actually you are right! If a dog lives with me while I am showing him. Of course, they are not charged weekly for baths and grooming and conditioning. Thats included into the monthly boarding. I also charge for expenses too and from the show.. Expenses are (in my business world) gas/oi (travel)l, food (for me and the help),help (If Im carrying more than I can reasonably make in the ring) and hotel expenses. It does not include: My weekly steak and lobster dinner, the gucci watch I had to have and my shopping spree at nordstroms. Just the meat and the potatoes. Larger shows like Hatboro, Devon, Montgomery County, Buck and Morris and Esssex the handling fee goes up to 250 per dog per day and Westminster is an "On Request" show. (meaning I dont really want to go, but if you want to make the trip, the fee is substantial). When I fly, Usually the cost of the airline tickets/hotel/rental car is split among 3-4 people (unless one client wants to foot the whole bill) and applicable fees. Now, as an all breed handler, I do charge a bonus for a Group I-IV, and Best in Shows. So if I have a very good weekend there may be an added bonus for a job well done. Usually, if I am specialing a dog for aperiod time,this is not an issue for the client. Although I dont cut deals, so to speak, I have allowed clients to make credits on their handling accounts. If Im in need of help, then I credit their account for coming tot he shows and helping out.. they needed be master groomers, just babysit the set up while im gone, keep me posted on whats going on in "ring whatever" and maybe hold a dog outside the ring. Usually, this type of service is needed more than someone to groom. I dont like suprises either, this is why my billing is very straightforward and my ratesheet/contract agreement is easy to read. ====================== www.BlackHawk-Farms.com Northern California American Saddlebred Horse Association Vice President (Class of 2007) --------------------------------- Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less. ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2006. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - URL temporarily deleted due to AOL issues ============================================================================