Page 260 - ShowSight - December 2019
P. 260

                  Professional HandlerQ & A
“I really enjoy getting to know the various breeds...”
 Heidi Gervais continued
back to the community and our members volunteer their time. We provide a venue for handlers to make a living so I don’t believe our purpose is to make it easier for handlers. We put on our shows to showcase purebred dogs and our main objective is to have the dogs interest first and foremost for example reserved grooming so dogs don’t have to sit in crates longer than necessary in line for their handlers, owners to get a spot, etc.
What can Clubs do to make handlers want to enter? Once again I don’t think it should be about the handlers but my priority for our shows it to make it a destination dog show. I am lucky to live on Vancouver Island (aka Paradise Island) which is definitely a destination! We have amazing judges, great raffles, plenty of local knowledge for wineries and restaurants and we are one of the only clubs left that actually have trophies/prizes (not money because the handlers take that!).
The most amusing thing I’ve ever witnessed at a dog show? I have to say the story of Will Alexander vs rebar! (Sorry Will, I know you didn’t find it amusing!)
ADRIAN GHIONE
My website is adrianghionehandling.com and I live in Oakdale, California.
How I got started in dogs: when I was 16, my dad acquired an unruly Akita pup that I took to Obedience classes, I participated in obedience and agility events and, in time, I got involved with conformation.
What made me know that this was where I belonged? There’s no feeling that can compare to the love I receive back from the dogs I work with.
Who were my mentors? Mark and Sally George.
Do I breed? I actually breed Portuguese Podengo Pequeno.
Do I like to stick to any particular breed or group? No, I
enjoy the diversity and I’m always ready for a new breed and a new challenge.
How do I travel to shows and how many do I attend in the aver- age year? I travel in a fully outfitted van and stay at hotels or rental houses if possible. I attend 45 weekends a year in the average. And being in Sunny California, I prefer to be outside.
The best thing about being a professional handler? The amount of time spent with dogs from different breeds, the connections and bonds we get to create with them, as well as the possibility to travel and tour this beautiful country.
The toughest part about being a professional handler? Knowing that you’re solely responsible for the well being of living creatures. I look at the dogs in my care and know that each one of them is somebody’s baby.
Is my family involved? My dad shows dogs in Argentina.
Am I involved with an all-breed club and held positions within the club? No.
What can Clubs do to make handlers’ job easier? Provide space that can accommodate our needs to ensure the well being of the dogs and be understanding of the requirements and challenges that our profession presents.
What can Clubs do to make handlers want to enter? Cluster up in one location.
The most amusing thing I’ve ever witnessed at a dog show? While at a show in Alaska, I was told we may have to suspend the show until the bear left the grounds.
GEORGIA HYMMEN
My website is DaynakinGreatDanes.com. I live in the lovely northwest corner of Washington state in Ferndale, Washington.
How I got started in dogs? I’d always wanted a large breed but wasn’t allowed to have one as a child. When I moved out on my own, I started to look at big breeds. I considered Irish Wolfhounds, St. Bernards and Danes. I quickly decided to go with Danes as I had a hard enough time doing my own hair let alone dealing with a breed that needed grooming.
What made me know that this was where I belonged? I have always loved animals. As a child, we always had a small-breed dog and I had horses up until high school.
Who were my mentors? I was very fortunate to have Jane Chop- son as a mentor. Not only was she an excellent handler, she had a great eye for a dog and her advice and input was invaluable. And, if you didn’t toe the line, she let you know!
Do I breed? Yes, I actively breed Great Danes and am proud that dogs of my breeding are versatile and are both competitive in the show ring and in performance events. I am also very proud that dogs of my breeding have become certified therapy dogs.
Do I like to stick to any particular breed or group? Yes, I pri- marily show Great Danes. I also do a few other breeds, including Ridgebacks. I stick with the big dogs—and I don’t do hair!
How do you travel to shows and do we prefer outdoor or indoor shows? For us, traveling to shows can be by RV, motel, or staying with friends. It varies depending on the show location and number of dogs. We prefer to take the RV when possible, as it’s just so much easier for dog care when dealing with big breeds. When that’s not possible, travel is with the van. I am very fortunate that I have a large number of dog friends I frequently can stay with, so staying at a motel is thankfully limited. Putting several Danes in a motel room can be challenging at times!
In depends greatly on the venue-and weather. In the Pacific Northwest, early spring outdoor shows can be miserable. My short- coated breeds don’t like the wet and cold and show badly in such weather. And, in the summer heat can be an issue. Ring condition, for outdoor rings, can be problematic if the grass is wet or lumpy. Conversely, indoor shows can be very crowded, hectic and stuffy. I have some favorite indoor and outdoor shows and again, varies on venue.
The best thing about being a professional handler? I really enjoy getting to know the various breeds; not only in terms of their breed standard and structure, but also their personality and essence. I also have met some terrific people in the show world—many have become long time friends.
I also find the support of others who are involved in the sport heart-warming. You can take a group of people who are competitive and when something happens like an accident, loose dog, what- ever—people put their differences aside, drop everything, and help.
The toughest part about being a professional handler? I find the constant packing, cleaning, unpacking, setting up and tear- ing down very “unfun”. While the big handlers have assistants, we handle only a small number of dogs and don’t really warrant having an assistant. And of course the driving—living where I do, there are only one or two local shows so at a minimum travel is 4-to-8 hours one way. Most travel for me involves going through Seattle and that’s a major traffic headache.
Is my family involved? My husband, Jack Henderson, is very involved in many aspects. He’s the RV driver, dog walker extraor- dinaire (he can get that dog that won’t go the bathroom to finally
256 • ShowSight Magazine, DeceMber 2019
     






























































   258   259   260   261   262