The Truth About Dog Handling – What Dog Handlers Want You To Know About Their Job
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is the crown jewel of competitive dog events, captivating hundreds of thousands of viewers each year. Nearly 190 breeds compete, with each dog scrutinized by seasoned judges for precision, poise, and performance. But long before they strut into the ring, these canine contenders undergo intense training, guided by owners and handlers who treat them like world-class athletes.
To get their dogs show-ready, some handlers go to extraordinary lengths—and now, they're lifting the curtain on what really happens behind the scenes. Here's an exclusive look into the high-stakes, meticulously crafted world of show dog preparation.
Biting Gets Dogs Blacklisted
As we've emphasized, safety is the top priority at any dog show—both for the dogs and the people involved, including handlers and judges. If a dog acts out and bites for any reason, disqualification is immediate.
Once disqualified, the dog is unlikely to be invited back or allowed to compete in future shows. Even if the bite seems harmless or unintentional, there's absolutely no tolerance for aggression in the show ring.
Diets For The Dogs Go Out The Window
To keep dogs well-behaved in the ring, handlers come prepared with their favorite treats. One dog Fitzpatrick used to handle was so particular, it would only eat filet mignon.
After dealing with countless finicky eaters, Fitzpatrick eventually stopped fighting it. "They get whatever they want," he said. "I had a Pomeranian that only ate potato chips. Another dog preferred apples."
Prize Money... What Prize Money?
Given the prestige of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, it's easy to think that winning comes with a hefty cash prize. But aside from some free goodies, the top reward is mostly bragging rights.
David Fitzpatrick, who took home Best in Show in 2012, explained, "You get trophies and a lot of swag. We came home with bags of loot, but not a single penny. It’s not about the money—it’s about being part of this historic competition."
Falling Isn't The Only Awkard Situation That Can Happen
As embarrassing as a fall in the ring can be, Rives recalls one experience that might just top it. At 16, during a show, she found herself without a place on her outfit to carry her dog bait (the treats handlers use to keep dogs focused).
Usually, Rives would stash hot dogs or cheese in her mouth, but on this day, she had liver. She tucked it into the top of her pantyhose, but it eventually slid down to her ankle. "The dog started licking it," she said. "The judge was like, 'Ma'am, the dog is licking your leg.’ I was absolutely mortified."
Start Training Pups In A Boring Environment
Dogs training for dog shows begin their journey as puppies, with training kicking off early. It's essential that training starts in a calm, distraction-free environment. If a puppy is surrounded by too much stimulation, they won't be able to focus.
One handler suggests training your pup while they're on a leash. Clear the room of any toys and ensure the dog's full attention is on you.
Treadmills Help Develop The Proper Trot
The moment a dog walks onto the show floor, the judging begins. Everything from posture to performance is under the microscope—including the speed and style of their trot. To perfect this, many handlers train their dogs on treadmills.
Veteran trainer and handler Karen Mammano explains, "It teaches them foot timing and the right kind of gait we want them to have." If a dog's gait isn’t just right, they could be out of the running before the competition even gets going.
Doggy Treadmills Don't Come Cheap
Anyone committed to preparing their dog for the Westminster Dog Show knows a dog-specific treadmill is a must-have. These treadmills aren't cheap—serious competitors can expect to spend around $1,000 on one.
But it’s a crucial investment. As handler Sharon Rives puts it, "They’re developing their muscles just like any athlete… any runner or football player or any athlete that has to train muscles to do something over and over again." Repetition builds precision—and in the show ring, every detail counts.
Teaching Proper Stance Takes... Soup Cans?
In addition to mastering the perfect trot, show dogs must also learn to stand still with their legs and paws positioned just right—spaced at a specific distance apart. Handlers use a variety of techniques to teach this, but one classic method involves something surprisingly simple: soup cans.
Handler Sharon Rives recalls that her parents used this approach when she was growing up. They would place four soup cans on the floor, spaced to match the ideal stance, and train the dog to stand on them. This kind of stance training often starts when the dogs are still puppies, helping them build balance and muscle memory from a young age.
Dogs Names Aren't All They Appear
Dogs can be trained to respond to multiple names, especially when it comes to show settings. One of Sharon Rives' dogs, for example, will come to her whether she calls out "Wiggle" or uses the dog's much longer, formal name.
Rives explained how she chooses those names: "Typically, the prefix of the name is the kennel the dog is from. Veritas is my kennel name, so whenever I breed a dog, every dog has the word Veritas in their name." It’s a way to honor the dog’s lineage while still having a fun, everyday nickname.
Handers' Cars Have To Meet High Standards
Every dog competing in a show has to get there somehow—and for handlers who drive, having a reliable and safe vehicle is a top priority. That's why vehicles used to transport show dogs must be registered and pass a detailed inspection before hitting the road.
The Mammano family has their setup down to a science. "We have a generator, air conditioning, heat, a 30-gallon water tank," they explained. “We have to have fire extinguishers that haven’t expired and a heat monitor in the vehicle, so if the air conditioning fails, the monitor alerts us. We’re pretty much self-contained.” Safety and comfort come first when your passengers are four-legged athletes.
Handlers Know Shows Aren't Natural
Dogs have natural instincts. Dog show training tends to break those instincts. The good news is that trainers like Mammano understand how unnatural shows can be, "Golden retrievers were never meant to run in circles in a show ring. They were meant to be out hunting and doing that job and other breeds were meant to be out pulling sleds."
Mammano tries to make sure the show is as fun for the dog as possible, because at the end of the day, what's most important is having a happy dog.
Most Handlers Admit To Making This One Big Mistake
Sharon Rives says no matter how long you've been a dog handler, you're not really a dog handler until you fall in the ring. She's done it, and she says just about everyone she knows has too:
"I think we've all had a moment where we’ve fallen. That's always embarrassing. But I think I like to say that’s sort of like the dog show hazing. You haven’t been fully initiated into dog showing until you’ve completely wiped out in the ring."
Handlers Dress To Impress, But They Can't Overshadow The Dogs
When choosing outfits for dog shows, handlers are careful to dress professionally, but not fancy enough where they overshadow the dogs, "You want to dress to complement the dog's colors. If you're showing a black dog you don’t want to wear a black skirt because then you’re obscuring the dog."
Of course, the bigger show, the more handlers tend to bend their own rules. When they get to the Westminster dog show, all bets are off.
Westminster Is "Fashion Week"
As the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show approaches, handlers pull out all the stops. It's the last big show of the year and is lovingly referred to as "fashion week." And what is the most popular thing to wear? Suits!
Another unique aspect of Westminster that handlers have to be concerned about is their footwear. The show is nationally televised, and they are going to be on their feet all day. Finding fashionable shoes that are comfortable has led Sharon Rives to wear ballet shoes, "They're little silver ballet flats that have sparkly crystals on the toes."
Handlers' Bodies Get Beaten Up
The focus of shows might be all on the dog, but that doesn't mean handlers don't get a workout. David Fitzpatrick is a handler who works with Pekingese dogs and says that handlers are constantly in need of medical attention:
"A lot of my peers have had their knees and hips replaced... You get tired just from being at the show." Left legs tend to take the biggest beating, too, since handlers must make constant left turns with their dogs in the ring.
Superstitions Are Alive And Well
David Fitzpatrick uses the same leash at every dog show he attends. He is superstitious about it, admitting, "I have one I've been using probably since 2004 because I know many dogs have had great success with it."
Fitzpatrick isn't the only superstitious handler, though. Mammano retires leashes after a major win. She also holds her number with three rubber bands wrapped around her arm. Other trainers freak out if their dog's favorite toy goes missing, "when you go into the ring and you can't find that toy you do kinda go crazy like 'Where is the busy bee?!’"
Dryer Sheets Are A Handlers' Secret Weapon
There are a lot of secrets that handlers won't give away, but using dryer sheets isn't one of them. According to Rives, "One handler told me you should put dryer sheets on a wavy coat. Others say you should wash your dog's coat in Dawn dish soap if you want it to be straight."
Another not-so-secret trick that handlers use on lighter colored dogs is chalk. Fitzpatrick says chalk can be used to lighten a pooch's coat, making sure they look their best.
No One Talks About Grooming
Dog handlers consider their sport to be self-regulating, and grooming habits are never shared. There are limits to how groomed a dog can be, and if one handler sees another handler over-grooming their dog they won't hesitate to blow the whistle.
Rives says, "people don't want to share their secrets, and because there are things that are not allowed. It's a self-regulating sport. If you see somebody doing something they shouldn’t be, you’d report it.”
Some Dogs Are Bilingual
Dog shows don't just happen in the United States. Handlers that travel with their dogs must train them in multiple languages. That means that some dogs on the dog show circuit can be considered bilingual!
As with any training, teaching a dog to listen to commands in more than one language is something that should be started young. It would be a pretty amazing feat to say your dog won a competition in the United States and France!
