What's the deal with Dog Handlers?

I showed my Selli once in a Sweeps class (where pro handlers are not allowed unless they own the dog) and I had a pro handling her in the regular classes.  It was the only time I put her in breed (too much money and time).  I had showed in 4-H juniors over 20 years before so I thought I knew something.  I wore a nice suede jumper that came just above the knee that had pockets and had bare legs since it was the first weekend of September.  It was a disaster.  I did not know that it is considered disrespectful to the judge to show in a skirt with-out nylons.  And even worse, every time I bent over to stack Selli, the jumper rode up and almost exposed my backside.  Plus it was so cold (in the fifties in a outdoor setting).

 I admire the pro handlers who can figure it out.

rwbeagles

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!

Last UKC show I went to, the man handling the Ridgie in the breed ring was wearing dirty jeans, white tennies, and a Harley Davidson t-shirt. 

I'm with Pit_Pointer_Aussie - I don't like going to shows and seeing people in jeans.  I wouldn't go to court (in front of another type of judge) in jeans!  Yuck! 

And for the suggestions about wearing black - when you handle a black dog and wear black, the judge automatically thinks you are trying to hide something.  For that reason, I very deliberately wear something other than black into the ring - but white or cream is bad when you have a black dog, too - hair all over your clothes. 

The skirts comments made me think of my friend and her Bull Terrier and one time she decided to handle him herself.  When the breeder realized she was wearing an elastic waisted skirt, she insisted on wrapping a belt around her.  Because she could anticipate that the dog would jump up on her in excitement (at the end) and drag her skirt down with him.  Made sense to me!

Best deal I have found is to shop the thrift stores on a regular basis.  Many offer suits for 5 to 10 dollars.  In many cases there are pockets, just sewn shut..... I have 4 outfits right now that I show in from Goodwill. An I usually manage at least one complement about how we look together.   Best money I ever spent,,, and if a pocket gets ripped cause I get careless or she gets greedy, it is a minimal loss.

As to the colors,,, it is almost always what will make the dog look better.  Less than wonderful topline, get a busy print.  Stellar head piece on a dark dog, where white (gotta be brave about the foot prints)  And the tennis shoes,,, that is so you and the dog can move,,, My Nora would run anybody right out of a pair of flats.  Nothing takes away from your dog more than you missing a step and pulling them out of their gait/

That's UKC!

It's not about impressing anyone, with anything...but your dog. The judges already know you respect them, because you pay money, and enter under them and show them your dog. Besides, at a given event you might well show, pull, or course your dog the same day!

That's how it should be. The only thing that'd get close to raising my eyebrows is revealing attire.

mrv

 And the tennis shoes,,, that is so you and the dog can move,,, My Nora would run anybody right out of a pair of flats. 

I have a bit of a shoe fetish myself so yeah the big black ortho looking foot attire I find really distracting. I can understand the need for such a shoe as MRV pointed out but they just don't go with a skirt. No way, no how! If you are going to wear ugly shoes, wear pants. 

Ooh, I've never seen these before...these would be cute!  Probably comfortable, too...

mudpuppy

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

I thought I was the only one thinking this thought.... 

I have these shoes: http://www.landsend.com/pp/LeatherAllWeatherLowSliponShoes~176532_-1.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::CAM&CM_MERCH=IDX_00009&origin=index

Image won't show up, but there's the link.

They're kinda frumpy but they fit well- and with pants, I think they're okay.

 I'd LIKE an outfit with a long (lower calf length) straight skirt but haven't found one yet that isn't black.
 

I like seeing the kids get all dolled up for Juniors!

Whoa, that lady in the back of the first pic looks mad at you!

I also like the scrunchie instead of a rubber band for her number.   

while i do agree that some of the stuff some handlers wear is awful, i do find it interesting that the people laughing about it or mostly the people that do not/have never shown!  It is REALLY hard to find clothes..like some people mentioned...You need something you can move in, a skirt that isnt going to show your butt when you lean all the way over the dog to move its feet, a top thats not lowcut so when you lean over your dog you dont show the crowd everything you have!, something a different, but complementing color from your dog, yet something that wont show alot of hair.  I have a grey/white dog, and a black dog...its tough to find a decent suit thats not grey or black.  I generally where them anyways, and just try to stand out away from my dog.  And im 23 years old, so i really dont want to go shopping in the "old lady" departments, but i have YET to find a decent,dressy solid colored - no patterned top, thats not lowcut and doesnt look like Im about to go out to the club.  Oh yes..and pockets..i  gave up on that, i just have a nice little leather pouch that pins on to my skirt that holds my treats.  Oh yes..and nothing tight fitting/warm..b/c your probably gonig to sweat, and you dont want nasty armpits!  As for shoes..i FINALLY found some that i like- they are black Sketcher tennis shoes that have velcro straps instead of strings.. Theyre black, so go with my suits, are comfortable to RUN in (Since i have big dogs that concetrate alot on movement), cute, and dont have to worry about coming untied..  but yeah...its harder to find decent clothes then you think.

The only thing i didnt like about some of the handlers fasion was some of the more err.. "plus sized" women wearing skirts that were just too short...but even other women too..its just trashy and disrespectful to wear skirts as short as some of them i saw to an event like that.

I do realize that I've never shown before, and I can appreciate the difficulties of shopping for clothes that work perfectly for you (heck, it's hard to shop for the perfect outfit for any occasion).  I will most likely end up making my own outfit to wear when I do finally get into the show ring.

I think most people here are just speculating upon what could be done to make a better impression in the ring, and what they would wear if ever they got into the ring themselves.
 

keedokes

Whoa, that lady in the back of the first pic looks mad at you!

I also like the scrunchie instead of a rubber band for her number.   

Haha, yeah!  Although I was zoomed in from the other side of the arena.  She didn't have quite the view of me that I had of her!

I think she had a scrunchie b/c she was sometimes holding a brush or a comb on her arm band.  She was really cute.  Whoever's GSD won the breed ring let her show the dog in the group ring.