61 – How to Disappear as a Dog Show Handler: Janice Hayes
Janice Hayes – The Disappearing Handler
Janice Hayes started as a junior handler, then assistant handler, and quickly rose through the Professional Handler ranks. With an English Setter as her first “heart dog”, Janice fell in love with the soft, but hard-headed sporting breeds.
Perfection not Required
Serious in training, fun in the ring is the motto that Janice follows. While home life involves character building, confidence work, and ring preparation…
happy, happy, play, play is essential.
Balance Flexibility and Consistency
Dogs do best with routine, but keep flexibility in a dog’s life so they are ever-adapting.
The Taffe McFadden FAN CLUB
Oohhh, do we have so many members of the Taffe McFadden fan club! Per Janice, watching Taffe McFadden is the ultimate training guide for a handler. Taffe’s soft hands, quiet whispers to the dog, and consistent touch bring confidence to the soft dog.
You Need to Disappear
Practice quiet hands and don’t stare down the judge… it’s about the dog.
Tips from Janice Hayes
Practice with stacking blocks for just a few minutes a day in a positive way. Don’t groom on them.
Train in obedience. Heeling, pattern changes, and having the dog pay attention are great for the ring.
Thoughts and Suggestions
We need less shows. Allows more time for training and conditioning, and gives the competitive dogs a break.
There are some really talented young handlers. Take the time to learn as an assistant.
Dogs are #1.
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER — FRANCIS BACON
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This is why Janice was handler of the year. She has amazing talent and the dogs always come first. A true professional!
Janice is the quintessential dog handler !!!
What a fabulous site.
Thanks for these great tips, I am a beginner owner/handler and I watch the handlers and how they are able to get the dog to behave. And agree it needs to be fun.
Thank you, Janice, for promoting basic obedience training in our dogs. It makes such a huge difference in their ring behavior, especially the younger dogs.
I would like to add, KNOW your standard, inside and out. Be able to quote it verbatim. And understand why such elements are in the standard. How do certain features of the standard contribute to a dog’s ability to do the job they were bred to do?
Great advice from a great handler!
[…] & Taffe, Janice Hayes and the series we did on whelping with Dr. Gayle Watkins and the one on stud dog management are […]
Wish I had a good Mentor/instructor in my area. Great advice!
[…] Quiet Hands with Janice Hayes […]
[…] Quiet Hands with Janice Hayes […]