What's the deal with Dog Handlers?

Their clothes need to be comfortable and functional as well as presentable.

LOL, it's true. I have often thought of giving make-up and hair seminars in the grooming area. :)

The other thing about clothing is that handler usually choose clothes based on what will show off their dogs best. I try to wear blue when handling my black tri aussie, because her outline stands out against what I have one and the blue tones bring out the best colors in her coat. So a black pants suit would look great on me, but Luna wouldn't really be visible.

No, most of them have no fashion sense at all. I've seen a few of the younger women dressed really nice and sharp but that's few and far between. 

You've also got to make SURE your clothing has pockets, that you can move in it, and it should preferably be well-made, so you're not shopping for new clothes constantly. Oh, and it should be easy to clean of dog hair. :P Black is BAD for that reason, and most dark-colored dogs disappear into it. Oh, and it shouldn't be too heavy or too light- dog show enues range from completely unheated and freezing in winter to really, realy overheated- and this may be the next weekend!

 It's also sadly true that (especially in plus sizes), the selection of 'appropriate dog show clothing' is really, really limited. I *hate* shopping for show clothes. :P (I should start a thread about this on the conf board.) All my regular pantsuits are out because they're black and Mal (tricolor), Lizzie (black) and Caden (dal I handle for my friend who is black-spotted) all disappear into them. I have a pair of grey pants but I need a good top for it.
 

h, and it has to be washable too. Between bait in the pockets, grooming, and dust in the arenas and the building... yeah.     

That's why I love UKC...you can show in a nice clean well fitted (read not saggin or skin tight) pair of jeans and a nice top!

What PWCA said.  Ideally my conformations clothes are :

1. maching washable 

2. is a color that looks good on me and shows my dog off  (although you may want the dog to blend in if you're doing obedience or don't like your dog's topline)

3. clothes that i can bend down and get on my knees in (I have a small-ish table breed, but need to stack her while she's on the ground)

 4. clothes I can move in (my little girl can move!)

5. pockets

6. not too flashy or frumpy.

Having said all that, my favorite show clothes is a pants suit that is dry-clean only AND does not have pockets, but it is a postively beautiful peacock turquoise color that looks fab next to a dog of any color and looks great on me.  If only I could find some of that fabric.

I always assumed they were trying to make the dog look better by dressing badly

denise m

the handlers are fashion disasters.Some of the handlers (mostly the women) are so frumpy I think they distract from the dogs they are showing. How about a nice black pant suit or something nice an classic looking? Is it just me? 

lol when my hubby and I were watching Westminster he said the same thing. I've been thinking about getting into showing dogs and he was like "babe you would be the hottest handler... look at these women, they are on national television and they look gross" lol

They really do need to be wearing black. None of this GREEN nonesense or PEACH or w/e they were wearing. Not all of them looked horrible but ya for the most part I do find the handlers odd

Pwca

You've also got to make SURE your clothing has pockets, that you can move in it, and it should preferably be well-made, so you're not shopping for new clothes constantly. Oh, and it should be easy to clean of dog hair. :P Black is BAD for that reason, and most dark-colored dogs disappear into it.

I can totally understand all the things handlers must take into consideration when deciding on an appropriate outfit and the fact that they may show many, many times a year. If I was to go to the local show in my area I would not expect the handlers to be decked out in fine fashion but I would expect handlers showing dogs at an event like Westminster maybe kick it up a notch. Maybe they could come up with a uniform.

I forgot to add, if you're wearing a skirt, you don't want it too full unless you're showing a giant breed.  (Full skirts tend to loose and distract small to med sized dogs.)  You don't want the hemline flapping around the dog's head or topline.  You don't want a top (esp with table breeds, cause that's your background for your dog) that's too busy. 

 And then there's the shoes.  Very important esp for the smaller dogs, which is where the judge is looking.

This is all at the top of my mind b/c i've got a show today and i have no idea what i'm going to wear.  prob end up with black wool pants and a white top.  am saving the peacock turquoise outfit for tomorrow. 

mudpuppy

I always assumed they were trying to make the dog look better by dressing badly

LOL!

I can appreciate that decent show clothes are not easy to come by, but how do you explain the long flying hair? I have long hair, I like long hair, but if you are in a suit, running a dog around a ring, put your hair up! It looks unkempt and distracting.

I was just thinking the same thing!  Can't they wear pants with some cute flats or something.   Why do they all wear those ugly dress suits with tennis shoes or ugly flats.   It looks horrible and dated. 

 I know it's not about the fashion, but you can't help but notice! 

G (my husband) and I were discussing the same thing on Monday night during the show.  I was telling him what I would wear if (when :o)) I get into confirmation, and he was giving me ideas, 'cause he's actually good at that sort of thing.  I do think I'd put my hair up in a low bun for the same reason Dog-ma stated...my hair is bum length and it would not only be distracting but I would get annoyed at it constantly falling in my face while I was stacking, etc.

Then G stated that I wouldn't ever be showing, anyway.  His reason?  Dog showing is for people with money to spare, we, um...don't.  :oP  He was joking around.  Well, mostly.  :oD  I'm not going to walk out and purchase a show quality pup tomorrow, so I don't think he needs to be worried.

Yet.

 

My take on it, in addition to all the requirements for comfort, moving, etc, is that my dress should reflect my respect for my animal and the show ring. I learned that riding horses and carry it over to dogs. George Morris would have a heart attack at the site of the handlers in the ring at a show as big as Westminster.

I am constantly shopping for good show clothes, because as the others have stated, they are hard to find with so many requirements!