, that was in 1949, and I have been hooked on competive dog sports ever since. I ended up owning a kennels / training facility for many years. Now my kids do the showing and I get to stay home and clean kennels.

Only have a couple of dogs anymore ;)
http://www.hunt101.com/img/449178-big.jpg

Answer 8

I do not breed, handle a show dog or own a pet, but i do raise, train and work dogs in the law enforcement field and compete with my dogs in a sport called NVBK. For me, there is nothing like having an animal, either as a puppy, or as young adult, that you take from nothing and raise him and train him to be a valuable member of society. It feels great to take a dog that knew nothing, but had great potential, and train him for more then 2 years to compete in the hardest dog sport in the world, the Belgian ring. These are my reasons for loving my dogs and for being so into them.

Answer 9

I train and compete in USDAA and NADAC agility with my mixed-breed dog, Flop. A lady came up to me when I first rescued Flop from the shelter and said "You've got a great agility dog there - what are you going to do about it?" That was 4-1/2 years ago. We're away competing every weekend in the spring, summer, and fall. I have a new rescue pup who has been a joy to train, too. We train almost every day (with or without equipment) and we go to special agility-focused workshops in Canada and elsewhere. Flop just got his Masters' Jumpers title in USDAA, and has his first titles in Snooker, Gamblers, and Pairs. It's an addictive sport and the community of people who participate are really fun. I love being able to get away completely from my work and go have fun with my dog.
When I can, I donate my time to my friend's rescue group and help to pick up, drop off, and otherwise transport rescued dogs for her. It's hard work but it's really rewarding, too.

Answer 10

I raise Basset Hounds and we compete in shows, obedience & agility, as well as playing around with other sports. It's addictive and fascinating.

I love working with my dogs. I love spending time with them. I love trying to get into their heads and figure out how to get them to do something. I'm awed every time I watch puppies being born, it's exciting to watch them grow up. I love showing off my dogs. I love the exhiliration that comes with the wins earned from showing a dog that I've bred, raised, groomed, trained and handled myself.

I got into it by accident. A relative had a Basset Hound they didn't want any more, so we adopted it. When I went to a dog show, I figured my dog was as good as any of the ones in the ring, so I started showing. When my dog didn't behave in the ring, I figured he needed training so I got into obedience too. I became hooked on both show and obedience, and dogs in general. It's a passion and obsession.