Originally Posted by spellweaver

From what I understand of the show scene in America (and bear in mind it's only what I've been told; I've never been!) showing there is vastly different from here. Just about everyone uses professional handlers - it's a big business over there; handlers are the "stars" and they have their own assistants! Owners send their dogs to the handlers for training, and in most cases the dogs actually live with the handlers (and not their owners) for the show season. Sometimes the handlers won't even let the owners attend shows because it upsets the dogs.