Donna, AMEN! What in life hasn't gone up? Is it expensive to campaign a dog, yes, but MORE expensive without a PROFESSIONAL on the lead, Handlers today are not getting enough money, especially if you use Donna's $11.777 a day.....They train, love, groom, love, feed, love, provide shelter and LOVE, Yes, it is expensive, but you all have to rationalize, what does $11.777 a day buy...McDonald's from the dollar menu? The fee's haven't kept pace with inflation......Handling is a profession! Todd,Joanie,Josh,Frank & Roberta Vigor Tonor German Shepherds Ch. Ken-Delaine's Buddie v Fran-Jo, TC, OFA ( Waiting at the Rainbow Bridge). Major Pointed, RBIF "Tonor's Under Siege" OFA aka CASEY Sunnydae Ivy v Tonor, OFA Sunnydae Hollywood v Tonor, OFA Tonor's Shayna Punim Tonor's Boychic "When Love and Skill Come Together, Expect A Masterpiece" In a message dated 7/25/2012 5:56:22 P.M. Central Daylight Time, onaluzlead@xxxxxxx writes: So if no one likes the price of handlers the top named ones...go for the kids....go for Olivia...go for ALL of the ones that are more reasonalbly priced...but then talk to the JUDGES, educate them that its ok to put them up...that the big name handlers that bring the truck full of dogs won't hold it against them next time and still bring them a truck full of dogs so thier entry is high...and won't hold it against them...that's the key... I have heard more times..."well, so and so had a nice dog, but that kids dog was awesome....but ya know the crowd said it all..." because when "the kid" (who is now 21 going on 22)...went around the ring it was dead silent and the groupies for "The Face" only screamed and yelled cause they must of felt nervous...huh, ??? Possible???ABSOLUTELY Yes it is. You want the truth...you got it...everyone jumps on "the kid" bandwagon...when they are winning but trust me when a client goes through a loosing streak, even with a good one, cause a judge mostly only puts up "FACES"... FOR MANY REASONS...not only the truck full of dogs one...then you have wonderful, loyal clients that you think appreciate the kid, firing them without cause or blaming the mother/parents/or whatever....to justify thier actions...it's a revolving circle just like the topic... Do you know how disheartening it is for "a kid" to have to deal with that and come to understand the politics and the protocol of "how it is..." We want the kids to stay in this, but even when they have the best dog...they don't always win...but sometimes they do win when they shouldn't and that's all on a different level of stupid...and again teaching nothing good to adults or children...and doing nothing positive for our breed. So don't start with the handler fee's that are too expensive...most of them haven't had a raise in over 10 years...I know that for a fact...I realize times are hard but the handlers bills go up just like all of ours, so how do they get compensated for that? I know that board for a show dog is between $350 - 400. and when it was discussed how pricey that was...my accountant and I sat down and figured out where the $ went to...it's a joke...11.777 per day for us to condition/train/groom/establish a brain and promote the dog to it's fullest...then you take that 11.777 per day and take out....payroll(for kennel help), dog food, raw diet, supplements, vitamins, cleaners, nevermind the phone bills to the client some each day...insurance/taxes on the property your kennel sits on/maintenance cause some dogs ruin and eat the kennel...shampoo's/conditioners/gas for vehicles used to road work.../well that pretty much leaves $3.45 p/day....once all is said and done on a P&L ... Then it's expected for whoever is conditioning the dog to, of course, travel with the dog and either have a handler or meet the handler to show the dog. Because most handlers have thier partners, wives, girlfriends or whoever do the grooming and doubling most people have come to "expect" that service. When that person adds in thier gas/hotel/meal/and a fee to groom or double the dog...it's another bill or for some it's included...but sometimes you get what you pay for too...knowing when and how to call a dog for doubling is an art...one of which most people don't master...and when they are in deep competition and loose cause they didnt' know when to call the dog at the right time and/or they got excited and started running the wrong way...<VBG> or maybe because they are typical middle class hard working people that got the bug, on a sport they really can't afford but try... then they want to show, hire a handler, go to a show and call the dog when the handler raises their arm and yells at them...they smile and are caught videoing thier dog...instead or just wave at the dog...but they really don't know what makes that dog tick cause they are new...and no one has the time...so many different scenario's but the bottom line is, we have made our sport, our breed what it is...and WE need to change the mindset of everyone. First of all, to have fun...second of all to hook up with a GOOD group of people that are doing this for the right reasons...third, to teach and give time to everyone in some way that can help the next generation or new people...and to MAKE our judges JUDGE the DOGS...........not the faces, not the kid, not the doublers, the DOG in the RING... what a concept~ Well thats my take on it at least...go for the kids if you can't afford a top handler...or talk to your handler and let them know what's up...that's it's too much for you to pay and if there is something you can work out or make payments etc...sometimes they are willing to work with you. They don't have a crystal ball to know your income and what is possilbe. Please understand though, when you hire a "kid" and I am starting to hate that word... understand, even with a great dog, it will sometimes loose...and if all is good, keep the faith...you will win...not all judges are afraid to put up a good dog with a "young or new" handler, if the dog is presented correctly...and doubled correctly and shown in good condition...but don't take it out on the young or new ... have patience...and realize once most "Faces" see a GOOD one with a kid, you will become easy pickin's...and they will approach you and tell you how wonderful your dog is, but if..."I had it I would do this or that different"...and then you get taken away by the attention and also start to realize the time and money your spending when your not winning...and end up going with the Face...again ~ once again it's the vicious circle of our sport.... Donna Donna M. 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