HANDLER FEE - Page 1

Can anyone tell me a normal handler fee for just the showing of a dog?

I was always told it should be equal to the entry fee for the class the dog is entered in.... of course, a good job deserves a bonus.... but it is probably something you should discuss with the handler ahead of time..... that way everyone is on the same page..

I have been advised that at local shows the fee is usually same as the entry fee, but for a known handler at a national sieger show, it is roughly 2 X the entry or can be even more.

You can be quoted $200 to as much as $400 in a sieger show, but depends on the class your showing. I was told if you have a really competitive dog in Germany, some may even handle it for you for free. But the catch is, by that time you have been deeply connected. Keep in mind if your dog is not ring trained, even if George Bush or John Kerry will handle your dog it will not do well. Personally, this commercialization of the breed has gotten out of hand and is completely against the very tenet of Herr Capt Stephanitz' of creating the SV. Heck, if you intend, to show in Madison, and you have an honest decent dog, ring trained and you know how to second handle. I will do it for you for free! Sorry, for venting, just frustrated. But I mean every word! Roger

I agree with you Roger! "commercialization of the breed has gotten out of hand and is completely against the very tenet of Herrr Capt. Stephanitz". A friend of mine is paying a handler $200 for a young dog class in Madison. It's getting to be a sport for the rich. I'm learning to be a handler so that we can handle each other's dogs and not have to pay the high handling fees.

$200 bucks! The dog will place rightfully regardless of handler, provided he has the background or basic idea of the dogs strenghts and the judges routine! A seasoned judge can not be fooled however. It boils down to handling/stacking only if both dogs are equal. Second handling and ring training plays a major part. If I were given a chance to handle Kevin Murrtal on the ring, without a background big time handling experience, you think i will be placed behind a less superior dog? That is with the assumption I can keep up with the dogs gait. Would'nt it be great if a group of sensible, yet "could" afford benevolent people develop a support group? Wherein we would handle for free for any worthy entries? Imagine a student eager to get into the sport, buying his first show/working puppy only to find out the money pit involved in this "sport"! Your friend got a bargain, 4 to 5 years ago I was being charged $300 in the young class. I knew my dog was a pig and even if Herr Messler was the handler, it will be at the back and can not control the dog. But the "big time breeder" was telling me the handler can make a big difference and that I should not skimp! Wow. Sorry for venting. This is just too frustrating. Roger.

I have a good one for you. Little me in my little microcosm and an absolute newcomer to this sport. . . was told that to show my dog through my breeder's German Handler would cost me $1,000 in NA and $2,000 at the Siegershow in Germany. Having no affiliation with this breeder anymore and being what I am, I have also declined patronaging a German Handler that could guarantee my top placement in WI if I paid his way there. What do you think of that? Am I going to WI? No. Do I have a good dog? You bet. What is our future? Who knows? Some backbone has to be there. Sunshine

Since I live in NA, I did want to mention that the normal handler fee for AKC shows is $100.00 for GSDs. I showed my pup in an All Breed show and he got 1st place in his class. The handlers are professional which means they really do know how to handle and show off a dog. My dog was evaluated as being capable of becoming an AKC GSD Breed Champion. For whatever it is worth, I thought that this might add to the handler fee thread. As much as all poo poo the AKC, there are some real lessons to be learned from their methods. A judge, cannot have a dog that he has bred judged under him. When we open ourselves up, can we only learn. Taking all the good parts and becoming better, surely must be the objective of our ultimate goal. . . to improve the breed. Sunny

Sunshine-WOW! I am so sorry you paid that much. There seems to be a growing movement with people not wanting to patronage a German Handler. Rumor has it that because they are German and the judge is German your dog has a much better chance of placing high because they know each other? Sounds like BS. While I don't necessairly disagree because I'm sure that it happens but it's not worth it to play into the game that way. We "Americans" need to learn how to become better handlers and help each other out. Roger said "Wherein we would handle for free for any worthy entries?" What a great idea. I know of some people now that handle each others dogs. I am in the process of trying to learn to become a good handler. I want to handle dogs for people in return for handling also. I am attending a handler seminar soon and am constantly reviewing SV types shows and learning from handlers there. I'd love to be a very reasonable handler that people could trust with their best stock. Roger will you be at the WDA? It would be great to meet you.

Jman, I am not crazy. I did not fall for it. I went to a show and said "I don't have a handler" and someone at check-in referred me on. And I found someone who really likes my dog and has alot of integrity and is on top a "natural" handler. He is my hero because he made my dog look so good on that day and was exuberant when he could take him in the first position and hold it. And he is the person that will always show my dog because he actually likes my fellow. If you are trying to get more information on handling, try finding out who puts out a good handling tape for AKC GSDS. If I could, I would try to get someone like Jimmy Moses to give a seminar on handling. The joke goes, Jimmy Moses can take out a Cayote and finish him (Champion title). Go to an AKC show and watch the professional handlers show GSDs. Then look at the unsophisticated way the handlers in the German ring show their dogs. The German Ring requires alot more fitness on the handler part. But look at how with a touch of the hand the AKC handler positions the dog. Really kind of poetry. Like I mentioned before, there is so much to learn from one another. Good luck to you with your endeavors.