What is a handling room?

If you have attended dog shows as a participant or guest, then you are most likely familiar with the words “handling” and “handler”.

Remember how beautiful the dogs look in the ring, how accurate and graceful their movements are, how confident they feel. Nothing worse than Hollywood stars! But behind such performances is not only the natural talent of the dog, but also the work of a professional handler.

A handler (translated from English as “trainer”) is a person who accompanies a dog at a performance, presents it to the judges, competently emphasizing its advantages and hiding its flaws. Let’s face it: this is not an easy profession. A good specialist finds an individual approach to each dog, builds a trusting relationship with it, trains it, develops a strategy on how to present this particular dog in a favorable way against the background of other participants. But that’s not all: many part-time handlers are excellent groomers. Before the performance, they bring the appearance of the pet into an impeccable form in order to emphasize the breed and individual qualities and increase the chances of winning.

Handling is the art of presenting a dog in front of an expert team. The profession is believed to have originated in the United States. Already in the 19th century, dog shows in America were of grandiose proportions and it was an honor to attend them. The world is not far behind. The more rapidly the popularity of exhibitions grew, the more valued good handlers.

At the exhibition, the dog does not just walk around the ring. She executes certain commands: for example, she makes a rack. To get the recognition of the judges, a well-trained display is needed, and the dog itself must feel calm and natural in an unfamiliar environment, in front of a large number of spectators.

Even if you have the most courageous dog, it needs a lot of training to perform well. This is where handling halls come to the rescue. Why are they better than a playground in the yard?

A dog handling room is like a gym for a person. There is no bad weather, and classes will be comfortable at any time. It is safe in the handling halls, nothing interferes with concentration, nothing distracts the dog’s attention. This is a great platform for training, where you can work out the program and at the same time chat with like-minded people.

Many handling halls have mirrors all around. They allow you to better control the movements of the dog and determine the best angles. You can find rooms with a grooming salon, a pet store, and even a pool and exercise equipment for dogs. This allows you to solve several problems at once and saves a lot of time.

Preparing for an exhibition is a difficult and lengthy job, but handling halls make it much easier. In a special room it is comfortable to work for both the dog and the person.

Not only show dogs train in the handling halls. And it is not at all necessary that the handler should work with them.

Anyone can come here with their pet to repeat or learn new commands, work on the dog’s physical form, conduct grooming procedures, work out with a dog handler and just have a good time. For many, handling halls become a club of interest, where you always want to return.

• Treats are the best incentive.

Take a healthy treat with you to encourage your dog as he works. Some manufacturers create special training treats: they are placed in stylish containers that are convenient to toss into your bag and take with you to workouts (for example, Mnyams mini bone training treats). Treats in containers do not deteriorate, do not dry out and retain their beneficial properties for a long time.

You can buy a special bag for treats, which is attached to the belt. It is very convenient during training.

• We fight stress.

Stock up on toys for the dog – preferably a few. Toys will help your pet cope with stress in unfamiliar surroundings and give you the opportunity to “drive” him properly to strengthen his physical fitness. An excellent choice, such as the “snowman” KONG. When it hits the floor, this rubberized toy bounces in an unpredictable direction, stimulating the dog’s interest. By the way, after training, you can fill it with a treat and treat your pet. While he will get treats from the “snowman” and stretch out the pleasure, you will also be able to relax and chat with like-minded people.

• We help the dog to socialize.

In an unfamiliar place, even the most courageous and sociable dog can get confused. Help your pet bond with other dogs. The easiest way is to involve them in one game. Tug toys (e.g. flexible KONG Safestix, Petstages ropes, Zogoflex straps), various balls and fetching boomerangs will help with this. In a word, everything that two or more dogs can play and that will not be gnawed in one minute.

You are now ready to visit your first handling room. We hope your team enjoys it!