Sunderland & District Canine Society

HANDLING

Some super young handlers. I would happily let any of my top placings handle my dogs as they all showed to the very best of their ability and handled their dogs in kind and quiet manner.

Y.K.C 6-11 Years - 10 (5 absent)

1. Katie Read age 8, handling a German Shorthaired Pointer. Katie really shone in this class. She was the only handler not to break the golden rule and showed perfect shadowing moving quietly around the dog. Her pattern work was good with nice straight lines. Her presentation of her dog was very efficient and she communicated with her dog at all times.

2. Ashleigh Turnbull age 10, handling a Chihuahua (Smooth Coat). Ashleigh did a great job considering her Chihuahua was not making things easy for her. She was very good at reassuring the dog, which worked and they completed the pattern work as a team, just don't forget the golden rule.

3. Roxanne Cannon age 9, handling a Whippet

Y.K.C 12-17 Years - 6 (2 absent)

1. Lauren Huyton age 16, handling a Shetland Sheepdog.  Lauren is a very skilled handler, she really blended into the background to let the dog shine.  Clean lines in her pattern work and neat hand changes combined with her empathetic handling style and good communication with her dog ultimately won her the class. 

2. Chloe Cumberland aged 13, handling a Dachshund (Min.Smooth). Chloe handled her dog with absolute professionalism. Her pattern work was excellent and she demonstrated everything asked of her in an efficient manner.  I just would have liked to hear her talking to her dog a little more.

Y.K.C 18-24 Years - 6 (2 absent)  A class of 4 excellent handlers!

1. Laura Pedelty age 22 handling a Shetland Sheepdog.  I really liked Laura's handling style. Smooth and quiet yet efficient. A very polite handler who has a great connection with her dog.  Laura demonstrated faultless shadowing and hand changes in her pattern work. Well executed with straight lines and tight turns.

2. Charlotte Westerman age 18, handling a Miniature Pinscher.  Hats off to Charlotte for handling a 7 month old puppy. She had a empathetic way of handling her youngster which I really admired.  She showed me the puppies teeth in a calm and gentle way that one would expect a puppy to handled in. Very good pattern work and straight lines.

3. Rachel Cumberland age 18, handling a Newfoundland

ADULT HANDLING 18-40 years -  4 (2 absent)

1. Rachel Cumberland, handling a Dachshund (Min. Smooth). I had seen Rachel previously in a Y.K.C class however I felt that she really gelled with her Dachshund in this class rather than the Newfoundland in the previous class, who was a little lacklustre and unenthusiastic.  Rachel handles in a very professional manner and really got the best out of this dog, moving at just the right pace. In the challenge for best overall adult handler, she just pipped her competitor to the post by swiftly rectifying her dogs hind legs when stacked. Rachel's attention to detail won her Best Overall Adult Handler.

2. Jessica Lee, handling a Dachshund (Min. Long).  Another very good handler. Jessica showed the bite of her dog correctly but unfortunately just got between me and her dog when moving the dog from the table to floor. She demonstrated very good pattern work and communicated well with her dog.

ADULT HANDLING 40 plus - 12 (7 absent)

1. Patricia Rogerson, handling a German Spitz Mittel. A lovely demonstration of a connection between a handler and her dog. Patricia is a very quiet, unassuming handler but she always knew where I was at all times.  Her pattern work was faultless.  Only pipped to the post in the overall challenge as both competitors dogs moved their hindquarters when stood, which her competitor was quicker to notice and rectify.

2. Donna Grace, handling a Whippet. Another handler who was aware of where I was from the moment they entered the ring. Precise hand changes and straight lines in her pattern work.  It was a close call between 1 & 2, Donna just got in front of her Whippets forequarters when presenting, other than that it was a very good demonstration of her handling ability.

3. Caroline Smith, handling a Field Spaniel.