Hello all,

I am looking for the opportunity to do some more handling. I usually handle on gundog days. Does anyone know of the best place to find more owners that may require a handler other than word of mouth?

Many thanks.

Have you tried your local ringcraft club? I know when I showed more than one dog, or just went to ringcraft with more than one, I was grateful for an extra pair of hands

Is there much call for outside handlers here in the UK? I have seen friends helping each other out at shows due to illness or mix ups in that 2 dogs needed to be in the same class but not aware of anything beyond that at least not in my breed.

In the US there are professional handlers who charge big bucks and seem to get plenty of work but don't always take good care of these dogs left in their charge.

Are you just looking for experience or expecting payment?

I handle dogs for people, a couple of dogs quite regularly, but I never expect payment, I just enjoy getting the best out of a dog - some days I wish my dogs would move as well for me as other people's do lol!

I am looking for someone that may require a handler regularly.
Although the experience is my main aim - If the owner wanted me to travel a great distance for a show I would probably ask for help towards fuel. Long term I would be looking for a small payment but I would like experience in other breeds.
I attend a local ringcraft and help other members there but not yet at shows.

Im a junior handler and i have handled many dogs in all the groups , its always a good idea to attend local open shows and wonder around and look at the breeds you are intrested in handling , and ask questions about the breed and so forth , there is alot of intrest in handlers at the moment , the older generation of breeders/ exibitors are wanting  trustworthy capable handlers and may be willing to pay. but i handle dogs for the experience and i love it and sometimes get little surprizes from the dogs owners which is really nice of them

hope this helps hun

Good Luck !!

My daughter is also a Junior Handler and like you, gains experience through ringcraft and has been fortunate to be asked to handle for a number of owners at shows.

She has been very fortunate to have been asked to handle at Crufts the last 2 years for one owner despite having only been showing a short time.  I'd be quite upset if she were looking for payment at this time (although I appreciate the cost of petrol if you were travelling soley for someone elses convenience) but feel that this is all part of the apprenticeship.  When she shows her worth to other owners in the rings, more ask her to handle....

At a show this weekend, she was asked to handle for 2 others on the day, sadly, the classes all clashed with her own so she was not able to oblige, but at least one of them was someone who'd seen in her in the ring rather than a friend.

Good Luck, I'm sure you'll get there

I was a JH many moons ago, when entries were taken on the day..lol...I too handled as many different breeds, aswell as different dogs within my breed. It was also the time when dogs were swapped in handling & I was taking a Dobe in & was swapped with a Whippet, which is my breed..highly funny I thought.